Best of Chicago 2023 – Car Con Carne
Thank you for your ongoing support of Car Con Carne. I’m proud to share that Car Can Carne was named “Best Music Podcast” in the Chicago Reader’s annual “Best of Chicago” survey for 2023. I appreciate you, and never take…
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Byron’s Hot Dogs with pop-punkers After the Fight (Episode 953)
(DEBUTING SUNDAY 5/19/24) Pop punk/skate punk band After the Fight is back after a period of relative quiet. They’ll be releasing a new song (“Age of Distraction”) on 5/24/24, the same day as their first show in four years,…
(PERFORMANCE AND INTERVIEW) Take the Reins debut new song (Episode 952)
Returning favorites Take the Reins jumped in the car before headlining Punk Rock Tacos at Cemitas Poblanas in Villa Park on May 10, 2024. In addition to catching up on all the things that have been happening with the band…
Cambodian fried chicken sandwiches with Leo Graphics Chicago at Hermosa Restaurant (Episode 951)
Jamie and Deb of Leo Graphics Chicago (4200 W. Diversey) join me for conversation and food from the remarkable Hermosa Restaurant (4356 W. Armitage). We’re joined by Hermosa Restaurant owner/visionary Ethan Lim. Ethan has built up Hermosa on his own…
R.I.P. Steve Albini
Sad to learn about the death of legendary musician and engineer Steve Albini (1962-2024). In this clip, taken from an interview I did for a never-published book on the Chicago music scene, Albini talked about he saw himself.
Her Head’s on Fire (or HHOF w JVO @ TBKG) – Episode 950
Her Head’s on Fire band members Jeff Dean (Guitars) and Rodrigo Palma (Bass) join me for veggie tacos at TBK Grill in Skokie. We talk about the differences between recording the new album, “Strange Desires” (out 5/17), and the previous…
The Dennies are younger than you, and better than you’d imagine (Episode 949)
The Dennies join me for delicious food from Taco Mucho ( (220 Harrison, Oak Park) as I’m parked outside longtime local favorite record store Val’s halla Records. We talk about the recently-released “It All Fades to Grey,” how the band…
Goose Island opens Salt Shed Pub (Episode 948)
I visited Goose Island Beer Co.’s soon-to-open Salt Shed Pub (1357 N. Elston) on what turned out to be a perfect night for having a 312 on the river. Let’s get this out of the way: Goose has found the…
Classic rock lives with TikTok sensation Adam and the Metal Hawks (Episode 947)
Adam and the Metal Hawks (Adam Ezegelian, Johnny Barry, Ryan Daversa, Griffin McCarthy) joined me before their in-store appearance at Loud Pizza Records (716 Central Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035) to talk about their viral video history, Jack Black, rock…
Infamous Lou Reed ‘Metal Machine Music’ album gets reimagined by indie stars (Episode 946)
“Metal Machine Muzak” is a reimagining of Lou Reed’s infamous Metal Machine Music album, curated and released by Dave Gebroe, creator and host of the Discograffiti podcast. Dave and “Metal Machine Muzak” contributor Lou Barlow (Folk Implosion, Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr.)…
clubdrugs: My new best friends (Episode 945)
John and Maria from gothpop duo clubdrugs join me for tacos as we talk about their super cool band (they seriously sound amazing). We also discussed our shared interest in all things horror, and basically made plans to do this…
