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Vinyl Emergency

Jim Hanke

Musicians, record label owners, visual artists and beyond describe how vinyl records have shaped their lives and careers. Previous guests include Hozier, Rosanne Cash, Ben Gibbard, Adam Duritz, Lisa Loeb and members of Run-DMC, Foo Fighters, R.E.M. and more.

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20 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 12 min
English

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Friday · 1 hr 21 min
WORLD SERIES SPECIAL: MLB Pitcher John Axford (2024 Interview)
With the Milwaukee Brewers kicking off their first World Series appearance in nearly 45 years tonight, we bring you this wide-ranging conversation from 2024, on Episode 193 with retired MLB pitcher John Axford. With the 2011 Brew Crew, he racked up the most saves of any National League reliever, and has himself pitched in the 2013 WS, then as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Check out our Instagram post as well, featuring visuals of John's audio set-up and LP collection, to go along with the audio. GO BREWERS!
October 6 · 1 hr 21 min
Episode 244: Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr. / Sebadoh / Folk Implosion)
Fresh off of a blistering new Dinosaur Jr. album titled There Near, and the announcement of a 30th anniversary reissue of Sebadoh's Harmacy LP, Lou Barlow visits this week to discuss when the first Trump presidency kickstarted a picture sleeve obsession, why he intentionally destroyed Dinosaur Jr.'s first vinyl test pressing, and how a proper guitar tablature book for the band would be theoretically impossible. Visit dinosaurjr.com for tour dates and megamart.subpop.com for the Harmacy pre-order.
September 22 · 1 hr 7 min
Episode 243: Jim James of My Morning Jacket
Naturally and keenly shifting from soul to folk to stadium rock (sometimes in the same song) over the last 25+ years, Jim James -- and by extension My Morning Jacket, his Grammy-nominated powerhouse quintet -- points to an unlikely influence for such a kaleidoscope of sound: Jim Henson. Through The Muppet Show and Sesame Street's wide-eyed optimism and cast diversity — be they human actors or handmade ones — songs like "The Rainbow Connection" spoke deeply to him as a youngster, leading to an admiration for the rag-tag nature of Dr. Teeth & the Electric Mayhem. Fast-forward to the present, and Jim's success as led to a few Muppet-related full-circle moments, like jamming with manic drummer Animal or crooning side-by-side with Kermin the Frog, both occurring at Newport Folk Festival appearances within the last few years. On the heels of a new solo LP titled Wowed Out, Jim chats about other early influences like AC/DC and Anita Baker, how he's collecting fonts these days more so than records, and why letting go is an integral part of the creative process. Tour dates and more can be found at jimjames.com and mymorningjacket.com. For more My Morning Jacket talk, find bassist Tom Blankenship's visit from 2020, on Episode 134 further back in this same feed. Follow @vinylemergency on Instagram for visuals relating to our episodes.
September 8 · 1 hr 11 min
The Promise Ring's 'Very Emergency,' Track-By-Track (with The Great Albums)
Enjoy this special feed drop of The Great Albums Podcast, where Vinyl Emergency's Jim Hanke guests to discuss The Promise Ring's 1999 LP, Very Emergency, track-by-track. Find and subscribe to the Great Albums wherever you get podcasts! Members of the Great Albums Patreon can listen to an additional interview regarding the album with Dan Didier, drummer and founding member of the band.
August 24 · 1 hr 3 min
Episode 242: Hutch Harris (The Thermals)
Describing himself as working within "the art of opportunity," Hutch Harris has been rummaging through charity bins and resale shops for years, pocketing vintage insurance ads or worn pages of childrens books, in order to create stunning, patchwork album covers for The Thermals. In today's conversation, Hutch describes what goes into those methods and how you at home can obtain personalized lyric sheets, unique LP/CD sleeves and more. Leading up to the September 4th release of Under Crushing Rain — the first new Thermals LP in a decade — we also cover when Broadway musicals fueled his interest in concept albums, and how a mastering engineer's snarky review of the band's debut full-length ended up in inscribed in that album's deadwax. A 20th anniversary repress of the Thermals' landmark album The Body The Blood The Machine is available now for pre-order via subpop.com, while Under Crushing Rain can be purchased at thethermals.bandcamp.com. Subscribe to the Thermals' Patreon for more one-of-a-kind goodness. SPONSORS: Foregin Leisure Records | flipbin | Forge Again Records
August 11 · 1 hr 17 min
Episode 241: The Hold Steady [LIVE IN CHICAGO] -- 'Boys and Girls in America' Deep Dive
Recorded in front of a live audience at The Salt Shed's Three Top Lounge in Chicago, all six members of The Hold Steady (along with album producer John Agnello) sit down to sum up the writing, recording and behind-the-scenes sagas of 'Boys and Girls in America,' in celebration of its 20th anniversary. Pre-order the new 2LP reissue, due out in November, from your favorite indie record store and get tickets for the band's annual Massive Nights celebration at theholdsteady.net. SPONSORS: flipbin | StreamToWax | Forge Again Records Follow @vinylemergency on Instagram.
August 3 · 1 hr 13 min
Glen Hansard, Remembered (2025 Interview)
Following the sudden passing of Glen Hansard, we are revisiting his appearance on Vinyl Emergency, with longtime Swell Season creative partner Markéta Irglová, to celebrate Glen's songwriting and lasting musical impact. This special ad-free encore presentation begins with new reflections on his career and essential albums before transitioning into the original interview, released in July 2025. Follow @VinylEmergency on Instagram.
July 14 · 1 hr 7 min
Episode 240: The Menzingers' Greg Barnett
Gearing up this week to release their latest album Everything I Ever Saw, Menzingers vocalist/guitarist Greg Barnett discusses vinyl's evolution since the band's inception two decades ago, their friendship and collaborations with in-demand producer Will Yip, and why allowing the group to be a democracy in the first place has kept it alive. Visit themenzingers.com for album info, tour dates, socials and more, including listening party and in-store performance details to celebrate the record's release. SPONSORS: StreamToWax | Forge Again Records | flipbin
June 30 · 1 hr 17 min
Episode 239: Anthony Mason (Returns!)
You'd be hard-pressed to find someone else with as much curiosity and vigor at 70 years old about the creation of art as longtime CBS News journalist Anthony Mason. Over his 40+ years with the network, he's shaped an Emmy-winning career around making songwriters of all stripes (from Bruce Springsteen to Phoebe Bridgers) feel comfortable enough to get uncomfortable about their motives, fears and process. And though his CBS schedule hasn't slowed down in the least, he's now launched 'Alchemy with Anthony Mason' — a new long-form interview program on YouTube, featuring conversations with Paul Simon, Nile Rodgers, Hozier and others — as a way of expanding upon the segues and tangents around songwriting that might normally be left on broadcast television's cutting-room floor. Returning to the podcast for his second visit, he discusses today how songwriting is a mechanism for the processing of trauma, and the sentiment of the show's rallying cry, inspired by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy. Watch Alchemy with Anthony Mason on YouTube, sign up for Anthony's newsletter at alchemy.show, and follow the program on Instagram @alchemywithanthony. -- Check out Episode 173 with Anthony from 2023, further back in this feed.
June 16 · 1 hr 19 min
Episode 238: Nick Harmer of Death Cab for Cutie
Hot on the heels of I Built You A Tower — Death Cab for Cutie's 11th album, released earlier this month — bassist and founding member Nick Harmer tells us why this LP is the band's loudest in a long time. Plus, a deep dive into his personal record-hunting habits, how the group culled through nearly 100 demos to shape this release, and pinpointing the connecting tissue between Tower's themes of grief, apathy and change. Tour dates, socials and more are available at deathcabforcutie.com.
June 2 · 1 hr 36 min
Episode 237: Mike Reed (Small Brown Bike / 84 Tigers)
It seems that Mike Reed's musical journey has been supported and surrounded by family from the very beginning -- whether his dad was building a stage, his uncle was installing a lighting rig, or having his brother Ben Reed at his side through Small Brown Bike, Able Baker Fox or their latest project, 84 Tigers. On this week's show, Mike details the DIY efforts -- usually involving similar DNA -- that it's taken over the years to steer his musical vision. Plus, ahead of a 25th anniversary performance of their landmark album Dead Reckoning at this year's Fest 24, why reuniting Small Brown Bike without guitarist Travis Dopp (who passed away in 2023) wasn't originally an easy place to get to. Visit thefestfl.com for tickets, and hear 84 Tigers' new album Nothing Ends wherever you stream music. Find it on vinyl from either spartanrecords.com or 84tigersband.com.
May 19 · 54 min
Episode 236: Erin Osmon, author of 'Won't Back Down: Heartland Rock and the Fight for America'
Having already penned much-heralded books on both John Prine and Jason Molina, author Erin Osman is now tackling the wide genre of heartland rock — which she defines more by a spiritual and ideological geography, rather than a literal one. And while Bob Seger, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellancamp round out the Mount Rushmore of sorts for this soundtrack of working class 80's middle-America, Osmon casts a needed spotlight on the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Lucinda Williams and Bruce Hornsby within the pages of 'Won't Back Down,' available now wherever you get literature. On this week's show, Osman expands upon the relationship between art and province, and why the subject matter of 'Won't Back Down' stretches across generations. Plus, details on her current role on the editorial staff of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, and how her two decades as a music journalist have led her there. Visit erinosmon.com for more info, past works and a killer playlist of tunes featured in 'Won't Back Down.' Music on this episode is from The Pretty Flowers, available digitally or on vinyl at theprettyflowers.bandcamp.com or forgeagainrecords.bandcamp.com.
April 28 · 54 min
SECOND SPIN: Hozier (October 2018)
This is an encore presentation of a previous episode. --- Global superstar Hozier ("Take Me To Church," "Too Sweet") discusses his appreciation for analog experiences, and some personal anecdotes on how records by Howlin' Wolf, D'Angelo and more -- specifically on vinyl -- have influenced his own creative output. Plus, singer/songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews and Dawes lead vocalist/guitarist Taylor Goldsmith share their thoughts about the importance of wax in a digital world. These conversations were recorded backstage at the 2018 edition of the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival in Franklin, TN.
April 14 · 53 min
Episode 235: Tenille Townes
Thanks to vinyl's nearly two decades of steady growth and new pressing plants popping up almost annually, the physical act of getting LP's pressed as an independent artist is easier than ever. But, that's not to say that it's easy. Canadian singer/songwriter Tenille Townes, for instance, recently found herself taking the leap out of the Nashville country music machine and funding, recording and pressing her new album The Acrobat completely on her own. This included a modest vinyl pre-order goal of 300 copies, still more than she'd ever sold via pre-order while with a proper label. Luckily, the fan base she's been slowly building through Billboard Canada Country chart number ones and (as NPR says) "passionate and empathetic songs that capture the complexities of the heartland" more than tripled that original estimate. On this week's show, Tenille details the nuts and bolts of bringing The Acrobat from a laptop in her bedroom to turntables around the globe, and all the dollars and doubt that came with it. The Acrobat is available now via all digital platforms, and on vinyl from tenilletownes.com.
March 31 · 1 hr 16 min
Episode 234: I'm With Her
Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan talk this week about their recent Grammy wins, family mixtapes over the years, favorite live albums and more. Sing Me Alive, the trio's own new live 2LP set, drops digitally later this month, with vinyl arriving May 8th. Pre-order it and get tour dates, social media and more via imwithherband.com.
March 17 · 1 hr 28 min
Episode 233: Mammal Hands
Through a sprawling instrumental approach that blends post-rock, jazz, minimalism, electronic elements and more, British trio Mammal Hands still have a knack for ensuring rapturous melody is always part of the equation. On their new album Circadia -- topping the Billboard UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart this week -- the band sounds at once both freeing and well-structured, finding arcs and chapters within tracks that blend the mysterious tones of Mogwai with the hushed escapism of Eno/Budd collaborations. On today's episode, saxophonist Jordan Smart, brother Nick Smart on piano, and new drummer Rob Turner give their backstory, and delve into how a wide range of influences (from Gétatchèw Mèkurya to John Frusciante to Wayne Shorter) have contributed to their artistic DNA. Circadia is available digitally, and on black or clear vinyl, from MammalHands.com. Follow @mammalhands on Instagram for news and updates.
March 3 · 1 hr 4 min
Episode 232: Andrew Bird
Copping its title from a magic mail-order catalog from the 1920's, The Mysterious Production of Eggs sounds so confident in both its whimsical grandeuer and its pensive, quiet moments, one would have no idea that it took renowned violinist and songwriter Andrew Bird many top-to-bottom rewrites, over nearly half a decade, to complete. Today, he walks us through overcoming those initial struggles, when exactly his trademark whistle became part of his musical DNA, and how the current symphonic tour he's on is strategically sequenced much like a vinyl record. A whopping 3LP anniversary edition of Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs -- with live cuts, alternate takes, a 50+ page book and more -- is available now from your local record store or AndrewBird.net.
February 3 · 1 hr 23 min
Episode 231: Hey Mercedes
Vocalist/guitarist Bob Nanna, bassist Todd Bell, guitarist Mike Shumaker and drummer Damon Atkinson discuss their original start as a band in the early 00's and their upcoming vinyl reissues, dropping this March. Pre-orders and tour dates are available at polyvinylrecords.com.
January 20 · 1 hr 13 min
Episode 230: Jason Narducy (Returns!)
On his third visit to the podcast, everyone's favorite musician-for-hire Jason Narducy (Superchunk, Bob Mould Band, Split Single, Verböten) discusses his new book — Mostly The Van, Volume 1 — and a recent full-circle moment in the childhood bedroom of R.E.M.'s Bill Berry. Jason will be hitting the road again next month alongside Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon, playing that group's legendary fourth LP, Life's Rich Pageant. Follow @jasonnarducy on Instagram for tour dates, copies of the book and much more. (To hear Jason's previous interviews, revisit Episodes 121 and 212)
January 6 · 1 hr 9 min
Episode 229: Patterson Hood (Returns!)
As NPR tells it, Drive-By Truckers' "examination of the Southern psyche is a microcosm of how Americans respond to triumph and tragedy," but their early career incline couldn't have looked more shattered behind the scenes. The band was close to imploding while crafting 2001's Southern Rock Opera, through a heatwave in a warehouse, for a paltry $7,000. But when the time came to make their follow-up, Decoration Day — in vocalist/guitarist Patterson Hood's words, "the most openly beloved thing we've ever done" — there was new fuel in the band's tank, with the addition of Jason Isbell, and a real studio and budget to help dial in their vision. Hood recalls it being his funnest recording experience to date, and the final product ended up catapulting the group to cult-like status. Today, on his second visit to Vinyl Emergency, Hood discusses the recently released 4LP Definitive Decoration Day box set, and why he feels the more his band is pushed, the better they become. Follow @dbtph on Instagram and hit up drivebytruckers.com for upcoming solo tour dates. (To hear Patterson Hood's previous interview, revisit Episode 144 from February 2021)

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