Explore every episode of the podcast Spin Doctors Archive - The Podcast

The guitarist and co-founder on the making of "Pocket Full of Kryptonite," leaving and rejoining the band, and nearly four decades of Spin Doctors

In this episode, Daniel welcomes Eric Schenkman, guitarist and co-founder of the Spin Doctors, for an in-depth conversation spanning the band's entire history. Eric looks back on the very first self-made cassettes "Can't Say No" and "Piece of Glass" from the late '80s, revisits the legendary Wetlands show later released as "Up for Grabs," and gives deep insight into the making of "Pocket Full of Kryptonite" — including the drive home through a snowstorm when he first heard the unmastered version of "Kryptonite."

Eric also speaks candidly about the darker side of success: the record-label pressure behind "Turn It Upside Down," his departure from the band, the seven years away, and his eventual return. The conversation also covers "Nice Talking to Me," "If the River Was Whiskey," the lineup change from Mark to Jack, and the band's current album "A Face Full of Cake," which Eric calls his second-favorite Spin Doctors record. He wraps up with a look ahead to his upcoming solo album "10 Smiles" and the possibility of new Spin Doctors music.

Topics covered:

• The early cassette years & songwriting philosophy
• "Up for Grabs" and the 1990 Wetlands show
• The studio process behind "Pocket Full of Kryptonite"
• Pressure from Sony/CBS and "Turn It Upside Down"
• Eric's departure and the seven years after
• "Nice Talking to Me" and working with Corky Laing
• The Sony contract and "If the River Was Whiskey"
• The shift from Mark to Jack and "A Face Full of Cake"
• Looking ahead: solo album "10 Smiles" and new band music

For more news, discography, setlists, and live recordings, visit spindoctorsarchive.com, and follow Spin Doctors Archive on Instagram and Facebook:

• Website: https://spindoctorsarchive.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spindoctorsarchive

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spindoctorsarchive

Featured jam:

"Up For Grabs", Nightingale Bar, 1991-06-30

Join us for the definitive State Of The Spins 2026 as founding drummer Aaron Comess joins the show to break down the band's official touring schedule and their vision for the year ahead.

In this exclusive interview, we get the inside look at the Spin Doctors' plans for 2026—straight from the source. From upcoming road dates to the inner workings of the group, find out what fans can expect from one of the most iconic grooves in rock.

In this episode, we discuss:

• A look back at the band's standout moments from the past year and the 2026 international & domestic tour Schedule.

• The band's creative and professional plans for the upcoming year.

• Exclusive insights from Aaron Comess on the longevity and future of the Spin Doctors.

Follow the Spin Doctors Archive:

• Website: https://spindoctorsarchive.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spindoctorsarchive

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spindoctorsarchive

Featured Jam:

"Gestalt's Blues", Nightingale Bar, 1991-02-12

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8th in a series of interviews with Spin Doctors drummer Aaron Comess about the band's discography: from their initial 80s demos to their latest 2025 studio release. In this episode, we are finally discussing "Face Full Of Cake", the first Spin Doctors album since 2013 (out April 11, 2025 on Capitol Records)! Join Aaron and Daniel for this in-depth conversation about the new songs and the genesis of the record.

Featured Spin Doctors jam: ⁠Cop That The Robber, Wetlands Preserve, New York, 1991-01-10 SpinDoctorsArchive.com is your go-to source for everything Spin Doctors-related, including set lists, discography, song and band details, news, and more.

Produced by Daniel Heinze, Leipzig. This is a strictly non-commercial project. All sound / music snippets used by permission.

In this episode, Spin Doctors' lead singer Chris Barron talks about songwriting, the band's history and the upcoming 7th studio album "Face Full Of Cake" (to be released April 12th, 2025 on Capitol Records). 

Featured Spin Doctors jam: ⁠"Sister Sisyphus" live at Court Tavern, New Brunswick, NJ, February 16, 1991.

Listen to the free music compilation "The Best Of The Chris Barron Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour" ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

SpinDoctorsArchive.com is your go-to source for everything Spin Doctors-related, including set lists, discography, song and band details, news, and more.

Produced by Daniel Heinze, Leipzig. This is a strictly non-commercial project. All sound / music snippets used by permission.

Spin Doctors' drummer Aaron Comess answers all your questions about the band: Why did the documentary “It's On The TV” remain unreleased? How many people work for Spin Doctors? What's up with the new album? What’s the story behind the recent “Primary Wave” deal? Where is Mark? And will we ever get to hear unreleased studio material from the 90s? You'll get the answers to these and many, many more questions about the Spin Doctors - in this podcast episode!

Featured Spin Doctors jams: ⁠

- "Cheeseburger Deluxe" live at Wetlands – New York, NY, February 16, 1992

- "Prey To Bears" live at Jack Frost Mountain – Blakeslee, PA, June 27, 1997

- "Heart Of The Highway" live at ⁠L’Auberge Casino & Hotel – Baton Rouge, LA, October 5, 2024⁠

Listen to the free music compilation "The Best Of The Chris Barron Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour" ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

SpinDoctorsArchive.com is your go-to source for everything Spin Doctors-related, including set lists, discography, song and band details, news, and more.

Produced by Daniel Heinze, Leipzig. This is a strictly non-commercial project. All sound / music snippets used by permission.

7th in a series of interviews with Spin Doctors drummer Aaron Comess about the band's discography: from their initial 80s demos to their forthcoming 7th studio release. In this episode, we are discussing the 2013 studio release "If The River Was Whiskey" and the accompanying 2015 live album "Songs From The Road".

Featured Spin Doctors jam: Spin Doctors into Blues Traveler segue jam live at The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY, October 13th, 2012.

SpinDoctorsArchive.com is your go-to source for everything Spin Doctors-related, including set lists, discography, song and band details, news, and more.

⁠⁠⁠Listen to the free music compilation "The Best Of The Chris Barron Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour" here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Produced by Daniel Heinze, Leipzig. This is a strictly non-commercial project. All sound / music snippets used by permission.

6th in a series of interviews with Spin Doctors drummer Aaron Comess about the band's discography: from their initial 80s demos to their forthcoming 7th studio release. In this episode, we are discussing the 2005 release "Nice Talking To Me".

Featured Spin Doctors jam: "Sweet Widow" live at Wetlands Preserve, New York City, September 7th, 2001.
Link: https://spindoctorsarchive.com/2001/09/07/2001/

SpinDoctorsArchive.com is your go-to source for everything Spin Doctors-related, including set lists, discography, song and band details, news, and more.

Stream or download the free music compilation "The Best Of The Chris Barron Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour" here⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Link: https://spindoctorsarchive.com/portfolio/bestoftcbtthh/

Produced by Daniel Heinze, Leipzig. This is a strictly non-commercial project. All sound / music snippets used by permission.

5th in a series of interviews with Spin Doctors drummer Aaron Comess about the band's discography: from their initial 80s demos to their forthcoming 7th studio release. In this episode, we are discussing the 1999 album "Here Comes The Bride".

Featured Spin Doctors jam: "Jam" live at Don Hill's, New York City, November 4th, 1997 - make sure to check the entire show recording for rare gems such as "Rhinestone" or "Hurricane"! 

SpinDoctorsArchive.com is your go-to source for everything Spin Doctors-related, including set lists, discography, song and band details, news, and more.

Listen to the free music compilation "The Best Of The Chris Barron Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour" here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Produced by Daniel Heinze, Leipzig. This is a strictly non-commercial project. All sound / music snippets used by permission.

4th in a series of interviews with Spin Doctors drummer Aaron Comess about the band's discography: from their initial 80s demos to their forthcoming 7th studio release. In this episode, we are discussing the 1996 album "You've Got To Believe In Something".

Featured Spin Doctors jam: "In The House" live at Nightingale Bar, New York City, May 9, 1995. 

SpinDoctorsArchive.com is your go-to source for everything Spin Doctors-related, including set lists, discography, song and band details, news, and more.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to the free music compilation "The Best Of The Chris Barron Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour" here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Produced by Daniel Heinze, Leipzig. This is a strictly non-commercial project. All sound / music snippets used by permission.

3rd in a series of interviews with Spin Doctors drummer Aaron Comess about the band's discography: from their initial 80s demos to their forthcoming 7th studio release. In this episode, we are discussing the fan favorite 1994 album "Turn It Upside Down".

Featured Spin Doctors jam: "Prey To Bears" live at The Bottom Line, New York, June 12, 1994. Listen to the full show for free on the Live Music Archive.

Check out a 2011 performance of "Hungry Hamed's" where the band included the instrumental part that Aaron and Daniel mentioned in this episode here (mp3) (full show setlist here, full show live recording here).

SpinDoctorsArchive.com⁠⁠⁠ is your resource for all things Spin Doctors - set lists, discography, song and band information, news etc.

⁠⁠⁠Listen to the free music compilation "The Best Of The Chris Barron Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour" here⁠⁠⁠.

Produced by Daniel Heinze, Leipzig. This is a strictly non-commercial project. All sound / music snippets used by permission.

2nd in a series of interviews with Spin Doctors' drummer Aaron Comess about the band's discography: from their initial 80s demos to their forthcoming 7th studio release. In this episode, we are discussing the bestselling debut album "Pocket Full Of Kryptonite" (1991) as well as "Homebelly Groove ... Live" (1992).

⁠SpinDoctorsArchive.com⁠ is your resource for all things Spin Doctors - set lists, discography, song and band information, news etc.

Featured Spin Doctors jam: "Forever Collapses" live at Nightingale Bar, New York, June 30th, 1991. Listen to the full show for free ⁠on the Live Music Archive⁠.

⁠⁠Listen to the free music compilation "The Best Of The Chris Barron Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour" here⁠⁠.

Produced by Daniel Heinze, Leipzig. This is a strictly non-commercial project. All sound / music snippets used by permission.

First in a series of interviews with Spin Doctors' drummer Aaron Comess about the band's discography: from their initial 80s demos to their forthcoming 7th studio album. Explore or rediscover the band's music in the order it was released!

In this episode, we are discussing Spin Doctors' "Can't Say No" and "Piece Of Glass" demos as well as their first major release on Epic/Sony, the live EP "Up For Grabs".

SpinDoctorsArchive.com is your resource for all things Spin Doctors - set lists, discography, song and band information, news etc.

Listen to the free music compilation "The Best Of The Chris Barron Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour" here.

Featured Spin Doctors jam: "Homebelly Groove" live at Wetlands Preserve, December 20th, 1990 featuring John Popper of Blues Traveler (harp) and Arnie Lawrence (sax). Listen to the full show for free on the Live Music Archive.

Produced by Daniel Heinze, Leipzig. This is a strictly non-commercial project. All sound / music snippets used by permission.