A Fresh Face in Hell with Jonathan Evison

Marco Collins is a seminal figure in both the San Diego and Seattle alt-rock music scenes of the '80s and '90s. As a radio DJ, Marco was instrumental in introducing new artists to eager listeners at 91X (San Diego) and later at KNDD, The End (Seattle). Many bands, like NIN, The Pixies, and the Cocteau Twins, only got airplay because Marco fought with his stations to play them. He leaked demos and hid singles from test groups so he could get music heard. A tireless advocate for his audience and a consummate rebel, Marco's star has burned bright across our culture, so much so that he has a display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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If you like hearing stories from Gen X postal workers, you have come to the right podcast. Today I talk with my second mail carrier, Stephen Grant. At the beginning of the pandemic Stephen lost his job as a strategist for a Manhattan ad agency. He decided to return to his family home in West Virginia where he took a job as a mail carrier. Stephen wrote a book about his experiences called "Mailman - My Wild Ride Delivering Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding a Home."  We talk about rediscovering purpose and connecting with his family and neighbors. I learned a lot about the region including how to correctly pronounce Appalachia.  
Mailman: https://www.stevegrantworks.com/
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When I get called a boomer, it’s usually because I’m trying to explain to someone much younger why collecting vinyl records and making mixtapes is so satisfying. A Spotify playlist may be more efficient and time-saving, but what do you lose in the digital process? Organic discovery that’s not based on an algorithm. Record store curation (High Fidelity, anyone?). Listening to a whole album while reading the liner notes, etc. According to today’s guest, author David Sax, it turns out these younger generations are starting to discover the joys of an analog experience on their own. Now, five years out from the start of the pandemic, we’re seeing signs of digital exhaustion and a craving for something more tactile. It’s an encouraging conversation for this Gen Xer. Check out David Sax's book, "The Future is Analog", and please, read it on paper.
The Future is Analog
https://www.elliottbaybook.com/item/FUkcZsH8Mlh_1LNJ2Ucg9A
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Tim Mays has been promoting shows and owning clubs in San Diego for 47 years. His most famous club, The Casbah, is celebrating 37 years in business this year. Tim talks with me about the early, often violent, days of the San Diego punk scene. We also talk about the early '90s when San Diego was thought to be "the next Seattle," with bands like Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt, and Lucy's Fur Coat being courted by major record labels. We get into Stone Temple Pilots, Iron Butterfly, Jason Mraz, and, of course, Ratt. Tim has been there for all of it and shares stories from his legendary career.

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Craig Lancaster is a prolific author, playwright, and journalist who wrote the award-winning "600 Hours of Edward," as well as its sequels "Edward Adrift" and "The Summer Sun." Tired of the publishing game, Craig has decided to hang it all up and become a nomad. He sold his belongings, rented his house out, bought an RV, and has now charted a path across America. My goal with this episode was to talk him out of it, but in the end, we spent the hour daydreaming of living a simpler life on the road, free to read, navigate campground WiFi, clean out toilets, and keep black mold remediated—all the while keeping our hearts open to finding an unexpected home in some remote part of the country.
https://www.craig-lancaster.com/
https://craiglancaster.substack.com/
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