The Lydian Spin

Grace Bergere is a songwriter and musician from Downtown Manhattan. She will be touring the West Coast with Puzzled Panther in late July, supporting Gogol Bordello for the second time. On June 4th, she'll appear at Scott Lipps' Lipps Service Live at The Bitter End with Eugene Hutz, and on June 7th, she'll perform with Joseph Keckler and Bibbe Hansen at Art Yard in New Jersey. Her debut album A Little Blood was released on Eugene Hutz's Casa Gogol Records, which also put out her cover of All Tomorrow's Parties featuring Thurston Moore.

Photo: Augustin Rebetez Swiss-born Dejan Gacond places words at the center of his artistic projects—shared through installations, books, and stage performances. For 15 years, he and Kit Brown have imagined and built A Kaleidoscope of Nothingness. Since 2013, Dejan has collaborated with Lydia, a poetic friendship marked by 13 performances within the installations. He also translated several of her texts into French, including V.I.T.R.I.O.L., published by Au Diable Vauvert in 2022. His collaborations extend to writer Tony O'Neill, filmmaker Sabrina Sarabi, and the band And Also The Trees. His latest books, Sous tes yeux les poches sont des bassines (2025) and Club Nothing (2022), were both published by Label Rapace.

Elliot(Eli) Hoffman is the drummer for Car Bomb, a band that formed in the early 2000s from two groups, Neck and Spooge, in Rockville Center, New York. His drumming is influenced by artists like Vinnie Colaiuta and Thomas Haake. Hoffman started playing drums around the age of 10, participated in drum corps during junior high, and later took lessons that shaped his technique. Checkout car Bomb's official site.

Hannah Marie Marcus is a Manhattan-born musician and olfactory artist whose work spans folk, slowcore, Cajun, and experimental sound. The Hannah Marcus Years: 1993–2004 collects recordings with collaborators including Tim Mooney and members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor. She has since scored films, toured with Matana Roberts, and performed scent-based works.

In this episode, Overachievers and Underachievers, we sit down with artist Justin Gradin and poet John Tottenham—two creators who dig into the absurd, the anxious, and the unpolished truths of life. From Gradin's grotesquely layered visual chaos and insomnia-fueled narratives, to Tottenham's hilariously bitter verses on failure, resentment, and reluctant ambition, this conversation explores the fine line between doing too much and doing just enough. Both Justin and John have new books out in 2025. Checkout Justins new book on Fantagraphics Pageant.  John's book Service is out on Penguin Books.

Gavin Friday, former Virgin Prunes frontman, has built a solo career rooted in electro-pop and theatrical storytelling, with collaborations including U2, Sinead O'Connor, and Laurie Anderson. He has also composed award-winning film scores and worked with artists like Quincy Jones, Fifty Cent and Scott Walker. Known for constantly evolving rather than revisiting past glories, His latest album, Ecce Homo, was released in 2023.

English musician Graham Lewis is a  founding member of the legendary post-punk band Wire. Known for his minimal yet charged presence as bassist, vocalist, and lyricist, Graham helped shape the band's stark aesthetic since 1976. Beyond Wire, he's explored experimental sound through projects like Dome, He Said, Hox, and UUUU. An art school background and fascination with the underground shaped his career. Graham is based in Uppsala, Sweden.

Pat Thomas is a historian and editor whose latest work, Dispatches From The Literary Underground: Evergreen Review, compiles and reprints the first 100 issues of Evergreen Review (1957–1973) in full color. Drawing on interviews with former staff and new essays from cultural commentators, the book documents the magazine's role in publishing and promoting voices that shaped the postwar counterculture—writers, radicals, musicians. Pat approaches Evergreen not as nostalgia, but as evidence—archival, visual, unembellished—of how literature and politics intersected in print.

Frank Hurricane is a musician and storyteller blending blues, folk, and spoken word. His album Quintorian Blues showcases his mix of humor, adventure, and spirituality. Recently featured on PBS in an Emmy-nominated documentary, known for his eclectic style, combining country blues with hip-hop influences to create a unique and immersive experience.

Photo By: Julia Gorton Adam Sobel, nephew of Sumner Crane of the band Mars, studies extreme weather and climate dynamics, focusing on tropical cyclones, severe convection, and precipitation. A professor at Columbia since 2000, he combines theory, observation, and simulation to understand atmospheric behavior and assess risk. Adam also hosts Deep Convection, a podcast featuring conversations with leading climate scientists.

Rose Tang is a musician, multidisciplinary artivist, and event curator who leads over 30 groups in New York and Seattle. Her music, described by record labels and critics as experimental, free jazz, post-punk, noise, and "Weird Shit", blends diverse influences and unconventional sounds. A Mongol from Sichuan, Rose plays piano, electric guitar, and percussion, while also performing vocals, spoken word, and movement. Her music has been released by ESP-Disk' and 577 Records, and she has organized and hosted concerts in New York and California. Beyond music, Tang has performed stand-up comedy at the Peek Pique Peak Festival at The Brick theater in New York. Her paintings, sculptures, photography, and performance art have been exhibited in Berlin, Los Angeles, and New York. Previously, Rose was a decorated journalist, named Best Local Journalist by the Society of Publishers in Asia and recognized as a Champion for Freedom of Speech by the Visual Artists Guild in the U.S. She taught journalism at Princeton University and worked for CNN, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and numerous media outlets across the U.S., Australia, Hong Kong, and China.

Dave Markey is a self-taught filmmaker and musician who has documented underground music and punk culture for over four decades. His films, including 1991: The Year Punk Broke and Desperate Teenage Lovedolls, capture the energy of the punk scene with a direct, DIY approach. He has worked with Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Black Flag, and the Circle Jerks, among others. His latest documentary, The Secret Lives of Bill Bartell (2025), explores the influence of a key figure cultural figure, bull rider and cop Bill Bartell.

Jack Rabid has spent 40 years documenting underground music as the founder and editor of The Big Takeover. His writing has appeared in Spin, Creem, Village Voice, and dozens more. He drums for Even Worse, Leaving Trains, Last Burning Embers, and Springhouse. He hosts The Big Takeover Show on realpunkradio.com. Based in Brooklyn with his wife and two kids, he remains a fixture in punk journalism and radio.

Tony O'Neill, a British-born writer now in the U.S., has built a career that moves between fiction, non-fiction, and screenwriting. A former musician who played with Marc Almond and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, he made his literary debut with Digging the Vein in 2005, followed by noir-tinged novels like Sick City—now edging toward a TV adaptation with Bret Easton Ellis. Tony's work has found an eager audience in France, where 13e Note Editions translated much of his output. He's also co-authored bestselling memoirs and worked with screenwriters like Jim Uhls. When not writing for The Guardian or Vice, he resides in New Jersey with his family.

Ali Smith, a portrait and documentary photographer, moved to the UK from NYC, where she built a career shooting for The Guardian, The New York Times, and more. She's shot campaigns for Rimmel, Disney, and Johnson & Johnson and published two acclaimed photography books—Momma Love earned praise from The NY Times and Gloria Steinem. Her work, rooted in gender equality and environmentalism, includes a grant-funded project on incarcerated mothers. She's exhibited and taught internationally, mentoring young women in photography. Also a writer and former touring musician, her memoir The Ballad of Speedball Baby dropped back in January 2024 via Blackstone Publishing.

Bruce Moreland grew up in West Covina California, playing in glam rock bands with his brother Marc before diving into LA's punk scene in the late '70s. He hung around The Masque, played bass for The Weirdos, and co-founded Wall of Voodoo, recording on most of their albums between stints in and out of the band. He later formed Black Cherry, played with Nervous Gender, and co-wrote a track for Concrete Blonde. After Marc's death, he started Ravens Moreland, shifting to vocals and guitar. 

  Matilda Joon      Dominique Stringfellow   In this cuntroversial episode we feature the dynamic poetry of Matilda Joon, and an in depth conversation between Lydia and Dominique Stringfellow concerning the need for female empowerment to replace the ever present imbalance in sexual relationships which have spiraled out of control.

JD Pinkus, who set a Georgia Boy's State 100-meter freestyle relay record in 1980, left swimming behind in 1985 to tour with the Butthole Surfers, later playing bass for Melvins, Helios Creed, and others. He took up the 5-string banjo, releasing albums like Keep On The Grass (2018), Fungus Shui (2021), and Grow A Pear (2024). JD splits his time between the road, the studio, and the mountain he now calls home.

  Mike IX Williams, the voice of New Orleans for lack of a better term "sludge" pioneers Eyehategod, embodies the unrelenting grit of the genre. Raised in High Point, North Carolina, he gravitated toward rebellion and punk before finding his footing in the music scene of late-70s New Orleans. Over the years, he's faced addiction, incarceration, Hurricane Katrina, and a liver transplant, emerging as a testament to survival against the odds. Mike's music channels the chaos of a life shaped by struggle and defiance, capturing an unvarnished reflection of the world around him.

Randy Blythe, frontman of Lamb of God, will release his second book, Just Beyond the Light, on February 18, 2025. The book combines memoir and philosophy, detailing his approach to maintaining perspective through challenges. Randy writes about his childhood, touring, sobriety, and the lessons shaped by his life in music and art.

During New Year's week, we noticed a significant dip in our numbers—likely because everyone is enjoying a well-deserved break. Good for you! We'll be back next week, refreshed and ready, with exciting new guests joining us each week. In the meantime, enjoy this extended intro. Cheers to a eh uh fantastic 2025??

Elliott Sharp is a composer and multi-instrumentalist active in New York City's avant-garde music scene since the late 1970s. With over 85 recordings across genres such as contemporary classical, jazz, noise, and electronic music, he incorporates elements like algorithms, Fibonacci sequences, and literary themes in his experimental compositions. In the 1980s, he developed the Virtual Stance project, utilizing personal computers in live performance. Elliott plays guitar, saxophone, and bass clarinet, and leads ensembles including Terraplane, Orchestra Carbon, and SysOrk.

Yva Las Vegass is a groundbreaking musician and queer icon whose journey from immigrant busker to trailblazing artist has shaped the soundscape of both Venezuelan folklore and American alternative music. Born in Venezuela, Yva began her musical career as a busker, performing on the streets of Seattle after immigrating in the early 1980s. Her unique fusion of traditional Venezuelan rhythms and melodies with the raw energy of punk and alternative rock became a hallmark of her sound, which she introduced to the American music scene in the 1990s. Throughout her career, Yva has been involved in several influential bands, including Dos Mundos with Deanna Chapman, later renamed Tres Mundos with the addition of Christine Gunn in the Cello. In Seattle Yva sang in Bochinche the only salsa band in the city at the time. Together with her band mates from Tres Mundos she formed Delusions of Grandeour a fusion of pop, folk, punk and rock where they played original tunes. in the early 90's she joins the Florists,a funk rock band as the vocalist and guitar player and the band, Sweet 75, who together made a record and toured the U.S and parts of Europe. All the while she continued performing and writing venezuelan folkloric songs on her own.  She continues to explore themes of identity, cultural resistance, and the experiences of marginalized communities. Today, she is a fixture in the NYC music scene, performing in clubs and theaters projects alike, and remains an independent force in the world of music and performance art, defying boundaries and challenging conventions as a queer female Venezuelan alternative artist. Her contributions to both folklore and alternative music have made her an influential figure for young artists living in NYC today.

Joey Killingsworth, the driving force behind Joecephus and the George Jonestown Massacre, has spent close to 20 years blending outlaw country with thrashing riff rock to build a loyal following. A Memphis native with deep musical roots—his father, Bo Jack, played with rockabilly legend Eddie Bond—Killingsworth initially resisted country music but later embraced it, launching the Massacre as a vehicle for his diverse influences. Known for creative collaborations and tribute projects, he's worked with legends like Jello Biafra and Greg Ginn.  Joey is also a booking agent who works with both Lydia and Tim.

Anton Newcombe is the creative force behind The Brian Jonestown Massacre, a band he founded in 1990. He is a  prolific songwriter and a hands-on producer. Anton has collaborated with artists like Tess Parks and Dead Meadow and even scores the films and television such as the film Moon Dogs. Beyond music, he runs his label, A Recordings Ltd., likes to cook from his and supports causes like Oxfam during his tours.

Daniel House is an entrepreneur and musician, he i the co-founder and bassist of Skin Yard, a band that played a pivotal role in shaping the grunge sound in Seattle and served as a starting point for many influential musicians. Initially purchasing C/Z Records as a platform to release his own music, Daniel transformed the label into one of the cornerstones of the Seattle music scene, championing acts like The Melvins and Built to Spill. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2003, he launched online projects, including DownloadPunk.com and RocknRollDating.com.

Oliver Edward Ackermann is a musician and innovator best known as the founder of the Brooklyn-based effects pedal company Death By Audio and the frontman of the rock band A Place to Bury Strangers, often called "the loudest band in New York." A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Oliver has crafted custom effects for legendary bands such as U2 and Nine Inch Nails. His work is driven by a passion for cultivating a vibrant artistic community, exemplified by the iconic Death By Audio venue.

While Lydia and Tim have been busy on their respective tours, finding time to record new episodes has been challenging. In the meantime,  take a trip down memory lane revisiting a memorable moment from the early days. Shortly after arriving in Los Angeles in January of 2019, Lydia and Tim sat down with the legendary burlesque star and actress, Kitten Natividad. In this candid conversation, Kitten shares how she transitioned from a conventional career to burlesque, her experiences with director Russ Meyer, and her fond memories of Tom Selleck and Sean Penn's bachelor party. Sadly, in 2022, Kitten passed away. welcomed Lydia and Tim into her home as they navigated the early challenges of podcasting. She was cheerful, whip smart, and very very funny.  

Kevin Rutmanis is a bassist and experimental musician, known for his work with bands like Cows, The Melvins, Tomahawk, and hepa.titus. Recently, he has teamed up with visual artist Gina Skwoz for the project Lords and Lady Kevin, creating boundary-pushing music. Their latest release, Last Days At Hot Slit not to be confused with the Andrea Dworkin book of the same name is due out December 6, marks a collaborative effort with Trevor Dunn. 

Oliver Edward Ackermann is a musician and innovator best known as the founder of the Brooklyn-based effects pedal company Death By Audio and the frontman of the rock band A Place to Bury Strangers, often called "the loudest band in New York." A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Oliver has crafted custom effects for legendary bands such as U2 and Nine Inch Nails. His work is driven by a passion for cultivating a vibrant artistic community, exemplified by the iconic Death By Audio venue.

This episode of The Lydian Spin is filled with haunting reflections and fierce critiques. Lydia opens by reading a sharply worded Daily Beast op-ed from Michael Ian Black on the high stakes of the upcoming election. She then dives into the Shimmy Disc release Poe: To One in Paradise (for Hal Willner), a limited edition LP that celebrates Edgar Allan Poe's gothic verse. This 13-track album featuring luminaries from across poetry, literature, theater, and music—honors the late Hal Willner. On Side A, listeners are treated to To One in Paradise by Joan as Police Woman, Eldorado by Edgar Oliver, To My Mother by Thurston Moore & Eva Moore, The Valley of Unrest by Eric Mingus, A Dream Within a Dream by Britta Phillips, and Evening Star by Teller. Side B includes Fairy-Land by Anne Waldman, Dreamland by Lydia, The Sleeper by Larry 'Ratso' Sloman, Silence by Chloe Webb, Imitation by Rick Moody, The Lake by Jennifer Charles, and finally, an archival recording of Allen Ginsberg reading The Bells. Kramer's composition ties the collection together with an atmospheric score, keeping Poe's spirit alive for a modern audience. A special thank you to Kramer for allowing the Lydian Spin to play the album. Happy Halloween!

Writer, Oxbow alum, Bunuel frontman and friend of the Lydian Spin, Eugene Robinson, joins Lydia and Tim to read from his memoir A Walk Across Dirty Water and Straight Into Murderer's Row and share other entertaining stories from his life. Catch Lydia and Eugene at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall on November 9th.

Drummer Sim Cain played with the  Rollins Band from 1987 until 1997. Before joining Rollins Band, Sim played in the instrumental trio Gone, alongside future Rollins Band bassist Andrew Weiss and Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn.  He has also recorded with artists like David Poe, Marc Ribot, David Shea, and played in Elliott Sharp's Terraplane group. Cain appeared on Ween's 2004 album Quebec and performed with blues legend Hubert Sumlin in the early 2000s.

Babeth Mondini-VanLoo  is an artist, filmmaker, and cultural ambassador. She studied art under Joseph Beuys in Germany and earned a Master's in Film & Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1977. Babeth is the programming director and founder of the first Buddhist television station in the West. Her art, often described as Social Sculpture, emphasizes spiritual activism. She has created over 60 documentaries on topics such as the science of the mind, Buddhism, punk music, and poetry. Her subjects have included the Dalai Lama, Joseph Beuys, Meredith Monk, the Sex Pistols, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Babeth directed the 1990 film Kiss Napoleon Goodbye which starred Lydia and Henry Rollins. Her work has been exhibited and is held in collections worldwide.

Jim Jones is the legendary frontman for Thee Hypnotics,  The Jim Jones Revue, and the explosive new project Jim Jones All Stars.  Since the late 80s, Jim has been known for his wild, and intense live performances.  Lydia, Jim and Tim discuss a myriad of subjects including: touring, underground rock n roll, and in the distinctly British sense, cunts.

Composer/guitarist Nick Sadler was the guitarist for the rock band Daughters. In addition to this he has played bass and co-authored songs for the band Way Out. Nick also composes music for film and television.

Steve First is an actor, writer, and comedian known for his roles across TV, film, and stage. He gained recognition starring in the Gold Spot commercials for Orange and as a supporting actor in Little Britain. As his alter-ego Lenny Beige, he created and starred in numerous TV shows and live performances. Steve's acting credits span popular shows like Holby City, Friday Night Dinner, and The Serpent Queen, as well as films such as Disobedience and Walk Like a Panther.

Peter Jesperson, is a legendary figure in the music world—DJ, label founder, tour manager, and lifelong music enthusiast. He is best known as the former manager of The Replacements and founder of Twin/Tone Records, Peter joins Lydia and Tim to talk about his journey through the industry and his memoir Euphoric Recall, which is a deep dive into his incredible career.

A San Antonio-born vocalist, lyricist, and artist, Suzy Bravo has performed in heavy metal, punk, blues, and soul bands. Formerly the front woman for bands like The Rocket 350 (later Suzy Bravo & The Rocket 350), Witchcryer and Temple of Love., she is also in the  Plasmatics cover band named Tits Out..

Nicky Miller is a Berlin-based, genderqueer interdisciplinary artist with roots in France and Vietnam. Specializing in film, performance art, and creative writing, Nicky's work explores LGBTQ+ sexualities and identities, often tackling politically sensitive topics like sex work, BDSM, and queer practices. Their award-winning films, including Twisted Distinction and Pink Lips, have been showcased at international queer film festivals, challenging societal norms and redefining perceptions of queer identities.

Travis Jeppesen, is an American novelist, poet, artist, and art critic who is currently based in Berlin. He has authored several notable works, including The Suiciders, Poems I Wrote while Watching TV, and See You Again in Pyongyang. His latest book is Settlers Landing.

Jennifer Charles is a proud childless cat lady writer, singer/songwriter, actor, and poet, best known as one half of the New York cult band Elysian Fields. She has performed and collaborated with artists worldwide, singing in over 10 languages. Notable projects include Lovage with Mike Patton and Dan the Automator, and her Sephardic Diaspora group La Mar Enfortuna. Elysian Fields has created original music for television, film, and stage, including works by Jim Findlay and the French dance company Affari Esteri. Jennifer originated the role of Girl Angel in the Pulitzer-winning opera Angel's Bone and played Emily Dickinson in BAM's Lightning at our Feet. Elysian Fields recently released their 14th record, What the Thunder Said. Jennifer also launched a new project called Bohemian Flesh with Thomas Bartlett and has recorded audiobooks, including Edith Wharton's The Touchstone. In her free time, she creates art, gardens, cooks, travels, and cares for her cats.

Chris Mars, is an American painter and drummer best known for his drumming in the iconic Minneapolis band The Replacements. After leaving the band in 1990, he pursued a solo music career before shifting his focus to visual art, where he gained recognition for his nightmarish, surrealist paintings. Chris continues to create art inspired by personal themes, including his brother's struggle with schizophrenia.

The Lydian Spin's latest double feature showcases interviews with members of two standout bands: Catatonic Suns and Tina Kit. Catatonic Suns brings a mesmerizing blend of '90s indie DIY sensibilities with layers of psychedelia. Tina Kit captivates with their energetic, howling performances, represented by photographer and musician Cole Flynn Quirke. Patrick Shields, Jake Christman, and Caleb Strobl, the entire band, speak for Catatonic Suns.  

Steve Wynn, frontman of The Dream Syndicate, has released over 25 albums and had more than 300 songs recorded by artists like REM and The Black Crowes. He has played over 2000 shows in more than 25 countries. He is also known for his solo work and projects like Gutterball and The Miracle 3. Steve joins Lydia and Tim from New York to read from his book I Wouldn't Say it if Iit Wasn't True: A Memoir of Life, Music, and The Dream Syndicate.

Acclaimed poet Anne Waldman has been a key figure in the Outrider experimental poetry community for over four decades. Her work, rooted in the Beat, New York School, and Black Mountain traditions, elevates feminist and activist themes through powerful performances. A prolific author with over 60 books, including Fast Speaking Woman and The Iovis Trilogy Waldman also co-founded the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University.

Mark Kramer is a musician, composer, and record producer whose creative ideas can be found all over the American cultural landscape. He is known as the founder of the record label Shimmy-Disc. He was a member of  New York Gong, Shockabilly, Bongwater, and Dogbowl & Kramer, and has toured with Butthole Surfers, B.A.L.L., Ween, Half Japanese, and The Fugs. As a producer, Mark's notable work includes collaborations with Galaxie 500, White Zombie, GWAR, Daniel Johnston, and Urge Overkill.

Richard Cabut is an author, journalist, and musician. He is the author of the post-punk novel Looking for a Kiss, which has been adapted for the screen. Richard's journalism has been featured in prominent publications like The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, NME, and The Independent. He co-edited the anthology Punk is Dead: Modernity Killed Every Night and contributed to several other notable works. His short fiction and poetry have been published in various acclaimed books and magazines. Additionally, he played bass for the band Brigandage and co-wrote tracks for The Necessary Animals.

Marianna Simnett is an artist and musician newly based in New York, known for her vivid and visceral explorations of the body as a site of transformation. Her psychologically charged works challenge both herself and the viewer, creating radical new worlds filled with untamed thoughts, strange tales, and desires. Her current work titled Winner is on view at the Hamburger Bahnhof, which the Berliner  called  "a campy love letter to the world's most laddish sport(soccer) and its players"

  Hey have you heard the news? Jesus Lizard is back! They've dropped a new album and are hitting the road for a tour. To celebrate this exciting comeback, we're jumping on the Jesus Lizard bandwagon. So, we're bringing you a replay of our classic interview with the one and only David Yow.  

Matt Katz-Bohen,  began playing piano at age 7, expanded his repertoire to include cello, violin, and guitar. An alumnus of New York City's LaGuardia High School, he became the guitarist and Music Director for the drag queen rock troupe The Touchables, collaborating with notable artists like Jody Watley and Lady Miss Kier. Introduced to Debbie Harry at the Squeezebox party, Matt soon joined Blondie on keyboards for their 2008 world tour. As a co-writer of Blondie songs and a musical director for NYC's Bowieball party, he has also written for RuPaul and toured with Boy George and Tony Bennett.