The Itch Rock Podcast

The Itch
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Music Commentary
  • Weekly

The Itch Rock Podcast brings you artist interviews, album reviews, and concert stories from Aaron, KC, and Dan — three friends who’ve been rocking the airwaves on 89.1 KCLC-FM since 2004. They’re building community and exploring how music connects us, all with a lighthearted, semi-professional style. If it gets your head banging and your blood flowing, it’s an itch we’re here to scratch.

  1. 7h ago

    Jack Underkofler of Dead Poet Society on the Raw Truths, Sonic Strangeness, and Creative Friction Behind Monarch

    This week, we're scratching The Itch to dig deep! Our returning guest, Jack Underkofler of Dead Poet Society, joins us to discuss the making of the band's fascinating new album Monarch. While he keeps the albums inspirations close to the chest, he's open about the ways he and the band pushed themselves in the creation process. From working with Paul Meany to writing an anti-psalm of sorts to making non-guitar guitar sounds to a plane ride that still angers him, it was quite a journey that produced work he's clearly proud of. Plus, we find out the origins of the band's collaboration with The Warning on "Hurt" and get to witness a dream tour come true as Jack shares the story of finding out that Dead Poet Society would be opening for Muse! And it's a rare revolving door of hosts as Aaron sneaks in half of an interview before being replaced by a surprising young substitute... who we're pretty sure became Jack's favorite host! Enjoy. Listen to The Itch Rock Radio Show Rock with us every Sunday night from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM in St. Louis. Outside the area? Stream online at 891thewood.com, TuneIn, Radio.net, and OnlineRadioBox! Connect With The Itch For any and all friendship, questions, inquiries, and offers of pizza, The Itch can be found at the following: Website: itchrocks.com Facebook: Facebook.com/itchrocks Instagram: Instagram.com/itchrocks Email: itchrocks@gmail.com Support the Show Thank you so much for listening. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a positive review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser to help our audience grow. Reviews only take a minute and help us reach more rock fans just like you. Credits Our theme song, "Corrupted", is used with permission from the amazing Skindred. All other content is copyright of The Itch. All rights reserved, including the right to rock on. Read transcript

    Jack Underkofler of Dead Poet Society on the Raw Truths, Sonic Strangeness, and Creative Friction Behind Monarch

  2. Nov 3

    Jake Crawford and Em Lodge of Unpeople on Pop Hooks, Death Growls, and the Unbridled Joy of Making Music

    This week, we're scratching The Itch to celebrate! Jake Crawford and Em Lodge of show favorites unpeople join us to discuss the pure musical mayhem of their debut album, we are unpeople. A lot has happened since Jake and bandmate Luke Caley were first on the show back in 2024. They've opened for Metallica, played the main stage at Download, welcomed Em into the band, and spent a lot of time singing in funny voices and playing with all creatures great and small. We'll talk about all of that, plus the joy they took in making an unpredictable album where any given song can include big, sugary melodies one moment and brutal blast beats the next. Plus, we'll attempt to answer questions like "how do you sequence an album when every song contains multitudes?" and "exactly how many animal references are on this record?" unpeople loves making music, and we love unpeople. One might even say... we are unpeople. Enjoy. Listen to The Itch Rock Radio Show Rock with us every Sunday night from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM in St. Louis. Outside the area? Stream online at 891thewood.com, TuneIn, Radio.net, and OnlineRadioBox! Connect With The Itch For any and all friendship, questions, inquiries, and offers of pizza, The Itch can be found at the following: Website: itchrocks.com Facebook: Facebook.com/itchrocks Instagram: Instagram.com/itchrocks Email: itchrocks@gmail.com Support the Show Thank you so much for listening. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a positive review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser to help our audience grow. Reviews only take a minute and help us reach more rock fans just like you. Credits Our theme song, "Corrupted", is used with permission from the amazing Skindred. All other content is copyright of The Itch. All rights reserved, including the right to rock on. Read transcript

    Jake Crawford and Em Lodge of Unpeople on Pop Hooks, Death Growls, and the Unbridled Joy of Making Music

  3. Oct 27

    Tyler Levenson of Afterlife Explores Bad Habits and Artistic Ambition on The Pain That Shapes Us

    This week, we're scratching The Itch to explore the Afterlife! Specifically, the one fronted by Tyler Levenson. The Shiprocked fan favorite joins us to discuss the band's new album, The Pain That Shapes Us. Afterlife has had a minute (five years' worth of them, in fact) to craft this record, and they've clearly done it with care. Tyler goes deep with us to explore the intentionality behind every detail of the album's creation, from new sonic directions they wanted to pursue to the themes that permeate the album to each song having a specific purpose. Along the way we also get tales of a roach motel, a troublemaking friend on the boat, some human psychology, and even an invitation to criticism, though we have very little for such a standout record. Enjoy. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Andy Williams. We recorded it before his tragic passing, and Tyler discusses Every Time I Die as a dream addition to a Shiprocked lineup. We agree. Andy Williams forever. Listen to The Itch Rock Radio Show Rock with us every Sunday night from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM in St. Louis. Outside the area? Stream online at 891thewood.com, TuneIn, Radio.net, and OnlineRadioBox! Connect With The Itch For any and all friendship, questions, inquiries, and offers of pizza, The Itch can be found at the following: Website: itchrocks.com Facebook: Facebook.com/itchrocks Instagram: Instagram.com/itchrocks Email: itchrocks@gmail.com Support the Show Thank you so much for listening. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a positive review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser to help our audience grow. Reviews only take a minute and help us reach more rock fans just like you. Credits Our theme song, "Corrupted", is used with permission from the amazing Skindred. All other content is copyright of The Itch. All rights reserved, including the right to rock on. Read transcript

    Tyler Levenson of Afterlife Explores Bad Habits and Artistic Ambition on The Pain That Shapes Us

  4. Oct 20

    Concert Catch-up: Babymetal, Halestorm, Toadies, Local H, Silent Theory, Discrepancies, and more!

    This week, we're scratching The Itch to back up what we say. If you've listened to our Concert Catch-ups, you know that we're all about exploring the do's and don'ts of show etiquette. But what happens when a concert-goer crosses a line right in front of us? You'll find out in this episode! As we wrap up Dan's birthday month, he and KC divide and conquer two different shows on the same night. Dan and his family (well, part of them) check out a lady-led tour featuring Babymetal, Halestorm, and Violent Vira at Riverport. Across town, KC chooses some alt rock goodness and gives us our second report of the Toadies' tour with Local H and, this time, Olive Vox. Then, in our main event (almost literally), all three of the guys head back to Sauget, Illinois to see Itch guests Silent Theory and hometown heroes Discrepancies at Pop's for a mostly family-friendly show in a not-so-family-friendly area. What does that mean, you ask? Listen, enjoy, and hear for yourself. Listen to The Itch Rock Radio Show Rock with us every Sunday night from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM in St. Louis. Outside the area? Stream online at 891thewood.com, TuneIn, Radio.net, and OnlineRadioBox! Connect With The Itch For any and all friendship, questions, inquiries, and offers of pizza, The Itch can be found at the following: Website: itchrocks.com Facebook: Facebook.com/itchrocks Instagram: Instagram.com/itchrocks Email: itchrocks@gmail.com Support the Show Thank you so much for listening. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a positive review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser to help our audience grow. Reviews only take a minute and help us reach more rock fans just like you. Credits Our theme song, "Corrupted", is used with permission from the amazing Skindred. All other content is copyright of The Itch. All rights reserved, including the right to rock on.

    Concert Catch-up: Babymetal, Halestorm, Toadies, Local H, Silent Theory, Discrepancies, and more!

  5. Oct 13

    Concert Catch-up: Shinedown, Winona Fighter, Bleach, The Barbarians of California, Squint, and more!

    This week, we're scratching The Itch to catch up! September is always a busy concert month for The Itch, and it often puts us a bit behind on talking about everything we saw. But what we saw was worth talking about! First, in a rare opportunity to see a huge band in a less-than-huge venue, KC catches a pair of past guests on an unusual but satisfying bill pairing hit-makers Shinedown with The Itch's Favorite Punk Band™ Winona Fighter. How did the St. Louis crowd react to a rowdy punk band opening for the kings of radio rock? You'll have to find out. Then, Aaron gets an unexpected nostalgia trip with the opportunity to see a reunited Bleach return to the scene after over 20 years. Did they hold up to the memories? And was opening act The Fresh Bears a reference to a Chicago baseball team he doesn't like? Only one of these questions will be definitively answered. And finally, the always enjoyable "we saw the same tour in two different cities," as Dan and KC catch The Barbarians of California and hometown boys Squint at the Duck Room in St. Louis and Aaron sees the same show at the Cobra Lounge in Chicago. How did our Mo Bros do on the road? Who was the most energetic guitarist on stage? And did this show heal a bit of a wound for Aaron? Again, more questions. Some answers. Enjoy. Listen to The Itch Rock Radio Show Rock with us every Sunday night from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM in St. Louis. Outside the area? Stream online at 891thewood.com, TuneIn, Radio.net, and OnlineRadioBox! Connect With The Itch For any and all friendship, questions, inquiries, and offers of pizza, The Itch can be found at the following: Website: itchrocks.com Facebook: Facebook.com/itchrocks Instagram: Instagram.com/itchrocks Email: itchrocks@gmail.com Support the Show Thank you so much for listening. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a positive review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser to help our audience grow. Reviews only take a minute and help us reach more rock fans just like you. Credits Our theme song, "Corrupted", is used with permission from the amazing Skindred. All other content is copyright of The Itch. All rights reserved, including the right to rock on.

    Concert Catch-up: Shinedown, Winona Fighter, Bleach, The Barbarians of California, Squint, and more!

  6. Oct 6

    How Joey Varela Learned to Grieve, Let Go of Control, and Find Joy in Music Again on VRSTY's Icon

    This week, we're scratching The Itch to welcome back a friend: Joey Varela of VRSTY, who's about to drop his new album, icon. A lot has happened since we last had Joey on the show three years ago. His life changed drastically. He lost his dog, some dear friends, and his desire to make music. He took on a different job and started going to therapy. And somewhere along the line, he learned to grieve in ways he never could before, accept things as they are, and have fun making music again. This is his story. Enjoy. Listen to The Itch Rock Radio Show Rock with us every Sunday night from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM in St. Louis. Outside the area? Stream online at 891thewood.com, TuneIn, Radio.net, and OnlineRadioBox! Connect With The Itch For any and all friendship, questions, inquiries, and offers of pizza, The Itch can be found at the following: Website: itchrocks.com Facebook: Facebook.com/itchrocks Instagram: Instagram.com/itchrocks Email: itchrocks@gmail.com Support the Show Thank you so much for listening. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a positive review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser to help our audience grow. Reviews only take a minute and help us reach more rock fans just like you. Credits Our theme song, "Corrupted", is used with permission from the amazing Skindred. All other content is copyright of The Itch. All rights reserved, including the right to rock on. Read transcript

    How Joey Varela Learned to Grieve, Let Go of Control, and Find Joy in Music Again on VRSTY's Icon

  7. Oct 1

    Riot Fest 2027 Wishlist

    This week, we're scratching The Itch for a bonus episode! Aaron already recorded a series of videos for our socials explaining his picks for Riot Fest 2027, so why not give them to the podcast audience as well? Tune in to hear his picks for fresh faces, throwbacks, international acts, bands to bring back, album plays, odds and ends... and a few surprises. And then let us know who you'd add to next year's lineup. Enjoy. Listen to The Itch Rock Radio Show Rock with us every Sunday night from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM in St. Louis. Outside the area? Stream online at 891thewood.com, TuneIn, Radio.net, and OnlineRadioBox! Connect With The Itch For any and all friendship, questions, inquiries, and offers of pizza, The Itch can be found at the following: Website: itchrocks.com Facebook: Facebook.com/itchrocks Instagram: Instagram.com/itchrocks Email: itchrocks@gmail.com Support the Show Thank you so much for listening. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a positive review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser to help our audience grow. Reviews only take a minute and help us reach more rock fans just like you. Credits Our theme song, "Corrupted", is used with permission from the amazing Skindred. All other content is copyright of The Itch. All rights reserved, including the right to rock on. Read transcript

    Riot Fest 2027 Wishlist

  8. Sep 29

    Concert Catch-up: Riot Fest 2026, featuring Alanis Morissette, Twenty One Pilots, Tool, Rise Against, and more!

    This week, we're scratching The Itch to level up! For the first time, The Itch was official press at Riot Fest in Chicago. Aaron was on site seeing shows, interviewing bands, and trying to survive the elements. It was a trial by fire (or mud) as, for the first time, he stepped out from behind his Zoom screen and talked with artists in person, on camera, and on his own. Check in for his report on that experience, as well as the who's who of acts he got to see! This year's fest had some big names at the top, including Twenty One Pilots, Tool, and Alanis Morissette, plus reunions like The Format, regulars like GWAR, Insane Clown Posse, Bad Religion, and Pennywise, and rising rock acts like Sincere Engineer, Teen Mortgage, Vana, and ASAVA. And of course, the debut of William Shatner's new metal band. Who impressed the most? Why is Santigold the coolest person in the world? Did Aaron's shoes survive the muddiest day he's ever experienced? And what did we learn from going viral with a video of Angine de Poitrine? All of this and more in our 2026 Riot Fest recap! Enjoy. Listen to The Itch Rock Radio Show Rock with us every Sunday night from 6-9pm CST on KCLC-FM in St. Louis. Outside the area? Stream online at 891thewood.com, TuneIn, Radio.net, and OnlineRadioBox! Connect With The Itch For any and all friendship, questions, inquiries, and offers of pizza, The Itch can be found at the following: Website: itchrocks.com Facebook: Facebook.com/itchrocks Instagram: Instagram.com/itchrocks Email: itchrocks@gmail.com Support the Show Thank you so much for listening. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a positive review and rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser to help our audience grow. Reviews only take a minute and help us reach more rock fans just like you. Credits Our theme song, "Corrupted", is used with permission from the amazing Skindred. All other content is copyright of The Itch. All rights reserved, including the right to rock on.

    Concert Catch-up: Riot Fest 2026, featuring Alanis Morissette, Twenty One Pilots, Tool, Rise Against, and more!
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5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The Itch Rock Podcast brings you artist interviews, album reviews, and concert stories from Aaron, KC, and Dan — three friends who’ve been rocking the airwaves on 89.1 KCLC-FM since 2004. They’re building community and exploring how music connects us, all with a lighthearted, semi-professional style. If it gets your head banging and your blood flowing, it’s an itch we’re here to scratch.

Information

  • Creator
    The Itch
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    436
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Itch. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Itch Rock Podcast