The MC Lars Podcast

I discovered Baltimore's Height Keech in 2006 through Grand Buffet, a Pittsburgh rap duo known for their over-the-top live shows and tours with Wesley Willis and Grand Buffet, This week on the podcast, Height and I discuss sample clearing, how COVID may change the industry, and how his group Shark Tank scored a gold single in Canada. We also talk about the history of the Baltimore "think break" and how this helped to define the sound of electronic Maryland music. I also learn he had some...

This week, I catch up with Minnesota’s MC EVOL, who was the first student in the MC Lars Lit-Hop Academy. We talk about how we linked, how writing has been therapeutic, and how her literary and engineering background helped her become a rapper and producer. We also talk about how she discovered nerdcore, and what it has been like being enrolled in the MC Lars Lit-Hop Academy for over a year. We debut our new song, “COVID Express”, featuring Mike Russo and Ash Tell Em and talk about how we...

Matt Furie and I linked after I wrote a song about his Boy's Club comic, which he posted on his Tumblr a few years ago. We caught up to talk about his new book "Mindviscosity", as well as fatherhood and other upcoming creative projects. I learned about his love for the Cure, how Venice Beach inspired him to create his early famous characters, and about his collaborative relationship with his wife. We also discuss his wide range influences, from Hieronymus Bosch to Martin Hanford, and how he...

This week on the podcast, I talk to Renaissance man Richie Branson about his career in both music and marketing. When it comes to the intersection of late capitalism and new media econimics, Branson talks about how being "extreme" content is the only way to gain traction. He also talks about the time mc chris kicked out a fan for making fun of Richie on Twitter, and the repercussions of this for both Branson and chris. We talk about the origin of his name, his new album, and fatherhood. A...

This week, our format is a little bit different! Schäffer and I pay tribute to Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster’s classic "Rabid B. Hatchetman" WFMU "Best Show" episode. We listened to this perfect gem of comedy countless times on our February tour and decided to do our own spin on the dup's amazing 2009 radio bit on the Insane Clown Posse, the Juggalos, and the Gathering. Special guest appearance by MC Snax, where we talk about our Hatchet Chat YouTube series and why we've both found...

This week on the podcast, LEX the Lexicon Artist and I talk about her time studying at UC Berkeley, her childhood, and why she started rapping. We also talk about how sexism in nerdcore and how fan interactions can be difficult when fans are drinking or not reading social cues. We discuss the differences between the Bay Area and New York, and talk about how MAGFest helped open doors for LEX, as did her recent tour with mc chris. An interesting conversation with a young and intelligent rapper...

This week on the podcast, anticon co-founder Sole (Tim Holland) and I talk about independent hip-hop in the early 2000s, how he helped build his brand, living in Maine, and being a father. We also talk about anarchism, permaculture, being a vegan and the time Jermaine Dupri tried to sign him. He talks about the effect the pandemic has had on his life and how the results of the 2020 election might bring us hope. An awesome interview with a prolific and inspiring friend, thank you...

This week on the podcast, I talk to Coheed & Cambria drummer Josh Eppard for the third and final part of our epic three-part conversation. We talk about political centrism, anti-vaxxers, UFOs, and the role of record labels in 2020. We also talk about his upcoming project with Upgrade HipHop! We speculate on post-COVID touring and how the world has changed, but in some ways, has remained the same. We talk about the importance of not taking oneself too seriously and how not to get discouraged...

This week on the podcast, I catch up with my friend Josh Eppad, who I performed with on my first ever Warped Tour in 2011. We talk about the details of sleep paralysis, how his band Coheed & Cambria has always had a sense of humor, and his "Red Light Juliet" trilogy. We also talk about the time when the Blood Brothers opened for Coheed, an innocuous compliment from Eppard sparked some unexpected controversy. Final Weerd Science episode coming next week! Special Guest: Weerd Science.

When he’s not playing drums in Coheed & Cambria, Kingston, New York’s Josh Eppard raps under the moniker Weerd Science. Eppard and I connected in 2010 when we discovered that we were both mutual fans of each other’s work. After one of his other bands Terrible Things played a college show that my guitarist Mike Russo had booked, we collaborated and tour the UK and US together on the VANS Warped Tour. This week, we discuss his love of horror movies, Game of Thrones and how Coheed does in fact...

This week on the podcast, I catch up with one of the titans of nerdcore, mc chris. We talk about fatherhood, his upcoming projects, and what he has been up to during the pandemic. We also discuss our past tours, why things haven’t always gone smoothly in our friendship, and how gratitude can be a motivating factor for full-time artists. This week's episode was both cathartic and inspiring; and I could not think of a better guest for the milestone 100th episode! Special Guest: mc chris.

From ages 13 to 16, I played in a band called Horris. Though the group’s members rotated over the years, our last lineup consisted of seven members by the time we played our fourth and final show on New Year’s Eve, 1998. This week, I talk to the only other member who was part of the project from its middle school genesis to its breakup in high school, Shawn Levin. We also talk about the time we went to see ICP in Palo Alto in March of 2000 and why camping in Big Sur is amazing. Thanks Shawn!...

This week on the podcast, I talk to placentologist / nerd musician Dr. Jess F. Hebert about midwestern accents, crowdfunding, and why eating placenta meat might not be the best idea. We also talk about the merging of sciecne and art, and how performers like Tom Lehrer helped pave the way for irreverent, smart, transgressive music. Dr. Hebert talks about how science is for the enthusiastic, which I thougth was a genisu way to put it. She's had an awesome journey so far, and she was really fun...

Dr. Jeb Middlebrook, PH.D. (a.k.a. Jus Rhyme, a.k.a. Privilege) and I met in 2008 while he was working towards his PhD at USC. I had heard about his anti-racist activist work in Jason Tanz’s “Other People’s Property”, and had seen him on VH1’s “White Rapper Show”. We talk about his journey from the music industry, to academia to becoming a successful realtor! Middlebrook has always been there to inspire and educate me, and was one of the best dancers as Ash and my wedding in 2018. Thanks...

When he’s not running his @beavisandbuttheadcollector Instagram, Sean Beard performs in his one-man band noise project, Waves Crashing on Piano Chords. On today’s podcast, he talks about spending over $50k on his Beavis & Butt-Head collection, his online friendship with Mike Judge, and why certain episodes of the series were never commercially released after being aired. An awesome interview. Thanks Sean! Special Guest: Sean Beard.

This week on the podcast, I talk to a friend I met online 25 years ago, Douglas Burke (Phone Freak), who when he’s not podcasting or doing standup comedy, works for a school district in Michigan. We reminisce about first meeting online in 1995, our shared love for cartoons and prank call tapes, and what he’s been up to the last quarter of the century. An awesome talk with a great friend, today’s episode shows that online friendships can be real and long lasting! Special Guest: Phone Freak.

I met Akira the Don in 2003 when he interviewed me for his internet radio show on my first UK tour, promoting my “Radio Pet Fencing” album. Since then, he opened for me in the UK in 2011, and has invented his own genre of music called Meaningwave. On this week’s episode, we talk about his creative workflow, fatherhood, and memories of growing up in Wales in the pre-internet 90s. Special Guest: Akira the Don.

This week on the podcast, I talk to Brandon Arnovick of the Rondo Brothers about working with Hoodie Allen, COVID19 and how he got involved in the Bay Area music industry. We also reminsce about the time we recorded "Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock" in a day. He talked about the differences between running a bakery and running a studio and how fatherhood has made him a better artist. A great conversation with an optimsitic and talented friend, thanks Brandon! Special Guest: Brandon Arnovick.

I met Jim Greer when the Rondo Brothers produced “Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock” with the Matches and me in the fall of 2005. Since then, we have recorded dozens of songs and spent a lot of time in their Bay Area studios. This week, Jim talks about growing up in Ohio, his friendship with Liam Lynch, his philosophy on production and why being positive and flexible are both important attributes. Special Guest: Jim Greer.

This week on the podcast, I talk to Stephen Bracket (a.k.a. Brer Rabbit) of Denver hip-hop crew Flobots! We talk about their hit “Handlebars”, how the group got its name, and how he uses comic books to educate people in prisons and classrooms. He also draws on his experience to talk about the group’s switch from a major label to becoming independent, and ways bands can communicate better. We end with a discussion about the fallacy of blind optimism, and he shares some info on the group’s...