Anthony Vacarro joined Beach Bunny as bass player in 2019 and has been playing lead guitar since 2022. He also has his own band, Helicopter Leaves and has put out two great records - Get Stuck In (2023) and his latest, Sabrina Nickels out in 2026. We talked with Anthony about the differences of being in those bands - from local gigs to playing Madison Square Garden. And we talk a lot about the Chicago music community.

Time stamps:

1:40 - Congrats on the new record - Sabrina Nickels. How did that process work?

4:05 - How different is it working with Sean O'Keefe on a Beach Bunny record vs. Helicopter Leaves?

10:10 - Is the new Helicopter Leaves record more focused than the first one?

13:45 - You made the first record at your grandfather's home studio and the new one at a full studio. What led to that decision.

15:25 - Grandpa Sam taught you to play music - how old were you?

18:35 - Tell us about your love for Pavement.

24:40 - How did you enter the Beach Bunny orbit?

30:45 - What was your Dad's band?

32:00 - You volunteer to play bass with Beach Bunny.

37:10 - How have you accepted the popularity of Beach Bunny?

41:05 - What's been the most surreal part of being with Beach Bunny?

48:20 - Can it be more fulfilling to be playing Helicopter Leaves songs in front of 100 people than playing Madison Square Garden?

49:20 - What has been the response to Sabrina Nickels?

51:05 - What are the plans for Helicopter Leaves this year?

54:40 - Your family must all be proud of you.

58:10 - You've inspired John Perrin to work on his own music.

61:40 - Deep dish or thin crust pizza?

66:05 - Favorite places to play music in Chicago and favorite places to see music in Chicago?

69:20 - What do you appreciate most about the Chicago music scene?

74:20 - Favorite cheap drink?

76:55 - What's happening in the next 6 months?

Steve Baker is the co-owner of Chicago Fret Works. After starting his career as an English teacher, he began working on guitars in 2000, learning his craft at Bryan Galloup's School of Luthiery in Michigan. In 2008, after working together at another Chicago guitar shop, he and Dan Wolf partnered up to go out on their own with Chicago Fret Works. Now eighteen years in, they've worked on instruments by many famous musicians - including lots from Wilco - as well as everyday guitars used by students at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Steve shares a bunch of those stories with us and we talk a lot about the Chicago music community.

Time stamps:

02:00 — How or when did you get into music?

07:48 — Who's your favorite Beatle?

09:06 — What's the most recent thing that's cracked open for you musically?

15:32 — When did you start? How did you learn? What's your journey through the guitar world?

17:47 —how do you start dipping your toes into the guitar repair world?

21:55 — Did it click right away, being in bands?

24:49 — So how did you decide, where's this going?

27:46 — How does that come about? (re: going full time at the shop)

29:30 — Was he like, "you're dead to me" or "fuck yeah, go for it"? (re: telling the boss)

34:18 — Do you have plans for the 20th anniversary celebration?

37:48 — When did you feel, have you felt like, "yeah, we've made it"?

40:14 — How did that relationship with Wilco develop?

45:47 — Do those guys fall in love with something and say, "you've got to keep this thing going"?

48:12 — How did you get that opportunity? (re: tuning guitars for shows)

50:52 — So what's your greatest [story]?

58:54 — Is it hard to find people? Is it a good career working as a guitar tech? Is it hard to get people who know what they're doing nowadays?

69:18 — Are you a deep dish or thin crust pizza fan?

71:10 — What is your favorite venue to see a show at?

72:37 — What do you think makes Chicago a unique music scene?

75:30 — What's your go-to cheap drink?

79:02 — What's happening [at Chicago Fretworks for the next couple months]?

79:12 — What's the easiest way if I have a guitar that needs to be fixed? What's the best way? Do I just come in with it? Do I call you ahead? Do I send you an email?

79:50 — What are your hours?

Rob Miller co-founded Bloodshot Records in 1993 and ran the label until it was sold in 2021. He recently published a great new book, The Hours Are Long But the Pay is Low - A Curious Life in Independent Music. Rob joined us to talk about his history with Bloodshot and to share his thoughts on the book. We spent a lot of time talking about our mutual love for Chicago.

You can find out more about Rob and his book at his website: www.robmillerwriting.com

Rob also has a couple of events coming up in April:

Milwaukee event 4/15 - www.eventbrite.com/e/rob-miller-author-of-the-hours-are-long-but-the-pay-is-low-tickets-1982587294969?aff=oddtdtcreator

Chicago event 4/16 - www.oldtownschool.org/classes/detail/?courseid=8056

Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy (and their musical friends) have definitely tapped into something with this "play R.E.M." thing. Mike & Jason originally started this exercise by playing album sets of some of their favorite artists like Neil Young, The Modern Lovers, The Smiths and more. But when they picked out Murmur by R.E.M. in 2023, the whole concept took off in a big way. After playing Fables of the Reconstruction last year, they are heading out on a big tour playing Lifes Rich Pageant. Both shows at the Metro in Chicago are sold out, but there are plenty of other dates available, including a September show at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago. Definitely worth checking them out!

Time stamps

3: How did the musical project come together?

5:21: Are you a big R.E.M. fan?

10: You got R.E.M. together!

11:30: What part did Chicago play in getting this project going?

15:30: What was the reception like as your project started taking off more and more?

19: How did you enjoy Sky Blue Sky?

21:08: There are parallels between acting and singing in a band, but in most cases, you aren't getting an immediate audience response, how do you feel about that difference?

25: Have you had any insights into the difference between the four R.E.M. albums you've covered?

30: Any stories from having spent time with the band?

38: What else do you have going on aside from the upcoming show?

The first Art Brut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, came out in 2005. The buzz started slowly, but then Pitchfork gave it an 8.9 rating and things took off from there. Four more LP's followed from 2007 to 2018. We got a chance to talk with bandleader Eddie Argos about his musical career and his love for Chicago. Art Brut is touring this spring, playing that first record as well as a few more greatest hits. They hit the Subterranean in Chicago on April 15th.

Time Stamps:

2: What are some of your favorite musical memories from growing up?

4: Did you always want to be in a band?

5:30: How did you make your way to London?

9:30: Is it odd for you to feel like the driving force, but you don't play an instrument?

11:30: What was the original plan for Art Brut?

12:30: The Pitchfork review - positive fallout from that review.

16:40: When Bang Bang came out, did it feel like everything was falling into place, or was it more complicated than that?

20:30: Did you feel internal pressure following up Bang Bang Rock & Roll?

24:30: Are you feeling pressure and comparing yourself against your peers in the art-wave scene coming out of London?

26:15: When recording the follow up are you the driving force telling people what your vision is and say we need to make this happen?

27:35: Do you have any regrets or things you'd wished you'd done early during the early stages of the band?

29:30: Did you feel like you had to keep going and couldn't afford to take any time off?

30:25: Being a comic book fan, how has it impacted your music?

32:11: How do you hook up with Frank Black?

37:50: Art Brut is a band that a lot of musicians love, who are some artists that you have been surprised love your band?

39:45: Talk to us about how your upcoming tour came together.

42: What do you love about Chicago?

45:23: Are there plans for any new music?

46:10: What is your writing process like?

47:20: Are you ever surprised by the bands that you've inspired?

49: Thick or thin crust pizza?

50:10: What is your favorite venue to play in Chicago?

52:30: What do you think makes Chicago such a unique music scene?

53:40: What is your go to cheap drink?

54:50: Anything you want to plug on the way on out of here?

John Perrin is an incredible Chicago drummer and has toured or recorded with an impressive list of artists, including NRBQ, JD McPherson, Young Fresh Fellows, The Smoking Popes, Jake La Botz, Rodney Crowell, Jim Boggia, The Hushdrops and many more.

We talk about how he got his first drum set at the age of two and played in his first band with his dad & brother at the age of ten. We also covered his love of record collecting, his incredible New Year's Eve experience and his love of Chicago.

Time Stamps:

1:40: What happened on New Years?

9: How did you find your way into the Chicago music scene?

16:22: Is it by choice that you tend to play with people older than you?

21: NRBQ talk!

25: Who wouldn't want to be friends with Scott McCaughey?

28:50: Tell us your engagement story!

32: Talk to us about the life of a session musician?

41:20: You are about the experience - you want the spontaneity

46: What is a dream project for you?

65:25: Thick or thin crust pizza?

66:40: Favorite venue to play a show and favorite venue to see a show at?

68:14: What makes Chicago so unique as a music town?

70:10: What is your go to cheap drink?

72: What do we have going on over the next couple of months?

Dag Juhlin has done it all - well, almost all. He's been in too many bands to count & played with nearly everyone in the Chicago music community. The Slugs. Poi Dog Pondering. Sunshine Boys. Expo '76. Courtesy Patrol. Young Fresh Fellows. R.E.M. Tribute band. He'll most certainly be playing at a Chicago club near you very soon!!!

Time stamps:

3:13: When did you know you wanted to be a musician?

10:17: Were The Slugs your first "real" band?

14: What's your best Kenn Goodman story?

16:27: There was a big Chicago DIY scene in the 80s. Who did you play with?

18:30: How did you take to songwriting?

24:30: Do you know what project you are writing for when you write a song?

29: How did you make it into Jason Narducy's orbit?

37:11: You reunited R.E.M.!

41: Is it hard to set aside time for all your disparate activities?

42:13: How did you end up in Poi Dog Pondering?

52: Let's talk music docs!

60:21: Thick or thin crust pizza fan?

64:45: Favorite venue to see a show, and favorite venue to play?

72:55: What makes Chicago a unique music scene?

74: What is your go-to cheap drink?

76: What do you want to plug on the way on out of here?

Miranda Winters grew up in Providence, RI - but she's all in on Chicago. She plays guitar and sings in Chicago noise rock quartet Melkbelly (along with her husband, Bart Winters). Her most recent project was the all-female band Mandy wich released the LP Lawn Girl last year. Look for Melkbelly out on tour in the next few months.

Time stamps:

1:30: What are some of your earliest musical memories?

3:50: What were some of your gateway bands?

5:30: At what age did you decide you wanted to be a musician?

7: How and when do you get to Chicago?

8:10: What were your first impressions of Chicago?

10:12: How long did it take you to find your Chicago music community?

15: What's it like working creatively with your husband?

18: Talk to us about Mandy

20: What is your creative process like?

23: Is Melkbelly working on anything right now?

27: What was it like being inside the hurricane as people were saying Melkbelly was blowing up at SXSW?

30: Did you cry the first time you went to Electrical Audio?

31:30: Song destroyers - how did you come upon that process? how does that process work?

34: Has the reaction to the Mandy record surprised you at all?

37:30: The two most recent Melkbelly songs are very different, how did these songs come to be?

39: How long does the process usually take with recording?

40:45: What makes the Chicago scene so special?

43:35: Favorite place to play shows/see shows in Chicago?

47:20: Thick or thin crust pizza fan?

50:45: What are some Chicago bands that are near and dear to your heart?

52:30: What is your go to cheap drink?

54: What are you excited about coming up over the next couple of months?