Band Practice

Your new favorite bands in their own words and practice spaces

Episode One

The Great American Typewriter: The Riffs Never Die

I hang out with The Great American Typewriter in Bucks County, PA

They tell the story of how they came together and landed on the pop-punk genre, walk me through their songwriting and recording process, and share some of their favorite memories of playing gigs on the road

Go check out The Great American Typewriter at Underground Arts January 17th

Episode Two

SNACKTIME: A Whole New Evolution

I visit SNACKTIME in the studio and we talk about their fondest memories of the past five years of performing, the challenges and beauty of bringing seven distinct musical backgrounds and sets of preferences into a cohesive sound, and where their music is headed

Go check out SNACKTIME at Union Transfer on February 7th

Episode Three

Remember Sports: A Throughline

I catch the end of a Remember Sports rehearsal and ask them a few questions about their relationship with their oldest songs, their thoughts on using their artistic platform in support of causes that are important to them, and how they approach songwriting and arranging, having spent over a decade making music together

Their new album, The Refrigerator drops February 13th

Go check out Remember Sports at Kung Fu Necktie on February 21st

Episode Four

Floating: Band Salad

I join shoegazey indie band Floating for their weekly pre-rehearsal dinner and learn how the band came together, how they wrote the songs for their debut EP, "La Di Da," and what it was like recording at Retro City Studios

Check out La Di Da and go see Floating play at The Grape on February 28th

Episode Five

ALTARBOY: We Don't Like to Be Too Serious

I hang out with ALTARBOY at one of their weekly rehearsals--we talk music videos and visuals, feelings about recording versus performing, and the band's most prized moments from the past year of playing shows

Go see ALTARBOY at MilkBoy on February 28th

Episode Six

Big Benny Bailey: It’s About Sharing

I visit a Big Benny Bailey rehearsal the day before their EP Release Show at the Fallser Club--we discuss how the duo was originally formed and how this new project is a departure from both Ben and Bailey's past musical careers

Be sure to stream the new EP, AmericaNAH and, if you happen to be on the West Coast, check out the other release party

Episode SEVEN

Soup Dreams: We’re Just Playing Together

Soup Dreams invites me to one of their weekly rehearsals and we discuss the lessons they learned recording their first LP, how they approach the creative process, and what keeps them in Philly

Be sure to check them out live on Saturday, March 21st, at The Rug Club, where they’ll be playing a benefit show for Juntos, an immigrant rights organization, along with Moon by Moon and The Life Blood

Episode Eight

Ants on a Log: This Is Our Job

Ants on a Log are busy preparing for their Earth Month tour, which includes a great deal of arts and crafts in addition to rehearsal, but they find some time to sit down with me and their close collaborator, Mélissa, to discuss their origin story, what it’s like to create and facilitate such a broad range of work and experiences for their audience, and what their musical lives outside of Ants on a Log look and sound like

Be sure to bring the young people in your life to check them out live at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum on April 9th, the Fishtown Rec Center on April 17th, the Brooklyn Academy of Music or Lyceum Hall in Burlington, New Jersey on April 18th, or Naturepalooza at the Schuylkill Center on April 25th

Episode Nine

Moros: We're Pushing Air at You No Matter What

Moros, a Philly-based doomy, sludgy death metal band, invites me to a rehearsal and shares their thoughts on crafting a big sound with just three people, developing gory, nightmarish lyrics, and assembling the right band for the job. The "E" for explicit on this episode is well-earned, so listener discretion is advised.

Check out Moros live at Underground Arts with Worm and Cape of Bats on June 16th, and pick up Cemetery Hallucinations on vinyl, cassette, or CD.

Episode Ten

Luca Diadul: Passing the Death Test

I hang out with Luca Diadul and frequent collaborators Aly Castle and Zack Smith at a recording session at Honey House Records. We talk about Luca's approach to vocal production, songwriting, and arrangement. 

Keep in touch with Luca through his website, lucadiadul.com. That’s where you’ll find links to his music on streaming services, social media, and upcoming shows. And speaking of shows, be sure to check out Luca, Zack, and Aly, along with their pianist friend Jack at The Perch on May 29th.