The Itch Rock Podcast

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get with The Program! BRKN LOVE just dropped an excellent album by that name, and we talked all about it with frontman Justin Benlolo. We discuss the recording and release rollout differences from their prior records, worrying less about how a studio recording will translate on stage, and how in relationships, we're often the ones hurting ourselves. Then The Itch gets further context about BR...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to bloom! Aaron had quite an unusual adventure seeing Superbloom and Footballhead at the Cobra Lounge in Chicago, so we had to discuss the oddities of the evening and how he might be the ultimate anti-wingman. But also, bands! Superbloom is a standout in the 90s rock revival, and Footballhead had the right energy to make a good first impression. Enjoy a brief interruption of our interview streak...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for extreme behavior. Cody Hanson of Hinder joins us for what turns into a roundtable talk about Bring Me Back to Life, the band's first new album since 2017. He discusses what made the band decide to record new music after initially planning not to, how "Everything Is a Cult" in modern society, how Hinder has embraced the title of "divorced dad rock," and songs from their pa...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to multitask! Blake Allison and Joey "Chicago" Walser formed Egypt Central in 2002, then Devour the Day in 2012, and most recently have both become members of Pop Evil. Being together in so many bands for so many years, they've amassed quite a bit of wisdom and experience... and some pretty wild stories. And they're always interested in the next challenge or opportunity. Currently, tha...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for sci-fi! Lotta Ruutiainen of LUNA KILLS joins us to discuss her band's new album DEATHMATCH, including a song that came together through a writing practice she never wants to try again. We also discuss her love for all science fiction, the decision for a Finnish band to sing in English, her literal rock star tattoos, and the joy of discovering Deftones for the first time. Plus, The Itch dares...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to be quitters! Gio and Jerrod of Giovannie and the Hired Guns join us to talk about their new album Quitter. We discuss the making of the record, Gio getting responsible, how Jerrod became a Hired Gun, and what is easily the most entertaining dream tour we've heard so far.

Plus, Dan fears for his life, a venue still struggles to win us over, and The Itch sees a country show. Enjoy.

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March Bandness is live! The 5th Annual Itch Invitational Tournament features 8 first-time entries who dropped excellent albums in 2024. Vote here (or at the link in our IG bio) for your first round favorites and send 'em all the way to the championship! The winning band gets an episode dedicated to them, but you get the bragging rights for supporting the artists you love. The polls won't be open for long, so get your votes in and e...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to talk with the Captain! Alan Koenig, founder of ASK4 Entertainment and its flagship event Shiprocked (see what we did there?) joins us to discuss the past, present, and future of The Itch's favorite festival at sea. Join us for some fascinating insight into how the festival was born out of a working relationship with Vince Neil, the excitements and challenges of booking a lineup, and how Alan ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get sick! Disturbed's all-time nu metal debut album The Sickness is 25 years old, and the band is playing it in full on tour. Alongside a now dual-fronted Three Days Grace and an always earnest Sevendust, the tour came through the Enterprise Center in St Louis... and so did The Itch. Plus, Aaron revisits an experience from last year, seeing a screening of Local H's film Lifers, and this time ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for reggae metal! Nathan Aurora's band Aurorawave released one of our favorite albums of 2024, and he's putting the finishing touches on the exciting follow-up. Nathan joins us to talk about straddling the line between his reggae roots and his metal aspirations, the Crossed Heart Clothing company he runs with his wife, how he got guest features like Brandon Saller and Dan Jacobs of Atreyu and Jo...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to take off our masks. Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire and Anberlin joins us to discuss the new Memphis album Shapeshifter, which looks internally to how we can become better versions of ourselves by unmasking our shames and shortcomings. We'll also discuss how he got his favorite band to appear on the album, balancing the responsibilities of two bands (and the rest of life), and the amazing w...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get Chains'd! Aaron and KC returned to The Hawthorn in St. Louis to see Jerry Cantrell and Filter on the "I Want Blood" tour. Join us for more Itch Etiquette, an all-star backing band, and Aaron (somehow) seeing a middle school friend's uncle live for the first time. Plus, many questions are answered, including: -Would(?) The Hawthorn redeem itself after the Sleep Token Incident of...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for some world building! Eric Bass of Shinedown joins us to discuss his outstanding debut solo album Eric Bass Presents... I Had A Name. It's a thrilling rock opera of sorts featuring a cast of characters battling against villainous forces,... and sometimes their own minds. Eric speaks candidly about the fascinating process that led to the album (in between Shinedown records, no less), his own ...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to read a book! Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. is releasing his autobiography, Son of Southtown: My Life Between Two Worlds on February 25th. He joins the show to discuss his story of God's faithfulness, band drama and reconciliation, and the changes and challenges of the music industry. Plus, Aaron has his long-awaited chance to ask about the cover art of The Fundamental Elements of Southtown, we lea...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to fight! Coco from Winona Fighter returns, and this time she brought the boys! Join her, Dan, and Austin as they break down the origins of some of the songs on their debut LP My Apologies to the Chef (out Feb 28), their choice to hand pick the opening acts for the corresponding Yes, Chef tour (including our mutual friends Fury in Few), and their commitment to staying authentic and supportive in...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to keep celebrating! Our Shiprocked coverage continues, as the guys wrap up the week with 80s covers, a pair of epic sets on the beach, a slippery stage, a late night call to Halestorm, and ... Ace Ventura? Plus, Dan goes snorkeling, KC is rewarded for resisting the soft serve machine, and Aaron meets a brother in curls... who also happens to be in Kid Kapichi.

Mentioned in this episode (and/or...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for a birthday celebration! Our radio show was born 21 years ago this month, and to celebrate that milestone (and 250 episodes), the guys spent a wild week on the water with 31 bands on Shiprocked! Join us to kick off a new "season" with tales of broken lights, budding friendships, on-stage pranks, and the game show that created an unlikely legend.

Oh, and those 31 bands we saw/met/di...

This week, we're scratching The Itch for bass! Emma Anzai, co-founder of Sick Puppies and more recent addition to Evanescence, joins us to discuss Wave the Bull, Sick Puppies' first new album in nine years. We discuss the prominence of her bass guitar in some of the tracks, the Beastie Boys influence in their recent single "Going Places," their upcoming tour with Metallica, handling jet lag when traveling from Australia t...

This week, we're scratching The Itch to get educated! Shiprocked sails along, we bring you the second part of the 2022 conversation that introduced us to Oxymorrons. And this is where it gets serious (while somehow remaining silly). Dee, KI, Jafe, and Matty dive deep on the authentic vs the performative, the futility of social media, the cheapening of art as content, and putting Black faces in rock spaces. Plus, Dan makes a new com...