This week’s episode is devoted to song structure. Specifically, the song structure of “It’s Gonna Get Better” — an unheralded (and admittedly minor) Genesis deep cut that Scott has been recently obsessed with. We recruited Genesis uber-fan Steve Reidell —of Hood Internet and “Duke: 40th Anniversary” fame— to help us out and lend some Collins context (a tip: You might want to listen to “It’s Gonna Get Better” before you listen to this episode). The guys also conduct a full break-down of “Abacab” to determine what the song’s title should rightfully be. Plus: Listener questions are answered and Scott ponders the one year anniversary of Local H’s last club show.

https://www.stevereidell.com/
https://twitter.com/hoodinternet?s=21
http://www.thehoodinternet.com/
Local H Merch: bit.ly/3du68Ow
70 Movies We Saw in the 70s with Scott & Ben: bit.ly/3qBEOl6

5. LIFERS - An Utterly Incoherent, Impotent Frankenstein of Half Baked Ideas

On this week’s episode we have a laid back hang with our friend Chris Anzolone — a great drummer and a long time fixture of the Boston music scene who, in a stroke of mid-life clarity, decided it would be fun to run a record store. So he bought Boston’s Stereo Jack’s and VOILA! He’s the proud owner of a record store in the Somerville area. There’s a little more to it than that — and we get into it. ALSO: Pesto, being a working musician, football vs. football, Evan Dando on the Vineyard, Dolly Parton, and Gabe finally says the “p” word.

93. LIFERS - Chris Anzalone

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

Does a Gen-X man (one that ISN’T Noah Baumbach) have any place in a Barbie world? This week the guys welcome Metro media celebutante Jill Hopkins back to the show to help them with their struggles. Specifically: Scott’s struggle to square his love of Greta Gerwig with his hatred of blockbuster hype and pink-selfie mania, Ben’s struggle against society’s relentless march towards a meme driven cinema, and Gabe’s struggle to stay awake. In the process, Jill struggles to give a shit. PLUS!: Double decker pizza and Beyoncé Draft Day!!! Yesss…

128. LIFERS - Barbeyoncé

In August of 2023, three Chicago residents disappeared in the woods near Elkhorn, Wisconsin while recording a podcast... 
A week later their recordings were found.

132. LIFERS - Sleepaway Glamp

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! On this special mini-edition of The LIFERS Podcast we discuss the greatest Thanksgiving TV episode of all time: Episode 7 of WKRP IN CINCINNATI — “Turkeys Away”. Oh, the humanity.

145. LIFERS - Gabe Rodriguez’s Thanksgiving TV Corner: WKRP

Scott has a lot of friends who are also great songwriters. But none of them are geniuses. Except for Kevin Tihista. This week we finally welcome the legendary singer-songwriter to the show. We talk to Kevin about his musical influences, growing up in Santa Cruz, being an extra in “The Lost Boys”, playing bass for Triplefastaction, the difficult transition to solo artist, embracing life as a recluse, his new band Housesitters, and the valuable advice he received from Bob Dylan. Don’t miss out on this one.

162. LIFERS - Kevin Tihista

This week on LIFERS we’re getting schooled on goth, punk, the ‘80s club scene, Diamanda Galas — shit, we’re getting schooled on EVERYTHING! We must be talking to Chicago legend DJ Scary Lady Sarah. Sarah just celebrated her 36th year as a professional DJ and producer of the longest running goth event in North America: NOCTURNA. Take that, whippersnappers! On this episode we talk about Chicago hardcore shows, NEO, sushi with Siouxsie Sioux, The Damned, Joe Shanahan and the Metro, putting Peter Murphy in a deprivation tank, Pandemic Goths, The Bellwether Syndicate, being the Elizabeth Taylor of goth, and Scott gets gonged.

175. LIFERS - DJ Scary Lady Sarah

You’re listening to SONG IMPLODER — where musicians take apart their songs piece by piece and tell the story of how they were made. And then talk shit about those songs and make you embarrassed you asked about them in the first place. On this episode we examine Local H’s 5th studio album: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO P.J. SOLES? Released in April of 2004, the album marked a major stylistic departure and reevaluation for the band — paving the way for all that’s come in its wake. Now on the eve of a remastered re-release, we join singer/songwriter/guitarist Scott Lucas, producer Andy Gerber, and master of his domain Gabe Rodriguez to look back on the writing, recording and reception of the album that Lucas and many of the band’s fans have come to see as their finest. I’m Ben Reiser.

187. LIFERS - Album Imploder: Whatever Happened To PJ Soles? (Side 1)

Okay… Well, that was a LOT! In many ways, this last Tuesday & Wednesday in Wrigleyville (let’s call it LOCAL H DAYS 2024) was a culmination of everything that’s been in the works since that day when Scott got the call that Helmet was cancelling the tour — just BEFORE he’d received the call that the LIFERS movie was getting a release date at the Music Box (see episode #186). Of course, one could argue that this H convention had been building up since the movie was shot at the Metro almost 3 years ago (to the day — just shy a month!). And that same person could also argue that it all started with the original WHATEVER HAPPENED TO P.J. SOLES? release 20 years ago — while the zen hippie across the room is babbling about how Scott’s entire LIFE has been leading up to this! And they’d all be right. Whatever the case — there is a lot to say about the LIFERS world premiere at the Music Box and the finale of the WHTPJS? 20th anniversary tour at the Metro — BUT!!! Not on this week’s episode. Instead, Ben has put together a… uh. Vibe? A mood piece? Ah. Here’s what it is: A chunk of audio verite constructed to capture a moment that is already starting to fade from memory like a far-off and hazy dream. Go to bed, Scott!

193. LIFERS - All Roads Lead to Music Box and Metro

Jesse Malin is about as New York as you can get. How New York is he? Well, he’s in a Martin Scorsese movie for starters. Jesse got his start in the hardcore band Heart Attack before pivoting to the rough and ready D-Generation in the ‘90s.  After that band’s demise, Jesse made an even harder pivot when he turned to his acoustic guitar and released the Ryan Adams-produced THE FINE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION — in effect, reinventing himself as a rock and roll troubadour and NYC ambassador. And then about a year and a half ago, Jesse suffered a rare spinal stroke that threatened his ability to ever walk again. But in true LIFER fashion —and with the help of his community and his friends— Malin has soldiered on and is gearing up for a pair of benefit shows at the Beacon Theater on December 1st and 2nd that will mark his return to the stage. It’s a pleasure to have Jesse on the show this week to put some shit into perspective for us and talk about Johnny Thunders, CBGB’s, Bruce Springsteen, Ian Hunter, “Bringing Out The Dead”, Green Day, Rickie Lee Jones and a WHAT’S THE BEST?!? with The Clash. The future is unwritten, everybody!

196. LIFERS - Jesse Malin

Frank Phobia is a sweetheart. He’s also the leader of Anthrophobia (who happen to be releasing their new J. Robbins produced record GOING OUT SWINGING on the 22nd of this month). But mainly — he’s a sweetheart. One that has been a low key hero to countless touring bands that have made their way through various venues in Pennsylvania for God knows how many years. The man’s an institution. On this episode we talk to Frank about his mentor Carol Schutzbank, Chameleon Club, bouncing around PA, major label lessons, pseudonyms, being a punk-rock pillar, Steve Harris, Bob Stinson, booking Local H, booking the Local H movie, Zoetropolis vs Zoetrope, pussy and money, Lititz, hair farmers, Rights of the Accused, New Coke, and WHAT’S THE BEST?!?: 1985.

197. LIFERS - Frank Phobia

Let’s face it. Most rock documentaries suck. But not BORN INNOCENT: THE REDD KROSS STORY. Why? Lots of reasons. There’s the great music, of course. And the way it’s sweet instead of cloying and self-effacing where it could be self-serving. But mostly? It’s the joy of listening to two funny guys telling a good story that’s worth hearing. Well, this week we have one of them on the show: Steven McDonald. A true lifer who’s been doing it since he was eleven (ELEVEN?!?) — he also happens to be one of the best rock bassists out there (AND an all around swell guy). On this episode we talk to Steven about “Crazy Horses”, Moose lodges, his brother Jeff, misbegotten childhoods, runaways, THE Runaways, Black Flag, Rodney Bingenheimer, taking a beer can in the face for the Melvins, comparing notes with Tommy Stinson, Air Supply’s gangster manager, and the I-told-you-so’s of life.

208. LIFERS - Steven McDonald

Dag Juhlin hasn’t NOT been in a band since 1978. A mainstay since he formed The Slugs with his brother Gregg in 1983, Dag has wandered the Chicago music scene —ronin-style— lending his guitar prowess to bands like Poi Dog Pondering and, most recently, Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy’s successful  REM tribute tour. In between all the gunning for hire, Dag keeps himself busy with (among other things) solo records, his cover band Expo ‘76, a daily podcast with Steve Dahl, and the project closest to his heart: Sunshine Boys. If you want to know what it takes to be a successful working musician — check out this interview. PLUS: We pick the best solo Beatle tracks.

212. LIFERS - Dag Juhlin

Operating in direct opposition to the never ending barrage of anonymous content being foisted on us by algorithmic goose-steppers - film programmers are cultural rebels and excavationists entrusted with the sacred duty of helping you find your new favorite movie. The best ones even manage to turn it into an art. And Jim Healy —director of programming for the Cinematheque at the University of Madison-Wisconsin— is definitely one of the best. On this episode we talk to Jim about the upcoming 2025 Wisconsin Film Festival, 16mm, The Clash on “Fridays”, Argentinean noir, David Koepp and “Apartment Zero”, George & Linda Eastman, Steve Buscemi, Richard Widmark, working with Ben, Jim’s brother Pat, “Conan The Barbarian”, the filthy mouth of Groucho Marx, and we pick the best movies about movies. Oh, yeah. It’s about to get real nerdy up in here. Gabe’s gonna have to wait.

213. LIFERS - Jim Healy

This week: They finally killed Gabe’s car. Don’t worry. My dad’s got this ultimate set of tools. He’ll be able to buff it out, no problem. Trust us! 
ALSO: Mulholland Drive, roundabouts, red Barchettas, crosswalks, red 4-doors, fender benders, 
band vans, manic mechanics, Chevy Novas, and what’s the best songs about cars? (By the way — you’re gonna wanna stick around for the end of this episode. You’re welcome!)

215. LIFERS - Cars: Ten and Two

One of the all time great bands, L7 fused laugh out loud humor with a caveman punk aggression that made them stand out like a blistered sore thumb against the L.A. hair metal landscape of the late ‘80s. But they were chicks, man — so rather than be spoken about in the same righteous breath as the Stooges or the Ramones, the members of L7 had to put up with inane questions about Vixen(?!?). No matter. As with most awesome things, L7 are still here and their influence looms larger than ever.  On this episode we talk to co-founder Donita Sparks about Matthew Sweet covers, Epitaph records, the siren song of LA surf music, Slash records, Sub Pop, yacht rock, Rock For Choice, Milwaukee book makers, fights at Exit, John Waters, SMELL THE MAGIC, and we play the best round of what’s the best ever!

216. LIFERS - Donita Sparks

Ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome: Scottie Rose Lucas.

217. LIFERS - Ooh, Baby!

This week we’re all about the art of the hustle in the land of multi-hyphenates. Or the art of multi-hyphenating in the land of the hustle. Whichever the case — we’re facing our fears and talking shop with Chicago expat and longtime lifer-ing comrade Bethany Dwyer. The LA-based comedian-actor/writer-director-musician has a new self-help book out (BREAK FREE FROM FEAR) that’ll fit in nicely with the media-spanning body of work that she’s amassed through her single-minded willingness to try everything. Of course, who knows if she’d even agree with that assessment? It’s hard to pin Bethany down. And she likes it like that. PLUS!: Scott’s voice is cashed while we dive into conspiracy theories, tease a new Haunted Heir single, and pick the movies that shaped us. Or something like that.

218. LIFERS - Bethany Dwyer

Returning champion Deanna Belos just released a new documentary about her band called NOBODY’S GONNA DO IT FOR YOU: TEN YEARS OF SINCERE ENGINEER. You can watch it for free on YouTube right NOW (just like 2 out of the 3 of us did — guess who didn’t) and then you can come back and listen to us talk about it on this episode. We also talk about real amps vs. fake amps, Big Boi vs. Andre 3000, Scott vs. Deanna, and we try to pick our favorite comedies of the ‘90s.

219. LIFERS - Deanna Belos #3

After an attempt at a laid-back hangout episode is marred by Gabe’s faulty computer — things get out of hand when the guys engage in an escalating game of Uninvited Guest that quickly spins out of control. Will anyone survive?

Cast of characters:
SCOTT LUCAS — The helpless host.
GABE RODRIGUEZ — The careless computer operator. 
BEN REISER — The hapless tech “expert”.
MAHMOOD SHAIKH — The outside agitator. 
DEANNA BELOS — The unwitting ingenue. 
STEVE REIDELL — The mysterious train passenger whose motives remain opaque (what does he want?).
MIKE LUSTIG —  The ‘original’ uninvited guest (what does he KNOW?!?).
HERB ROSEN — Herb.
JOE CARSELLO — The ominous spectator behind the curtain whose evil knows no bounds and maybe all of this is his doing and we’re just pawns in his sick game and we probably should’ve just taken the week off but here we are. 

Listen at your peril. 

You’ve been warned…

220. LIFERS - The Tush Push Boogie or: It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Panel

After a week off, the boys are back on their mics (Gabe's is working!) for a fond look back on an iconic Local H morning television appearance. Also: An informal What's the Best Spielberg?!? What's the Best grilled cheese?!? Gabe contemplates breaking his exclusive LIFERS contract, Ben goes third person, Scott stays limber, and Justine dares Gabe to say it to her face. Enjoy!

221. LIFERS - Good Jaws Atlanta

Ben Kweller’s excellent new record COVER THE MIRRORS comes with a heartbreaking back-story —it was borne out of the tragic death of his teenage son Dorian— but in typical Kweller fashion, the album is an inspirational and life affirming collection  that also happens to be the best thing he’s ever recorded. On this episode we talk to “the kid” about producing himself, growing up in Texas with a drummer dad, Face Time collaborations, his first slug-bugging meeting with Scott, Jewish rockers, Nirvana and Garth Brooks, why you’ll never make it through his new song “Letter To Agony” with dry eyes, and we pick the best(!?!) Beach Boys songs. 
Upcoming Ben Kweller Tour Dates:
Tickets at benkweller.com
Follow BK's socials @benkweller

July 9, 2025	Wednesday	Aspen, CO	Belly Up
July 11, 2025	Friday	Denver, CO	Bluebird Theater
July 12, 2025	Saturday	Fort Collins, CO	Aggie
July 14, 2025	Monday	Salt Lake City, UT	Urban Lounge
July 17, 2025	Thursday	Seattle, WA	Neumos
July 18, 2025	Friday	Vancouver, BC	Biltmore Cabaret
July 19, 2025	Saturday	Portland, OR	Mississippi Studios	
July 21, 2025	Monday	San Francisco, CA	Independent
July 22, 2025	Tuesday	Venice, CA	The Venice West
July 23, 2025	Wednesday	Los Angeles, CA	Troubadour
July 25, 2025	Friday	San Diego, CA	Casbah
July 26, 2025	Saturday	Phoenix, AZ	Crescent Ballroom

222. LIFERS - Ben Kweller

This week on the podcast: We’re babysitting. We’re also protesting on the mean streets of Madison, talking about Danzig at 70, watching the trailer for the Bruce Springsteen movie, pondering Puff Daddy, calling Pegboy, disparaging fake Father’s Day, wondering who the hell Fun Boy Three is, and picking the best songs of summer.

223. LIFERS - The Boys of Summer

It's 4th of July - so that means it's time for hot dogs, fireworks, and Fig Dish! 

On the eve of the 30th Anniversary re-issue of That's What Love Songs Often Do (first time on vinyl), 3/4s of Fig Dish (Blake Smith, Rick Ness, and Mike Willison) stop by to shoot the shit about their upcoming live gigs opening for Letters to Cleo, and stick around for a special edition of Album Imploder!

224. LIFERS - Hotdogs, Fireworks, and Fig Dish!

This week it’s the conclusion of our special Album Imploder episode commemorating the 30th anniversary reissue of Fig Dish’s THAT’S WHAT LOVE SONGS OFTEN DO. Rick, Mike and Blake are still on hand as we take a deep dive into side two (or at least what we assume is side two) of the band’s beloved major label debut. FINISH IT!!! Elsewhere: Scott’s mad at Sharon Osbourne, Ben loves Yungblud, and Gabe’s afraid of pompadours.

225. LIFERS - Fig Dish Promotional Obligation Part 2: The Revenge

More than any other band from the ‘90s, Failure was a perfect fusion of technology and art. If you put on a Failure record — you knew it was gonna sound great. So it stands to reason that Failure’s new  documentary — EVERY TIME YOU LOSE YOUR MIND (now on HULU) — is gonna LOOK great. Perfectly shot. Perfectly edited. But what really elevates it above the current glut of streaming documentaries is an innate understanding of the simple art of storytelling. It sucks you in and never allows itself to become a cheap advertisement for the band. It helps that singer-guitarist-director Ken Andrews has a background in film and video production, but it also speaks to Failure’s entire career of meticulous high-production values and DIY quality control. It’s an ethic that persists to this day with a remarkable run of post-hiatus classics that began in 2014 with their comeback album THE HEART IS A MONSTER — an album that kicked off a successful and well deserved second act for one of America’s finest rock bands. One that actually merits a documentary about itself. On this episode we talk to Ken about ALL that stuff. We even touch on some stuff that ISN’T in the doc.

ALSO: We pick our favorite documentaries.

226. LIFERS - Ken Andrews

227. LIFERS - Ozzy

Picture the scene: You’re a young screenwriter getting your first taste of success — but it’s with a movie that didn’t quite come out the way you wanted and the victory feels hollow. Suddenly, you find yourself being typecast as a writer of silly comedies while the industry boxes you out and the opportunities and (self)respect begin to slip away. What do you do? If you’re Larry Karaszewski (and long time screenwriting partner Scott Alexander) you swerve hard out of that lane and typecast YOURSELF as auteurs of your own re-invented genre: The Anti-Biopic! Out of this savvy strategy the enduring classic ED WOOD is born and you are swept up in Hollywood’s warm and loving embrace. Cut to a montage of THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, MAN ON THE MOON, BIG EYES and a lifetime of accolades, happiness and total fulfillment. THE END! On this episode we talk to Larry about going to inappropriate movies at the drive-in with his dad, a college experience that actually paid off, writing PROBLEM CHILD and then watching Robert DeNiro watch it, having a roommate that wrote HEATHERS, resurrecting Frank Perry, producing AUTO FOCUS, David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian, orphan films, Milos Forman, and we pick the best(!!!) New York movies.

228. LIFERS - Larry Karaszewski

The fallout from the Great Chips & Salsa Incident continues as we invite Dino Proserpio from the I EAT MOVIES podcast to help us stage a cultural intervention for Gabe. As most of you are aware, interventions are never pretty — so we’ve lightened things up with some petty squabbling over East Coast vs. Third Coast, Sean Connery impersonations, Jennifer vs. Bailey, Greg Giuffria, potatoes vs. tomatoes, and we pick the best(?!!) uses of food in pop culture. You’ll understand when you hear it.

229. LIFERS - Our Dinner With Dino or: The Great Chips & Salsa Incident

A LOCAL H podcast with Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez, Ben Reiser, and a revolving door of friends, luminaries and beloved “lifers”.

The LIFERS Podcast

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