Ian Robinson has been performing as Black Guy Fawkes for almost ten years now. He joins us on the podcast to talk about his musical journey, meeting Frank Turner, his challenges as a black artist and the battle to maintain positive mental health. Ian is working on a new album and also has a great podcast called "Fawkes & Friends". He'll be playing the Color Club in Chicago in October.

Time stamps:

2: What was your introduction to music, when did you decide music was going to be your thing?

6:41: What is the scene like on Cumberland?

8:44: How do you overcome a scene where you don't necessarily feel like you belong in?

11:37: How difficult is it to get together and plan a tour?

14: Do you take your new friends in stride, or is it like what the fuck is going on?

17:15: How do you handle the highest of highs and then the lowest of lows?

20: How have your musical influences inspired you as a songwriter and performer?

22:40: Being a black musician in a music scene that's not thought of as a traditionally black genre, does that present challenges to you, do you feel extra pressure being black in that scene?

28:44: How surreal was it meeting Frank Turner? How cool did you play it?

33:45: Are we working on any new music?

37: Tell us about Fawkes & Friends

42: What can someone expect at one of your shows?

44: PNOTS and Black Guy Fawkes at Color Club in Chicago on 10/4!

45:50: Deep dish or thin crust?

47: Where did you play when you've played in Chicago?

47:30: What do you think makes Chicago a unique music scene?

49:35: What's your go to cheap drink?

51:45: What else would you like to plug on the way on out of here?

55: What's your favorite Bob album?

It's our 50th episode! Time for a celebration!

We are very pleased to have Abby Monroe and Josh Dihle on the show for our 50th. Abby and Josh are the owners of Color Club, a Chicago venue that hosts an eclectic array of events. In 2020, they purchased the building on Elston Avenue that previously was home to the Chicago Latvian Association. Their intention was to create "a gathering space for Chicago's creative community." We talk about how they have done just that - hosting all sorts of events - poetry, dance, art, music and more. And, of course, we talk about how they came to open "The Sugar Hole" - the world's only puppet powered ice cream walk-up window. And they also tell us what they love about Chicago.

We like the space so much that we our hosting our 50th episode celebration party at Color Club in September. Email us if you need an invite!

Time Stamps:

2:07: How and when did we decide we wanted to take on this experiment?

5: How haunted is Color Club?

6:15: What are some of the learnings you have found in working together over the past couple of years?

7:30: How did people react to your ideas for the space?

9: What is the process like for renting space at Color Club?

12:30: What is a typical day in the life like for you?

14: Walk us through buying the space right as Covid was starting.

17:31: Have there been any moments where you've felt like you were in over your head?

20: What are some of the oddest ideas people have presented to you?

25: How did you come up with the name Color Club?

29: What does the future of Color Club look like several years down the line?

30: How do you find the balance between being a couple and being coworkers?

32:45: Do the two of you consider yourself music fans?

34: Do you have a dream event to host at Color Club?

36: What about Chicago makes it such a good art scene?

38: Deep dish or thin crust pizza?

40: Favorite venues to see art at in the city?

42:30: What do the next six months look like for Color Club?

John Mohr and Mike Greenlees have been playing music together for a long time. They first got together in Dekalb, Illinois at Northern Illinois University in 1983 with the band Blatant Dissent. In 1988, they transitioned to the post-hardcore band Tar, based in Chicago. And now, in 2024, they've released a fantastic new album with their latest quartet, Deep Tunnel Project, with Jeff Dean and Tim Midyett. We talked with John and Mike about how this all happened - and shared our mutual love of Chicago!

Time stamps:

3: How did you meet?

8: how would you describe the career of Blatant Dissent?

9:10: was there a conversation where you decided to keep making music full time?

12: how did you end up on Touch & Go?

17:30 how did the decision to end Tar come about?

18:30: how did you start working with Steve Albini?

25:22: how did it go from Tar to Deep Tunnel Project?

31: at what point do you bring in other people to play with you?

33: why was it important to you to have Chicago musicians?

42: was it the intention to always put out an album?

44: is there a song on the album that you feel is the most representative of the band?

47:45: favorite song to play from the album?

50: how did you end up on Comedy Minus One?

51:30: what’s the response been like to the record?

55: what are the next steps for Deep Tunnel Project?

62:40: deep dish or thin crust pizza?

64: favorite venue to play at?

67:40 what makes Chicago such a unique music scene?

72:38: go to cheap drink?

74:40: anything to plug on the way out?