Pop-Punk & Pizza

Cruel Universe, a punk band from the Chicago area talks new members; their new single "Coffin"; how their song "Local God" was a class assignment; kidnapping Damian from Broken Demeanor; who the medievally-clad guy is that introduces them at shows; plus a track-by-track explanation of the songs on their 'SPECTER' EP ...and more!! Basically everything you need to know about Cruel Universe is in this interview!

Listen to Cruel Univer...

I talked with NJ punk/hardcore band PISSED! about their contribution to a NOFX tribute compilation (out 3/29) as well as a new album coming soon! Plus a collab with GWAR, Weird Al, Mr. Bungle, and Ice-T??? Who knows what the future holds!

Pre-order The Lies That Bind here: https://diwhy-films-store.square.site/product/pissed-the-lies-that-bind-vinyl-record-preorder-/50?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false&fbclid=PAAaYI...

I talked with members of Definitely Maybe about upcoming music, Snüzfest, the color pink, and more!

Listen to Definitely Maybe:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/484921enhGmhOm6s7bw7a7

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/definitely-maybe/1616734920

Pre-Save "I Don't Sleep at Night": https://ffm.to/presaveidsan

See Definitely Maybe at Snüzfest: https://www.seetickets.us/event/snuzfest-w-devon-kay-and-the-solutio...

Before the show at Bottom Lounge, I talked with Betty, the singer of Gold Steps about their collab with MKNLY, how the band started, favorite pizza places in Wisconsin, and more!

Check out "The Terminal by Gold Steps & MKNLY here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4bzb1eS4a0e8h6sre7NDHJ

Follow Gold Steps on socials!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldstepsmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goldstepsmke/

Twitter/X: ...

I talked with Benny Green, the lead singer of North Carolina band MKNLY, about playing his first live show on a US Navy ship, the meanings behind their songs, inspirations, and more!

Listen to "The Terminal" by MKNLY and Gold Steps: https://open.spotify.com/album/4bzb1eS4a0e8h6sre7NDHJ

Follow MKNLY on socials!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mknlyofficial/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mknlyncofficial/

Twitter: https:/...

I interviewed the owner of Hoarders Trading Post, a record store in St. Charles, IL, and got the inside scoop on what it's like to run a record store, where to start when record collecting, the difference in sound between vinyl and CD, and more! Follow Hoarders Trading Post on socials!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Hoarders-Trading-Post-100024312652667/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoarderstradingpost/?hl=en Website...

In this episode, I talked with Taken Days, a California band who recently signed with SBÄM Records, about working with producer Cameron Webb (Weezer, Alkaline Trio, Megadeth...), their upcoming album titled Any Minute, which releases January 2024, covering songs, turtles, and more! Listen to "Over Zelle Us" and "Least of all You" from their upcoming album now! https://takendays.net/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0...

I talked with UNWELL, a recently formed band that infuses pop-punk with metalcore, about their new album out now "Trial and Error", touring with Alesana, the message behind their music, and more!

Listen to Trial & Error!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2sTMelNHrKXdBVr2xvKh4t  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/unwell/1556149236  Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/unwell/trial-and-error/ALmv2c4hP3zVtwV

...

Spooky punk solo artist Maggot House and I talk about our favorite horror themed/spooky punk and pop-punk songs in this special Halloween episode! Plus we talk about Maggot House's new album out now: How to Talk to Extraterrestrials, and more!

Listen to How to Talk to Extraterrestrials:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/12furD...

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/how-...

Bandcamp: https://maggot-house.bandcamp.com...

Last weekend, I went to T1 Fest, a festival created to raise awareness for Type 1 Diabetes, at Reggie's Rock Club in Chicago, and talked with Ray Carlisle of Teenage Bottlerocket about song titles, upcoming music, tours, and more!

Listen to Teenage Bottlerocket:

Bandcamp: https://teenagebottlerocket.bandcamp.com/album/so-dumb-so-stoked

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0mGyXXKzoR5KAAh4Mkef2W

Apple Music: https://music.appl...

I talked with Nick Karcher (an artist from the same town as me!) about his new single "The Hard Bitter Truth" produced by Michael Bono (Avril Lavigne, YUNGBLUD), inspirations, getting started as an independent artist, and more!

Listen to "The Hard Bitter Truth": https://ffm.to/thehardbittertruth

Follow Nick Karcher on socials + more links: https://linktr.ee/itsnickkarcher

Follow Pop-Punk & Pizza on socials: https://linktr.ee/...

In this episode, I talked with Jake Bédel of New Jersey band Free The Witness about their new member Mike LaRose, upcoming album Youth of Tomorrow produced by of Pete Steinkopf of The Bouncing Souls, opening for Descendents and Sum 41, playing the Punk in Drublic festival, and more! PRE-SAVE "Soldier Soldier" (out Oct. 2nd)- the 2nd single off their upcoming album! https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/freethewitness/soldier-soldier?ut...

In this episode, I talk with Tightwire, a band from Minneapolis MN about writing short songs, throwing stale hotdogs into the audience, their new album 'Head Full of Snakes', Paul's top-rated bathroom, and more!

Listen to 'Head Full of Snakes' by Tightwire: https://orcd.co/HeadFullOfSnakes Follow Tightwire on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tightwirempls/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tightwireMPLS/ Twitter/X: ht...

Festival season is among us, and with Riot Fest quickly approaching, here are 15 tips to help you prepare.

Riot Fest FAQ: https://riotfest.org/chicago/faq/

Map (scroll all the way to bottom): https://riotfest.org/chicago/tickets/

Follow Pop-Punk & Pizza on socials!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poppunkpizzapod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poppunkpizzapod

Twitter: https://twitter.com/poppunkpizzapod

All links: ...

I talked with Keith Gensure, the vocalist of Pennsylvania band Pine Creek Academy, about their new EP Rewind, their last time going to Warped Tour, being in Kulick and touring with Sleeping With Sirens, and more!

Follow Pine Creek Academy on socials!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinecreekacademy/?fbclid=IwAR0HUfizQOaFs-RWkkd8LT8PVGoxrgPCNs9pFFvchEMISRvQAJjvztI2Dlo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1000885189...

I had a great time talking with alternative/pop-punk/emo band Detour North at Zazzo's Pizza in Westmont, IL about their upcoming "It's History, It's Poetry" anniversary show at Beat Kitchen on Sept 2, what they've been up to since the band ended, their favorite memories of being in the band, and lots more!

Detour North are awesome guys! Get tix to their one-night-only anniversary show now! https://www.ticketweb.com/event/detou...

A...

Our first episode with our new co-host, Zoe! Zoe and I talk with Ryan and Jonas of Killium, @killiumofficial a band originally from Indiana, about their upcoming album to be released in October, their pre-album EP they're working on, and their previously unannounced headlining show at Schubas Tavern (in Chicago) with Broken Demeanor and The Fundamental Kink in August! Plus lots more, including Ryan's crowd-favorite double-necked gu...

The Bollweevils are releasing their first album in over 14 years! "Essential" is out May 5 via Red Scare. I talked with Daryl, the frontman, about the creation of the album, how being a doctor inspires his songwriting, his favorite songs on the record, the worst excuse for pizza he's ever had, and more!!

Listen to The Bollweevils!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7yNus0PrBf0aWh5FPhpIdR

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/...

For you fellow heavy music lovers, we're starting a new Heavy Edition series!!

For the 1st episode of this series, I had the chance to talk with No Shelter, a local metalcore band in the Chicago area about their new song Run Your Rivers Red (out now!) and upcoming debut EP! We also talked about their inspirations, how they met, and more!

Listen to "Run Your Rivers Red" by No Shelter on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/track/4SmwKO...