215 episodes

Interviews and anecdotes with musicians, album collectors, LP manufacturers and beyond about our connection to vinyl records.

Vinyl Emergency Jim Hanke

    • Music
    • 4.6 • 153 Ratings

Interviews and anecdotes with musicians, album collectors, LP manufacturers and beyond about our connection to vinyl records.

    Episode 195: Ruston Kelly (Returns!)

    Episode 195: Ruston Kelly (Returns!)

    Since his last visit to Vinyl Emergency in August 2020, Nashville singer/songwriter Ruston Kelly has narrowly escaped a fiery bus explosion, sold off nearly every physical stage piece from his last tour, and rehabbed an old Victorian bungalow with his own two hands. And while all of these experiences are worth talking about, today he says that being a better listener has been a focused priority as of late. This deliberate intention to say less and observe more has led to a run of rewarding collaborations over the last several years: Duets with Caitlyn Smith and Judah & the Lion, co-producing an LP for John Prine's son Tommy, and touring with the massively-popular Noah Kahan. On this week's episode, Ruston dives deep into the first album he remembers as a child, why he sequences songs specifically for vinyl, and his upcoming EP -- Weakness, Etc. -- a combination of new material and reworkings from his third full-length The Weakness, released last year. Plus, anecdotes on sharing toast with Jackson Browne, and debating Pop-Tarts with his fans. Ruston's upcoming solo acoustic tour begins later this month. Tickets, social media and more are at rustonkelly.com, with Weakness, Etc. dropping March 22.

    • 1 hr 11 min
    Episode 194: Chris Rosenau (Volcano Choir / Pele)

    Episode 194: Chris Rosenau (Volcano Choir / Pele)

    In bands like Volcano Choir, Pele, Vermont and Collections of Colonies of Bees, guitarist Chris Rosenau has actively sought out a unique ambiguity. Whether through off-kilter tunings, a myriad of loop pedals or long-form improvisations in 130-degree heat, he says he finds his most interesting work comes from trusting others. And that trust has built fruitful creative relationships with enigmatic drummer Jon Mueller, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and Sylvan Esso's Nick Sanborn, among others. But in a career of disarming listeners through unexpected approaches, Chris admits his most quizzical move might be in the form of a recently-released debut solo album, where he's stripped everything back to one acoustic guitar, for a tender salute to his late mother. The album, titled 'a light that cracks through,' is now available at chrisrosenau.bandcamp.com. Follow @rosno on Instagram.

    • 1 hr 7 min
    Episode 193: MLB Pitcher John Axford

    Episode 193: MLB Pitcher John Axford

    While on the Milwaukee Brewers roster in 2011, major league pitcher John Axford created a buzz among indie-rock baseball nerds by forgoing the standard jock jams and using Refused's "New Noise" as his game entrance music. While exposing thousands to the Swedish hardcore band’s chaotic screams and atonal, pummeling instrumentation, the choice also garnered some vocal complaints from opposing coaches and TV announcers. Nonetheless, Axford led the entire National League in saves that season, so who knows if some of the song's lyrics ("Good frames won't save bad paintings") don't indeed secretly speak to pitching. Around this same time, his interest in vinyl records began to blossom, leading him to hunt down Japanese Metallica pressings and connect again with his family’s classic Christmas LP’s. Since then "The Ax Man," as fans have dubbed him, has reached the World Series (with the 2013 St. Louis Cardinals), and done time with the Pirates, Dodgers and Blue Jays, among other organizations. Most recently, Axford represented his home country of Canada in last year’s World Baseball Classic. On this episode, we explore how his dad's vintage Edison phonograph somewhat influenced Axford’s current big budget stereo set-up, his fandom for LP subscription service Vinyl Me, Please and why he won't clean his grandparents' fingerprints off their old records. We also dive into John's recent trip overseas, to a quaint Dutch village where his great uncle's heroism during WWII is cemented and honored forever. Follow @johnaxford on Instagram. PLUS, music this week from Milwaukee band Dramatic Lovers!

    • 1 hr 20 min
    Episode 192: Amy Fleisher Madden (Author of 'Negatives: A Photographic Archive of Emo')

    Episode 192: Amy Fleisher Madden (Author of 'Negatives: A Photographic Archive of Emo')

    At just 16 years old, Amy Fleisher Madden was contributing to her surrounding Florida punk rock scene like a wily veteran. Through booking and promoting national bands visiting the panhandle -- as well as her DIY zine Fiddler Jones -- she had introduced, connected and championed emo, pop-punk and hardcore bands from all over, eventually leading to the start of Fiddler Records, which gave us the first releasees from Dashboard Confessional and New Found Glory. Most recently, Amy is the author of a hefty book documenting a decade of the scene, titled "Negatives: A Photographic Archive of Emo (1996-2006)." Filled with stunning visuals, emphatic essays and more -- plus contributions from various photographers and musicians -- it's a must-have for anyone who spent time in this particular genre during these particular years, or since. Purchase "Negatives" via Amazon or wherever you get literature. More info can be found via @amyxmadden on Instagram, or at amy-madden.com.

    • 1 hr 8 min
    Episode 191: Nirvana 'In Utero' Special with Michael Azerrad

    Episode 191: Nirvana 'In Utero' Special with Michael Azerrad

    "If Nevermind was a peek into Kurt (Cobain)'s psychological/emotional world, then In Utero was a wide-open window.” This comes from today’s episode with author Michael Azerrad (Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991), who definitively knew better than most. Having extensive access to Nirvana between those two albums, Michael documented their rise for the best-selling 1993 biography Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana, released just weeks before In Utero. Michael remembers today that Kurt's instructions to him in originally penning the book were fairly simple: "Just tell the truth. That will be better than anything else that's been written about me." And as In Utero recently got its own deluxe reissue to celebrate its three decades of influence, Michael's book has gotten a similar update: The Amplified Come As You Are is a heavily-annotated and must-own look back on the most examined band of the 90's. With thirty years of hindsight, Michael clarifies, expounds upon and extends the original story, making it a needed compendium to Nirvana's discography. Follow @michaelazerrad on Twitter, and purchase the book wherever you find literature. PLUS, enjoy exclusive performances of In Utero material this week by cellist Gordon Withers!

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Episode 190: Jim Pitt, Music Booker for SNL / Conan / Kimmel

    Episode 190: Jim Pitt, Music Booker for SNL / Conan / Kimmel

    Starting as an NBC page in the mid-80’s, Jim Pitt eventually landed a dream job, for many: music booker for Saturday Night Live. From Nirvana’s debut on network television to Sinead O’Connor’s impactful and headline-making performance, Pitt booked it all starting in 1990, including mega-star appearances from Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. Three years in, Pitt took his talents to David Letterman’s replacement at Late Night, a young upstart named Conan O’Brien. There, not only would Pitt give future Rock Hall inductees like Radiohead, Green Day and Sheryl Crow their first-ever US TV performances, but O’Brien’s unique wit often led to household names like David Bowie and U2 participating in hilariously scripted bits. On today’s show, Pitt recalls all of this and more, walking us through decades of amazing television memories, as well as his move from Conan to Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2017, and when exactly hosts began holding up vinyl again for the home audience, versus compact discs. Follow Jim on Instagram @jimpitt13, and watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! on your local ABC affiliate.

    • 1 hr 9 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
153 Ratings

153 Ratings

blaineduncan ,

For Vinyl Love and Beyond

Jim’s podcast is excellent for vinyl lovers, but each guest brings a lot more to the table than just records. It’s a great music podcast as a whole! Love it.

jmbenishek ,

Great Podcast

Jim does an amazing job interviewing artists/musicians from all genres. He has a vast background of all types of music and his research for each show is evident. Well done and highly recommended!

OlWiggum ,

A great podcast

Jim does a great job with this podcast. I love hearing his guests talk about their experience with vinyl whether it be stuff in their collection, memories from their childhood, or hearing themselves on a record for the first time. The host has great questions and you can tell he has done his homework on the subjects. Keep up the great work! - CH

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