Going Off Track

The walking, talking encyclopedia of music himself is with us this week - the always amazing Matt Pinfield. He knows everything about music and has seen almost every cool band but in true form we get off-track and in-Jersey in this fun, informative episode. From baby Moby to 911 in that non-stop, classic voice. Matt's website

Tour manager for The Gaslight Anthem, Taylor Brown joins us for another 'Road Dogs' episode. He discusses the blessed 'day off' on the road, East Coast vs West Coast wildfires, the joy of spreadsheets and that Prague show. You should also know that this Renaissance man designs and builds mid-century modern furniture.

The delightful Karina Rykman, bassist, songwriter, jam-specialist, joins us this week to talk about the spiritual essence of jam-rock, running around Manhattan with a guitar at 13, her love of music (and specifically, Slayer). She reveals the Rolls-Royce of elevators and invites Benny to her parents' for brunch. Karina's website

Josh Johnson is deservedly blowing up right now! As correspondent on Comedy Central’s, The Daily Show as well as his hilarious standup and podcast, so we thought it was a good time to revisit the chat we had with him a while back... Josh's website

This week with got to chat with delightful Canadian rocker, Stefan Babcock, lead singer of PUP, maybe our favorite band from up yonder? He talked about growing up punk in a family full of scientists, best Toronto bands, Rivers Cuomo's songwriting techniques and a lot about Stefan's own process and philosophies. It was a lot of fun.

Here is the rock band of the future! Pinkshift (the whole band) joins us this week to talk about KISS lunchboxes, practicing piano for Skittles, all of their amazing alter-egos (intense) and what is REALLY happening in the brain of a drummer. A great band and a really fun and informative conversation.

Comedian, author and founder of The Hard Times website, Bill Conway joins us this week to talk about growing up with a bad name in Boston via a hard-fighting father who taught him early, "how to talk to a cop". Saved by skateboarding and the local hardcore scene, he eventually started the hilarious Hard Times franchise satirizing all things punk, hardcore and otherwise.

We've got a classic G.O.T. episode this week - be a fly on the wall as two drummers have a laid-back chat about their early influences, cool shows they were at and shared experiences. Jared Shavelson has played with The Bronx, The Hope Conspiracy, Paint It Black, and even Seal! Currently drumming for Joyce Manor and on tour with The Gaslight Anthem, Benny took him aside at the hotel in Cincinnati for a great sit-down.

Live from the road! Benny chats with Luke, Kyle and Sam of the great Canadian rock band, The Dirty Nil. From Bartholomew the bully to visors as fashion? It's a real off-track experience. The Dirty Nil website

Frontman, Dylan Slocum and keyboardist, Meredith Van Woert of Spanish Love Songs talk about time zones, Nashville's "acceptable bagel", touring with The Gaslight Anthem and learning band mental-health from Metallica. Benny also digs deep into their personal relationship, confessing that while touring with them, he never realized that they were married! It's a deep dive into some very on-point and off-track material. Spanish Love Songs website

This week, Hopeless Records founder, Louis Posen regales us with tales of how he cold-called both NoFX and Green Day, offering to make music videos and ended up doing "Bob" for Fat Mike and the gang. Guttermouth pushed him to release the first Hopeless Records single, using money made from his baseball card collection and he beat Tim Armstrong to Monster Plug by showing up.

We had an amazing talk this week with New York Times journalist, Nick Corasaniti. His new book, "I Don't Want to Go Home: The Oral History of the Stone Pony" just dropped and it is a very fun read. Our esteemed host, Benny himself is in the book! Besides a lot of rich stories about the legendary New Jersey venue, we go off track discussing Aerosmith's legacy and the Taylor Ham vs pork roll controversy. Big stuff.

How's this for off-track? Let's get a hilarious comedian and talk about when he ran an illegal poker game and then a brothel! Neil Rubenstein is for real in many ways and this was a roller coaster conversation that we had with him. The punk rock way of comedy, words you can't say on Tik Tok and a love of libraries. Dude is deep (and funny).

Oh boy, have we got a show for you this week... the amazing Butch Walker of Marvelous 3, The Floyds, SouthGang, also a renown producer/songwriter working with Green Day, Weezer, Pink, Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco to name a few. Butch has seen eras come and go and played a part in all of them! From being an LA hair metal band MTV star to what is happening with A-listers this week, the man is on it. A great story teller to boot, so strap in.

Guitarist for Thursday, Steve Pedulla joins us to talk about the band and its history as well as his other gig as a director of photography for cool, food shows (among other reality shows). There's also a lot of "Jersey" talk and of course the mandatory AI discussion. photo by Michael Dubin

Hot Water Music's Chris Wollard joins us this week with guest-co-host, Jon Snodgrass to discuss the Gollum songwriting curse, praise for Stever Miller Band and how he and HWM drummer George Rebelo hated each other on site at their initial meeting.

Is Laura Jane Grace the best podcast guest ever? She has certainly always been on for us and brings it again in this awesome interview. From Elvis marrying her in Vegas, to singing "Just Like Heaven" with Dinosaur Jr., this episode bounces with fun and stories.

Danbert Nobacon has seen the full range of it all - from the streets of Manchester UK in the 70s to the wilds of eastern Washington state; from 80's anarchist punks to anarchist major-label, big-hit darlings in Chumbawamba. Along the way he never sold out his ideals and quite literally put his money where his mouth is. A super interesting conversation with a very real dude. Check out his new album, Kochtopus's Garden with the Axis of Dissent.

The Gaslight Anthem's FOH engineer, Tiffany Hendren on a "Road Dogs" episode that was actually taped on the road! Benny sits down with their wonderful live-mix engineer between gigs in Europe to chew the fat about what she does and how she got there.

What better time than now to revisit the mountain man himself, the honorable Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music fame along with solo artisting and of course... mountain manning.