The LIFERS Podcast

It wouldn’t exactly be true to say that Chicago based singer-songwriter Savanna Ruth released her excellent debut THE BASEBALL DIARIES only a few weeks ago. Yes, it’s true that she’s based in Chicago. And it’s also true that her brand new record (produced by Scott and Figdish’s Blake Smith) is, indeed, excellent — but she’s been releasing music under the moniker Burr Oak since 2019, so it’s not EXACTLY her debut record. What it IS, however, is a bold new direction for her fueled by a renewed sense of purpose after years of serious self-doubt and a creeping urge to just close up the shop. It’s also a record that’s catchy as fuck. On this episode we talk to Savanna about baseball, candy bars, Taylor Swift, modern release schedules, social comparison, the necessity of difficulty, big D’s and we pick the best(?!?) sports movies of all time (well, at least since the ‘70s).

Halloween Eve, and all through the podcast the boys discuss the last week of the Karen Across America tour, upcoming dates, and the greatest horror franchises of all time! Happy Halloween!!

Scott's in Arizona on a night off of The Toadies tour, doing laundry, so he asks Ben and Gabe to contemplate the true nature of "all you can eat". Gabe is in Florida, and man is he acclimating! He asks Scott and Ben to contemplate the true nature of "line dancing". Ben is in Madison, where he still can't remember much at all about "The Odyssey". PLUS: What's The Best Opening Line of a Beatles Song! And... GO!

Joe Swanberg’s feature debut, KISSING ON THE MOUTH, premiered at SXSW in 2005, which turned out to be a real vintage year. It was at that festival that Joe met many of the filmmakers who would become key collaborators and fellow travelers navigating the world of low budget moviemaking. Somebody started calling it “Mumblecore” — and the fairly perjorative moniker stuck. But here’s the thing: That truly DIY movement shifted the trajectory of American independent cinema away from the flashy crime movies that had dominated the previous decade, and towards much more personal films, whose low-res authenticity took advantage of newly affordable digital video cameras and editing gear. Joe is nothing if not productive—he released 6 movies in 2011—so it’s kinda crazy to realize that his 20th feature, the funny and excellent sleeper comedy THE SUN NEVER SETS, is his first in 9 years. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy. On this episode we find out what the hell he’s been up to, discuss his constantly moving brick and mortar video store, ask him why he’s editing a porno on 16mm and talk about Alaska, John Waters, Netflix, and watching DAZED AND CONFUSED with his dad. ALSO: We pick the BEST needle drops.

It’s been quite a summer for our buddy Tanner Dane — he and his band Hollyy have successfully turned the Belmont beach at Lake Michigan into a mini-Ravinia with their increasingly popular monthly pop-up shows that are only advertised at the last minute through their Tik-Toks and Instagrams. Except it’s not so mini anymore —thousands of people are showing up— and that’s driving the park district crazy. Cue the lawyers, cops and money. And if this sounds like business as usual in the city of Chicago — it’s also business as usual in the music biz. Where the “old boss” of making a name for yourself on indie labels until the majors deem you worthy of being called up to the big leagues meets the “new boss” of pumping up your social media numbers and manufacturing your own publicity schemes until the powers that be can bottle up all that buzz and finally release your excellent solo album that’s been hanging in limbo for longer than you’d like to admit. Same as it ever was. On this episode we talk to Tanner about the modern realities of being a musician, grand plans, the importance of a good solar battery, acting as your own suit, fighting city hall, mutualism, the joys of confusion, and we pick the best(?!?) opening lines in rock (spoiler: It’s “You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar” and no one fucking picked it!).

Dolly Rebecca Parton, R.I.P.

The second leg of Local H’s tour with The Toadies has ended — prompting much reflection on the realities of life on the road. The physical toll. The psychic costs. The riggies. PLUS!: What are the BEST(?!?) EPs?

Clark Vogeler is the guitar playing Michael Corleone of rock. Every time he thinks he’s out —somehow!— they manage to pull him back in. Clark never had any ambitions to be a rock and roll lifer — he figured he’d record a couple records with his band Funland, tour the country for a few years, then grow up and get a real job. And then in 1996, he joined the Toadies. That was 30 years ago. So you see where this is going, right? This week (and on the eve of starting the second leg of THE CHARMER tour with Local H) we check a third Toadies member off our list as we talk to Clark about the wonderful improbability of playing music in your 50s, touring behind a record that’s one of the best things you’ve ever done, and what the frick are all these kids doing at the shows?!? PLUS: What are the best instrumentals? (And Vaden? You’re next!)

The guys relive old glory days in front of the TV set, fight over “Frere Jacques”, wax rhapsodic about “Straight Time”, pit M. Emmet Walsh against Robert Prosky, marvel at the absence of Beatles deep cuts, get nostalgic for fake game shows, ponder the paradox of Sisyphus, and bid a fond, tearful farewell to Lionel Messi. So, you know — business as usual.

Back by popular demand — it’s Deanna Belos!!! For the FOURTH TIME! Her band Sincere Engineer’s 4th record (PROBABLE CLAWS) was released a couple of weeks ago and, well, it certainly sounds like a breakthrough. It’s the kind of well crafted, undeniably catchy collection of songs that tends to push bands to the fabled “next level”. The work of somebody at the top of their game — confident and ready to “go for it” (please excuse all the quotation marks). But good luck trying to get her to admit to that. Which is just as well. It’s a thin line between “confident” and “asshole” and we don’t see Deanna ever tipping over into that second category. It’s one of the reasons Sincere Engineer is so beloved, after all. So rather than dwell on all that fabulousness — we just spend the entire episode talking about Hootie & The Blowfish. LOL!!!