This week, I’m joined by Dryden Mitchell of Alien Ant Farm to trace the band’s journey: from the early $100 EP and Love Songs recordings—when tracks like “S.S. Recognize” and “Wishing” were still finding their final form—to the tongue-in-cheek Greatest Hits release that arrived before the band had even broken nationally.

From there, we dig into the era that launched the band worldwide: ANThology, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026. Dryden reflects on the explosion of the band’s cover of “Smooth Criminal” (originally by Michael Jackson), the momentum behind songs like “Movies” & “Attitude,” and how hidden tracks like “Orange Appeal” managed to survive the jump from Cassette & CD era hidden-track Easter eggs to modern streaming.

Along the way we talk about what it was like working with Dean DeLeo and Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots on TruANT, and dig into some deeper catalog moments: from the cult-favorite 3rd Draft tour CD release that became Up In the Attic, to the band’s evolving approach to album titles, long gaps between releases, and how those breaks shaped later records like Always & Forever and Mantras.

And of course, we talk about what’s happening now: the upcoming ANThology anniversary vinyl release and the brand-new single “Reasons,” written by Rome Ramirez of Sublime with Rome—plus what fans can expect from the band’s next chapter.

If you’ve been spinning Alien Ant Farm since the early-2000s radio days—or you’re just discovering the band—this one goes deep into the catalog, the stories, and the moments that shaped the band over the last 30 years!

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There are certain artists who become part of the soundtrack to your life — and if you’re lucky, sometimes you get to sit down with the people responsible for it. This week, I’m joined by the man who has been keeping the beat behind “Weird Al” Yankovic for more than four decades: drummer Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz.

From a chance meeting through the legendary Dr. Demento show and playing drums on an accordion case during the early recording of “Another One Rides The Bus,” to the moment MTV helped launch Weird Al into the pop culture stratosphere, Bermuda shares stories from inside one of the most unique careers in music.

We dive into the evolution of Weird Al’s sound — including the shift from the raw production of the self-titled debut album to the hyper-accurate musical recreations heard on In 3D and beyond. Bermuda also breaks down how the band studies and reconstructs an artist’s style for spot-on parodies and style pastiches, including the Devo-inspired “Dare To Be Stupid.”

Along the way, we talk about collaborations with the artists themselves — like the Dire Straits connection behind the “Money For Nothing / Beverly Hillbillies” parody from UHF, as well as working with Taylor Hanson, Dwezil Zappa and Ray Manzarek of The Doors, the musical puzzle of assembling Weird Al’s legendary polka medleys, and the full story behind the fan-favorite epic “Albuquerque.”

Digging deeper, Bermuda reflects on the hardest drum sound he’s ever had to recreate for a song, whether a Weird Al Super Bowl Halftime Show has ever been discussed beyond social media, and his thoughts on if Mandatory Fun is truly Al’s last full-length studio album. We also touch on the case for Weird Al’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, among many other topics!

If you’ve ever laughed, sang along, or wondered how Weird Al’s band makes those parodies sound so perfectly authentic — this deep dive into four decades of musical comedy brilliance pulls back the curtain.

Photo Credit: Kamal Asar

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This week, I’m joined by American Idol Top 20 contestant and New Jersey artist Jake Thistle to talk about his experience performing on one of television’s biggest music stages.

Jake shares what it’s really like behind the scenes of American Idol — from the strategy behind song choices (including his audition take on Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home”) to the pressure of performing original music in front of the judges and a national audience, as he did with his song “Sleep On Me.”

We also dive into his roots in the New Jersey music scene, the artists who helped shape his sound — including Tom Petty and John Hiatt — and the moment he realized music was his path in life.

Along the way, we preview his latest single “Alone, Together,” and Jake shares three songs he thinks deserve a spot on your musical radar.

Whether you’re already a fan of Jake’s music, an American Idol faithful, or simply curious about the reality behind televised music competitions, this conversation offers a candid look at the journey behind the music.

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