Dirty Decibels

#BandcampFriday marches on! We are stoked to be back this month with another special Bandcamp Friday Roundtable episode for March 2023! Our "X-factor" theme this month was local hip-hop, and boy did our picks not disappoint. Give the episode a listen and check out some of the amazingly talented artists we discuss, hailing from Boston, Buffalo, D.C., and Ohio! As always, try to reach out and support independent bands and artists directly on platforms like Bandcamp, where you can stream and purchase music and merch, and find out about upcoming local shows!

This month, our "X-factor" theme was a "classic" sound. It proved to be quite an enjoyable endeavor, with some really rad picks! It was great to be back with the guys this month after having to sit out last months episode, and we hope you enjoy! As always, try to reach out and support independent bands and artists directly on platforms like Bandcamp, where you can stream and purchase music and merch, and find out about upcoming local shows!

The Bandcamp Friday Roundtable squad returns this month, joined once again by our good pal, Aria Rad, to review some also rad music! This month's X-factor theme was "spooky," and boy did everyone deliver! Check out the episode to hear our reviews, and go support some of these awesome artists!

Another snazzy BCF special roundtable episode is in the books for August! Tune in to hear us review some amazing independent artists this month, including some incredible artists from the country of Brazil! As always, try to reach out and support the local and independent bands and musicians you love through direct platforms like Bandcamp, especially on the first Friday of every month, when Bandcamp waives their usual sales fees, and all proceeds go directly to the artists!

Did the thing with the guys who do the thing again this month!! Check out some awesome album picks, including a variety of awesome live albums this month. As always - reach out and support local and independent artists you like buy buying their music and merchandise directly on Bandcamp!

Happy June folks!! Summer is finally here and I am STOKED to be back with Trev Allen of the Struggling Artist Podcast, Mike Grattan of the YouTube Channel Punk As Folk, and Chris Chavez of That One Time At Bandcamp Podcast, bringing you another Bandcamp Friday Roundtable episode! We discussed some great picks this month, with some interesting criteria. I highly recommend checking out some of these great artists, and reaching out and supporting them on Bandcamp if you can! As always, you can find this episode on all our respective platforms. Enjoy!!

I'm quite stoked to be back once again this month, along with Trev Allen of The Struggling Artist Podcast, Mike Grattan of the Punk As Folk Youtube channel, and Chris Chavez of That One Time At Bandcamp, for another Bandcamp Friday Rountable episode for March, 2022! This month, we were ALSO joined by a special guest, local musician Aria Rad of Coffin Salesman! This episode is understandably longer than normal, but rest assured, it's jam-packed with excellent album pics from everyone, some top-notch reviews and plenty of entertaining discussion! On the first Friday of every month, Bandcamp waives their fees, so all revenue from purchases on the site go directly to the artists. Check out some great new music and support some artists today if you can! As always, if you're a fan of local and independent music, try to reach out and support the artists you love by purchasing their music and merchandise on platforms like Bandcamp, which facilitate direct sales and provide artists with a significantly better source of revenue than any streaming services!

Stoked to be back with Trev, Mike, and Chris this month, for another special Bandcamp Friday Roundtable episode! Our pics this time around were killer, and we had a great time reviewing and promoting a pretty diverse array of independent artists! On the first Friday of every month, Bandcamp waives their fees, so all revenue from purchases on the site go directly to the artists. Check out some great new music and support some artists today if you can!!

We're back this month with a 3rd special Bandcamp Friday Roundtable episode, along with Trev Allen of The Struggling Artist Podcast, Mike from Punk As Folk, and Chris from That One Time At Bandcamp! We had another great episode this month chatting about and reviewing some fantastic local and independent artists, all of which you can find and support on Bandcamp! The first Friday of each month, Bandcamp waives their fees and all proceeds from digital sales on the Bandcamp platform go directly to the artist. It's a great way to reach out and support independent musicians! As always, no matter when you're listening to this episode, we encourage you to reach out and support local and independent artists on platforms like Bandcamp as much as possible!

This is the second special Bandcamp Friday Roundtable episode, co-hosted by Trev Allen of The Struggling Artist Podcast, Chris Chavez of That One Time At Bandcamp, and Mike of Punk As Folk! In this episode, we chat about several independent artists whose music can be found on Bandcamp, and encourage anyone listening to check these artists out and support their music today! The first Friday of each month, Bandcamp waives their fees and all proceeds from digital sales on the Bandcamp platform go directly to the artist. It's a great way to reach out and support local musicians! As always, no matter when you're listening to this episode, reach out and support local and independent artists as much as possible! You can check out all of the artists discussed in this episode below: Oi!l Change - https://oilchangepunx.bandcamp.com/releases Avenues - https://avenuesrock.bandcamp.com Blind Adam and the Federal League - https://blindadam.bandcamp.com/album/an-act-of-desperation Oh The Humanity! - https://ohthehumanitymass.bandcamp.com/album/oh-the-humanity Doc Rotten - https://docrotten.bandcamp.com/album/illusion-to-choose The Lot - https://thelot.bandcamp.com Time And Place - https://timeandplace.bandcamp.com Lost Love - https://lostlove.bandcamp.com/album/empathy KCUF - https://kcuftheband.bandcamp.com/album/every-day-is-winter-here Belmont - https://belmont-il.bandcamp.com/album/reflections Home Is Where - https://fatherdaughterrecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-became-birds The Isolators - https://theisolators1.bandcamp.com/album/the-isolators-2

On this super-special episode, I had the honor of being invited to sit down with Trev Allen of The Struggling Artist Podcast, Chris Chavez of That One Time At Bandcamp, and Mike of Punk As Folk, to have a roundtable discussion in honor of Bandcamp Friday! The first Friday of each month, Bandcamp waives their fees and all proceeds from digital sales on the Bandcamp platform go directly to the artist. Buying music and merch on this day is a great way to reach out and support local musicians even more so than normal! In this episode we each discuss and review several different albums and singles from artists we know and have discovered on Bandcamp. It was a lot of fun and a great exercise in discovering some new music! As always, no matter when you're listening to this episode, buying music directly from local and independent artists as much as possible is the best way to support them! I hope to be continuing this tradition with my fellow podcasters and bringing you Bandcamp Friday Roundtable episodes each month!

Alas, this season of the Dirty Decibels Podcast has finally come to an end, and it's been an absolute honor getting to chat with so many talented folks about the amazing art they make. On this final episode, we're chatting with Liam and Squallie, of legendary Boston folk-punk band The Old Edison. In the wake of efforts to support founding member Will Good, who was recently injured in a car accident and is undergoing a long process of rehab, Squal and Liam share some great stories about the band's origins, touring experiences, and songwriting, and they talk about the incredible compilation just released to raise money for Will's recovery. The compilation features 32 versions of The Old Edison's songs, covered beautifully and uniquely by a multitude of artists from Boston and beyond, all of whom share connections to the band, through friendship, family, countless gansett-fueled nights, and the monumental impact they've had on the local punk community. You can find the compilation at http://buenobenefit.bandcamp.com and you can also attend the benefit show being held to raise money for will at the Midway Cafe, tomorrow, Sunday, June 13th, at 3pm. More information about the benefit show is available here. You can also find all of The Old Edison's music here.

On this episode of the show, we're chatting with my pal Analise, a master mixologist (and all-around badass!), all about the art of mixology and some of the ins and outs the food and beverage industry! Food and drink have been a comfort to so many during this past year, and I can't think of anyone better to chat with about the importance of this part of our lives! We also go over some hotspots in the Providence, RI restaurant and bar scene, and chat about some of Analise's favorite recipes! You can check out Analise's instagram, where she occasionally shares some of her delicious cocktail recipes, @AnaliseInWonderland!

This week's guest is my pal Nicky Ilic, a supremely talented graphic artist who specializes in medical/scientific illustration. Nicky sat down to chat all about his journey into this fascinating field, and the influences of punk rock and the DIY ethos on life and art-making! You can find some samples of Nicky's portfolio materials at IlicScienceArt.com You can also check out Nicky's band, All Deep Ends, at makethatatakerecords.bandcamp.com!

This week, Richmond VA's Talk Me Off joined the podcast to chat all about their brand new EP, Abyss! Talk Me Off is aggressive, energetic punk rock that will make you nostalgic for 80s skate-punk bands and give you the urge to scream your face off. Their new EP is a perfectly-timed release for validating the type of pandemic-fueled fear, depression, and rage many of us can identify with after this long year, and it was a pleasure to chat with them about their writing and recording process, influences, and more! You can find all of Talk Me Off's music on their Bandcamp! Also check them out on facebook @talkmeoffrva and instagram @talkmeoff ! Don't forget, you can also find the video version of this podcast on our YouTube page! [Thumbnail Photo Credit: Zach Wish]

I am extremely honored to have this week's guest, Derek Zanetti (aka The Homeless Gospel Choir) on the show! Derek is an incredibly talented folk-punk artist from Pittsburgh, PA, and he's also a man with a personal music collection that could rival a record store! We sat down to chat all about the art of collecting music in the physical medium, the impact of things like packaging, album artwork, and lyric inserts, thrifting to find rarities, and take a look through some of the highlights of his impressive collection of tapes, vinyl, and CD's. You can check out The Homeless Gospel Choir at https://www.thehomelessgospelchoir.com and on Bandcamp! You can also find the video version of this podcast on YouTube! [Thumbnail photo credit: Rob Larson]

This week's guest is local booking agent, promoter, and bassist for the band Rebuilder, Dan Carswell! Dan sits down to chat about his upcoming role as the new booking agent for O'Briens pub, filling the legendary shoes of Ryan Agate, the club's previous booker. We also discuss the overall state of the local music scene in Boston, the recent loss of venues due to the pandemic, hopes for touring and local shows in the future, and more! If you're interested in future bookings at O'Briens, you can contact: obriensbooking@gmail.com! You can also check out music from Dan's band Rebuilder on Bandcamp!

This week's guest is Val Trainor, the artist behind Rainy Day Renegade shop, an innovative art store selling enamel pins, earrings, jewelry, home decor, paintings and more! Val and I get into the nitty-gritty of mixed-material art making, including working with resin, silicone, and clay! We also chat about the inclusive art community surrounding music, and using art to bring awareness to mental heath and self-care! All of Val's products can be found at http://RainyDayRenegade.com! You can also find her on Instagram/Facebook @RainyDayRenegade!

This week's guest is Boston punk/hardcore mainstay, Oh The Humanity, discussing their newest self-titled full length, available now! We chat about the writing process, mixing and mastering the record during the pandemic, being inspired by The Fest, and much more! The music video for their single "Never Worse," is also out now: https://youtu.be/sMAYFhgOljw Check out all of Oh The Humanity's music on Bandcamp! You can also find the video version of this podcast on YouTube! [Thumbnail Photo Credit: Joe MacFadzen]

This week's guest is the super talented Drummer, and all around punk rock badass, April Schupmann! April and I sat down to chat about her music career, the different projects she's been involved with, and her activism and position on the advisory board of the group Punk Rock Saves Lives, a charity and outreach organization that focuses on mental heath awareness and PMA in the music scene! Check out the awesome work Punk Rock Saves Live has been doing! http://PunkRockSavesLives.org And also be sure to check out the bands April is in! Sniper 66 | http://Sniper66.Bandcamp.com Crime Revenge | http://CrimeRevenge.bandcamp.com These Roving Years | http://These Roving Years.Bandcamp.com [Thumbnail Photo Credit: Dave Prewitt | DaveTV.org]

This week's guest is the talented and prolific filmmaker Michael Parks Randa! Mike has shot music videos for bands such as Deer Tick, MeWithoutYou, The Menzingers, Air Traffic Controller, and, earlier this year, collaborated with 30 different cinematographers from across the country to remotely create the video for Delta Spirit's How 'Bout It. He joined us this week to discuss what it was like to undertake the unique challenge of remotely directing a video during a pandemic, how his passion for shooting music videos came about, and about his experience shooting the upcoming feature-length musical, Best Summer Ever, which recently premiered at the South By Southwest Festival. Best Summer Ever is available for pre-order on Apple TV+ and will be officially released on April 27th! You can check out Mike's portfolio at: Parksranda.com You can also find his work on Vimeo, Instagram and YouTube @ParksRanda! [Thumbnail photo credit: Anne Lee]

This week, Boston-based rock band Cruel Miracle sits down with Dirty Decibels to chat about their most recent release, “Camaraderie.” This 5-track EP was conceived as an instrumental soundtrack to the experience of riding motorcycles, an activity which the band members turned to as a means of escape after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Layered with impactful percussion, dense guitars, and the organic sounds of the road expertly woven in, this record is a unique twist on the “concept album” and definitely a rock spectacle in its own right. In this episode, the band chat about their beginnings, their bonding as friends and bandmates through riding together, their recording process, and more! You can find all of their music on bandcamp here! You can also check them out at CruelMiracle.com and on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook @CruelMiracle Don't forget, you can also find the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel here!

This week's guest is Heather Timmons, the powerhouse behind TinyOak Booking, and one of Boston's hardest-working music promoters! Heather has been integral to the music scene in Boston over the past several years, and has been working tirelessly to continue bringing live-streamed shows to virtual audiences since Covid-19 hit. Heather and I chat about how she got started woking with artists and venues in Boston, how hard-hit the industry has been since the start of the pandemic, and predictions about what might be to come in the near future. Don't forget, you can find the video version of the show on YouTube here! *My sincere apologies for a few audio issues in this episode, alas, we were at the mercy of a temperamental wi-fi connection!*

You may know him from his yearly Christmas compilations benefitting the Child's Play charity organization, or possibly from the numerous benefit shows he has put together over the years, or how about as probably the only artist in Boston who has released a new EP EVERY MONTH since May of 2020! Our guest this week is Mr. Squallie Greenthumb! Squallie and I dive deep into his creative process, his unique blend of genres, writing music as therapy, and much, much more! When it comes to Boston's music community, I don't think I know anyone who has worked harder - or as selflessly - as this masterful MC! You can check out all of his releases from this past year, including his most recent release, "Teriyaki Ink Machine," at: http://weedaboo.bandcamp.com and his Christmas charity compilations at http://MiracleOnCommAve.bandcamp.com !! Don't forget to check out the video version of this episode on YouTube!

This week, musician and painter Dug McCormack joins the cast to chat about his live-streamed painting sessions, creating music and photography, coping with pandemic life, and hopes for the future! You can find Dug's recent music in the following places: Math Ghosts: https://dugmccormack.bandcamp.com/album/math-ghosts Square Ape: https://squareape.bandcamp.com Baluchitherium: https://baluchitherium.bandcamp.com You can also catch Dug's live art streams on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/DugMcCormackArt/?ref=page_internal And check him out on Instagram! @DugMcCormackART

This week, we sat down with NYC artist, educator, and content creator Courtney Tagliaferro, to chat about mental health and making art, teaching during a pandemic, her journey into becoming a content creator and YouTuber, and the influence of social media on our lives! Check out her awesome youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjuORGTOaGsjZ57ZQmtxtNA/videos And find her on Instagram @ChillWithCourt!

THE CAST IS BACK! Welcome to the inaugural episode of the new season, and we're kicking it off by sitting down with the talented folks in Time And Place! Time And Place are a 5-piece Boston folk-punk outfit featuring soulful, and politically inspired lyrics and the most epic of gang-vocals. The band chatted with us about their latest EP release, the timely and appropriately titled "American White Noise," which dropped last month. We also chatted about the band's writing and recording methods, inspirations, their decision to cover Frightened Rabbit, and some hilarious stories of their early days! You can find the new EP, as well as all of Time and Place's music at: http://timeandplace.bandcamp.com You can also check out the VIDEO version of this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aru_EzQQMU Stay tuned for more new episodes, dropping every Friday at 5pm!!

As I will assume many people who have attended the amazing weekend that is FEST in the past can attest to, I returned home and proceeded to immediately become sick as a dog for 10 straight days. In addition, I also immediately returned to work and have not had a full day off until now. SO, it is with a ton of self-disappointment, but also great excitement and an appropriately nostalgic ThrowbackThursday timing that I present to you DWD's newest episode, LIVE FROM FEST 2.0! After having a great time last year getting some cool live interviews with amazingly talented and friends and bands who were playing or attending Fest, and documenting the whole experience, I decided to bring along my recorder again this year for my annual pilgrimage to Gainesville, Florida to partake in Punk Rock's biggest weekend, and get some behind the scenes chats with even more great artists! Fest was an amazing time, as always, and I had a great time hanging, catching up, and celebrating with friends from all over! Listen in for some live sets and rad interviews with many talented and important folks, including The Jukebox Romantics, Tied To A Bear, Oh The Humanity, Jared Hart, Rachel Taft of Feed The Scene, and more!

I am beyond stoked to be back this week with a new episode featuring Coffin Salesman! Led by the “international man of misery” himself, Mr. Aria Rad (of The Radicals and Live Nude Girls fame), Coffin Salesman is a local musical powerhouse that defies genre and is very difficult to place into any type of box…even a wooden, human-sized one. We chat about musical inspiration, chasing your darkest daily thoughts, the magical world of dentistry, and of course, their new record, Nicrophorus Americanus, which is available for pre-order now on bandcamp! Check out the episode below, and be sure to check out Coffin Salesman at their CD release show on November 3rd, at O'briens Pub in Allston, or on November 4th, with Olde Boy, at Winter Hill Brewing Co. in Somerville!

I'm stoked to present the 10th episode of Dirty Water Decibels, featuring Boston hardcore quartet, DNZL! These guys have been tearing it up over this past year, playing lots of shows after releasing their debut EP "The Black Box Recordings" last November! They recorded the EP with Jay, at Project Sound in Haverhill, MA, and front man Mel Allington, guitar player John Kane, and drummer John Freal sat down with me this week to chat about the process, their cinematically-inspired lyrics, evolution as a hardcore band, and more! Check it out below! You can find DNZL's music and info about their upcoming shows at any of the following places: Bandcamp: http://dnzlhxc.bandcamp.com Facebook: @DNZLHXC Instagram: @DNZLHXC If you want to see DNZL live, their next upcoming show is Aug. 26th at the Cambridge Elk's Lodge! You can find more information about that show *Image Credit: Bad Light Photography*

Last week I hungout with Mr. Greg Rekus of Winnipeg, Canada, while he was in town before his show at P.A.'s Lounge in Somerville! Greg has been a mainstay in the punk world over the past several years, touring across the US, Canada, and Europe, making appearances at festivals like The Fest in Florida, and PouzzaFest in Montreal. I had the pleasure of chatting with him about his unique brand of stompbox-driven folk punk, his extensive international touring schedule, the recording process behind his most recent record, the ethics of crowdfunding, and a bunch of other topics! Greg's latest release is called Sibling Cities, and he is currently on the road, in the midst of a nearly 3 month run of shows all over Europe. If you want to check him out, you can find all of his music below! http://gregrekus.com http://greg-rekus.bandcamp.com facebook.com/gregrekusmusic

This week, I sat down with Boston punk rock 4-some Loser's Circle to chat about some of their current goings-on, and of course, their most recent (and debut) full-length, Took Long Enough! This record is anthemic punk rock at it's best, and the guys in Loser's Circle have been a pretty solid staple in the Boston scene for the past several years. We also chatted about their beginnings in hardcore, touring experiences, self-deprecating lyrical influences, and becoming punk rock parents! You can check out the band and their music at any of the following places: Bandcamp: https://loserscircle.bandcamp.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/loserscircleband Website: http://loserscircleband.com Twitter: @Loserscircle13 These dudes are literally all over the internet, so you have no excuse not to check 'em out!

I sat down this week with Michael Kane of Worcester-based Michael Kane & The Morning Afters (along with Aria Rad co-hosting) to chat about their new E.P., "Laughing at the Shape I'm In, origin stories, the legends of Worcester's venues, and much more! Mike also played an exclusive new track live on the podcast! Check it out! You can find the new EP via State Line Records, here!

I recently had the pleasure of hanging out with a bunch of great friends and extremely talented musicians down at FEST 16 in Gainesville, FL! Fest is always an amazing time every year and this year it was a crazy rad experience with tons of great shows and crucial hangs with good friends!!! Check out some interviews and some live set recordings of the Jukebox Romantics, Jared Hart, OC45, Greg Rekus, and more!

I sat down with Boston's "classiest floor show," and my good friends, the incomparable Live Nude Girls, to chat about their new record, origin stories, writing the ultimate victory songs, and the fine art of skunk fighting. I also have to say - on a personal note - I am downright ecstatic to be able to share their awesome new record, which I had the honor of recording in my home, with everyone! It has been a long time in the making and I can honestly say I have never been more proud of anything I have recorded thus far in my very humble home space! If you love stripped-down rock n' roll, tinges of folk, and a good 80's pop cover or two, you need to check out Live Nude Girls! Their music is great, and their live shows are killer! Their new record is called Make Mama Proud and it is available now via their bandcamp page:http://lng617.bandcamp.com! They have two upcoming shows in September. The first is at Smokin' Betty's in Salem, on 9/1, and the second is 9/6 at The Midway Cafe in JP! Head out to a show and pick up their new record! My sincerest apologies for the terrible quality of my one-legged host mic in this episode, but thanks so much for listening, and I hope to be back with more DWD episodes soon!

Last week I hung out with The Runouts, one of Boston's best up-and-coming punk bands (in my humble opinion). We chatted about their recent full length, Pet Noises, playing craigslist band-mate roulette, ghost tours, golfing injuries, some exciting upcoming shows and projects, and more! They also graced the podcast with a couple of acoustic renditions of their tunes "Go Home" and "Feculent Creatures"! Listen now! You can check out The Runouts' music on their bandcamp page here, and their facebook page here! Also, be sure to check out their show this Thursday, April 13th, with The Rumjacks and Jason Bennett And The Resistance at Obrien's pub in Allston!

This week, I got to sit down with my buds in OC45 and talk touring, band history, and all about the new record they just released, Happy Accidents. This band is hands down one of the hardest working punk bands in Boston, and their new record sounds amazing! It was a pleasure to get to pick their brains on their stance and history as a Boston punk band, and their incredibly intense dedication to touring. The episode also features two of their new tracks, and is available here, and on soundcloud directly, check it out! If you dig punk rock, pick up their new record, and be sure to check out their two previous EP's, Burn It, and When It Hits as well. All of their music can be found on their bandcamp page as well as their website, and their merchandise is available here! Stay tuned for the next episode of DWD, coming soon!

In this episode, I got to hang with my pals in The Digs and chat about their debut record, playing shows in Boston, their experience working with Galaxy Park owner/engineer Richard Marr, and touring. Jeff also graced us with a new live acoustic track. Listen-in and check it out! You can stream The Digs' music at their bandcamp page here, and check them out on Facebook!

This debut episode features guest Mike Najarian, formerly of State Radio, currently of Remote Players Club and various solo endeavors, sharing some songs and stories in the hilarious way only he can! Mike and I talk music, cats, fatherhood and some other entertaining subjects, and play an RPC track as well as a new solo acoustic song for your listening pleasure, check it out! This episode also features some new music from The Digs, and some future hopes for the ‘cast! You can check out Remote Players Club on their Facebook page, at www.remoteplayersclub.com or on their bandcamp, at remoteplayersclub.bandcamp.com