Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

31/07/2024

Ep393: Spencer Hazard (Full of Hell, Eye Flys, Reaper's Gong)
Full of Hell has been releasing high quality and uncompromising heavy music for almost 15 years and there is a new one called Coagulated Bliss! We talk about that, as well as Spencer's decision to step back from touring, even as Full of Hell continues to work on the road with a new live member. Collaborations with Merzbow and The Body, Riley Stearns and the Art of the Defense. Eye Flys and Repear's Gong, Van thefts, quarantine projects and making music in a town that has less than 10,000 people when people aren't there on Vacation. It's the pride of Ocean City!

https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep393-spencer-hazard-full-of-hell-eye-flys-reapers-gong/

23/07/2024

Ep392: Steve Bartek (Oingo Boingo, Baring All, Composer, Conductor)
Steve has a new record with Ira Ingber Baring All – There Goes My Compass. Ira is an accomplished player as well, having played with Bob Dylan, the Mothers of Invention and Captain Beefheart amongst others. He also played that awesome slide guitar on the Midnight Run soundtrack. We speak of that as well as tales of Sam Raimi, Jon Brien (Lady Bird soundtrack, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind, etc.). Lots about the Oingo Boingo Farewell concert, live album and video . Bear McCreary. The interesting tale of Former Members of Oingo Boingo. Possibly the only tribute but that features members of the band being paid tribute to? Anyway, it’s another long deep dive into the world of the amazing Steve Bartek. Guitarist, Conductor and Danny Elfman’s right hand man.
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep392-steve-bartek-oingo-boingo-baring-all-composer-conductor/

09/07/2024

Ep391: John Mohr, Michael Greenlees, Tim Midyett (Deep Tunnel Project)
Deep Tunnel Project is a chicago band! Featuring, two members of Tar, one from Silkworm and one from The Bomb it is a unique pairing creating new music and new sounds. 3/4 of them, all returning guests respectively, come on Protonic to talk in-depth about this great new record, the mindset and origin of the band and lots more!
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep391-john-mohr-michael-greenlees-tim-midyett-deep-tunnel-project/

03/07/2024

Ep390: Kip Uhlhorn and Matt Hall (The Red Scare)
The Red Scare is back! No, not the podcast, the legendary late 90s/early 00s’ Knoxville hardcore band. Kip (Panthers, Cloudland Canyon) and Matt (New Brutalism, Manhandle, Obstructures) join Conan to talk all about the new retrospective/reissue Smoky Mountain High. A track by track breakdown, as well as a hilarious recounting of touring, songwriting, relearning songs from 20+ years ago and so much more. Genuinely hilarious! Get it wherever you get your podcasts, or the link below:
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep390-kip-uhlhorn-and-matt-hall-the-red-scare/ Solid Brass Records

02/07/2024

Tonight! Brand new protonic reversal with John Mohr and Mike Greenlees of Deep Tunnel Project and Tar! 8e/7c/6m/5p streaming on youtube and twitch, podcasted later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVVLduVWtWY&pp=ygURcHJvdG9uaWMgcmV2ZXJzYWw%3D

27/06/2024

tonight! brand new Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal 8e/7c/6m/5p with Kip and Matt of The Red Scare! Whoa re BACK! tune in, streaming live on youtube and twitch. Solid Brass Records https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qfq4qxV6X0

12/06/2024

Ep389: Jake Smith (Eye Flys, Backslider)
Protonic is back! First show since the 10 year anniversary episode. Let’s go! This episode is Jake Smith of heavy band Eye Flys, who have a great new heavy rock record. (self-titled!) It’s a song by song of that record, as well as hearing about how they ended up on Thrill Jockey… the THRILL of having the dude from Full of Hell in the band for a good amount of time and many other stories of enjoying making records and touring while making heavy music. I mean, they are named after a Melvins song, what did you think it was gonna sound like? Let’s do it!
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep389-jake-smith-eye-flys-backslider/

09/05/2024

Steve Albini was on a lot over the years (including two weeks ago), a few of those episodes weren't available in all forms, that's since been rectified. I think this is the best. Amongst other things it was the first time he addressed calling that band Rapeman. Yes, before twitter.

It was a mindblowing moment, earnest and an exclusive. Worth hearing if you hadn't already. Another sign of the man's real and earnest growth.

https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep150-steve-albini-shellac-big-black-rapeman/

I guess i'll copy and paste what I wrote elsewhere, since I didn't post it here.
Steve Albini is gone.
An influential musician to me, if not usually in sound, definitely in spirit and so many others. His body of work for music alone stands as both iconoclastic, iconic and timeless. Yet he was also both a recording engineer of renown and unimpeachable skill, lending his talents to countless records that have enriched both mine and every person’s life.
He was also a deep thinker and somebody that never failed to be interesting, erudite and often profound on nearly every issue. Even if I didn’t agree with his take on something, it was damn well worth listening to. His balancing of reckoning with past provocations in names, titles and subject matter with emotional growth and the wisdom of age is frankly astounding.
He also was the catalyst for a community that was a huge part of my life for a decade or so.
I tried to articulate it quickly when I had him on for the Protonic Reversal 10 year episode… not even two weeks ago, that him being generous with his time with me and showing me an honorable template for how to be as an artist was important.
He brushed this off as “the normal thing to do.”, well in the world of influencers, personal brands and fevered egos sometimes “the normal thing to do” is anything but. Sorry Steve, being a refusenik to “play the game” is leadership whether you want it to be or not.
DEAL WITH IT.
And it wasn’t just me that felt that way, countless people have benefited from his wisdom, pragmatic creativity and zero tolerance for nonsense.
I would say we were friendly, but it would be presumptuous to say we were friends. More so than randoms on social media or folks met in passing through rock music with single serving experiences, but far less than his actual friends who have to be hurting so hard right now.
Yet he always seemed to remember certain tidbits of knowledge in a thoughtful way from years back.
And by years I mean almost 30 of them!
I’d usually think: “How did he remember that? How many people does this guy know?” Yet he remembered, he always remembered. He’d never big time you, he’d make the time. The normal thing to do.
One of the first things I did in music that wasn’t ineptly play guitar, fumbling towards art of value that matched the lofty goals in my mind was interview Steve for a long departed and lost zine, I was shortly out of high school and living off of minimum wage from a record store with far too many roommates.
Once again, trying to find my own way into giving something back to this culture that has given so much to me. He was the exact kind of person I wanted to talk to, as a “not quite a teenager” “not an adult” young man. If he didn’t have the answers, he most certainly would be interesting in his take on the question.
His disdain towards cherished yet wrong beliefs in industry and creativity, hypocrisy and other things were and continue to be templates for folks just like me and assuredly for generations to come.
Once again, even if I didn’t agree entirely I wanted to hear them. Sometimes ESPECIALLY if I didn’t, so I could challenge my own belief systems.
We did a special episode on protonic some years back that was meant to be a quickie 20 minutes (ha!) just about the culture of Like and Subscribe that was just then starting to become so dominant in culture, it went over an hour and I wouldn’t cut a minute.
Because he was like that: could take about any kind of topic at all and it was just interesting. I still can’t think of any other conversation that covered it so eloquently.
I feel like any one of these things would be enough to feel so profoundly the loss of such a titan in this world.
He was all these things and more, cooking enthusiast, World Series of poker champion.
I’ve had the Shellac song “End of Radio” as the closing song from protonic from the very start. Perfectly summing up complex and nuanced feelings about broadcasting/podcasting and perseverance in a field that is so often a one way form of communication, a message in a bottle. Inherent loneliness filed down to a razor’s edge at the pandemic, reaching towards… something.
Steve and his bandmates Bob and Todd were not only good enough to let me do this with enthusiasm and encouragement. Steve engaged earnestly and helpfully on behalf of the show over some minor DMCA copyright nonsense for a platform you might be able to guess that I shall not name.
I saw Shellac 33 times, an all time favorite of mine.
Requiescat Steve Albini,
You were a titan, and a gentleman and we shall not see your likes again.
(I decided to post the silliest and most absurd picture I could think of, because my performative “sunglasses at night degenerate” activity might have made you laugh. )

03/05/2024

Very bummed at the passing of Gary Floyd, one of punk rock's best singers. Hate the Police is an all timer for me too, just a sweet and intelligent artist, he will be missed. I am reposting his protonic episode in honor of his passing with a brief intro: https://www.protonicreversal.com/podcast/index.php?name=2024-05-03_358_Remembering_Gary_Floyd_-_Ep358__Gary_Floyd_(Dicks,_Sister_Double_Happiness,_Black_Kali_Ma,_Gary_Floyd_Band).mp3

01/05/2024

Ep388: 10th Anniversary Spectacular (Duane Denison, Coady Willis, Marnie Stern, Steve Albini, Falco, Bob Bert, David Pajo, Alain Johannes, John Schmersal, Mike Morasky, Dale Crover, Jennifer Precious Finch, Ian MacKaye)

The protonic Reversal 10 year anniversary episode is up and all the places. Get it wherever you get your podcasts, or: LINK IN BIO. Brand new short segments with 13 awesome returning guests. Duane Denison, Ian MacKaye, Steve Albini, David Pajo, Jennifer Finch, Alain Johannes, Mike Morasky, John Schmersal, Dale Crover, Coady Willis, Bob Bert, Falco, Marnie Stern. It’s an over-the-top celebration of 10 years of this podcast and a pretty decent entry point too.

13 (!) new interviews, about 10 minutes each to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the podcast. Wow!

1. Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard, Tomahawk, DK3) (Ep158, Ep94)

2. Coady Willis – (High on Fire, Melvins, Big Business, Murder City Devils) (Ep132)

3. Marnie Stern – (Ep361)

4. Steve Albini – (Shellac, Big Black, Electrical Audio Studio) (Ep185, Ep150, Ep127, Ep21)

5. Andrew “Falco” Falkous – (mclusky, Future of the Left) {Ep371, Ep241, Ep157, Ep116, Ep100, Ep89, Ep63, Ep14, Ep04)

6. Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, P***y Galore, Jon Spencer & the HITmakers, Lydia Lunch RetroVirus, Wolfmanhattan project) (Ep128)

7. David Pajo – (Slint, Gang of Four, Papa M, Zwan, Household Gods, Tortoise, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, Dead Child, Stereolab)(Ep190)

8. Alain Johannes – (Eleven, Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Sessions, PJ Harvey, Producer) (Ep196)

9. John Schmersal (Brainiac, Enon, Vertical Scratchers, Crooks on Tape), (Ep311, Ep136)

10. Mike Morasky (Steel Pole Bath Tub, Milk Cult, Cassette Prophet) (Ep349, Ep329, Ep162)

11. Dale Crover (Melvins, Redd Kross, Dale Crover Band, Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, Nirvana) (Ep230, Ep155, Ep100, Ep066)

12. Jennifer Finch (L7, OtherStarPeople) (Ep191)

13. Ian MacKaye (fugazi, Coriky, the Evens, Minor Threat, Dischord Records) (Ep209)

Keep it lit.
 https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep388-10th-anniversary-spectacular-duane-denison-coady-willis-marnie-stern-steve-albini-falco-bob-bert-david-pajo-alain-johannes-john-schmersal-mike-morasky-dale-crover-jennifer-precious-2/

29/04/2024

Ep387: Doni Blair (The Toadies, Hagfish, Only Crime, Author)
Doni Blair is best known as bassplayer for 90s legends The Toadies, but just like his brother Zach. Conan knows him from his old band Hagfish! We talk all about the Hagfish days, and van touring, as well as the glory and the allure of the Rickenbacker bass., a father who was a rock DJ, the “selling out” argument, and no thanks at all the MTV. The book Doni wrote and his journey (over 40!) with martial arts. Even if it Kills Me: Martial Arts, Rock and Roll and of course Dia De Los Toadies, the new record (!) Toadies has recorded with Steve Albini, what to expect for the future with that band, and being a catalog band with loyal fans and finding new audience members as time goes. It is the great Doni Blair! Dive in.

https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep387-doni-blair-the-toadies-hagfish-only-crime-author-2/

26/04/2024

If this sprawling, Joycean epic of an ep. doesn't bury me first it should be a hell of a listen. 10 years! Circumventing expectations & common sense. I decided to go harder & more absurd than ever before. patrons will hear it first, probably mid afternoon tomorrow. But we're celebrating 10 in style. ALL NEW mini interview segments with 13 people. WOW!

25/04/2024

Ep386: Danbert Nobacon(Chumbawama, Solo, Axis of Dissent)
Danbert is a anarcho-punk icon that cofounded Anarchist collective punk group Chumbawamba in 1982, yes that’s right the one with the “I get knocked down, but I get up again” song. All about the origin and the journey of “the song” that changed the band’s world for quite some time. Split release with Noam Chomsky, dumping water on hypocrite politicians and his newest record Kochtopus’s Garden – Now That’s What I Call Capitalism – The Musical. A very direct political record about two song-bots that escape their confines and flee across America all while “Dark Money Anon,” the entity that has taken control of the States, tries to hunt them down. Punk, folk, reggae and while slashing at capitalism, militarism, authorism, sexism, racism and all the various isms. All this from the guy who fronted the band that released “Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records” “Never Mind the Ballots” and many other cheeky, too-smart irascible and funny records. And took ad money to give it explicitly to anti-corporate groups.
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep386-danbert-nobacon-chumbawama-solo-axis-of-dissent/

24/04/2024

Ep385: Roger Clark Miller (Mission of Burma, The Anvil Orchestra, Composer)
The legendary guitarist for Mission of Burma arrives to talk about dream interpretations for solo guitar, silent film accompaniment, Vs., reunions, how the world caught up to Mission of Burma, Alloy Orchestra/The Anvil Orchestra (scoring Dr. Caligari at MFF soon!), Moving Parts, working on soundtracks, tapes, drones, Maximum Electric Piano, conceptual art like Transmuting the Prosaic, chamber music and so much more!
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep385-roger-c-miller-mission-of-burma-anvil-orchestra-composer/

19/04/2024

Ep384: Rick Sims (The Didjits, Gaza St*****rs)
293 episodes since Rick Sims last protoniced, did they even have podcasts then? Was it on wax cylinders? Probably. Anyway! Strictly Dynamite is the new Best of and Rarities Didjits collection. It’s got all of the best stuff, but also has some stuff that even the true heads don’t have. We get into the confrontation and “monster voice” of the some of the Didjits stuff, how some of that probably, possibly, definitely hasn’t aged too well, what that means for music now. Why rock ‘n roll should be dangerous, and lots of other stuff! Supersuckers! Gaza St*****rs! Just Fred with Fred Schneider of the B-52s and of course the Lee Harvey Oswald band. Hey! It is Rick Sims. Let’s go!
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep384-rick-sims-didjits-gaza-strippers/

17/04/2024

Ep383: Ryan Patterson (Fotocrime, Coliseum)
Long time coming! Ryan Patterson has a great new Fotocrime record called Accelerated. And there’s also a TWO OFF Coliseum reunion/celebration coming up shortly! We dive into all the aspects of the act of creation and connection and what should and shouldn’t be tied to expectation. The wondrous J. Robbins and Ryan’s long time working relationship and friendship with the man. The legacy of Coliseum (with some distance), while there could be more Coliseum stuff in the future, but a world tour shouldn’t be expected, genre boxes and picking up on sounds and ideas that others cannot do anymore and lots more. The C.L.S.M. Infinity S**t Coliseum record as a cul-de-sac. Shirtkiller and lots more! Dive in!
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep383-ryan-patterson-fotocrime-coliseum-2/

15/04/2024

Ep382: Buzz Osborne (Melvins)
Tarantula Heart. The latest Melvins record which was created in an unorthodox way with Ray from Ministry , and the King Dunn tour (Buzz and Trevor Dunn from Mr. Bungle) is finally happening after nearly 4 years. Eclipse madness! AI Art! Taking pictures and being on instagram. Melvins stuff being more or less free on youtube the collector’s mentality and handmade aspect of the limited edition Melvins things. Wayne Kramer, fantomas, Alice Cooper Band, Helms Alee, Toshi Kasai, Allman Brothers, Cheap Trick, Five Legged Dog (the acoustic record) and the slow methodical creation of that. Re-recording things, Hipgnosis and the old style album cover, the AMREP singles series and lots, lots more! Dive in!
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep382-buzz-osborne-melvins-2/

10/04/2024

Brand new Protonic Reversal tonight (third of the week!) with Rick Sims of the Didjits! Gonna be talking about the new Didjits best of STRICTLY DYNAMITE, JUST FRED, The Gaza St*****rs... all of it!

https://www.protonicreversal.com/live-now/

08/04/2024

Ep381: Greg Norton (Hüsker Dü, UltraBomb)
Greg Norton is back! It’s been almost three years since last time. Ultrabomb! Cancer. So much to discuss. The new record Dying to Smile is almost here, we also discuss Time to Burn (the first Ultrabomb record), music discovery and becoming an advocate for the things you love. Progress and patience, New Day Rising, the influence of the Dü, the Ultrabomb story, last years tour with Bar Stool Preachers and this tour coming up with Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, and of course Greg’s successful battle against prostate cancer.
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep381-greg-norton-husker-du-ultrabomb/

04/04/2024

Conan was honored to be a guest on Third Gear Scratch podcast! For those that are unfamiliar, it's a great show done by Allen Epley of Shiner about artists unique journeys and jobs they've worked in order to follow their passions. Cool stuff! Lots of talk of Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends and Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal, as well as Household Gods, Victory and Associates and Mount Vicious. How Conan figured out my stuff kind of later in life, all that kind of thing! Get it wherever you get your podcasts, or right here:

There was a point maybe 10 years ago give or take, in which bandleader, frontman, guitarist, singer songwriter, podcaster and outsized personality Conan Neutron had a reckoning or awakening of sorts in regards to his bands and the dynamic within, which had taken a not-good turn. The Conan Neutron of...

02/04/2024

Ep380: Kid Congo Powers (Kid Congo and The Pink Monkey Birds, The Gun Club, The Cramps, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)
Kid Congo Powers has a brand new record called That Delicious Vice with his band The Pink Monkey Birds. Pair that with his book (Some Kind of Kick), and the recent Wolfmanhattan Project record (with Bob Bert and Mick Collins) and you have a very busy guy! But that is nothing new, The Gun Club and Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Lux, Ivy and the Cramps! Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Wings of Desire, and so much more. From zines and fanclubs to being on stage. Punk rock as community for the freaks, nerds and weirdos of the world as well as safe haven for gay folks. Tucson vs. New York and Los Angeles. It is the legend! Kid Congo Powers!
https://www.protonicreversal.com/ep380-kid-congo-powers-pink-monkey-birds-the-gun-club-the-cramps-nick-cave-and-the-bad-seeds/

01/04/2024

There are two episodes currently in the “patron only” queue. Kid Congo Powers (Pink Monkey Birds, the Cramps, Gun Club, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) and Greg Norton (Ultrabomb, Hüsker Dü) both are great. Never been a better time to join the Protonic PATREON at $1 a month to help support the show and get episodes just like these in advance. LINK IN COMMENTS.

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