Back On The Grind

In this conversation, Rob & Noah from TheTaxpayers discuss their journey back to music after nearly a decade without a new album. They explore the themes of their upcoming release 'Circle Breaker', including trauma, loss, & the hope that follows. The band reflects on the resurgence of interest in their music, particularly through platforms like TikTok, & compares their past, more DIY shows to their recent performances, noting the differences in venue dynamics & audience engagement. Along with Pepe, they delve into topics like hot sauce, the bonds formed during challenging times & personal stories about forgiveness & redemption, emphasizing that no one is beyond hope. The discussion also touches on touring in Australia & the unique experiences there. The conversation wraps up delving into the nature of reality & the intriguing concept of Bigfoot & UFOs, suggesting a deeper spiritual connection to such phenomena.Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindHIGHLIGHTS:The theme of circles on their upcoming album Circle BreakerUnexpected TicToc fameShows then & nowThoughts on sound checksNoah & Rob give Pepe suggestions of what his potential venue should offerAlcohol Vs. no alcohol in venuesThe importance of inclusive, all ages spaces for musicMaking hot sauce at home & in prisonTime in TasmaniaRadical forgiveness & redemptionLosing friends to suicideRob discusses the duality of people who can be both generous & troubledThe impact of simple gestures can save lives, as shared by PepeThe discussion on Bigfoot & UFOs leads to deeper questions about reality & perceptionConnect with The Taxpayersinstagram.com/the_taxpayers/thetaxpayersband.comBack On The Grind Records - DIY, Folk Punk & Music merch:backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/musicGet coffee roasted by Pepe Bandit:STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERSStayFreeCoffee.com Follow the podcast on Instagraminstagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engramSend us questions, comments or topic suggestions toPodcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)Stay Free until next time!

In this conversation, former political prisoner Eric King shares his experience of incarceration & the profound impact of relationships during his time in prison. He discusses the journey that led him to federal prison, the challenges of maintaining connections with loved ones, & the unique bond he formed with his wife, Rochelle. He highlights the importance of emotional support & understanding in navigating the complexities of love behind bars. Eric emphasizes the need for vulnerability & the significance of being valued as a person, despite the dehumanizing nature of the prison system. The conversation also touches on the societal perceptions of relationships with incarcerated individuals. Eric discusses the fleeting moments of joy that allowed him to escape the harsh realities of incarceration & the transformative power of love that helped him navigate his difficult journey. He reflects on the emotional complexities of his release day, the struggles of adjusting to life outside prison, & the importance of community support. Eric emphasizes the significance of finding joy & maintaining a smile as acts of resistance against the trauma of his past, while also highlighting the impact of art & connection in the healing process...particularly through seeing Myles Bullen perform live.Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindHIGHLIGHTS:What led Eric into prisonPrison relationships often face skepticism from the outside worldEmotional vulnerability is essential for maintaining connectionsVisits from loved ones can be emotionally taxing & scrutinizedWomen often bear the emotional burden of supporting incarcerated partnersExploring how love can transform one's experience in prisonThe complexities and challenges of getting married in prisonMoments of joy can provide relief from the harsh realities of incarcerationThe emotional turmoil leading up to release day.Navigating the challenges of the halfway house experienceFinding joy & resistance in the aftermath of incarcerationThe power of a smile as an act of defiance against traumaThoughts on Myles Bullen & the importance of community & art in the healing processFollow Eric King on Instagraminstagram.com/supportericking/Back On The Grind Records - DIY, Folk Punk & Music merch:backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/musicGet coffee roasted by Pepe Bandit:STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERSStayFreeCoffee.com Follow the podcast on Instagraminstagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engramSend us questions, comments or topic suggestions toPodcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)Stay Free until next time!

For the final installment of our Johnny Hobo Q&A, Brook Pridemore joins Pepe to offer some more perspectives on the questions listeners sent in. They also discuss some of the general happenings of the folk punk scene from the mid to late 2000's. Enjoy! (There will be some additional Pat The Bunny questions answered by Pepe on our Patreon feed)Support the podcast to get bonus episodes + goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindHIGHLIGHTS:Brook's first show with Johnny Hobo/Pat The BunnyWhat was the average Johnny hobo show like at the time? Was it a solid consistent line up or mostly pat showing up with a guitar?What was the farthest pat toured during that period? Some differences between the Pan-It-X crew & the DIY Bandits crewThe role of "place" & how it influences music & scenesHow much did the Johnny Hobo songs actually reflect Pat's real life at the time & how much was just him singing in character?Were things like hitchhiking & riding freight trains stuff Pat actually did? Thoughts on the tinder Box in Brattleboro VT.Brook taking people to Harmony Parking LotHow do you all feel about being so popular with train hoppers & homeless kids, particularly those who take inspiration from Pat's early nihilistic, self-destructive lyrics to be nihilistic and self-destructive themselves?Does an artist have a responsibility to their listeners. Eg glorifying drugs, suicide, violence, crime etc or is the first responsibility to the art itself?How do you feel about fans putting people like Pat & Benjamin Tod on pedestals? Seemingly holding them solely responsible for their recoveries?"These days folk-punk is suffering because the artists aren't". It seems like the music was better when the people involved were "worse". Can you speak to that idea?Can I become rich & pay off my student loans with my old CDs. Asking for a friend :) + What’s that most yall have seen these albums go for?Did he ever give a reason for the disbanding of Johnny Hobo? If so what was it? Back On The Grind Records - DIY, Folk Punk & Music merch:backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/musicGet coffee roasted by Pepe Bandit:STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERSStayFreeCoffee.com Listen to Johnny Hobo & The Freight Trains musicopen.spotify.com/artist/7Mv8pqnyBgJGpNTRwbi7kl?si=my2hVoEARMiILPtdwUQyjgListen to part 1 of this seriesSpotify open.spotify.com/episode/0eLXoYgmbVI3XiBCZcRrvo?si=aac159d382414ccbApple podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/back-on-the-grind/id1681556943?i=1000680412865Listen to part 2 of this seriesSpotify open.spotify.com/episode/5IzB3AHtsMhsGp75bacHxY?si=b8e3cc3f85ec4f24Apple podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/back-on-the-grind/id1681556943?i=1000684064945Follow the podcast on Instagraminstagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engramSend us questions, comments or topic suggestions toPodcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)Stay Free until next time!

Wondering what the upcoming Friends In Real Life album will be like? Well, here's a sneak peek...The day after Pat (fka Pat The Bunny) announced he will be releasing music for the first time in 10 years, Pepe decided to chat with friends April Hartman of Apes Of The State & Julio "Ceschi" Ramos of Codefendants about the new album. Expect to hear what Pat's return means to them & the scene overall, April's top 3 picks from the album, Ceschi's break down about how the song (& upcoming video) "Surf Rock Anthem" came to be & much more. This one got emotional...REMEMBER THERE IS STILL HOPE LEFT IN THIS WORLDA longer version of this interview is available through our PatreonSupport the podcast/get bonus episodes + goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindBack On The Grind Records - DIY, Folk Punk & Music merch:backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/musicGet coffee roasted by Pepe Bandit:STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERSStayFreeCoffee.com Follow the podcast on Instagraminstagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engramListen to Friends In Real lifeopen.spotify.com/artist/6k9PWB6N0siXTYtRn6hV6s?si=KTNJHKAOTHSmnPDx49KqRwListen to Ceschi & CodefendantsCodefendants - open.spotify.com/artist/6HBfXt98QpP7QVDPLHjHTe?si=d4BAH4nYQSm0oyALZotM9wCeschi - open.spotify.com/artist/78t5ObID5m0cLVrpZernKV?si=2l6QbrF5SOaTPpC6KBV5qAListen to Apes Of the Stateopen.spotify.com/artist/4HemfSCDgnPiHQh8Z6iyd6?si=6oweZzS4SWi6OAcfljFk9gSend us questions, comments or topic suggestions toPodcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)Stay Free until next time!

***Please take the poll in the Spotify show notes & tell us what Johnny Hobo music we should repress on vinyl***Pepe answers questions you all sent in, largely about Pat The Bunny during the Johnny Hobo days while also reflecting on his own journey through the folk punk scene. He shares personal stories of struggle, inspiration, & the DIY ethos that defined the era. Pepe emphasizes the importance of following one's dreams, even in the face of adversity, & the organic development of the folk punk scene without the constraints of commercial expectations. He discusses lost & unreleased music & the potential for future represses. He touches on the importance of community and personal growth, while also addressing the disbanding of Johnny Hobo and the choices that led to it & much more. Enjoy!Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindHIGHLIGHTSReading from an old letter Pat wroteWhat Pat said about remembering the early daysWas Love Songs For The Apocalypse really recorded on a phone?Did you have a contract when you released music by Johnny Hobo & the Freight Trains?A question from John Warmb of the band Rent StrikeWhat's the most you've seen this music sell for?Represses ever?Why & how the hell did Pat go to Australia?Any interesting stories with Pat & the authorities?How do you feel reflecting on yourselves back then compared to now?What is the lasting impact Pat's music had on your life personally?Did Pat give a reason for disbanding Johnny Hobo & The Freight TrainsDo you relate to the person you were back then?Pepe's children recall being young kids & experiencing the early Johnny Hobo/folk punk daysBack On The Grind Records - DIY, Folk Punk & Music merch:backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/musicGet coffee roasted by Pepe Bandit:STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERSStayFreeCoffee.com Listen to Johnny Hobo & The Freight Trainsopen.spotify.com/artist/7Mv8pqnyBgJGpNTRwbi7kl?si=my2hVoEARMiILPtdwUQyjgFollow the podcast on Instagraminstagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engramSend us questions, comments or topic suggestions toPodcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)Stay Free until next time!

Matt Pless & Pepe explore many engaging topics. Expect to hear about music & creativity from the time of early humans to the age of social media. Matt shares his extensive journey through the music scene & his time hanging out with Pat The bunny. The discussion also touches on the challenges of navigating between different musical worlds & environments & the impact it has. Matt & Pepe delve into personal experiences of betrayal & rebuilding trust, particularly in the context of addiction. The conversation concludes with insights into Matt's upcoming projects & we play a track of his.Support the podcast to get bonus episodes + goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindHIGHLIGHTS:Hitting the road coast to coastWhat helped Matt spread his music around the countryFolk punk french toast tipsWhy small towns can have the best showsChildhood interest in The MonkeesHow Matt was perceived as a kid in schoolWhat it's like to live between worlds in prison & musicThe songwriting process for Matt involves a mix of chaos & orderCreativity in prisonDoes an artist have a responsibility to the listener first or the art first?Audience capture, social media & monetized artBirds & their connection to the origins of musicMusic was more impactful & felt differently for pre-civilized peoplesPepe connects Dante's Inferno, Pat The Bunny & betrayalMatt's views on addiction & betrayal with his brotherTrimming weedUpcoming projects"Comin' through the Rye" playedListen to Matt Plessopen.spotify.com/artist/3yQ3jD3d0ytK5DdnsiM2e5?si=RlSXrc81Seq4rFl5D9__gQBack On The Grind Records - DIY, Folk Punk & Music merch:backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/musicGet coffee roasted by Pepe Bandit:STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERSStayFreeCoffee.com Follow the podcast on Instagraminstagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engramSend us questions, comments or topic suggestions toPodcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)Stay Free until next time!