Going Off Track

Josh Johnson is deservedly blowing up right now! As correspondent on Comedy Central’s, The Daily Show as well as his hilarious standup and podcast, so we thought it was a good time to revisit the chat we had with him a while back...Josh's website

This week with got to chat with delightful Canadian rocker, Stefan Babcock, lead singer of PUP, maybe our favorite band from up yonder? He talked about growing up punk in a family full of scientists, best Toronto bands, Rivers Cuomo's songwriting techniques and a lot about Stefan's own process and philosophies. It was a lot of fun.

Here is the rock band of the future! Pinkshift (the whole band) joins us this week to talk about KISS lunchboxes, practicing piano for Skittles, all of their amazing alter-egos (intense) and what is REALLY happening in the brain of a drummer. A great band and a really fun and informative conversation.

Comedian, author and founder of The Hard Times website, Bill Conway joins us this week to talk about growing up with a bad name in Boston via a hard-fighting father who taught him early, "how to talk to a cop". Saved by skateboarding and the local hardcore scene, he eventually started the hilarious Hard Times franchise satirizing all things punk, hardcore and otherwise.

We've got a classic G.O.T. episode this week - be a fly on the wall as two drummers have a laid-back chat about their early influences, cool shows they were at and shared experiences. Jared Shavelson has played with The Bronx, The Hope Conspiracy, Paint It Black, and even Seal! Currently drumming for Joyce Manor and on tour with The Gaslight Anthem, Benny took him aside at the hotel in Cincinnati for a great sit-down.

Live from the road! Benny chats with Luke, Kyle and Sam of the great Canadian rock band, The Dirty Nil. From Bartholomew the bully to visors as fashion? It's a real off-track experience.The Dirty Nil website

Frontman, Dylan Slocum and keyboardist, Meredith Van Woert of Spanish Love Songs talk about time zones, Nashville's "acceptable bagel", touring with The Gaslight Anthem and learning band mental-health from Metallica. Benny also digs deep into their personal relationship, confessing that while touring with them, he never realized that they were married! It's a deep dive into some very on-point and off-track material.Spanish Love Songs website

This week, Hopeless Records founder, Louis Posen regales us with tales of how he cold-called both NoFX and Green Day, offering to make music videos and ended up doing "Bob" for Fat Mike and the gang. Guttermouth pushed him to release the first Hopeless Records single, using money made from his baseball card collection and he beat Tim Armstrong to Monster Plug by showing up.

We had an amazing talk this week with New York Times journalist, Nick Corasaniti. His new book, "I Don't Want to Go Home: The Oral History of the Stone Pony" just dropped and it is a very fun read. Our esteemed host, Benny himself is in the book! Besides a lot of rich stories about the legendary New Jersey venue, we go off track discussing Aerosmith's legacy and the Taylor Ham vs pork roll controversy. Big stuff.