Coming to you from the studios at the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66, it's the Rock and Roll Chicago Podcast. Hey everybody, it's Ray the Roadie. And this is Hollywood Mike.

How's it going? Good, good, man. I'm still working on my arc after all this rain we've gotten. You know, I actually, this was actually good for me because I had to take my wife's car in for service.

And she's having an electrical problem. And it was sitting in this place for like two weeks and they couldn't duplicate the problem. So I said, you know what, I think what you need to do is go take it and drive it around, you know, this morning when it was raining.

Sure enough, it caused the problem and they were to fix the car today. So maybe it was the moisture that had something to do with it. That's exactly it.

So I might have to borrow the car because once I'm done with the arc, I want to go start rounding up all the animals and stuff. I'll tell you what, let's go have these. It's 900 bucks.

So 450 bucks, you can take it whenever you want. We're all good to go. Sounds good to me.

So what are we doing here? Oh, wait, we're doing a podcast. Yes, we are. Yeah.

And tonight we're being joined by the band Sucker Punch. We've got Jennifer Cunda, Chris Ricardo, Mike Laskowski, and our very own Episode 89, Greg Rapp. He's back.

All right. Didn't need more of me, but here I am. And he's got a cool hat.

Is that the Stetson Open Road? No, it's some kind of beaver, beaver hide hat, something like that. I found in a thrift store for 25 bucks. Excellent.

Still got the tag on it. Excellent. I have a collection of like 30 different fedoras.

Thank you for joining us for the fedora podcast tonight. Yeah, these guys are already my favorite band because they brought booze. Oh, that's always good.

And that's how we were born. Yes, it's an excuse to drink. All right.

So how are you guys doing? Great. We're doing great. That's great.

Happy Monday. Tell us a little bit about Sucker Punch. How did this all happen? Well, we are a group of friends, I would say first, that enjoy playing music to people and enjoy partying while we do that.

So I think that I've been in the scene for about 16 years now. And I learned really early on that as much as I love singing, I like when people around me are having a good time. So just building a band that likes to do that priority first.

So this is your band? No, no. I mean, it is. No, I mean, I think that I'm the front person.

So unfortunately, I have to be in the middle of all the pictures. But I've met these guys throughout the years, and this project has been together for about three, four. Yeah.

Something like that. Yeah. Mike is a new addition.

I'm the new guy. So maybe we'll let him talk. But yeah, I mean, our main objective when we go out to clubs or fests is just to bring the party and have a good time.

Is this the first band you've been with? I've had two other projects. My list is not as long as Greg Rapp's. Or Chris Ricardo's.

Would that be a rap sheet? Oh, where's that drum roll? You got the button. Wrong one. There we go.

It's the green one. For the win. No, this is my third project.

I started when I was like 25 and I will not reveal. No, I'm 41 now. So I've been in two other projects prior to this.

Anybody we would know of? I was in a project called C-Factor. That was my first round. Yes.

I remember C-Factor. And then I was in a band called Super Crush. And then I changed a couple of letters to do Sucker Punch.

And I didn't want to change my sign. I just wanted just a couple of letters. Is that literally how it came about? No, no, no.

It was actually his idea, Mr. Ricardo, the name. Yeah. I have an ongoing list of cool band names.

Whenever I think of one or hear something that sounds fun, I write it down. And then one night when we were sitting around after jamming, I just went down the list and it was probably the third or fourth thing. I think it was the first one.

I do too, actually. I think it's the first one you shout it out. We're like, that's perfect.

Yeah, they wouldn't go with the Bucking Fastards. I don't know. It was actually taken, like the domain on internet.

So I didn't want to commit to that. Yeah. I can see that happening.

Which is kind of amazing when you look for it. Really? Somebody actually has that? So who was the first phone call when you decided you were going to put this project together? I mean, it was kind of like very, I hate to say organic because that sounds very cliche, but- It was. It was.

It really was. And it was in a bar and it was, you know, a mutual just kind of add this guy, add that guy. This sounds good.

And we all get along and that's just how it's been. So it's been pretty organic. And you're the front person, lead singer.

Do you play an instrument as well, or are you just always singing? Mean tambourine. All right. That's what I'm going to say.

Acoustic or electric? I play with left and right hands. Whoa. No, unfortunately I'm not as talented as these men to my right.

Garbage. No. But yeah, I do not play any instruments currently.

All right. So then what do you do in the band? I play bass and I was the last one in. I've played gigs with Greg and Chris before.

And Chris said that at our show in Hobart, he said, Hey, are you interested? And I'm like, absolutely. The chance to play with such a talented group, jump on it. All right.

And were you with any other bands prior to this? Yeah, I'm currently in three other bands and I thought that was a requirement to join originally. Yeah, you'll find that about all kinds of other things. The long hair was definitely essential.

Right. Okay. Care to mention anything? Sure.

I'm in a tribute to a perfect circle, garbage and Joe Satriani. Wow. Nice.

The guy can play. Yeah, he's got mad skills. Yes.

Yeah, I had seen Mike at a couple of gigs just playing in different bands. And I'm like, man, if I ever get the chance to play with that guy sometime and then the opportunity came up and these guys all had people in mind and I'm like, nope, just go with Mike. And that's kind of how he was.

Right. Oh, good, good. So I'll ask a question that nobody asks because nobody seems to care, but I care.

I want you to let you know that I care. This is from the heart, because nobody ever asks the bass player, what's your gear? What guitar do you play? What kind of amp do you play? Tell us a little bit about what you bring around with you. All right.

So I just purchased a Music Man Stingray and it's one that I've always wanted. But from seeing Garbage play in 2019, they don't have any cabs on stage. So I'm using Helix and just go direct.

And that's what we did. And I love it. Right.

Nice. And it's hard with Greg and the drums saying, hey, you know what? I'm just basically bringing a computer and that's it. I don't have the big Ampeg cab.

I'm totally used to it. Yeah. Imagine how I feel with my tambourine.

Exactly. So, yeah, you know, it's such a drag just to bring this computer up here. I wish that was all I had to bring.

Please. Exactly. But no, that's what I've been rocking and I've been very happy with it.

Right. OK. And is rock and roll, has that always been your forte? Is that what you've always wanted to play was rock and roll or did you start off with something else first? I actually I was in a country band for about two days and then it just kind of didn't it just kind of didn't work out.

I started in in high school. I joined the jazz band. So and then from there, but I mean, growing up in the late in the late 90s, it was it was rock and metal.

You know, I think the first I think the first tablature I ever received was Metallica's One. And I actually I mean, started, you know, started playing guitar, but but then switched to switch to bass and jazz band. And from there.

But yeah, it's it's it's basically been rock. Right. So with the with the country band, did your girlfriend like leave you? Your dog died and your truck broke down and that's why you quit.

You know, all three. That's why that's why he had to buy a new bass, because the bass, you know, broke stolen parts. It was in the back of the truck.

You know, the strings were five years old. So yeah. No, I like to ask that of bass players, because I've always found a lot of bass players also play some type of horn.

I have no you have no idea how many bass players that I know that play either trumpet or saxophone or something like that. OK, well, I am not one of those. You're not one of those.

And then I also hear bass players say, well, I started off in high school jazz band, but I was playing the cello. So it's always interesting to hear where bass players came from. Sure.

And it's just been my experience that all the bass players that I've played with, or at least most of them that I've played with, bass was never their first instrument. They were someplace else. And are you sure that they just didn't tell you that they were horny? No, they didn't.

Yeah, where's the button? Where's the button? Three buttons. Is there a screaming one? No, that deserves that deserves that one, because that's creepy. Well, I don't know.

I didn't know. Maybe you didn't hear me properly. They could have been drunk or something and slurring their words.

Right, right. So, Mr. Drummer. Hello.

So we're hearing all this stuff about. We're just going to pass you by tonight since you already have it. Right, right.

I totally understand. Anybody wants to hear him, it's episode 89. Next.

Yeah, I mean, I was serving number. Yeah, you're the you're the you're the drummer. We're here interviewing musicians.

Yeah, there we go. Oh, wow. Should have brought a snare and a splash or something.

On cue. There you go. Now, you know, less is more.

That's OK. That's already three. So now tell us a little bit about about yourself, please.

Ah, goodness. I do a lot of different things. I play with a lot of different bands.

This particular project was kind of cool, actually. Mark and Jen, the original bass player in general over there, were doing an acoustic gig at one of our favorite bars, Whiskey River, Potato Creek Johnny's. And I just happened to be in the audience.

I live close and saw they were playing. So I showed up and got to talking. And at the end of the night, they sounded they just sounded amazing.

So I went up to him and said, hey, if you ever need a drummer, if you want like a full band thing, just kind of offhandedly. And I think Monday morning I got a text message and was like, hey, we're thinking of putting this thing together. And, you know, like you and maybe Chris Ricardo.

And I was like, that would be awesome, because we have history together playing in a band called Rocket Science. So, yeah. But yeah, I do this.

I'm in an original band called Nomadic Horizon, which is all like progressive rock kind of stuff, kind of Rush Genesis, that kind of thing. I'm in a wedding band called Shout Out. I'm in a bunch of other projects.

I'm doing a gig right down the street here. I'm doing a tribute to Bob Seger coming out with Great Moments in Vinyl. When? When is that? I'd have to get my calendar.

I would. I would be. No, you we've got time.

I would I would love to come out and see that. Let me see. It is coming up April, I believe.

April 7th. April 7th. I will be with Lindsey and Great Moments in Vinyl.

I'm going to have to see if I have a gig that night. I did a Dolly Parton thing over there with him. Is that why you had to wear the makeup and the wig, as you were explaining? No, no, that was Cat Fight.

There's a band called Cat Fight that I did that for. That was Thursday night. So yeah, I'm I'm in a bunch of other projects and stuff.

But yeah, this is a blast. We have a great time. And it's, you know, I do a lot of things where it's a more high pressure, corporate kind of work that I do with Shout Out and stuff.

And this is just a ton of fun. And it's my release from that. Right, right.

You said April 7th, right? Yep. I am off. I think that's a hang.

I think that's a date night, Ray. We got to go and see that. It's romantic.

Oh, yeah. Great Moments in Vinyl is episode 103 on the Rock & Roll Chicago. People like to say I'm about two degrees of separation from most people in Chicago.

Right, right. You missed it. Check it out.

Lindsey's a great guy. Yeah, love him. Super sweetheart.

And everybody. It's my favorite kind of thing because you show up, you do one rehearsal, you play each song one point three times, do beginnings and endings, and then you go to the gig and do the gig. Yeah.

And everybody crushes. And after every song, Lindsey tells you a story. It's super.

I didn't know that when I took the gig. So we did the rehearsal and I got on stage. I'm like, OK, next song.

And they're like, no, no, no, no. And yeah, that's the most entertaining part by far. Lindsey's got great stories and does a ton of research on it.

Yes, he does. Mom's a lot of work. Yeah, excellent.

So where are we going? We had a date, you said? Yeah, we do. We're coming up down the street. We're down the street.

April 7th. Yeah, we're just going to wander down the street and look for a place where Bob Seger music's coming out the front door. Sounds good to me.

Yep. Now, Bob Seger is one of my father's favorite performers. I remember being a young kid and my father had a 1971 Chevelle.

And whenever I hear a Bob Seger song on the radio, I'm back in the backseat. Transported. Yeah, I'm back in the backseat of that Chevelle.

I've been working on that stuff. I didn't realize the depth of material and how much I actually knew. Like, you know, you said, oh, that's Bob Seger.

Yeah. I was at Reggie's the other night and I was, you know, they had a bunch of it on over the PA and I was like, wow, yeah, I know. Oh, it's that one.

Oh, and they're really beautifully written tunes. They are. And he never got the credit.

No. Never got the credit he deserved. And as a vocalist, I'll tell you, he has a deceptively high voice.

Yeah. He can bring all of those low tones in to his voice. And you think, oh, this is easy.

I can sing this. And then you try to sing it and you're like, shit. Maybe I was wrong.

And don't forget, he retired for a while there. He did. Oh, yeah.

He retired and then he decided to come back. Is he back out still doing it? He's back out. Yeah, he came back a number of years ago.

Wow. Right. He started touring with the Three Doors Down.

Right. Really? That's what brought him out. What a lineup.

Three Doors Down. Well, they actually a couple of the shows, they were his backup band. So it wasn't Bob.

It wasn't Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. It was Bob Seger and Three Doors Down. Yeah, it was great.

God. Wow. That's funny.

Yeah, they're a great band, too. Yeah, absolutely. So we got somebody else here, too.

We have to talk, but I assume you play guitar. I play guitar, yes. That's right.

Four piece. Yeah, four piece. Your odds are good.

So tell us about that. It has six strings and a couple pickups. Yes, yes, yes.

No, like Jen and Greg were saying, we were just kind of hanging out. And Mark was doing some gigs and he started bringing Jen in. And I think I... Correction, I would just show up.

Oh, OK. I would just show up. And then he would have to let me sing.

Yeah. So I did. I messaged Mark and I was like, hey, if you guys ever want a full band, let me know.

And lo and behold, they kind of did. I think our first gig was acoustic, but Greg brought his drums anyway. Yeah.

And it got kind of loud. And we're like, screw it. Let's just bring the amps next time.

So that's kind of how it started. And I had played with Greg in a few different projects. Jen, I had seen a million times and always wanted to do a project with her.

Should I tell the Dave Ortega story? Why not? Yeah. Give him some credit. Yeah.

So I was in another band with this drummer that had played. No, he hadn't played with Jen yet. But we were at a club watching Jen's band.

And our band that I was in with Dave was kind of... We can see the end of the road coming. Like the singer was kind of filling in for another band. But, you know, the typical singer thing.

I'm not going to let it affect us. And I'm not going to leave you guys. And... I'm offended.

You haven't done that yet. But, you know, it's one of those things where you try to start a band and you work for, you know, six to eight months getting material together, getting a show together, picking out a cool name, picking out a cool theme. Then you hit the shows and you play for, you know, another six months or something.

And it either takes off or it doesn't. And, you know, we could see it was like it was almost there, but it kind of was freaking people out too much. So we weren't getting the gigs we were supposed to.

It might have been the costumes. Might have been the costumes. Such a great band.

They dress up like clowns, I believe, right? Yeah, there was a clown in the band. Someone was a clown. What band was this? This was the Party Hardigans.

So it was based off like a failed children's show. So we all came out in costumes and, you know, yeah. And it was pretty interesting, but no, it looked great on paper, but we didn't realize the big fear of clowns people have.

That seemed to be the roadblock. People would just, people would run away sometimes. Like, no, that is a very real thing.

Yeah, we didn't we didn't think that went all the way through. So so Dave and I are at a club. We're seeing Jen and I'm like, Dave, dude, we should get her.

And like kind of in a clown suit. We had already, like, changed to change the the format. And we're like, we'll just get Jen and kind of, you know, change it up a little bit to fit something that would be good for her voice.

And Dave's just not very responsive to me and like, yeah, kind of shrugging it off. And then about two weeks later, he was in Super Crush with Jen. I'm like, Dave, come on.

What's like totally ironic is that he so Dave moved to Pennsylvania. He's the drummer and he started a band recently and it's called Sucker Punch as well. And I was like, what are you trying to copy me? I think he was first, actually.

Maybe, maybe, maybe it's debatable. So it was a complete coincidence. Complete coincidence.

So whenever he posts stuff on Facebook, I'm like, what? We're going to be playing where? Somewhere in Pennsylvania. Now, I think you and I have actually met before. I agree.

You look very familiar. And I think I can remember it because I was in a band years ago called Forget Hannah. OK.

And I think we opened up for you guys for some festival. It was it may have been Bartlett or Elgin or something like that. But there was actually a couple of times where we've shared the stage like literally back to back.

So I believe it. That's how the scene is, though. Like you, you cross paths.

That's what's awesome about it is you cross paths with people and then you end up with a band like this. Like it's, you know, it's just kind of magical, kind of like, was that Kismet or something? Right, right, sure. And I'll tell you, that's the great thing about being in the state of Illinois, mainly the Chicago area, because I'll go to places like the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

I'll go to Indianapolis and places like that. I'll meet other musicians. And we'll, you know, they'll say, where are you from? And I just tell them I'm from Chicago because nobody's heard of Romeoville.

Right. And they're like, oh, you're so lucky to be living in Chicago because it's great. And everybody knows everybody there.

I love going to Chicago and play. But I've never been anyplace else and have had them tell me that story about the city that they live in. So I think, I mean, we're very fortunate to be in the Chicago area.

It's really a unique thing. It is. I've worked with a bunch of bands in Chicago.

And it's, you know, that's, I said on the last podcast, it's my favorite part about what I do is variety of people I get to work with in the variety of bands and how tightly knit the scene is. Right. And you do good with one band and then another band calls.

It's a self-fulfilling kind of thing. If you treat people well and do your homework and do a good job, it's great. I adore that part.

It's my favorite part of the job. Right. We joke that Greg is like the Kevin Bacon of the Chicago music scene.

Like there's six degrees of separation. It's been determined I'm the social lubricant of the Chicago music scene. There's literally a map in his basement that shows how he's connected to every band.

It's pretty amazing. I'm very, very lucky. Right.

So you guys get together and rehearse often or no? Yeah. Every now and then. I mean, they're called shows.

Yeah, exactly. One of my favorite phrases, no fair rehearsing. Right.

Yeah, we have a slightly more extemporaneous improvisational thing to what we do. But I mean, you know, there's a solid set list, but we like pulling stuff out of nowhere and trying things and reading an audience and seeing what we can do and what we can't do. And we'll do both.

So yeah, nothing kills me more when you like go to see a band and you hear the same like set list that you saw the last time. So we try to like read the audience and some people like some musicians in the past are like irritated that like they looked down at the set and you're like, no, no, no. Skip, skip, skip.

That's not going to hit. But these guys are like super. I mean, they're pro.

Like they feel it too. And you make that audible and you read the crowd and you keep that energy up and it's magic. So I think it's pretty cool that we're able to do that.

Did you hear that Cadillac group? The next time you call our set list, the suggestion list, I want you to remember the saying that you have to be able to read the crowd and you have to be able to call audibles. Yes, yes. I always get stuff thrown at me, hitting the back of the head.

Well, because that's why you're there, right? I mean, that's why people go out to bars. They want to have a good time. And if they're like, like Tennessee whiskey, like they're all like clear in the dance floor, you know, you pivot, you pivot, you know, we have been trying for months now to never have to play that song again.

Unfortunately, it's not going to work. It's not going to work. But I will tell you this, this is, this is, I'm, I'm proud to share this story.

So, um, my own band, uh, Mike and the steel masters, two weeks ago, we played at a local place here and the guy was just right over here at the casino right here in Joliet. And he made the mistake of walking through the front door saying, Hey, everybody, I just want a thousand dollars at the casino as we were finishing our last song. And he was disappointed that he didn't get to see the, you know, the band.

So he says, play one more song for us. And I said, nah, we're done. They cut us off right at, right at midnight.

He goes, um, play free bird. Oh God. I said, I will play free bird for a hundred bucks.

And he walks right up and he, I know, cause he, he answered so quickly. I said, I guess, I guess left about 300 bucks on the table, but this guy walks up to me and he stares me in the eyes just like this, looks me right in the eyes as he's reaching into his shirt pocket. And he slaps that a hundred dollar bill down on the stage, like a Trump card.

Yeah. So we, so we played free bird for a hundred bucks. You only got to play the verse and chorus.

That's it. You're good. I had a good friend who said, gave me a piece of advice.

He's like, if you can play, if you can bullshit your way through a verse and chorus of anything, people will be happy. Just you tried. Like, can you play this? Yeah, sure.

Yeah. You know, try it. Do a verse and a chorus and they'll be thrilled.

Even if it sucks, they'll be thrilled. You help them out. So there you go.

Especially something like it. And usually they don't even know the words. Right, right, right.

Thank God, because I never sing the right one. And that's an art form in itself. Right.

You have to be able to go to the melody and, you know, and just so people think you're singing something. I feel bad because so Mike, you know, he's new and he hasn't learned my nuances of like the words that I actually say, like versus the real versions. You'll learn.

You'll learn young grasshopper. So you guys working on any original stuff or are you doing all cover? Covers. Covers.

Yeah, yeah. You know, like, like I said, our main objective, I mean, these guys are in lots of projects. And I think that for us, it's like we want to kick back, have a good time, but give like quality to the to the audience.

Like we're not out there like half assing it by any means. But right, right. But I mean, we know what we are.

Well, yeah, never mind. Blotto shaking his head. Depends on the day.

But yeah, I mean, we know what we're there for. We're not trying to fool anyone. Let's see.

We got a couple of guitars in here. Can we hear some of your covers? What are we going to do? Why did you bring your guitars? Should have brought brushes. Damn.

Let me go downstairs. Maybe we got something. Yeah, yeah, we can do it.

We can find something. I found a better lover in the UK Until I made my bed away One, two, three, they're gonna run back to me Cause I'm the best baby that you never gotta keep One, two, three, they're gonna run back to me They're always gonna come, but they never wanna leave X's and O's behind me Like ghosts, we want baby To make a love, but I hope they won't let go X's and O's Had a summer lover down in New Orleans Left him warm in the winter Left him frozen in the spring of my eyes How the seasons go by I get high and I love to get low But the hearts keep breaking and the edges grow You know, that's how the story goes One, two, three, they're gonna run back to me Cause I'm the best baby that you never gotta keep One, two, three, they're gonna run back to me They're always gonna come, but they never wanna leave X's and O's behind me Like ghosts, we want baby To make a love, but I hope they won't let go X's and O's behind me Like ghosts, we want baby To make a love, but I hope they won't let go X's and O's Guitar solo Three, I'm hanging with Ray the roadie Climbing over mountains, sailing overseas One, two, three, they're gonna run back to me They always wanna come, but they never wanna leave My X's and O's behind me Like ghosts, we want baby To make a love, but I hope they won't let go My X's and O's behind me Like ghosts, we want baby To make a love, but I hope they won't let go X's and O's Guitar solo That was wonderful. Oh, thank you.

It's the first time we've played it. That was one of those audibles that we were talking about earlier. That's right.

Yes, yes, about practice. We've never played this before. You guys about practice, that was it, right? Yeah, there you go.

Very nice. Thank you. So where can people find you guys playing out and about? Mainly up north, western suburbs, southern suburbs, where are you? I mean, we're all over, so.

Yeah, all over. We were just up in Mundelein at Sundance this weekend, but you can check us out. We have a Facebook page.

And you obviously don't look for the Pennsylvania version of Sunker Punch. It's a long way to go. SunkerPunchChicago.com has the old schedule, but you'll find us.

We'll update it. And Instagram, we also have as well. But we play all over.

Yeah, what do we got coming up? We're coming up. Edison Parkin. Yep, Edison Parkin.

March 12th. After this, the North Side Parade should be fun. Sunday Fonday.

And then the 24th will be in Bedrock, which is, I believe, in Shorewood. Shorewood, right down the street. Right down the street.

Love that place. Chattagrabina. Yeah, that's a fun place.

We just played there. We played the Scooters Roadhouse, which is right next door. I love that place.

Ton of fun. Yeah. A lot of people there were in that parking lot that they share on Saturday.

Yeah, yeah. Bedrock's has been really cool. It's kind of become our home away from home.

They treat us really well. And there's always a great crowd, great people. And yeah.

It's our kind of crowd. Yeah, it's a blast. They're into the show.

Yeah, nice. Great bartenders there. Very great bartenders.

How many gigs a year do you do about? Well, we try to do like three a month, two to three a month. Yeah, try to. Yeah.

I mean, they've got a lot going on, all of them. So, you know, that's a nice amount for us, I feel. Right.

No, that's good. That's a good amount for sure. So I know you said it, but how long have you guys been together now? Oh, boy.

Pre-pandemic. So what? 2017? Sure. That sounds awesome.

Yeah, about right. No, I think like 2018, probably. Yeah.

Was it? Okay. Yeah. I don't know.

It's all blurry. It's all fuzzy. And what did you guys do during the pandemic? Did you shut down like everybody else? Nope.

No? No. No, we went the live stream route. Yeah, we ended up, you know, our old bass player, Mark, had a bass store.

And we learned how to live stream from scratch. My wife is a sound engineer, and we learned how to do the whole OBS thing. And it was super cool.

It was a lot of fun. It was, you know, it's a different way to connect. Right.

With an audience. And it had a lot of benefits. But, you know, there's nothing like playing live in front of people.

But like, you know, you have live stream and everybody's commenting as you're doing it. And it's a different way to interact. But we... The nice thing is there's no thumbs down.

You know what I mean? You can look in the audience and you can see the thumbs down person. But on live stream, there's no thumbs down. So you feel great about yourself.

You go from like 200 viewers to four, you know, something may have gone sideways. That's true. Other than that, though.

But no, I mean, you know, we tried to do it as safely as we could. But it was, yeah, it was a way to keep us, you know, I think a lot of bands made that pivot. Sure.

Right. Did you send out invites just like you would to any show? Yeah. Whoever showed up.

We're gonna we're doing this at this time. And if you want to come hang with us and party with us and we're doing exactly what we're doing here. Wow.

It was just like playing tunes off the top of our head, having a drink with you and making it a party. And were you all together? Were you in your separate houses? No, we were together. We were in the Bay store.

But it was what made it work is was big enough. Right. That we could and we were all masked up and stuff and we could all socially distance and all that.

And but it was we could still, you know, we had inner monitors and stuff. So we could all hear it worked out really well. That's good.

That's good. It was nice. You could reach a bigger audience to technically.

Yeah, absolutely. People in California were like, I've never seen you. And they still exist.

Well, live streams are still out there. They're still on the Web somewhere. Wow.

Interesting. Crazy. That's good.

So what's your what's what's the best gig? What's the favorite gig that you guys played together? I would say Frontier Days was a pretty fun one. Yeah, that was that was pretty cool. I grew up in Arlington Heights.

So that's why that would like I remember sitting on my front porch when I was 10, 11 years old, like just wanting to play drums. And I could hear the band. I could hear just enough like the low end.

And like, I want to do that someday. That'd be so cool. And then to do it for real was was really cool.

We did last year and we're doing it again this year. Oh, good. And that's where Frontier Days, Arlington Heights, June 30th and 30th.

Neither. Yep. Is that like their their town festival? Yeah, it's the big, you know, it's the big the Fourth of July thing.

Frontier Days. Yeah, they do a big it's, you know, I mean, the main stage, you're playing in front of probably 10,000 people, something like that. OK.

And we play kind of a side stage kind of thing. So we generally play before then the headliner goes on and then there's a band after. Do they do they hold that right there? And I'm not going to remember the name of the street, but it's the street that kind of runs along parallel to the train tracks, right? Exactly.

So Northwest Highway. OK, Northwest Highway. It's Recreation Park where I took swim lessons when I was a kid.

And my brother took swim lessons and I played with Star Wars figures. Wow. Way back when.

That's cool that you still play with them, don't you? Shut up. Don't judge me, Ray. The truth is very painful, sir.

Thank you. How could you not? The Mandalorian. Mandalorian Wednesday.

Yes, I'll be up. Dude, I watched the I watched the last episode of Kenobi in Memphis. I was doing a session and I got up at 7 a.m. with light streaming through the blinds and all I saw was lightsabers and tears.

Yeah. And it was amazing. Did we just nerd out? Oh, we did.

Oh, dude. When I was. We'll do our own podcast.

That's right. We will. When I was in fifth grade.

I'm in fifth grade. You know, you have to learn how to play the recorder. Yep.

You know, thank God I learned how to play the recorder because that has come in so handy. But yeah, yeah. I had algebra.

Yeah. I had to learn the Cantina song on the recorder. You had to do that.

Yeah, absolutely. Right. So what about the worst gig? What was the what was the worst gig that happened? This podcast? We've had none.

No, that was a lot of fun. That was fun. I don't know if we've had a worse one yet, which I'm very proud to say.

Maybe one of our live streams might have been stressful for a hot minute. But the tech thing was difficult. Yeah.

I mean, that was that was a huge learning curve to get OBS happening and all that. But other than that, I don't know. Mike's Mike's only done like three or four.

So have you had a worst one yet? He's like all of them. No, he's like last Saturday. This really sucks.

Now they're dragging me out to podcasts. What the hell did I get into? So how many gigs have you played so far this year? Twenty twenty three. No, Jesus.

We're early. What do we do? Bannermans. We did Sundance.

Yeah. We're like at like four. Fours.

Yeah. I like that. I mean, it's not always show the slow.

So coming up. Yeah. Chris and I have done a few acoustic gigs this year, too.

Which we I love doing them because that's actually kind of our rehearsal. Would you agree? Absolutely. Yeah.

We'll we'll kind of just jam on stuff and come up with wacky transitions and matchup mashups and then like wind up working them into the show somehow. Yeah. We just keep playing.

It's our research and development vessel of the band. Right, right. No, you have to.

You absolutely have to do that. You have to keep it, you know, entertaining. Absolutely.

Yeah. I mean, and he's got a great ear and like we kind of like play like. Do you remember like back in the day when B-96 used to do like the traffic jam where they blend the songs together? You'd like try to guess the next song.

He'll do that during acoustic shows and I'll be like, what is he trying to play? So it's it's fun. You know, like that's I mean, that's our original part of us. Yeah.

You know, it keeps us interested as well. Totally. I'm impressed that we just talked about B-96 on the podcast.

You could be B-96. I love B-96. I still I still listen to B-96 to kind of know what's going what's coming down the way.

What's Harry Styles doing now? Ariana Grande tuner, Miley Cyrus tune. Am I going to have to learn every single morning driving to school? I wasn't I was a college student in the late 80s and early 90s, man. Eddie and Jobo in the morning.

I'm 96. See, I was a Stephen Gary guy. I was an AM 1000 guy.

That was that was my my my radio door. That's when the nerd started. Oh, man.

And the drums at the same time. Q101 Loveline. Of course, to Adam Carolla.

Dr. Drew. I read Drew's book. I learned a lot on that show.

More than you should have probably. Yeah, yeah. And KQX used to have some sex doctor on Sunday nights.

Oh, I remember. Remember? Yeah, I can't remember her name. It was like from 1030 to midnight.

It was great. You're not talking about Dr. Ruth. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

I don't think she works at 1030 on a Sunday. Now we all we all know Ray used to listen to Dr. Ruth. That's right.

I also listen to those tips. I also listen to Steve Dowell's very first. Really? I was I was such a huge Stephen Gary fan in high school.

I went to their 10th anniversary show at the Chicago Theater. I was 15 years old. The first time I ever got on a train and went downtown by myself was that I adored that.

I was a sophomore in high school. Total dork. No friends, no nothing.

But every day I get home. Are you bald then or no? No, no. Yeah.

I'm just picturing a small bald child on a train. No, this is this is an improvement. If I was then.

Asked about sometime. He's got the shirt on with the waves on it. All right.

Oh, you motherfucker. Let's go down here. Really? Really? Yeah.

No, I adore Stephen Gary. It was a seminal part of my my youth. Well, Steve still Steve still does a podcast.

Yeah, yeah, I know. And he's got his kids involved, right? No, no. It's a dog drooling from boy dog pondering.

And OK. Sundance boys and stuff. No, no.

Sun says on this place. No, because it does. Does Matt does it do his own, though? I thought he used to.

But now he's a firefighter, so he's not doing it. He needs a real Steve dog drooling. And this guy, Brendan Greeley.

Oh, OK. I tell you that that trio that it's that's the best group he's ever been with. Oh, I got to check it out.

It's really good. Yeah. That whole AM 1000 lineup, like Jonathan Brandmeier, Kevin Matthews, Matthews, Stephen Gary, Chet Coppock, Ed Phil.

Yeah. My brother was a huge Ed Phil guy. I'm still picturing you on the train with your.

Oh, my God. Yeah, totally, totally. I'm going to see the radio guy.

I listen to Eddie Schwartz because he's all that's right. I'm like, I got to listen to this guy. Oh, my God.

I think a set of the 10th anniversary thing. Oh, wow. The Schwartz be with you.

Oh, way down the wrong one. No, no, no. That was WLS.

That was Larry Lou Jackson. That's right. Uncle Lair.

Uncle Lair. Too funny. All righty, guys.

Well, do you think you could take us out with one more time? Sure. Absolutely. Why not? We'll let the bass player start.

It's not me. It's not my family. In your head, in your head.

They are fighting. With their dicks and their bums and their gums. In your head, in your head.

They are dying. In your head, in your head. Dying, dying.

Zombie, zombie. Hey, hey. What's in your head? In your head.

Zombie, zombie. Zombie. Hey, hey, hey.

Oh. Oh. I forget where we're playing next.

This is going to be playing in our next show, right? And then it's the cranberries and it's an Irish show. Yeah, and it's at Park Inn. Yeah.

And now the book is breaking. All is taken over. And the violence calls to silence.

Who are we mistaken? It's the same whole team as 2019. In your head, in your head. They are dying.

With their zincs and their gums, and their gums, and their gums. In your head, in your head. They are dying.

In your head, in your head. Zombie, zombie, zombie. Hey, hey, what's in your head? In your head.

Zombie, zombie, zombie. Hey, hey, hey. Ah.

Ah. Ah. It's usually like where we would headbang.

Right? We're going to headbang? That's right. Right. Poops.

At least it wasn't the poop sound. I agree with the first one. Oh no.

We didn't have that the whole podcast. That's when we get it? Well, you can't leave one out. You can't leave one out.

You got to use them all. Absolutely. Absolutely.

Alrighty, guys. Well, thanks a lot for coming out. We really appreciate it.

You guys sound really, really good. This place is awesome, by the way. This place, the Rock and Roll Museum, this is pretty cool.

Yeah. It's awesome. When it's open, you guys got to come out and see it for sure.

Yeah, definitely. Or join now. Become a charter member.

Oh, there you go. Yeah. Very good.

Help out. Sign me up. Yes.

Alrighty. RoadtoRock.org. Just go over there and sign up. Cool.

Very cool. A lot of bunnies. Well, thanks a lot for coming out, and hopefully we'll be out to see you soon somewhere.

Yeah. Thanks for having us. Sounds good.

Thanks for having us. Thank you. Take care.

Woo! So there you have it. Sucker punch, and it doesn't even hurt. Not at all.

And it definitely didn't hurt because they brought their own booze with them to kill the pain. They did. That would kill the pain if it was that bad.

Yeah. If you would like to be on an episode of the Rock and Roll Chicago Podcast, it's highly recommended that you bring beverages. For your hosts as well.

That's right. For the hosts as well. We could be a lot funnier, I think.

I don't know. Maybe not. Well, that should tell you everything that you need to know.

Sucker punch. They're a great party band. Go out and see them.

Yes, they are. And they do like to party. They like to entertain.

And they're going to be out and about this summer. And they're good musicians. Let's not forget that.

Yes, they are. Including our good buddy, Greg Rapp from episode 89. He keeps popping in.

You know? Yeah. Kind of like a boil. It's there.

It's not. It's there. It's not.

Sorry, Greg. Didn't mean that. But otherwise, again, as usual, thank you for joining us on the Rock and Roll Chicago podcast.

We'd love having you guys on. If you know any bands out there that are looking to be interviewed for the podcast, let them know. Have them get ahold of us.

We've got plenty of dates available. So until next week, rock on. The Rock and Roll Chicago podcast is edited by Paul Martin.

Theme song courtesy of MNR Rush. The Rock and Roll Chicago podcast does not own the rights to any of the music heard on the show. The music is used to promote the guests that are featured.