Author: Matthew Ussia

Episode 30: Writing/Politics

Robin Clarke is a poet, activist, and professor.  In this episode, we talk about how poetry can provide a counter to the prevailing narratives of business and development.  We also talk about some of the unfair changes we are witnessing in Pittsburgh, how organizing gives people hope, and the superiority of Snorks over Smurfs.

Her award winning collection of poetry, Lines the Quarry, can be purchased through the Omnidawn Press.

Robin swears like a sailor.

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Episode 29: My Whole Life is about Obsolete Formats

For this episode, our guest is Jason Baldinger, poet, musician, working stiff, and all around swell guy.  In this episode, we talk about creating and appreciating art in the age of austerity, or at least we meant to talk about that.  We do however end up talking about Jack Kerouac’s blind spots, St. Francis of Assisi’s dining habits, how Reagan ruined everything, and how to save gas when you’re already out.

Jason also reads some poems for us.  You can hear more at Jason’s Bandcamp page.  You really should find out more about his books The Studs Terkel Blues and The Lower Forty-Eight via his publishers NightBallet Press and Six Gallery Press.  You can buy these books from the man himself by dropping a line to theunderwaterculprit@gmail.com. He’s also in a band called Pond Hockey.

As usual there’s swearing, and this time I did have to censor something Jason said.  However, my editing skills are so sharp you will have no clue anything has happened.

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Episode 28: Making Music

For this episode we go to Acoustic Music Works, a shop people travel from far and wide to visit.  There we talk to Raymond Morin, who is a luthier, and his apprentice Adam Rousseau.  Not only do they explain what a luthier is, we have a fascinating conversation about what goes into making an acoustic guitar.  We also discuss the difference between a shop like Acoustic Music Works and the Strip Mall Monolith Music Store, how making instruments changes the way one experiences other aspects of music, and I find someone else who had a childhood love of Bloom County.

You can find out more about Acoustic Music Works from their web site.  Acoustic Music Works is on Twitter. You can hear more from Raymond through his excellent blog called Work and Worry. Finally, longtime listeners of the podcast remember Adam from his great band Triggers.

I think we say the bad word for poop twice.

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Episode 27: Reincarnation Back on the Agenda

For this episode, my friend and future ex-office mate Michael Begnal stops by to discuss his unique life journey. Mike is currently a college professor and poet. However, in previous lives he’s been a drummer in the hardcore band Wasted Talent and once did odd jobs in Ireland.  During our conversation we discuss his various creative endeavors, the virtues of Jackass, Fred Wilpon’s tenure as principal owner of the New York Mets, the ways American culture can be found in Ireland, and Mike reads us a poem he wrote in Gaelic!

You can find out about all things Michael Begnal at his blog.  You can also buy his books Future Blues and Ancestor Worship from his publisher Salmon Poetry.  The recorded output of Wasted Talent will soon be available via Going Underground Records.

As always, I swear.

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Episode 26: Make a Joyful Noise

Bill Toms is back and ready to talk about his great new album Deep in the Shadows.  Bill is fascinating and funny and it’s super hard to describe all of the wonderful things we talk about.  Our conversation met at the crossroads of music, American history, recording, being in a band, and the natural order of the universe.  I will say that the ghosts of Robert Frost and Warren Zevon attacked my computer for the last 15 seconds.

You can pick up a copy of Deep in the Shadows at his CD release show Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Club Cafe. You can also find out about Bill and buy many things at BillToms.com.

You can probably listen to this one at work, but I’m not 100% certain I contained my potty mouth for an hour.

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Episode 24: Emily Post-Structuralism

Luke Niebler is an educator, activist, and all around great person.  He is also the creative force behind Emily Post-Structuralism, a unique Tumblr account that re-imagines high theory as an advice column.   And while it is a parody of a unique style of academic writing, Luke manages to have fun with and not make fun of some of the most crucial ideas of the post-WW II period.  We also manage to talk about cats, grad school, and why we’re so damn old.

You can find Emily Post-Structuralism on Tumblr, and you can also follow Emily Post-Structuralism on Facebook.  He also wanted to give some love to Mt. Zion Press, who helped get Emily Post-Structuralism off the ground.

I don’t think we swore, but then maybe we did in the contemporary meta discursive language game we are all hailed into uttering within.

 

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Episode 23: Escape from South Plainfield [Remixed]

It’s still winter, but We’re All Gonna Die! is slowly coming out of hibernation.

And while I am lining up new guests, I thought I would get rolling with a little “greatest hits” retrospective.  I also thought it would be nice to do a little work to improve the sound quality.  So, this is the first of a few “remixed” episodes.

“Escape from South Plainfield” is perhaps not the best episode of We’re All Gonna Die, but it’s certainly my favorite.  Recorded in a hotel room in Brooklyn with my oldest friend Chris Q. Murphy, we talk about what it was like to grow up in Noweheresville, NJ.  Hear more of Murph’s music at Kettle Pot Tracks.

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Episode 22: I Brought a Printer This Time

Sarah Donner is a singer, songwriter, creative type, and cat lady from Princeton, NJ who is currently crossing the country for her annual summer tour.  She stops by to discuss DIY touring in an era when music has little or no monetary value.  Follow her at sarahdonner.com and be one of 2 million people to check out one of her videos here.

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Episode 21: The Limitations and Liberations of Genre

Do you like the sound of spring thunderstorms? Do you like conversations about aesthetic conventions? Do you wish the two could be combined somehow?

Well, join my old friend and accomplished musician John Charney in the lovely and beautiful St. Michael’s Cemetery in Loretto, Pennsylvania as we sit and discuss musical genres during a passing thunderstorm.  In the process, we don’t get hit by lightening but we do get all nostalgic and John busts out an amazing story about meeting Mike Patton.  He also plays for us.

John is a musician, musical director, and  music teacher.  He records and performs and will someday soon have a web site.  As of right now, you can find him at johncharneymusic@yahoo.com.

As always, I swear.

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