Classic Spins with NeoNera's Evan McCluskey

There have been a great many editions of the Classic Spins column, but this one is the first time we get to hear a lot about The Tragically Hip.

Check out all out below and while you're checking that out, make sure you're on top of the new music on their YOUTUBE channel. 

If you subscribe, you're the first to get the freshness.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite. Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why? 

Fear Of A Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree. The album’s title is a direct reference to Public enemy’s Fear Of A Black Planet, although this album is about losing this generation of youth to drug overdoses, excessive screen time, and abuse in the home. 

Hometown Tales with Thanatopsis's David A. Couch

Right now, Oakland's Thanatopsis is sitting on their new record, Initiation. It's some prog metal you're not going to want to sleep on.

In the meantime though, you can check out their YOUTUBE channel to get all the thunder. 

Let's find out about David A. Couch's hometown though shall we?

1. St. Louis City is my hometown. I've lived here for most of my life in and around the city. Where are you from? 

I was born in Boston but I grew up in Cleveland. I lived in Oakland for 14 years, which is where Thanatopsis was formed. 

Then I lived in Portland, OR for 8 years. Currently, I live in Denver, CO. I have been here for about 8 years. 

Beer Thirty with Autocatalytica's Eric Thorfinnson

What happens if you ask a Canadian about beer and question them on whether or not American beer is defeating them?

Well, I didn't know before today, but now I do. Shots are fired, Canada. Canadians, former ones anyway, are now singing the praises of American Craft Beer.

I'm telling you, give a man a beard, a 23% ABV stout, and enough hops to take down a Cardassian Military Installation, and you've made a new friend who'll want to listen to Japanese pressings of Pink Floyd with you.

But you should check out some tunes from Autocatalytica if you're into ... if you're into... Well, honestly, I can't tell you what kind of music they are, but their deeply insane grooves will give you the good news.

Check them on BANDCAMP.

1. My personal favorite beer style is the might Double India Pale Ale. The best DIPA in the world is STLIPA by Urban Chestnut. Tell me about your favorite style. 

Oh boy, I’m a real seasonal kind of guy, but ain’t nothin else hit me quite like a sweet tasty Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout. That or some super funky sours. 

Classic Spins with Homicide's Bryan Donahue

It's time to head over to Montreal and learn a little big about some Quebecois Metallers.

Check out all their tunes over on their site HERE.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite.Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why? 

I'd go with At war with Satan by Venom. Not an actual concept album but the first side is all one song. 

Some heavy riffing on that one and Venom is one of my favorite bands.

 2. My very first album was Live Evil b Black Sabbath. Since then I've had a strong affinity for the live record, even if they're a bit fake. KISS set the bar with Alive!. Surely, it was fake, but it's got the best concert feel of anyone.

Tell me about your favorite live record?

Sophomore Jinx with Fumarole

Is anyone else there looking back on their halcyon days in High School as we sit huddled in our homes drinking enough coffee to kill a plow horse?

Well, now you know where I'm at. 

Today, we're going to learn more about the Aussie doom/stoner band: Fumarole. 

What's most important though? They're debut LP is being pressed onto Transparent Green and Black vinyl. 

If you need your smoked out doom on wax...

Check out this LINK. Consider me excited.

There's some fun irony here though, our first trip back in time to High School was with someone on the other side of the world. In fact, we share no hemispheres even with these gents.

Well, let's get it on.

Classic Spins with Sionis's Lee Stanhope

Things I'll never tire of include finding out more about the metal scene from our friends to the north, America's Hat, The Great White North, the home of hockey, Canada.

Growing up in America, we're taught that an American's birthright is to be a part of the people who are the center of the entire world for all of its inhabitants.

Our sports, our literature, our films, and yes, our music is popular everywhere.

So, today we have a band from Edmonton, AB, Sionis, telling us about the music that got their motors running when they were younger.

How much of it is American?

Let's find out and check out their new video on YOUTUBE.

Hometown Tales with Anthea's Diego Valadez

Last week we heard all about some record collections from Anthea. Today we're going to learn more about lead singer, Diego Valadez's hometown of Whittier, CA.

While you're looking at that sweet photo of them, check out their WEBSITE for all kinds of news on their gothic metal and maybe ya pick up an album.

1. St. Louis City is my hometown. I've lived here for most of my life in and around the city. Where are you from?

Diego: I grew up in the city in LA county called Whittier, California. 

Otherwise known as Hill Valley in the Back to the Future films which is pretty awesome considering the facts that's my favorite film franchise.

Fresh Fries with Places Around The Sun

When this column was started, honestly, there wasn't any consideration to what it would it would be like to get a look at fast food on the Iberian Peninsula.

But, just because I didn't have the foresight to consider such a happening, right now it's fallen into our laps and we're going to lap it up.

Or should I say lick it up? Anyway, moving on.

Either. Stream you some sweet music on YOUTUBE whilst you find out about Portuguese burger joints.

1. Let's not pretend.  Fast food is delicious. What is your favorite fast food joint?

Yes it is! I’m not ashamed to admit, whenever I find the perfect excuse like “I’m too tired to cook” or “What would really cheer me up is (insert fast food chain)” I don’t think twice!

Classic Spins with Earth's Yellow Sun

Has it really been two years since we saw that amazing Rush cover from Canada's favorite sons of yore?

Well it has and let's be honest, time has lost all meaning in 2020. So, mix a stiff drink and strap on in for the winter of 2020 I guess.

In the meantime, it'd be a great usage of your time to check out our friends from the North. These Torontonians are ready.

You can stream their latest HERE.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite.

Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why? 

There’s this killer concept record called The Infernal Machine by a little prog band from Canada called Earth’s Yellow Sun. 

It’s about technology and artificial intelligence and the perils of technology.  Check it out, there’s even a series of comic book videos that I hear they’re releasing. 

Vinyloscopy with Juan Pina of Anthea

Symphonic metallers Anthea aren't done with us or you yet. Seriously, I have no idea how that haven't gotten tired of my insane questions.

Or did I mean inane?

Eh, today, we're going to hear about my other favorite thing besides beer...RECRODS! 

You can spin all their music over at their WEBSITE while reading along here.

1. Listening to Black Sabbath's eponymous debut the night I got it blew me away. What's the album that sounds the best on vinyl compared to digital sources?

The first album that comes to mind in my collection would be Pink Floyd’s “The Division Bell.”

Hometown Tales with Martin Drozd of Protokult

If you feel like you didn't get enough of the Protoculture...here's another look at Protokult. Personally, there were some things we didn't learn about Drozd the last time he spoke to us.

So, let's find out more about the man and where he's from.

Check out their Folk Metal stylings over there on BANDCAMP.

1. St. Louis City is my hometown. I've lived here for most of my life in and around the city. Where are you from?

I’ve lived here (Toronto, Ontario) enough to consider myself Canadian and the family is originally from Poland. 

2.We have three things that don't really exist anywhere else: the slinger, the gooey butter cake, and toasted ravioli. Tell me about your hometown delicacy. 

Beer Thirty with Adam Tremblett of The Dead Centuries

As we sit, my beer fridge, isn't quite fallow, but it's not bursting at the seams either.

Personally, if the beer fridge isn't full, why even have it in the first place?

As of this writing, it's holding some Public House Brewing Elusive IPA, Genessee Brewing 12 Horse Ale, and Public House's Marzen.

Tomorrow will be another fill up day. As the summer was financially as disciplined as Anakin visiting the Sand People...it's been a struggle to get back to Obi-Wan level discipline.

This summer has been hard and I've been filling all the holes with all the things I love, but it's not like this guy is so special in that regard.

In the meantime, spin this song if you didn't last week.

Beer Thirty with Anthea

We're checking back in with Anthea. This time, we're going to hear all about beer preferences.

As always, get on their WEBSITE with the appropriate gusto.

1. My personal favorite beer style is the mighty Double India Pale Ale. The best DIPA in the world is STLIPA by Urban Chestnut.

Tell me about your favorite style.

I’m definitely a sucker for any pilsner. When it’s on the menu, it’s always my go-to. My local favorite is Highland Park Brewery’s Fill Pills. 

2. Many international people have laughed at me for this, but American Beer is the best in the world. Not American Lagers, that piss water is best used for drinking 15 of them while you're at the karaoke bar, but American Craft Beer. Which nation is pumping out the best beer?

I’d have to agree with you. American Craft Beer is just killing it. 

Fresh Fries with Tom McKay

Now, normally, we keep these columns going in print, but as Tom McKay is also a YouTuber, apparently he felt he'd come across the best if he took his to the voice box via the world wide weberverse.

So, I guess you're going to have to wait before you stream his work on BANDCAMP until after the video is over, but you should totally do that.

Vinyloscopy with Fred Crew of Paradise

Let's see how things are in Montreal. It's my favorite French Canadian city that I've never visited. Really that last bit isn't necessary. 

I've yet to visit the Province du Quebec and I hope to remedy that in the very near future.

You can get their LP at BANDCAMP if you're into that sort of thing as well.

Now, let's find out about records.

Listening to Black Sabbath's eponymous debut the night I got it blew me away. What's the album that sounds the best on vinyl compared to digital sources? 

London Calling, The Clash 

I was laying in bed one night and couldn't sleep and I figured, it was time to start buying records. How did you come to the idea that it was time to start buying vinyl instead? 

One way or another, we all go back to our sources. Vinyl IS the source.