Hey, everybody! It’s Jimmy Flemion from The Frogs!!! And we can scarcely believe it. To coincide with the elusive Mr. Flemion’s rare public appearances this week (tonight in Milwaukee and Saturday night in Chicago —with Scott opening up!) we were lucky enough to get the man on the podcast to talk about the forthcoming Frogs documentary, growing up in Milwaukee with his brother Dennis, glam rock, The Kinks, being in a band with Sebastian Bach, the sweet embrace of grunge, the Dio documentary, Pat Robertson, Smashing Pumpkins, and a certain Go-Gos cover gets the Song Imploder treatment.

110. LIFERS - Jimmy Flemion

It’s not like Material Issue is the most obscure or overlooked band in the history of Chicago music, but no matter how many power pop music fests get named after them (like the long running International Pop Overthrow festival — which takes its name from their classic debut album), they will always land towards the top of the list of the city’s most underrated bands. And now there’s a new documentary —“Out Of Time: The Material Issue Story”— that seeks to rectify that injustice. We talked to drummer Mike Zelenko about the love the band’s been getting at the recent sold out Q&As for the movie, as well as his experiences recording in Scott’s hometown at the Shoes studio, going to high school with Mike O’Connell, opening the Replacements’ final show, Michael Chapman, tuna subs, fucking Enuff Z’nuff, the aftermath of Jim Ellison’s suicide, and Ted Ansani’s legendary pompadour.

111. LIFERS - Mike Zelenko

We’ve been trying to get Mahmood Saikh on the show almost since the podcast started. And finally, he has relented, but with the caveat that he be allowed to appear not as a traditional guest —oh, no, no!— he wanted to be treated as “just one of the guys”. A panel position, if you will. Fine. We accept you. One of us. The indie-rock booking-agent maestro DID send us a bio, however — so here it is: 

“Mahmood Shaikh is an agent at Concerted Efforts. He represents a wide range of artists including Algiers, Boris, Frankie Rose, Jawbox, Karate, Mr Twin Sister, Nothing, SURVIVE, Ted Leo, We Were Promised Jetpacks, and many others in North America and other territories.  Previously, he was an agent at Flowerbooking, Inc. where for over a decade he sat next to the guy that booked Local H. 
 
Last name is pronounced “Shake”.”

Anyway, on this episode we talk about Mahmood’s love of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Scott’s Global Entry worthiness, 1982, Michael, Commie Liberal Pinko Tuesday, upside down pizza, U2 cover bands, Gabe’s fever for Pac-Man, and finally — COVERBOY: Chicago’s newest super-group. This is Ben’s kind of episode. Gooble gobble.

112. LIFERS - Mahmood Shaikh

This week we flash back to LAST week to finish what we started with Mahmood Shaikh: Counting down our favorite U2 songs. The answers may surprise you. Or not. PLUS: Scott talks about Michael, Ben talks about Springsteen tickets, Louise Post drops by to talk about her new single and tour (and the useless Local H shirt she bought), and Gabe locks himself in his office. So un-punk.

113. LIFERS - What's The Best?!?: U2

It’s Bring Your Daughter To Work Week over here at The Lifers Podcast. First up we welcome Ben’s daughter Lily to the show — seems like she’s got a beef with her ol’ pops about his unflattering impersonations of her (as well as Ben’s way with a tall tale or two). And then it’s time for our favorite 11-year-old Green-Mountain-Garwin student — Helena Brandt (and her awesome mom Cara Gwinn). Turns out Helena’s doing a school paper on Scott (that’s right!) and has a few questions for him (questions that may or may not involve candy). Also on this totally beep-arific episode: Big Mac sauce, Canadians, COVERBOY, “Bunny Lake Is Missing”, the Therapy Cabal, bananas, and Gabe learns a new word. BEEP!!!

114. LIFERS - Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter

Eric Oblander —everybody’s favorite vocalist and harmonica player for everybody’s favorite heavy-rock blues band (Toledo’s 5 Horse Johnson)— is our guest this week and you are WELCOME! This episode’s been a long time coming and we got to talk to Eric about Detroit, going on tour with The Necros, forming the Johnson, going to strip clubs with Frodo, Motorhead, Aldo Nova, meeting Rights Of The Accused, the Megadeth backstage chicken story, Big Chief, temporarily joining Clutch, playing on a Local H record, firecracker fights, and Eric gives us HIS thoughts on U2. Goddamn, we love this guy!

(We also make a little announcement that you MIGHT be interested in.)

115. LIFERS - Eric Oblander

Still not sure what a LIFER is? Consider the case of Steve Berlin. He’s a musician, a producer, and a member of one of America’s greatest rock and roll bands: Los Lobos. The guy lives and breathes music and has a list of credits longer than a gibbon’s arm. The stuff that he’s done that we DIDN’T talk about on this episode could fill three OTHER episodes. So let’s just focus on what we DID talk about: ‘XRT, Top Taco Jimmy, why you should never go out to eat with Greg Allman, the legendary L.A. punk scene of the early ‘80s, X, The Blasters, the legendary Slash records scene, Faith No More, The Replacements, R.E.M., John Lee Hooker, John McCauley, Robert Rodriguez, what Jimmy Reed would do, and the unexpectedly moving story of Canada’s The Tragically Hip. This is a good one, folks.

133. LIFERS - Steve Berlin

Horror business abounds on an episode that Gabe has waited almost 3 years for: Episode #138! — featuring a feisty round of “What’s The Best?!?” where we invite Herb Rosen from Liar’s Club to help us pick our favorite Misfits songs. We also have viewing picks for your Halloween movie parties, a WHOLE lotta smack talking, and Herb ruins his sister’s laptop. Happy Halloween!!!

138. LIFERS - We Are 138!!!

A track I produced for Mr. Machete. Great big soaring guitars on this one.

Can't Win For Losing - Mr Machete

It's amazing how life can change your views on death

For Fiona (No Use For A Name Cover)

My favourite track from the Mr. Machete - Stuff CD

For Fiona (No Use For A Name Cover)

Blind Ambition (Mark Laj)