Back in summer of 2005, I launched Dynasty Podcasts as Chicago's first ever and longest-running music podcast. Over the last ten years, I've been fortunate enough to conduct interviews with some genuinely remarkable artists and industry figures from the Chicago music community. What follows are ten episodes of Dynasty Podcasts from the last ten years that stand out to me for one reason or another. From Metro owner Joe Shanahan to Flosstradamus to The Lawrence Arms and more. Enjoy!
(Photo: Joe Mazza/BraveLux)
Joe Shanahan (Metro Chicago)
In 2012, Chicago's iconic Metro concert hall celebrated its 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Dynasty Podcasts visited venue founder and owner Joe Shanahan at a visual retrospective for the venue held in a Chicago Loop event space. Joined by graphic designer Ryne Estwing, Shanahan reflect on the venue's past three decades, recalling relationships with legacy artists like R.E.M. and The Smashing Pumpkins. For an enhanced version of this interview, check out the short film edition, featuring posters, passes, and other memorabilia from Metro's historic archives.
Gabe McDonough
Chicago music licensing operation Music Dealers has been a longtime supporter of Dynasty Podcasts, and in fall of 2013, the music company partnered with the podcast for a live industry discussion with then-VP, Music Director at Leo Burnett, Gabe McDonough. Over the course of 45 minutes, McDonough spoke at length about the intersection of music and advertising, as well as shedding light on how artists can pursue music licensing opportunities and the potential for monetization.
(Photo: Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images)
Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
Since the end of 2011, The Smashing Pumpkins have been reissuing their classic albums in chronological order. In the summer of 2014, the reissue of 1998's experimental effort Adore and the then-forthcoming full length Monuments to an Elegy were both on the horizon. At a coffee shop in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Corgan opened up about simultaneously living in the past, present, and future of the Smashing Pumpkins all at once. The Pumpkins frontman also shed light on his decision to open up his songbook from all eras of his work for upcoming live events.
Joe Trohman (Fall Out Boy)
When pop punk juggernaut Fall Out Boy took a hiatus in 2009, there were more questions than answers, with little concrete info to be found. Which made the inclusion of FOB guitarist Joe Trohman in a Morrissey tribute set in December of that year alongside Chicago music icons like Bob Nanna and Mike Kinsella all the more surprising. Recorded in the upstairs green room of Subterranean, Trohman opens up about stepping out of his comfort zone after the initial and nonstop advent of Fall Out Boy, as well as speaking candidly about the band's break.
Flosstradamus
While Chicago boys made good Flosstradamus are now regularly spreading the HDYBYZ and HDYGRLZ gospel all over the world, in November of 2011, the duo were in Chicago for an EP release show at Lincoln Hall. In an interview recorded backstage at the Lincoln Park venue, Floss' Josh Young and Curt Cameruci open up about their Midwestern work ethic and reflect on the group's culture during their earliest days.
Tim McIlrath (Rise Against)
For Record Store Day 2010, Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath made a visit to Reckless Records in the Loop, where he found time for a quick chat with Dynasty Podcasts. There, McIlrath recalled the suburban Chicago record stores where he discovered pre-grunge punk acts like Minor Threat and Fugazi--purchases that would play no small part in influencing the sound and direction of Rise Against.
Kill Hannah
Chicago's infamous glam-rock institution Kill Hannah recently closed out their career with a string of farewell shows both at home and abroad in December of last year. But back in December of 2012, the group's Mat Devine, Dan Wiese, Greg Corner, Elias Mallin, and Jonny Radtke gathered at JBTV to answer audience questions as part of that year's New Heart for Christmas holiday event. The discussion is noteworthy if for no other reason than the fact that it's a rare occurrence to get a full lineup of Kill Hannah in the same room and all on mics at the same time, given how many of the group's (now former) members live out of state these days.
Celine Neon
Chicago electro pop act Celine Neon has been making noise across the city lately, from theatrical live shows to their recently released Kitty EP. In the upstairs green room of Subterranean in March of 2015, the duo of Emily Nejad and Maggie Kubley brought their trademark snark and effortless interplay to Dynasty Podcasts for an interview around the release of their self-titled debut EP. What followed was a discussion ranging from more serious subjects like the building of their brand, to the reveling in the celebration of all things BILF.
(Photo: Ben Pier)
The Lawrence Arms
The Lawrence Arms have always been one of Chicago's strongest and most underrated punk rock offerings, responsible for classic efforts like 2003's The Greatest Story Ever Told. Yet 2014's Metropole came almost a decade after the group's prior full length: 2006's Oh! Calcutta!. In an interview backstage at Metro in summer of 2014, vocalists Chris McCaughan and Brendan Kelly weighed in on the break between records, sharing how the band's hiatus helped their creative process.
Krewella
At Spring Awakening 2012, Krewella was a up-and-coming act starting to make noise in the Chicago underground and on forward-thinking music blogs. Backstage at the annual EDM fest, frontwomen Jahan and Yasmine Yousaf and former member Kris "Rain Man" Trindl spoke excitedly about their festival set, in addition to sharing thoughts on their then-forthcoming debut EP, Play Hard. An early glimpse into Krewella just before they broke through.