The Powered By Rock Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Chris Lynam, Matty Lupinacci, Danny DiGiuseppe, and Mike Drinkwalter are members of the Long Island-based band Gone Stereo.

They're known for their innovative approach to pop punk, incorporating elements from various rock genres to craft a mature, distinctive sound.

They've been active musicians for decades and consistently contribute to the punk scene with their dynamic musical style. Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode, host Isaac Kuhlman brings together members of the Long Island punk band, Gone Stereo, to explore the ever-evolving world of punk music.

Dive into the discussion as Isaac and the band dissect the resurging popularity of hardcore punk and consider its potential to reach mainstream audiences.

With bands like Turnstile and Militarie Gun leading this rejuvenation, they reflect on how contemporary punk balances its underground roots with broader appeal.

Through a series of insightful exchanges, the episode covers the unique sound of Gone Stereo, which defies conventional pop punk norms by incorporating intricate instrumentation and mature lyrical content.

Listeners are treated to a deep dive into how punk music has evolved over the decades, what keeps it relevant, and where it might be headed in the future.

Themes such as authenticity, the effects of technology on music discovery, and the inherent challenges of carving a niche in the music industry are woven seamlessly throughout the conversation.

Intro Music: Birds Love Filters "Colorado" - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/dqD_jMhZGqU⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Outro Music: Speedway Sleeper "Snail Mail" - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/21-vX3bBagc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please consider purchasing some cool merch or some musical instrument accessories at our site - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://poweredbyrock.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Indie Musicians - check out the FREE DIY Rock Career Playlist here - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_2jRJsJubw&list=PL465-TazTQf5tZ9zGHitfmWQpYsbVlF99⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://diyrockcareer.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Key Takeaways:

• The evolution of punk music is marked by the resurgence of hardcore punk, driven by bands like Turnstile and Knocked Loose, reflecting a potential shift towards mainstream acceptance.
• Gone Stereo differentiates itself from traditional pop punk bands by utilizing dual guitar strategies and intricate song structures, creating a mature sound that resonates with audiences of different ages.
• Authenticity and DIY ethics remain at the core of punk, with emerging artists encouraged to stay true to their artistic vision while navigating today's music landscape.
• The importance of live performances and connecting with local scenes are highlighted as vital for bands to gain exposure and build genuine followings.
• Challenges such as declining small venues and the necessity for musicians to adopt business strategies for sustainability are current industry hurdles.

Resources:

Check out Gone Stereo's Music and Links - https://linktr.ee/gonestereo

Timeline:

00:00 Episode Intro

01:34 Gone Stereo's Approach to Punk Music is Not the Same Pop-Punk Formula

12:27 Does Gone Stereo Believe That Punk Will Be Revived by Hardcore?

29:23 Are There Other Ways Punk Music Can Achieve Mainstream Success Again?

50:14 Gone Stereo talks about their new single "Meet Me at Garvies" and upcoming show dates

58:25 Gone Stereo gives shout outs to local Long Island bands

Anthony Merchant: Anthony Merchant is the host of the Power Chord Hour podcast, a show dedicated to rock music, and he also hosts a program on Jamestown, New York's 107.9 WRFA called Power Chord Hour. With a deep knowledge and passion for various rock genres, Anthony explores the evolution and impact of rock music, sharing insights and engaging discussions with fellow rock enthusiasts.

Episode Summary:

In this captivating episode, Isaac Kuhlman and Anthony Merchant dive deep into the transformative era of 1990s rock music. They discuss the seismic shifts within the genre, from the rise and fall of grunge to the emergence of ska, emo, and new metal. This episode illuminates the ways in which these subgenres shaped not only the music industry but also the cultural landscape of the time.

The conversation starts with an exploration of the grunge movement, highlighting bands like Nirvana and their influence on the subsequent waves of rock.

The latter part of the episode focuses on the birth and evolution of new metal and rap rock, spotlighting bands such as Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Nine Inch Nails.

The duo reflects on Rage Against the Machine's groundbreaking influence and their politically charged lyricism that set the stage for many bands that followed. They also touch on the lasting impact of these genres and the changing landscape of rock music up to the present day.

Intro Music: Birds Love Filters "Colorado" - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/dqD_jMhZGqU⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Outro Music: Speedway Sleeper "Snail Mail" - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/21-vX3bBagc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please consider purchasing some cool merch or some musical instrument accessories at our site - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://poweredbyrock.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Check out the FREE DIY Rock Career Playlist here - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_2jRJsJubw&list=PL465-TazTQf5tZ9zGHitfmWQpYsbVlF99⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can also learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://diyrockcareer.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Key Takeaways:

• The 1990s were a highly transformative era for rock music, seeing rapid shifts in popular subgenres such as grunge, pop punk, ska, emo, and new metal.
• Rage Against the Machine was a revolutionary band that combined high-energy music with deep political activism, laying the groundwork for new metal and rap rock, although they indirectly influenced bands they were philosophically opposed to.
• The conversation underlines how some songs from the 1990s have transcended their genres, becoming cultural anthems that continue to be celebrated in mainstream venues like sports events.
• There’s an inherent challenge for bands that follow a massive hit, as trying to replicate their success often fails, while those who stay true to their originality garner long-term respect.

Resources:

Follow Anthony's Stuff:

Power Chord Hour on IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/powerchordhour/⁠

Power Chord Hour on YT - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@powerchordhour⁠

Words and Sentences About Things and Stuff Podcast - ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0i7KUwQFTJOkMiSy9nIQEP?si=a8de0b9cef5d47f4⁠

Links to Related Content:

Part 1 of This Series - ⁠https://youtu.be/105TH1Q2klw⁠

Part 2 of This Series - ⁠https://youtu.be/j9m9eUBlBic⁠

Part 3 of This Series - ⁠https://youtu.be/Qm61JpgNH_k⁠

Episode About The Death of Rock Music - https://youtu.be/5MTrSWEenQc

Episode with Chris Ballew from The Presidents of the United States of America - https://youtu.be/IFc2Q-05H6c

Timeline: 0:00 Episode Intro

1:23 The Evolution of Rock Genres in the 1990s

4:22 Rage Against the Machine's Impact on Political Awareness in Music

6:30 Rage Against the Machine's Influence on 90s Music and New Metal

15:27 The Nineties: A Transformative Decade for Rock Music

21:03 The Timeless Power of Rock Music in Uniting People

27:00 A Musician's Journey from Stardom to Contentment

28:38 The Evolution and Impact of Music from the 90s to 2000s

32:50 Kurt Cobain's Unreleased Collaborations and Industry Rebellion

36:48 The Fragile Balance Between Artistic Integrity and Fan Expectations

About the Guest(s):

**S.W. Lauden** is not only a passionate commentator on the music scene of the 90s but also an author and editor involved in The Generation Blue Project.

This project uniquely combines a historical retrospective of the 90s LA geek rock scene with personal accounts from those who were a part of it. Included in the project is a vinyl compilation featuring bands that emerged in the wake of Weezer's rise to fame.

**Rod Cervera** is a multifaceted musician and producer, known for his involvement with Supersport 2000 and his contributions to Weezer's 'Maladroit' album.

Beyond his role as a musician, Rod has a significant track record as a producer and engineer, having been deeply ingrained in the development of the geek rock scene and its subsequent evolution.

Episode Summary:

In this nostalgia-filled episode, we delve into the transformative impact of underground music in the 90s, particularly focusing on the genre-defining movement of geek rock. Prompted by a provocative comment dismissing Weezer's Blue Album, the conversation explores the band's lasting legacy and the ripple effect it had on the era's music landscape.

The show dives into the origins of geek rock, looking closely at Weezer's remarkable journey as they carved out a new niche, breaking free from the prevailing glam rock mold.

The episode also probes into the cultural shifts of the time, where fringe elements like comic books and science fiction began to find mainstream acceptance, laying the groundwork for geek rock’s explosion.

Guests S.W. Lauden and Rod Cervera share their firsthand experiences from the front lines of this musical revolution.

They recount tales of camaraderie and musical exploration that defined a generation of rock and provided an alternative to the established norms of the rock persona.

Intro Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Colorado" by Birds Love Filters⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Outro Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Snail Mail" by Speedway Sleeper⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please consider purchasing some cool merch or some musical instrument accessories at our site - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://poweredbyrock.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you an indie musician looking for a structure for your music career?

Check out the FREE DIY Rock Career Playlist here - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_2jRJsJubw&list=PL465-TazTQf5tZ9zGHitfmWQpYsbVlF99⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://diyrockcareer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Resources from This Episode:

Buy The Generation Blue Project Book/Vinyl - https://bigstirrecords.com/the-generation-blue-project

Compilation on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/2iumlOvlfYMnPo4pKRMegN?si=9TFNTxeLSZm6gHDS4YrV-g

S.W. Lauden’s Expanded Playlist on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3eG8cQaokVPzgkkpRKmbhv?si=0f265cbdab814c36

Timeline:

0:00 - Introduction - The Rise of Underground Music in the 1990s

1:11 - Chapter 1 - 2024: 30 Years of Weezer’s Blue Album; Fighting Words from a Friend

11:13 - Weezer's Impact on Music and Personal Identity

15:51 - Weezer's Impact and Support in the LA Music Scene

20:35 - Chapter 2 - The “Blue Album” Causes Total Shift in L.A. Rock Scene; The Birth of Geek Rock

24:31 - Chapter 3 - The Rentals Change Weezer Forever

31:23 - Pinkerton's Impact and Weezer's Evolution in Music

34:40 - Pat Wilson's Understated Drumming Genius in Weezer

38:14 - Weezer's Unreleased Album - Songs From A Black Hole

40:37 - Reflecting on Weezer's Hiatus and the LA Music Scene Evolution

47:25 - Chapter 4 - The Generation Blue Project - Book and Vinyl Compilation

58:25 - Chapter 5 - The Lasting Legacy of Weezer and the Geek Rock Scene

1:02:54 - The Impact of DIY Recording on Indie Music Quality

1:06:37 - The Impact of Producers on Recording Process

1:11:33 - Behind the Scenes of Weezer's 'Maladroit' Production

I am going to be speaking with author, filmmaker, tattoo artist, and all around good dude, James Spooner.

James is the man responsible for the 2003 documentary on punk rock and its racially divided history called Afropunk, and has many other projects previously released, but he has a new book coming out on May 19th, 2022 called The High Desert which is an autobiographical graphic novel about growing up in Apple Valley, California and becoming a punk rocker.

The book is a firestorm of the radical new music scene, growing up with separated parents, and dealing with racism and acceptance in White America in the 80’s.

I’ll be speaking with James Spooner about this incredible story right after this.

Intro Music: "Colorado" by Birds Love Filters

Outro Music: "Snail Mail" by Speedway Sleeper

Order The High Desert: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-high-desert-james-spooner?variant=39935744475170

James Spooner's Website: https://www.spoonersnofun.com/

James Spooner's Links: https://linktr.ee/spoonersnofun

James Spooner's Events: https://www.spoonersnofun.com/events

I am going to be speaking with S.W. Lauden who has put together an excellent book called Forbidden Beat: perspectives on punk drumming.

He is a punk drummer and author with a mission to shed light on the legendary drumming styles and players of punk music over the years. The book itself is a collection of essays, interviews and lists from contributors such as Joey Cape, Marko DeSantis, Tre Cool, Ira Elliot and so many more influential punk musicians.

I can’t wait to dig into this book with S.W. right after this.

Intro Music: "Colorado" by Birds Love Filters

Outro Music: "Snail Mail" by Speedway Sleeper

S.W. Lauden's Website: http://swlauden.com/

S.W. Lauden's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/swlauden

Hey there, it’s Isaac from Powered By Rock here to bring Vaden Lewis from Toadies into the spotlight for a few minutes, and make him sweat with some on-the-spot questions.

Welcome, Vaden. Are you ready to be put in the spotlight?

1 - What two bands would you tour with active or past, living or dead?

2 - Do you have a favorite horror book / horror movie of all time?

3 - As a native Texan, what is your favorite kind of Texas food (Tex-Mex, BBQ, etc...) and where do you go to eat it?

4 - Can you possibly estimate how many Lonestar beers you drank in your lifetime?

5 - If you had to get into heaven, and God said, "Play me the song that I want to hear..." what song in your catalog would you play to get into heaven?

I want to thank Vaden Lewis from Toadies for stepping In the Spotlight and answering these hot seat questions.

Make sure to go to the show notes below this episode for links to the music and watch our full podcast interview as well!

Rock on!

Toadies Website: https://thetoadies.com/

Toadies Tour Dates: https://thetoadies.com/tour-dates/

Toadies Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/toadies

Clark Voegeler's "Dark Secrets - The Stories of Rubberneck": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG2se9IHXJ8

The Loop Rehearsal Space: https://www.thelooptx.com/

I am going to be speaking with Vaden Lewis, the frontman for the legendary Texas rock band Toadies, today about well, as much as I can because Toadies are one of my top 5 favorite bands of all time, and I have a lot of questions which 95% we won’t have time for, but let’s see how deep we can get on the 5% that we have time for.

Toadies are going on tour this year to celebrate Rubberneck's 25th Anniversary (which happened during the pandemic). We’ll be speaking to the rock legend himself, Vaden Lewis, right after this!

Intro Music: "Colorado" by Birds Love Filters

Outro Music: "Snail Mail" by Speedway Sleeper

Toadies Website: https://thetoadies.com/

Toadies Tour Dates: https://thetoadies.com/tour-dates/

Toadies Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/toadies

Clark Voegeler's "Dark Secrets - The Stories of Rubberneck": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG2se9IHXJ8

The Loop Rehearsal Space: https://www.thelooptx.com/

Hey there, it’s Isaac from Powered By Rock here to bring The Dreaded Laramie into the spotlight for a few minutes, and make them sweat with some on-the-spot questions.

Welcome, everyone. Are you ready to be put in the spotlight?

1 - If you guys could go on tour with two other bands, which two bands would you tour with?

2 - We talked about your Weezer fandom in the main podcast, but I am just curious what do each of you consider to be the best Weezer album?

3 - What is your favorite Nashville or Louisville based band that you think should get more attention outside of your band?

4 - Sometimes being in a band can be frustrating, but what do you guys do to try to maintain a happy band as much as possible?

5 - If you could be like Bill and Ted from the movies and write a song that created peace and harmony on Earth, what would the title of that song be?

I want to thank The Dreaded Laramie for stepping In the Spotlight and answering these hot seat questions.

Make sure to go to the show notes below this episode for links to the music and watch our full podcast interview as well!

Rock on!

The Dreaded Laramie on Bandcamp: https://thedreadedlaramie.bandcamp.com/

The Dreaded Laramie LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thedreadedlaramieband

Pre-order Everything A Girl Could Ask: https://selltheheartrecords.bigcartel.com/product/the-dreaded-laramie-everything-a-girl-could-ask-7-picture-disc

I am going to be speaking with the Nashville-based indie rock band, The Dreaded Laramie. After putting out an E.P titled The Dreaded LaramiE.P. in 2019, they are set to release their next EP called Everything A Girl Could Ask on May 13th which is a Friday. But damn those superstitions, because I am sure that nothing but magic will come to the band upon release day.

We’ll be speaking to The Dreaded Laramie right after this.

Intro Music: "Colorado" by Birds Love Filters

Outro Music: "Snail Mail" by Speedway Sleeper

The Dreaded Laramie on Bandcamp: https://thedreadedlaramie.bandcamp.com/

The Dreaded Laramie LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/thedreadedlaramieband

Pre-order Everything A Girl Could Ask: https://selltheheartrecords.bigcartel.com/product/the-dreaded-laramie-everything-a-girl-could-ask-7-picture-disc

Hey there, it’s Isaac from Powered By Rock here to bring Jack McEwan from Psychedelic Porn Crumpets into the spotlight for a few minutes, and make him sweat with some on-the-spot questions.

Welcome, Jack. Are you ready to be put in the spotlight?

1 - Your music is pretty trippy in a lot of ways. Does that mean some or all of you dabble in the hallucinogens and if so what kind of trip is your preference?

2 - What were some of the main artists that got you into playing music in the first place?

3 - I have to ask these next couple of questions of every Aussie:

• What’s your favorite kind of meat pie?
• Do you watch AFL? And who do you support?
• You drinking 4X Gold or mixed drinks when on the lash?

4 - I have read some stories about you mentioning some crazy things on tour that you can’t believe have happened. So, what’s the craziest thing you have seen while on tour?

5 - If you could improve one thing about planet Earth, what would that be?

I want to thank Jack from Psychedelic Porn Crumpets for stepping In the Spotlight and answering these hot seat questions.

Make sure to go to the show notes below this episode for links to the music and watch our full podcast interview as well!

Rock on!

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets Site: https://www.psychedelicporncrumpets.com/

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets Linktree: https://linktr.ee/psychedelicporncrumpets

Pre-Order, Pre-Save and Listen to the New Album Night Gnomes now: https://psychedelic-porn-crumpets.lnk.to/Night_Gnomes