The Five Count

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with musician Brian Vollmer. Brian is best known as the founder and frontman for the band Helix. Known for songs like Wild in the Streets, Deep Cuts the Knife and Rock You, Helix has been making music for more than 50 years. During the show he discussed the longevity of Helix, his relationship with The Trailer Park Boys, and the new Helix album Scrap Metal. Get your copy now! During the rest of the show we discussed our favorite films of 2025, Ton explained why the fake radio station from Stranger Things is better than our show, and we announced our resolutions for 2026. Happy New Year, gentle listeners! https://youtu.be/mbFNkH8sKtE?si=mlHo0MemuewyZYJV

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with actor and musician Michael Damian. Michael is best known for his role as “Danny Romalotti” on the TV show The Young and the Restless. He’s also known for songs like Cover of Love, Was It Nothing at All and Rock On. During the show he discussed his years as a daytime soap opera star, performing the theme song for the TV show Saved by the Bell, and his latest Christmas single Reach Out to Me This Christmas. It’s available now! During the rest of the show we played leftover Christmas tunes, read a poem by Sue in Lakeville, and argued about potpourri and gluten-free cookies. We’ll be back next year! https://youtu.be/x1e_XyvFcZo?si=F16aJXZo0uiBZtaG

The Five Count recently had a chance to speak with filmmaker Paul Feig. Paul is best known as the director of TV shows like Freaks and Geeks, The Office, Nurse Jackie and Arrested Development. He also directed films like Bridesmaids, Spy and Ghostbusters. His latest film The Housemaid is in theaters now! https://youtu.be/48CtX6OgU3s?si=JNkg7-Aj5hK50di5

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count was our special “A Five Count Christmas” show for 2025! During the show we exchanged Christmas gifts, heard the story of Charlie Brown’s Christmas, and received numerous updates from NORAD about the whereabouts of Santa Claus. Merry Christmas, gentle listeners!

The Five Count recently had a chance to speak with actor Nathan Kress. Nathan is best known for his role as “Freddie Benson” on the TV show iCarly. He’s also appeared on TV shows like Drake & Josh, Star Wars Rebels and Pinky Malinky. His new film A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas is available now! https://youtu.be/cY1yQbIbbrY?si=SgN9r48x2tA9XRFO

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with musician Jason McMaster. Jason is best known as the founder and frontman for the band Dangerous Toys. He’s also played with bands like Watchtower, Broken Teeth and Igniter. During the show he discussed the early days of Dangerous Toys, putting together Dangerous Toys’ latest album Demolition, and his new band Night Terror. Night Terror’s new album Return of the Witches is out now! During the rest of the show we discussed the 10-foot statue of Robocop in Detroit, mourned the retirement of pro wrestler John Cena, and paid tribute to Five Count alumnus Steve Cropper. Play it, Steve! https://youtu.be/tMWvrE5udIk?si=m82WSbzRMTOBIPJk

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we spoiled the new season of Stranger Things, Ton bought a piano from an old lady on Facebook, and we interviewed Greg Prato about his new book Alternative for the Masses: The ’90s Alt-Rock Revolution – An Oral History, Tony Russell about his new book Vintage Country: The Essential Artists and Songs, from Old-Time to Honky-Tonk, 1920–1970 and Daniel Bukszpan about his new book Iron Maiden at 50. The Five Count is well read!

The Five Count recently had a chance to speak with longtime Minnesota deejay Mary Lucia. Mary is best known for her tenure with Minnesota’s 89.3 FM “The Current” from 2005-2022. She currently works for Minnesota’s “Radio K” 770 AM. Her new memoir “What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Weirder and Harder to Relate To” is out now!

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Check Playlist This was a special Thanksgiving episode of The Five Count! During the show we discussed our favorite memories of the Mankato music store Ernie November, chose which sitcom characters we would pick for a five-on-five cage match, and learned turkey hunting techniques and wild turkey calls. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Five Count recently had a chance to peak with actress Lizzy Caplan. Lizzy is best known for her role as "Janis Ian" in the film Mean Girls. She also appeared in films like Hot Tub Time Machine, 127 Hours, Cloverfield, and TV shows like True Blood and Freaks & Geeks. Her latest film Now You See Me: Now You Don't is in theaters now! https://youtu.be/uogrgIasYcA?si=TNHqQBMDsPMYmikO

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with actress Elise Freshwater-Blizzard. Elise is best known for her YouTube series Middle of Nowhere. She also created the series Only in Sheffield and Unfit for YouTube. During the show she discussed her comedic influences, her process and attention to detail when creating content for YouTube, and her recent foray into stand-up comedy. Subscribe to her channel today!During the rest of the show we argued about how handsome Dustin is, heard from a caller who loves Echoes on KMSU more than us, and explained why we only need to do our best during the first 10 minutes of the show. People usually turn it off by then, so they never hear how bad it gets in the back-half! https://youtu.be/eAtPAHO_wkA?si=c-Tpi_ftWO4zHS5l

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with WWE Superstar Ricky Saints. Ricky is WWE’s NXT Champion. He’s also a former NXT North American Champion, NWA World Television Champion and AEW World Tag Team Champion. During the show he discussed his transition to the WWE, working under the tutelage of wrestler Shawn Michaels and where he would like to go next in his career. See Ricky Saints on Nov. 13 when WWE NXT comes to Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul!During the rest of the show we discussed the proper way to get rid of wood ticks, received a lucrative partnership offer with Reebok, and announced The Five Count House Band’s new musical team-up with Mankato’s favorite musical combo MOLS. The new cassette release, featuring both bands, is available now! https://youtu.be/TaHGo82y5KE?si=6JQJJcqnrehZEykq

Check Playlist This was The Five Count’s Halloween Special for 2025! During the show we played all our favorite Halloween suns, discussed what a Five Count museum would be like, and debuted a new song from The Five Count House Band called Grandma’s Answering Machine. Happy Halloween! Photo by John in New Ulmhttps://youtu.be/tpR9POUhSLQ

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we paid tribute to Ace Frehley of KISS, discussed a side-business where Ton will officiate weddings on the show, and begged for money for the KMSU Pledge Drive. Thanks for your support! https://youtu.be/KsvtJ2npPiA?si=-pEPGSWHdhg909G0

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we discussed doing the dishes, got caught in a chamber of horrors, and Ton broke the news that he cut his hair off. Now he looks like Keanu Reeves! https://youtu.be/Q5z3qV5_ups?si=wzmKGy4_0-_3TFMk

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with singer and actress Lea Salonga. Lea is best known for her role as the singing voice of “Princess Jasmine” in the film Aladdin. She also provided voices for films like Mulan, My Neighbor Totoro and KPop Demon Hunters. During the show she discussed being known as a Disney princess, her memories of appearing in the film Ninja Kids as a child, and her current “Stage, Screen & Everything In Between” tour. Watch for her in your city soon!During the rest of the show we tried to decide if the death of Windows 10 means the death of The Five Count, Ton went on and on about his love for Depeche Mode and we discussed which buildings we’d like to be stuck in if we were ghosts. It’s starting to get spooky around here! https://youtu.be/0QsqDQIVNMg?si=btu8FkJf8K7YjE7M

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we discussed Halloween decorations, Ton told stories about being probed by aliens, and we interviewed Twin Cities Con Founder Ben Penrod. We also gave away tickets to Twin Cities Con Nov. 7-9 at the Minneapolis Convention Center!

The Five Count recently had a chance to speak with Musician Josh Hight. Josh is best known as a member of the band The Detachment Kit. He has also released music as Irons an PINES. The latest PINES release In His Wake is available now! https://youtu.be/qQ0jpEhVYRI?si=1hGvuK5nz3cI2B_y

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we talked about how cool fog machines are, discussed which tattoos we should get, and reminisced about our days at Saginaw High School. Go Trojans!