Latest / Unsigned518 / Unsigned518 - Episode 181 - BJ Schwinghammer

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Unsigned518 - Episode 181 - BJ Schwinghammer · Unsigned518

• 0:01
  Speaker A: He was born on a Saturday in.
• 0:03
  Speaker B: 73 he loves punk rock music fighting.
• 0:06
  Speaker A: The 13 cabin in the dazzle Jazz on the beat Guitar with a short with radio bat his motherfucking Envy SC Motherfucker.
• 0:20
  Speaker B: Cuz here he comes Andy Sculling wearing.
• 0:25
  Speaker A: His orange hat welcome to Unsigned518. I'm here with BJ Swinghammer. What's up, man?
• 0:32
  Speaker B: Hey, what's going on, man?
• 0:34
  Speaker A: You know, same old, same old stuff, but we wanted just kind of talk because the last couple of weeks you have been the new host of unsigned 518 weekend spotlight. And you know, there may be some people that are like, who the fuck is BJ Swinghammer? So we're here to I guess answer that question. So. So, bj, who are you? No, but you're. Jesus Christ. Wow, that's a bold statement right out of the gate. No, but me and B go back, I don't know, probably close to 15 years, I think, right? Something like that. Because when I. Yeah, 2011, I think when we met. So 14 years. Yeah. When I first moved to Saratoga, I had started and was doing like a podcast in 2011, or 12, I think it was probably 2012, I had started a podcast called the Skull and podcast. Very original, fucking very original name. And it was not music related. It was just, I think that the tagline, I mean, I do remember correctly, it was no planning, no edits, just conversation. And that was what the show was intended to be. Just like a couple people hanging out, people that I was friends with. And the very first episode, you were. You were on it with my buddy John Wren, who was my roommate at the time, the best man in my wedding. And it was the three of us just sitting down, shooting the shit. So just let everybody know that literally the very first episode of any podcast that I ever did, and that one only lasted like, I think 10 or 15 episodes before I. Before I squashed it. But so we go back that far. And that's kind of why I chose you to take over. Because I was like, I trust the dude. Not only in the sense of musical taste and work ethic. I knew you weren't gonna, like, drop the ball. I knew you would take it seriously. And I don't know, I just feel like you're like me 2.0 sometimes.
• 2:42
  Speaker B: I'll take that as a compliment.
• 2:45
  Speaker A: I did. It should be a compliment because we're very fucking similar. There's been so many times that we've gone to hang out and been dressed almost exactly the same. Like, you know, same color Shorts, Same. Same no effect shirt.
• 3:00
  Speaker B: It's gotten to the point where we actually have to. We should probably just start te each other. Unless we don't mind walk around like twins.
• 3:05
  Speaker A: Totally.
• 3:06
  Speaker B: For an evening.
• 3:07
  Speaker A: So I guess, you know, just give us. Well, just to get the conversation started. Kind of like how I do with every episode. It's just kind of like, tell us your relationship to music. Why music is. Is, I guess, such a big part of who you are and why you've been diving so hard into. Into the local scene. Not. And not being a musician yourself. That also makes it a little more unique that you're supporting everybody's endeavors because you're a fan, you know.
• 3:37
  Speaker B: Well, that's the thing. And let me start this by saying I have near horrific add. So my relationship with music is picture like someone having a stroke, falling down the stairs and just waking up being like, what the hell is that? And that's me with music. Like Clash was my first, like punk bands that I ever heard in my life. Obviously, like a lot of kids, you know, born like the 70s and stuff like that. But I just. And especially back then, you know, like, if you missed the name of the song, if you missed the name of the band, you just didn't know and you liked the music. So to this day, I'm hearing music played on people's phones and just wherever. And they go, oh, man, I love that song. And I go, I had no idea this band same. And just, you know, like, what was it? Rocking the Kasbah. Took me like a good, like, year to figure out that was actually by the Clash, because I just always hear it in passing all the time.
• 4:33
  Speaker A: Well, I mean, that is a little different style than, you know, because that was later in the. You know, that was Sandinista and that was. That was what? Mick Jones is not his name. He's the one singing. So I can see that that's a little. A little different style. It's certainly not a punk song, but I just actually learned. Speaking of Rock the Casbah, which is funny, I just learned the bass line to that just because I was. You know, I'm still like with you with music is me with the bass. I'm so like, there's so much that I could learn. And then I had heard that song and I'm like, that's a cool bass line. I want to learn it.
• 5:06
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 5:07
  Speaker A: And it's way different than that. That's a full fucking reggae. Reggae song. Yeah, like, that's a reggae song. Like, with some punk thrown in there. And that's why that the Clash is the fucking greatest.
• 5:18
  Speaker B: Well, for the longest time they were the only band that mattered.
• 5:21
  Speaker A: Yeah.
• 5:21
  Speaker B: If you recall correctly. Yeah. I mean, I said to the kids now, and they're like, what? And I'm like, I don't know, man.
• 5:27
  Speaker A: Yeah, it was a long time ago.
• 5:28
  Speaker B: You know, there wasn't a whole lot of punk on the radio really at the time. It's. Or anything like that.
• 5:33
  Speaker A: Yeah. Oh, you still don't.
• 5:35
  Speaker B: And what a goddamn. What kind of sin is that? But overall, like music. I need music to wake up. I need music to fall asleep. It's. I inundate myself with music. Not just because I love the bands. Like the feeling of the song. Like, I listen to stuff that. From languages I don't even speak. I listen like French punk and French rap and stuff like that. I don't know what they're selling, but you get like the feeling of song and you're just going through your day and it's like.
• 5:56
  Speaker A: I mean, there's a lot of stuff in English that I don't know what the fuck, right?
• 6:02
  Speaker B: So. So yeah, me and music, we go way back. It's just always been a thing. And as far as the local scene, you know, I wasn't into it super deep for like the longest time. And all of a sudden you get into it. Especially like Angela just being the social creature that she is.
• 6:20
  Speaker A: And for those that don't know, Angela Tarango is BJ's fiance. And when I did the unsigned Unwind, which was my. And I put that one to bed, but it was my attempt to do like a national unsigned spotlight. It just got to be way too much. But Angela was the showrunner on that. And the reason I chose her to be the showrunner is because of her love of vocal music as well, you know, so. Oh, go ahead.
• 6:46
  Speaker B: And I'm. Even when I marry her, I was just more of a barfly. You just go out and that was just my scene. That was my comfortable scene. You know, you go and you just sit there and you. You know. And I'm super anxiety driven. So it's like even now I get into a social scene, I need like a beer or two or three, just to be able to be like normal socially. It's my thing. I'm getting better at it slowly but sure.
• 7:04
  Speaker A: I'm going to say, you know, not to keep going back to me, but since I stopped drinking, my social anxiety has gone through the fucking roof. And that's something that I'm Having to overcome. Yeah, you know, to be like, no, I got a raw dog. Social situations and it's fucking tough. So that's just another way that we're similar.
• 7:22
  Speaker B: But like so like Angela would be like. So like, you know, you meet Angela, you know, a lot of people start to meet Angel. We're going to go to the show, we're going to go show like. And I was never like fuck local music. I was always just in my head, it was just like, you know, I like local music. I hear my friends doing stuff, I don't really go to the shows. And all of a sudden I was there, right? And I'm like, what the have I been doing for the past, you know, 40 friggin years not doing this? And then you meet more people and when you like, you know, especially knowing people like you, you know, good people, right? You know, and I one thing like I can't stand, I can't stand them. They're.
• 7:57
  Speaker A: Yeah, I get it.
• 7:59
  Speaker B: But when you meet a bunch of people, they're all really cool. It's almost like overwhelming and like, you know, like I want to start going to all these shows, I want to start doing all these things, you know. And I support local music A because it's. The sound is great. B, you get inundated with all this like corporate music that's like pumped in like the radios and they, they shove all this crap down your throat. Not that I really listen to it, but just the fact, you know what's happening is then you see these people that like really dig down, they write some really good songs, you know, they do what they can especially. Everybody's got a job, right? You know, everybody's got doing stuff, everybody's busy. And yet despite all these things, they go out, they, you know, they play the music, they kick like they're set in the nuts and it's just awesome. And you can just tell like they're feeling good and they're being that version of them up on stage and it's just great to watch, you know. And I love seeing, I love seeing my friends having fun playing music, which makes me want to do music, but I'm not musically inclined. And you've known how many, how many instruments have I attempted to play before? My brain's like, you can't a lot, a lot.
• 8:57
  Speaker A: But you know, you can sing punk rock songs. We have. My band, Shortwave Radio Band has invited BJ up to sing Waiting Room several times by Fugazi and you fucking crushed it. So yeah, you know, oh Wait, and you also sang Feed My Frankenstein by Alice Cooper at one of our Halloween shows, which was sick. So, you know, you're not. You're musically inclined, so maybe one day I'll. You'll be a frontman.
• 9:21
  Speaker B: Who knows? May. I'll just be on the sidelines and enjoying it. I have no problem with that either.
• 9:25
  Speaker A: You know, I hate to tell you this, but you are no longer on the sidelines, my friend.
• 9:30
  Speaker B: Oh, right. Yeah. Jesus Christ. Like, now I'm just in the thing.
• 9:33
  Speaker A: Of it being like, hey, you are not on the sidelines.
• 9:37
  Speaker B: And it's fun just by doing this, even for, you know, the two episodes that I've done already and you've got another one coming up. Just by going through the roster and seeing who's out there and what's out there further entrenches me in. Is entrenched and negative. Because I meant it as a positive.
• 9:53
  Speaker A: No, it's a good. It's a good.
• 9:55
  Speaker B: Entrenched in.
• 9:56
  Speaker A: You're entrenched in positivity.
• 9:57
  Speaker B: Yeah. And it's great.
• 9:58
  Speaker A: And you're only two episodes in and only one. Like, the first episode was me and you. And obviously I talk a fucking lot. The second episode you did yourself with my guidance. I was there, just not talking. And then this third episode you did completely on your own, and then you'll send to me and I produce it and put it up. But I mean, you're. When I say you're just getting started and, like, you're already feeling that deeper connection to bands that maybe a month ago you had never even heard of. Think of where you're gonna be six months from now or a year from now when that shit that you're feeling is getting replicated every single week. You know what I mean? And that's how I feel every week. My. My love for the scene grows every single week. You know, it's. It's. You're. You're in for a ride, dude.
• 10:52
  Speaker B: It's going to be. Yeah, I can imagine. I'm. I'm. And already, like, some people are, like, sitting there, like, when one of these days you can, like, interview me. I'm like, all right, slow down.
• 10:59
  Speaker A: But yeah.
• 11:00
  Speaker B: Yes.
• 11:00
  Speaker A: I mean, yes, absolutely.
• 11:01
  Speaker B: But give me a chance to get my legs. And I think on this third episode, because Andy hasn't even heard it yet, I think I have a little more chutzpah.
• 11:10
  Speaker A: That's good. And I was telling you that, too. It's like, don't, like, you know, one. One thing that, like, when I do like, the reason that I'm doing this is, you know, after doing corporate radio for so long, I did it for a really long time, and I love it. And that does not include eqx, because EQX is not corporate radio, but I worked for, like, fucking Clear Channel and stuff, and, boy, you cannot be yourself. You know what I mean? Like, they're very much, like, corrective of everything that you say. And, you know, like, I have a, you know, a little bit of a Vermont accent. Like, I say room instead of room, and, like, you know, I would get. I would get shipped for it. They'd be like, you know, you sound like a hillbilly. Say room. And it's like, I don't ever want to have that restriction or to impose that restriction on another human. So, like, be you. Be your wild. Because that's why people like you. You know what I mean? That's why I like you, because of who you are. You know what I mean? I don't want, like, you know, I don't want a restrained bj.
• 12:16
  Speaker B: And I don't. I don't understand the idea, like, behind, like. And I get it as far as just like, getting one tone for all people kind of thing as far as corporate stuff, but for me, it's. It's doing music itself a disservice because, let's see, you've got this person that, like, listen to stuff on the radio and they don't have that connection to live music. They don't go out to shows. So it's just this. It's just. It's an idea rather than the people that are involved in it and the people that is the scene. And when you talk like we're talking and have genuine conversation, you can disseminate from that weird idea of a band and playing and liking their song to actually getting in their faces, and they get in your face, and you share the music with one another, you know, and you share the music with the fans. That's so much more important than proper speaking, right?
• 13:03
  Speaker A: Or, you know, even just the way things are marketed, you know, Like, I don't want, like. I just want almost like what my idea of the podcast was 15 years ago. Like, that one that I was doing. I wanted to just be unfiltered. I wanted to just be a conversation, you know, because when I hear the word interview, I always think of it, and I'm probably wrong, you know, on a certain extent and certainly in this day and age. But, like, I always feel like an interview is one person who has an agenda. Who wants to extract information from someone else.
• 13:39
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 13:39
  Speaker A: So they're controlling the narrative. They're telling you what to say. They just want the information that they want. And they don't care about the superfluous shit. They don't care about, like, you know, the fucking. I don't know, the details of your life. You know what I mean? They just want this bit of information as it pertains to what they want. And I want only the superfluous stuff. And I think that gives a deeper understanding of the music. Like, as a result, you know, like, if I'm not specifically being like, hey, how do you write a song? Like, I'll probably get the answer how someone writes a song. You know, if I'm.
• 14:24
  Speaker B: If you only ask a certain set of questions, you're gonna know a certain amount about a person or band.
• 14:30
  Speaker A: Right.
• 14:30
  Speaker B: And really, what the hell is that? Like, I just. I choose to know this about you.
• 14:34
  Speaker A: Right. And that's what I mean. That's what I mean. And, like, I always tell people before we start recording, I say, this is your episode. If you want to talk about your favorite movie, if you want to talk about whatever, like, we'll talk about whatever. Like, I start it with, tell me your relationship to music. And that just begins the conversation. But where it goes from there, I. You know, it will usually go to more. More genuine places. Like, if that question is just a broad, like, hey, what do you like about music?
• 15:07
  Speaker B: I don't feel boxed in, too, when you're just, you know, there's a certain amount of questions.
• 15:11
  Speaker A: And we're already 15 minutes into the conversation. And it started with one question. Bj, what's your relationship to music? You know, or, like, what does music mean to you? Kind of thing? And it's gone already in different places. And that's. That's fucking fantastic. We're boring the shit out of Calvin, though. Calvin's dead asleep on the floor.
• 15:28
  Speaker B: No, he's highly relaxed with his eyes closed, I'm pretty sure.
• 15:31
  Speaker A: Oh, he just opened one eye. Yeah. But, yeah, I think, like, in this scene, too, like, not only do you find, like, great music, but I know, like, you and Ange personally have made friends, like, you know, actual relationships and friends in the scene that started as you seeing their band or, you know, whatever. So that's another thing that I think. Well, that I know that a local scene will give you that no other scene will, or, like, a national scene won't. Is that connection.
• 16:04
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 16:05
  Speaker A: You know, you can. All these bands, like, and especially at these venues, you know, it's not like they're separated and rolling up in a tour bus and then just like going in the back door, performing, then sneaking back out. Like they're hanging out all night, you know, they're watching the other band. So it's very, they're all very accessible. You know, they're running their own merch tables and.
• 16:26
  Speaker B: Yeah, and I like seeing that too. I like it when they hang out and see the other bands. Because the other point of all this is just we support each other, man.
• 16:32
  Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah, 100%. And there's only been a few instances, you know, I'm certainly not going to call names but like I have seen a little, a little bit of the like show up, play and leave at multi band bills.
• 16:47
  Speaker B: And yeah, I've definitely seen a band that shows up after the first like two bands, one band's already played, second band's already playing, they show up, hang out, have a drink, play, do their thing and then balance.
• 16:58
  Speaker A: And I'm like, yeah, it sucks, it sucks. And like I get also, you know, being in a smaller scene, you know, and having day jobs and like that, like there's some people that may have, you know, they may have families that they need to get home to, they may have responsibilities that they need to get home to. And I understand that, but the, but the optics of it just, you know, don't, don't look amazing. And when you've had that long to plan, you know, I mean just, just plan a little extra time. Yeah, like I gotta hang out and.
• 17:26
  Speaker B: Support the other going on. I hang out for 40 minutes and stuff like that or just whatever and just be like, listen, I can only have for so long. You guys are awesome. I'm just gonna. But I've got to go do X, Y and Z, you know, something like that.
• 17:36
  Speaker A: But, but it, it hurts, it hurts to see a little bit. It does because, because mostly what I see, like 99 of what I see are people supporting other people and genre things. Like, you know, I did that our band show thing this weekend, which if you haven't seen it, check it out on our band show on YouTube or our bandshow.com it was a nearly four hour long show, live music show with four artists from 518 and it was multi genre and I talked about it on there a lot and it's because they're human beings in the same community, you know what I mean? It doesn't matter that this person's choice for art is hip hop and this Person's choice for art is heavy metal or like this person, you know, it doesn't matter. You're all people. And when you get along and create a community at that level, it just exponentially helps the music because you. Then you're going to see folk artists going to hip hop shows, which I would love, you know, or hip hop artists going to punk shows or, you know, I want to see. And I do see it, I see it a lot, but I would love to see more of that, like people.
• 18:52
  Speaker B: Supporting people when you do, like Andy Plews every year. Yeah, it's great because it's not just a type of music. It's this melange of music.
• 18:59
  Speaker A: Because that's my. I mean, that's the hill I'll die on. Like, multi genre shows are mine.
• 19:03
  Speaker B: That's the point. Like a local bands helping each other out, but also, like, we're all just a bunch of bipeds on a spitball swirling around an ember, endlessly hurtling through space. Like, hang out, you know, enjoy the experience for what it is.
• 19:17
  Speaker A: And there's so much like, I am not, you know, you know me. I'm a punk rock dude. Like, and that's my main. My main music is like punk and, you know, skate music and ska. And I've never really been like a hip hop dude, but like, since being in this scene and becoming friends with like Camtron and JB and Mr. Pigs and exquisite and, you know, all those dudes and being like, I love these dudes, you know, and because I'm like, I like them as people. I've been listening to their music and because I've been listening to the music, I appreciate it. And I've really been starting to become a hip hop fan. We're gonna have to. We're gonna have to pause for a second while my exterminator enters the building and then I'll. We'll be right back.
• 19:59
  Speaker B: It's not for me, is it? Jesus.
• 20:00
  Speaker A: Yeah, it is. All right, we're back. Yeah, we had to let my buddy Joe, who's. Who's here to take care of a small little. A red squirrel. Have you ever heard of such a goddamn thing? Yeah, a red squirrel got into our wall and like tried to make its. Make its. Make its home there. So it's been a very expensive, very expensive eviction process. But I'm happy to say that, that our wall is now squirrel free, thanks to meerkats. And that dude kicked ass.
• 20:39
  Speaker B: Got rid of him in a non.
• 20:40
  Speaker A: Lethal fashion in a Non lethal fashion. Yeah, they basically created a one way exit. They found where he got in. They made a one way exit. It's like a trail. I was telling pj, I'm like, it traps him in the entire world. You can go anywhere in the entire world except for my house. So, yeah, we humanely got rid of that squirrel. But anyway, so we're back and we're talking about music and community and, you know, a lot of how it is the. The interpersonal relationships that drive the scene. Whereas, you know, on a national level, what I had seen a lot and certainly, you know, even if you watch like a bunch of like documentaries of like, you know, scenes back in the 80s or whatever, like they were fighting each other.
• 21:28
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 21:29
  Speaker A: Because. And not like, you know, physically fighting each other, but there was very limited space. It wasn't a, hey, I'm in a band, but go support my buddy's band too. Yeah, it was like, I'm in a band and everybody else, like, we need to. You know, it was. And it probably still is very much like that on a national level, I'm sure, you know, I'm sure, like. But you did start to see that some like, in the 90s with like, scenes that kind of came up together.
• 22:00
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 22:01
  Speaker A: Like, the Seattle scene is kind of what, you know, first comes to mind. You know, it was the Seattle scene, you know, Alice in Chains and Mother Love Bone and Soundgarden and eventually, you know, Pearl Jam and Nirvana. And they all fucking knew each other. You know what I mean? And they were, I think, the first national scene whose mantra was, no, a rising tide raises all ships type of thing. Because they would be talking about, you know, like, when even like the. The Temple of the Dog song, the Hunger Strike, you know, like, Eddie Vedder was in Pearl Jam and that was the first song that he ever put on tape. And like, so they could have just been like, you know, I get it, guys, you're forming a new band, but let's just do this tribute and move on. But they were like. And that created a kinship. And then all these dudes knew each other and helped each other and they took over the fucking world for a little bit, you know, and everybody was like, I wonder why and how.
• 22:59
  Speaker B: Not to get off topic of music, but back in, back before California Wines had really, like, you know, really hit and become huge.
• 23:08
  Speaker A: And for those that don't know, BJ's a wine dude. He's a. He's a. What do you call these? A sommelier.
• 23:14
  Speaker B: Sommelier is a job I've done somme work here and there.
• 23:16
  Speaker A: Okay.
• 23:17
  Speaker B: I'm just a wine geek.
• 23:18
  Speaker A: You're an Expert.
• 23:18
  Speaker B: You know, WineX. Yeah. All right. Thanks. You are working on it.
• 23:22
  Speaker A: You are.
• 23:22
  Speaker B: Well, back before California wines were prevalent and huge, like, they were just. Was a bunch of farmers doing their best to get their wines out there. And it's just like, you know, when the. The tasting in Paris came up, it was like, you know, if one of us win, we all win that kind of thing, you know? And I like to think that is in local scenes too, you know?
• 23:42
  Speaker A: Yeah.
• 23:42
  Speaker B: If we. One of us starts getting noticed, well, we all win because we all start to just get our. Our music and our feelings and our life experiences through our music out there.
• 23:51
  Speaker A: Yeah. And I think also, you know, in this scene, especially, like, people that have successes, like, actually make sure that it's spread around. You know what I mean? Like, they're not. It's not just a. Like, it is that, you know, success for me, success for you type of thing.
• 24:08
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 24:09
  Speaker A: And even if it's just, you know, a mention at a. At an award show, you know, if you win a picture, you know, that's something that you don't see a lot on national levels is bands winning something and then shouting out eight bands that they like, you know what I mean?
• 24:22
  Speaker B: And that's the beauty. Like you and now me. Catalysts, you know, to make sure people get seen and get that recognition. And everybody just, hey, look. Look at these people that we know. And listen. Look at this. Listen. Music that we enjoy kind of thing, you know, and it's nice.
• 24:40
  Speaker A: Yeah. And the way I think that fuels what we're doing is that, like, it will. You know, I have personally felt success from this show, like, in the last three years. Like, I felt rewarded, and I feel successful in what I'm trying to do. And I think you'll feel the same. And the more success that I feel, it's because everybody else has success.
• 25:01
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 25:02
  Speaker A: You know what I mean? Like, so I'm getting, like, almost like the. The residual success feeling, you know, but, like. But that's why I'm doing it. Like, I want to see my friends succeed, you know, and especially in the music thing, because I'm not trying to succeed in music necessarily. Like, I'm not, you know, we're in. We're in the band. Like, shortwave radio is a band because it's super fucking fun. And we want to stay local and we want to, like, you know, we want to look out in the crowd and know the people you know what I mean? Like, we don't want to go on tour. We're all, you know, too old for that shit. But, like, there's a lot of bands that do want to tour, and I want to help them get there, you know, I want to help them get there. If a band is local but wants to go national, I want to at least be that first step, you know?
• 25:56
  Speaker B: Yeah. And as far as, like, bands having fun, shortwave is still the band that I notice having the most fun, just about more than anybody else. Because you guys laugh and if you guys, you know, miss a beat or something like that, you just laugh and whatever. Like, you know, somebody is constantly getting hit with you. If it's a small stage whacking me in the arm, it's like I have no room and I move around, you know, everybody laughs and it's great.
• 26:21
  Speaker A: And. And like, you know, I've. I've. When we were playing at Punk Prom down in Kingston, Ryan was wearing suspenders because it was like the prom. And one of his suspender things came undone and I took it and tried to clip it to John's drum set, like. And I couldn't find, like, anywhere. And Ryan's playing and he kept, like, looking over his shoulder, knowing that something, you know, he's like, something's happening, but he can't see what it is. And I'm like, tugging on his suspenders and, like, really with him. And. And I think in. In a lot of bands, that would be like a fireable offense, you know what I mean? But in our band, everybody's like, yeah, that's funny, you know, because, you know, it's supposed to be fun. You know, we're not. We're not Coldplay.
• 27:05
  Speaker B: Yeah. We spend 40 plus hours a week doing stuff that is a lot of times not fun. Work is work and stuff like that. If you can actually enjoy what you're doing in your band and have a lot of fun with it, which I think is half the point anyways.
• 27:16
  Speaker A: Yeah, that's the whole town.
• 27:17
  Speaker B: Yeah, exactly. Go for it.
• 27:18
  Speaker A: And, like, if we're not having fun, nobody's having fun is kind of the thing, you know, because how many times have you seen a band where you're like, wow, they're really technically good, but they almost look like they'd rather be anywhere else, you know, I've seen. I've seen that and I've seen that on way bigger bands than local, you know, like. And it's like you are getting paid. You're like, living your Childhood dreams. And you look like you'd rather be anywhere else, like. And I don't know, I think that's.
• 27:47
  Speaker B: Actually when you start getting big. Then what you love starts to become.
• 27:50
  Speaker A: Yeah, it's true. It's true. You know, it's. It's like, careful what you wish for, because it very well could, you know, come true and not be what you thought it was, you know, because when you. The music business is hard. Like, it's hard because it's so competitive. It's hard because there's a lot of people above you that look at you as a commodity, and that's all you are, you know?
• 28:15
  Speaker B: Yeah. It's like all of a sudden, you know, you. Let's say something, becomes that popular band also. And you're at spac. Thousands of people are kicking around. You're sitting there, and you grab the mic, you're like, man, I just want to go home, take a shit, watch some tv, and just. Just have a Twinkie and go to sleep. I guess I'll do this then, and. That sounds horrible.
• 28:33
  Speaker A: It does. That does sound horrible. Yeah. I don't. I don't know if, like. I don't know. There's just something. Maybe it is just when it becomes your job.
• 28:44
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 28:44
  Speaker A: When it's no longer a hobby, when it's no longer something fun, when it's no longer something that you control. You know? And I think that's maybe the even bigger thing is that in this scene, everybody is in control of their own shit, you know? Like. And if you saw. You know, if you sign to a big late. Like, you're no longer in control. You don't own your own shit.
• 29:07
  Speaker B: You.
• 29:07
  Speaker A: You may not even own your own name anymore.
• 29:09
  Speaker B: This is Todd. He's your handler.
• 29:11
  Speaker A: You want to make some room for Calvin on the couch here? Yeah, go ahead, buddy. Go ahead. He was. He was. He was really looking for some. For some couch love. But, yeah, so I think a lot of that is control. You know, if. If someone else is telling you what to do, it immediately becomes no fun. Like, even if that person's telling you to do something really cool, it may not be the right time, or you may not be feeling it in that moment, or you may be whatever, but it's like, you know, you gotta. Gotta dance. Dance for the man.
• 29:45
  Speaker B: Yep. You're the monkey. Dance, monkey. Yeah, Fine.
• 29:48
  Speaker A: Yeah. And here it's like, I'm dancing because it's fucking fun.
• 29:51
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 29:52
  Speaker A: And if I don't want to dance, I can be like, ah, sorry.
• 29:55
  Speaker B: When you Jump out into the crowd with your, you know, wireless bass and just start, like, fucking around people. I'm like, this is the best thing ever.
• 30:02
  Speaker A: It's fun. Yeah, it's super fun.
• 30:04
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 30:04
  Speaker A: And that's. That's kind of why we do it, but, yeah, I guess. Well, we've kind of gotten an idea of. Of who BJ Swinghammer is. And, you know, I do want everybody to tune in every week and help give BJ some love. Comment on the Instagram stuff and let him know he's doing a good job. That. That really helps. And on Spotify, you can apparently comment now, too, so.
• 30:27
  Speaker B: Really?
• 30:28
  Speaker A: Yeah. So only do that if you're gonna say nice, because I know. I can't. I know B.J. can't handle.
• 30:34
  Speaker B: No, just remember I'm gonna see you at a show, right? Watch your ass.
• 30:39
  Speaker A: That is a good point. That's the difference. BJ is much bigger than me. So, you know, he can. He can throw some. I'd be like, yeah, I'm just gonna send BJ over to see you. All right, so before we go, bj, you know, is there anything that you want to. Want to add or. Or do you want to get to say your gratitudes like a normal guest? I'm treating you not like a normal guest because you're a fucking co host now, man.
• 31:03
  Speaker B: I don't know. Like, I don't. I don't do interviews, so I'm not sure how to close this out. I am grateful and excited for getting to do this, so thank you for the opportunity going forward is something I just, like, I can't wait to do next week and the week after, and it's just great. And I can't wait to just see who's playing where next. And it's like, I didn't even know this was a venue, you know, and stuff like that. So thanks, and I appreciate it to everybody that's given me support so far. Thank you so much. And, yeah, listen to my. Listen to my podcast. I can call it my podcast.
• 31:37
  Speaker A: Yeah, you can, Absolutely.
• 31:38
  Speaker B: Yeah. It's my podcast. You listen to me.
• 31:39
  Speaker A: I'm just your producer, homes.
• 31:41
  Speaker B: And, yeah, seriously, like, if you have a comment or whatever, leave one. You know, I'll read that stuff. I. I'm into. I'm into, you know, a good dialogue with. With fans and stuff like that, you know.
• 31:52
  Speaker A: Hell, yeah.
• 31:53
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 31:54
  Speaker A: So cool. So he is BJ Swinghammer, host of Unsigned 518 Weekend Spotlight. 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 stream podcast. 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 signed 518take care of one another and I'll see you next week.