#131- Faye (Sarah & Susan) w/ Twin Shrieks Radio

Matt Pryor joined us to talk about his new book, "Red Letter Days" which hit shelves on January 23. He left us with a ton of great advice for young musicians and took a deep dive in a good chunk of the fun stories that appear in this book. It's certainly a page turner so pick up a copy if you have not done so already!

Purchase the book here:

https://polyvinylrecords.com/product/red_letter_days

I’m going to take you back to about a year ago. It was February of 2023 and Gouge Away was in the midst of a return. This was after several years of staying relatively quiet and a behind the scenes breakup. Gouge Away was in Portland having a band practice when they reached out to Militarie Gun about showing up to watch them play on a kick-ass bill of Spiritual Cramp and Supercrush. Ian Shelton and the rest of the members of Militarie Gun had other plans for the night. After some convincing, they set up plans for Gouge Away to make an epic return. In the middle of their set they turned the spotlight over to Gouge Away, who came on the stage to play two songs (One new). It was a night to remember and got the ball rolling for the new music that Gouge Away planned to eventually release. "Idealized" came out shortly after, and the band released "Stuck in a Dream" on January 9. This is setting the table for Deep Sage to arrive on March 15. It’s a record that Christina Michelle says will be different, and at times “weird,” but if the first two songs tell us anything: it’s that Gouge Away hasn’t lost a step. This group is ready to not only break through the surface, but also become one of the premier hardcore bands. It has been a rollercoaster of a ride for the group. They released Burnt Sugar in 2018 and toured non-stop up until the pandemic. Then came the low-key breakup where Christina Michelle never thought the band would be together again. Now, the band is back, with a refreshed sound, a mature outlook, and ready to show the world that they are here to stay.  

For a majority of his music career, Erik Kase Romero has been behind the scenes. Romero has developed into a prominent music producer – most notably working with the Front Bottoms (also plays instrumentals in the live experience), Lorde, and the Bouncing Souls. Romero has developed a name for himself in the industry and his musical genius is something that musicians desire. A quick peek at his website takes the viewer into a magical journey that involves a large list of production. It’s a list that would be considered a “dream” for anyone just breaking into the business. Romero is now a seasoned veteran and in some ways can be picky when thinking about who he will invite to his home studio next.

Romero has been involved in bands on the local circuit for years now. But, what seemed like a silly idea, quickly became a reality over the past year. Romero made the decision to branch out with his abilities and start a solo project. While it has been a great success so far, it was no easy decision. As previously stated, Romero has always been in the background through production and instrumentals in various groups. His solo act is serving as a time where he has the mic and the listeners get to hear his powerful words. His single still already caught the listener’s attention for how vulnerable and relatable Romero is through his lyrics. While Romero will continue to push his songs through social media and has several live shows coming up, he does not care for commercial success. This project is not meant to result in headlining huge venues, but instead it’s another chance to grow as a musical mind, and have some fun while doing so. How to be still and still be here is set to be released tomorrow. Make sure to give it a listen and support Romero as he takes on this solo adventure.

Audio edited by Tate Daniels

Graphic by Rosemary Young

Host Steven Macri 

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When you sit back and think about some of the centerpieces of hardcore punk in the early 2000's, Paint it Black will instantly come to mind. Especially in the Philadelphia area. Philadelphia has a long history of great bands that paved the way for what music music is today. Paint it Black fits that category. One of the most exciting news of this year is when Paint it Black decided to release "Famine." It was the band's first full-length record since 2008 and it did not miss. The biggest praise I can say about this group is that they have not lost their sound. I could have been told that this record was from 20+ years ago when Paint it Black was first forming and I would have believed it. They still have the same energy and are sticking to their roots. The band's story is known by now - they came together when another legendary Philadelphia based group, Kid Dynamite, decided to hang up the band tees, and call it quits. Dan Yemin was still had the same drive from the beginning of Kid Dynamite and wanted to continue making music, so he decided to turn things up a notch and form Paint it Black. Instead of sitting with a guitar on the stage, he decided to switch over to vocals, because no matter what, the band will continue as long as the singer is still there. 

It was a huge honor to have an established musician like Andy Nelson on. Punk music is engraved deep in his heart and it was a true pleasure to hear some of his inspirations. This included a fantastic conversation about Dillinger Four. "Famine" is a record I can play from start to finish, so while we were on the inspirations conversation, we discussed what he believes makes a "perfect" record. Continously, we really explored this album and heard about what it took to make this record. While the band doesn't tour much anymore, everyone should make it a point to see them if they are ever in your city. Spoiler alert- there might be a conversation about Nelson's other band, Ceremony, making a surprise appearance at Sound and Fury.

Intro by Rainville

Audio edits by Tate Daniels

Flyer by Rosemary Young

Host Steven Macri

We are joined by the real Kevin Hart* of Public Opinion which has been a fun new discovery in 2023 and ready to take on the world in 2024. The band is extremely underrated but with a full catalogue of new songs waiting to be released, the group should see a welcoming success in the near future. Hart, who has a rich history of playing in several different groups, said that he wants to release the new songs over an extended period of time rather than having them hit streaming services all at once. This way the band can dodge the burnout feeling that counless bands are subjected to during the hustle and the listeners have the opportunity to savor the songs one at a time. Although Hart works a full-time job, he has accepted the amount of hours that this band will take in order to find success. That includes recording, hitting the road for tour, and doing the tedious admin tasks such as merch designs. While Public Opinion is relatively new, they have already seen several different live lineups. Hart is willing to play with anyone who has a vision and is open to the idea of a rotating group of instrumentals. Public Opinion also has a support circle as they release music through Convulse Records - a label that features Gel and MSPAINT. Hart also discusses his long standing friendship with Ian Shelton and how Shelton always had the goal of bringing back fast hardcore music. Shelton has been in Public Opinon's corner since the start and continues to make a difference by offering support to up-and-coming bands. Brace yourselves... 2024 should be a year of headlines for Public Opinion. The momentum started with the release of "Bug" back in September. 

Charmer's music has always been a powerful exploration of mental health, and "Rose Thorns" is no exception. What's different this time? The lyrics have matured, and the songs are all about moving forward from the mental health struggles that life throws our way. It's a journey towards finding clarity and purpose in life. David believes this new music takes him back to the "early Charmer" days. Get ready for some amazing harmonies and a huge emphasis on guitar playing in these tracks! 

In this interview, David opens up about the challenges Charmer faced and the ultimate motivation that drives them today. After college, David took a bold step by moving to the East Coast, fully committing himself to the world of music. The band self-released several EPs, but the growth they hoped for just didn't materialize. It was a tough period. Undeterred, when things didn't go as planned, David decided to return to Michigan with Neil. They had a handful of songs left, so they recorded them, almost like a parting gift to the band. Little did they know, this would mark a turning point.

In 2017, Charmer did five dates with Free Throw, and it marked a turning point for them. Prior to that, they had been slogging it out on some pretty tough DIY tours. These tours, while memorable, were often in front of small crowds and with very little money to show for it. Charmer's journey continued with the release of their first LP, but for the first six months, there was radio silence. The album didn't take off right away, and they had to rely on word of mouth to get some attention. It was only when their second record came out that things really started to change. People began to listen to both albums, and Charmer's music started to gain traction.

The pandemic brought a lot of downtime and changes for everyone, including Charmer. They found themselves dealing with family obligations and even David hitting the road with Hot Mulligan, which demanded his focus. However, this past year has been a turning point. They finally had the opportunity to sit down and get back to making music. The result? The band feels like they've improved significantly.

We are happy that David and Charmer are writing music again. Check out "Rose Thorns" and let us know what you think. Also, make sure to catch Charmer, Free Throw, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, and Saturday's At Your Place on tour! This is just the beginning of an exciting musical direction, and we can't wait to share more with you. Stay tuned for more updates!

We have Saturdays At Your Place on a special Saturday release of BTV! So, hopefully BTV can spend this Saturday at your place... The band first met in college and quickly recognized the incredible house show scene in Michigan. After creating a catalogue of songs that was enough to hit the road, the emo outlet decided to hit the road once the pandemic cooled down. Since then, there has been nothing but praise from listeners across the country, as they have seen a quick and steady rise through the emo rankings. The proof is in the facts as they amass about 128,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone and are about to begin a monster of a tour with legendary bands such as Free Throw, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, and Charmer. If you can't get enough of their debut album always cloudy then you are in luck! Earlier this month the band released a single called pourover which is included on a split that the group did with Shoplifter and Summerbruise. The split dropped on 11/17 through No Sleep Records. 

We had Pittsburgh's finest, Short Fictions, back to talk about their face melting album, Oblivion Will Own Me and Death Alone Will Love Me. 

“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it”

These words are what Nathan Hardy of Microwave lives by. You can hear it in his songs through the raw emotion that comes out in Microwave’s lyrics. Experienced writer’s often say you have to listen if you ever want to say anything worth while. Basically, in short, it means you have to read and experience other styles in order to develop your own. The same could be said for Hardy who reads often. It comes in forms of books and poetry. It all helps him consistently develop as a writer and a person. People often believe that listening to solely music will make someone a better musician but Hardy has found this fulfillment through literature. However, several years ago all music came to a halt.

In 2019 Microwave put out their hit record “Death is a Warm Blanket.” It seemed like the beginning of what would be a fast climb to the top for the band. They were on the heels of going over seas to tour and really built a fan base that showed a consistent love for the band. Those dreams were quickly crushed when the pandemic officially locked everyone away at home and forced the music industry to find new ways to reach an audience. Hardy specifically took a step back from writing so that he could see the next move for the music science. It was unclear when and how touring would even return. After waiting about two years to see what the landscape of music was turning into, Microwave played several huge shows that struck some motivation in them again and resulted in new music. In 2022 Microwave released their first single since 2019 - a refreshing sign for the band’s passionate listeners. Since then several other songs have been released and all signs points towards this only being the beginning. Hardy has such a unique way of looking at different life topics. Especially music as a whole. Listen to this interview because Hardy was a great conversation and taught me a lesson or two.

When I say Militarie Gun is one of my favorite bands, that’s not an understatement. The band’s June 23 release, Life Under The Gun, put an exclamation point on that remark. It felt like record from a veteran band - one that has been around for 10-20. However, for Militarie Gun, they have only been releasing music since 2020 as a group, and made instant noise in the hardcore scene with All Roads Lead To The Gun. It helped that the members all come from excellent projects (Regional Justice Center, Modern Color, and Drug Church). Now Militarie Gun is getting their rightful recognition. Life Under The Gun will pop up on countless Album of the Year lists.

This interview was recorded in July around the time of the viral video between Ian Shelton and Post Malone. We hear a fun story of how that connection came to be. There’s also an in-depth conversation about collaboration projects. I don’t think anyone has forgotten about the song Pressure Cooker that Militarie Gun did with Dazy last year. Shelton also helped out with music from MSPAINT and Cold Mega. Give this interview a listen! It was a long time coming!