Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal

The Effigies have a great new record Fire. Aim. Ready. Recorded after the death of their long time singer John Kezdy, the Effigies are out in the world once more... thanks in part to... the Black Crowes? They are playing and touring again with new vocalist Geoff Sabin. Paul speaks of the original Chicago punk rock scene, touring before the internet: fanzines, phone cards, GPS. Covering the Stranglers, Why the internet makes discovery easier AND harder: algorithms and filters. The tragic bike accident that ended John’s life, how the right drummer matters, remembering what you like about each other 10 years after breaking up, Robert McNaughton's work on the Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer soundtrack. And so much more. Paul is a punk rock legend!

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Kino Motel's excellent second record is called Symbolism. Ed and Rosa were last on for 2024's Visions. The telephoto camera, no crew, chipmunk lip-sync of the I'm Your Scene video. The Red Leather video. Performance as "shame immersion" therapy and why having no shame is vital to the live experience. Why creativity needs destruction and renewal both, writing to process grief, commitment that transcends irony or "cringe", how a bird inspired a song, recording Anemone in a friend's bedroom studio, why being niche is superior to chasing playlists. Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World repping Kino Motel, making a movie-sounding Kino Motel song, songwriting vs. vibe, universal art ethos in music.

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

Conveyor is not even the album Los Angeles based composer and sound designer Anthony Baldino set out to make. A dark, cathartic modular synth based exploration of grief that has more in common with the Blade Runner soundtrack then the IDM of the previous record. How the ugliest sounds can make for the coolest effect, in his own compositions and working with Ludwig Göransson on movies like Tenet, Wakanda Forever and the Odyssey. Why Christoper Nolan's scores often exist before the picture, why low end matters in ambient and cinematic music. When a show becomes an art installation... Marrying digital art with 1850s photography (Daguerreotype) with the album cover. Seeing Tenet in IMAX in a nearly deserted theater. The harrowing story behind "Leave the Reminder" and the plea behind "Live Forever".

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Porcelain have just released their second record Today's Minor Victories a raucous and authoritative noise-rock/post-punk/post-hardcore whatever collection of songs sure to delight fans of Sonic Youth, Unwound, Blonde Redhead, Slint, etc. Steve has been on the show, but in the time after Exhalants and before Porcelain was a thing. Ep227 in 2021! So needless to say this is overdue. We talk about the formation of the band, playing in a two guitar band with Ryan and all the incredible work they have done as aband. The personal nature of the lyrics for this one. How Scott Evans recording process led to their best record yet. House music being played at the same volume as the bands between bands, the physical toll of live audio work, bombastic outros and millennial dread, walking somebody through life threatening crisis, challenging masculinity and sexual norms, writing a song while grieving his grandmother, and "I'm Going to Live Through This Apocalypse". it's a great far-reaching and deep conversation.

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Ale Campos's band Las Nubes is fantastic, but equally fantastic is her road work as Iggy Pop's live guitarist after meeting him at a record store. We hear about how that has come to pass, getting that last minute call, and the kind of world she operates in when playing with Iggy, a living legend. We speak of Tormentas Malsanas the most recent Las Nubes record, recorded with Jonathan Nuñez, Ale's path into music in Florida, including being in a secret christian band, and her disinterest in being a frontperson, how Ale writes hooks (odd time surprises) How Ale's custom aluminum guitar ended up being a divorce gift and so much more!

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Wonderlick, a band that comes together through drunk voice notes and instant demos, has a new record with Appalachian folk musicians backing them! We talk about the making of that record Wonderlick Loves You, and how Jay and Tim even met all these musicians, as well as recording in a cabin studio... how house show tours changed their music and record. The Too Much Joy reunion tour and record, deluxe reissues, creative liberty v. touring limits. How being rebellious power-pop for smart people isn't usually a path to mainstream success. What purposefully sitting down and writing a hit felt like. How Too Much Joy sold the first Pay What You Want record BEFORE Radiohead burning out and then picking up the guitar again, all this and a lot of talk of Branson, Missouri and Yakov Smirnoff and the failed pilot Jay tried to make with him. It has been quite a awhile since Jay's TMJ and Wonderlick bandmate Tim Quirk was on the show, which included a new Too Much Joy record and tour, so let's get into it and how likely it is we will see Too Much Joy stuff in the future.

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Chances are you know Ryan from playing drums in the desert rock supergroup Stöner, Mario Lalli & The Rubber Snake Charmers or the incredible Brant Bjork Trio, but did you know that Ryan is a multi-instrumentalist who actually started on piano? All of this is on display in his impressive debut record The Shastafarian, evoking everything from Funkadelic, Thin Lizzy to Tom Petty the record is very cool but may not be what you expect. Much talk about the making of that record, as well as the origins of Stöner, Tao of the Devil, Mount Shasta, how being adopted has sculpted Ryan's life, being true to your vision, producing yourself, the demo process, the unique process of live improv the Rubber Snake Charmers and so much more!

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

Dem Phylzzz boyz are at it again! That's right, new record "Fear the Lord" AND a tour. As well as a live record where everybody is vociferously booing, jeering and shouting insults. no kidding. Super group Gatta Morta. How Clinton recording with Buzz, Pinkus and Coady came to pass. How not caring about insignificant details resulted in them making their boldest record. Vetting bands and created shows that are good vibes, what goes into making a good music video and the story behind the Rodeo Clown video. How trusting each other musically changed their writing, How kindness wins, and why people don't want to help people who are rotten. Shortcuts and the WORK required for true success, how comedy shaped the Phylzzz stage persona, merch business and when studio songs don't need to be played live. Clinton singing History of Bad Men with Melvins live. The story behind Abby and her brief tenure as the third Phylzzz. What makes a song the best and being ruthless with cutting what doesn't serve it. An examination of modern social media from youtube clips to touring with Harry Styles and how one reel led to a million plays. All that and SO MUCH MORE.

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

The incredible impresario of Rancho De La Luna at last returns to Protonic Reversal! The studio, home to so many classic records, including the legendary Desert Sessions. The Rancho Mezcal! the studio anniversary recording project, Why live shows are harder than they look, and the unique challenges for Earthlings? The Queens of the Stone Age origin story, Dave originally coming to Joshua Tree. loss, age and why you must get on it NOW/ All that as well as the time Iggy flashed a first time fan, as well as the time Iggy threw a mic stand at Larry, and... you know, the whole Post Pop Depression record. The "No New Normal" movie. Surviving the Bataclan attack in Eagles of Death Metal and returning to play, Joe Walsh's "tone secret", being part of the 9th most streamed record of all time with the Arctic Monkeys. It doesn't seem possible that it ahs been 8 years since Dave was last on, but here we are!

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

The Claudettes new record Garage Glamour might be their best! The piano driven cabaret/blues/R&B group have always had a punk spirit that veers into the film noir world, but this is the first album with powerhouse singer Rachel Williams. The exciting story and theories behind Don't Give It Up to the Thieves, and a Bezos blackmail opera. Growth as a musical artist and using your band's strength, the Bass VI, Why Johnny wants every household to have a piano, We talk about all that as well as Johnny scoring the smash TV series "The Bear" with JQ on a QUICK turnaround, Songwriting process, Bad sounding records that are good, etc.

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

Michael Hampton (Aka: Kidd Funkadelic) took over for Eddie Hazel as a very young man of 17, playing the iconic Maggot Brain. Costumes and "joining the circus", minimalism in funk, composition and arrangement, the collaboration and cross pollination of the P-Funk extended universe, Eddie's Four-bar solos, why "One Nation Under a Groove" still resonates, practice, mistakes and the ethos of funk. Bands and songs that sample Funkadelic and much more! Michael also has two new record records In the Public Domain, which is released under public-domain license, which grants artists, filmmakers and marketers everywhere royalty-free usage of the music and the brand new King Kong record!

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

The Dwarves have a new record out called Jenkem, it's a hard, fest and mean one. Hearkening back to many of their now classic records. Such as Blood, Guts and Pussy, with the infamous album cover, Come Clean, and ...are Young and Good Looking. The evolution from the scrappy and tumultuous scum rock band with the bad boy reputation, to becoming purveyors of song craft and sustaining a career. The passion and connection of the Dwarves fans and the gold in the middle of the road. Blag also speaks about the books he has written (three so far), his old column in Zero Magazine, Blag's theories about spreading out attention with monoculture overcorrection, his thoughts on Nirvana the origin story and continuing Saga of Ralph Champagne.

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

The nomadic duo are back with a new record called Lichtung, and this one is all auf desutch! On limited-edition candy coloured vinyl, CD and digitally. What does lyric writing in German vs. English entail? Well, quite a lot actually. Lots with that, the perils and rewards of recording, the wonders of mixing and mastering. Alexander leaving Einstürzende Neubauten. Desolation Center... Gentrification and cost of living, the obstacles to coming back to the US. and what hackedepicciotto is up in the immediate future. It's been a few years since Danielle and Alexander have been on, but their unique vision continues to shine in all they do.

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Rest in Power Jennifer Precious Finch, gone too soon at the age of 59 from Brain Cancer. This one hurts a lot.

What follows is an intro, a 10 minute segment from the Protonic Reversal 10th anniversary show in April 2024, and then a reairing of 191 in August 2020. She was an incredible musician, photographer, and human being and the world. is a bit of a sadder place without her around.
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Jennifer Finch has lived an incredible life. Most known for being 1/4th of the powerful and incredible L7. We talk about photography, records, mindsets, the recording process, leaving L7 and coming back, and lots more. You know, Protonic Reversal stuff. Jennifer doesn’t do many interviews, so it was a blast to talk to her about everything from to Roy Thomas Baker and Voight-Kampff tests to answering machine message tapes that have Kurt Cobain on them.

The long running band Microwaves are back with another awesome record Temporal Shifter! It has been three years since drummer Roman was last on with his microwaves compatriots, so let's find out what has been going on with this long lived and fascinating prog punk band, shall we? A bit of Voivod influence and some of the character in this new record, which includes... Saxophone? Pre-production and other details, the story behind the art by Neil Burke of Men's Recovery Project fame. SON OF Central office (good callback), how microwaves songs are created and lots more. As well as Brown Angel being Adam's vehicle and why the songs stuck, a bit of a lament for Night Vapor (ZZ Tape and Yankee Rose cover inclusive) and some about Rated Eye talk too.

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

It has been almost four years since Kira came on Protonic Reversal, before her FIRST solo record even. Now her second one Engima is coming out, a tribute to her fallen friend and collaborator, Co-produced with her brother Paul (Screamers) and featuring backing vocals from Petra Haden it features a minimalist bass approach. The Oscar and Emmy winning dialogue editor opines about Black Flag, creativity in the modern world and much more. We talk about that as well as using a headset mic and muscle memory, DOS with two basses (with Mike Watt) being the spirit of the punk rock ethos if not sound, holding it down while the other players in Black Flag went off, European crowds throwing beer cans at Flag because the music was slow and with long hair, the DIY model of touring that Black Flag (and Chuck Dukowksi specifically) started and honed. Check out Kira's awesome new record and this lovely talk with a DIY and punk rock pioneer!

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

Gene Trautmann played in Queens of the Stone Age, playing live and on the legendary Rated: R record as well as the Desert Sessions. But he is a mysterious figure amongst many fans. Yet he's now resurfaced playing with the legendary Alain Johannes in Alain Johannes Band. Let's find out why Gene stopped blaming his drums. Find out about his start with Miracle Workers and the Paisley Underground. What it was really like playing at Ozzfest with QOTSA, How Gene made Josh promise that he'd get to play on Go With the Flow. Monsters in the Parasol. How a chance meet up turned into touring with rock 'n roll Mozart Alain Johannes ended up with Gene playing in the Alain Johannes Band. Advice for younger musicians and creators. The majesty of Mario Lalli. How dealing with Mark Lanegan required "prison rules" sometimes. Touring with Eagles of Death Metal. Oh yes, and an introduction to Sadie.

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

Mike Baggetta is back! We've talked in the past about the collaborations with Jim Keltner and Mike Watt, as well as the band mssv (main steam stop valve) with watt and Stephen Hodges, but what precisely is a Casa Sueño ? Well, how about an all new band with Watt, Baggetta and John Herndon of Tortoise and Isotype 217. Learn all about Casa Sueño, and their TRUE west coast tour (Mexico and Canada included) as well as the latest album from mssv See You through... making a record AFTER touring it, why Mike Baggetta has stopped explaining the meaning of songs, playing less and avoiding jam excess, why the new record has only one guitar solo, also why it is just out there without presaves, learning from older players, the the nature of connection with music and engagement and tons more.

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

Gregg Deal came to being a bandleader and punk rock singer late, coming up as a transgressive visual performance artist first originally from Utah and now living in Denver. Abjectly political and direct, Dead Pioneers have struck a chord and their newest one Wagon Burner, which fits very nicely into that new legacy with a new single featuring Jason Williamson of Sleaford Mods. It is pretty hard to be confused of the messaging with songs like Nazi Teeth. Following up PO$T AMERICAN and the spirited self/titled debut with the iconic song Bad Indian, social issues, political stances and the lived experience of being an indigenous descendent reclaiming a lost voice as well as a physical record collection. The raw energy is hard to beat and it has impressed many, including Pearl Jam who took them out on tour.

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.

Bob Bert is Back! With Beach Blanket Bloodbath, his first true solo album. A percussion heavy record featuring original compositions as well as reimagingings of notable guitar heavy compositions. Just without the guitar. We talk Bad Moon Rising and the enduring legacy of that specific Sonic Youth record. Just exactly what was up with Action Swingers and Ned Hayden. Vincent Gallo causing a ruckus in a diner, What made Lydia Lunch Retrovirus so special and cool. Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers and what happened with the end of that band. The great zine BBGun, Bewitched, filling in on drums for Live Skull, Chrome Cranks and why you probably won't be seeing Bob on tour anytime soon, but should DEFINITELY go to this insane record release show if you are available. Bob is always a great guest and a wonderful guy. Great to have him.

Protonic Reversal is on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, X/Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok. Join us there. Also follow the show on Pandora, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube if you use those services.