Jonathan Joseph from the Pittsburg band "Guides" joins me on this episode to discuss their new single "Drain," which is their first new music release since 2023. The song represents an elevation in production value and sonic quality compared to their debut EP "When Everything Reverses." He explained that the song was inspired by personal experiences about emotional growth and maturity, particularly observing how not everyone chooses to grow up at the same rate, which impacts relationships and causes people to grow apart. Jonathan described Guides' musical style as blending the textured aggression of nu metal with the emotional depth of post-hardcore, similar to bands like Taproot, Finch, and AFI, with the bass carrying much of the melodic structure. The band plans to release another single called "Failure Defines" on June 17th and have a third single coming out in July, with plans to return to the studio in the fall.

In this episode I spoke with Pat Gilbert, author of the book "Passion is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash." We discussed the revised 50th anniversary edition of the essential biography about the influential British punk band. Pat explained how the book began as a series of articles for Mojo Magazine in the late 1990s after he gained access to band members, and was eventually published in 2004 following Joe Strummer's death in 2002. The revised edition includes expanded chapters on the White Riot tour, New York recording sessions, and Jamaica, with additional interviews and corrections to chronology. Pat discussed how The Clash evolved from punk roots to more experimental genres, attributing this shift primarily to guitarist Mick Jones' desire to create musically sophisticated work, particularly incorporating reggae influences into their rock music.

Author Daniel Bukszpan joins the show again. This time he's here to discuss his new book "Rush and 2112: 50 Years," which explores the influential 1976 album and its impact on the band's career. Daniel explained how the book's three sections cover the album's creation, musical analysis, and aftermath, while also revealing new insights about Mercury Records' supportive role during the album's development. The discussion included Daniel's writing process, his other published works with Quarto, and his upcoming projects including a book about the Big Four metal bands.