Going Off Track

Musician, producer, author, college professor, keyboard/accordion player for The Hold Steady, World/Inferno Friendship Society, Against Me!, Guignol... Franz Nicolay has so much under his belt that it's almost impossible to go off track with him. But we do. From growing up in the sticks to health hacks like waiting until your German tour to get your teeth fixed, this one is all information that you need to know. Fun journey, come along.Franz's website

120 Minutes host, DJ, music lover and author, Matt Pinfield continues the conversation from last week. We hear about flying on U2's private plane, seeing Queen with Thin Lizzy and surviving a teenage brain aneurysm, against all odds.Matt's website

The walking, talking encyclopedia of music himself is with us this week - the always amazing Matt Pinfield. He knows everything about music and has seen almost every cool band but in true form we get off-track and in-Jersey in this fun, informative episode. From baby Moby to 911 in that non-stop, classic voice.Matt's website

Tour manager for The Gaslight Anthem, Taylor Brown joins us for another 'Road Dogs' episode. He discusses the blessed 'day off' on the road, East Coast vs West Coast wildfires, the joy of spreadsheets and that Prague show. You should also know that this Renaissance man designs and builds mid-century modern furniture.

The delightful Karina Rykman, bassist, songwriter, jam-specialist, joins us this week to talk about the spiritual essence of jam-rock, running around Manhattan with a guitar at 13, her love of music (and specifically, Slayer). She reveals the Rolls-Royce of elevators and invites Benny to her parents' for brunch.Karina'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.