SPOKE with Michael Malarkey

In this episode of SPOKE, I caught up with J. Robbins and we covered a lot of ground—from his early, insecure days in DC's punk rock greats Government Issue to the decade long career of Jawbox, there's a lot to unpack here.  @jawboxofficial

in this episode, I spoke with Florida's own Tierney Tough—who fronts the indie rock band The Pauses. They've playing now for over a decade—releasing. two full length albums, two EPs, and three singles. We talked about Garry Shandling, recording with Jawbox' J.Robbins, touring in a pandemic, dancing in your living room, coping mechanisms. Check out Tierney's new EP entitled "A Farce to Reckon With" now—and while you're at it, watch her whimsical new music video for the EP's first single "Apartment 54". https://www.thepauses.com/ Instagram: @thepauses & @tierneytough

Michael Malarkey is known for his work in TV's the "Vampire Diaries" and "Project Blue Book" but he's also a singer/songwriter and onetime vocalist for Ohio-based hardcore band Shadyside. On this episode of SPOKE, we talked about the joys of working at a record store—and being young and cocky record store clerk,  the ups and downs of social media, how hardcore punk changed his life, and the live audience expectations of an actor/musician.

This week's episode of SPOKE features guests Jennifer Finch (L7) and filmmaker Robert Galluzzo. We discuss the cassette tape culture and the art of the mixtape—inspired by Galluzzo's brand new film "Analog Love"—which, you guessed it, explores just that. It's a fascinating documentary that includes insights from Finch, Henry Rollins, the late Kim Shattuck (The Muffs), Money Mark (Beastie Boys) and many more. This is the first of a 2 part episode. 

This week we spoke with Bonnie Bloomgarden who fronts LA's excellent Death Valley Girls. In this episode we covered a lot of ground—from satanism to spirituality to drug addiction and the sheer joy that comes from playing in front of a live audience. Suicide Squeeze has just re-issued their classic LP Street Venom (originally released in 2014) that's mandatory listening. This is a really special episode—check it out!

On this week's episode of SPOKE, Scott Crawford sat down with Scott McCloud—singer/guitarist for Girls Against Boys and Paramount Styles as well as guitarist for DC punk legends Soulside. On the eve of Touch & Go Records reissuing their 1995 classic, "House of GVSB" LP,  we dig deep into the 1990s landscape and how Girls Against Boys navigated the decade. McCloud also discussed the DC punk scene, stealing from Tower Records, buying parking lots in NYC, and much more. 

In Episode 11 of SPOKE, we talked to alt-country badass Jaime Wyatt—who released one of the genre's strongest records last year, "Neon Cross" (New West). In this honest, far-reaching interview we covered everything from Jaime coming out as a queer artist last year and the issues that came with it, her time spent in prison, her love of punk rock, separating an artist from their politics, and much much more.

In this episode of SPOKE, we talked to Sade Sanchez of the L.A. (duh) based pysch-punk band L.A. Witch. Founded in 2011, and having released two albums and several singles, the band's sound has evolved but it's lo-fi, bloozy approach remains the same (see The Cramps, Dead Moon, Scientists, Mazzy Star, et al). This episode covers everything from post-pandemic live sets, motorcycle crashes, muscle cars, cauliflower ears, reverb obsession and much more.  Check out L.A. Witch: https://www.facebook.com/lawitches https://www.instagram.com/la_witch/ Please follow and rate this podcast if you can! 

This week host Scott Crawford spoke with Tesco Vee (a.k.a. Robert Vermeulen)—frontman for the Meatmen and Tesco Vee's Hate Police. Vee's career started in the 1970s in Michigan where he started "Touch and Go" fanzine (which would later become Touch and Go Records) and as leader of the Meatmen. Since their inception in 1981,  band's crude humor and stage antics attracted their share of critics, but it was all done in a strictly tongue-in-cheek style. In this interview, Vee discusses everything from toy collecting, Glenn Danzig, CREEM magazine, the early days of hardcore punk, being a self-described liberal, and a special announcement regarding the future of the Meatmen. Follow Tesco on social media at: Instagram: @tescovee www.the-meatmen-com (Please note: this episode contains adult language/subject matter)

In this week's episode of SPOKE, we talked with Kevin Seconds—frontman for the legendary 7 Seconds, painter, entrepreneur, and troubadour. Trust Records (trustrecordscompany.com) has just reissued 7 Seconds classic LP, "The Crew" (available June 25) with liner notes and new packaging, so it seemed an apt time to catch up with Kevin. He opened up about the band and it's almost 40 year history, his life with a single mother, the health of his bandmates, U2's "Rattle & Hum," eating steak dinners with major label suits, and the joys of playing live.  Please share this episode wherever you can! Follow Kevin Seconds on Instagram: @kevinseconds and his online store at kevinseconds.bigcartel.com