Best Midwestern

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Punknews.org presents Best Midwestern, a podcast focusing on music of the U.S. Midwest, hosted by Greg Simpson and Scott Heisel.

Punknews.org


    • May 4, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 18m AVG DURATION
    • 95 EPISODES

    4.8 from 21 ratings Listeners of Best Midwestern that love the show mention: music, great.



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    Latest episodes from Best Midwestern

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Nebraska

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 110:18


    Holy shit it's our final State-by-State episode! Nebraska is comin' attcha with a musical history tour of the Cornhusker state going all the way back to a wax cylinder recording from the late 19th century up to punk and garage rock from the past couple years. Listen to Scott go off on Conor Oberst and Greg play a clip anyway.

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Illinois Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2022 73:18


    It's our 11th (out of 12) state for our State-by-State project and it's the biggest of them all - Illinois! Here's part 2 after long last, focused on music from the 1990s to current up and coming bands.

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Illinois Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2021 127:33


    It's our 11th (out of 12) state for our State-by-State project and it's the biggest of them all - Illinois! The state in which both Scott and Greg were born was a mecca for the relocated blues and jazz scenes in the 1920s, and we also take things back further to Native American music, then cover all the best stuff in all genres through the 80s with punk and house music. This is just part 1 of the mighty Land of Lincoln episodes.

    Best Midwestern - An interview with Colossal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2020 91:23


    We take a brief break from our state-by-state project to interview all four members of the amazing Chicago emo band Colossal- Pat Ford, Jason Flaks, Rob Kellenberger and Neil Hennessey. The group released an EP and LP through Asian Man in the early aughts, and reunitied for a track on a split with Owen last year. Find out about the history of this criminally underappreciated rock band and what the future may hold for them.

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Ohio Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2020 129:47


    It's the REVENGE OF OHIO! On part 2 of our feature about music from the Buckeye State, we delve into the best bands to come out of Ohio, with a focus on modern music of the indie and punk realm especially. As Scott claims, it's best state in our great nation. Find out why!

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Ohio Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2020 98:10


    On the 10th installment of our state-by-state series, it's a biggie - OHIO! This one had to be recorded in two sittings so it will be released the as such, because there is simply too much amazing music and too many notable musicians to fit in one episode. So enjoy part one, which covers Ohio music going waaaaay back, as well as the most notable artists to come from the Buckeye State. Next episode we will get to the biggest Ohio bands and the more modern tunes.

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Kansas

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2020 124:17


    On the 9th installment of our state-by-state series, it's the state you've been on the edge of your seat for 8 months for... Kansas! Seriously though, Kansas rules. From being a hub for the second movement of jazz in the 30s-50s to rad underappreciated 80s punk to late 90s emo, Kansas has it all, baby!

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Minnesota

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2019 113:58


    On the 8th installment of our state-by-state music project, we head to Minnesota. This episode is a doozy because there is sooooo much great stuff to come out of the land o' lakes, from 40s radio hits to Prince to modern punk. Dig it!

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Wisconsin Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2019 47:25


    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Wisconsin Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2019 80:30


    On the 7th installment of our State-by-State series we learn that Wisconsin is just too awesome for one episode. We go way back to the early great music of the Cheesiest State (TM) and rock our way through the decades up through the 1980s. On Part 2 coming in a week or so, we'll get to that great shit from 1990 - to now.

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - South Dakota

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2019 75:10


    On the 6th installment of our State-by-State series we discover that South Dakota has been killing’ it in the rock realm for decades and none of us knew it. Come along as we explore the state’s music, from obscure but talented musicians of many genres from years past to the state’s modern indie, punk and hardcore bands.

    Best Midwestern - Best of the Midwest 2018

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2019 76:38


    We’re back y’all! We run down out favorite Midwestern records of 2018 in this comeback special. Sign up at our Patreon to hear our special episode with our favorite non-Midwestern records of 2018!

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - North Dakota

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2018 67:13


    On our 5th installment, we dig into the music of North Dakota. Wiz Khalifa is from North Dakota, who knew? What else has come out of ND? You’re gonna have to listen to find out.

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Missouri

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2018 112:49


    On our 4th installment, we dig into the music of Missouri, from ragtime all the way to Puddle of Mudd. It’s a wild ride in the Show Me State.

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Iowa

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2018 103:02


    On the 3rd ep of our project to deep-dive into the music history of the 12 Midwestern states we look at Iowa, from jazz that traveled up the river from New Orleans to the best-kept-secrets in current punk music from the Hawkeye State.

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Michigan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2018 105:31


    On the 2nd ep of our project to deep-dive into the music history of the 12 Midwestern states we look at Michigan, discussing and playing clips from blues, Motown, proto-punk and punks acts, all the way up to the best current bands from the Mitten State.

    Best Midwestern - State-by-State Project - Indiana

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2018 110:16


    On the first episode of our year-long project to deep-dive into the music history of each of the 12 Midwestern states we look at Indiana, from Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1910 and 20s to indie and punk rock one hundred years later.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 57 - Interview with Brendan Kelly of SKA BATTLE Champions Slapstick!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2017 84:16


    We celebrate Slapstick’s victory in our Ska Battle Tournament by sitting down with Brendan Kelly who dishes some stories from the band’s history and gives insights into certain songs. We also review the new EP by Thoughts of Ionesco.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 56 - SKA BATTLE FINALS / Rise Against / Cheap Trick

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2017 93:49


    We announce the Ska Battle tournament finals matchup! We also review the new records by Chicago’s veteran punks Rise Against and Rockford, IL’s even-more-veteran rocker Cheap Trick.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 55 - SKA BATTLE FINAL FOUR / Matt Pryor / Doktra

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2017 71:05


    We announce the Ska Battle tournament Final Four matchups and have another appearance by Aubrey Welbers with her two cents. Reviews of Doktra (Indianapolis) and Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids (Lawrence, KS).

    Best Midwestern - Episode 54 - SKA BATTLE ROUND 2 / Pet Symmetry / The Addisons

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2017 75:35


    The results are in from round 1 of our Midwest Ska Battle, and we preview the matches for round 2. We also review new stuff by The Addisons and Pet Symmetry.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 53 - SKA BATTLE / Droughts / What Gives

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2017 96:06


    In our first ever BM tournament we pit 16 Midwest ska bands past and present against each other! Listen to find out how to cast your vote. We also review two Chicago bands’ new albums- Droughts and What Gives.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 52 - The Midwest Ska Episode!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2017 84:05


    After we had so much fun talking about Slapstick last week, we decided to dedicate an entire skank-able episode to Midwest ska. Scott’s wife Aubrey join us.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 51 - The Slapstick Family Tree

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2017 93:33


    We take an in-depth look at all the bands that spawned from Chicago’s ska punk legends Slapstick, from Alkaline Trio to The Lawrence Arms and all the lesser known but great bands.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 50 - An Interview with Orenda and Todd Fink

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2017 49:10


    Synth nerdy abounds with our talk with Closeness, featuring Todd Fink of the Faint and Orenda Fink of Azure Ray, who have teamed up to make rad dark electronic rock.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 49 - An Interview with Tim Kasher

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2017 64:43


    We have a tech-cursed talk with Tim Kasher of Cursive and The Good Life who just released a solo album / movie soundtrack. We play clips from all his bands and are huge nerds with him.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 48 - An Interview with Mike Felumlee

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2017 86:33


    Mike Felumlee tells us all about the brand-spanking-new EP by The Bigger Empty (out today!) and we play tracks, and he also tells us about rejoining the Popes and the fun he's having with his video channel Live From the Rock Room. Also, drummer talk.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 47 - An Interview with Squirtgun

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2017 86:07


    We sit down physically and virtually with all 4 members of Squirtgun (Lafayette, IN) to talk about the Lookouting and all the projects each member has been a part of through the years.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 46 - …Like Usual, Tim Kinsella Ruins It

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2017 116:40


    We review new records by Cloud Nothings (Cleveland), Joan of Arc (Chicago) and Fred Thomas (ex-Saturday Looks Good to Me, Ann Arbor). Also, fuck Donald Trump, fuck Mike Pence, fuck Steve Bannon, fuck all those guys.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 45 - What We Missed in 2016 Due to Our Lameness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2017 102:03


    We review three Midwest albums we spaced on in 2016, Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper (Chicago), My Woman by Angel Olsen (St. Louis/Chicago) and Lives We Tell Ourselves by Sleeping Cranes (St. Louis). Recorded immediately after watching Trump’s first press conference, let’s just say the intro is… heated.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 44 - Best of the Midwest 2016

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2016 79:37


    We bring you our favorite Midwest albums of the year, our favorite new Midwest bands of the year, and our favorite shows we went to in the Midwest this year.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 43 - Food Poisoning

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2016 76:01


    We review records by Signals Midwest (Cleveland), KP & Me (Bloomington, IN) and Sump Pumps (Bloomington, IN). Also discussed: the joys of throwing up and Jim Neighbors, in unrelated tangents.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 42 - Wild Wild West

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2016 84:57


    We review records by The Faint (Omaha, NE), Berwanger (Lawrence, KS), and Busman’s Holiday (Bloomington, IN). We also talk about Will Smith for some reason.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 41 - Polyvinyl Records Turns 20

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2016 93:27


    Midwest-based label Polyvinyl Records celebrates 20 years so we honor it by reviewing their anniversary comp, Polyvinyl Plays Polyvinyl. We also talk about our favorite Polyvinyl releases past and present.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 40 - Everything's Cool

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2016 87:49


    Greg and Scott review albums from three Chicago artists: American Football, Ryley Walker and The Cell Phones. We also discover that the only adjective that Scott knows is "cool".

    Best Midwestern - Episode 39 - An Interview with Davey Von Bohlen of The Promise Ring and Maritime

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2016 84:52


    We talk with Davey Von Bohlen of The Promise Ring, Maritime and Cap’n Jazz about all sorts of things, from coaching youth sports to the horrors of opening for Bad Religion.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 38 - An Interview with Marc Paffi of Bear Vs. Shark

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2016 68:43


    We chat with Marc Paffi, lead singer of Bear Vs. Shark, and discuss their reunion shows and record reissues. We also delve into Jugglos and Weird Al singing about underpants.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 37 - Something to Write Home About

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2016 75:29


    We discuss the touchstone emo album Something to Write Home About by Kansas City, MO’s The Get Up Kids. We also review the new record by Lydia Loveless (Columbus, OH).

    Best Midwestern - Episode 36 - Diamond-Encrusted Suit

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2016 69:25


    We review new releases by Owen, Death Spells, and Masked Intruder.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 35 - Greg and Scott Go to The Movies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2016 63:11


    We chat about the classic movie High Fidelity which takes place in Chicago and play lots of clips and songs from the movie.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 34 - Scott Built This Pool

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2016 76:59


    We review new albums by Direct Hit (Milwaukee, WI), Twins (Waterloo, IA) and Mike Adams at His Honest Weight (Bloomington, IN). Greg allows Scott to rant about the new Blink 182 album since they have a Midwest guy in the band now.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 33 - Sports Talk with Greg and Scott

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2016 82:50


    We review new albums by Mock Orange (Evansville, IN), Tiny Moving Parts (Benson, MN) and Doberman (Lafayette, IN). Scott talks a lot about the Cavaliers and then we argue Sox vs. Cubs.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 32 - Midwestern Moonage Daydream

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2016 23:43


    With Scott taking care of family matters, Greg flies solo on this mini episode. He plays live clips from a David Bowie tribute show in Lafayette, IN on May 22nd.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 31 - Just Let Me Put the Ball in the Hole: an Interview with Bob Nanna

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2016 73:20


    On this episode, Greg and Scott sit down with Bob Nanna, singer and guitarist of Braid and Hey Mercedes. They talk about the Hey Mercedes reunion and record reissue, Happy Gilmore, and how Bob got autotuned this one time.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 30 - The Purple One

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2016 87:07


    We pay tribute to the late Minnesota native Prince, as well as review new albums by power pop veterans Cheap Trick (Rockford, IL) and shoegaze group Pity Sex (Ann Arbor, MI).

    Best Midwestern - Episode 29 - An Interview with Mass Giorgini of Sonic Iguana

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2016 96:42


    We sit down with Mass Giorgini, owner and producer at Sonic Iguana Studios in Lafayette, IN. He tells us about the recent money troubles that threaten the studio, but we also get silly and play some pop punk tracks recorded at the studio over the years.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 28 - Scott Hates Art

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2016 95:30


    Reviews of new albums by The Falcon (Chicago), Telethon (Milwaukee, WI), and the new Pere Ubu box set. Scott talks about wrestling a lot, and Greg tries to defend weird music.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 27 - Claudio Rivera of Motion City Soundtrack

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2016 104:20


    A hilarious interview with Claudio Rivera, the drummer of Motion City Soundtrack and ex-drummer of Saves the Day. We discuss his old ska and emo bands, the late, great Punknews Records, and his Chilean upbringing.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 26 - Not Safe to Drink

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2016 90:55


    An extensive interview with Jonathan Diener of The Swellers curator of a benefit comp for the Flint, MI water crisis.

    Best Midwestern - Episode 25

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2016 86:36


    Reviews of new releases by TWINS (Waterloo, IA), The Please and Thank Yous (Chicago) and Cullen Omori of Smith Westerns (Chicago).

    Best Midwestern - Episode 24

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2016 88:18


    We school each other on classic albums by Cheap Trick and Dead Boys, both from October 1977.

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