In this episode, we sit down with Gregg Yeti of The Flashing Astonishers for a wide-ranging, humorous, deeply human conversation about friendship, Syracuse music history, shoegaze influences, DIY culture, and the long, winding road of making art over decades. Gregg shares stories from his early days hanging out in basements, the musical influence of Jim Anderson, discovering bands through mixtapes and 120 Minutes, forming The Flashing Astonishers in the mid-’90s, and navigating the chaos, creativity, and camaraderie that shaped the band. He also opens up about personal struggles, the band’s long hiatus, his prolific solo years, and the renewed energy behind their recent recordings. Highlights: Growing up in Syracuse and discovering alternative music through friends, MTV, and mixtapesEarly basement hangouts, Telecasters, and the seeds of songwritingThe formation of The Mildreds and eventually The Flashing AstonishersRecording early demos in a bathroom and bringing them to Pyramid StudiosInfluences including Ride, Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, Pavement, Guided By Voices, and Teenage FanclubStories behind songs like Back Nine, Lip Balm, I’m Not One, and Only GoneGregg’s solo years as Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights and Leopard PonyThe band’s breakup, personal challenges, and eventual reunionThe making of the Porches EP and a mountain of unreleased materialThe joy of physical media, DIY packaging, and planting creative seedsFuture plans for new Flashing Astonishers musicBand Lineup: Gregg Yeti — guitar, bass, vocals, songwritingDan Musclow — vocals, guitar, songwritingTony Tornabene — drumsChuck Quinn — bass Songs & Artists Mentioned: Back Nine, Lipbalm, I’m Not One, Only Gone, Capsized, plus references to The Cure, The Swirlies, and more. Closing: If you enjoy deep-dive conversations about alternative music, DIY culture, and the stories behind the songs, follow Post-punk Heartstrings for more interviews, album discussions, and musical archaeology. Follow The Flashing Astonishers: Website: https://bio.site/flashingastonishersBandcamp: https://theflashingastonishers.bandcamp.com/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCDxDXhiHelPdSWVLtUmUp_A Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theflashingastonishers/ Follow Gregg Yeti: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@greggyeti Post-punk Heartstrings explores artists who lead with emotion, commitment, and originality—following the deeper threads that connect sound, memory, and meaning. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PostpunkHeartstrings/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Post-punkHeartstringsPod-wf5kp Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3kngtZ8HsbDL0YFt4m6otZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/postpunkheartstrings