Shows / Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Chris DeMakes A Podcast
You may know Chris DeMakes as a founding member of the band Less Than Jake, but what you may NOT know is that he's a true music historian. On Chris DeMakes A Podcast, he welcomes accomplished songwriters to sit in and discuss the writing and recording of beloved songs from their back catalogs.
Episodes
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Exchanging Weird Songs
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode was originally released on March 24th, 2025, as an episode of The After Party. In this very fun edition of the show…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Defeat DeMakes Episode 12
As a month of Defeat DeMakes episodes comes to a close, Chris DeMakes tries to improve to above .500 against friend of the show Johnny Yetsconish. In a music…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Jamie Woolford discusses The Stereo’s “New Tokyo Is Calling”
This week’s Throwback Thursday was originally released on April 11th, 2022, as Episode 98 of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, and it features guitarist, vocalist, and…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Defeat DeMakes Episode 11
This week, Chris DeMakes faces some of his stiffest competition yet, as he takes on Matt Kelly (of One Hit Thunder / Weird Al-gorithm / Horror Movie Night) in…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Roger Joseph Manning Jr. discusses Jellyfish’s “New Mistake”
This week’s Throwback Thursday revisits Episode 129 (originally released on November 14th, 2022) in which Jellyfish’s Roger Joseph Manning Jr. discusses the…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Defeat DeMakes Episode 10
Almost four years TO THE DAY since the last time he was a contestant, Tom Brantley makes his return to avenge his loss on St. Patrick’s Day of 2022! In this…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Howi Spangler discusses Ballyhoo!'s "Walk Away"
Originally released on July 31st, 2023, as Episode 166 of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, this Throwback Thursday episode features Howi Spangler of Ballyhoo!…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Defeat DeMakes Episode 9
The best music trivia podcast game show in the world is back again! This week, Philadelphia DJ A.J. Santini steps in to take on Chris DeMakes in an epic battle…
Chris DeMakes A PodcastA Band Called Punchline Ep. 5: 37 Everywhere
In early 2005, Punchline faced a career crossroads with the departure of guitarist and vocalist Paul Menotiades. With determination on high in the face of…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Chris Cresswell discusses The Flatliners “Hang My Head”
This Throwback Thursday episode was originally released as Episode 112 on July 18th, 2022, and it features Chris Cresswell discussing the writing and recording…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Defeat DeMakes Episode 8
After a long hiatus, everyone’s favorite music trivia podcast game show is BACK! This week, San Diego resident Steve Jones takes on Chris DeMakes in an…
Chris DeMakes A PodcastA Band Called Punchline Ep. 4: Action
In the summer of 2003, Punchline headed to Chicago to record their Fueled By Ramen debut full-length Action with up-and-coming producer Sean O’Keefe. These 12…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 297: Chris DeMakes discusses Less Than Jake’s “Scott Farcas Takes It On The Chin”
Back when Less Than Jake released their landmark album Hello Rockview in 1998, they chose “History of a Boring Town” and “All My Best Friends Are Metalheads”…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Jonathan Higgs discusses Everything Everything’s “Cold Reactor”
This episode was originally released on February 26th, 2024, as Episode 195 of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, and it features Jonathan Higgs discussing the writing…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 296: Pete Steinkopf discusses The Bouncing Souls “Ghosts On the Boardwalk”
This week, Bouncing Souls guitarist Pete Steinkopf sits in to unpack the writing and recording of the band’s fan favorite 2009 single, “Ghosts on the…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Holly Knight discusses Pat Benatar’s “Love Is A Battlefield”
This week’s Throwback Thursday, which was originally released as Episode 94 on March 14th, 2022, features acclaimed songwriter Holly Knight discussing the…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 295: Christian “MC Bat Commander” Jacobs discusses The Aquabats! “Fashion Zombies!”
In this episode, Christian “MC Bat Commander” Jacobs of The Aquabats! dives into the writing and recording of “Fashion Zombies!”, the fan-favorite single from…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: KT Tunstall discusses her song “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree”
This week’s Throwback Thursday was originally released as Episode 141 on February 6th, 2023, and it features KT Tunstall discussing the writing and recording…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 294: Tom McFaull discusses The Bar Stool Preachers “Pick a Side”
In the first of four episodes leading up to the Less Than Jake UK Winter Circus Tour, vocalist Tom McFaull discusses the writing and recording of the brand new…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Dan Estrin discusses Hoobastank’s “Crawling In The Dark”
This week’s Throwback Thursday, which was originally released on February 28th, 2022, as Episode 92 of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, features Hoobastank guitarist…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 293: Mike Harder discusses Pulley’s “Insects Destroy”
In this episode, guitarist Mike Harder discusses the writing and recording of “Insects Destroy,” Pulley’s 2004 single born from a combination of frustration…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Ace Enders discusses The Early November’s “Decoration”
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode was originally released on July 15th, 2024, and features Ace Enders of The Early November discussing the writing and…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 292: The 68th Grammy Awards Song of the Year Preview and Predictions
In what has become tradition on the show, Chris DeMakes and Chris Fafalios explore the eight nominees for Song of the Year at the upcoming 68th Grammy Awards…
Chris DeMakes A PodcastA Band Called Punchline Ep. 3: The Rewind EP
By 2002, things had kicked into high gear for Punchline. They had decided to pursue music full-time, and relentless touring soon followed. Grassroots promotion…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Reese Roper discusses Five Iron Frenzy’s “Zen and the Art of Xenophobia”
This week's Throwback Thursday was originally released on May 30th, 2022, as Episode 105 of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, and it features a conversation with Reese…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 291: Ryan Key discusses Yellowcard’s “Better Days”
In this episode, Chris sits down with Ryan Key of Yellowcard to explore the band’s surreal return after what had once been a definitive breakup. Ryan reflects…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Chad Price discusses All’s “Original Me”
This week’s Throwback Thursday rewinds to Episode 107 from June 13th, 2022, when Chad Price stopped by to unpack All’s rip-roaring opener “Original Me,” the…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 290: Nick Thompson discusses Hit the Lights “Bodybag”
This week, Hit the Lights vocalist Nick Thompson joins the show to discuss the writing and recording of the band’s beloved 2006 single “Bodybag.” With…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Ben Lee discusses his song “Catch My Disease”
This week’s throwback is to Episode 144, first released February 27, 2023, when Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee sat in to unpack “Catch My Disease,” the…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
The 2025 Year-End Wrap
Chris and Chris are once again joined by One Hit Thunder’s Matt Kelly to reflect on all the songs that were featured on the show in the past year. Together…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 289: A discussion on Elton John’s “Step Into Christmas”
In the final episode of their four-part December series, Chris DeMakes and Chris Fafalios wrap things up with Elton John’s festive classic “Step Into…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
SNEAK PREVIEW of The After Party “Chris, Chris, and Kris (Kringle)” episode
This is a sneak preview episode of The After Party. In this episode, Chris and Chris dive into how we got the Santa Claus (aka SINTERKLAAS) that we know and…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 288: A discussion on The Waitresses “Christmas Wrapping”
In the 1981 holiday season, The Waitresses delivered a refreshingly offbeat gift with their single “Christmas Wrapping.” Written by Chris Butler, who openly…
Chris DeMakes A PodcastTHE THUNDRED: The Top 100 Albums of All Time (#20 - #1)
From the One Hit Thunder podcast (originally released on 11/29/2024) In this final installment of THE THUNDRED, Chris and Matt reveal the Top 20 Albums of All…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Eric Bazilian discusses Joan Osborne's "One Of Us"
For this week’s Throwback Thursday, we’re revisiting Episode 185 from December 11th, 2023. In this episode, Eric Bazilian makes his triumphant return to the…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 287: A discussion on Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
Darlene Love’s 1963 classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” remains one of the most beloved holiday songs of all time, but it wasn’t an instant hit…
Chris DeMakes A PodcastTHE THUNDRED: The Top 100 Albums of All Time (#40 - #21)
From the One Hit Thunder podcast (originally released on 11/22/2024) THE THUNDRED is back! In this exciting installment, Chris and Matt count down from #40 to…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: A discussion on Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
In this festive Throwback Thursday episode from December 23rd, 2024, Chris DeMakes and co-host/producer Chris Fafalios dive into the story behind the beloved…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 286: A discussion on The Kinks “Father Christmas”
This week, Chris DeMakes and Chris Fafalios dive into The Kinks’ 1977 holiday classic “Father Christmas,” a song that manages to sound as punk as it does…
Chris DeMakes A PodcastTHE THUNDRED: The Top 100 Albums of All Time (#60 - #41)
From the One Hit Thunder podcast (originally released on 11/15/2024) In part three of THE THUNDRED, Chris and Matt continue their epic countdown of the Top 100…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Karl Alvarez discusses Descendents "I'm The One"
In this Throwback Thursday episode from November 27th, 2023, Descendents bassist Karl Alvarez dives into the creation of the band’s 1996 single “I’m The One,”…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 285: Anastasia and Maxamillion Haunt discuss The Haunt’s “Masochistic Lovers”
In this episode, Chris is joined by siblings Anastasia and Max Haunt to discuss the writing and recording of The Haunt’s 2025 single, “Masochistic Lovers.”…
Chris DeMakes A PodcastTHE THUNDRED: The Top 100 Albums of All Time (#80 - #61)
From the One Hit Thunder podcast (originally released on 11/8/2024)... THE THUNDRED continues! In this second episode of the five-part series, hosts Chris…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Mick Conroy discusses Modern English's "I Melt With You"
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode revisits Episode 148 from March 27th, 2023, in which Modern English bassist and vocalist Mick Conroy shares the story…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 284: Austen Gray discusses Joker’s Republic’s “Gin and Tonic”
In this episode, Chris sits down with Austen Gray of Joker's Republic to unpack the writing and recording of their 2022 single, “Gin and Tonic.” From the raw…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
A Band Called Punchline Ep. 2: Major Motion Picture
By late 1999, there was no turning back for Punchline. They had made the important step of adding a fourth member, and they wasted no time getting back in the…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: John Hampson discusses Nine Days "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)"
This week's Throwback Thursday episode revisits Episode 147 from March 20th, 2023, which features Nine Days frontman John Hampson sharing the story behind the…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 283: Rob Rufus discusses Blacklist Royals “Punk Rock Survivors”
In this episode, Blacklist Royals drummer Rob Rufus sits in for a heartfelt conversation about the band's powerful new single, "Punk Rock Survivors." The song…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: A discussion on George Michael's "Faith"
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode revisits Episode 118 from August 29th, 2022, where the spotlight is on George Michael’s genre-blending smash hit…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 282: Legends Amplified: Ozzy Osbourne’s “Shot in the Dark” (feat. Jaret Reddick)
In this week’s special episode, Chris is joined by Bowling For Soup’s Jaret Reddick to share their mutual love for the late Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Michael Sweet discusses Stryper’s “To Hell with the Devil”
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode revisits Episode 77, originally released on November 15th, 2021, featuring Stryper frontman Michael Sweet. As the first…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 281: Spencer Charnas discusses Ice Nine Kills “A Work of Art”
Just in time for Halloween, Ice Nine Kills frontman Spencer Charnas returns to the show for the third time to discuss the writing and recording of their…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Matt Thiessen discusses Relient K's "Be My Escape"
This week’s Throwback Thursday revisits Episode 108, originally released on June 20th, 2022, featuring Matt Thiessen of Relient K. In this episode, Matt dives…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 280: Kellen McGregor discusses Memphis May Fire’s “Make Believe”
In this episode, Memphis May Fire guitarist Kellen McGregor discusses the creation of their 2022 single “Make Believe” from the album Remade in Misery. As the…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Travis Shettel discusses Piebald's "American Hearts"
This Throwback Thursday revisits Episode 120, originally released on September 12th, 2022, featuring Travis Shettel of Piebald. Travis dives into the writing…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 279: Jason Vena discusses Acceptance’s “Take Cover”
Former MTV VJ and A&R rep Matt Pinfield signed Acceptance to Columbia Records after hearing a demo the band recorded with producer Aaron Sprinkle, paving the…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Sean "Slug" Daley discusses Atmosphere's "The Best Day"
This week’s Throwback Thursday heads back to Episode 157, originally released on May 29th, 2023, featuring Sean “Slug” Daley of Minneapolis hip hop duo…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 278: John Feldmann discusses blink-182’s “Bored to Death”
Goldfinger frontman and producer John Feldmann returns for his third appearance to talk about the making of blink-182’s 2016 single “Bored to Death.” Feldmann…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Throwback Thursday: Bill Manspeaker discusses Green Jellÿ's "Three Little Pigs"
This Throwback Thursday revisits Episode 71, originally released on October 4th, 2021, featuring the wildly inventive Bill Manspeaker of Green Jellÿ. Best…
- Chris DeMakes A Podcast
Ep. 277: Beau Bokan discusses blessthefall’s “mallxcore”
This week, blessthefall vocalist Beau Bokan sits in to discuss the story behind the 2025 single “mallxcore.” The song is an in-your-face return to form for the…