Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal

Upright Forms are a great band from Minneapolis, with a great new record called Blurred Wires. Nick has been on before a couple years back, but this is the first Upright Forms full length, Let's hear all about the band's origin story, why the "notes app" is so important. What is and isn't secret prog and lots more. All of that plus a DETAILED song by song breakdown of Blurred Wires.

A great conversation going from the early days of DC Punk Rock, to right now. The gestation of Rollins Band, starting with Hot Animal Machine and all the way to Come In and Burn. Low Self-Opinion and the unlikely single of Liar. Solo records and working in the modern environment as a musician. The story of playing with Jah Wobble of PiL, and the incredible story of meeting and working with Reeves Gabrels, being on a David Bowie song (of sorts), and the Bowie tour that never was. All that and lots more!

Full of Hell has been releasing high quality and uncompromising heavy music for almost 15 years and there is a new one called Coagulated Bliss! We talk about that, as well as Spencer's decision to step back from touring, even as Full of Hell continues to work on the road with a new live member. Collaborations with Merzbow and The Body, Riley Stearns and the Art of the Defense. Eye Flys and Repear's Gong, Van thefts, quarantine projects and making music in a town that has less than 10,000 people when people aren't there on Vacation. It's the pride of Ocean City!

Steve has a new record with Ira Ingber Baring All - There Goes My Compass. Ira is an accomplished player as well, having played with Bob Dylan, the Mothers of Invention and Captain Beefheart amongst others. He also played that awesome slide guitar on the Midnight Run soundtrack. We speak of that as well as tales of Sam Raimi, Jon Brien (Lady Bird soundtrack, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind, etc.). Lots about the Oingo Boingo Farewell concert, live album and video . Bear McCreary. The interesting tale of Former Members of Oingo Boingo. Possibly the only tribute but that features members of the band being paid tribute to? Anyway, it's another long deep dive into the world of the amazing Steve Bartek. Guitarist, Conductor and Danny Elfman's right hand man/

Deep Tunnel Project is a chicago band! Featuring, two members of Tar, one from Silkworm and one from The Bomb it is a unique pairing creating new music and new sounds. 3/4 of them, all returning guests respectively, come on Protonic to talk in-depth about this great new record, the mindset and origin of the band and lots more!

The Red Scare is back! No, not the podcast, the legendary late 90s/early 00s' Knoxville hardcore band. Kip (Panthers, Cloudland Canyon) and Matt (New Brutalism, Manhandle, Obstructures) join Conan to talk all about the new retrospective/reissue Smoky Mountain High. A track by track breakdown, as well as a hilarious recounting of touring, songwriting, relearning songs from 20+ years ago and so much more. Genuinely hilarious!

Protonic is back! First show since the 10 year anniversary episode. Let's go! This episode is Jake Smith of heavy band Eye Flys, who have a great new heavy rock record. (self-titled!) It's a song by song of that record, as well as hearing about how they ended up on Thrill Jockey... the THRILL of having the dude from Full of Hell in the band for a good amount of time and many other stories of enjoying making records and touring while making heavy music. I mean, they are named after a Melvins song, what did you think it was gonna sound like? Let's do it!

Part 3, of Steve Albini remembered and one of my favorite times he has been on, this is the episode where he first talks about not being held to account for the name of the band Rapeman, before any other medium. We also talk about Seth and Jordan Minnesota and other controversial Big Black things as Dave Riley had recently passed. One of my favorites of this entire show, frankly. For the 150th episode, one of our favorite guests is back, the unmistakable and always interesting Mr. Steve Albini. -Making ends meet in the age of quarantine. -The American Health Care system -The slow escalation of risk with a midwest Shellac tour -Playing new songs live, 1/3 of the set is unreleased stuff. -Live experience vs. vegas stage show (the art of surprise and stage expectations) -Billiard Player Song and live evolution of songs -Cheap Trick vs. the Ex -Do the internal meanings of the songs change. -Scrappers -Old songs -Accountability for song content/flawed thinking -Culpability v/ doubling down on dickery. -Jokes vs. just being a jerk (comedians) -Chappelle -Big Black art aesthetic (it was cheaper!) -Big Black: Jordan, Minnesota -Big Black: Seth (his DOG hated black people…)(race in America and privilege) -The Mentors -The name of the band Rapeman -Rapeman: “I have not been held to account” -Blitz tattoos. -Dave Riley of Big Black remembered -The Girl on the Third Floor soundtrack (with Tim Midget and Helen Money) -The End of Radio Peel sessions

Ep021: RIP Steve Albini Part 1 (Shellac, Big Black, Engineer) from 2015 We speak with the one and only Steve Albini, pretty cool. Drive Like Jehu show recap and a whole lotta great talkin' get into it. Radio stations and ambient noise, Hearing the character of the neighborhood in the show, being a punk rock guru and answering questions, John Grabski III and the story of Teeth: a man with cancer who made the record he always wanted to make. That just so happened to be about his fight with cancer, the second Teeth record, The self policing PRF (Electrical Audio Forum), service industry, Spotify/Sleepify, pay to stream models, instant availability and constant present tense, the democratization of distribution, the statistical unlikeliness of a good band from Florida, finding an audience post-mortem, "classic DATs", a typical Steve Albini day. work, sleep, wife and a few indulgences. longevity vs. productivity, DUDE INCREDIBLE, if the process is so slow, why not put out singles?, The people's microphone, the song and concept. Surveyors. working knowledge of the land. The End of Radio - explained, perspective and evolution, younger generations, retrospection, etc. Nina Nastasia, listener fatigue from engineering, Cigar Aficionado and Guitar Aficionado magazines, heated walkways, Don't quit.

RIP Gary Floyd Punk rock legend Gary Floyd of the legendary DICKS enters the lair of the Protonic Reversal! We talk about HATE THE POLICE, how it has sadly aged pretty well and is quite possibly one of the greatest debut singles of any punk rock band. The origin of the band in Texas (name and flyers first), and subsequently moving to San Francisco. Being an out queer punk rock front person in the days of punk rock and early hardcore. Visual art and health issues. Biscuit from Big Boys and the common cause with Dicks. David Yow and Wheelchair Epidemic (and the dildos), a surprise Butthole Surfers song title homage, Sister Double Happiness! Touring with Nirvana and Soundgarden. Oh yeah, and taking off two years to... live in a monastery? Black Kali Ma, reunion tours, San Francisco related minutia, and lots, lots more.

13 (!) new interviews, about 10 minutes each to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the podcast. Wow! 1. Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard, Tomahawk, DK3) (Ep158, Ep94) 2. Coady Willis - (High on Fire, Melvins, Big Business, Murder City Devils) (Ep132) 3. Marnie Stern - (Ep361) 4. Steve Albini - (Shellac, Big Black, Electrical Audio Studio) (Ep185, Ep150, Ep127, Ep21) 5. Andrew “Falco” Falkous - (mclusky, Future of the Left) {Ep371, Ep241, Ep157, Ep116, Ep100, Ep89, Ep63, Ep14, Ep04) 6. Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Jon Spencer & the HITmakers, Lydia Lunch RetroVirus, Wolfmanhattan project) (Ep128) 7. David Pajo - (Slint, Gang of Four, Papa M, Zwan, Household Gods, Tortoise, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, Dead Child, Stereolab)(Ep190) 8. Alain Johannes - (Eleven, Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Sessions, PJ Harvey, Producer) (Ep196) 9. John Schmersal (Brainiac, Enon, Vertical Scratchers, Crooks on Tape), (Ep311, Ep136) 10. Mike Morasky (Steel Pole Bath Tub, Milk Cult, Cassette Prophet) (Ep349, Ep329, Ep162) 11. Dale Crover (Melvins, Redd Kross, Dale Crover Band, Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, Nirvana)) (Ep230, Ep155, Ep100, Ep066) 12. Jennifer Finch (L7, OtherStarPeople) (Ep191) 13. Ian MacKaye (fugazi, Coriky, the Evens, Minor Threat, Dischord Records) (Ep209) Video for the show is forthcoming! Keep it lit.

Doni Blair is best known as bassplayer for 90s legends The Toadies, but just like his brother Zach. Conan knows him from his old band Hagfish! We talk all about the Hagfish days, and van touring, as well as the glory and the allure of the Rickenbacker bass., a father who was a rock DJ, the "selling out" argument, and no thanks at all the MTV. The book Doni wrote and his journey (over 40!) with martial arts. Even if it Kills Me: Martial Arts, Rock and Roll and of course Dia De Los Toadies, the new record (!) Toadies has recorded with Steve Albini, what to expect for the future with that band, and being a catalog band with loyal fans and finding new audience members as time goes. It is the great Doni Blair! Dive in.

Danbert is a anarcho-punk icon that cofounded Anarchist collective punk group Chumbawamba in 1982, yes that's right the one with the "I get knocked down, but I get up again" song. All about the origin and the journey of "the song" that changed the band's world for quite some time. Split release with Noam Chomsky, dumping water on hypocrite politicians and his newest record Kochtopus's Garden - Now That's What I Call Capitalism - The Musical. A very direct political record about two song-bots that escape their confines and flee across America all while “Dark Money Anon,” the entity that has taken control of the States, tries to hunt them down. Punk, folk, reggae and while slashing at capitalism, militarism, authorism, sexism, racism and all the various isms. All this from the guy who fronted the band that released "Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records" "Never Mind the Ballots" and many other cheeky, too-smart irrascible and funny records. And took ad money to give it explicitly to anti-corporate groups.

The legendary guitarist for Mission of Burma arrives to talk about dream interpretations for solo guitar, silent film accompaniment, Vs., reunions, how the world caught up to Mission of Burma, Alloy Orchestra/The Anvil Orchestra (scoring Dr. Caligari at MFF soon!), Moving Parts, working on soundtracks, tapes, drones, Maximum Electric Piano, conceptual art like Transmuting the Prosaic, chamber music and so much more!

293 episodes since Rick Sims last protoniced, did they even have podcasts then? Was it on wax cylinders? Probably. Anyway! Strictly Dynamite is the new Best of and Rarities Didjits collection. It's got all of the best stuff, but also has some stuff that even the true heads don't have. We get into the confrontation and "monster voice" of the some of the Didjits stuff, how some of that probably, possibly, definitely hasn't aged too well, what that means for music now. Why rock 'n roll should be dangerous, and lots of other stuff! Supersuckers! Gaza Strippers! Just Fred with Fred Schneider of the B-52s and of course the Lee Harvey Oswald band. Hey! It is Rick Sims. Let's go!

Long time coming! Ryan Patterson has a great new Fotocrime record called Accelerated. And there's also a TWO OFF Coliseum reunion/celebration coming up shortly! We dive into all the aspects of the act of creation and connection and what should and shouldn't be tied to expectation. The wondrous J. Robbins and Ryan's long time working relationship and friendship with the man. The legacy of Coliseum (with some distance), while there could be more Coliseum stuff in the future, but a world tour shouldn't be expected, genre boxes and picking up on sounds and ideas that others cannot do anymore and lots more. The C.L.S.M. Infinity Shit Coliseum record as a cul-de-sac. Shirtkiller and lots more! Dive in!

Tarantula Heart. The latest Melvins record which was created in an unorthodox way with Ray from Ministry , and the King Dunn tour (Buzz and Trevor Dunn from Mr. Bungle) is finally happening after nearly 4 years. Eclipse madness! AI Art! Taking pictures and being on instagram. Melvins stuff being more or less free on youtube the collector's mentality and handmade aspect of the limited edition Melvins things. Wayne Kramer, fantomas, Alice Cooper Band, Helms Alee, Toshi Kasai, Allman Brothers, Cheap Trick, Five Legged Dog (the acoustic record) and the slow methodical creation of that. Re-recording things, Hipgnosis and the old style album cover, the AMREP singles series and lots, lots more! Dive in!

Greg Norton is back! It's been almost three years since last time. Ultrabomb! Cancer. So much to discuss. The new record Dying to Smile is almost here, we also discuss Time to Burn (the first Ultrabomb record), music discovery and becoming an advocate for the things you love. Progress and patience, New Day Rising, the influence of the Dü, the Ultrabomb story, last years tour with Bar Stool Preachers and this tour coming up with Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, and of course Greg's successful battle against prostate cancer.

Kid Congo Powers has a brand new record called That Delicious Vice with his band The Pink Monkey Birds. Pair that with his book (Some Kind of Kick), and the recent Wolfmanhattan Project record (with Bob Bert and Mick Collins) and you have a very busy guy! But that is nothing new, The Gun Club and Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Lux, Ivy and the Cramps! Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Wings of Desire, and so much more. From zines and fanclubs to being on stage. Punk rock as community for the freaks, nerds and weirdos of the world as well as safe haven for gay folks. Tucson vs. New York and Los Angeles. It is the legend! Kid Congo Powers!

Victims Family has an awesome new split lp with Nasalrod! "In the Modern Meatspace". We talk about that as well as a comprehensive history of Victims Family, a band who blazed their own trail throughout the 80s independent rock, the 90s gold rush and beyond. White Bread Blues, The Germ and lots more. Victims Family family, The Freak Accident, and of course Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, from the start to current. It's a career spanner with one of the great "weird guitar players" of the bay area.

The Bronson Arm self-titled record is still fairly recently released. We get into a detailed song by song of that debut, preceded by a bit of history of the band and how it all came together with so long to gestate. Pedals with Emerald Circuits, Dynamic Sound Mastering and a detailed deep dive into mastering itself, what it does and why it is important, baritone talk, split signals, space and inspiration from unique sources. It is Blake! It is Bronson Arm.

That's right it is weirdo guitar LEGEND Norm Westberg! Here not just to talk about the genre defying brutality of Swans or his magnificent ambient solo work, but to also speak about at length about the radically underrated Heroine Sheiks with Shannon Selberg of the Cows! So all things Gira and Jarboe, some King Crimson, Sonic Youth borrowing gear, as well as how to use Etsy to sell limited edition ambient works. All of that plus: "Which Swans song is their Louie, Louie?"

Mud Ride is the name of Steve's book. A messy trip through the grunge explosion. Steve of course, was there for all of it as a first hand participant with Mudhoney and before that Green River. We talk about all of that, along with The Thrown-Ups, folk records, crate digging, Monkeywrech, day jobs and lots more. Lukin and Maddison, March to Fuzz, Protest songs. Punk rock. I'm Now! Chardonnay! Fearless Doctor Killers! You Got It (which version! And which song is the best introduction to what Mudhoney does and so very much more. Been trying to get this one done for literal years and HERE. WE. ARE.

Feel Worse is the new record by USA Nails, Steven also plays in the incredible BLKLSTRS as well, and was in Kong and Oceansize. So let's get into that, as well as recording a record where 3/4 of the band are in the same city and one isn't. BLKLSTRS eps, subbing in Future of the Left, Song by Song breakdown of Feel Worse and lots, lots more!

Peter Prescott is the impresario and driving force behind Minibeast. To this day though, he is known to most as the drummer for the mighty Mission of Burma. We talk about the iconic album, ep and single by that band, and how it was somehow out of time and ahead of their time, and the reunion, hearing protection measure (the cone of silence!), record score discoveries, rocking while aging, moving to Providence and more. The rise of Volcano Suns, Kustomized and moving from behind the drums to get rhythmically krautrock with Minibeast.

J. Robbins returns! He has a brand new record called Basilisk. It has been awhile since last he was on. How long? Well his LAST album Un-becoming wasn't even done yet then and that was 2019. So there you go. In-depth with a song by song on Basilisk as well as For Your Own Special Sweetheart turning 30 years old. Post-Bill Barbot Jawbox, the impartial overview tour and whether that will be the end of the reunited Jawbox or not. Brooks! Gordon! What the hey, it is J. Robbins folks. Let's go!

John Wright of NoMeansNo and Dead Bob returns! And this time he has the NMN biographer Jason Lamb, author of NoMeansNo: From Obscurity to Oblivion: An Oral History, with him. which has just come out. We speak of the great history of the band and the challenge of getting it all down and doing it right. Casual fans and folks with NMN tattoos, getting across the humor of the band in an informative way, the thrill of the hunt for NMN esoteria, What was left out. The need to focus on the music without the visuals distracting you "The Eyes are Thieves" (and a side conversation about the nature of music and video), And of course much more DEAD BOB.

It has been 1031 days since Falco's last appearance on Protonic Reversal and mclusky's US tour is imminent (for real this time). So much has happened since then, let's start with the return as a "real" band (or as real as any band is) of the mighty mclusky. Hearing protectiong! The recent double A side single released on bandcamp. New record. Venue respect! that was my brain on elves, Christian fitness. and creating songs that will not be played live, Arbiter of Sneers, stagediving, Gallagher Coats, and autozone, music journalism, slagging off bands, etc. Falco is back!

Zach Blair has had an incredible career in music. He and Conan talk about finding a voice with guitar, Anti-Heroes is Zach's podcast. Anti-Heroes is a podcast about guitar players that aren't on the covers of the guitar magazines but who Zach thinks should be. Sounds a little familiar? Hmm. No wonder they are such kindred spirits. Hagfish remembrances (including Conan remembering what a huge fan he was of that band), GWAR antics and logistical nightmares and secret Gwar superfans. Where shredding is and isn't important. The nostalgia Industrial complex of things like When We Were Young, but honoring the fan experience. Sonic Highways with the Foot Fighters, Joining Rise Against and bringing his own skills to it, DRAKULAS, Only Crime, and Bill Stevenson and living as a working musician in the year 2023. All that and a lot, lot more. It's Zach Blair!

Steve started off writing songs and playing flute (!) with the Strawberry Alarm Clock then joined Don Randi's band (Wrecking Crew). All of that BEFORE Oingo Boingo. So what else? Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo into Oingo Boingo, Forbidden Zone, Danny Elfman, Little Girls, Only a Lad, KROQ, Bassman vs. Jazz Chorus, The Police, the Cuphead show., Machine-Man "The Museum Mayhem of Raymond Scott" with Ego Plum, and of course collaborating with DEVO's Gerald V. Casale. Composing vs. Guitaring. The first of two parts!

Friend of the show, Gerald V. Casale returns! To talk not only about the 4-d video for the Lounge Version of Pay U Back (with Steve Bartek of Oingo Boingo and Josh Freese), but to talk about the many, many DEVO activities of the last year. US, Europe and Australia tours, a 50 years of De-Evolution box set. The Art DEVO 1973-1977 box set by Futurismo... a restoration of DEVO videos for the MOMA, the premiere of a Vice Devo Documentary directed by Chris Smith. Picking songs, the popularity of Puppet Boy on TikTok, and of course DOVE: The band of LOVE, all this and more on the latest Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal

Here it is! The yearly roundup of Conan Neutron's favorite record of the years. The list:
1. J. Robbins - Basilisk - Exquisite Corpse
2. Kino Motel - Visions - Repeater
3. God Bullies - As Above, So Below - You Call This Love
4. CNTS - Thoughts & Prayers - Smart Mouth
5. Thank - I Have a Physical Body That Can Be Harmed - Woke Frasier
6. USA Nails - Feel Worse - Feel Worse
7. Arcwelder - Continue - Lafayette
8. Dale Crover - Glossolalia - Doug Yuletide
9. Kal Marks - Wasteland Baby - Insects
10. Melvins - Tarantula Heart - Working the Ditch
11. Bunuel - Mansuetude - Drug Burn
12. Shellac - To All Trains - Scrappers
13. The Jesus Lizard - Rack - Grind
14. DEAD - Burn us Clean - Burn Us Clean
15. Chat Pile - Cool World - Masc
16. Porcelain - Porcelain - Vanity
17. Upright Forms - Blurred Wires - Heaven Knows
18. Kim Deal - Nobody Loves You More - Crystal Breath
19. Sugar Horse - The Grand Scheme Of Things - The Shape of ASMR to Come
20. Brant Bjork Trio - Once Upon A Time In The Desert - Backin' The Daze
21. Deep Tunnel Project - Deep Tunnel Project - Absolute Zero
22. Big'n - South of Loathsome - End Comes Too Soon
23. Bronson Arm - Bronson Arm - Conscious Confuser
24. The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis - The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis - That Thang
25. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - "NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD" - BROKEN SPIRES AT DEAD KAPITAL

Listen to the play list on Apple Music and Spotify

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

Rejoice! For the first time since 1999 there is a new Arcwelder! CONTINUE is out now. What better way to celebrate than to have the amazing drummer and co-primary vocalist Scott Macdonald on. We get into all of the details of recording it, as well as constant comparisons to another Minnestota band.... the original sound of grindy, angular riffs with huge hooks and melodies. Tilt-a-whirl to Arcwelder (improvement), Jacket Made in Canada, PULL, Xerxes, Everest, Entropy and lots, lots more. IYKYK, first Arcwelder interview in at least a few Presidents. Let's go!

Matt Cronk returns, and so has CNTS. This time you can lose the U. let's hear some stories of what THE CRONK has been up to since Feb 2020 and he was on last. Did anything happen? Medical tragedies, musical triumphs, thoughts on controversial names and sensibilities about that and an eye to a bright future in 2024 where CNTS are concerned. Also, find out more about Fake Legs and Cowards, and... Qui is back?

Ignore Grief, is the latest album from Xiu Xiu, it came out in 2023! However, Conan's history with the band goes way back to the first record. So, how about a relatively comprehensive album by album history? From the very beginning, all the permutations and eras to today. Along with some reasonable derivations on the way. Covering Under Pressure with Michael Gira, the story of Xiu Xiu Plays The Music of Twin Peaks, the story behind the artwork for A Promise, reissues, album commentary tracks, art not having anything to do with the person that made it. OH NO collaborations, PAHRUMP, Sal Mineo, Merzbow. Bottle of Rum and other dancey songs, All of it and so very much more.

Absolutely is the new record from Chicago heavy swagger rockers Something Is Waiting. The history of SiW. Going from a 5 piece to a 3 piece. NU-ROLL, The mad scientist nature of Bill Fay Refused. sounding full vs. sounding loud, playing smaller and bigger stages. Glam sound without glam excess, noise-rock, Metal bands faking they are bigger than they are, Helmet, At.the.drive-in. Putting together Absolutely, the Something is Waiting shirt series and a song by song breakdown of the album

1. Djunah - Femina Furens
2. Marnie Stern - The Comeback Kid
3. The St. Pierre Snake Invasion - Galore
4. Elephant Rifle - Broken Water
5. Oxbow - Love’s Holiday
6. Resurrectionists - Now That We Are All Ghosts
7. Sparks - The Girl is Crying in Her Latte
8. Maple Stave - Arguments
9. JOHN - A Life Diagrammatic
10. Scream - DC Special
11. mssv - Human Reaction
12. The Tunnel - Shudder
13. Facet - facet
14. Rid of Me - Access to the Lonely
15. Young James Long - Orogeny
16. Hey Colossus - In Blood
17. Dead Bob - Life Like
18. Jolie Laide - s/t
19. Sandrider - Enveletration
20. Traindodge - The Alley Parade
21. Mr. Phylzzz - Fat Chance
22. Tunic - Wrong Dream
23. Cougars - Cougs
24. Suckling - s/t


Yes, that is 24, deal with it.

Hodge! Not only does this complete the mssv trifecta for protonic, we get to hear all about his work on those classic Tom Waits records, playing with Bob Dylan, working with David Lynch for the Fire Walk With Me Soundtrack (the PINK ROOM!) and beyond. Dave Alvin and Dave Jaurequi, Until the End of the World and Julee Cruise, Swordfish Trombones, Rain Dogs, Fox Bat Strategy, backing Mavis Staples, Bob Dylan and of course hooking up with Mike Watt for his first opera Contemplating the Engine Room and later again with Mike Watt and Mike Baggeta. Wotta career! Wotta drummer!

THE COMEBACK KID! It isn't just the player, it is the name of the new record. After almost 10 years, Marnie's back. The 8G band and the difference between playing music there and anything from the world of punk rock (or whatever). A whole lot of talk of music discovery, algorithms, press cycles, and making music in the year 2023. Playlists, Zach Hill, lost eras of music, lots of weird stuff happening all the time, aspiring to write something like a killer classic rock song, the drummer for arcade fire is a secret shredder, marnie montras, grilled cheese and Barbara Streisand. All of that and a quick run through of all of the songs on The Comeback Kid.

The Killer is the new record by the latest lineup of Crime & the City Solution, the band is embarking on a long tour of Europe with new member multi-instrumentalist Joshua Murphy not just playing in the band but also opening the shows with his own solo set. All this plus Simon's tour with the late Mark Lanegan, Drawing inspiration from the lyricism and rhythm of hip-hop, Sly Stone, the journalists school of lyric writing, like Hunter Thompson, Wim Wenders, Six Bells Chime and Wings of Desire, writing the Adversary for Until The End of the World. A runaway success story with Bronwyn 45 years on, Simon's international travels and experiences with anti-corruption in places like Papua New Guinea, living in Berlin and lots more.

The inimitable Nina Nastasia! Jolie Laide is the newest record, a collaboration between Nina and Jeff MacLeod featuring songs evoking classic California Ballads, Desert Dirges and the cinema of leaving behind. However, as somebody Conan has wanted to talk to for years there is discussion of the entire Nina Nastasia catalog. Collaboration with Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females, Jim White of the Dirty Three, Steve Albini and the complicated legacy of her former partner, manager and producer Kennan Gudjonsson. The impossible and unique heaviness of last year's The Riderless Horse, John Peel, Dogs, Blackened Air, Run to Ruin, You Follow Me, Outlaster. All of it! Let's listen to this distinctive, emotionally powerful singer songwriter whose work tends to be heavier than 5 dudes with downtuned guitars and full stacks, just in a different way.

Punk rock legend Gary Floyd of the legendary DICKS enters the lair of the Protonic Reversal! We talk about HATE THE POLICE, how it has sadly aged pretty well and is quite possibly one of the greatest debut singles of any punk rock band. The origin of the band in Texas (name and flyers first), and subsequently moving to San Francisco. Being an out queer punk rock front person in the days of punk rock and early hardcore. Visual art and health issues. Biscuit from Big Boys and the common cause with Dicks. David Yow and Wheelchair Epidemic (and the dildos), a surprise Butthole Surfers song title homage, Sister Double Happiness! Touring with Nirvana and Soundgarden. Oh yeah, and taking off two years to... live in a monastery? Black Kali Ma, reunion tours, San Francisco related minutia, and lots, lots more.

It is Brian Cook of BOTCH, Russian Circles, These Arms Are Snakes and SUMAC. Right before Botch tours the nation (well, the coasts anyway) in 2023! and SUMAC play a few shows in the midwest. Let's talk about the why and how of a BOTCH reunion, as well as These Arms Are Snakes and why capstoning a band can be a wonderful thing. Russian Circles playing with Korn (!) and System of a Down (!), and larger concepts like: if you have to be an instagram influencer to be in a band these days, and how in the world people can find out about shows NOT the day after they happen. It's a far ranging episode that covers a lot of ground with a guest Conan has been meaning to have on for a really long time.

Well hey there, it's one of Conan Neutron's very favorite drummers, here to give all the details of how the amazing Shellac came to be, thoughts on each and every Shellac record in depth. High cymbals, putting on a show, Italian Greyhounds, How many surveyors is enough, Dude Incredible and oh, so much more. Oh, and did you know he gives drum instructions? Give it up, everybody, for the one and only TODD TRAINER!

Access to the Lonely is the new record by Rid Of Me, and it's a good'un! A song by song review of the Philadelphia band's second record is in order, as well as a history of the band in general, methodology and influence, COVERS, Low Dose, Fight Amp (Wha' happen?) and lots more. That includes Knife Hits Records as well.

STONE is the one new one by Baroness, no it is NOT named after a color. We get into all the albums that ARE named after colors, as well as the new one in a detailed track by track breakdown. Creating during the pandemic, the incredible YOUR BARONESS tour built off of FAN REQUESTS. The nature of creating, thin lizzy style harmony guitars, BLUE Having a record where there isn't somebody new to the band. Sebastian and Nick Jost as a rhythm section that is always in friendly competition and lots, lots more.

Rob was on Protonic Reversal before the show hit double digits. It has BEEN awhile. Let's hear all about his show 1001 Album Complaints, a music commentary show based on the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book by Robert Dimery, they discuss the episodes and decide if they are worthy of inclusion, and of course, complain. (note: Conan has been on the show!) Let's hear all about that, as well as the other going ons of The Chop Unlimited (metal themed Arby's record? Blue Eyed Soul Ghostbusters record coming? Star Trek: TNG themed 70s funk and rock band?!?). Beverly Crushers, Ghost Beef, all of that.

Bring Back the Apocalypse! What's that? Why it's Nils and Michael from the unique and incredible SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM. The bay area treasures are back and the SGM2024 pledge drive is in full effect. You can be a part of helping their wonderful weirdness exist in the modern age. Avant Prog Metal Grindcore Cabaret Theater. DIY-and-don't die. New Record! Movie! Tour! Radical fundraising transparency. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum of the Last Human Being Rock Against Rock! John Kane Society! Sledgehammer Dulcimer, Viking Rowboat, Electric Pancreas, Tangularium.

The Alley Parade is the 8th (!) record by the band Traindodge, let's hear about the other 7 records as well as that one from this very long lived band. Finding common cause with Kansas City and St. Louis. Riddle of Steel! Roma 79! John Congleton! Dan Dixon! A song by song breakdown of the new one. Splits and inspiration and BYOFL. The mechanics of a band that is both long lived and creative and lots, lots more. THE PRIDE OF OKLAHOMA.

Love's Holiday is the new album by Oxbow and A Walk Across Dirty Water and Straight Into Murderer's Row is Eugene's new book! Both are momentous occasions. Let's hear about why Oxbow is NOT like Taylor Swift, the meticulous nature of creating in Oxbow and why there are so many videos for this one and what people can expect. The 51% rule. The key to Oxbow's longevity. New Buñuel in May 2023. As well as writing about the glory days of punk rock without resorting to myth making and keeping it grounded. East Coast vs West Coast punk rock and creativity. Working for the defense department, and having a boss involved in Contragate. Lydia Lunch! The FIGHT book and the ensuing legacy. Aspirational creativity. Antics and consequences. Uncompromising, tenacious, enduring and artful. Eugene S. Robinson.

Surprise! All three members of Steel Pole Bath Tub for their first join media appearance in the last twenty years. All of this in service of their first SHOW in 5 years. A celebration in Houston for Emo's 30th anniversary with many other awesome bands (such as Honky with Pinkus, and Skatenigs). Plus the introduction of Noah Landis of Neurosis and Cassette Prophet as the newest adjunct SPBT. Sample maven, and curator of beautiful accidents. Revisiting the old songs and LISTENING to each other. All of this, and the exciting introduction of Dorothy Kent (formerly Darren Mor-x)

It has been a couple years since Mike Hard was on last and quite a bit has happened. Thrall is back! But David Livingstone of God Bullies has left us, as has Johnnie Johnson III. Memories of both of those great people and players. New(!) music with Mike Hard and David Livingstone that has yet to see release. As well as the story of how Thrall has gotten back together and are playing shows again Thrall, God Bullies, the Brain Saw, Hand Over Head, They Never Sleep are all available now on Bandcamp. A freeewheeling conversation that gets into the state of the world, the nature of connection and immediacy of performance, Mike Hard's book reviews and a lot, lot more.

Clinton and Danny from Mr. Phylzzz have a new one called Fat Chance, recorded at the stately Electrical Audio in Chicago. We go through a track by track of that one, as well as a lot of discussion of the very differently recorded Cancel Culture Club, the powerful advocacy of Tom Hazelmyer of Amphetamine Reptile, how Danny met Clinton, when Danny learned drums, how stand up comedy fits in with all of this and of course an upcoming tour with the mighty Melvins! All that and a whole lot more.

Randy has been rocking with his bandmate Dean in the band experimental punk group NO AGE for almost twenty years now sharing the stage with acts such as Foo Fighters, Pixies, Sonic Youth and Pavement! We go over the entire history of the band, including their pre-no age band Wives. The journey of the band, including records on Sub Pop and Drag City. Releasing a record during the pandemic, meeting Kevin Shields and J. Mascis, SP-202s and touring in the pandemic. All of that and the incredible debut of HYPHENATE with Randy Randall, a podcast focused on people who do and are good at more than one thing (polymaths!)

Durham rock band Maple Stave have a new record called ARGUMENTS and it is the first in a very, very, VERY long time. Listen to this long lived noisy/melodic/sometimes mathy rock band as they talk about bringing in Chris Rasmussen from Police Teeth and Brackets in Seattle and how that has changed the dynamic and a comprehensive breakdown of their record. Did you know Electrical Audio has a pretty good drum sound? Did you know a bunch of random "acts about Green Bay Wisconsin? Well, you can know all that and more. As we do a COMPREHENSIVE breakdown of the new record and all things Maple Stave.

The one and only Ryan Parks returns! There is some new B. Hamilton music. An ep, even! Other Lives of Magic and Wonder and Whatever, a followup to the recent I Would Give Songs Numbers Instead of Names If I could. I Can? Ok. Here I go, But Not Really. More about this ep business as well as the departure of Macy, the badass of Raj, the various lineups and records of the band and general creativity and moving forward and things like that. Nick Cave. The many moods of Fight Everything "my character" and when the next full length might actually see the light of day. Is Everything I Own is Broken a concept record? / Operation Mindcrime. Andy Shauf, etc.

The fabulous M. Martin FINALLY comes on Protonic Reversal. Mike started playing in bands pretty late in life, but came at it from a place of extreme epicurean interest as a fan. The path (and disography) of Pink City. The origin and creative path of Coordinated Suicides, a song by song breakdown of This Could be Heaven. The post-punk of Caryatids. All of that and lots, lots more!

The Pigeon Is the Most Popular Bird has a lush and fantastic reissue on LP by Sub Pop. We talk about that, as well as Severe Exposure, Paranormalized, Law of Ruins, Weapon, Machine Cuisine, Half Control, A Good Year for Hardness and lots more. The Moog Liberation (weighty!) live shows with just synth. Evocative imagery and unique album design, synth dance jams sitting next to noisy rock, It is a comprehensive discussion of all things Six Finger Satellite.

Envisioning tunic and switching from bass to guitar. The upcoming tour with the Johns of JOHN. The wild world of Winnipeg. Starting a band and being ready to play 100 shows a year. Keeping the song Disappointment interesting. Power chords, and the lack of them… Choosing what songs to play. A song by song run through of Wrong Dream and yes… the collaboration album with Bummer. Does the band name make you think of stoner rock or DnD? That’s YOUR problem. This is tunic.

Rick Froberg was a titan, a legend. A fierce tornado of alley cat wail with an unparalleled artistic sensibility. I got into Drive Like Jehu the year after they broke up. Yank Crime changed my world. I was way too late to see it in person, but I did get to see it in person years later, first at the crazy thing with the organ in San Diego and later on the reunion tour proper. I saw Hot Snakes many times, first time around and reunion, it was told to me as follows: “Oh, the Jehu guys have a new band that sounds a bit like The Wipers!” Cool. I was all in. Turned out to be one of the best rock bands in the modern age, NBD! His artistic sensibility blew me away, so much so that I hassled him for years to do album art for me/us, finally succeeding with one of my favorite album covers of anything i've done with the Art of Murder. I asked if I could make a sticker and t-shirt of it, and he said he'd rather make a unique design for it... well, that took 6 years, but we ended up with the t-shirt and sticker for The Commuter. Worth the wait. He was just a one of a kind guy. Despite all my personal interactions, the guy made a lot of music that was important to me and people I know, and that kind of connection matters a lot. It is important for us to remember these people. All the more so when they aren't a household name. It is on us to remember them. We lost a very certain kind of legend with Rick Froberg and we shall not see his like again. I'm reposting the episode of Protonic we did together along with a short-ish intro. It begins at 11m 54s -- Rick Froberg is a fantastic vocalist, rock ‘n roll front man and a HELL of a visual artist. Join in for a very free wheeling conversation while we talk about, well… all of his various bands, as well as bootleggers, Wire, Metallica, LUAU, Jehu reunions, Hot Snakes 1st and 2nd times, Obits and so many, many other things. Come on! Rick Froberg, people!

The band is called JOHN, it has two people in it NAMED John. They are from the UK and are touring the US for the very first time with tunic! Exciting! A Unique design aesthetic and a singing drummer. We talk God Speed in the National Limit, Out Here in the Fridges, Nocturnal Manoeuvres. The band getting #1 on the UK vinyl singles chart, Barry Adamson and Simon Pegg and other things A LIFE DIAGRAMMATIC. There's a lot to talk about with these fellows and their steady and sustainable build up. and... William Morris?

A great conversation with the REAL Band of Brothers, The Stahls! Scream are about to go on tour! DC Special, and the long and winding road to it, celebrating the roots of the band while staying vital and propulsive and bringing something new to it. Joe Lally! DAVE. Writing songs remotely and collaboration, INNER EAR, oh, and a comprehensive telling of the unfairly ignored WOOL as well. Desert Sessions, Rancho De La Luna, Earthlings? Foo Fighters, J and so much more. Sit right back and hear some tales of Pete and Franz. ...and YES, they DO have an Instagram, Facebook and Twitter account.

There is a reissue of the incredible record III by The Fucking Champs (or C4AM95 at the time) reissued by Drag City. Let's go through a history of that band, as well as Louder studios. Collaborations and tours with Trans Am, recording all manner of bands, Drug Apts, Extra Man, all this plus a story about the time Tim *checks notes* played bass in the Wipers?

CONTEXT! it is everything. Look, there is prolific, and long lived and there is Cheer-Accident. Hear about: Compiling setlists from a career of 20+ albums, keeping things unexpected and musicially interesting as a creative auto-immune response. Booking shows in the modern world, plus the announcement of a very cool show! Filet of Nod, compilation appearances, their cover of Dream Police (that CA finished for them), Yona-Kit, Dead Rider and lots more!

The mighty punk prog powerhouse drummer comes on Protonic Reversal to talk about his fantastic new band DEAD BOB a brilliant new album called Life Like that is also a band. We speak of that, as well as robot bands, hockey themed punk rock, producing Victim's Family, and a lil' ol band called No Means No! From Sex Mad to Body Bag to Rags and Bones, Teresa, Jello and so VERY MUCH MORE. A comprehensive look at all things WRIGHT (and WRONG)

The mighty Meg Castellanos of Totimoshi and All Souls comes to Protonic Reversal. Totimoshi is back and playing Caterwaul 2023, playing live for the first time in many years. Listen in as Meg and Conan go through the many eras of Totimoshi (as well as the many drummers!), lots of talk of the glory days of old San Francisco. Touring with Melvins and Helmet, Mastodon and... TOOL?!?! Alma Sangre and origin of All Souls. Flamenco! Learning bass, relentless touring, playing live now v. then, Eastside Rehearsal and so much more.

All the way from the UK. How WAS Your Weekend? Rocking with day jobs and the collision of those different worlds. We talk about Character Stop love for Skin Graft records the split with Psychic Graveyard. Love for Skin Graft, alternate tunings. Enduring and changing. Picking a setlist from a deep catalog and of COURSE their upcoming US tour to Caterwaul 2023! Gareth! From the mighty USA Nails.

There's a new Suckling video for Sisyphus, and it features all 4 members of Scratch Acid! Protonic Reversal gets the honor of premiering it! We talk about all of that, as well as the awesome album that the video is off of. How Brett ended up playing with Win Wallace of Gorch Fock in this band and details of that nature. Also a historical jaunt to the world of Scratch Acid, who wrote Cannibal (the answer might surprise you!), Owner's Lament! What's up with those strings? The staying power of Scratch Acid and the GREATEST GIFT compilation. All of that and lots more.

Dave has a cool new album called Rites of Percussion, a drum and percussion based solo album. We speak about that, as well as rise of Slayer and those classic albums, including the timeless Reign in Blood. Rick Rubin! Tori Amos covers. Blood in the mosh pits and more. Thrill! to the The Fantômas origin story and the Director's Cut! Dead Cross and Michael Crain's successful fight against Cancer. Mr. Bungle and Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo and so very, very much more.

The pride of Reno, NV! And their cultural ambassadors. The boys of Elephant Rifle have a brand new banger of a record called Broken Water. We go through a song by song breakdown of the whole durn thing, as well as determining whether Clinton has "gone hippie" or not, a great conversation about community building, musical cross pollination and making common cause with other genres in a smaller market.

Devastated to hear the news of Mark Stewart of the Pop Group's untimely passing. He was a one of a kind guy and a serious force of creativity. Here's a repost of my episode with him from last year.

The new TSPSI record is called GALORE. It is a bit different then the raucous fury of the first two, but very interesting and worth your time. Damien joins Conan to discuss the many moods of writing this record and the themes within (including new fatherhood), SCRAPPING the original 3rd record entirely, and a detailed song by song run through of the whole bloody affair. There’s a surprising amount of Metallica talk, but the end also features a very good accounting of how Damien came to be in mclusky and some updates on that vital band. Very good! Very good indeed.

Cassette Prophet is Mike from SPBT's newest thing, a long percolating band and project based on an incredible mythos involving (*checks notes*) Radio Shack? In fact last time he was on it was called: "First Church of Radio Shack." We discuss that, as well as the many varieties of Milk Cult, the No Coast Records (not fest!) reissue of early Steel Pole Bath Tub with We Own Drrrills. The stories of the major label record Scars From Falling Down and UNLISTENABLE, the doomed "final" record. It is the longest Part 2 after a Part 1 in the show's history! 2 years, 11 months, 11 days excluding the end date. No wonder it is an extra long episode. 'Let's go, we've got a date with the underground'.

Resurrectionists are an awesome new (er) band from Milwaukee and they have a record called Now That We Are All Ghosts that Conan is VERY familiar with! Chamber DOOM Folk Americana. Let's get into a song by song breakdown, find out if this band is truly clock rock or not and get into the details of what constitutes a (*checks notes*) First Annual Resurrectionists Film Festival ?

For the last 8 years, protonic reversal has been livestreamed on an internet radio station called Radio NOPE. A not for profit community channel founded in fairness. This episode is the last broadcast of that station, including a bit of history for the station's origins, identifying some key moments and general telling the story of radio nope. How we did it, why we did it. All that. Also included is an appearance by Live From the Barrage's John Houlihan which includes a long overdue post-mortem/explanation to the end of that long running show. All that, multiple "in memoriums" some tunes and talk. No guest, just a bit of history of swimming upstream in an on-demand audio world. Also, to be explicitly clear Protonic Reversal will continue streaming live on youtube and twitch and be podcast later.

John was good enough to talk to Conan before their next big tour. What about? Pokerface! Stylistic changeups,the evolution of Mountain Goats from one guy to a large band and what the various members bring. Setlists and when a song works live or doesn't. Songs that reveal themselves. Shania Twain? GOTHS, The Sunset Tree. Ego and sublimation of ego. The deep connection with THIS YEAR. Allegory, emotional resonance. Prairie Sun. Heretic Pride, Sequencing. D&D on film. The Getting into Knives cover. Bleed Out, Italian cop movies and uptempo songs.

It has been 184 episodes since Donna Diane has been on Protonic. A few things have happened since then. Including Djunah's new record Femina Furens. The absolutely nuts video for Seven Winds of Sekhmet. Legs for bassist, doing everything ones self (no, really!) complex post-traumatic stress disorder, poetry and deadbeat dad Gods. It is also a VERY detailed song by song breakdown of this incredible and dense record. Including multiple suggestive Santas. Furious woman! Let's go.

Beyond Vision! An all new Acid King record for 2023. This one is a bit more psychedelic then previous records but still has the essential monolithic AK riffs you would expect. Yet, there are keyboards too. (*gasp*). It is a winding, thundering song cycle of space exploration. There's a song by song of the new one. Also, let's take a walk back to the days of Man's Ruin and Sympathy for the Record Industry where Lori get her start with Acid King. Walkthroughs of the whole discography. Live at Roadburn, Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere, III, Free (and Clearlight), Busse Woods, Down With the Crown, Zoroaster.

DANG! it's the drum man for the BLUUUUUUES EXPLOOOOOSSSION. Who also happens to be half of the creative braintrust of the mighty SERVICE (Whose: DRAG ME was named best record of 2022 by this show!). A detailed history of JSBX, album by album... starting from the very beginning. R.L. Burnside! Playing with Tom Waits. Butter 08, production, JUST FRED, Pranking Weird Al with Yoko Ono. And of course the origin story of S-E-R-V-I-C-E one of the best rock bands on the planet. You want in-depth? You got it... punk!

The incredible Rose Marshack of Poster Children has written a book called: Play Like a Girl: My Life In Poster Children. Join us as we discuss music as community, the nuts, bolts and dollars and cents of making music. Surviving the 90s gold rush on a major label. Creative ventures. Origin stories, tour reports, computers, the indie code of ethics, the complicated expectations of rocking while a woman, teaching, zen, martial arts, Mercy Rule, Ian Mackaye and so much more. It is a great conversation and a great book.

Ivan has a new record called Swing Your Lanterns. Starting in live performance with the Foundations (Build Me Up Buttercup) with touring 101, starting in with Richard Hell and the Voidoids in 70s New York. Rehearsing 3 or 4 songs for months for the first ep, Black Generation. Liars Beware! The different sounds and bands of that NY scene and whoever sells more records gets written about more. The story of the Outsets, Giorgio Gomelsky and Bob Clearmountain. Working without a net. Working with Matthew Sweet, touring with Shriekback. All that and so much more, a lifetime of incredible music.

Kevin is back and he has TWO new records! Uneat, the latest from Hepa.Titus. And Crackpot Whorehead a collaboration with Trevor Dunn. The Bass V - I. A brief history of hepa.tits, and remote collaborations. Selected Melvins memories. The joy of grabbing weird gear and doing cool things with it. All that and a living history of Cows records (or whatever Kevin remembers of them!). Also, don't miss episode Ep144 when Kevin was last on THREE YEARS AGO!

The pride of Gowanus comes on Protonic Reversal. Martin documented all the no waves bands, ran a studio with Bill Laswell before running it himself. Recorded Herbie Hancock's ROCKIT (!), as well as Ex-Models, Lydia Lunch... Sonic Youth Bad Moon Rising and EVOL. J.G. Thirlwell. All of that, an incredible career and incredible ongoing presence in the New York community and beyond. Who else randomly stumbles upon Brian Eno outtakes? That's right... Martin Bisi. Ohh yeah, he also has a great new record of his own called FERAL MYTHS.

Boomer, The godfather of desert rock! Early days with Black Flag, Redd Kross and Saccharine Trust. Restaurants and riffs. The incredible Tony Tornay. Introducing: The free and unique night to night music of the Rubber Snake Charmers. The origins of the incredible Fatso Jetso. Dropping into the desert sessions to do "millionaire" (later to become a Queens of the Stone Age song). Generators and the responsibility of running a restaurant. Live from Total Annihilation. Legends of the Desert split with Dali's Llama! It is the legend, Mario Lalli.

It is time for the yearly countdown of some of my favorite records of 2022. I can't include all of them and taste is subjective, but hopefully you can find some gems here that you either were not aware of or have been meaning to check out. And for those that don't care about the episode and just want lists, here's that too. (also in playlist form) Bandname - Song - Album, and deep links to their respective episode (where appropriate) 1. SERVICE - Hey - Drag Me 2. Lung - Sick - Let it Be Gone 3. Helms Alee - Mouth Thinker - Keep This Be The Way (ep268) 4. Chat Pile - Pamela - God's Country (ep305) 5. Kal Marks - Ovation - My Name is Hell (ep302) 6. Hammered Hulls - Rights and Reproduction - Careening (ep316) 7. Sloan - Keep Your Name Alive - Steady 8. Paul Roessler - Maker - The Turning of the Bright World (ep312) 9. Plosivs - Hit the Breaks - Plosivs 10. Melvins - My Discomfort is Radiant - Bad Mood Rising 11. Dälek - A Heretic's Inheritence - Precipice (ep293) 12. Savak - Empathy - Human Error / Human Delight (ep292) 13. Toshi Kasai - Perpetual Manufactory - Based on True Stories (ep306) 14. Mr Phylzzz - Pretend Friends - Cancel Culture Club 15. Mike Baggetta / Mike Watt / Jim Keltner - Fake Break - Everywhen We Go (ep314, ep315) 16. The Art Gray Noizz Quintent - Here's Johnny - The Art Gray Noizz Quintent (ep294) 17. A Deer A Horse - Bitter - Grind (ep290) 18. Microwaves - Your Dumb Guts - Discomfiture Atlas (ep308) 19. Coordinated Suicides - Mickey Disney Lover - This Could Be Heaven 20. DEVO's Gerald V. Casale - The Invisible Man - The Invisible Man ep (ep313)

Hammered Hulls! A new-ish band with a GREAT record called Careening. Singer and frontman Alec Mackaye comes on protonic reversal and goes into a DETAILED song by song of this incredible record, as well as talk of The Warmers, general songwriting, song lyric interpretations as jumping off points and writing prompts for the audience, inspiration and coming back to music and live performance with awesome likeminded collaborators and coming up with something very special.

Everywhen We Go, that's the new record by Mike Baggetta / Jim Keltner / Mike Watt is now out! It's the latest record from a loose limbed collaboration by the iconic experimental guitarist, the mighty Minutemen bass man and the incredible session drummer who has played with everybody. So what's the difference between that and MSSV (main STEAM stop valve)? Well Stephen Hodges for one, who played with Tom Waits and many others. We talk about the differences, Mike's background and history with music and collaboration. Wall of Flowers and Live Flowers, creative process, tones and pedals and a song by song breakdown of the new record. Hey, Watt was just on talking about that too, it's like the Rashomon effect.

Surprise! It is the one and only Mr. Mike Watt. He's got a new record with Mike Beggata and Jim Keltner called Everywhen We Go. Hot off the presses! We discuss that (and the difference between mssv!) as well as the Watt from Pedro show, Flipper, Iggy, erasing ageism in movement music, knee blow outs, remote tracking and Orson Welles with a pair of chili dogs. Spiel time, baby! Let's go!

The unmistakable Gerald V. Casale of DEVO RETURNS! He has new music. The Invisible Man ep, along with a reissue of the Jihad Jerry & the Evildoers material under his own name. Fantastic videos for I'm Gonna Pay U Back and The Invisible Man. Collaboration with Steve Bartek of Oingo Boingo and Josh Freese and more. Of COURSE, lots of DEVO talk as well. Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA, Meeting David Lynch and Ronnie Rocket. Human Highway and Neil Young, the wild antics of Iggy Pop. 9/11 stand-up comedy and lots, lots more!

The great Paul Roessler! He's recently released The Turning of the Bright World, a new solo record. Lots of talk about the iconic and legendary band The Screamers who never recorded a proper record but are legends of punk rock and progenitors of "synth punk" and still a hot topic to this day, Twisted Roots, Nervous Gender, working (and touring!) with Nina Hagen, Don Bolles and Pat Smear, Dez Cadena, Playing with Dead Kennedys, Kitten Robot studios, Mike Watt. Touring, performance, spectacle! Paul!

Brainiac touring in 2023? Amazing! Let's get the full details from the guitar man himself, how a Brainiac tour can (and is) happening without the great Timmy Taylor (RIP). Fresh off a tour with the band Caribou, John breaks it down. How about a rundown of the catalog too? Yeah? Sound good. The Attic Tapes and Live show? Also cool. How about an EXCLUSIVE SURPRISE?! Come all ye Cracked machines and Bonsai Superstars.

Upright Forms are a new band! One of their first recordings is on the Sounds to Make You Shudder Skin Graft comp. Conan knows the three members from very different bands and circles. The Upright Forms origins are discussed as well as indepth look at Dazzling Killmen (Face of collapse! Jazz guys and wildcard), Collossamite (members of Deerhoof now), Sicbay! and more. It is an in-depth discussion with a unique and influential player and musician through his entire journey in his music up to today.

Reissues of Strangers From the Universe and Admonishing the Bishops! Yes, it is true. Bulbous Monocle is doing just that. What better time to go over the entire storied and varied TFUL282 catalog with a fine tooth comb? A bit about each record, baroque instruments making weird noises. Optigans! Mother of All Saints! The Crowded Diaper and so much more. Did you know SF used to be an affordable place to make music and create? Let’s talk to Mark Davies and find out all about it.

The mighty men of MICROWAVES! This incredibly long lived band of uncompromising relentlessly creative Pittsburgh noiseniks have a new one called Discomfiture Atlas, a record with TWO lineups. One of which is with previous bassplayer Steve Moore of Zombi fame. A wild time! Or as Dave says: "We talk about the songs on the new record in detail. Adam eats key lime pie. I espouse a radical theory about Spinal Tap. John makes crinkling noises."

Well then! How about a comprehensive talk with the fantastic and innovative guitarist and singer? A deep and far ranging conversation on models of operation, freedom and creativity as well as relatively comprehensive deep dives through all of all of the fugazi catalog? Strap in everybody!

Toshi is the renowned producer of bands like Melvins, Tool and so much more. He's not only the master mind of the incredible Plan D, but has a fantastic new record called Based on True Stories, that is full of gypsy jazz, backmasking, filters and glitches but is... mostly acoustic? We take a deep song-by-song dive into that as well as what bands do and don't get right about recording, writing and everything else and a bit of insight about how somebody who works so hard on the creativity others finds time and space to innovate himself.

What a treat! All four members of Oklahoma City Noise-rock/sludge superstars come on Protonic Reversal to talk about their awesome new record God's Country in-depth. An in-depth song by song discussion! Along with talk of logos, art direction, the Oklahoma scene and a surprising amount of 90s swing revival discourse.

Almanac Man is a great newer band from Denver, with a great new record called For Your Cause. Song by song breakdown of that record, as well as a comprehensive overview of the long lived, 2-bass and drums Chicago trio Bear Claw. Chris Metcalf of Life and Times and playing in Rented Rooms and lots, lots more.

The mighty Die Kreuzen vocalist and frontman has a brand new dark acoustic duo called DeadFinger. Learn all about that here, as well as a detailed run through of the entire history of Die Kreuzen, key moments and records, what came afterwards and lots more. Reunions, shouting out newer bands, post-Die Kreuzen activities, The Crosses (a band playing the first self titled Die Kreuzen LP front to back, faves from Oct File & originals!) and fans spanning generations.

Tom Waits, Harvey Milk, Melvins, Captain Beefheart and more! Turning a solo project into a band and into the same band but with a different lineup. One guitar vs. two guitars. The story of Kal Marks coming back during COVID. The story of playing with Kowloon Walled City, Gentrification and not caring about what is cool. A DETAILED song-by-song walk through of the new record: My Name is Hell, available at Exploding in Sound Records.

Cool! It's the guitar man from the mighty Descendents and ALL (and FLAG!). Listen in as Stephen and Conan talk about: bringing the prog to the downstrokes, growing up in a musical family, wireless or wired (never knobs), ALL (the album and the band), Everything Sucks, 9th and Walnut, oh yeah, and some dude wore a t-shirt too.

For episode 300, it was time for something COMPLETELY different. Don't worry, it isn't only: "When are you going to have _____ on?" or "How is babby formed?". It's a nice blend of IMs, e-mails and live comments all answered in a live environment.

Part 2 of the epic episode with Mike Kunka! We talk about the later days of godheadSilo, Enemymine, Dead Low Tide, Smoke and Smoke and what exactly the deal was with that reunion tour in the middle of winter a few years back.

Mike Kunka is an American bass guitarist best known as a member of the group godheadSilo. He has also been a member of the groups Dead Low Tide, Smoke and Smoke and Enemymine, based out of Washington state. All that and Three Men and a Baby with Melvins. We talk about... all of that! And lots more. Guardians of the Threshold! this is part 1 of a 2 part episode. (Editor's note... Mike's connection is not always the best, FYI)

Jem of the mighty DEAD (Australia) returns to Protonic Reversal to talk about re-pressing Raving Drooling, releasing UP YOURS, We Grit Our Teeth, CLUB DEAD, multiple versions of the band and lots, lots more. (not touring though!)

Wait, what?! That's right, it is the most comprehensive breakdown of all things Don Cab you are likely to hear. Album by album, For Respect to American Don, and even World Class Listening Problem and Punkgasm. The art on 2 and What Burns. Using technology to solve problems. Is he playing? What happened with Bellini? All that and and so much more answered here.

A comprehensive history of the band Flipper from the genre defining band's mighty drummer! The positivity of LIFE, the synare of Sex Bomb and the sax solos. Public Flipper Limited, Gone Fishin', Blow'n Chunks, vs. Studio 54 (Really!), Being Rick Rubin's favorite band, losing Will Shatter, Krist Noviselic (!) and David Yow (!), joining the group. Who exactly is Fletcher from the Garden? All of this and SO MUCH MORE!

Lubricated Goat! CRUNT! the Art Gray Noizz Quintet! Stu Spasm (aka: Stu Gray) is a legend in underground music. Find out who in Lubricated Goat liked Motley Crue a little too much, playing with Charles Tolnay and Guy Maddison (respectively!), Playing naked on television, getting stabbed in Berlin and various activities in between, CRUNT, the evolution and reveal of The Art Gray Noizz Quintent. The live record (recorded just as lockdown hit). Lydia Lunch and tons, tons more. Is it the definitive Stu Spasm interview? It. just. might. be.

Well, well, well! It's Will Brooks of Dälek, coming in hot with a fantastic new record called Precipice. One that features a guest appearance by young up and comer Adam Jones of (*checks notes*) TOOL, even. Listen in as Will and Conan talk about sharing the stage with everybody from Godflesh to Prince Paul, playing for yourself, the MEDITATIONS series and streaming on twitch, redoing the entire record when COVID hit, collaborations with FAUST, ALL THAT and a song by song walkthrough of Precipice!

SAVAK have a new record, their 5th! Human Error/Human Delight, it's a great rocker and has a wild array of bass players, just like the band. It's been 192 episodes since Sohrab was last on and 208 since it was a full episode, and Michael Jaworski has NEVER been on. Here that is finally rectified as we do a song-by-song of Human Error/Human Delight, and also talk about carrying on as a band as real life responsibilities and adulthood happen, and many other hilarious topics. NO BLUES! NO JAZZ! NO ARBITRARY BORDERS!

THIS CROSSOVER GOES TO 11! That's right, it is the the classic (and endlessly quotable) Rob Reiner Mockumentary. With a round table discussion that includes Gerald V. Casale of DEVO, Brian Teasley (Birdstuff) of Man...or Astro-Man?/Polyphonic Spree and St. Vincent and so much more! And if that isn't enough... the mighty CHRIS MURPHY of SLOAN. What? How? Who! It is the first ever crossover between Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal and Movie Night Extravaganza and it promises to be epic. Conan, Forrest, and Andy will be there, Kristina Oakes and Erica Strout too.  “It’s such a fine line between stupid, and uh…clever.” Movie Night Extravaganza - Youtube Movie Night Extravaganza podcast Video link of the episode.

Angela and Dylan are back... after 102 episodes and a full year to talk about their new record GRIND. Thoughts on discussion on touring in the age of COVID, continuing on without Rebecca. Bringing in new folks to the band. What adornments and embellishments an extra year (!) of sitting with a record provides, why trying too hard to be what is wanted in the moment is bound for unhappiness and a freewheeling breakdown of each of the new album's songs.

Ian Miller is 1/4 of the incredible and iconic Kowloon Walled City. They have a (relatively) new record out and are doing tour dates on the East Coast and Rust Belt, in some cases for the very first time. That is discussed, as well as the origin and story behind (*deep breath*) Interesting Times Gang! Strangelight! No Lights! Less Art! Truxton! The strange story of Puig Destroyer! Productive Outs! Rigs of Dad Prodcast! Which songs are a game of chicken with the drummer. And a song by song run through of Piecework. PHEW! About time!

That's right, it's Conan's old friend the mighty Jon Weisnewski, host of the excellent TOMORROW WE DIE! An podcast about touring under adverse conditions that is probably a cousin to Protonic Reversal. Also, the mighty AKIMBO, SANDRIDER and now... NUCLEAR DUDES. Are you looking for a comprehensive history of the Akimbo Discography? How about the origin of Sandrider? How about exactly what the heck is a Nuclear Dude and why should you care? How about ALL THAT, Alternative Tentacles, the perils of trying to record two albums at the same time and SO. MUCH. MORE. ok? OK!

Wow! It’s the amazing Lenny Kaye! Guitarist, songwriter, Creator of NUGGETS and Author! His new book: “Lightning Striking: Ten Transformative Moments in Rock and Roll.” and it is AWESOME. Tales of creating songs with Patti and beyond. Horses! Easter! Radio Ethopia! and records made in recent decades soon. Rocking, writing, being a critic, a curator and providing a spotlight on the things you love. Because the Night. It’s a great talk with the Rockenteur, one and only… Mr. Lenny Kaye!

Wow! It is THE LIVING JARBOE, artist, singer, musician and ICON. Coming at last to Protonic Reversal to talk about the reissue, remaster and reimagining of the Skin/World of Skin record "blood, women, roses" being reborn as Jarboe - Skin, Blood, Women, Roses. CRY ME A RIVER, Eat or sleep tour, Hauling heavy vintage keyboards up and down stairs (and reloading sounds during power outages), BIRTHRIGHT and Swans, living in very dangerous environments, visual art, and making unique things. Only Lovers Left Alive and Jozef van Wissem. All that and collaborations with Jesu and Neurosis, Helen Money and Kris Force. People! It's Jarboe!

The legendary singer and front-man of the iconic and influential The Pop Group comes on Protonic Reversal to talk all about that legendary band, as well as the Rip it Up And Start Again documentary on the "post-punk" scene. Which also refuses to just be a museum piece. Additionally lots about a brand new record of collaborations called VS, including with such folks like KK Null of Zeni Geva and Mike Watt! Lee "Scratch" Perry and lots more. Matt Groening! The Minutemen! Dispatches from that very special time in music that the Pop Group started. As well as returning to that music after many years. Taking the piss, etc. Lots of talk about moving forward and evolving.

a revisit of the classic episode 146 with the mighty Mark Lanegan (RIP) -Doing the video with Travis and Joe (and Donel!) -Video with Jimmy the cab driver (reprising that character after years) -Making the other video at the Salton Sea with still photographs -“Don’t mind the crickets.” -The book! “Sing Backwards and Weep” (and companion piece record) -Recording the companion piece record to the book and linking the songs to it. -“A pandora’s box of shitty memories.” -Working with Rob Marshall of Humanist. -Making a double record/great double records. -Opening for Watt -Blues Funeral -Meet and greets at the merch table and getting ghost pain from shaking hands. -Complicated hand shake non-engagement -Older audiences. -Picking a setlist with so much material. -Ripping off Leonard Cohen -Rated R and joining Queens of the Stone Age -Gutter Twins with Greg Dulli -Playing on each other’s records, vs. working on things together. -Meeting Greg Dulli (and initially wanting to kick ass ass) -“Secret beef!” -Josh Homme in Screaming Trees -Walking the streets with Josh Homme, and Josh being misidentified as a cop! -The Conner brothers. -The story of the Screaming Trees. -Publically learning how to make records -Different crowds knowing different eras of the music. -Artist vs. entertaintainer vs. guy who stands there and sings. -Stooges and being in Iggy’s sights

KRÜLLER is the brand new album by Author & Punisher, the brainchild of Tristan Shone. We do a song by song breakdown at the end, but speak a but about the entire Author & Punisher catalog, as well as COVID hitting at the end of being on tour with TOOL. Why you must always have the correct tables. The logistics of getting so much hardware overseas for a tour. Bringing in people to collaborate on newer things. Accidentally pestering Neurosis backstage. Beastland! Drone Machines! And now Drone Machines the COMPANY, bespoke controllers designed to last and weather in a cool way straight from the Author and Punisher live show. All that and so much more!

That's right! it is the proto-punk/rock 'n roll icon himself. The mighty Deniz Tek. Perhaps you've head of RADIO BIRDMAN, friend? Anyway, let's run through the discography and those wild days of bringing the motor city mayhem to Australia with a band that excited future record nerds and Seymour Stein but got as many lumps as you can handle as well. Listen in to a rock 'n roll lifer whose modus operandi is to remember that rock 'n roll is FUN as well as brutal and true. All that plus: ICEMAN! Fact or fiction. Records with James Wiliamson Tekona Coffee!

The incredible Steve Fisk of Let Them Eat Jellybeans fame. A wild and winding talk with the legendary producer and musician that stretches the epochs of time. Keyboard inspirations, finding and creating community. Punk rock, Pell Mell, Pigeonhed and more. An insider's view of Seattle during the early 90s GOLD RUSH of grunge and a surprising amount of talk about Northern Exposure. Oh yeah, how about a pretty exhaustive insiders view on the Screaming Trees from the beginning to the major label era? Yes, Steve was there. The storied and varied discography of Unwound, recording Nirvana, Soundgarden, etc. Ladies and gentlemen: IT IS STEVE FISK!

Tight Bros From Way Back When were a damn hell ass rock band at a time where that wasn't as appreciated as it should have been. That band is only one reason why Quitty is such a legend in certain circles. Nudity, Mukilteo Fairies, the list goes on. Of course why talk about that when he and Conan can opine about that little known Beatles GET BACK film, as well as "Why Am I Doing This? (A Film About Touring)". In all seriousness, lots of Tight Bros talk, Nudity... and some about the man eventually ended up at the Law offices of Rock and Roll.

At last! It is the incredible Toko Yasuda. One third of the much missed and criminally underrated Enon. Live member of St. Vincent's band, The Lapse, and... more. Hear all about finishing things and being lazy, being a bandmember vs. being a hired hand. Choreography and practice, joining up with the Sleater-Kinney live band for The Center Won’t Hold live tours. PLVS VLTRA (Story and the pretentious spelling), some stuff about the Lapse and oh yeah... the first Blonde Redhead record!

John Huston is the guitarist and singer for Chicago power-trio STOMATOPOD, who are releasing their 3rd record Competing with Hindsight. We get into a little of each of the Stomatopod records, the history of the band, the Pawners Society and lots more.

Well, hey, hey! It is the incredible Kim Coletta of Jawbox. A free ranging discussion about covid times, revisiting old material, holding the angle while the guitars do crazy things and a whole lot more. Covid kids, picking material for new shows, breaking news that can’t be broke (finger to the lip), Bill leaving and Brooks coming in and why WON’T COME OFF should absolutely be in all of the Jawbox live sets. A far ranging discussion with a consummate badass that also touches just a wee bit on the incredible DeSoto records.

1. Lung - Come Clean Right Now - I'm Nervous (ep163: Kate Wakefield) 2. Mike Lust - Demented Wings - Danceteria (ep254: Mike Lust) 3. Tomahawk - Tonic Immobility - Predators and Scavengers (ep158: Duane Denison) 4. Tropical Fuck Storm - Deep States - New Romeo Agent (ep260: Erica Dunn) 5. Sleaford Mods - Spare Ribs - Elocution 6. MOD CON - Modern Condition - Ammo (ep260: Erica Dunn) 7. Chris Brokaw - Puritan - The Heart of Human Trafficking (Ep252: Chris Brokaw) 8. Martha's Vineyard Ferries - Suns Out Guns Out - Betty Ford James (Ep252: Chris Brokaw, Ep244: Elisha Wiesner) 9. Kowloon Walled City - Piecework - Splicing (ep229: Scott Evans) 10. Melvins - Five Legged Dog - Civilized Worm (ep230: Dale Crover, ep148: Buzz Osborne) 11. christian fitness - hip gone gunslingers - male guitarist (ep241: falco) 12. Home Less - Smaller Trees - The Friend 13. Nonagon - They Birds - The Family Meal (ep236: John Hastie and Robert Gomez) 14. Part Chimp - Drool - Clever (ep243: Tim Cedar) 15. Red Fang - Arrows - Why (ep253 & ep263 Aaron Beam) 16. Fox Face - End of Man - Luminol 17. Cherubs - SLO BLO 4 FRNZ & SXY - A Pair of Pear Tarts (ep273: Kevin Whitley & Brent Prager) 18. Assertion - Intermission - The Lamb to the Slaughter Pulls a Knife (ep276: William Goldsmith) 19. Matt Sweeny & Bonnie Prince Billy - Superwolves - Make Worry for Me 20. Mogwai - As the Love Continues - Ceiling Granny 21. Sparks - A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip - All That* (*2020 release omitted from last years list) Spotify playlist (all but christian fitness), lists for previous years.

William Goldsmith is the incredible drummer for Sunny Day Real Estate, The Fire Theft and now... Assertion, he was also in the original lineup of the Foo Fighters with SDRE bandmate Nate Mendel and it wasn't the nicest time. Hear all about creating and playing at a furious pace in Assertion. Number songs! "Make it pink!", the weirdness of playing late night shows with such personal music, cumulative loss and isolating from everybody. Making amends after many years and so much more. Dave, call the man.

WILD TYPE DROID! That's right, new Failure record suckers.. song by song breakdown of it, as well as all the details of the weeks long improv sessions that made it , COMFORT, MAGNIFIED, FANTASTIC PLANET, THE HEART IS A MONSTER... all the things! Reconvening without being a nostalgia act. Deep dive into all of the FAILURE things, right?

Well hey there, it is 3/4 of the mighty Tar! A deep dive into the discography, the mythos, the digging through shoeboxes for all of the awesome ephemera that led to The TAR Box Set (Vol. 1). Lots on reconvening, long (really long) distance practice, doing something that means a whole hell of a lot for some people, and more than a little discussion about various songs and song titles.

2/3 of CHERUBS! Come on Protonic Reversal. Discussion of the "brand new" SLO BLO 4 FRNZ & SXY, 2 Ynfynyty, Icing, Immaculada High, The mighty HEROIN MAN, and using the studio to make something truly noisy and cool and IN THE RED, competing with yourself to make something worthwhile. How much coffee it ACTUALLY took to regroup the band? Realizing that it works. Why King Coffey of Butthole Surfers wasn't a great fit on drums, but was a great fit as a label guy. Challenging yourself as a band and connecting with fans new and old.

The incredible Tim Quirk is most known for the excellent and clever band, Too Much Joy. He's also an excellent writer, and has been at the ground floor for a FEW stages of the digital music revolution. Bob Seger! The Incredible depths of "Seasons in the Sun." Witness as we discuss the many records of TMJ, including the NEW ONE "Mistakes Were Made" and the even NEWER one, 12 months of joy, which has the songwriting itself crowdsourced. As well as 2 Live Crew, LL Cool J, the major label rollercoaster, what constitutes goofy vs. serious music. Bozo the clown and all that stuff.

The amazing Joe Carducci has a new book of screen plays called Western Stories. We speak of that, as well as the timeless Rock and the Pop Narcotic, the greater history of the creation of independent distribution systems and the architecture for the American DIY world. We also get into the Velvet Underound (and doc!), stand-up comedy, Stone Male: Requiem for the Living Picture, Enter Naomi, the changes in rock criticism, journalism, musical availability and cultural gates and gatekeepers past and present (looking at YOU, Rolling Stone) and so much more. It's a very freewheeling conversation.

He's back! He's back! After episode 208's comprehensive rundown of Sloan's career (so far) the mighty Mr. Murphy is back to tell us all about Tuns and Trans-Canada Highwaymen and fill in some of the spots we missed. the Hit and Run ep (and the ACTUAL hit and run behind it), Silence Trumps Lies. Sloan on the OTHER Conan, a deep dive in Murder Records. Punk rock shows... Trailer Park Boys. Sloan: Founded in Fairness (tm) and invested in each other.

After episode 206's epic length discussion of the Cows, it is only fair to do a deep dive into the discography of the mighty Heroine Sheiks! Especially now that Out of Aferica is being released on vinyl for the FIRST TIME. Hear how this very specific keyboard music came together as a NY band that was operating along with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol and such. Shannon Selberg is a deep thinking and an interesting guy, let's listen in on the man's criminally ignored second act and lots, lots more.

The Mighty Ben Verellen on Protonic Reversal at least. Conan and Ben talk a little about the Harkonen tour where they played along with a cd, layered harmonies, HA origin story, the 8/16 "Beavis and Butthead video", as well as an album by album run through of the many wonderful Helms Alee records. Verellen Amplifiers! Bar House. 'Tis a delight!

The relentless Trevor Dunn is back! This time with SpermChurch an international poly electro collaborative duo with electronic artist Sannety, releasing the brand new merdeka atau mati on his brand new label Riverworm Records. In this episode we discuss, growing up in Humboldt county and the origins of Mr. Bungle as well as the beginning and "cybernetic caveman" of the Raging Wrath of the Eastern Bunny demo. Fantomas origins, collaborations, and a run through of Disco Volante, California, the Mr. Bungle s/t amongst others. RETROVERTIGO, jazz pick up bands and lots more. All of that and a whole lot about this fascinating new release and collaboration.

The return of the Faith No More bass man! The early (grubby) days, and a deep, deep dive into the FNM discography. The myth and reality of Chuck Mosely. Rakija! Herzog and Kinski. Coming back to the band and all the various personalities. Kool Arrow! Last time we talked about MC50, Talking Book and (shockingly) Milk Cult, this is the detailed deep dive into the world of FNM you didn't know you needed.

All Souls is a fascinating newer band! Although he lives in Los Angeles now, running the excellent Eastside Rehearsal studios, Tony and Conan know each other from the bay area heavy/noisy rock world. All Souls is a bit of a different animal though. Hear all about their touring with the Jesus Lizard, Melvins and TOOL, the band's origin story and concept. Erik Trammel and Matt Price! Whatever happened with Last Days of Ancient Sunlight? This episode has a good overview, if not totally comprehensive look at the Totimoshi discography. Some background on Tony's... well... background. Rig Rundown! All that plus Tony's tales of tour managing and road crewing bands like Neurosis, High On Fire, Melvins and more.

San Antonio's The Grasshopper Lies Heavy have been making uncompromising heavy music for over 10 years. They have a brand new one "A Cult That Worships a God of Death" out on Learning Curve Records. The record is examined on a song by song breakdown, as well as hearing more about splits with Gay Witch Abortion, touring Japan, what does and does not sell t-shirts and the hunt for tuning pegs in a foreign land. Get heavy, people!

Pt 2! of Ep253's Pt.1. Heavy focus on Only Ghosts and Ross Robinson, recording that record as a destination recording and then a detailed song by song breakdown of Arrows. Also taking bands on tour you like and paying it forward, deep dive on songwriting and lots more.

John Adams! Game of Thrones! Fury Road! Oscars and Emmys. The divided worlds of sound editing and music and a stunning career in a cool profession. Endurance contest BF practices. Instrumental Flag vs. with Vocals. Touring. Slip it in! Loose nut! Process of Weeding Out! DOS and Watt, Billie Holiday! Songwriting and idea jotting. The incredible story of Kira's stolen (and recovered) bass. All of that and so very much more, Kira Also, Kira has a solo record coming out on Kitten Robot Records! Hey, it's Kira, she's an icon and a badass, dig in.

The one and only Johnny Temple! Not just the low end master at the mighty Girls Against Boys, but also proprietor of the incredible Akashic Books. Getting book advice from Henry Rollins and 2.13.61, Black Sparrow Press and what is different from the music biz vs. the book biz. Lots of talk of the stylish and sly house of GvsB. The specialness of Kill the Sexplayer, Reconvening in Prague in 2017 for Scott McCloud's birthday and a whole lot more.

The iconic, unmistakable and mighty Erica Dunn of Mod Con and TFS stops in to chat many things musical, Covid and what not. The existential whiplash of hitting it hard on the road and playing music to the dead stop of the pandemic. Thrill to the brand new Mod Con single Ammo (and subsequent album!) and hear a bit about the tantalizingly mysterious new TFS album DEEP STATES. The path to playing music FOR REAL, playing live shows again, the origins of Palm Springs. What makes You Let My Tyres Down such a unique and cool song. Layers and layers, space in Mod Con and maximalism in TFS... all that and more, more, more!

Dana's band Wavebreaker is an intersectional rock band centering the needs and lived experiences of girls, women, and femmes of color. A passionate advocate for progressive politics, Wavebreaker is explicitly political, pointed and ready to rock in the name of freedom and equality. Enter: Interdependence. Formed from the excellent Batwings Catwings and featuring members of Turbo Lightning at the Mae-shi, listen in as Dana talks about the overall game plan and strategy of walking the walk politically while still making great tunes, standing rock, rocking while being a female POC, skating and lots more.

One of Conan's favorite front people in music returns to Protonic Reversal. The incredible and inimitable Lindsey Charles of The Cell Phones. Direct and honest lyricism, powerful presentation and the incongruity of a spazzy band with great pop hooks. Lesley Gore is discussed, Halloween albums, and a little bit of each one of the the three full lengths this uncompromising and badass band has released. INCLUDING 2020's Best 20 of 2020 NUMBER ONE RECORD, Battery Lower. Song by song! Lindsey Charles!

Exhalants are a great band from Texas. 2020's ATONEMENT was on the Protonic Reversal Top 20 of 2020. We do a SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN of that very record (RICHARD! LAKE SONG)... as well as a roundup of Exhalants live experiences, the first record, split with Pinko, the value of a live record during a pandemic that people cannot experience live music. Gentrification, local band bills and lots, lots more.

The Gary have a new one out called FALLOW. Their first with drummer Anthony Castaneda. The long running Texas rockers have a unique sound and a unique voice. Check out bass player and singer Dave Norwood talk about taking the leap towards singing *AND* playing, what starts in the head vs. how the song turns out. Literary catnip. Chub, dust bowl, taprooms, "the Well(tm)", National Parks, Valhalla! Fair Weatherer! Call The Dogs! All that stuff and lots, lots more. Including a song by song breakdown of the latest near the end. The Gary is a unique and iconically American band. It's about dang time Dave was on.

Rye has an amazing arc! From sweaty basement post-hardcore/noise rock rippers, to anthemic big rock power houses. Much of this is outlined in the excellent documentary "Rye Coalition: The Story of the Hard Luck 5", but listen in as Dave talks about everything from splits with KARP and the LAST SHOW at Princeton, John Sherman... wasted, touring with Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters all the way to hobnobbing with the rock 'n roll elite and going for the brass ring. Through it all: the friendship is the through line. Along with some killer riffs. And stay tuned for a very revealing protonic exclusive!

The enigmatic rocker Mike Lust has a brand new record called Demented Wings. We go deep into a song by song breakdown of that record, as well as a lot about the legendary double album SILK PRISON by Tight Phantomz. Phantomz on Breaking Bad! Lustre King and about a million things more.

The mighty Red Fang is back with a brand new record called ARROWS. Listen it as Aaron speaks with Conan about: Party Time to Red Fang, Prehistoric Dog! Making a band that keeps the heavy, but spares the sextant, being handpicked by Metallica for Orion fest and still being able to be a little star struck. Thoughts on memories on the S/T, Murder the Mountains and Whales and Leeches and the in-depth story of Red Fang's totally badass appearance on David Letterman.

From Come and Codeine, to The New Year and MVF, to his excellent solo albums, Chris Brokaw has done QUITE A BIT. In depth Codeine talk (the unreleased second record?!?), Come through the ages, The New Year origin and more, playing with Clint Conley of Mission of Burma in Consonant, the Martha's Vineyard Ferries. So much! So much music talk. Oberlin! NY. All that plus a track by track run through of the excellent Puritan record that came out early this year. Let's do it!

Eric of The Bismarck‘s comprehensive documentary on touring “Why Am Doing This?” has been setting the internet on fire! The harsh but hilarious focus on smaller bands, shared experiences, touring etiquette and where adventure can turn to compulsion and trauma. Eric and Conan get into all of the details of creating this wonderful document, what did and didn’t make it in. Unique challenges and pitfalls, and lots of other things.

Yes, you read that right. One of the founders of DEVO suggested turning the tables on Conan for the 7 Year and 250 episode milestone. What, we are going to say no? Although nobody could have predicted that Conan's mother would be killed in a car crash that week. That is discussed, as well as what set Conan on his creative path. The complicated legacy and catalyst of Clay Wofford, the origin of Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, Protonic in the time of COVID (a piece of wreckage after the shipwreck), getting on stage in front of people, the genius of Toshi Kasai and asking Dale to be part of Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends. Lessons learned from all of that. New Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends plans, being too angry to write music. Hall monitors and following rules that don’t make sense. Getting out there and so much more. LOOK, it's Jerry Casale of DEVO talking to Conan Neutron. Cool? Cool.

Critical thinking. Ephemerality v. Timelessness, Getting drunk on far more expensive wine. Songs of the Free, tracking and revising songs for Return the Gift. Trading creative control vs. bigger bucks. Top of the Pops! ("You're welcome Duran Duran") EMI and Warner Brothers, SOLID GOLD and Another Day, Another Dollar. ANTHRAX! The theatre of beating up the microwave. The massive undertaking that is the breathtaking Gang of Four box set 77-81, the tension of Entertainment! and the Band of Brothers of classic Gang of Four, URGH! A music war, PARALYZED, The passing of Andy Gill. Possible new Gang of Four activity. The should have been hit of To Hell With Poverty. Custom Premier kits and A&R. RtJ, Frank Ocean.

Power trios! New Day Rising (by Robert Palmer), The upcoming LIVE Husker album HÜSKER DÜ - LONGHORN TONIGHT-Double Album (protonic exclusive), the Savage Young Dü box set. The Mustache. The Great Gildersleeves show and the Replacements not getting paid. Album by album HD memories, Zen Arcade rock opera, 2 track live Reoccuring Dreams. and the Minutemen. Ice Cold Ice, major labels, Hüsker Düdes, Gang Font aging like fine wine and Porcupine. Holy moly! It is Greg Norton.

The ultimate utility player arrives at the protonic reversal. Anita Lane. Serge Gainsbourg interpretations and covers, Autoluminescent and the many aspects of the mighty Rowland S. Howard. THE BIRTHDAY PARTY! Junkyard and not rounding off the corners. Murder Ballads! Red Right Hand! The somewhat contentious Henry's Dream (and the eventual 5:1 mix and reissue?), The purposeful playing in PJ Harvey's live band (assembled by personality as much as skill) and so very, very much more. Look: Mick Harvey has done it all. Let's sit back and appreciate it, right?

New single, in a very S2T style fashion. You can blame the Marshall for that. My 90s and photographic time travel. Music cues for Reno 911, composition. Videos and vision. HIT LIQUOR as one of the finest "statement of intent" openers of any album. Shudder as the kind of band that played with fugazi and Pearl Jam. The high water mark of Higher and Higher (Wet Hot American Summer), and the Bowie like brilliance of Maxwell Demon (Velvet Goldmine), the timeliness and necessity of The Sabbath Sessions, all that and MUCH, MUCH MORE!

The mighty Eugene Robinson returns… after…140+ episodes and 4 years? We talk about Oxbow signing with IPECAC for the new record, his recent substack writing, a whole lot about the monumental Oxbow record Thin Black Duke and the Thin Black Book. The difference between BECOMING and being, playing OXBOW music and many other things. We get into the tale of BLACK FACE with Chuck Dukowski of Black Flag, Diamonda Galas capsule reviews and tons more.

Fookin’ Ferries are back with a kick ass full length record “Suns Out Guns Out“. Hear a bit about being a geographically disparate outfit, playing Brokaw chords, not thinking too hard about what the band sounds like, just sounding like it, the many ways a Ferries song comes together, Greens Fees, and a full on song by song breakdown of the new MVF record.

It is the one and only David Yow! Singer and frontman of The Jesus Lizard and Scratch Acid. Part time singer of Flipper, Qui… and star of stage and screen! Look, look, look, so much to get to here. We talk about acting. Also, since it is the 30th anniversary of The Jesus Lizard – Goat we go in depth into that record SONG BY SONG. Is Monkey Trick the best Jesus Lizard song? All that, Get Shorty, blues covers of TJL and lots and lots more.

Yes, yes! The unmistakable Falco returns to Protonic Reversal. We talk about GATEWAY BAND, the new mclusky* live record that comes with a demo of things to come. Creating and the act of creating. SONGS! SONGS! SONGS! More songs than a song convention? SING IT. They may be ones you may or may not get to hear. Christian Fitness, Future of the Left, back issues. Shipping records. Cardiff –> London —> Bristol. Kelson the dentist. Look, look… the man has been on at least 7 times over the years. There’s a good reason. A DELIGHTFUL CHAT. Chock full of delight, really.

Cheshire Agusta is a powerhouse drummer and living legend. The long running, uncompromising and utterly relentless Stinking Liz are the pride of West Philly and known the world over. Listen in as this relentless master of the drums and paragon of live performance breaks down the musical conversation where everybody is talking, all of the different exciting drum minutia you might imagine and so very much more. This is a far ranging conversation, and that’s without the antics of Dr. Fly.

Silly riffs and other such tales. The mighty Part Chimp have a brand new record DROOL, available on Wrong Speed in the UK and Europe and on Learning Curve Records in the US. We go through Drool song by song, and talk of Truman’s Water, Live shows, being a cultural magpie. Part Chimp play along videos, sci-fi album covers and having some time to actually write lyrics ahead of time. Lyric book and all! Tune it down to B and listen in.

It is the incomparable Matt Parish! Once front fella, guitarist and singer for the much loved Boston Noiserock band HO-AG, Matt relocated to Nashville, TN and has now put out a field recording/soundtrack style album of composed songs out as Stuffed Spider. Listen in to hear about THAT transition, keeping yourself engaged when you are the only bandmate and some distanced forensics on the very well earned weirdness of the mighty Ho-Ag who meant quite a bit to the people it meant something to.

Well hey! It is the third round with Greg Saunier of the incredible and iconic Deerhoof. We left things off last time with just arriving at the Ed Rodriguez era. This episode here is a detailed run through of everything from Offend Maggie to Future Teenage Cave Artists and Love-Lore. 2008-2020. Scorsese’s Vinyl, Awkwafina, installations, the many moods of distance recording. PHEW! All the excellent Deerhoof deets you can shake a shake at.

Rick Froberg is a fantastic vocalist, rock ‘n roll front man and a HELL of a visual artist. Join in for a very free wheeling conversation while we talk about, well… all of his various bands, as well as punk rock t-shirt bootleggers, Wire, Metallica, LUAU, Jehu reunions, Rocker blocks, Hot Snakes 1st and 2nd times, Obits and so many, many other things. Come on! Rick Froberg, people!

The mighty NONAGON of Chicago has a new record called They Birds. It isn’t an ep, it is an actual, honest to goodness full length record. It is also a corker! Listen in as we go through the origin of the band, the ever awesome People Live Everywhere and the Last Hydronaut and an in-depth song by song discussion of the new album. Delightful fellas and a delightful talk. #wherestony

Sam Paulsen (Aka: Avona Nova, Sam Shark, etc.) is a fantastic guitarist, singer and songwriter. Most known for being Athens Rock Royalty(TM), she recently pulled up stakes and moved to Bellingham, Washington. Listen is as we talk about reconvening with WVTS, and writing an awesome reunion/comeback record just in time for the pandemic. The rewards and emotional stress of her day job as a nurse during COVID, not being motivated to play guitar. Joining up with MOAM? and going from a fill in member, to a full fledged member. Wild shows, low ceilings, funny times in São Paulo and also a song by song breakdown of Goodbye Guitar by We Versus the Shark.

SILKWORM – Firewater! An iconic record at 25. Listen in as Tim Midyett returns to Protonic Reversal to tell stories of every song on this remarkable album. Lyrics, parts, memories, recordings, minutia!

The man behind the mighty Helmet should need no introduction. Multiple time signatures in the same song and boobs on TV. DROP D. Influence and influencing. ESPs and the Beatles (four geniuses). Prong. AC/DC and Branca! Harsh criticisms and nasty things that can’t be unsaid. Image and the Gold Rush 90s. STRAP IT ON to MEANTIME to BETTY. Composing music for film and tv vs. for a band. SOUNDTRACKING. Taking Playing in David Bowie’s band and the amazing “Hangover Hamilton.” story.

It’s been a bit since Danielle has been on the show. Her band, the perpetually touring Hackedepicciotto with Alexander Hacke of Einstürzende Neubauten came on right as COVID was starting up. She has a new solo record called The Element of Love that just came out on Valentine’s Day. Listen in as Conan and Danielle examine the record song by song and get into depth on everything from workflow and mindset, coin-operated trees and the moon looming large.

God Bullies: legend to some and nearly unknown to others. A unpredictable and engaging rock band whose besuited frontman, Mike, seemed to be coming apart from the inside. Here we talk about conspiracies, building stories around the music (Tommy Shannon, David Livingstone, etc.), and crafting lyrics to weave tales through the madness. The FULL story behind “Pretty on the Inside” on Kill the King, some assorted vignettes of the God Bullies catalog, Some Thrall talk, and They Never Sleep, revisiting old material while not looking too far back to the past. All of this along with the pranksterism of one Ron Asheton on the set of Mosquito, and so much more. It is Mike Hard! REJOICE.

Well hey, hey! It’s none other that the mighty Dale Crover of Melvins returning to Protonic Reversal after 75 episodes or so. Dale has an awesome new solo album called Rat-A-Tat-Tat! on Joyful Noise full of rock ‘n roll goodness and is fresh off the first installment of Melvins TV (Next episode up now!) We go in depth through every song on the record, with deviations here and there as well as the new Melvins 1983 album “Working With God“, after that… DCB talk, Hostile Ambient Takeover reissue, Redd Kross, cover songs and setlist choices, Lysol, Leif Garrett, Wayne Kramer and… yeah, yeah. Lots of other stuff. Come listen to one of rock’s greatest drummers, and member of Redd Kross, Shrinebuilder, Altamont (yeah, yeah and Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends) and so much more dish it all out.

It has been awhile since Scott was on Protonic last! (just shy of 5 years!) With a new KWC/Ken Mode/Shallow North Dakota benefit split release for SND’s Tony Jacome (who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer), there’s a lot to talk about. Each Kowloon Walled City album is discussed in depth, as well as studio and recording ideas and tactics, pedal building, collaborations and splits, quarantimes and assembly lines and lots, lots more. “Don’t bend notes and don’t play the little box pattern”

Making the move to politically oriented music with Wavebreaker. A slow and careful gestation period for a new band. and a possibly unorthodox method for getting it to people. Amplifying voices (figuratively and literally) The privilege of punk rock, being challenge by Slim Moon of Kill Rock Stars to be more political, The Mae-Shi! “Surprise music!”, “We Do This All the Time”, putting on a show, Terrorbird and Hllyh. Sobriety becoming a force multiplier for creativity. Composition, sound design and commercial music work… Writing the worst possible thing on purpose (to get to something good). Making a podcast as an avenue to learn more about crypto currency. Starting podcasts and starting an app (BandcasT) to make PODCASTING EASIER. All this and SO. MUCH. MORE. with this wildly creative fella.

The incredible Josh Newton hasn’t been on the show for a full episode since episode 79! That’s been almost 5 years. Oops! Lots has happened since then, not the least of which is Shiner recording and releasing their wonderful new record Schadenfreude. There is talk of that, the legacy and music of Shiner, some talk of Glazed Baby (RIP: Andy Newman), lots about Sie Lieben Maschinen, a touch about being a guitar tech/gear hound for a living and a few of “the hits” from last time. Such as playing with Fallout Boy in a field with a rotation stage and learning “Uptown Funk” and playing it on the BBC. It’s Josh Newton, he’s a delight… come on!

The incredible Josh Newton hasn’t been on the show for a full episode since episode 79! That’s been almost 5 years. Oops! Lots has happened since then, not the least of which is Shiner recording and releasing their wonderful new record Schadenfreude. There is talk of that, the legacy and music of Shiner, some talk of Glazed Baby (RIP: Andy Newman), lots about Sie Lieben Maschinen, a touch about being a guitar tech/gear hound for a living and a few of “the hits” from last time. Such as playing with Fallout Boy in a field with a rotation stage and learning “Uptown Funk” and playing it on the BBC. It’s Josh Newton, he’s a delight… come on!

JP is relentless innovator in no compromise noisy business. Well known for the mighty band The Locust (Which didn’t sound anything like Crossed Out), you also may know Retox, or Planet B, or a little group with other members of doing their thing called Dead Cross. If you don’t know that, maybe Swing Kids! The mighty 31G. Busy fella that does a lot of cool stuff. Conan and Justin talk about a lot of things, bringing the DEVO into hardcore, Kool Keith memories that may not exist, soundtracking with beats that are and are not hard enough, some formative experiences in Tijuana, Extreme Elvis, John Waters, and tons and tons more.

Wot wot? It’s two of the fine fellows of Hey Colossus, Chris Summerlin and Joe Thompson. Dance/Curses, their THIRTEENTH record, is one of Conan’s favorites of 2020 and so a TransAtlantic quarantimes Protonic Reversal is the order of the day. THRILL to the sounds of every single song on this epic album gone over in forensic detail, DRINK every time Joe claims they won’t be playing one live, or you know… don’t. Fascinating record and band, lots of fun details and process, DIY, etc. Also, some needless (or NEEDED?) digressions into Soundgarden and mumble rap (?!?). Peace and love! Peace and love!

Well, look here! It’s SF dark and noisy rockers THE TUNNEL. Join a very special late night quarantimes edition of Protonic to hear these talented lads breakdown every track on their stellar Shapeshifter record (which appeared in the Top 20 of 2020 protonic reversal episode) as well as the Nightfall ep. Listen in to these innovative fellows speak to how they are staying creative during quarantine and where they fit in between the world of spooky death rock and grindy noisy rock. Ladies and gentlemen the hour groweth late, it is the tunnel!

#1 The Cell Phones – What You Would Do – Battery Lower #2 Shiner – Life as a Mannequin – Schadenfreude #3 Hum – In The Den – Inlet #4 Reptoid – You Have Already Been Compromised – Worship False Gods #5 Heads. – Push You Out to Sea – Push #6 Kid Dakota – Age of Roaches – Age of Roaches #7 Bone and Bell – Can’t – To a Cinder #8 Coriky – Hard to Explain – Coriky #9 New Primals – A Beast With Two Backs – Horse Girl Energy #10 Liar, Flower – My Brain is Lit Like an Airport – Geiger Counter #11 Mint Mile – Shy – Ambertron #12 Exhalants – Richard – Atonement #13 The Tunnel – Punisher – Shape Shifter #14 We Versus The Shark – I Am Never Going Home for Chrismas Again – Goodbye, Guitar #15 Dead – Remorse – Raving Drooling #16 Waxeater – I Love Your Body, Larry – Extra Medium #17 Mrs. Piss – Downer Surrounded by Uppers – Mrs. Piss #18 Mr. Dude – USA Get Off My Dick – Killed by Life #19 Erratic Retaliator Strategy – Daggers – Instructions #20 Hey Colossus – Donkey Jaw- Dances/Cures

It’s Birdstuff of MOAM? A noted raconteur and very funny man, oh yeah and a hell of a drummer! He runs a venue called the Saturn that “rips off” things he likes from other venues during years of touring. (A million dollar PA system costs a million dollars, and being nice is free). There is talk of aliases, and being inspired by dislike. Sending out postcards to fans, touring the world playing music that isn’t exactly HARD SURF, while maintaining a longtime pre-social network connection with highly engaged fans. Reminding Joel Hodgson of the words to the MST3K theme song live, usage of samples to differentiate the songs and tune and stuff. Estrus to Touch and Go and getting darker in the process. Also hear about SERVOTRON playing with Dave Pirner. Starcrunch, Birdstuff and Steve Albini sharing a bed heated by TV dinners (oh yeah, and recording with him too) and sooooo much more. IT’S GO TIME!

Eddie and Conan go way back, all the way to Eddie’s late-90s, early 2000s “noise-rock band” Leopold. Plenty to talk about just with that, but he’s also a member of the reunited Distorted Pony(!). A much missed band from the halcyon days of weird music, and a band he was an unabashed fan of. How does one approach playing in one of your favorite bands and what does that look like? From tone to space, to practices with one member in a different state, european tours and everything in between, to being ready to ramp back up in 2020 and pump the brakes because of COVID. Get an insider’s look at this very specific set of parameters in cool noisy music with Eddie Rivas.

It has been awhile since the enigmatic Darren Jackson (AKA: Kid Dakota) has been on Protonic Reversal. Last time was right after the reissue of So Pretty on vinyl, and before the sadly overlooked Denervation. This time it is a brand new record for 2020 (or at least a few weeks of it) Age of Roaches! We get into a song by song breakdown, as well as why some of this record has been kicking around for 14 years (!). Darren shares his process for working on the record and managing a day job teaching music, talk of dark lyrics, pastoral fetishism, and why is it that it might be inconvenient to the legend of Kid Dakota that he has continued making records. And in-depth look at an artist somehow shrouded in mystery and hiding in plain site.

Heather Smith is Bone and Bell, an artist who sometimes has a band sometimes doesn’t. Her new record To a Cinder is something to behold. Orchestral Folk? Apocalyptic Americana? None of that does it justice. The songs are dark and true and quite compelling. She comes from a world of noisier music but expressed her art her way. Listen in on a song by song breakdown of the record, as well as the real life story of having to relearn to play completely after a major accident. Turning tragedy into triumph. An excellent visual artist and musician, this has been a long time coming.

The mighty Greg Saunier of Deerhoof returns to Protonic Reversal! It has been over a year, and last time was pre-pandemic, uprising and election. Wow! Since we barely got through the first couple records last time with all the talk of San Francisco… this talk includes Defund the Police, and policing those that SAY Defund the Police, as well as all of the world events since then. It also gets us through the Chris Cohen era of Deerhoof and (almost all of) the 2000s. Many fine tales, including DAVID BOWIE, Thom Yorke slam dancing and putting together samples in the most torturous and labor intensive way possible. Work/life balance. All that. A DEEP DIVE into Reveille, Apple O, Milk Man, Green Cosmos, Runners Four and a little bit about Friend Opportunity. Part1 and Part3!

Welcome to a round table discussion on the rock band AC/DC, with Brian Walsby, Tony Ash and Conan Neutron. Album by album thoughts and breakdowns by three smart ass rock dudes that really like the band, but also appreciate their total absurdity. HELLS BALLS! It is a protonic reversal special.

Formation of the 8G Band with Fred Armisen! Playing Late Night with Seth Meyers… guest drummers and adjustments. A new way of working and who does and does not have punk rock reference points. (Also, nobody cares if you don’t watch tv.) Les Savy Fav starting up with 3/5 and playing those songs years later, LSF, the Ft. Thunder house band. Frenchkiss Records! the Cat and the Cobra, and obsessing about a sample. Toko Yasuda! ROME (written upside down), Playing with Shellac. The long history of the Inches 7″ single project, the puzzle and planning it from day one. Half the band writing hooks, half trying to tear it down. Go Forth! and trying to make things bloom on demand. Let’s Stay Friends, Root For Ruin and playing suites of cover songs where you are so behind the beat you get lapped for a live album. All this and much, much more in this very special Protonic Reversal.

San Diego rock royalty Tobias Nathaniel is known to most for being half of the core of the iconic and influential Black Heart Procession. Excavating the maudlin, somber and longing of the human spirit and defining a sound. Now he lives in Belgrade Serbia and makes lively rock music with The Red Step. There’s still a color, there’s still a movement. We speak of him being a guitar player known for playing piano the most, AC30s (no pedals!), his contribution on Blonde Redhead’s Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons and one of those songs becoming a famous piece of music in Rick and Morty, working with David J, why The Spell is his favorite Black Heart record, learning to sing in a band after many years of playing music (finding a voice) and lots, lots more!

Greg has a new record (Child Soldier: Creator of God)! It is under his own name and most of it doesn’t sound much like Dillinger Escape Plan. Listen in as Greg and Conan talk about how directors and actors aren’t expected to do the same thing but musicians are. Boxes and rooms. Doing things because you have something to say vs. wanting to be heard. Spotify, categories and other prisons. The founding of Federal Prisoner and putting out records that way, vs with a major label or established indie label. Making the decision to release the record under the same name he pays his power bill under, and removing the shield of band identity. Playing Alice in Chains songs with Jerry Cantrell in small rooms without volume to back up anything, and playing with people that make you step your game up. The ending of Dillinger Escape Plan, the origin story of Killer Be Killed (who also have a new record out!), and lots, LOTS more.

At LONG LAST! A conversation with one of the most mysterious and unsung guitar heroes of “weird music”. Listen in as Helios and Conan talk about taking inspiration from Hendrix and Sabbath live (and the acid), and making timeless records like Alien Soundtracks and Half Machine Lip Moves too. Model trains. The sad decline of Damon Edge, Overcoming illness and adversity, touring with Hawkwind members, common cause with Flipper and Dead Kennedys. Lactating Purple! Look: Helios has had an incredible career, and it is likely you aren’t familiar with all of it. So act accordingly. Also, It is entirely likely that you will get a contact high from this episode.

Puscifer has a new record called Existential Reckoning. Conan talks with Agent Round and discuss: Arcosanti (live at…), Chapman Sticks, Fairlights and “people doing weird shit”, contrasting ideas (Fake Affront). Live vs. record and serving the song, Bob Dylan. New and surprising. Lyrics. Accept songs. “It’s wrong and it’s right, and it’s Puscifier”. Doing the work, even when it is divine. Nick Cave! Tears for Fears (what, seriously?) Listen in on this talented artist talking about process, mindset and worldview.

The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo. Did anybody expect “new” Mr. Bungle? Did they expect it in this form? Well, SURPRISE! The iconic guitar player and composer breaks down playing and recording songs written in high school in Humboldt with thrash heroes like Scott Ian and Dave Lombardo. Flexing different muscles on the lost Bungle “thrash record” and relearning those songs. The difference between the architect/director of a band like SC3, vs JUST being the guitarist. Repairing non-standard/esoteric instruments on the road. Time signatures that are not actually odd. Ches! Danny! Orthodox Theology and Byzantine Chant. Oh yeah, and King for a Day… Fool for a Lifetime by Faith No More too. All that and some high minded concepts, ideas and conception about composition, tones and what is and is not paint by numbers. Listen in to THE GRAND INQUISTOR (Conan Neutron) break it down with Trey.

It has been 10 years since the release of the both groundbreaking and still somewhat lesser known Something for Everybody. As with many things DEVO, it came out just a little bit before its time. Sounding purposefully “modern,” and focus group approved, the energy hats were changed to the more pleasing color of blue, and everything from the mastering to the song choice was meant to shine a light on the world of music ala 2010. Join us for a song by song breakdown, as well as a larger exploration of this fascinating record, with founding DEVO member Jerry Casale. A Protonic Reversal special.

AWESOME. Been wanting to do this talk for a long time. In this episode, you will find: Some talk about podcasts (on a podcast), Coriky! The ecosystem around record stores and pandemic logistics. Starting on piano and moving to bass and then guitar! Baritones! Suggestion! fugazi demos! Instrument (but just the jerks). Lack of interest in nostalgia. Sitting down and standing back up, memes and mortality, Ian’s memory palace, being made into “content” and for what reason, some discussion on the psychological effect of social media and what you can and cannot control and some very thought provoking advice and perspective on maintaining sanity in crazy times. Be enCOURAGED and don’t give them your joy.

An incredible career in music and an incredible catalog of songs. Sloan are a force to be reckoned with, an instrument switching band with equal parts songwriting duties and cut of the money. Major label rollercoaster and continuing work long after, we get some sloan songwriting power rankings, some details about the recording of the various records (NAVY BLUES!) and a whole lot of the Chris Murphy ethos. Oh yeah, a little bit about Scott Pilgrim, listen in on a music lifer who has forged a unique path forward and continues to do really cool stuff.

Running Punks! Punks! Running! It has become quite the phenom. Album reviews by a man running and shouting at his phone. An online community motivating people to run all around the world that have a shared interest in weird music. Jimmy also spent time in Future of the Left and the Vega Bodegas playing guitar, but this thing with the running seems to really connect to people. Turns out sticking to running isn’t such a bad thing after all.

Not just one of the most iconic and Idiosyncratic front men of all time, Shannon Selberg has stories for days. Being “the heel” in the scene/support slot, cover choices, forcing the audience to be in the moment, WALTZES, musical “jokes”, Thor’s non-euclidian geometry guitar work, and eating a major label rep’s business card. All that and a wee bit of Heroine Sheiks too. Draw yourself a marker mustache and dig in.

Patrick was 1/4 of the incredible Poison Control Center, an indie psych band that presented live as a HELL ASS ROCK BAND like the Who or something. In recent years he has done the more cerebral, and baroque multimedia (and mostly one man) band Gloom Balloon. Who has a new record. “Bergman Uses Bach To Get His Point Across, I Feel Like I Have Chosen Rock But At What A Cost”on Grand Phony. What better time to discuss “Why we do, what we do?” right?? It’s in the dang album title. Anyway, a far ranging discussion with the pride of Iowa.

Ed started late in life, and moved to another continent to put together his dream band. He did and it is awesome. Heads. is a perfect exemplar of a working band that makes music far outside the mainstream that means a whole lot to who it is for. Great talk with a song by song breakdown of the most recent record “Push”.

The Crash and Ride Podcast is a unique and beautiful thing, uniquely dedicated to helping musicians survive depression and anxiety. We could JUST talk about that, but Patrick has also played in the incredible Five Eight, Pinky Doodle Poodle, the Powder Room, some incredible session work and… the Psychedelic Furs? Amazing. Listen in on and as we talk about the real life mental health struggles of musicians, artists and beyond and take a journey through this incredible drummer’s storied career.

Jeff Mueller returns! The most recent June of 44 release: “Revisionist: Adaptations & Future Histories In The Time Of Love And Survival” is discussed, as well as heavy talk about Jo44 in general, Shipping News and the mighty RODAN! (like the live show that was put up on bandcamp last year) Dexterity Press as well. All this and Covid Life talk. Show me how you cut your face!

Jeff Mueller returns! The most recent June of 44 release: “Revisionist: Adaptations & Future Histories In The Time Of Love And Survival” is discussed, as well as heavy talk about Jo44 in general, Shipping News and the mighty RODAN! (like the live show that was put up on bandcamp last year) Dexterity Press as well. All this and Covid Life talk. Show me how you cut your face!

It is the 200th episode! Conan has extended conversations with former cohosts Brenna Betts (ep: 7-88) and Josh Davis (ep95-129). As well as a montage of guests answering “Why do you what you do?” It is a very different and inward looking protonic reversal exploring the past of the very show itself!

RAW POWER, that should just be the description. But there’s a lot to James Williamson beyond just the Stooges. including a great new record called Two to One with Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman. Awesome! We talk a LOT of Stooges, and a lot about more recent stuff. Including his dual life working in tech before picking the guitar back up with Iggy, in a world where the Stooges are viewed VERY differently. Listen in to a guitar PIONEER!

Steve Von Till has an excellent new solo record and book of poetry. We talk about that as well as the various works and path of Neurosis, Neurot, Harvestman vs. solo work, teaching, live at Pompeii, stone circles, punk rock, and lots, lots more. Listen in on an uncompromising artist that has forged his own path and has an unparalleled body of work. A great sense of self and a drive to push forward.

Von Wildenhaus is a band, and it is the brainchild of a fella named Ben. Ben also played in the incredible (and wildly underrated) Federation X. Christmas albums! Making low key music compelling! The out of phase history of Federation X. All of that and lots more is talked about with this interesting bi-coastal musician who is forging his own path and scoring his own future.

A living legend! That’s what Alain Johannes is, either you know or you don’t. An incredible player that has lived an incredible life, you have heard Alain’s work in many, many key records. At long lost: Alain and Conan break it all down for you. Including some quantum mechanics talk. Sha-MEN, or Sha-MON?

Buzz is from the Melvins, Trevor is most known for Mr. Bungle but has done a *LOT* of stuff. Buzz Osborne & Trevor Dunn are today’s guests we talk about “Gift of Sacrifice”, Buzz’s new acoustic record w/Trevor on bass, fantomas! Mr. bungle! tomahawk! trio-convulsant! 50 states in 50 days! Melvins lite! Terry Bozzio! and lots lots more. (administration note: this interview occurred several days before the two year old Buzz Osborne appearance with Gavin Mcinnes, and contains no references to that appearance. reaction or aftermath. It is the view of Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal that appearance has been addressed and clarified in other media.)

Whether it’s the heavy noise-rock of the pioneering Fudge Tunnel of Nottingham, England, the ever enduring side-project Nailbomb with Max of Sepultura, the uncompromising raucousness of Theory of Ruin or the storied and deep career of producing bands as diverse as at.the.drive.in, Death Cab for Cutie, bloc party and godheadSilo. Alex Newport has done a lot. Check out this LONG OVERDUE protonic reversal with the man, where we speak at length about all of those bands as well his path into recording proper.

Hit So Hard is a book by the incredible Patty Schemel. Patty has led an incredible life, including her time as the groundbreaking (and hard hitting) drummer for the band Hole. This here episode is a walk through of everything from her finding her people in punk rock, the rise of a legit huge band during the alt-gold rush, a fall from grace and getting back up to rediscover what led her to drumming and music in the first place. Strap in!

Phil Manley is most known for the incredible band TRANS AM, but he also played in a latter version of the Fucking Champs, plays in Life Coach with Jon Theodore of Mars Volta and QOTSA and is in the awesome Terry Gross! Hear all about Phil’s relocation from east coast to west, a run down for all of the Trans Am records and… jamming with Zack De La Rocha? It’s been 123 episodes since Phil’s been on the show, clearly a few things have happened since then! DIG IN!

Long before Vern Rumsey recorded my old band Replicator, long before I was crashing at his place on tour. LONG before HHG. I was listening to Unwound. Wearing out my cassette tapes rocking out to Repetition or New Plastic Ideas. Put simply, they were one of the reasons I play music in the first place. Their unique and iconic sound was so immediate and compelling and it’s forceful presentation inspired me. I always held that in my head and heart, even as we created stuff together and approached things as musical peers. Vern didn’t seem to realize how much Unwound had touched and inspired people, as if Leaves Turn Inside You isn’t one of the best albums ever made in indie rock. Come on! But Unwound did and he was a big part of that. Vern wasn’t a perfect guy, his demons are well documented, and shouldn’t be ignored. He was an alcoholic, let’s not short sell that. He sought help and received it, and transcended that gross and destructive addiction for awhile. He dug deep and brought the thunder with us and found a light in the darkness to transcend for. He was without a doubt the biggest advocate of Household Gods and was experiencing the deep high of creative satisfaction. I was glad he got to have that. I am glad to have been in his life. He was one of the most unique and interesting bass players of all time for my tastes, one of a kind. An icon. I remember watching him play in the unstoppable and incredible Unwound, just bearing down in that inexorable way. Smoking tough the entire time. A portrait of rock ’n roll cool, a viking. The world is a sadder and quieter place without him in it and I miss my friend. Rest in Power, Vern Rumsey Playlist: Unwound – Corpse Pose Unwound – Valentine Card / Kantina / Were, Are And Was Or Is Unwound – Demolished Unwound – Side Effects of Being Tired Unwound – Broken E-Strings Unwound – December Unwound – For Your Entertainment Oslo of Olympia – Walk The Plank Blonde Redhead – Water Unwound – All Souls Day Unwound – Terminus Unwound – Lady Elect Unwound – Envelope Long Hind Legs – Open Wide Unwound – Re-Enact the Crime Unwound – Dragnalus Unwound – Off This Century Red Rumsey – Big House Unwound – Arboretum Household Gods – Rest In Power (Instrumental)/Unwound – Below The Salt

Jennifer Finch has lived an incredible life. Most known for being 1/4th of the powerful and incredible L7. We talk about photography, records, mindsets, the recording process, leaving L7 and coming back, and lots more. You know, Protonic Reversal stuff. Jennifer doesn’t do many interviews, so it was a blast to talk to her about everything from to Roy Thomas Baker and Voight-Kampff tests to answering machine message tapes that have Kurt Cobain on them.

David Pajo has played with everybody from Billy Corgan, Karen O, Neil Hagerty to… well, Conan Neutron. To this day, he’s still most known for being a member of the iconic, influential and genre defining band Slint. Listen in on a bit of all of that as well as talk of DEAD CHILD (the band), Papa M (of course), touring with Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Interpol, a smidgen of talk about Household Gods. The band with David Pajo, Vern Rumsey of Unwound, LKN and uh… another guy. He’s a suicide and motorcycle accident survivor, a master musician and a hell of a nice guy. It’s… David Pajo!

Australian pub/scum rock legends the Cosmic Psychos have blazed a trail of uncompromising working man’s punk rock, leaving both good times and empty beer cans in their wake for 38 years. The man at that helm is Mr. Ross Knight, a pleasantly rowdy fellow who literally lives on a farm, and is most certainly a bloke you can trust. Listen in! Go the hack on this episode of Protonic Reversal down under.

NYC Band A Deer A Horse are quarantined, but they did manage to get in some touring first. This is a free wheeling conversation with a young, working co-ed band in the somewhat uniform (and largely male!) genre of noise rock. Best and worst shows, the nature of rock crit. All of that and more! Three very thoughtful and funny folks breaking it down.

From the Boys Next Door to Junkyard, Phill was on the drums in the mighty and majestic Birthday Party. From the earliest days, all the way to the iconoclastic and influential Junkyard. Listen in! Noise + Nick Cave at his most unhinged, post-punk history told straight from one of the fellas that made it. Dang!

Rick and Rose have had an incredible history in music, largely with their band the Poster Children. Navigating the original indie label movement, the early 90s gold rush, and the “I like it small” modern indie rock movement. All with an eye towards sustainability and making informed choices towards those goals. Rick and Rose have both appeared before, but this episode focuses on an album by album account, and all the sidebars that entails! It is like a Radio Zero crossover episode.

LIKEANDSUBSCRIBE!LIKEANDSUBSCRIBE!DON’TFORGETTOLIKEANDSUBSCRIBE! It’s ubiquitous, every show and thing out there is trying to work the algorithms to be heard, seen or otherwise recognized. This episode is a 1 on 1 talk with Mr. Steve Albini about exactly that. This was meant as a 20 minute episode based on the single topic, but we expanded to other things, including monetization in general, commodification, etc.

Tony Visconti is a legend in recording, not just Bowie’s long time producer, but a member of his band in the Man Who Sold the World days. Listen in as we hear tales from almost all eras of Bowie, as well as his work with Marc Bolan/T. Rex, Iggy Pop’s the Idiot, and Thin Lizzy (!). WOW!

WAXEATER is a band from Louisville, KY. Rob is a teacher by day and noiserocker by night. He’s a good talker and has many opinions. He’s also very entertaining. They have a brand new record called Extra Medium, their first in *checks notes*, a VERY long time. Listen in, it’s a song by song breakdown and lots, lots more.

“One man noise-rock Aneursym from Oakland, California” Let that sink in. Reptoid sounds like the End of the World, but… you know in a good way. What kind of man embarks on an arduous endeavor like this? Jordan Sobolew.

KatieJane Garside is a bit of an enigma for some. She has a new album under the name Liar, Flower with longtime collaborator Chris Whittingham. We talk about that: all her various bands (like Queen Adreena and Daisy Chainsaw), living on a boat, meditation, sublimation and eradication of self in creative pursuits and and many other things.

Jared Warren has done a LOT. And with the recent release of the compendium of the “lost” band between KARP and Big Biz: The Whip, there’s even more to listen to now. Listen in as Jared and Conan talk about and around Scotty, the Big Business arc, the time in and around the Melvins and a little bit about the… KARP reissues?! It might be the most detailed accounting of Big Business around!

Travis’s site Buddyhead is a name associated with iconoclastic irreverence to this DAY. In the days before everybody had a hot take, and the ability to take down sacred cows, Buddyhead ruled the school Now he’s pivoted towards making things himself. Travis returns for his THIRD protonic episode, to talk about those days as well as the various zines, videos (Mark Lanegan!), shirts and things that he is up to with American Primitive. Oh yeah, and Amanda Palmer splitting up with Neil Gaiman over Patreon for some reason. (this episode takes place BEFORE the recent uprisings)

Zak Sally is known best for being the bassplayer of Low or his comics, but he is also in an absolutely incendiary band called THE HAND with Dale Flattum of Steel Pole Bath Tub. All that is discussed, as well as general pandemic stuff.

The revolutionary and incredible electronic junk punk band BABYLAND was a huge influence on Conan, here they discuss that iconic band’s origin, moving from one off art project to DIY paragons. The world around early 90s weird music in LA. Moving on with Continues and quite a bit about the general state of everything in these Covid-19 times. (note: this episode takes place before the George Floyd killing and subsequent uprisings)

Dave Scott Stone has done a *LOT*, being an auxiliary member of Big Business, Unwound and the Melvins. To joining LCD Soundsystem, to making soundtracks with a member of Duran Duran! Listen in on this talented man’s incredible journey in music and hear the true story of the falling out with Melvins.

Jerry Casale’s full length appearance in episode 159 was expansive in scope and covered quite a bit, but we didn’t get to everything. Soooo… Mr. Casale returned for what WAS to be a quick 20-30 minute followup. Listen in as Jerry and Conan talk about the insane story of the movie Human Highway and DEVO’s association with Neil Young. The anniversary of the Kent State shootings. The Are We Not Men? / ChiChi Rodriguez artwork story, the 50 by 50 winery, the (still yet unreleased) DEVO documentary and yes… the source of “Show me some of what’s about to happen.” (Hint: Ben Orr of the Cars) and lots more.

Martin Atkins has had an incredible lifetime in and around music, listen in as he and Conan go into great depth on the historic and iconic Flowers of Romance record by Public Image Limited, including performing on American Bandstand (!) and doing everything the most difficult way possible with that group. Working with Killing Joke and non-relatable songwriting, the inception and continuing wild ride of Pigface, borne off of Ministry touring. Reveling in the unexpected and using the chaos as a change agent. Abandonment of ego to create a greater whole. All of this plus his journey into academia and his excellent (and very funny) general advice for working smart as a band and finding what it is that makes the band special. Some of which can be found in his (FREE!) book: Band Smart: Succeed On the Music Business on Your Own Terms.

Ryan Parks fancies himself a blues man. But the songwriter behind Oakland rockers B. Hamilton is a lot deeper than just that… listen in on the crazy train of Oakland’s B. Hamilton. Songwriting, process, inspiration and history, the Gilligan’s Island of “covers of others”, and being part of the hit song from Sorry to Bother You.

Tad Doyle is a rock pioneer, who was around and working during the “gold rush days” of grunge and well after, as well as the proprietor of Witch Ape Studios. Hear about the rise and fall of Tad, a little bit of Hog Molly, the incredible rebirth with Brothers of the Sonic Cloth and everything else. This talk gets deep! From artwork cease and desists to serious discussions on mental health.

Ronnie is/was 1/3 of the mighty Muffs! He’s a raconteur of the highest order and has had an incredible career in music with the amazing Kim Shattuck (R.I.P.). Listen in on the tales of an incredible rock and roll career, from a surprise hit song in the movie Clueless as well as a detailed accounting of the final Muffs record. Which was completed during Kim’s two year battle with ALS.

It is another “stay at home” Protonic Reversal with special guest: drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Earthless, OFF!, Hot Snakes, RFTC, Clikitat Ikatowi)! This guy has done it all… six degrees of Rubalcaba. Hear about joining RFTC and Hot Snakes, punk rock basements and the wild and wooly path of the mighty Earthless! All this, a little pro skating stuff and some serious record geek talk. OK!

AmRep! A record label, a lifestyle brand, a way of life. Tom Hazelmyer lives and breathes art, limited edition linocuts and uncompromising music for genuine weirdos!

Jason, Santiago and Victor are the Chicago rock band Salvation, they have a new record called “Year of the Fly” and are both affable and interesting fellas, and a band worth paying attention to. https://salvationrockandroll.bandcamp.com/

Hackedepicciotto are itinerant nomads making soundtracks for life, and it’s a pandemic. You may know Alexander from his other band Einstürzende Neubauten, this here episode is a talk with the duo about tour, the nature of performance and connection, and yoga music for people who hate yoga music. (apologies for less than ideal sound quality on Conan’s part, there was a bad piece of equipment, since rectified)

Lori Barbero is a living legend. As the power behind the propulsive drumming of Babes in Toyland, she was a participant in several incredible epochs of crazy music. Although she’s currently going through a crazy picture archive during the pandemic, she took time out to talk to Conan Neutron about all things Babes in Toyland, DIY, music and the year Punk Broke and well after.

Allen Epley is not only in the incredible Shiner and The Life and Times, he also hosts his own show called Third Gear Scratch. Oh yeah, and his day job is in the Blue Man Group. What? We talk about that and the BRAND NEW SHINER RECORD, as well as lots more on… PROTONIC REVERSAL.

Brian Walsby is a cartoonist, he also played drums in Polvo and in a band called Shiny Beast (which features a member that went on to be in Red Fang), he’s also known for running merch for the Melvins where his cartoon parodies of popular books, records, movies and tv shows are the delight of discerning music fan. He’s also written a book on being self-employed called “self empunishment”. Anyway, the guy has stories for days and is a treasure trove of music knowledge, even if he isn’t actively playing it now. Dig in!

Kate Wakefield is a cellist, vocalist and part of the incredible duo Lung. Lung tour hard, and have an unforgettable and powerful live show. An incredible and intense performer and an undeniable talent. Kate took the time to talk to Conan about everything from touring, poetry, Brock Turner and the American patriarchy. There’s a lot to learn from this iconoclastic lady, listen in.

Iconic guitarist and composer, Mr. Mike Morasky comes on Protonic Reversal for an awesome freewheeling conversation centered largely around the enigmatic and mysterious Steel Pole Bath Tub and Milk Cult.

Chris Spencer is most known for the brutal, uncompromising and iconoclastic rockers UNSANE. Whose gory and explicit album art was equally as vicious as the music contained within. After 30 years of Unsane he’s teamed up with some friends and collaborators for a much different kind of band, the moody and often slow-burning Human Impact. Chris sits down with Conan to talk about all that during the pandemic.

The mighty bass man of the NC indie rock heroes, the Archers of Loaf comes back on Protonic Reversal to have a talk. It’s been what, 5 years? Time flies! How could it have gone long without an appearance from this swell fella? This time it is everything from the first inklings of “Go Loaf”, all the way to the end… and after! A new single and record, and a tour… right during the pandemic. It’s all discussed. Oh yeah, he also plays in a band called Band of Horses that you may have heard of, did you know that? We talk about that too.

Jerry Casale is a legend. An iconoclast, a prophet and a pioneer who got scalped. As a founding member, and mastermind behind the incredible genre bending band DEVO, Jerry pushed the boundaries of music, music video and mainstream culture. In these insane times, it is true. We are ALL DEVO. Jerry Casale sat down for a long form episode of Protonic Reversal. (note, while this is a fully formed and fully produced episode there is another episode that began as an addendum and later became it’s own episode. You can find that here.)

The one and only Duane Denison of the mighty Jesus Lizard returns to Protonic reversal. What, you need more?

The inimitable and unstoppable Andy “Falco” Falkous comes back on Protonic Reversal for another long term episode. Does this qualify him for guest host status? Nobody knows. A freewheeler you will want to hold onto your hat for, key discussion points include an *ACTUAL* discussion of the American Left (if not the Future of it.) Covid-19 and Misfits beshirted minor villainy. All things *mclusky, and a little discussion of the last christian fitness record. “So… You Are the Ambulance”

Toshi Kasai is back on Protonic Reversal! He has a brand new record/project called PLAN D! –Plan D: Working with tons of different drummers to make a very cool record. -Lieutenant tour (Nate Mendel) -Solo sets opening for Melvins -Working with a number of different bands/clients -Overpreparing/underpreparing for recording. -Making a band/artist feel comfortable -bands arguing for 10 minutes over a part that is 5 seconds. -Tracking at sound of Sirens vs. tracking in other places/studios. -Upcoming bands recorded -“the wrong end of adventure” with destination recording. -“partying” in the studio/recording process

It’s Dale Crover! of the Dale Crover Band, Melvins, Altamont and… well, Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends! He’s been on before, but never in his own episode. And here it is. Awesome. -Quarantine life. -Dale Crover Band – Sell Out -The Who – Sell Out –Being on a split single and being on both sides. (DCB/NeutronFriends) -Drum record on JNR -Bringing the Dale Crover Band into being an actual band. -Altamont -Recording with Mark Arm and Steve turner of Mudhoney! -Collaborations (Helms Alee!) -Sound of Sirens! -A sense of adventure in the studio/trying new stuff with Toshi -Plan D! -Working on others stuff vs. your own -Nocturnal Habits record -Different kinds of percussion -The KISS style solo records -Melvins @ Gilman/Covered Wagon (San Francisco Days) -Atlantic -Lysol / Lice-all (copyright/trademark vs. generic term) -Mark Deutrom/Lori Black -Covering Going Blind/KISS and then later playing it live with Gene Simmons. -Playing with KISS and playing with Rush. -Double drums with Coady Willis and playing with Jared Warren -Hold it In -Mike and the Melvins -Reconciling with Kevin Rutmanis -P.I.L./Flowers of Romance/Martin Atkins/American Bandstand -Setting up the Melvins space for Ministry -Steven McDonald in Melvins -General quarantine wrap-up, QUARANTIME!

It’s Jem from the band DEAD, all the way from down under. You may not know the name, you may not know the man… but it’s a great episode with a lot to learn from a true heart who is down in the dirt, doing the work.

Steven McDonald has been playing music since he was 12 years old and making records and touring with his brother Jeff as the band Redd Kross the whole time. He’s also played in such bands as OFF!, Melvins, and a live incarnation of Sparks. Redd Kross has a new album out called “Beyond the Door” and Steven and Conan talk about… well, a lot of stuff. -Postponed tour -Beyond The Door -Dale Crover on drums -Sparks Covers / “When Do I Get To Sing My Way?” -Sparks talk with Conan and Steven. -Georgio Moroder -There really haven’t been that many Redd Kross records for as long the band has been around. -40+ year career/starting in with Redd Kross as a kid! -First show with black flag. (Keith and Robo era) -Then playing with Keith in OFF! years later. -Redd Kross being influence by rock and… well KISS. -Neurotica and recording with Tommy Ramone (after learning to play along to the first Ramones record. -Influencing GRUNGE -Dale Crover interlude -“Big Time Records” -Major label stuff/the “Alternative era”/manuf -Major or minor, anybody can be a dick. -Right thing/right time and taking a 10 year break from actively being in a band. -Getting out of ruts, overlooking things, liking things as identity (punk rock) -Thrift stores over hardcore -oh yeah… THE MELVINS -Joining the Melvins. -Melvins logistics -Superhero team logistics -The wild world of the Melvins. -Bringing the Rock ‘n roll show energy to the Melvins. -“Don’t listen to the records!” -Melvins fans/trolls -Please do not throw things at Steven McDonald.

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Tim Midyett returns to Protonic Reversal, for the first #StayHome edition of the show. Tim comes back with a brand new 2xLP Mint Mile record, as well as new experiences from recording and touring with legends of drone: SUNN 0))) -Quarantine life -Cancelling shows -Playing live vs. not -Ambertron! -Baroque elements and Showing Ambertron to a younger Tim. -Listening to old stuff from way back when. -Playing with people more skilled than you are/playing with people better than you. -Inspiration. -playing with and entering the world of SUNN 0))), a detailed journey! -Michael Dahlquist tour diaries. -Bottomless Pit revisited.

For the 150th episode, one of our favorite guests is back, the unmistakable and always interesting Mr. Steve Albini. -Making ends meet in the age of quarantine. -The American Health Care system -The slow escalation of risk with a midwest Shellac tour -Playing new songs live, 1/3 of the set is unreleased stuff. -Live experience vs. vegas stage show (the art of surprise and stage expectations) -Billiard Player Song and live evolution of songs -Cheap Trick vs. the Ex -Do the internal meanings of the songs change. -Scrappers -Old songs -Accountability for song content/flawed thinking -Culpability v/ doubling down on dickery. -Jokes vs. just being a jerk (comedians) -Chappelle -Big Black art aesthetic (it was cheaper!) -Big Black: Jordan, Minnesota -Big Black: Seth (his DOG hated black people…)(race in America and privilege) -The Mentors -The name of the band Rapeman -Rapeman: “I have not been held to account” -Blitz tattoos. -Dave Riley of Big Black remembered -The Girl on the Third Floor soundtrack (with Tim Midget and Helen Money) -The End of Radio Peel sessions

The one and only Billy Gould finally comes on Protonic Reversal! Billy and his coharts have an awesome new The Talking Book album. A project that evokes eno-like soundscapes as well as 70s film soundtracks. Conan and Billy talk about that, many things Faith No More and… Milk Cult? -Talking Book II-70s film soundtracks -9 year gap -Structured but not structured -“It’s not ready until it’s ready” -Adding a member to a very subjective and subconscious enterprise -Not the same as getting a new band member. -Milk Cult! -Faith No More going into new directions the audience didn’t necessarily expect -Being known as a “rock guy.” -Old San Francisco -(Men of) Porn -Playing in Jello Biafra’s band -Faith No More reunion and complex relationships. -Songs with problems “We fixed ’em!” -Getting the call from Wayne Kramer to play in the MC50 -The pressure. -Playing with Brendan Canty -“If you do something, see it though -Choose a journey where you don’t care about the destination. -The many moods and styles of guitar players of Faith More. -FNM as alchemy -Slap bass demo tapes -touring vs. recording -Live shows with Talking Book -Kool Arrow: the genre is “good”

Buzz Osborne returns to Protonic Reversal to discuss quarantines, the new acoustic(+) album Gift of Sacrifice, songwriting, gear and lots, lots more. -Quarantine Life -EP, Acoustic Records and covering Six Pack -Trevor Dunn! -Limited edition handmade stuff -“You don’t HAVE to buy it.” -Suiting songs to the player -Steven McDonald in the band -How people listen to music -Vintage vs. useful –Hilbish Design! –EGCs -Vinyl vs. cds -Songwriting and “banking songs” -Picking up a guitar to write vs. just to play. -“You don’t want the fourth of july at all times.” -Letting the lightning strike

Jonathan Nuñez of the mighty Torche joins Conan for a talk that includes: -Nuñez Amplification and pedals -The current “golden age” of small scale, handmade gear. -Moving from bass go guitar. -Parting ways with Andrew -Parting ways with Juan -The extended family of Miami rockers. -The absolutely insane journey of Torche’s post-Russian/Greece Covid-19 tour -Covid-19 lifestyle changes -Torche “Part Time Punks” sessions -Jonathan’s path into recording and playing music. And tons more!

-Doing the video with Travis and Joe (and Donel!) -Video with Jimmy the cab driver (reprising that character after years) -Making the other video at the Salton Sea with still photographs -“Don’t mind the crickets.” -The book! “Sing Backwards and Weep” (and companion piece record) -Recording the companion piece record to the book and linking the songs to it. -“A pandora’s box of shitty memories.” -Working with Rob Marshall of Humanist. -Making a double record/great double records. -Opening for Watt -Blues Funeral -Meet and greets at the merch table and getting ghost pain from shaking hands. -Complicated hand shake non-engagement -Older audiences. -Picking a setlist with so much material. -Ripping off Leonard Cohen -Rated R and joining Queens of the Stone Age -Gutter Twins with Greg Dulli -Playing on each other’s records, vs. working on things together. -Meeting Greg Dulli (and initially wanting to kick ass ass) -“Secret beef!” -Josh Homme in Screaming Trees -Walking the streets with Josh Homme, and Josh being misidentified as a cop! -The Conner brothers. -The story of the Screaming Trees. -Publically learning how to make records -Different crowds knowing different eras of the music. -Artist vs. entertaintainer vs. guy who stands there and sings. -Stooges and being in Iggy’s sights

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

At last! Kevin Rutmanis comes on Protonic Reversal, a delightful conversation with a self-identified genuine musical weirdo that is not heard from NEARLY OFTEN enough! In this episode Conan and Kevin talk about: -Covering Night Goat in Hepa.Titus -Boutique vinyl, human hands touch almost ever piece! -Finding Alice Cooper (who also hated everybody) -AM Radio inspiration and enjoyment -Da Blues! -Not picking up the bass until 28, he was very busy. -The Cows, a nasty bunch of creeps that also played music. Inspiration by other bands not being great. -SLIDE bass! -New generations getting into “weird” music and finding music in general. -Cape Fear guy. -Recording the last “Cows” record and then joining the Melvins. -Buzz wanting the Kevin thing. -The story of Tomahawk, Kevin’s tale. A contrast in musical approaches. (thanks Buzz!) -the story of Hepa.Titus, from early to now. -How great is Paul Christensen? -The Bass V-I… Kevin R. is NOT a gear guy -Electrical Guitar Company necks.

What happens when you get two rock ‘n roll talkers together? Good, good stuff. Sit tight for a momentous protonic with the legendary Mr. Mike Watt. The movement! Minutemen! Stooges! more… -Technology! As tool of punk rock/DIY -DROOOOOOONE -Composing with BASS! (…and leaving room for the others that way) -Contemplating the engine room -Ballhog or Tugboat?: band as comp tape! -Pedro -Nautical imagery and Watt’s dad, ships and touring bands -Gigs v. flyers -Taking turns in punk rock. -Bumper stickers/No Littering, etc. -Perception is 9/10 of the law. -Driving the van -Il Sogno del Marinaio -taking turns and different roles. -Playing stuff that you didn’t write. -Plowhard (not blowhard!) -The story of Watt joining up with the Stooges. J. Mascis and the Fog, etc. -“First you rip of a guy, then you play with him.” -The songs end when they end. -Little Doll/Pharoah Sanders -Uniform music and punk rock. -“Steve, BLOW!” -Stooges crowd age. -Delivering the songs of the Stooges. -IGGY!… focus on Iggy. -Letting the freak flag fly. -Double Nickels on the Dime -Keeping it succinct: Ummagumma -Zen Arcade v. Double Nickels: friendly arms race/game of chicken -wearing the (proverbial) Carmen Miranda hat. -Treble v. Bass -Recording budgets for Minutemen. -Jam econo: way of life, not slogan -The Watt from Pedro show. -If you want a good crop, use a lot of manure. -Why do you do what you do?

First episode of 2020 is up! Matt Cronk of Qui and Cunts speaks to Conan about all things rock! -Quite a bit of talk about midwest vs. L.A. -Cunts origin story -AmRep/Touch and Go style or Hardcore Band? -The name, reactions or non-reactions thereof. “If you’re offender by it, it’s probably not for you… and that’s fine” -Being in a band that is getting a little bit of attention while being a musician approaching middle age. -“While they argue about riffs, I can look at girls on tinder” -Qui… and Anything Goes! -Genre vs. Emotional Response. -Qui on recharge status -Covering “Goin’ Out West” -Hardcore bands lack of originality. -“I just want to listen to Captain Beefheart and REM -David Yow joining Qui -Qui recording Ashtry Heart with Buzz Osborne, Dale Drover, Trevor Dunn and Kevin Rutmanis -Ramones vs. Eric Dolphy: respect to both, different skill sets.

Conan talks to Donna about the Djunah full length Ex-Voto. Going over on a song by song basis, as well as the VERY BUSY YEAR that the band has had. There is talk of Donna’s previous band Beat Drun Juel as well… and gosh darn it, it’s just a great talk.

It’s long overdue! But Greg Saunier of the mighty Deerhoof is finally on Protonic Reversal! -Blueberry tea. -San Francisco then vs. now and various tech stories. -Music scenes where everybody participates -Deerhoof finding it’s audience, an audience that likes to be surprised. -Corporations consolidating music together. -Greg and Conan talk about the early beginnings of Deerhoof. -Halfbird -Major label sell outs being an anachronism. -George Horn and mastering the crazy first Deerhoof 7″ for Kill Rock Stars -Satomi joining the band after only being in America a few weeks. -Brief forays into politics. -The complete lack of “development” in music now, and it’s vitality to Deerhoof becoming it’s thing. -tourin’ tourin’ tourin’, at medium sized places around the world. -Spotify and the gross insustainability of things that “seem like the future” but benefit everybody but the artist. -Underground and independent spaces worldwide! -Ed and John. -John’s pickup soccer games. -Political stances in 2019. Also be sure to check out part 2 and part 3!

Many people only know Mark as “the guy with the Hat”, but he was not only the bassplayer for the Melvins in their high profile “Atlantic” period in the 90s weird rock “gold rush”, he also has a long history of interesting bands before, during and after Melvins. This is an in-depth discussion of ALL of that, solo albums/Bellringer and a lot more. Far reaching stuff!

It’s Gaz! Tropical Fuck Storm is on a US tour, Gaz takes a little time to talk about dicks in album artwork, conspiracy fantasy as songwriting prompt, cover songs (fugazi!), hitting a weird zeitgeist, some talk of The Drones and lots more. Dig in.

The mighty Bill Barbot! Guitar player for Jawbox, singer and guitar player for Foxhall Stacks, Bassist for Burning Airlines and thorn in the side of Brett Kavanaugh comes on the mighty Protonic Reversal to talk about Jawbox reunion shows, work/life balance, living punk rock vs. just playing it, his new power-pop/glam band’s cassette and so much more. Come on in!

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Ep130 was our special on our favorite albums of 2018. It's a lot like the list that is on the site in list form, but we had call ins and such... if you want to listen it is here. Conan Neutron’s top records of 2018: 1. Tropical Fuck Storm – a Laughing Death in Meatspace (TFS Band) 2. Lung – All the Kings Horses 3. sewingneedle – User Error 4. Screaming Females– All at Once 5. Hot Snakes – Jericho Sirens 6. Body Futures– Maybe It’s Just the Weather 7. Poster Children – Grand Bargain 8. Christian Fitness – Nuance the Musical 9. Haunted Heads – Everything We Agreed About 10. TONGUE PARTY – Looking for a Painful Death Honorable Mentions: BLAHA– Survival Climb The God Eaters – Fading Horizons Gouge Away – Burnt Sugar WORK – Strictly Cruis’n Mister Dude – Party Tape The Messthetics – s/t Dale Crover – Fickle Finger of Fate (the) Melvins – Pinkus Abortion Technician Lung – Bottom of the Barrel The Hand – When All Of The Shit Hits All Of The Fans (The Hand Vol. 3 & 4)

Hey hey hey! This episode of Protonic Reversal features a talk with the mighty Craig Wedren of Shudder to Think, we talk to Craig about: -Hacking the Polaroid Spectra. -My 90s (new book and photo show) -Analog vs. Digital in very specific incidents. -Making unique videos, such as the X-French T-shirt one -The label that picked Hit Liquor to start the album??? -All Hits on Planet Shudder -Daisy Chainsaw! -Improvising a vocal chorale. -Putting your best glam foot forward on the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack. -Higher and Higher. -How to bring the various quadrangs of your art to the others. -Group songs in a solo context. -Bassassery or Bad-assy and lots, lots more!

Well, hello there! Guess what? You bet it’s another episode of Protonic Reversal! This week, Conan and Josh talked with the legendary Bob Bert, drummer for Lydia Lunch Retrovirus, Jon Spencer and the HITmakers, Pussy Galore, Sonic Youth, and many more! We talked about: -Touring more than ever before -Playing shows with Jon Spencer again -Getting the proper “junk” for the kit -Starting the tour without knowing the songs -Meeting Pussy Galore -The guitar skills of Jon Spencer -The night-and-day difference between the HITmakers and Retrovirus -The dream gig with Lydia Lunch -The encyclopaedic Weasel Walter -Getting to know the Melvins -Hearing protection -Bad Moon Rising -Setting up the first Sonic Youth European tour -The historical wonder of Youtube -Being there for the glory days of Max’s and CBGB -Playing a better “Nature Scene” than Jim Sclavunos -Bewitched opening for SY on the Goo tour -The Action Swingers and the Chrome Cranks

It’s Jeff Pinkus of Butthole Surfers, Melvins, and Honky! It’s an episode of Protonic Reversal. What more do you need to know? ok, ok… Greetings protonic friends, time again for a thrilling new episode of Protonic Reversal. Today is Mr. J.D. Pinkus of Butthole Surfers fame, he also plays in the Mighty Melvins, Honky and has recently released a solo banjo record called: Keep on the Grass. Interview starts at: 14:40 Conan and Jeff talk about the following topics: -Keep on the Grass, the story behind it and the involvement of Danny Barnes (bad livers) -different sequences for different formats -the concept of the full length In general -the cassette comeback -Pinkus Abortion Technician -joining up with Buzz and Dale because of Jared’s impending fatherhood -picking BHS songs for a Melvin’s set -Paul Leary songs -the incredible depth of the Melvin’s catalog. -different lyrical approaches. -John Prine -lots of headphone listening of Chicho music -live interpretations of Melvin’s songs and arranging the songs for two basses. -playing with Steven McDonald -bringing the “creepy old man” vibe to the Melvins. -playing bass with fingers (a study in contrasts!) -using a Dark Glass amp from finland -opening for Sleep with a banjo set -432 tuning frequency -playing Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill in Melvins w/Teri Gender Bender -Daddy Longhead, Skinny Leonard, then Honky -the double edged sword of Butthole Surfers not listing credits in the records -Playing with Helios Creed on Activated Condition and the journey of making that into a record. -half machine lip moves talk -trash talk about Lenny Kravitz -On joining the Butthole Surfers and making those classic records. -drugs and cycles. -Buzz doesn’t do drugs and probably shouldn’t. -the Butthole Surfers chapter of “Our Band Could Be Your Life” is total bullshit. -working with John Paul Jones on Indepdnent Worm saloon and playing banjo on “ballad of naked men” while he plays bass! -Being a mixture of Steve Martin and Dean Martin. -banjo as a songwriting tool. -Doing covers. -Hairway to Steven, pictographs haven’t translated well for the iTunes age. -taping fire ants to cardboard and sending them to Chicago “a Texas Trip” -cockroach snuff movies with Jem Cohen -talking with Ian Mackaye about weed expenditures -Double Live BHS, a self released bootleg. -P.S.Y. -is it wrong to be weirded out by the fans of your band? -The band name Honky, and how that can (and has been) misconstrued. Different times and all.

Ep127: Steve Albini (Shellac, Big Black, Engineer)

Howdy there, friends and well-wishers of the Protonic Reversal, and welcome to another fine program! On this episode, Conan and Josh got to chat with Sam Coomes of Quasi! We talked of so many things: Interview begins at 10:53 -recording with Jon Spencer -the Roxichord -contrasting music and lyrics -playing in a two piece, and solo -consistant learning -being ill-prepared to start a tour -the timing of switching keyboard patches -playing with Jandek -the three B’s: Ballads, blues, and brutal -not being a session man -playing favorites and covers in the set -the Takeovers -keeping Quasi fresh and why -learning how not to resent the popular back catalog -Hot Shit!/writing political songs during “Shock & Awe” -keeping honest in songwriting -musical rapport and confidence -the role of a producer -having confidence in your vessel on tour -being where you were trying to get to

Josh is out this week. The band WORK returns for a Labor Day weekend tour and Protonic Reversal appearance, their new record Stricly Cruis’n is out and that means it’s time to get loose and talk about such things as: -Kavi’s move to Austin and his annoyance at traffic and delight at Queso -ZAGNUT! -Shane Hochstetler and Steven Drozd -more Zagnut -The story behind Strictly Cruis’n and the art by Jason Abele -ZZ Top and Jazz records -Where does Taco Bell get their food ideas/The Burger King on Brown Deer Road -band or fashion label? -end album “jams” -Current affairs/politics/etc. -Pronunciation is key. -Joe shaved! To match the pictures of the band closer. -Night Dentist -One of the most memorable shows Jeff has ever seen… at Landmark Lanes, a bowling alley. A lot of songs are played off of the new record and good times are had. songs played: WORK – Whiskey Whiskey Whiskey WORK – As It Turns Out, He Didn’t Actually Have Tuberculosis WORK – Everybody Loves Me Like the Hole in My Head WORK – (…Somebody Loves Me…) WORK – Jesus Diapered Our Sins WORK – Mr Tall Octopus Shellac – End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Hola, amigos! Welcome to another sweet sweet episode of Protonic Reversal! I know it’s been a long time since we rapped at ya, but we’ve got a great episode here with the one and only Toshi Kasai! We chatted about tons of stuff, like: -the California fires -Working with a wide variety of bands -The JapaNeve -Building a relationship with Melvins -the secrets of Sound of Sirens -How to prep for recording -Coaching the vocalist -Favorite equipment -Recording intricacies -Getting kidnapped by Big Business -Altamont (the band) -Networking via playing live -the platinum records in the bathroom -Analog vs. digital? Who cares And much more! Or maybe not much more, but many more words in between. Whatever! It’s a really fun conversation, so we encourage you to enjoy it! Interview begins shortly after the 17 minute mark Songs played: Melvins – Decay of Lying Mud – Moonshine Sally Tweak Bird – Lights in Lines Qui – Awkward Human Interest Hurry up Shotgun – Speedbath Megawaste Shellac – End of Radio (end theme)

Well, well, welcome to another episode of Protonic Reversal! Conan and Josh had fun chats with (separately) Mike and John from Tar! First up was Mike, with whom we discussed such whimsy as: -A 25 year gap between radio call-in shows -Getting back into show shape -Picking songs for the set -Aiming for Barry White, settling for KC and the Sunshine Band -Being on Amphetamine Reptile, Touch & Go, Dischord AND Sub Pop -Tar’s Static and Jawbox’s Static -Cuddly scene beef with Poster Children -Sharing a bill with Kyuss -Fitting in on AmRep -Various lost arts of record buying and making -Being on T&G to remain control -Page Hamiltron trash talk -The effect of Tom’s arrival on the band’s songwriting -Henry Owings Then we got John on the line, and talked about: -The disastrous last tour of Tar -Writing the last album -Picking songs for the reunion sets (yeah we asked him too) -Being satisfied with the end of the band and getting back together -Treating the vocals like any other instrument -Guitars what are made of metal -Henry Owings Some circuitous topics, yeah? It was a fun conversation, to be sure! Have yerself a listen! Songs played: Tar – Barry White Tar – Land Luck Tar – G7 Shellac – End of Radio (end theme)

Globetrotting punk rock documentarian John Yingling, of The World Underground, back in the U.S. for a limited amount of time comes back to Protonic Reversal after a 70 episode, and 3 1/2 year break. We speak of all things documentary, talk about his recent work in Indonesia and future plans for short missives, as well as the next chapter in the World Underground and everything to come. Culture shocks coming back to modern America PK14, All that and a hell of a lot of great music from abroad. Songs played: Hiperson – Football Game (Chengdu, China) Dirty Fingers – School (Shanghai, China) Lonely Leary – Flaneur (Beijing, China) Grrrl Gang – Bathroom hedge hog – Meng Ba La Na Xi​(​勐巴拉娜西) (Jogja, Indonesia)

Hello, dear friends, and welcome to another episode of Protonic Reversal! On the day after Jesus’ birthday, we talked to the amazing Jeff Mueller (of June of 44, Shipping News, and Rodan!) and discussed such topics as: -When your kids see you play -Relearning via Youtube -Being a NYC band that draws in Italy -Packaging as part of the overall art project -Having and ditching nautical themes -Meeting social media friends in the real world -the disappearing DIY aesthetic -How certain bands don’t get the success they should have -“Five thirty in the morning happens a lot over there” -The Shipping News and Jason -a commonality of experience -Principal riff writers -Using the “In the Fishtank” approach on your own records -Stencilling anything for the merch table -Distributors hate weird packaging -The still dire state of record pressing -Investing the time in finding new music -Crain -Half-Cocked -Cycles of rediscovery Interview around 14 minutes in.

Double the guests, double the fun! As Conan and Josh have on Joe Cardamone of the Icarus Line and Michael Grodner, filmmaker beyond the upcoming (sorta) biopic: The Icarus Line Must Die. 17:05 Michael Grodner 57:10 Joe Cardamone Michael Grodner: -The Jim Jarmusch Black and White Aesthteic. -It’s not a documentary -darkness following the band. -relating to creative pursuits -art vs. commerce, subtly -Jerry Stahl’s book-on-vinyl -Keith Morris –Dirty Laundry (TV!) -the Hell of fundraising vs. actually making a movie. https://www.facebook.com/theicaruslinemustdie/ Joe Cardamone -Starting the film having no idea what was going on -Dialogue that sounds like one person (aka: Sorkin-speak) -Gimme Danger the movie: a missed opportunity -Some Kind of Monster: Best thing ever -Music’s marketability and it’s inextricable ties to youth culture -not taking advantage of making a “comeback” -Eastbound & Down -Scott Weiland’s death and the last Icarus Line’s last show -Getting real life in the movie -Metallica in a Bob Log style -How to get to the solo record -“Do whatever you want. No one’s going to hear it, who gives a fuck?” -Sounding good next to Gucci Mane

Hello, summer people! It’s time to put away the sweaters and break out the shorts, and while you do all that shuffling about with your damned laundry, you should listen to this great episode of Protonic Reversal! Conan and Josh welcome back to the show Rick Valentin, of Poster Children and Thoughts Detecting Machines! We talked about such things as: -semi-accidental topicality -there’s nothing wrong with writing music of its time -putting out a record from your basement…again -DIY and PledgeMusic -the album as a complete package -packaging multiple items/bundling -members of Fugazi actually selling merch -avant-garde smart-ass humor -sequencing an album -rejecting digital perfection and “Keeping in REAL” -working with Albini after a 25 year gap -changing songwriting techniques -a record of songs vs. a “production” -making a pocket band -doing all the wrong things at the right time -fully baking the half baked ideas -a long digression on TV -building autonomous community on the internet

Hey hey hey! it’s Andrew Elstner of Dead Now, and formerly of Tilts, Torche, Riddle of Steel and more. He speaks of leaving Torche, the passing of Ken McCray, moving down south, boutique pedals. Putting on a show. It’s a whole thing. Did you know that the original theme song for this show was a Tilts song? Yup. He’s also a returning guest. All the way back from Episode 3. Holy moly! that’s 114 episodes ago. OK!

Well met, all! Welcome once again to the home of the Protonic Reversal! This week’s guest was friend of the show Andrew Falkous! It’s always a blast chatting with Falco, as you can see by the list of topics we touched upon: -All the Bongs, Vol. 2 -the binary of “California” and “Not California” -pissing around until something good happens -the story of a band vs. the quality -the demented husks of humanity, at least they’re having a good time -making the music is the most fun part -the Cardiff post office -Morrissey needs limits -”proper music” (said with disdain) -the misplaced optimism of the doomed -cat updates -”Of Wolf and Man” -the future kings of Spain -Halliburton: Radio Nope’s biggest listener -parenthood and living in London -the French are very attached to smoking -the skill of further alienating a bad audience

Well, hey, hey! Seattle’s The Bismarck come into the Protonic Reversal studios to crack wise, run schtick and every once in awhile provide some deep epiphanies at being a long running band that is prone to hilarious and heartbreaking disaster. https://thebismarck.bandcamp.com

Howdy, all! Tonight’s special guest on Protonic Reversal is the legendary Keith Morris! Conan and Josh, delightfully, barely get a word in as Keith tells us all about such things as: -Keith’s “turn” to write a book -The Decline of Western Civilization Part XVIII -Picking opening acts -James Brown -Taking opportunities when presented, or not -Jeffrey Lee Pierce -Early punk rock scenes -Keith Levene -the end of the Circle Jerks -the beginning of Off! -Playing festivals to build a new audience -Getting the friends and family discount at the hotel

Well, hello! Welcome to another fresh eppy of Protonic Reversal! Conan and Josh are thrilled to talk with their guest, Rose Marshack of Poster Children! While Rose attempts to interview them just as much as they interview her, much is discussed. Such as: -Meta podcast referencing -the origins of Radio Zero -the pkids listserv community -kids think nickelback is funny -the epic story of Li’l Pump -Conan’s Milwaukee conversations -serious geography discussion -driving and biking and efficiency -recycling paranoia -PRF -writing the new record -time signatures and drum terminology -being an unwilling booker surrogate for Fugazi members -aluminati and other basses -Gram the Stickman -Doing everything in a par -enhanced CDs -Yoko Ono -Josh and Conan: How did you get into punk rock?

Welcome, once again, to the Home of the Protonic Reversal! Today’s guests are in the studio, even! They’re Body Futures! They’re great! We check out songs from their new record “Maybe It’s Just the Weather,” and chat about: -KISS/Infowars crossover lyrics -Comic Talk -Stone Temple Pilots Talk -that sound that Goofy makes -efficiency with riffs -making the record sound big/gettin’ weird -getting way inside baseball on the vocals -a decent amount of murder -the album title, anxiety and catharsis and indie rock about indie rock -Scott Stapp is still ready to fight -More Comic Talk -technology remnants -bands with the same name -the best part of being in a band is definitely marketing -True crime -people in their thirties that haven’t seen Gremlins -suggestions for the next movie for Body Futures to write a song about -naming movies after unrelated pop songs -the African Anteater Ritual -Two Robocops?!? -the home life of Peter Weller -regional groundhogs -What’s so wrong with Friend Rock City? -EVEN MORE COMIC TALK -people love a schtick -Gorilla Goose

Once again, it’s time for the Percolator, and Protonic Reversal! Actually, it’s always time for the Percolator, but never mind. This week, Conan and Josh got on the ol’ phone once or twice with Rancho De La Luna’s Dave Catching! The fun, wide-ranging conversation was about, amongst other things: -the Joshua Tree scene/weather report -Rancho and busy times -Desert Sessions -the Rancho recording experience -Poppy and Harriet’s -the Splattering of the Tribes -Yawning Man -No Trespassing. Seriously. -Any band can make great music -Arctic Monkeys and Mark Lanegan -the Fun Machine -More organs than seats -Being lucky enough to enjoy playing shows and not losing money -Eagles of Death Metal: Always on tour -Finding a Flying V in a closet -Paris and Le Bataclan -U2 doing some really cool shit -Touring post-attack -New Orleans -Seven songs in 25 years -Recording Iggy -Working a relaxed schedule

Protonic Reversal welcomes you (and us) to 2018! We kicked off this year with a great guest, Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females! Conan and Josh had a great conversation with Marissa, and when we weren’t bonding over our love of one Stephen Sowley, we were discussing such topics as: -the Bong Cyclone -Mistaking Louisville for Michigan -Playing the out-of-the-way towns -Seeing Skrillex’s emo band in New Brunswick -Punk being more than just music -Wanting Conan to own up to everything being about Modesto -Finding your forever band -Curating your own media intake -Playing leads, not talking shreds -Cartooning -Ted Leo -Shirley Manson singing “Jigsaw Feeling” -Sowley in a suit -Making a live album -Touring having not changed so much -Lance Bangs and Bad Grandpa -Jersey Pride

Conan 1. Oxbow – Thin Black Duke 2. Lardo – Sinking 3. christian fitness – slap Bass Hunks 4. Mountain Goats – Goths. 5. SEMINARS – Pricks Die Young 6. Magpies – Annex 7. Crystal Fairy – s/t 8. Dead Rider – Crew Licks 9. Out – Swim Buddiess 10. Fever Ray – Plunge Josh 1. Palm – Shadow Expert ep 2. Power Trip – Nightmare Logic 3. Maximum Busy Muscle – s/t 4. Bon Air – the Blue Line 5. Fox Face – Spoil + Destroy 6. Radioactivity – infected/Sleep 7. Julie Byrne – Not Even Happiness 8. Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory 9. God Eaters – Xuma 10. Arto Lindsay – Cuidado Madame

Hello, friends, and thank you for joining Conan and Josh for another episode of Protonic Reversal! Today’s guest is Darren Jackson of Kid Dakota, whose album So Pretty is about to get its first vinyl issue. We discuss that, and: -mp3.com -the So Pretty cover art -a Low connection -Shifting production ideas -Spy mission band recruitment -Precise music -Lack of overdub ideas -WWTTD? -minimalism -Selling the story instead of the music -How the image fills in the vacuum -Post-tragic euphoria -Assessing the Kid Dakota discography -The lasting popularity of a landmark early record -Leaving room in the song for the listener -Recording the new album -and the next one upcoming! -When your best album doesn’t catch on -Getting burned out, recharging and focusing -Craft pedals -An unexpected soundtrack opportunity -Vietnamese bootleg website

Hey, everybody! Welcome to another episode of Protonic Reversal! Today’s guest on the phone with Conan and Josh is Hank Donovan, of Magpies and Rattlesnake cables. Our discussion includes such topics as: -New drummer! -Finding musicians in a small city -a college-dependent scene -Montana DIY -Scene commitment -Meal math -Gear discovery problems -Joining a three piece in progress -Guitar influences -Being a listener vs. listening as a musician -Unintentionally starting a cable company -Making cables cool, making something that lasts -the Rattlesnake brand -Not trying to hang out -Tim Midyett’s Travis Bean baritone -Hank’s Bean journey -Schwinn Freestyle

Hail hail! Welcome to the Home of the Protonic Reversal. Today’s episode features another great in-studio guest (man, we’ve been lucky with these!) Keith Brammer, from Die Kreuzen, Wreck, Crime and Judy, et cetera! This wide ranging conversation touches upon such topics as: -The weird novelty of listening to one’s own music -Production quality and choices (You can do anything, and THAT’S what you want?) -Punk as an encompassing thing vs. an ossified set of rules -Bands whose sound indicated their record collection -Solidifying songs in practice vs. at shows -“I guess I can do that one and not feel physically ill.” -Starting with no preconcieved notion of the “rules” -Working at the top of your skill level, whatever it might be -“A wide swath of nonsense and garbage” back then, just like now -Touring and booking shows is definitely better with cell phones -Lee Ving is the nicest -The incredibly bad logic of throwing a shoe at a band -Recognizing the opportunity for a situation that will make a great story -Aerosmith -Telling the Rick Nielsen story again (deal with it) -“Gone Away” as the most realized DK song -Daydream Nation doesn’t entirely lend itself to being played live -The celebrated utility of a dry erase board in the practice space -Doing useless demos for Mechanic Records -Wasting the money of major labels -Wreck, and the Carnival Strippers -Picking a movie for your song to be in: PCU vs. Speed -Cover choices -All roads lead to D.O.A. -Discovering bands way later than everyone else -Picking bands to open the reunion shows, and doing the reunion shows in general -Tom Hazlemeyer’s Bash -Creating something that didn’t exist -How just being able to fuck with people’s heads is extremely rewarding

Good hello, and welcome to another episode of Protonic Reversal! Today’s EXTENDED episode features our in-studio guest, Tim Midyett (of Mint Mile, Bottomless Pit, Silkworm etc.) Our wide-ranging discussion features topics like: -the Gerry Todd Show -The Dancing Imperative -12-string baritone guitars -baritones: not guitars, not basses -Tablecloth lint -not actually sounding like Pavement or much of anything else -100% vibe -a band in a room, playing together at the same time -the combination of people can be more than the sum of the parts -solo vs. band -Tim’s Electric Banjo Jamboree -the incidental concept record: Firewater -dealing with bullshit in various ways -Missoula, MT -Matador Records -delineating between projects -Justin the excellent pedal steel player -Not interfering with what the band brings to the songs -getting pickier -taking all the most rocking songs off the album -Steve Albini’s instincts are the opposite of commercial -Modesto is terrible -coming from the big city with real amps -it’s better to be able to find your community with the internet than it was before, pretty much -SWA -Seattle in 1991 -no offense to Cat Butt -the touring years -easing back on touring to keep the band alive -The Bottomless Pit of Partying -learning bass via post-punk -abstract album cover design indicating the contents -New Order dealing with being of Joy Division -putting the off topic song on the EP that’s otherwise all about fucking -the three good clubs in the world -breaking up the band -changing strings -how Andy fixed Doug Martsch’s guitar -Midyett Rub and Tim’s turkey tips -the multiple Silkworm tribute bands and the amazing skills of Chris, Chris and Evan -if no one cared when you started, no one will care if you don’t stop -a weird sloppy mix of Neil Young and speed metal -”Man, that’s great, good for me.”

Weeeeeeeeeelllllllllllll howdy, folks! It’s time for another groovy installment of Protonic Reversal! In today’s episode, Conan and Josh chat with Nick Skrobisz of the kickass Baltimore band Multicult. Topics include, but are not limited to: -Baltimore scene report -the Oakland van break-in -Katamari Damacy-ing the equipment (a step up from Tetris-ing) -Robopedals -Gear as a filler subject -the elegance of early Danzig -Good band names -Indicative artwork -Music that doesn’t cater to the audience -Getting one over on the world -Delivering a series of feelings -Response/Reward -No, really, Baltimore scene report -DC’s proximity effect -If ya get hungry… -Tour advice/booking plot -Doowutchyalike

It’s time for episode 103 of Protonic Reversal! For the second week in a row, we’ve got in-studio guests: the fantastic Milwaukee band WORK. Conan and Josh encourage much nerdy discussion, along the lines of: -Numerous and endless band name puns -Australian GPS voices -Colin Hay -Sideshows and local Oakland references -Marsupials -Guitar rippers like Devo and St. Vincent -Not having any idea how the band will deal with being in two different cities -Emolument -“If we don’t rule, Jeff just starts punching us until we start ruling” -“Chisel: Because the Jam broke up” -Mean and vicious pop -Keeping the record contiguous -The album tracks on Thriller -Trying to use the least time to record their comp song -Joe Lally -“How come we don’t have Thursday Thursdays?” -Tangin’ the hump -Joe’s superpower: Temporarily Benjamin Franklin -Domain names -Electric Abacus: “Pretty proggy, very formulaic and repetitive” -Hassling a song until the most irritating bass line possible brings it together -Working it out during smoke and/or shit breaks -Evaluating Paul McCartney’s collaborations -Quitting the Moody Blues in 1968 -Confusing Michael Jackson videos -The various mixes of Raw Power -The Bob James-esque solo records of Max Rebo -Running into George Lucas at Starbucks -Obsolete format chat -What to expect from the new WORK record -Eating Popeye’s and watching Popeye -All of us admitting we don’t know enough about Milwaukee’s excellent hip hop scene -Playing at Bounce right after the wedding ceremony -Chicken-greasing the lens -Hating stuff that sounds like stuff -Audiences love psychedelic freak-outs sometimes -Tracking the size of a city via pedal steel players -“PEDAL STEEL. THEREMIN. KAZOO. FUCK YOU. Available to franchise” -Mittster Mittster -amiondrugs.com -amionamiondrugs.com -Blingee -Strictly fancy -Josh is revealed to be a character played by Michael Winslow -Method Snacking -amiatbandpractice.com -Lots of T. Rex discussion -Heading out on a cuddly note -Smash that F5, keep it refreshed

It's time for a FREEWHEELING episode of Protonic Reversal! Conan and Josh have guests live in the studio: the most excellent Milwaukee band Fox Face! Hear such seemingly endless digressions such as: -Josh's mic antics -Fox Face meets Dirtnap -Rock 'n' roll maternity leave -Conan's most relaxing episode ever -Banana and the Handplant -the garage rock scene...? -Magick? Like from the X-Men? -Lindsey watching the Craft a bunch -Always dicking on purpose -Following a songwriting path -Is Britney Spears listening right now? -The long history of Fox Face and its members -The (not really) fairweather drummer -Heterogeneity within genres and being classed as a "girl band" -Fox Face's shock at having a web site -Tour talk -Writing lyrics in a Trump world -Mary's two-drink stage banter -Favorite bands in the world scene -The Mundane Epiphany -Tectonics talk -Fantasy show lineups, but achievable -Operation: Mind Spiders -The thing you play in the van that everyone else hates -An extended discussion of Christian rock -Conan digs deep to identify the annoying Aerosmith songs -Kyle Motor's cute cat -The asset of a sympathetic engineer -Being a parent and continuing to be creative This episode is very silly, but it's very fun, and Fox Face is one of our very favorites. Enjoy! Fox Face - Clever Girl Fox Face - Nasty Woman Fox Face - Hiawatha Shellac - The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

It's Episode #101 of Protonic Reversal! Your hosts, Conan and Josh, are in a sour mood, due to living in the world. But never fear, a phone call with Lindsey Charles of the Cell Phones cures what ails them! After some discussion about Refused (overrated? Or rated just right?) and the fascinating concept of changing a band's structure by adding in another ill-fitting member out of rock history.

Oh, shit, it's the hundredth episode of PROTONIC REVERSAL! Thrill as Conan, Josh, and special in-studio guest Jeff Moody wrangle GUEST AFTER GUEST for two and a half hours! Get ready to hear such scintillations as: -Chris Frey on navigating medical crises on a European tour! -Christian Lembach on stage rocking with a bum knee! -Sohrab Habibion on the new SAVAK album! -Josh Newton on Glazed Baby and mysterious Bandcamp apperances! -Dale Crover on bootleg shoes and Siri! -Tom Hazelmeyer on carrot cake! -Rick Valentin on album sequencing and punk rock professorin'! -Andrew Falkous on parenthood and moving to London as a grownup! -NOT Steve Albini! And, believe it or not, EVEN MORE! (Although not more guests, tho, that's all the guests.) Two and a half hours of entertainment and artistic motivation awaits you, friend! Porch - Dickhead Whores - I see you are also wearing a black t-shirt Savak - Alive in Shadows Shiner - The Egg Sie lieben maschinen - meat is meat, love is murder Dale Crover - Bad Move Future of the Left - Eating for None Poster Children - Blatant Dis Shellac - Steady As She Goes Shellac Crow Shellac - The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Yes, yes! It's true, Conan and Josh talk to the one and only Rick Sims of the mighty Didjits. It's in the second hour, so strap in for some first rate entertainment or music or get that fast forward button ready. -Just Fred (the record and the dude) -The Cassette Revival -The Killer + Tony Clifton -Time Bomb Tom -Touch & Go 25 -Didjits Reunion(s) -Solos and quick hooks. -The Gaza Strippers as a 4 course meal -Writing Songs for the Supersuckers Record -The Lee Harvey Oswald Band are assholes. -Rey Wesham -The Offspring -Sound Design for Theatre Songs played: Fred Schneider - Whip Didjits - (Mama Had A) Skull Baby Didjits - Max Wedge Piper - Who's Your Boyfriend Mr. Bungle - The Stroke Lee Harvey Oswald Band - Surrender Earthlings Didjits - Under the Christmas Fish Didjits - Plate in My Head Supersuckers - Born with a Tail Fred Schneider - Bulldozer Shellac - The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

What if Yella from NWA sang the hit of Yellow the band (of "Oh YEAAAAAAH!" fame), that and a few other things before Conan and Josh dive right into the remarkable Eugene Robinson and his many bands, projects, sojourns and creative exploits. Eugene conducts himself with alacrity and poise and a good time is had by all! -The origins of Sal Mineo (The band) -Making art worth a good God damn -spending 12 hours in France and playing a show -not playing where you oughtn't -Advocating the encyclopedia of the voice. -Singing what your soul calls out -Old HC fellas that don't really "get" Oxbow. -Charating a musical course with no reference points -Shit talkers being good people to have around / speaking honestly -Getting hit on by one's idols. -the equivalent of automatic writing. -martial arts. -"Hey Frenchy, put the chainsaw down" - Compartmentalizing "Fight" -Writers vs. People who can write. -To Arms, two legs and the magic of subtlety. -Whatever happened to Dukowski -Cross-Cultural experience vs cross-class experience. -Where the stories come from Songs played: Oxbow - Clean Well-Lit Place Xiu Xiu - Sharp Dressed Man Sal Mineo - the Primary Bell Black Face - I Want to Kill You Oxbow - The Finished Line Shellac - The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

On this episode, Conan and Josh have a chat with Mike Blaha of the Blind Shake and countless variations thereupon! Topics include, but are not limited to: -collaborations and being open -subbing in bands mid-tour -Blind Shake vs. solo writing -air-drumming auditions -Chipotle! -the Blaha health regimen -surfin' with John Reis -working through new songs on the road -"Play 'Hurrican!'" -acoustic vs. electric -"I watch Netflix as much as the next guy" -expressing more emotion -attempting to book a show before this podcast ends -living in small boxes -joining Castle Face Records without changing the band's sound -the equal desire for safety and adventure -keeping ears open to young bands -Iowa -the conceptual Blind Shake Then Mike had to go load out for his solo show, so we ended up talking not exactly about Twin Peaks (although there are a few spoilers if you haven't watched through episode 8 yet) but more about fandom and experiencing it real-time.

Conan and Josh kick off the show with a brief discussion of big shows from the past weekend, then have a great chat with J. Robbins! Topics include: The songwriting process: -Bendy guitar loop overdubs -Reviving/rewriting old songs and playing acoustic shows -Shading confessional songwriting -The integrity of a band and its members vs. being the sole songwriter -Going out on a musical limb -Collaborative projects -Using the studio as a compositional tool Stories of various recording projects: -Roomrunner -The great moment when a recording project sounds like a record -the Dismemberment Plan -What a producer's role is and/or what it should be -the Monorchid -Shiner -Hand-editing 2-inch tape -Coliseum The grand story of his brief time playing with Scream: -"J., EVERYBODY knows 'Ballroom Blitz.'" Jawbox's influence, and how influence works in general: -Creating your own culture We almost entirely avoided discussing politics! Music played: Jawbox - FF=66 J. Robbins - Our Own Devices Jawbox - Won't Come Off Shellac - End of Radio (Closing Theme)

[caption id="attachment_629" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ep095: Brian Pennington (Lardo, Megamaul, Radiant Republic)[/caption] (stream and download - Episode 95) on striking a chord with Lardo beyond friend rock, the intergal usage of the Bit Commander pedal to the Lardo "sound", playing with the murderer's row of bands at All Tomorrow's Impeachments, why Lardo is really 70s dumb riff rock (seriously?!), motivation and inspiration, what record labels mean in 2017 and so much more. Interview starts at 16:00 or so. Music played: Arcwelder - What Did You Call It That For? Lardo - Nothing Lardo - Watch Him (Watch Her) Lardo - Swimmer

What is there to say? Duane Denison is a living legend. We talk DK3, Jesus Lizard, Robert Fripp, technique and process, innovation and inspiration. Did we mention living legend? Interview starts at 8:30 Music played: DK3 - Traveling Salesman Jesus Lizard - Bloody Mary Jesus Lizard - Then Comes Dudley Shellac - End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Pretty straightforward. Screw that dude. Dead Kennedys - Kill the Poor The Crucifucks - Hinkley Had a Vision Poster children - the leader The Thermals - God and Country Minutemen - Fascist / Joe McCarthy’s Ghost / Paranoid Chan Shellac - All the Surveyors Minutemen - This Ain't No Picnic Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills Sleater-Kinney - Combat Rock fugazi - smallpox champion BABYLAND - Omaha Minutes - Raise our Fists Up Pete Seeger - We Shall Overcome Black Flag - Rise Above Public Enemy - Fight the Power the Beatles - Revolution (Big Rock version) Dirty Three - Everything’s Fucked / Hammer, Chisel, Down/fall collage

(stream and download - Episode 92) It was really hard to get down to 10 for this. Anybody that says there's no good music out there has rocks in their head. The list: 1. Beat Drun Juel - suppressor 2. Whores - Gold 3. Nocturnal Habits - New Skin for Old Children 4. Helms Alee - Stillicide 5. The Cell Phones - No 6. Future of the Left - the Peace and Truce of Future of the Left 7. Blind Shake - Celebrate Your Worth 8. Savak - Best of Luck in Future Endeavors 9. The rutabega - unreliable narrator 10. Christian fitness - this taco is not correct 5 songs that are not on the top 10 records of 2016 1. Melvins - Decay of Lying 2. Big Business - Fathers Day 3. Maple Stave - Call Sign Spider 4. Iggy Pop - Paraguay 5. John Congleton & the Nighty Nite - You are Facing the Wrong Way LET'S COUNT IT DOWN! 10: Christian fitness - this taco is not correct Avid listeners and fans of the show will probably remember... probably remember? How could you forget. Episode 89 with Falco, making a record breaking 4th apperance on protonic, this is a great record. I find that a lot of people don't know it so much. It's all pretty much Falco, Jack from Future of the Left, Mclusky plays drums. It's one of the best records that came out this year, that people haven't paid that much attention that like this kind of music. Reggie Has Asbestos Training 9. The rutabega - unreliable narrator This is their second record, the Unreliable Narrator, a little less epic than Brothers The Lights Don't Work which has been their classic go-to, but the songs are as solid as can be, and very cool. I think you will appreciate it very much, if you haven't heard it... you really need to. I'm playing one of the lesser known ones here. There is a very specific thing, there's emotions! there's feelings! it's not just noise all the time. You can find it at Comedy Minus One, they are good people, making good music from South Bend Indiana. I happened to pick the one that is the darkest most emotional journey on the record, that's how we do at Protonic Reversal. I dig this one, this is the moody closer. I've Been the Armour Also find them at Comedy Minus One Josh and Garth appeared on the show all the way back in episode 33! 8. Savak - Best of Luck in Future Endeavors This is a supergroup of sorts, members of Obits and Virgin Islands. I quite like it, I don't know exactly what I was expecting but it's a really good hot rocking good time. Episode 84 featured Sohrab of Savak, Obits, Edsel. This record came out early in the year, and I feel like it made a big impact with folks, but I feel like people aren't giving it the deference it deserves. There's an almost new wave-y element to it that i'm really into, but this is some serious rock music at the same time. Also available on Comedy Minus One 7. Blind Shake - Celebrate Your Worth One of the best bands loosely affiliated with the new garage rock "movement", they are on their own thing, their own trip. The Blind Shake! Possibly my favorite since Seriousness. Just excellent stuff all around. This one is on Goner. This one is a little less noisy, and a little more DEVO from Pluto. 6. Future of the Left - the Peace and Truce of Future of the Left I feel like the last few Future of the Left records are divisive for some reason, people seem to be really into them or not into them at all. And they don't give them a chance. They dont' give it a chance. This is a band that keeps getting better, I frankly like them better than mclusky. Which is heretical for a lot of folks and I don't care. It's a busy world, out there. You should make time for this one. Again Episode 89 for Falco's last appearance 5. The Cell Phones - No Believe it or not, I find this band a little hard to describe. Truth told, they sound like themselves, but when pressed I say they sound like Tina Turner fronting NoMeansNo, Freddie Mercury fronting DFA1979, Sharon Jones (of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings) fronting the Minutemen, none of that makes much sense, but it gets you to a starting point. The record is called NO, two words. NO. How do you talk about something like this without just saying: "this kicks ass, shut up stupid, and listen!". It sounds like it's from another planet, but I mean that as a compliment! 4. Helms Alee - Stillicide Brace Yourself. Great band, one of those bands that are just difficult to describe but are top to bottom wonderful. A unique voice in heavy music, melodic, epic, adventerous. Go find them at Sargent House 3. Nocturnal Habits - New Skin for Old Children This is Justin Trosper and Sara from Unwound, with some Two Ton Boa action in there as well. It's amazing, I love this record, i've listened to it lots. One of the deeper cuts on this one. Lush as hell and great stuff. Soothing in it's way. An alternate universe sequel to Leaves Turn Inside you by Unwound. Of course Justin Trosper was also on last episode. 2. Whores - Gold Two time guest on the show. Last appearance was episode 90. This is off the record Gold. It's a bomber. They do a thing that is heavy and noisy, kind of reminds me of KARP-esque things. It's really good. You can also get the back catalog here. Also worthy! They are receiving a lot of attention right now and it's a very cool, gravity defying thing. 1. Beat Drun Juel - suppressor You probably don't know it, and that's ok. A Chicago band. I slept on listening to this for way too long because I could not remember the name. Which really isn't that difficult. Once you get it, it's fine... but you have to get it. This is fucking awesome. It's PJ Harvey, it's noiserock, it's all those things... and it's own thing. So those are the top 10 records of the years. I also am tossing in top 5 songs that were not on those records. 1. Melvins - Decay of Lying Stiff competition this year, one of the two Melvins record that came out this year. Basses Loaded, the other being Mike and the Melvins with Mike Kunka of godheadSilo. Basses loaded has a bunch of different bass players on it, and it's really cool. The lead off track is one of my favorite Melvins songs in awhile, it's the big Alice Cooper side of what they do, and I like it. 2. Big Business - Fathers Day They're back as a two piece with a kickass record. It's got riffs, if you know... you're into that kind of thing. The record is called Command Your Weather. 3. Maple Stave - Call Sign Spider I had this record for awhile, listened to it and enjoyed it. But this song is the business. From the incredibly politically contentious state of North Carolina. Last song on the record, I like them a lot. Don't know why it took me so long, frankly. This one gets real close to emo, real close to something i'm not comfortable with at all, but stays on the right side. 4. Iggy Pop - Paraguay One that might actually be on a few lists outside of the Nerd-o-verse. Post-pop Depression, it's a good good record. I liked it a lot, I didn't top 10 like it though, I think it has some weak spots and some of lyrics kind of blow. One of my favorite rock 'n roll people of all time. But it's true, certainly my favorite Iggy Pop record in years and years though. Kind of his goodbye record, it's interesting to think of there not being an Iggy Pop around anymore making music. I think it's kind of awesome that it's in the last song lyrically too. Oh! Do yourself the favor and follow Iggy Pop on instagram to see him hanging out with his bird, it's amazing. 5. John Congleton & the Nighty Nite - You are Facing the Wrong Way FEEL THOSE CHIMES SUCKA! I love this record, but there are only so many slots. I listen to this one a lot actually. Famed producer John Congleton and ex-pAperchAse Christian Fitness - Reggie has Asbestos Training the rutabega - I've Been the Armor SAVAK - Alive in Shadows The Blind Shake - Apostle Island Future of the Left - Running All Over the Wicket The Cell Phones - You Make Me Say No Helms Alee - Tit to Toe Nocturnal Habits - New Skin Whores - I See You Are Also Wearing A Black T-Shirt Beat Drun Juel - Hugger John Congleton & the Nighty Nite - You Are Facing the Wrong Way Iggy Pop - Paraguay Maple Stave - Call Station Spider Big Business - Father's Day Melvins - Decay of Lying The Blind Shake - Reasonable World Shellac - The End of Radio (Closing Theme)

Fall records and making things far away from people. Making leaves as an analog recording right in the middle of the digital revolution. Soundbreaking and process change , digital as 4 track, and recording with none of the people in the same room, live bands merging, skipping the “getting going” phase, numero group reissues as nerd wish fulfillment, revisiting the discography, outsiders looking back with rose colored glasses, the cult of instant reaction, post-hardcore, legacy and just doing it, two ton boa , touring during election2016 and Unwound touring during 9/11, politics in music and the value of the personal, survival knife: wha’ happen?, replikants, blade runner remake Brandt on the leaves tour, last Unwound tour as rocky movie and so much more.

Christian returns to Protonic Reversal to talk about the new whores record GOLD, online presence and communication, bullshit filters, the sacrifices and choices one makes for “living the life” and the trade-offs that ensue, the deep affinity and friendship that comes from a shared esoteric interest, Harrison Ford, quality merch, PRF BBQ Louisville, self awareness and SO. MUCH. MORE. Songs Played: Whores. – Baby Teeth Whores. – Playing Poor Shellac – the End of Radio (Closing Theme)

The enigmatic and clever Falco returns for a record breaking 4th appearance! In a brief pause in the opus making, capturing thoughts you didn’t know you had yet, record releases based on people’s commute, new christian fitness! New Future of the Left! guitar pedals and the “that” pedal, Brexit and losing the moral high ground, Doing it lots and know there are ups and downs, dabbling in other art forms, liking “the good bands”, song titles, mclusky incursions, money for worthy causes and paying with cred, relocating to London, Bob Marley-implied welshman, lineup shifts, Twin Peaks (So good or no good?), nuance and guileless borderline stalkers, psychic anguish NOT helping the creative process, Hecklers, accents, 16% egregious dickheadery, political correctness vs. treating people with respect, Men’s Rights Activists and manufacturing fury, Julia’s solo record and Frank Black singing on it, why you do NOT hear Falco guest appearances, Gold Plated Twat Wagons, etc. You know the drill.

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

<p><a href="http://melvinsmovie.com/">The Colossus of Destiny: A Melvins Tale</a>. It's a documentary film by Bob Hannam and Ryan Sutherby, two first time filmmakers who dedicated years of their lives to compile the story of such a resilient and enigmatic group. Listen in as Bob and Ryan speak about the trials and the successes of making the film, what to include and what to leave out in a career that spans so many years and what has made the Melvins such an endearing and engaging subject over the years.</p>

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Ray Jay Johnson and old beer commercials, Thurston vs. Kim…, on aging and being BETTER, and not stopping, being in a band with your spouse, The Cesspool castle in Joplin Missouri, tweaked out midnight van repair guys, Jason Myles on the Williston, North Dakota oil boom the rudeness of public oral sex, meeting Flipper clothed only in a towel, and the “brilliant kind of stupid” that Flipper espouses, touring with Godflesh and being remixed by Justin Broadrick, coat stealers, how to differentiate yourself in a world saturated with bands and acts, “the golden age of weird music?”, getting stuck in the UK, getting married on tour and other remarkable tales.</p> <p>http://lafinabsolutedumonde.com/<br />incredible tales of woe.</p>

shows in Bethesda, forging a unique sound, Trans Champs and the Fucking Am, Mark Knopfler likes the Fucking Champs, studio Cabana boys, LARPing swords, not being able to write it, but still loving it "Post-Rock" and rock lulls, Juno 60, Thomas Dolby keyboards and bringing on the heartbreak (isolated), Mutt Lange and substractive levels, Whispers, Life Coach update, daylight savings time, Russia bombing things "accidentally" and other bummers. First show ever in Oakland. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival and FREEEE DRUGS! DOING IT LIVE! Lots more Def Leppard talk, bike manifestation and Kelly Stoltz-Bike Angel, EL STUDIO! Phil will record you. Picking setlists and encores, Jon Fine and Your Band Sucks, Sebastian's STRONG OPINIONS of things he has not seen, and things he has not heard. Plans... vocals... Trans Am reacting to itself. NUTS DEEP! Liberation and the Hummer commercial. on NOT taking the money and it not being ok to question the President Bad, Lindsey Lohan sex scene music, and SO MUCH MORE!</p>

Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Almost losing Cry is For the Flies, petting cats with phones, Chris going from bass to drums (aka:the Thudbuckets), REBEL GIRL with the Melvins and touring with them, from Guadalajara to El Paso, extremes, depression, stabbings outside venues and Teri having her BROTHER KIDNAPPED, Keyboards vs. Guitar songs and finding the ferocity, lyrical inspiration and SO MUCH MORE!

Christian Lembach