And Now The Band

Tom welcomes Amos Rifkin of Insomniac for a special episode announcing the band's upcoming Fall 2026 tour while discussing independent touring, festival culture, the evolving live music landscape, and what's next for the band.
Amos shares details about Insomniac's newly announced fall tour, which follows directly after their summer run and features performances throughout the Midwest, Northeast, and East Coast. He discusses the importance of reaching new cities, returning to longtime supporters, and building sustainable touring opportunities through strong relationships with venues and promoters.
The conversation also explores the realities of booking tours in today's music industry, the resurgence of smaller markets, and why intimate venues continue to be the backbone of underground heavy music. Amos reflects on the changing culture surrounding live events, including the growth of all-ages shows and the increasing popularity of alcohol-free social spaces.
Additional topics include:
The Summer and Fall 2026 Insomniac tours
Touring with Slumbering Sun
Bog Social's 12th Anniversary celebration
Booking shows across the United States
Building audiences in smaller music markets
The rise of all-ages venues
Non-alcoholic bars, THC beverages, and changing concert culture
In the Key of Dune Fest
Joint Jam Festival
Wisconsin Doomed & Stoned Festival
Visiting Acadia National Park while on tour
Writing Insomniac's next album
Exploring themes of grief, healing, and personal growth through music

Amos also reflects on how the underground music community continues to thrive through collaboration, grassroots promotion, and meaningful relationships, offering an inside look at what it takes to keep independent heavy music alive while preparing for Insomniac's next creative chapter.

Tom welcomes Nick Crider of Dumb Waiter for a conversation about the band's latest album Change, the evolution of their songwriting, the Louisville heavy music community, vinyl collecting, and balancing music with the visual arts.
Nick reflects on Dumb Waiter's progression from an intensely technical, genre-bending style influenced by Mr. Bungle toward a more focused and emotionally driven approach on their sixth album, Change. He explains how simplifying arrangements and emphasizing a single emotional direction has strengthened the band's songwriting while allowing the music to connect more deeply with listeners.
The discussion also explores the band's decision to handle vocals internally after experimenting with several vocalists, resulting in a more natural integration between the instrumentation and vocal melodies.
Additional topics include:
The Louisville underground music scene
Connections with Young Widows, Photo Crime, and Coliseum
Running Gallery5 in Richmond
An upcoming art exhibition with Evan Patterson
Vinyl, cassette, and physical music releases
Modern vinyl production and pressing improvements
Favorite recent albums and underground bands
Music videos for Deaf Club
Greg Puciato, Better Lovers, and Jerry Cantrell
Live music in intimate venues versus larger clubs
Supporting independent artists and regional music communities
Nick also shares his passion for collecting records, creating visual art, and maintaining a healthy balance between multiple creative outlets while continuing to push Dumb Waiter's sound into exciting new territory.

Tom welcomes Rick Jimenez of Extinction A.D. for a wide-ranging conversation covering the band's ambitious new release strategy, the realities of touring in today's music industry, songwriting, hardcore culture, and why authentic human connection remains at the heart of heavy music.
Rick explains Extinction A.D.'s decision to release one new single every month through the end of 2026, discussing how the approach allows the band to remain creatively flexible while responding to current emotions instead of waiting years between album releases. He also reflects on the financial challenges facing independent bands and why modern touring requires careful planning more than ever before.
The conversation explores the growing overlap between thrash metal, death metal, and hardcore, along with the resurgence of younger audiences discovering heavy music through live shows. Rick also shares his frustrations with social media algorithms, discussing the difference between meaningful fan engagement and chasing online metrics.
Additional topics include:
Working with M-Theory Audio after Unique Leader Records
Touring economics in today's music industry
Creating meaningful content instead of chasing algorithms
Personal training, sales, and staying authentic
Why live music creates irreplaceable human connections
AI and the future of creativity
Building stronger local music scenes
The importance of smaller, packed venues
Songwriting and demo production
Writing over 90 minutes of material before entering the studio
Early musical projects with Chris Enriquez
Future musical experiments inspired by Failure and Cro-Mags
Rick also discusses his philosophy on songwriting, collaboration, and artistic integrity, offering an honest perspective on balancing creativity, family, work, and life as an independent musician in today's evolving heavy music landscape.

Tom sits down with Dave Krusen, the original drummer of Pearl Jam, for an engaging conversation about Loud Love: A Tribute to Soundgarden, Seattle's legendary grunge movement, and the evolution of the modern music industry.
Dave discusses joining the Loud Love tribute project, explaining how the opportunity to honor Soundgarden's legacy and support a meaningful cause made the invitation impossible to refuse. He shares the challenges of learning Matt Cameron's intricate drum parts, ultimately finding his own interpretation while respecting the spirit of the original performances.
The conversation explores Seattle's explosive music scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s, reflecting on the rise of Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Nirvana, and how the city's unique culture helped define an entire generation of rock music.
Additional topics include:
Relearning "Loud Love" on drums
Matt Cameron's drumming style and influence
Touring life and favorite memories on the road
Seattle landmarks and music history
The Showbox and Seattle's legendary venues
Dave's current band, The Vases
Recording new music at Litho Studios
The changing economics of the music industry
Artist ownership and retaining music rights
New music recommendations including Neurosis and Volcandra
Tom also shares personal stories about visiting Seattle on his honeymoon, exploring iconic Pearl Jam locations, and discussing how the grunge movement continues to inspire musicians around the world. This episode is packed with stories from one of rock's most influential eras while offering an insightful look at where independent music is headed next.

Jordan Nalley of Louisville based Sporelord spent some time chatting with me about the band and his shop. A local TCG shop named Heavy Meta Gaming.

Jordan helps explain how Sporelord puts together their unique sound. How they fit on to so many different bills. From playing with some super heavy bands to some not so heavy bands.

We also talk about their unique approach to releasing music It really helps each single stand out on its own and makes each single a collectable.