MICRO SPY – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, I speak with Kip Ulhorn, singer and guitarist of the seminal hardcore band, The Red Scare.

Hailing from Knoxville, The Red Scare had a profound impact on the sonic landscape of punk and hardcore in the late 90s. In this conversation, Kip and I discuss:

A shared love for California

Social and governmental neglect

The importance of community

Friendship

Being walking time capsules

The spirit of punk rock

Their newly released discography on Solid Brass Records

and playing shows in 2024 after

Nearly 25 years of hibernation.

Links:

solidbrassrecords.com

https://www.instagram.com/the_red_scare_knoxville/

jeromesdreamforever.com/tour

In this episode. I speak with Brandon Evans, member of the bands City of Caterpillar and pageninetynine. Brandon and I discuss the magic of music, DIY ethos, Richmond’s vibrant hardcore scene, and how playing in City of Caterpillar and pg99 is the same, but entirely different. We also talk about friendship, and the wild nature of connection and community through music, and specifically, punk.

Links:

City of Caterpillar — Mystic Sisters (Relapse)

Instagram

pg.99 Instagram

Additional tours mentioned:

Jeromes Dream IG

Loma Prieta IG

Touche Amore IG

Saetia IG

In this episode, I speak with Alex Edkins, the guitarist and vocalist of the band METZ, and his new brainchild, Weird Nightmare. Alex and I discuss his music as a coping mechanism, the shift in mindset regarding creative collaboration, and the magical effects music and art can have on humanity. His new project Weird Nightmare released its debut full-length on Sub Pop last year. METZ’s most recent album, ATLAS VENDING, also released on Sub Pop came out in 2020. He’s already working on new material for both.

Tracklisting in this episode:
1. METZ — Headache
2. Weird Nightmare — Searching For You
3. METZ — The Mule
4. Weird Nightmare — Dream
5. Weird Nightmare — Wrecked
6. METZ — Wasted
7. METZ — Get Off
8. Weird Nightmare — Nibs

Learn more about METZ and Weird Nightmare:
METZ:
Official website
Instagram

Weird Nightmare:
Official website
Instagram

—
Micro Spy
@microspymusic
microspymusic.com

In this episode, I speak with Seb Alvarez - the vocalist and mastermind behind the bands meth. and Virgin Mother. Seb and I discuss the inner workings of how he fuels expression through metaphor and his fascination with the psychology of cult leaders. We also discuss his take on verbal communication vs performative expression. Seb also discusses his reluctance to vulnerability, but how that might be slowly changing. Learn more about meth. and Virgin Mother: meth.: https://methil.bandcamp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/meth.band/?hl=en Virgin Mother: https://virginmother.bandcamp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/virginmother_/?hl=en Songs in this episode: 1. meth. — In Bred 2. meth. — Return Me (My Body) 3. Virgin Mother — Blossoming Winter 4. Virgin Mother — I'll Never Feel Like Anything  

In this episode, I speak with Mike York of the band, Pianos Become The Teeth, who recently released their fifth studio album, “Drift” on Epitaph Records. Mike and I discuss the beauty of imperfection in music, how intentionality influences songwriting, and the bond he’s established with his bandmates over the years. We also talk about the importance of gratitude, and the excitement for what lies ahead.

In this episode, I speak with visual artist, Jesse Draxler.

Jesse is probably most known for his abstract, visual manipulation through collage. He’s had solo exhibitions between New York and Los Angeles and has done commercial work for brands like Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and Ferrari.

One of his most iconic works became the cover art for Daughters’ 2018 comeback album, “You Won’t Get What You Want”.
Jesse has also worked with Nine Inch Nails, and Chelsea Wolfe.

Our conversation explores creative process during a pandemic, using collage as a way to warp reality, isolation as a concept, and his latest project entitled Reigning Cement.

In this episode, I speak with Robert Pettersen and Rex Shelverton of the band Portraits of Past.

Portraits of Past was a hardcore band from Half-moon Bay between 1993 and 95, and did a handful of reunion shows between 2008 and 2009.

Their debut LP, released on ebullition records came out after they had already broken up. And it wasn’t until overtime did people start to catch on to the brilliance of this band’s music.

I met with Rex and Robert in San Francisco. We recorded this conversation at Rex’s rehearsal space and talked for almost 3 hours.

They reveal their very beginnings with punk rock and paint a very saturated picture of their surroundings during the time Portraits of Past was a band. We discuss how environment affects creative process, and how there are some things in art that simply can’t be articulated.

In this episode, I speak with Anthony DiDio of the Boston hard-core band Vein. Vein is one of the heaviest hardcore bands out there today. Their creativity along with their musical capability is arguably unrivaled.

Their 2018 full length, Errorzone is a blistering and beautiful record that pushes musical and conceptual boundaries. This band has such a unique style, combining various influences, creating a sound and visual world all of its own. Anthony and I discuss those influences, creative process, what determines a good song, and the nuance of triggering emotion.

In this episode, I speak with Hrishikesh Hirway, creator of the award-winning podcasts, Song Exploder and The West Wing Weekly. His most recent endeavor is hIs new podcast entitled, Partners — where he explores the bond between people who have made something together.

Hrishi is also the executive producer and theme composer of The Jump, a Podcast hosted by Shirley Manson of the band, Garbage.

He is also the musical talent behind The One AM radio and a member of the hip hop group, Moors, with actor Lakeith Stanfield.

Hrishi and I met in 1998 when we played a show together in New Haven, CT. Our conversation recalls moments of our past but quickly moves to the inner workings of his relationship with music, design, and creative process.

In this episode, I speak with Geoff Garlock of the band Orchid. Though Orchid hailed from Massachusetts, Geoff grew up in Connecticut like me. And not surprisingly we were exposed to a lot of the same bands.

We talk about the Connecticut hardcore scene in the mid-nineties and how the state acted as a sieve for bands that came through between New York and Boston.

Jeff also talks about his relationship with hardcore and the pros and cons that have come with it as he’s become older.