The LIFERS Podcast The LIFERS Podcast

Some have claimed that Freud thought the Irish were impervious to therapy. While we may never know if he actually said that — we know for goddamn sure that John Haggerty is impervious to any of Scott’s lines of questioning. But that’s okay. Like all great heroes, John’s stoicism belies a heart of gold beating with generosity, fairness, and a firm belief in the human collective. Did we mention that he’s also a hell of a guitar player? On this episode we try to get Mr. Haggerty to talk to us about Pegboy, Naked Raygun, the Chicago punk scene, Steve Albini, Stratocasters, Herb Rosen, O’Banion’s, disco duds, plumbers, Renaissance faires, and the loneliness of saxophone playing guitarists.

This week on LIFERS we’re getting schooled on goth, punk, the ‘80s club scene, Diamanda Galas — shit, we’re getting schooled on EVERYTHING! We must be talking to Chicago legend DJ Scary Lady Sarah. Sarah just celebrated her 36th year as a professional DJ and producer of the longest running goth event in North America: NOCTURNA. Take that, whippersnappers! On this episode we talk about Chicago hardcore shows, NEO, sushi with Siouxsie Sioux, The Damned, Joe Shanahan and the Metro, putting Peter Murphy in a deprivation tank, Pandemic Goths, The Bellwether Syndicate, being the Elizabeth Taylor of goth, and Scott gets gonged.

Angela Mullenhour’s voice is like a force of nature. And nature is kinda scary. Luckily, her band Sybris is the sort of band that can keep up with that force — loud, bold, and capable of summoning up hurricane squalls of melodic noise. After an extended haitus, the beloved Chicago band is back with their long-awaited third record “Gold On Hold” (set for release in September on Absolutely Kosher) and we here at LIFERS couldn’t be more excited. On this episode we talk to Angela about rainy street fests, open mic Steve Miller covers, mall-goth, JCM and suckin’ on chili dog country, Touched By Ghoul, collaborating with Local H on “8:46”, the psychopathy of Rod Stewart, “All Nerve” by The Breeders, and we pick the best songs about MURDER!

It’s great to have an old friend on the show — and this week we’ve got Jonny Polonsky. Lucky you. This is a great episode where we talk to the great singer-songwriter-studio rat about moving to and prospering in LA, growing up as a backstage-teenaged Chicago presence, bossing around Rick Rubin, Mark Lanegan, playing on a Neil Diamond session, being Frank Black’s boy, Chris Cornell & Dio, Gabe as Sid Haig, and Jonny’s great new record that comes out June 7 on Loosegroove records.

Unleashed in the East! Gabe and Ben talk to Scott and Justine while they’re doing laundry in a hotel in Osaka before making their way to Monkey Island. Confused? You won’t be after you hear this episode featuring Japanese metal bars, overconfident deer, Hear ’N Aid, Bali belly, Japanese toilets, Louise Stratten, rainy neon umbrella nights, Facebook posts that are actually ransom notes, and songs that start with choruses.

Scott is supposed to be on vacation in Bali, but Gabe and Ben are relentless. So they dragged him out of bed from half a world away to record this goddamn podcast! This week the guys talk about fine Balinese cinema, spice-averse Australians, Brittany Grinder, cat poop coffee, Steve Albini’s love of Costco, Susan Backlinie, Roger Corman, “One Handshake Away” with Peter Bogdanovich, silly middle names, and saving the chorus until the end.