Height Zone World

My guests this month are 3rd Grade Friends. They’re a Annapolis-based math rock band. They brought Justice The Genius Child with them, who appears on their forthcoming EP. They break down their early collaborations, and how they reunited to start 3rd Grade Friends. They explain the elementary school theme through their discography. Justice talks about starting the ‘what’s dope’ events in Annapolis. The artwork this month (a tribute to Onyx’s Bacdafucup) is by I Taste Sound. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

Mike Riley and I talk about Deliver; Mike’s comedy/horror comic set in Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden Of Earthly Delights. He breaks down what it’s like to be embarking on his first crowd-funded venture. I play some songs from my forthcoming album. Mike’s art this month is an homage to De La Soul’s De La Soul Is Dead. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guests this month are The Van Allen Belt. They’re a Pittsburgh-based electronic pop band. I’ve known them for many years, and we’ve played shows together in Pittsburgh and Ohio. I caught up with them after their recent Baltimore show. They break down how they came together as a band. They talk about getting invited to open for Stereolab in their early days, and how that experience led them toward retooling their live show. We discuss the art of booking a tour, and the art of enjoying yourself on tour. The artwork this month (a tribute to Heltah Skeltah’s Nocturnal) is by I Taste Sound. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guests this month are ialive and Darko The Super. I first heard ialive when he invited me to play his record release show in Philly. I got turned on to Darko’s music just a few months ago, after seeing them do a dual set in Baltimore. ialive breaks down his long history as a hip-hop fan, his first projects and his recent tours. Darko talks about what drove him to want to rap and make beats as a teenager, and his prolific album output. They tell me about creating their collaborative duo album, and the forthcoming sequel. The artwork this month (a tribute to Lords of the Undergrounds’s Here Come The Lords) is by I Taste Sound. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

Height Zone World is back! My guest this month is Vel. He’s a singer-songwriter/rapper from Cleveland. I first got turned onto his music when we played together in Cleveland in 2007, and I got a copy of his debut album, “Meow, Fool!” He talks about growing up in Cleveland and his entry into music through playing clarinet and jazz bass. He breaks down how he arrived at his songwriting style, and his specific / topical lyrics. We discuss the struggles of getting music out into the world on a budget, and reworking his songs with his new band The Velcats. The artwork this month (a tribute to Motley Crue’s Girls, Girls, Girls) is by I Taste Sound. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Heddie Leonne. She’s an MC from Olympia, WA. She’s been in the bands Nextdoor Neighbors, Night Fox and Everybody Weekend. She’s currently working on her solo hip-hop debut. We first met when I played in Olympia with her band in 2007. She talks about starting Nextdoor Neighbors with her friend Kathy Cote, and the forward momentum they felt during their early years as a band. We talk about the confusion she felt when that project came to halt, and her struggle to regain her composure in the music world. We discuss the newfound freedom she’s established with her solo projects, and the moves she’s made in the Olympia hip-hop scene. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to The Fugee’s The Score. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guests this week are Don't Cry Paula. They're a hip-hop duo from Little Rock, Arkansas. We first met when we played a show together in Arkansas in the fall of 2013. They talk about their early solo ventures, and the shared influences that inspired them to join forces. I ask them what it's like to do what they do in a place like Little Rock. They tell me about the making of their recently-released triple album, Rogue Dreamscapes. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to UTFO's Skeezer Pleezer. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

Mike Riley and Height catch up and spin tunes from recent HZW guests.

My guest this week is Weird Paul. He’s a Pittsburgh-based musician that’s been putting out amazing albums since the mid-80’s. We first met when we played a show together in Pittsburgh in 2005. He talks about releasing about his first homemade tapes in high school, and making his live debut at a Beat Happening show in 1988. He tells me about Homestead Records putting out his Lo Fidelity / Hi Anxiety album in 1991, and the confusion he felt after severing ties with that label. He explains the feeling of being on a windy/rocky path toward success, and says he feels more confident than ever that music is his calling. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Too Short’s “Cocktails.” This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Mikal kHill. He’s a North Carolina-based MC and producer, and a member of Thought Criminals and Malibu Shark Attack. We first met when we played a show together in Charlotte, NC in 2011. He talks about his early solo efforts, and about how being embraced by nerdcore hip-hop fans helped push his career forward. I asked him about his outlook on balancing music, fatherhood and a day job. He talks his new years-in-the-making solo album, and explains why that will probably be his final solo album. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Y’all So Stupid’s “Van Full of Pakistans.” This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

This week, Bleubird returns for part two of our interview. He talks about getting booed at a Los Angeles Shape Shifters show, only to have the legendary Percee P come to his defense. He explains how continuing to fly out and play California shows led to meeting the people behind the Grimm Image label, which led to him starting his Freeebird project. He breaks down the new ground he covered on Cannonball and Ft. Lauderdale. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Poison Clan’s “Ruff Town Behavior.” This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Bleubird, aka Jacques Bruna. Jacques is a solo MC, as well as a member of Gunporn, Les Swashbuckling Napoleons and Triune Gods. I first met him when I set up a Baltimore show for his group S.M.T.H. in 2001. He talks about his early days working with Florida’s Nature Kids, and their ill-fated first and last national tour. We discuss our mutual history of cutting our teeth opening for Pittsburgh’s Grand Buffet. He talks about putting together his own European tours and eventually moving to Europe, but ultimately yearning to get back to the states to make moves. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Poison Clan’s “Ruff Town Behavior.” This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

Eze Jackson and PT Burnem, (the first and second Height Zone World guests) return for a roundtable discussion of our recently-completed rap round robin tour. I spin a few of their tunes that stood out to me on this trip, plus some tracks by the MC’s on the upcoming northeast leg of the tour. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Boogie Down Production’s Criminal Minded.

My guest this week is Josh Rogers. Josh runs the Illuminated Paths label, and releases music under the moniker Broken Machine Films. We first met in Orlando in 2007, and my 10,000 Devastating Watts EP came out on his label. We discuss Illuminated Path’s nonstop release schedule, and how the label manages to consistently release multiple projects a week. I ask him about his habit of filling every Illuminated Paths package with strange ephemera, and his odd tape-dubbing system. We talk about the Vaporwave sound that the musicians under the Illuminated Paths umbrella have helped to create. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to DJ Shadow’s “Endtroducing….” This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guests this week are Bito Sureiya and Jiro Sama of DosOtaku. They’re members of the NASA 8 collective. I first saw them last summer at the Ratscape festival, and I’ve been a fan ever since. They talk about linking up in high school, and cutting their teeth at Baltimore’s Beet Trip night. I ask them about their NASA 8 collective, and what connects the NASA 8 members around the world. They talk about their passion for freestyling, and how their freestyle skills enhance their writing process. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Stetsasonic’s In Full Gear. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Jones. Jones is a rapper and producer from Baltimore. We’ve been friends since third grade, and we’ve been making music together since 1998. We talk about our early group called Wounds, and his first forays into making beats. We discuss his full-length debut, his remix projects and his role in the band Hungry Bodies. He breaks down why he put music on the back-burner for the last few years, and his plans to get back in action. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Ghostface Killah’s Ironman. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Jack Toft. Jack is a rapper from Buffalo, NY. We first met when we shared a bill in Charlottesville, VA, and we’ve played many shows together since then. He talks about his early stabs at writing fiction and poetry, and how he drifted into music by way of a noise band called The Next Syphilis. He breaks down his first solo album being compared to Waiting To Exhale, and we try to guess what happened in Waiting To Exhale. He talks about the strangeness of starting to tour later in life, and the beauty of being part of the underground music world. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to MC Rell & The Houserocker’s Into The Future. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Flyin’ Ryan Burke. Ryan is a professional wrestler from Ohio. Our paths first crossed when he took part in Pittsburgh Batman, a play written and directed by (previous Height Zone World guest) Lord Grunge. I’ve always been interested in learning the ins and outs of his hustle. He talks about being driven to become a wrestler from a young age. He describes making his wrestling debut in a K-Mart parking lot, as well as finding himself wrestling in front of thousands of fans. We discuss the logistics of being a working-class wrestler, and the tenacity it takes to stay in it. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Cash Money and Marvelous’s Where The Party At? This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guests this week are BAG$, aka Jimmy Simard and Pete Rae. They’re a hip-hop duo from Kingston, Ontario. We first met when we played a show together in their hometown in 2004. We’ve shared many bills over the years, and Pete has made several beats for my group Shark Tank. They describe discovering hip-hop in 1980’s rural Canada, and unveiling their early projects in Kingston in the 90’s. They break down their initial forays into beatmaking via pause tapes and belt-driven turntables, and how Jimmy formed The Makeshift Beat Collective to highlight this oft-kilter aesthetic. We discuss their collaborations through the years, and what led to them teaming up to form this new duo. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Luniz’s Operation Stackola. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Ultimate Donny, aka Richard Elmsworth. He was one half of Gil Mantera’s Party Dream, and he now plays with Sam Goodwill. We first met when we played a show together in Pittsburgh in 2003, and we’ve been pals ever since. We talk about his first music projects, and the formation of Gil Mantera’s Party Dream. He explains how they made the leap from being a weekend warrior band to a full time touring act. We discuss the confusion he felt when the band broke up, and re-entering the music game as Sam Goodwill’s guitarist. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Slick Rick’s Children’s Story. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is R.M. O’Brien. He’s a poet and a playwright and the main man behind Nuclear Power Pants. We’ve been friends since we first played a show together at Purchase College in 2004, and we’ve gone on several tours together throughout the years. He talks about forming Nuclear Power Pants at Purchase College, and then reforming the band in Providence and then Baltimore. We talk about the inherent frustration of touring, and the point where touring with his band began to clash with his role as a family man. He explains his conversion to Sikhism, and how that’s affected his outlook on life and his approach to creative pursuits. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Def Jef’s Soul Food. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Ceschi Ramos. He’s a rapper/singer-songwriter, as well as one of the founders of the Fake Four label. He’s made a big impact in the underground music world, and we’ve shared many bills together over the years. We talk about the early incarnations of his Anonymous Inc band, and his first taste of the music business big leagues with his Toca project. He tells me about his first solo albums, and how a tour with Germany’s DJ Scientist influenced him to change his approach to the music game. I ask him about starting Fake Four at a time when indie labels were dropping like flies, and he talks about the slow-but-steady growth they’ve experienced since 2008. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to The Pharcyde’s Labcabincalifornia. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is CX KIDTRONIK. He’s a producer, DJ, vocalist and videographer with a musical resume that goes back to the 80’s. We first got to know each other when he contributed to my Height With Friends Versus The Continental MC’s album. We talk about his childhood in Madison, WI and the hip-hop and hardcore punk that influenced him there. I ask him about his collaborations with Atari Teenage Riot, Saul Williams, Rammellzee and Kanye West and what he took away from those experiences. We also discuss releasing his two Krak Attack albums through Stones Throw Records, working as a fetish clip director and his new Sewer Rats BK project. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Mantronix’s In Full Effect. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

Height spinning tunes by Human Pippi Armstrong, Mrs. Paintbrush, Kate Ferencz, Diogenes, Lil Cake and Jack Toft, Eze Jackson, Barter Boys, Al Rogers Jr. and Uncommon Nasa. Mike Riley's artwork this week is an homage to MC Breed's 20 Below. The episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is UllNevaNo. He’s an MC from the MGNTK crew. He’s released a large catalogue of music over the years, including his full-length collaborations with Logic Marselis, Illien Rosewell and {w}. We talk about how he learned the craft of rapping in southern California, and how he refined the business end of music upon moving back to the east coast. He discusses making the switch from focusing on being a battle MC to releasing full-length projects. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s All Souled Out. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guests this week are Pete Faust and Mary Alice Hamnett of The Electric Grandmother. They’re a self-described Sitcom-Core duo from Hawaii/Ohio. We first met a few years ago, when our tours crossed paths in Toledo, Ohio. We talk about how the band started as Pete’s solo bedroom project before morphing into a live duo. We discuss the constant TV and movie references in their music, and they explain why sitcom characters have been popping up in Pete’s poems and songs since the mid-90’s. Pete talks about some of the confusion that stayed with him after a near death experience as a teenager, and how it came to a head after moving to DC and working on their new album. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Crucial Conflict’s The Final Tic. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Al Rogers. Al is a young MC from Baltimore. He recently released an excellent full-length collaboration with Drew Scott called Luvadocious. We talk about how he began making music during his reckless teenage years, and how music put him on a new path. He discusses his first live performances, and his change from doing standard hip-hop sets to putting on energetic dance-heavy performances. He breaks down his new album Luvadocious, and how Drew Scott, Blaqstarr and Baltimore radio host LaDawn Black all contributed to the project. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Outkast’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Mrs. Paintbrush, aka Jackson O’Connell-Barlow. Jackson is one half of Pittsburgh’s Grand Buffet, and he’s put out three solo releases as Mrs. Paintbrush. We’ve been friends since we first toured together in 2000, and he’s always been a rap older brother to me. We talk about his early influences, and his personal Mount Rushmore of Chuck D, David Bowie, Kate Bush and David Lee Roth. He breaks down his early shows with Grand Buffet, and how he developed into a formidable live performer. We talk about his recent Mrs. Paintbrush releases, and where he wants to take the project in the future. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to The D.O.C.’s No One Can Do It Better. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Cody Jones, aka Stillborn Identity. Cody is an MC from Pittsburgh, PA. We’ve played many shows together through the years. He stopped by my house for an interview after his recent Baltimore show. He talks about growing up skating and playing in punk bands, and how he entered the hip-hop realm. We talk about the inherent confusion involved in traveling the country playing small shows, and what inspires him to keep going. We also discuss his TheThrowAwayDays zine and his new Slow and Steady EP. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Tha Alkaholik’s 21 and Over. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Al Lover. Al is a great producer currently residing in Austin, TX. We first met when we played on the same bill in Asheville in 2007, and we’ve been friends and collaborators ever since. We talk about his early work with North Carolina’s Fist Fam, and his transition from being an MC to creating a one-man instrumental act. He talks about the excitement he felt while first discovering the contemporary psych rock scene in San Francisco, and how his remixes of that music led him down a new path. We reflect on how we went on the worst (but most fun) tour in the history of the music business, and he tells me about his more recent touring success in Europe. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

Height Zone World 74. My guest is Scottie B. He’s a legendary Baltimore DJ, and the cofounder of Unruly Records. His DJing and his work with Shawn Caesar, Miss Tony, Bob The Equalizer and many more are all a huge part of what made Baltimore what it is today. He talks about the Baltimore club scene of the 80’s, and how that milieu led to the creation of Baltimore club music. He explains how his and Shawn Caesar’s unique DJ styles blossomed into a recorded art form and a genre of it’s own. He explains how he sees himself as part of the always-evolving culture of dance music, and not just a player within the sub-genre of Baltimore club. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Professor Griff’s Last Asiatic Disciples. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Uncommon Nasa. He’s an MC, a producer, an engineer, a radio host and the guy behind Uncommon Records. We first met when he took part in the NYC Rap Round Robin. He talks about getting his start interning at NYC’s Ozone Studios, and later mixing many key projects for Def Jux artists. He tells me about his love for 90’s NYC hip-hop radio, and how that influenced his Uncommon Radio show. We discuss his new projects, and his recent drive to tour and to grow as a live performer. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to 3rd Bass’s The Cactus Album. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

Mike Riley and Height spinning some of our favorite tunes from Height Zone World guests. Mike’s art this week is an homage to Run-DMC’s Christmas In Hollis. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Brzowski. He’s been a staple of the New England hip-hop scene for many years, and he’s made fans/friends across the world through his relentless touring. We first crossed paths in 2004, and I was happy to learn more about his mission. We talk about his two official full-length albums, as well as his Blood Drive compilations. We discuss the logistics of the DIY touring system, and the pros and cons of being your own booking agent. He breaks down his new project called Vinyl Cape, and explains where he wants to take that project in the near future. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to UGK’s Super Tight. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Jeff Blinder. Jeff is one of the most consistent promoters on the US DIY circuit. He’s been the primary force behind many show spaces, including the Spazzatorium in Greenville, NC, and Danger Danger Gallery in Philadelphia. I’ve been playing his shows since 2003, and I was excited to learn more about how and why he does what he does. He talks about his first encounters with the world of DIY shows, by way of the vibrant house show scene in New Brunswick, NJ. I ask him about the first shows he set up in Greenville, NC, and we reflect on what made shows in that small college town unique. He talks about restarting his operation in Philadelphia, and makes an announcement about his next move. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Da Bush Babees’ Ambushed. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

This is part two of my interview with Lord Grunge. We recorded this on his front porch in Pittsburgh, on Black Friday. We start the conversation by talking about Grand Buffet’s B-sides record Dicer, and how it later played a hand in them going on tour with Third Eye Blind. We talk about some of Grand Buffet’s later releases, and some of the frustrations they faced upon putting those records out. We discussed making music as an older guy and his new day job as an EMT. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Black Sheep’s Non-Fiction. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is James Nasty. He’s a DJ and a Baltimore club producer. He’s a mainstay in Baltimore, and his music has made noise all over the world. He talks about learning to record at UMBC studios, and turning his college dorm room into a night club every weekend. We talk about his early days working in studios and producing for rappers, and why he made the transition to DJing and making club music. We talk about his recent EP’s, and the full-length album he wants to complete in the future. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Seth On Gray Street. Seth is a solo MC and also one half of the group Human Speakers. We first met when I saw his group open for Ghostface in Manchester, NH, and we’ve played many shows together over the years. He talks about growing up in Farmington, NH and getting his hip-hop education through listening to WUNH’s hip-hop show. He tells me about cutting his teeth through tagging along with NH’s Def Rock, and forming Human Speakers with Eyenine. I also spin a few of my favorite Seth Of Gray Street tunes. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to ED O.G and Da Bulldog’s Life of a Kid in the Ghetto. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Neru. She’s an MC and singer from Baltimore. I saw her perform at The Windup Space last winter, and I’ve wanted to learn her history ever since. She talks about feeling like a black sheep as a kid, and gradually finding her way into music. She talks about her first group, and how she became a solo artist. We talk about her Enlightenment Era album, and her other forthcoming projects. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Joshua Emmitt. He’s one half of the group Something Complex, as well as a photographer, a video director and a part of the Reverb Collective. We met when he first moved to Baltimore in 2011. I’ve always dug his work ethic and passion, and I’ve been wanting to get him on the show for a while. He tells me about growing up in Pine Island, Florida, and his early art and music experiments. He talks about his days in FL metal bands, and his transition from metal to making beats with his bandmate Drew Scott. We discuss the difficulty and the rewards of moving from a small town to a city. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to MOP’s To The Death. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

On this episode, I spin some of the tightest tunes I heard on my Talk Singer tour and try not to wake up my tour mates. Mike Riley's art this week is an homage to Kwame's The Boy Genius. This episode is hosted by Splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Doc Waffles, a tight Detroit MC. He’s been releasing great records since 2006’s Golf View Drive. I first became aware of him through his appearances in the Grind Time battle league, and I later became a fan of his music after we played a show together in Detroit. He talks about his days as a battle rapper, and how he sizes up the battle rap world today. He tells me about his various writing styles, and how he’s continued to change up his approach through the years. We talk about his collaborations with Eddie Logix, and their new album, This Week In Baseball. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Sir Mix-a-Lot’s Seminar. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

My guest this week is Jumbled, aka John Bachman. He’s an excellent producer and the man behind the Harford and Reckord tape label. He’s also a Baltimore City high school teacher. We’ve known each other for a while, and I was amped to get him in the mix. He tells me about growing up on a farm in Harford County, and the unique perspective he gained from his upbringing. We talk about his shift from playing in punk bands to rapping, and another shift from rapping to producing. We also talk about his entry into the world of Baltimore club music, by way of his new Club Classics album. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Channel Live’s Station Identification. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Matt Greenfield. He recently directed Destroy Cleveland, a documentary about the Cleveland hardcore scene in the 80’s. Matt has spent years making music as MC Homeless and as Peaks, Ohio. We first met when our tours crossed paths in Pittsburgh in 2005, and I was amped to get the scoop on his whole career. He tells me about his early years playing hip-hop shows in the rust belt, and the surprise success of his debut full-length. We discuss the brutality of DIY touring, and his indefinite hiatus from the rap game. We talk about him switching gears to new forms of creativity, and the process of putting this new documentary together. The art this week is an homage to Schoolly D’s Smoke Some Kill. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is the legendary Sha-Rock, of Funky Four Plus One. They were one of the biggest hip-hop groups in the era before rap records, and they went on to release classic singles in the late 70’s and early 80’s. She was the first female MC in hip-hop, and they were the first hip-hop group to play on Saturday Night Live. She’s one of my favorite MC’s in the history of rap, and it was honor to have her on the show. She talks about her initial entrance into hip-hop as a b-girl, and her pioneering use of the echo chamber. (which Run-DMC would later cite as an influence) We talk about their journey from packed shows in the Bronx to a sold-out nationwide tour with Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Sequence, Sugarhill Gang and more. She explains their role in bringing rap shows to the punk rock world for the first time, and the influence they had on groups like The Beastie Boys. The art this week is an homage to James Brown’s There It Is. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Dylijens. He’s a member of the Llamadon collective, and the main guy behind Baltimore’s Beet Trip night. We first met at a show in his hometown of Frederick, MD, and I’ve admired his grind ever since. He tells me about LLamadon's formation in a defunct Jewish frat house in Pikesville, MD. We talk about their unique approach to touring, and he recaps their recent west coast tour. He breaks down the future he sees for LLamadon, and for Baltimore’s music scene as a whole. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

This is part two of my interview with Tom Kessler. Tom is the man behind She Will Rise Media, through which he’s documented hundreds of Baltimore shows. I first met him when he appeared with a camera at my record release show. Tom is a tireless documentarian and supporter of Baltimore music and arts, and I was happy to get his perspective on things. We talk about some of the local photographers and videographers he admires, and discuss his insecurities about measuring up to them. He explains the game-changing experience he had while filming Acme Corporation’s 24-hour marathon of Samuel Beckett’s “Play.” He breaks down his long-term plan for She Will Rise, which involves Tom writing and directing his own plays. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to House of Pains’s self-titled debut. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Tom Kessler. Tom is the man behind She Will Rise Media, through which he’s documented hundreds of Baltimore shows. I first met him when he appeared with a camera at my record release show. Tom is a tireless documentarian and supporter of Baltimore music and arts, and I was happy to get his perspective on things. He talked about being initially turned on to Baltimore music by Dan Deacon and Future Islands shows at the 2640 space. He tells me about being driven to document shows on the regular after being blown away by early Microkingdom performances. We talk about the frustrations he has with his non-stop grind, and his desire to step his game up. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to House Of Pains’s self-titled debut. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

This is part two of my interview with Mike Apichella. Mike is the main man behind the band Human Host. He’s spent the past few years creating Towson-Glen Arm Freakouts, an in-depth archive of the early 90’s music and arts scene in north Baltimore County. He currently contributes to Splice Today. (Who also host this podcast) I’ve been a fan of his music since 1996, and I was (very briefly) a member of Human Host. In this episode, we talk about his earliest touring experiences with The Superstation, and about the ideas that led to him forming Human Host. We talk about the endless grind of booking tours, and his desire to leave the D.I.Y. scene and enter the D.I.F.M. (Do It For Me) scene. He ends the episode by reading some of Human Host’s written work. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Trick Daddy’s www.thug.com. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is Mike Apichella. Mike is the main man behind the band Human Host. He’s spent the past few years creating Towson-Glen Arm Freakouts, an in-depth archive of the early 90’s music and arts scene in north Baltimore County. He currently contributes to Splice Today. (Who also host this podcast) I’ve been a fan of his music since 1996, and I was (very briefly) a member of Human Host. He talks about being inspired by the free-form radio of Towson University’s WCVT, and how that station turned him on to Sun Ra and 60’s punk bands like The One-Way Streets. He talks about his friends coming together to form the Towson-Glen Arm scene, and and the people that helped mold it into a movement with long-lasting influence. He talks about the tragic death of his friend Dave Willemain, and how that eventually pushed him to make music and art as a life-long pursuit. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Trick Daddy’s www.thug.com. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.

My guest this week is DavO, aka David Richardson. He’s one half of the hip-hop duo Double Duchess. We’ve known each other since 2000, and I was excited to get the full story on his music journey. We talk about his early days as a rapper/drummer in Annapolis, MD, and his struggle to find his identity as a lyricist. He tells me about moving to the west coast, and how Double Duchess was spawned from a DJ night he put together in San Francisco. We talk about their debut album Hey Girl!, and the darker territory they’ve covered on their two most recent albums. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Main Source’s Breaking Atoms. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.