Hey everyone, it’s been a rather eventful two years hosting the podcast alongside Matt. From our humble beginnings as just a mere joke at Fest 9 to becoming the D List punk rock celebrity podcast duo that we are to day it’s been a thrill ride to say the least. It’s been an honor and a privilege to say the least to be able to host such a successful show alongside Matt these past two years and interview all the bands that we have.
Thus it comes with a bit of remorse to announce that I am leaving the podcast. It’s a decision I thought long and hard about and ultimately decided it was best I take my exit. No ill will against Matt but to keep things brief, my heart just isn’t in it anymore. So rather than have the podcast become a burden and let the quality of the episodes decline on my behalf I am exiting gracefully on a high note, allowing Matt to handle the franchise on his own.
That’s not to say I’ll never come back but for the foreseeable future I don’t see the podcast as being a part of my life but who knows, that could change. Maybe in a year or so, if Matt hasn’t cashed in and moved to the big leagues, I’ll come back and we’ll go on an original line up tour like Taking Back Sunday. Or maybe I won’t care. I’m not really sure. If Bomb the Music Industry can be ambiguous about their future so can I.
Anywho, I just want to thank each and everyone of you for your help and support these past few years. To any press person who set up an interview, every person who downloaded and listened to an episode, each band that took time out of their schedule to do an interview before or after a show, to every venue that ever let us use their space, and every band who was willing to play one of our shows. Most importantly I want to thank each and every friend who helped make the podcast what it is today and to every friend I made from the podcast. It’s been real and you know where to find me!
Take Care Everyone.
I was recently introduced to this band by a good friend of mine by the name of Anthony Barlow. If you enjoy disappointing podcasts and videos about Chuck Ragan fishing you might have heard of him. Anywho, Great Cynics have easily become my favorite new music discovery this year. Their album “Don’t Need Much” has been in heavy rotation for months in my car stereo and I can’t wait to finally see these songs played live.The band is from the UK so touring out in the U.S. isn’t something that happens very often. Thus, I have to see them Fest or risk not not being able to see them anytime in the near future.
Hot Water Music is probably number 1 on most people’s list and as much as I do want to see them they aren’t the band I want to see the most. This has to do with the fact that I’ve seen them about 6 times already, the most recent time being in May at Krazy Fest. So while they aren’t my biggest priority, I would be a fool to miss Hot Water Music play in Gainesville. Though I have to be honest, I’m actually missing the first half of their set to see P.S. Eliot play. But seeing half a set is better than not seeing them at all!
The Gateway District has put put out one of my favorite records this year and I have yet to see them play live. They toured through California recently but unfortunately I was unable to catch them play while they were in town so I have to make up for this by seeing them at Fest. For those of you who don’t know the band is made up of members of the Soviettes, Banner Pilot, and Off With Their Heads. They’re one of the better punk rock “superbands” currently in the scene in my opinion and from what I’ve been told by friends is that they slay live.
I’ve never seen None More Black but I’ve listened to This Is Satire more times than I can count. So of course I am going to see them play at the Fest. The band doesn’t really tour that often and when they do it’s not on the west coast. With no serious touring plans in the foreseeable future this probably going to be my only chance to see them for a very long time.
The last time I saw the Soviettes was on the Fat Wreck tour in 2005. The line up that year consisted of Against Me, Smoke or Fire, The Soviettes, and The Epoxies. It was perhaps one of the greatest shows I had ever been to and the Soviettes set is one I will never forget. Not too long after that the band called it quits and I was heartbroken. Then in 2010 the band decided to reunite with Mikey Erg on drums and my heart was mended! They were set to play Fest 9 and I was determined to catch them. I didn’t. They were the first band playing the Atlantic, something that made no sense to me. They were playing a venue they could fill 3 times over so by the time I got there the venue had a line so long I knew I wasn’t getting in to see them. I was crushed. Luckily, they are back for Fest 10 and playing the 8 Seconds club which means I will be seeing them for sure this time around.
Armalite is one of those bands who won’t ever tour and the only show they will ever really play, when they decided to actually play a show, is the Fest. So with that being said you shouldn’t pass up your chance to see these guys as you probably won’t get another chance for a couple of years. Fest will be my first time seeing them but everyone who has seen them has told me I will have my face melted off. If you’re still not convinced you should see them then perhaps the fact that both Dan Yemin and Atom Goren are in this band will sway you.
First on my list is the infamous Reggae Shack Cafe. It is hands down my favorite place to eat in Gainesville. Who can resist delicious Jamaican food and a great selection of reggae playing in the background? I know I can’t!
If you’re a fan of Against Me then you definitely know this place as the owner is their former drummer Warren Oakes. Well for you hungry vegans who like to have a good meal and have a few drinks, this is the place to be.
Leonardo’s vegan menu isn’t the hugest around, especially not compared to Boca Fiesta or Reggae Shack. However it makes up for that by providing some really delicious and pretty cheap options to dine on. Not to mention it is right across the street from the Holiday Inn meaning you can pick up some food either before or after you register without having to go far at all.
Karma Cream is perhaps the most vegan friendly place on the list as the entire menu is either vegetarian or vegan friendly.Not only that but everything on the menu is also organic and fair trade!
Hey everyone, I just started the second half of my month long residency at the Song Journal. The Song Journal is a blog on tumblr where the person who is running it for the given month picks a song every day and writes about how that song relates to how their day went. It’s pretty fun and I like that I am actually doing some blogging again. It helps me to relieve some stress and be more positive in my day to day life. You can check out the song journal by clicking 
