Mike Park, Alkaline Trio, & The Exploding Hearts Coming to CrossFade! Send Questions & Songs!

Thanks guys, the show was awesome. I mostly knew MinnMax through Youtube so I wasn't aware that your show existed until I signed up on Patreon. You've got another Spotify follower now. I can't wait to go through the backlog.

Tanner Hoisington

Oh no in probably too late for this! How do you feel about bands that split singing duties pretty equally among members? Do you have a clear favorite between Matt and Dan in Alkaline Trio? I think I tend to prefer Dan songs actually!

Tanner Hoisington

I'm not in love with some of the songwriting and production of the Skiba era, but his vocals have been on point in both albums. Especially Nine.

Just kidding. For real: When you first heard Alkaline Trio, what was it that told you they were a good fit for Asian Man Records? Do you still hear that same X factor in it today?

Mike - Where’d you come up with the record label name?

Thom Blackburn

Onset- hikes is my song choice

Asian Man Records has been one of my favorite labels since the late 90s. Many of my favorite bands are the Chicago bands, like Alkaline Trio, Tuesday, Lawrence Arms, The Broadways, The Honor System that all formed out of Slapstick, which was one of the earliest releases on Asian Man Records. When you first started working with Slapstick did any of you fathom the volume of output and classics that you would put out together? Throughout the 25 years of Asian Man Records was there any band or record you put out that you loved, but just didn't the traction or love you thought it should have?

podbod

Cocteau twins' cherry colored funk is one for me. I love that song and just sing jibberish along with it

whitemex

Are there songs you've listened a lot to and still don't know the lyrics? For instance, i still don't know what the hell Bizzy Bone is saying in Notorious Thugs to this day

Braden Summers

Actually thought of a question. Do you think the deaths of musicians have more weight than other artists' deaths? If so why do you think this is?

Mike Lynch

Mike Park, welcome to CrossFade! In the 2000's-2010's you organized charity tours through your Plea For Peace Foundation. Could you please talk about the work the foundation did and are there any current non-profits reminiscent of Plea For Peace you feel could use a signal boost or donation? ***Summer Of Punk continues*** https://open.spotify.com/track/2TncdAnbeRHID1yNR8YJC9?si=exNQheyuTBKJXsoMujLh_w&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1

Also, I live close enough to Chicago (Indiana/the Region) that I was able to catch Alkaline Trio several times back in the day at places like The Metro and the sadly missed Fireside Bowl. I was able to catch another Chicago band several times that Mike knows well, The Lawrence Arms. Anyone who likes Alkaline Trio should give them a listen. A song suggestion from them is from an Asian Man release, Nebraska. I wouldn't mind knowing if the Mike they reference in the beginning of the song is Mike Park. And if so, if he's comfortable with it, would he mind elaborating on the meaning of that.

Whoa, I just signed up to be a Patron and I already see you talking about Exploding Hearts on a podcast, that's amazing!! Guitar Romantic is one of the greatest power pop albums ever created. It was good enough that I started following just about everything Dirtnap Records released for years. So, with my song suggestion I would like to go back to someone that influenced The Exploding Hearts since they covered one of his songs that made it onto the equally amazing Shattered comp album. Paul Collins / The Beat (probably more recognized for The Nerves) Song: Rock N Roll Girl. It's power pop perfection.

Braden Summers

No way, I just heard a podcast about The Exploding Hearts, and have been hooked ever since. What a fantastic album.

Jason Wojnar

My contribution to the playlist is "Theme Song For Nothing" by Sticks and Stones. They have a lot of great tunes but for whatever reason it is the only one available on Spotify because it is on a compilation. I think anyone who likes Pop Punk should absolutely check them out. https://open.spotify.com/track/6OyAWA8rnKnFEALcMg3NRh?si=63e44a86711e4504

Tommy Carver-Chaplin

Hey guys. As someone who got into Alkaline Trio so much later, have you guys given Matt Skiba's blink-182 a go, and what do you think of them if you have? Nine didn't hit the mark for me but I loved California, and I think Skiba brought a strength in vocals that I controversially think elevates the band.