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Unsigned518 - A Special Episode with Erin Harkes · Unsigned518

• 0:01
  Speaker A: He was born on a Saturday in 73 he loves punk rock music fighting the 13 cabin in the dazzle Jazz on the beat Guitar with a short with radio back his motherfucking Envy sc, motherfucker. Cuz here he comes, Andy Sculling wearing his or his hat.
• 0:27
  Speaker B: All right, shut up, Brandon.
• 0:30
  Speaker C: Yeah, shut up.
• 0:31
  Speaker A: What?
• 0:32
  Speaker C: All right, welcome to unsigned 5 foot 8. I'm here with Aaron Harks. Finally. How's it about going?
• 0:38
  Speaker B: It's about fucking time, Andy.
• 0:41
  Speaker C: You know, I've been begging and begging and begging. You've been telling me to go fuck myself over and over and now we're here.
• 0:47
  Speaker B: I have been telling you to go fuck yourself. Well, not about being on the podcast. I'm always looking to self promote.
• 0:52
  Speaker C: Yeah, totally. But, you know, we're here. We're here for, I guess, a special reason. Like, I've already heard the album. I actually listened to it when you sent it to me. I listened to it three times in a row. I didn't want to tell you that via text because you already get enough attention.
• 1:06
  Speaker B: I was like, yeah, I don't, though.
• 1:08
  Speaker C: Like, it's fine.
• 1:09
  Speaker B: It's never enough.
• 1:10
  Speaker C: All right, well, both my wife and I enjoyed it.
• 1:13
  Speaker B: I appreciate that, though, for real. You're one of the first people I sent it to, so for whatever that's.
• 1:17
  Speaker C: Worth, it's worth a fucking lot. Like, I appreciate that. But we're here to talk about the album. But, like, since you're here, I want to kind of just give you the microphone to talk about, you know, there's so much we could go back to, like, you know, your. Your past. Like, I've known of your music since 2000. Fucking two or three.
• 1:38
  Speaker B: Wow.
• 1:39
  Speaker C: When I worked at EQX doing local music. So, like, we could go back that far.
• 1:44
  Speaker B: Go back as far as you want.
• 1:45
  Speaker C: We'll go back as far as you want.
• 1:47
  Speaker B: I mean, I just want to state I'm glad that this is only audio because you did refer to me as your boss before we went on. And I have the biggest erection right now. So it's a good thing that we're only doing audio today.
• 1:57
  Speaker C: Well, because I was like, well, you know, have, you know, this kind of framework. But you're the boss. You can change anything, you know, like, I don't know.
• 2:05
  Speaker B: No, I think that interview should be like, you know, I don't stick to anything when I'm interviewing people because I let the person guide the interview and talk about what they want.
• 2:13
  Speaker C: Yeah, I say that all the time because, like, it just Seems so corporate and so, you know. Oh, it says here. Yeah.
• 2:21
  Speaker B: When somebody's like, give me your questions first. I'm like, no, I don't have any questions. Like, you need to bring the answers.
• 2:27
  Speaker C: Yeah, I'm interviewing someone next month at the Nightmare Expo and it's like this like fairly famous true crime podcast lady. And I don't like, they were like, what do you got for question? I'm like fudgeing nothing and I won't have any.
• 2:42
  Speaker B: No, that's so boring. Especially with something like true crime. Like, let's talk about some true crime. Here's my question.
• 2:47
  Speaker C: Yeah. And I always say if you start, if I plan, that's where it fucks up. Like, if I have no plan, if I'm just like, whatever, let's do it then.
• 2:55
  Speaker B: Or if you have some written down and then you have like an amazing conversation with the person and then you look down your like, oh, I forgot to ask you about this fucking turd question that doesn't fit with the flow of anything we've discussed so far. So. No, it's stupid.
• 3:07
  Speaker C: Yeah. So we're not going to do that. All right. But no, I guess I want to. I definitely, like, want to talk about the album and we will talk about the album. We're going to have play a song from the album and you're going to be the first person to play in my new little performance corner or whatever.
• 3:24
  Speaker B: The Dazzle Den dive.
• 3:27
  Speaker C: Yeah, I don't know.
• 3:28
  Speaker B: I can do better.
• 3:29
  Speaker C: Haven't really thought of a. Thought of a name.
• 3:30
  Speaker B: No. I'm glad that I was able to be your first.
• 3:33
  Speaker C: Yeah. But yeah, we'll get to that later. But let's talk about, let's talk a little bit about Metroland just because like in as we're sitting here, it's like 48 hours since like the picture of fucking Jimmy Fallon holding the Metro Land, which I had to clarify to so many people was real.
• 3:56
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 3:56
  Speaker C: Like I would. After you posted it, I'm like, you know, sending it via text to like my dad, a couple other people and he's my dad's first. Is that AI? And I'm like, first of all, good job on you for being a fucking 80 year old that like asks that question.
• 4:10
  Speaker B: Well done.
• 4:11
  Speaker C: But no, it's not, you know, Well.
• 4:13
  Speaker B: I sent it to the editors first because I literally walked out of there and I told them I would have to dip. And we were talking because we're, we're going to, we're going to print early this month because of Christmas. And so I have this habit of getting in there and being like, where are we at? Do you guys need me to do anything? And then like, I said to tj, I was like, if you need anything, we'll be on the train for the next two hours. Let me know. And I don't, I don't even know the process anymore for like doing the edits and stuff. So, like, you literally have to just say this one or I'm gonna do something that somebody already did, which I'm so grateful for, don't get me wrong. But then like literally getting off the train and he's like, yeah, could you do this one? And I'm like, nah, I'm. I'm getting off the train. And I didn't tell anybody what I was doing or where I was going. So we had to put our phones away when we walked in. And so the second I walked out, obviously I powered my phone back on and I see that, you know, they both, they've all messaged in the editor channel on Slack. And I was just like, oh, sorry guys, Ping. And like sent the picture. And they're both like, did you photoshop this? Like, no. Nobody believed it. And I was like, I had to send video. And I was like, guys, this just happened. And they were like, what the fuck?
• 5:20
  Speaker C: And I'm like, how did that happen?
• 5:22
  Speaker B: It's been.
• 5:23
  Speaker C: Because all you told me was you were like, oh, it's just dumb luck.
• 5:26
  Speaker B: Well, it kind of is.
• 5:28
  Speaker C: Like, dumb luck is like, oh, I found a fucking five dollar bill on the, in the floor of my car. Not like I ended up.
• 5:34
  Speaker B: Sure, sure, okay, fair. Well, because I don't want anybody to think that skill got me on. I mean, maybe some skill had something to do with it in the long run, but ultimately I met Peter. Iceland. I'm probably saying it wrong. I always it up, Iceland or Islam. I'm pretty sure it's Iceland. And I had these ways of remembering when I've talked to him and then I forget anyway, who is also the founder of Metroland. Right, right. So I met him probably like 10 years ago. He heard me sing somewhere. Somebody else had told me that he did like music publishing. So I was very interested in talking to him about that. He knew that I had been on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon with the Battle of the Instant Bands, which is. That was a total fluke. I almost missed out on that because they were like, who plays an instrument? And my mom put my hand up for me. I'm like, I don't Want. I don't want anything to do with this. Next thing you know, I'm on the Tonight show or the. The Late Night. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon singing the song. So Peter really thought that that was the only reason I was talking to him was so that I could, like, meet Jimmy Fallon again. And so we're having our first conversation and we're talking about music and stuff. And I was like, I mean, sure. Like, he brought up Jimmy. And I was like, I mean, sure, I'd love to meet him again. Peter kind of had this, like, smug, like. I'm sure you would. I go, oh, no, no, no, no. Let's be very clear. That's not why I wanted to meet with you, because that wasn't it at all. So fast forward, you know, nine years, I decide that I want to try and bring back Metroland. I go to him for permission. He not only gives me permission, he gives me, like, the sweetest blessing, like this, like, beautiful transfer of power. It was more than I ever expected. He was like, there's nobody I could think of in a better position for this. And I was just really, honestly blessed because everything that we've done, we've worked really hard and we've made this thing amazing. I'm not. I don't care if I'm biased. It's a great paper, but it's also where it's at because we didn't have to start at zero. So I'm eternally grateful that this man. And because a lot of people had reached out to him and to Steve Leon for permission to do this, and they got told no. So I didn't know that at the time. I was like, I don't know what. I had the magic touch. So they gave it to me. So we've met a few times since then. I've helped him with one of these artists that he's working with, trying to get, like, some local shows and stuff like that, Happy to do it. And he goes, is there anything I can do for you? And I said flat out, I go, I'm sure you can't, but, man, if Jimmy Fallon knew that I was a fucking comedian, you know. And he goes, yeah. He goes, I don't do. I don't do that. And I. I was like, respect. He goes, we've been friends for a really long time, and I think it's because I've never asked him for something.
• 8:12
  Speaker C: Like that because he was his boss.
• 8:13
  Speaker B: He was his boss. So Jimmy interned at Metroland, but Peter moved to la and Jimmy wanted to do some comedy thing out there. And, like, he let him stay on his couch. He got him hooked up with the right people. So Peter essentially discovered Jimmy Fallon, and he won't really take credit for that. And it's really pretty humble. It's pretty great. So I said, well, I go, I know you go down to see the show every once in a while. Just consider me one of these times. So I was like, over a year ago. So we talked again this summer, and I was like, hey, I wasn't gonna be pushy, but I was like, when we going down? So finally he's like, December 16th. And I'm like, great. And I tell my husband, here's what's funny. I was like, hey, honey, you want to go see the Tonight Show? And he's like, eh? And I go, okay, you want to go see the Tonight Show? And then, like, meet Jimmy Fallon and hang out? And he was like, oh, yeah, you know, and I don't. I don't really watch late night tv, like, full disclosure. Like, I'll watch clips and stuff the next day. And I follow Jimmy on Instagram and everything, watching the whole show. He's truly the nicest human being. Genuinely nice, Nice guy. Like, really, it was something to see him live in this setting and watch him, like, perform the Tonight show and do all of these things. He's a really genuinely nice human being. And he comes up through the audience and he's waving and talking and usually knows when people that he knows are there. But he stops by Peter's chair and he gives him a hug. And we didn't know if we were going to get to go backstage because sometimes Jimmy has to leave right after the show. And I hear him say to Peter, he's like, you're gonna. You're gonna come back? And Peter's like, yep. And I'm like, yeah, we're in. And then I was like.
• 9:55
  Speaker C: So you watched the whole thing and then the whole audience left or whatever.
• 10:00
  Speaker B: Well, they came up and got us out of the audience before the whole audience left, which is even better because everybody's like, who the are these people? And I'm like, that's right.
• 10:08
  Speaker C: And it was. It wasn't like anything that was filmed for anything. It was just. And one of the things is, when you sent me that video, I noticed, you know, you were saying Jimmy Fallon is a really nice guy. Is his, like, childlike awe looking at the physical copy of Metroland when there were no cameras on him. Like, you know, he didn't know he was Being filmed by someone's, you know, whoever was filming.
• 10:32
  Speaker B: That was my husband.
• 10:33
  Speaker C: Oh, okay.
• 10:34
  Speaker B: I told him. I was like, you better take as many pictures and videos as you can.
• 10:37
  Speaker C: I have to be cool that that video starts right on the. I love Metroland.
• 10:42
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 10:42
  Speaker C: Like, I'm like, yeah, yeah. But, like, he had just like that, you know, it wasn't an act. It wasn't a. He was truly happy to see it.
• 10:50
  Speaker B: Yeah. And we were backstage and, like, Peter couldn't wait to show him. Peter said, bring a copy. So I brought him a copy. And he was like, no way. And he, like, immediately starts, like, leafing through it, and he. He stops. He goes, congratulations. And he gives me a hug. And I was like.
• 11:06
  Speaker C: And like, out of all the times for me to get the fucking cover story.
• 11:11
  Speaker B: I was like, yes. Yeah. I was like, andy's gonna be excited. Brian Thomas is gonna be excited.
• 11:17
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 11:18
  Speaker B: I mean, it's just. It's a good thing for Metroland.
• 11:21
  Speaker C: And, you know, what a side effect that I didn't expect, but I saw a lot of on social media was bands that were simply in that issue were also excited. You know, they're like, jimmy Fallon saw my shit. He saw my face. You know what I mean?
• 11:36
  Speaker B: I mean, he looked right at the COVID and flipped through it. He's like, who's this guy? And I was like, that's Brian Thomas. That's Bucky Jive. He's super talented. And he was like, nice. And then he's like. And then he sees my picture. He's like, awesome. Like, everything was like. And he meant it. It was really sweet. It was awesome.
• 11:49
  Speaker C: Yeah. So it was really cool. And it was cool for, like, the area. And so many people have been reposting that picture.
• 11:55
  Speaker B: Yeah. And there's more to come because we got some professional ones from. From his pa. Oh, no. Yeah, there's one. I'm making the dumbest face. I can't wait to share it.
• 12:05
  Speaker C: Well, then I can stop trying to take screen caps off that little video. Oh, yeah. Oh, God, no.
• 12:10
  Speaker B: I'll send them to everybody. I want everybody to share this as much as they can. I think it's. Aw.
• 12:15
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 12:15
  Speaker B: I was like, you know what? I was like, people are going to get tired of me talking about it, but I'm going to milk it for everything that it's worth.
• 12:20
  Speaker C: Yeah. I. I mean, it's worth milk. It's like such a fucking validation on a. On a bigger scale, you know, because who doesn't know who Jimmy Fallon is? Yeah. You know, it's not just like a little local thing. It's like, oh, no, like someone who talks to big celebrities all the time is excited about what you're doing.
• 12:39
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 12:39
  Speaker C: Or actually what I'm doing. You know, what I'm, we're doing. We're doing.
• 12:41
  Speaker B: Yeah, it's ours.
• 12:42
  Speaker A: Yeah.
• 12:43
  Speaker B: Like, TJ goes, I had to keep correcting people that are like, your PA made now. And I, I go, don't correct them, tj, it is your paper. Like, it's yours as it is everybody else's. This is a collaborative.
• 12:55
  Speaker C: Yeah, I agree.
• 12:56
  Speaker B: And like, I, I, I was just excited to, to meet him and say hi. I didn't expect him to grab the paper, to sit behind the decks, to hold it up to, to not just like, insist on pictures, but to like, like who? Let's get a picture of just me and you.
• 13:13
  Speaker C: Right.
• 13:14
  Speaker B: Like, even my, my other friend Laura that was there was Peter's friend. But I know Laura from way back in the day. That's going to be its own separate post. And even Laura was like, I was like trying to get pictures of her. She kept getting pictures of me. And she goes, actually, she goes, I, I'm just happy that you're in this world right now. Like, I got to talk to him. Like, just his excitement was great and everybody was just really supportive of like making sure that we got a picture together and that we got to talk.
• 13:39
  Speaker C: In that video, you said you can hear him saying, do you know you're taking a picture where he's holding the paper and he says, like, do we want to get solos? Or you know, like, yep, you know.
• 13:47
  Speaker B: He was so great about that. Who else wants a one on one? We had to take my husband out of some of them because he doesn't like the, the limelight. And like, we were joking around. Like, why did he even get in the picture? I was like, I don't know. For his own scrapbook.
• 13:58
  Speaker C: But yeah, show his friends. Yeah.
• 14:00
  Speaker B: But I was like, take this out before we share this with Peter. People are creepy.
• 14:04
  Speaker C: You should just put like the black outline with like the cut out around him and be like, you know, you.
• 14:10
  Speaker B: Redacted or like, or like a, like a, have a good day, happy face, smile kind of thing or something. He just, I mean, I like, in my comedy, I talk about my husband and people will like, I talk about him being a firefighter and people will go like, what house does he work at? And I'm like, don't worry about it. And they go, oh, no. I think I Know him? I'm like, if you knew him, you would know what fucking house he worked at, right? You would know the firefighter whose wife is a comedian.
• 14:35
  Speaker C: I mean, literally, the fact that he's a firefighter is 100% the only information I know about him. Like, I don't, you know, I know.
• 14:44
  Speaker B: Well, everybody that got to meet him at our anniversary party, like, wait, he's coming? He's like, George Glass? Like, nobody thinks he exists.
• 14:51
  Speaker C: That's still all I know. So if someone tried to pry me for information, I'd be like, I know he's a firefighter. I think, yeah, unless she's making it up.
• 14:58
  Speaker B: People are like, I've never seen him in one of your shows. I was like, yeah, cuz he doesn't want to meet you.
• 15:02
  Speaker C: Right?
• 15:02
  Speaker A: I've.
• 15:02
  Speaker C: I've seen him in person.
• 15:04
  Speaker B: So you got to meet him.
• 15:06
  Speaker C: I did.
• 15:06
  Speaker B: You probably shook hands, right?
• 15:08
  Speaker C: I did, yeah. He's real.
• 15:10
  Speaker B: He's real.
• 15:10
  Speaker C: Totally real.
• 15:11
  Speaker B: George Glass.
• 15:14
  Speaker C: So I, I want to talk obviously more about Metroland stuff. I don't know how much time you have now.
• 15:21
  Speaker B: Let's talk.
• 15:22
  Speaker C: Okay, so once, like I remember, you know, but I don't want to go into why we were all kind of found without a publication because that's everybody. But like, I remember and we didn't really know each other other than who each other were. I don't think we'd actually even met in person.
• 15:41
  Speaker B: We met one time at Bound by Fate.
• 15:44
  Speaker C: Yeah, you. It was right as Covid was letting up and you played a. A show there and my wife was, was booking the shows there at the time. And I remember you were just like, this is way less than I would ever normally get paid.
• 15:59
  Speaker B: I don't think I said that.
• 16:01
  Speaker C: No, but it was something like that. It was, we. We were psyched to be like, holy.
• 16:06
  Speaker B: No, I think you guys actually paid me pretty decently.
• 16:08
  Speaker C: I don't remember what it was, but.
• 16:09
  Speaker B: I know, I know what it was. It was under what I wanted. And then you ended up giving me the full thing. And I called you because I was like, did you make a mistake? And you said no.
• 16:18
  Speaker C: Oh, right. Maybe, maybe it was. But we knew what we had. You know, we were like, we kind of. Aaron hurts coming in. Or at least I knew because again, I've known your since, you know, 2002 or three or whatever. But anyway, so I remember getting a text from you shortly after the thing that happened, happened, and it literally just said, I think we need to chat. And I was like, okay. And Then me, you and TJ met on a freezing cold day. We met for coffee.
• 16:48
  Speaker B: It was so cold.
• 16:48
  Speaker C: And we were talking about just something, and you were like, I want something that, like, not to use the word safe space, because.
• 16:56
  Speaker B: No, call it safe. That's exactly what. That's exactly the impetus.
• 16:59
  Speaker C: Right, but it was like, someplace where creeps aren't fucking allowed or creeps aren't in fucking charge.
• 17:05
  Speaker B: Right. I believe my exact words were, I'm tired of everything being run by old white men rapists.
• 17:10
  Speaker C: And I am. I am too, man. Not like that third part has nothing to do with me, but I am an old.
• 17:18
  Speaker B: Present company exclude. No, I'm just kidding.
• 17:19
  Speaker C: Yeah, but it started with that idea. I remember, like I'm telling you this, I guess from my side is that then large chunks of time would go by where I wouldn't hear anything from you. And then I would just get a text that just says, hey, it's me. Just letting you know I haven't forgotten about you. Things are. Things are happening. Bye.
• 17:37
  Speaker B: Well, here's something, though, that, like, I think TJ knows, I don't think you fully know, is that about a week or so after we had our first meeting, there was something that happened, like, personally, that nothing like that has ever happened before in my personal life. It was like a family thing that I really had to put a lot of attention to. And so the whole time, though, as I was dealing with this, I remember thinking to myself, like, because I don't flake, if I say I'm gonna do something, it's gonna happen. And so this was the first time that I felt like I was going to unintentionally be a flake. And so I remember, like, TJ reaching out. I was like, I haven't given up on this. I just need a little time. And like, honestly, what. It was such a phenomenon that I can't even get into, but it would never happen again. But it was like a two month thing that I just. It took everything out of me and everything resolved. Everything was fine. But I remember, like, the day after things were, like, wrapping up. I was like, like right back, like, hey, guys. It was like April, and I'm like, let's fucking go. We got to do this. Like, I. I think at first I. I thought of it just being like some sort of, like, cooperative where we were. Just had like an online blog and we were supporting one another. And then I was like, what if we did this? What if we did that? And I went to. I went to Proctors and asked them about the collaborative, if they wanted to restart that in print. And they said that they liked the idea, but it wasn't the right time. You know me, I'm impatient. I was like, if you don't answer me right now. And I went to one of the other papers and was like, hey, maybe a new face at the helm would help. And they didn't bite. And I was like. And I was having dinner with friends in New York, and I joked like, what if I brought back Metroland? And they were like, yeah, right. I was like, wait, what if I do? And the rest is history. So what was funny was that I did. It did seem like I ghosted you two for a while, and then I came back with like, hey, we're going to be Metroland.
• 19:37
  Speaker C: Well, like, I mean, it didn't seem like you ghosted. There was a long time. But you would reassure me there was.
• 19:42
  Speaker B: A big gap in there.
• 19:44
  Speaker C: No information.
• 19:45
  Speaker B: But, I mean, you probably wish you could go that long without hearing from me these days.
• 19:49
  Speaker C: No.
• 19:53
  Speaker A: No.
• 19:53
  Speaker C: That would actually be fucking wonderful.
• 19:55
  Speaker B: But Happy holiday.
• 19:58
  Speaker C: And then all of a sudden, like, it was, oh, bring it back, Metroland. And I was like, what the fuck? You know, because when I moved to Troy from Vermont 20 years ago, Metroland was the coolest thing I had ever seen, because I didn't. I wasn't used to having shit that I could just go do.
• 20:14
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 20:15
  Speaker C: You know, out in Vermont, if we wanted to go see a show, we'd have to drive two hours, you know? And when it went away, I just remember being so fucking sad.
• 20:23
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 20:23
  Speaker C: And to be a part of it, that first when you were like, this is what we're doing. I didn't even know in what capacity. I was like, we could do a fucking WordPress blog, and it's called Metroland. And I would have been psychedelic.
• 20:36
  Speaker B: Yeah. Well, honestly. And this is my favorite. My favorite Metroland story of all of them is that we were just going to be online at first.
• 20:44
  Speaker C: Right.
• 20:45
  Speaker B: That was really all we talked about and how I just kind of started looking into and doing a print thing.
• 20:52
  Speaker C: And then you said four times a year, I think, right?
• 20:55
  Speaker B: Yep.
• 20:56
  Speaker C: And then.
• 20:56
  Speaker B: And then I was like, in it. And y' all were in it with me. And then I stopped, and I was like, did I tell you guys that I wanted to print? And you're like, nope. And I'm like, I'm sorry.
• 21:07
  Speaker C: Yeah. We were like, huh, all right, I.
• 21:10
  Speaker B: Guess this is what we're doing now. And there were, like, six of us and you guys were like, I guess we're. I just started giving out assignments and.
• 21:16
  Speaker C: Like, I just remembered the first. When we wrapped up that first issue, and we all, like, were like, oh, my God, we did it. We did it. Now we have to start all over again right now so that we can do it again.
• 21:28
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 21:28
  Speaker C: It was just like, all right, let's go.
• 21:30
  Speaker B: I was like, hey, that. Good job. But here we go. We're doing it again now. You know, we're journalists, but, yeah, now it's just. It's kind of like we're in this rhythm now. It just happens.
• 21:39
  Speaker C: It's a functioning, living, breathing fucking thing. Like, we have to meet. Like, the way the meetings work are just so fluid.
• 21:46
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 21:47
  Speaker C: I think it's like, such a reality.
• 21:48
  Speaker B: That was one of the best things I ever did, was stop leaving it up to people to give me their availabilities. I was like, this is when the fucking meeting is.
• 21:55
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 21:55
  Speaker B: I was like, I'm giving you guys.
• 21:56
  Speaker C: Or give me an excuse.
• 21:57
  Speaker B: Way too many options. I was like, you don't have to be at everyone, but this is when it's gonna be. Especially as. I mean, we've watched the staff double and then triple and now quadruple in size since we started, which is amazing. But it's like, we went from meeting like, oh, are you free Tuesday? Okay, I think I can come. But that's till 7:30. And I was like, no, it's gonna be this time. It's gonna be at 6:30. It's gonna be here. Let's do it. And it just happens now. Yeah.
• 22:21
  Speaker C: And it works. It's so. It's so great. And we get out every month.
• 22:24
  Speaker B: It's wild, isn't it?
• 22:25
  Speaker C: Yeah, it really is. And even on months like this December with holidays in a short month, like, everything's done. Yeah, before. Right before. Well, on deadline.
• 22:35
  Speaker B: No, we're going to print earlier than we've ever gone to print before.
• 22:39
  Speaker C: And it's all. I know, it's all final.
• 22:41
  Speaker B: It's done. Yeah, it's done. And it's Friday. It's blowing my mind. But I kept going. We lost a day. And then I was like, oh, no, we're losing two days because of Christmas Eve, because people celebrate that. And so I was like, oh, yeah, we have to have this done by this day. And then I just kept. And when I get anxious like that, I was like, okay. You know, you've heard me in meetings. I'm like, if Sunday's the deadline, act like it's The Friday before. Like, don't wait till Sunday.
• 23:05
  Speaker C: Yeah. And start your pieces right when the meetings.
• 23:07
  Speaker B: Yeah, remember that one? I was like, if you can't start it tonight, don't take one. And everybody's like, I heard everybody's collective butthole clench. And like, a week later, TJ goes, all right, you got through to them. I was like, I. I had to.
• 23:20
  Speaker C: I mean, it's. It's. You're the boss. I know, but even though this is my podcast, and I've been doing this podcast longer than Metroland even exists, this is a Metroland podcast. And when you were coming here, I was like, the boss is coming. Like. Like, hiding on my weed and everything.
• 23:39
  Speaker B: Yeah. Because I care about that. I was like, oh, hey, Andy, can I build your part? No. Andy, I'm gonna be on your podcast. No, but we had a few meetings where I said to tj, I was like, tj, I think I'm gonna have to get, like, heavy in this meeting. And he's like, all right, well, you know, just blah, blah, blah. And I would go in there and I would, like, turn to him after he goes, that. That was it. And I was like, yeah. And even, like, Kiki, be like, I don't think you're as, like, mean as you. As you think you are. Even Brandon says it's. Well, I. I can be a little stern.
• 24:06
  Speaker C: Yeah, but that's not mean.
• 24:07
  Speaker B: Mean.
• 24:08
  Speaker C: When I think of mean, I think I mean someone who's a dick unnecessarily. You know what I mean? Like, stern is like, I'm being stern for this reason.
• 24:16
  Speaker B: Yeah, well, you're just being an enabler now, because now you're making a monster out of me. I'm going to go beat the shit out of Brandon.
• 24:22
  Speaker C: Nobody listens to what I say.
• 24:23
  Speaker B: Sorry, Brandon, you're gonna die.
• 24:27
  Speaker C: Her chauffeur, Brandon, by the way, yes.
• 24:30
  Speaker B: My driver for the day.
• 24:33
  Speaker C: So, you know, we are. I. I don't want to keep you forever. I know. You do have a. Yeah, we're.
• 24:38
  Speaker B: We.
• 24:38
  Speaker C: We gotta kind of move it along. I want to talk about the album. Okay. But I think before we do that, we should play a song from the album. The album as we're recording. And I think if you're cool with that, I'm going to release this episode today.
• 24:51
  Speaker B: I would love that.
• 24:51
  Speaker C: Okay, so the album came out today. We're going to release this episode, like, as soon as you leave. I'm going to edit it and get it up.
• 24:57
  Speaker B: Love it.
• 24:58
  Speaker C: Get it up. That sounded weird.
• 25:00
  Speaker B: I Feel. I feel threatened.
• 25:03
  Speaker C: Where's HR when you imagine. Oh my God. What song are you going to? Going to play for the folks. Not live, but off the album.
• 25:12
  Speaker B: Off the album, you think Just another or nice? Just another.
• 25:18
  Speaker C: Okay, yeah, let's. Let's.
• 25:20
  Speaker B: This is the best part about it is that I keep like changing my mind over what one I'm like, the happiest with.
• 25:25
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 25:25
  Speaker B: And that feels really good because normally I'm like, it's good enough. Print it and then never listen to it again. And I'm like, so proud of this.
• 25:31
  Speaker C: So you should be.
• 25:32
  Speaker B: Thank you.
• 25:33
  Speaker C: So let's check out Just Another Aaron Harks. Then we'll be right back.
• 25:45
  Speaker A: Just another thing My ears are ringing so slow Just another need Want to speed it up just so Just another song Won't be long your life for just another dream Waking it seems that I've lost it so I try to choose to stay asleep When I'm always up the challenge of steering the involuntary wheel Sliding out to feel a way to breath I taking so many breaths I haven't needed that when I do I'm not able to hold on as long as I want to. Just another shirt matching skirt and a pair of shoes Just another me feeling so free with what I can choose Just another love that felt dull but I'll take it just another way Just another sin but I'll fake it so I try to choose to stay asleep but I'm always up the challenge of steering the involuntary wheel Cause I finding out to feel a way to breath Cuz I taken so many breaths I haven't needed that when I do not able to hold on as long as I want to. Sam. Another time it's been fighting a rhyme like pretense Just another word sounding absurd simple text just another lie Just another cry down Just another face just lacking taste and it's just another another day wasting away over just another empty page so I try to choose to stay asleep when I'm always up the challenge of steering the involuntary theme this was no ordinary dream Though I watch it slip through my tendency down the middle of my chest how do I. How do I take you leave the bed when to me it sounds like the best time that I ever had.
• 30:12
  Speaker C: All right, that was just another Aaron Harks. Now tell me about. Let's talk about the album. It just came out today. I like I said earlier in this episode, got an advanced copy of it, which I'm super thrilled to have have been one of the elite few but let's Talk about it.
• 30:31
  Speaker B: I am. I don't need to explain self deprecation to. To you.
• 30:38
  Speaker C: No.
• 30:38
  Speaker B: Or to anybody. But I. First of all, I've been blocked up for a very long time. And I. It was for the best reasons possible as far as I was concerned. Like, I was sober and I was in a healthy relationship with a wonderful, appropriately aged man. And I was like, I'm just not inspired to write the things that I used to write. And it like, what a bittersweet moment. When I was like, okay, I'm not being, like, emotionally abused anymore, and I'm not, like, killing myself with drugs and alcohol. What do I write about? And so for years, I would just, like, start to write something. I'd be like. And so, like, the last few years, I wrote a couple of new ones and recorded them, and I. I was happy with them. Like, no stranger. I was. I was definitely happy. New Year's Day was all right, but, like, it just felt like just little bits here and there and like, nothing really solid. And my husband got me for a Christmas present for me and for himself because it got me out of the house for a week. I went to, like, a songwriting retreat with Richard Thompson, who was.
• 31:47
  Speaker C: Oh, wow.
• 31:48
  Speaker B: My hero.
• 31:50
  Speaker C: Like, I know him from my radio days when I worked at an easy listening station and we played a lot of fucking. Richard Thomas. Yeah.
• 31:56
  Speaker B: Because he's incredible.
• 31:58
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 31:58
  Speaker B: And so I went to this and I was like, you know, be cool, be cool. And he's like, just out having lunch and shit with us. And he was sitting at a table away from everybody on, like, the first day. And that's how long I lasted with, quote, unquote, being cool. And I just went up and I just sat down. I was like, hey, I'm Aaron. Nice to meet you. And I told him. I said, I've been blocked up for a really long time. Like, this is my first full album in 20 years.
• 32:25
  Speaker C: Oh, wow.
• 32:26
  Speaker B: Yeah, that face. I did the math in my head. I was like, ew. I did an EP a couple of years ago, but it was all older songs that I had already recorded once. I did another EP in 2011, but that had two. Two new songs and two older songs. So it was like, it wasn't new.
• 32:46
  Speaker A: Right.
• 32:47
  Speaker B: And so I haven't really written, like, a chunk of new stuff in a long time. So I went to this camp and I sat down with him and I told him about this whole block, and I said, but I think it's because I'm happy and because I'm healthy. And, you know, I don't know what to do with that. And he has all like, have you ever seen a Mighty Wind?
• 33:04
  Speaker A: Of course.
• 33:05
  Speaker B: Yeah. So, you know, like the character played by Eugene Levy. Yes. With the one where he's standing in the grave where they show all the album covers, and it's like. Like that, I feel like, was directly inspired by a string of Richard Thompson albums that came after his breakup with. With Linda Thompson.
• 33:23
  Speaker C: Oh, wow.
• 33:23
  Speaker B: I'm. I'm convinced of it because it was just like the one where he's in the grave, especially because Mickey and Mallory. Exactly, exactly. So, like, he's got this thing where he's just like, she twists that knife again. And I was like, he'll understand this better than anybody. And so I told him about it, and the first thing that he said was he goes, well, he goes, you can still write about it. And I'm like, yeah, but I don't know if I want to. Like, I don't want to go back. Like, those were some dark times. I go, I don't know if I want to write about it. And he goes, all right. He goes, well, he goes, you don't have to write about yourself. And I was like, like, you know, what better way to say it's not about you? Which is not a concept I'm familiar with. And I was like, huh? And I wrote something like that day.
• 34:09
  Speaker C: And it was through someone else's eyes.
• 34:11
  Speaker B: Through someone else's eyes. And there was a little autobiography material in there, of course, but ultimately it wasn't about anything that had actually happened to me, and it came out pretty decent. And it was a song Teller. I know. And it's like Blue Song about this woman who knows that her. Her man is cheating on her and doesn't care, and she's like, just go be with her. And so something similar to that kind of happened to me. I was like, please take him. So I wrote it, and I got a real kick out of writing it. And then after that, all of this, it just started. Like, it was like, I. The dam broke loose, and all of these things just started coming out. And. And they. They weren't things. I was like, okay, that's good enough. Like, they were ones that I was like, wow. Like, I'm really happy with this one. And then I had my monthly Lena go round. And leading up to one of the shows, I, like, literally finished one, like, in the bathroom. I was, like, running through, like, one part of the verse, and I got on stage, and we're doing our Round. I was like, I literally just finished this. And the other women on stage were like, we can attest to that. Like, she was playing it in the bathroom. Like she's. And I did it. And that was Die for Me and. Which is, you know, really feel good title. So that was something that dipped into my past, but it was more of like a, like, you know, I feel.
• 35:34
  Speaker C: Like, you know, having that almost like freedom to not have to dig into your own personal pain, but to create characters. Did it just like, did you start thinking of characters that you could go through or was it more situations that you were trying to create characters for? If that makes sense.
• 35:52
  Speaker B: It does make sense. And I can say that all of the other songs, I only did that with the one song where I made it about somebody else. Everything else ended up being about me. I just needed something to break the dam. So Die for Me is about me is actually about somebody that assaulted me. And the line that, the very first line, the fact that I wrote this first line and I smirk when I say it, like, it's like you said no one would ever love me like you do. God, I hope that's true, you know. And so in the chorus I say something like, you know those people, that love bomb. I guess that's a thing now that it actually has a definition now where they're like, love. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like no one will ever, you know. And like I, I would die for you. And so in the chorus I'm like, you said you would die for me. And I'm like, I'm still waiting, right? Like die already, you know?
• 36:44
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 36:45
  Speaker B: So I mean, I wrote this like heavy song, but if you saw me singing it, like, I'm smirking the whole time. And so it's dark, but it's also like, haha, it's triumphant, right? And so like all of these things just kept like coming out of me. And then I wrote this one called Nice, which is really just an upbeat, like fun song. And I wrote it because I got in my car and I had on like a floor length coat and I realized that my phone was in the back pocket of my pants. And rather than take the seatbelt off, get out of the car, open the jacket and pull it out. I was determined to get it out of my pocket while sitting in the car with my seatbelt and jacket on the whole time going, if you just stop and did it. That I was like, no, I'm determined now because I'm so stubborn. I'm like, I gotta get it out. And Then I did the same thing by my treadmill to, like, turn it off. I was, like, wrapping my arm around, and as I'm doing it, I'm like, you know, if you put your hand this way, it would be off. And. And, like, I'm having this whole conversation with myself, like, why are you making things harder for yourself? And so this song is, like, just me making fun of myself. It's like, if you just stopped and did it over, whatever. It's like, you know, and I have a line. I'm like, I've never been on time. I've never done things the right way. And I was like, yeah, whatever. And so that one makes me smile, too. And it's just. I just love how it all came out.
• 38:02
  Speaker C: And do you think, like, you know, obviously going back to, like, past pain and, like, as a. An unestablished comedian, where do you delineate between things that are fucking funny and things that are pain, like, actually painful? And, you know, because I know there's obviously that dark humor, gray area, fine line.
• 38:23
  Speaker B: Yeah, they're all funny. You got to make them all funny. Otherwise you'll die.
• 38:27
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 38:27
  Speaker B: So, I mean, like, I said, like, the song about somebody that assaulted me, that I'm smirking when I'm saying it so clearly. I have found, like, I don't think it's a funny situation, but it's funny that I'm basically telling this person to die already in a song. It's funny to me anyway. Everybody has to get it. But the best comparison that I've ever come up with is and one that's not on this album. It came out as a single a couple years ago in no Stranger where I talk about, like, I say, why can't weeds be beautiful? And why can't roses survive a hurricane? Because it's like, you know, when you think about how often you have to pull weeds, it's like, why can't a beautiful flower grow that strong?
• 39:03
  Speaker A: Right?
• 39:03
  Speaker B: Why is it always that? And. But I compared it to, like, body hair, and I was like, why can't my head hair grow as fast as, like, my other hair? Like, wouldn't that be great if it was, like, that hard to get rid of? But it's like, no. I, like, I have this, like, Viking thin blonde hair that if I, like, look at funny, it breaks. I was like, but the other hair that's just growing in, like, crops, man. And I was like, but I can't sing that in a song. It's not poetic. So I was like, so this will just be. We'll make this one a song, and then we'll do a joke about body hair some other time.
• 39:39
  Speaker C: Right, but it's based on the same.
• 39:41
  Speaker B: Yeah, so that's where the fine line is.
• 39:43
  Speaker C: All right.
• 39:44
  Speaker B: The fine line is body hair.
• 39:45
  Speaker C: Yeah. I love that body hair. And like I said, you know, I don't plan any questions, but pubes. I'm glad that. I'm glad I asked that one because I really just wanted to hear you say pubes. That was a long, long way to get there.
• 39:59
  Speaker B: I like to deliver. I could see it in your eyes that you wanted to hear me say pubes.
• 40:03
  Speaker C: I was. Come on, Come on, come on.
• 40:06
  Speaker B: Just say it. Just say pubes. Just say it.
• 40:08
  Speaker C: Just say it.
• 40:08
  Speaker B: I was like, body hair. Body hair. No, let's say what it really is.
• 40:11
  Speaker C: What is it really called? All right, so you brought your guitar. I want to hear a song off the new album played live, and we're gonna actually video it, and I'm gonna put it up on YouTube. Maybe this would be a good reason to start a Metroland YouTube channel.
• 40:27
  Speaker B: Oh, boy, that's a great idea. Who. Who had that idea a year and a half ago? Get to work, Andy.
• 40:34
  Speaker C: Busy. Maybe I'll. Maybe I'll do that. But either way, we'll. We'll video. But what song are. Are you going to play?
• 40:41
  Speaker B: I think that I should do the title track. It's called Blue.
• 40:44
  Speaker C: Blue. All right, cool. Well, let's check out Blue. Aaron Hark's Live Here in the Dazzle then. And then we'll be right back to wrap it up.
• 40:51
  Speaker B: Hey, Brandon, shut the up.
• 40:58
  Speaker A: You wouldn't ask me to run if I were walking with a limp Speak on your behalf if I were talking like a sim Would you ask me how I'm feeling When I'm all so clearly numb that's dumb. I'm not looking for attention in fact I want to be left alone make band aids for the cuts Splint for broken balls and ain't nothing you can wear to show your healing from within that's a sin. Maybe I don't wanna let you know maybe this time I hope you figure out on your own if I held my breath and waited for you to get a clue I turn blue.
• 41:57
  Speaker B: I.
• 41:58
  Speaker A: Could go to carnival and when they focus on the tent Wouldn't miss the act completely Couldn't tell you how it went But I lie to you and say that I have the best time to see by.
• 42:18
  Speaker B: Sometimes I don't know.
• 42:19
  Speaker A: Who I am I Know who I am not When I feel like I am not enough I feel like I'm alive and I'm oscillating back and forth between trying to be true and I bother you. Maybe I don't want to let you.
• 42:40
  Speaker B: Know.
• 42:42
  Speaker A: Maybe this time I hope you figure out on your own if I held my breath and waited for you to get a clue I turn blue. I would make a damn good criminal I'd rob you blind Endear myself to you from inside I blow your mind But I pick up all the pieces and make way with all the glue Just to fuck with you. Dishonesty is rewarding and I'm slowly going broke Some lives like these are tragedies and mine is just a joke but you give away the punchline and you spoil it every time I don't mind. Maybe I don't wanna let you know maybe this time I hope you figure out on your own if I held my breath and waited for you to get a clue I turn blue. Maybe I don't wanna let you know maybe this time I hope you figure out on your own if I held my breath and waited for you to get a clue I turn blue.
• 44:36
  Speaker B: If.
• 44:37
  Speaker A: I held my breath and waited for you to get a clue I just.
• 44:42
  Speaker C: Tell you all right, that was blue. Aaron Harks performed live here in the Dazzle Den. And, Aaron, I want to. I want to thank you so much for coming out here to the Dazzle then. It was a really cool. You know, And I know you've. You've been my boss for a year or so, but I was still, like. I was still fucking nervous about.
• 45:01
  Speaker B: See, I don't feel like your boss, though. That's what's.
• 45:04
  Speaker C: No, you don't. I mean, and I say that like, you know, I mean, I guess you could tell me what to do, like, in Metroland stuff, but you're.
• 45:11
  Speaker A: You're.
• 45:11
  Speaker C: You're the leader of our ragtag crew.
• 45:15
  Speaker B: I only make suggestions and get bossy when the suggestions that you've agreed to don't happen. Not you specifically. Like, would you like to do this? And somebody says yes. I'm like, then do it right.
• 45:26
  Speaker C: And I always do that.
• 45:27
  Speaker B: You do? No, you get your in on time early. You're. Now.
• 45:31
  Speaker C: Yeah. I always tell tj, I'm just so terrified of being the problem child that, like, I make sure I get my shit in early so that whenever there's a conversation about, like, make sure everybody gets their articles in, I'm like, ain't talking about me.
• 45:46
  Speaker B: But whatever motivates you, man. But it's funny, too, because, like, sometimes I'll put something in there, and I'm like, no need to chime in if you've already done this. I'll be like, we see you. You're a good boy. I just. I want the notifications to be like, this is my shit.
• 46:00
  Speaker C: You just see that Andy is typing, showing up.
• 46:03
  Speaker B: Yeah. Faster than anybody else could possibly respond to something. Like, I did mine. Aaron.
• 46:07
  Speaker C: Aaron.
• 46:07
  Speaker A: I did mine.
• 46:09
  Speaker B: I'm a good boy.
• 46:10
  Speaker C: Yeah, that's me. Yeah. But anyway, before we go, I want to give you the chance to say what I refer to as your gratitude. So the microphone is all yours.
• 46:19
  Speaker B: All right. Well, I. First and foremost. And this is going to sound a little holier than now, but I am mostly grateful for. And this is not a religious thing, but, like, my higher power and being fucking sober, because I wouldn't have any of this shit without that. So that's like. We talk about gratitude in the program all the time. And that's. That's it for me. It's a tree, so don't even think I'm, like, looking at some dude in the clouds, either. It's like, a tree. But I'm mostly grateful for that. I am mostly grateful for my husband, who doesn't even have a name. He's just a tall, handsome, studly man who shows up once a year, shockingly.
• 46:54
  Speaker C: Handsome one day, you know? Yeah.
• 46:56
  Speaker B: It's like, anyway, I am thankful for. For you and the. The original six. Original seven.
• 47:05
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 47:05
  Speaker B: Kiki's a. We'll call it six and a half.
• 47:07
  Speaker C: I always say seven. Yeah.
• 47:09
  Speaker B: Yeah. I say, yeah, like, yeah, the original seven. Like, Kiki would laugh if I called her a half. She knows she gets it. Oh, that rhymes. Okay. I'm thankful for Dan De Kalb, my producer, who also sang and played piano and played other instruments on this record. He sang this harmony in blue that, like, every time I hear it, like, I'm like, leave your way for me. Like, I love it so much. It's so perfect. And I wasn't expecting it, so the first time I heard it. But the whole experience with Dan, just incredible was the difference between me saying, like, good enough at me, like, really wanting this album to be all it could be.
• 47:46
  Speaker A: He.
• 47:46
  Speaker B: He brought that out in me. I'm thankful for Brandon, my pup, who's.
• 47:53
  Speaker C: Sitting right here, my driver.
• 47:56
  Speaker B: We'll get together, and I'll be like, you want to just fucking do some random shit today and ride around with me? And then he drives and I Criticize his driving. And I work in the passenger seat. That's a really great relationship that we have. And then we have a. He's also my drummer, so. Especially in just another. There are two parts of that song where he plays a fill that I said, quote, gives me life, those kind of fills that you're like, he's never gonna make it back. And up, there he is. That's. That's. This kid. I don't want to brag about his drumming too much because people are going to steal him from me and I'm gonna be sad. I know that the. The day is going to come where. Where I lose him, and I will. I don't want you to take. You know, put this on yourself. That I'm gonna kill myself if you leave me. But. But.
• 48:40
  Speaker C: But she will.
• 48:41
  Speaker B: But I. But. But I will. Yeah. Die for me. Okay. No, but he's. He's amazing with Metroland, with the band. He's like, my favorite example of how, like, loyal I can be to somebody when they put the work in. And, like, we started out just a few odd jobs here and there. I knew that he needed some work, and next thing you know, like, we're spending every day together. The poor kid, he needs therapy. So my next goal is to get health insurance through Metroland so I can get him some therapy. I get to pick the therapist, though, and they're gonna just. They're gonna gaslight him until he stays with me forever. But the rest of my band, like Andy and Ian and my. My former keyboard player, who also sang some backup, who only left me because he had a baby or two. John Aleci did an amazing job. Ian Digman on the bass. I kept saying, more bass, more bass, more bass. Because he plays it so beautifully. Andy Arnold did some amazing work on guitars. Tom Avella on the horns. Ryan Zampella on the horns. My boy Ethan Cypress, who would send tracks from Colorado like he did. He plays strings, he plays keys, he plays horns. He wrote parts for it. He left me for the army four years ago. I've never let him off the hook for that. He told me on my honeymoon and my birthday that he was. He got his call, and I was like, you broke my heart. But he makes up for it by writing the most beautiful, elegant parts for these songs. Like, really, like, we have, like, one quick conversation, and then he'll send me these tracks, and I'm like, you nailed it every time. He's a genius. So. Ethan Cypress, I love him. I miss him. I wish he would defect and come back and just play in my band again. And, you know, I know I said the entire Metroland stuff, but most especially tj, because boy does the man and keep together.
• 50:34
  Speaker A: Yeah.
• 50:36
  Speaker B: And it still will say every month, like, I don't want this to have to fall on you. And I'm like, bro, I'm almost bored. Like, go ahead. And then I'm like, I'm not gonna say that.
• 50:46
  Speaker C: No, but, like, let him take the brunt of it. He could take it.
• 50:49
  Speaker B: But I love that picture that you and he and I got at our anniversary party because, like, you know, yeah, we have the original seven, but we also have, like, you know, the core three that got the whole thing started. So. Thank you.
• 51:00
  Speaker C: Yeah, thank. Thank you.
• 51:02
  Speaker B: Thank you.
• 51:03
  Speaker C: All right, I'm gonna cry. So she is Aaron Parks. I'm Andy scullin. This is unsigned 518. I'll see you on the road. Unsigned 518 is produced and hosted by me, Andy Scullin. New episodes are available every week wherever you see, stream podcasts. If you'd like to help support the show, please like and subscribe wherever you are listening. Or you could buy me a coffee@buymeacoffee.com unsigned 518. If you would like to advertise on the show, send me an email@unsigned518mail.com and to be a guest on the show, reach out to me through Instagram at unsigned518. Take care of one another and I'll see you next week.