The New Scene

Episode 264: Aaron Bedard of Bane

Keith sits down with Aaron Bedard to discuss growing up in Worcester, Massachusetts, how Aaron became interested in music by way of the Dead Kennedys and Sex Pistols, discovering the hardcore scene by seeing Black Flag, Circle Jerks and other bands, and joining his first band at 16 years old. We also discuss the formation of Bane, the early days of the band, Aaron's vocal influences, a look into the history of Bane's debut LP "It All Comes Down to This" and the follow up "Give Blood", how the hardcore scene and Bane helped Aaron deal with past trauma, addressing his trauma for the first time on the song "Wrong Planet", Bane's initial breakup, Aaron's life after the band, the Stu McGuire benefit show and Bane reunion, the future of Bane and more.

Episode 263: Brendan Murphy of Counterparts / END

Keith sits down with Brendan Murphy to discuss building gaming PC's, adjusting to life in sobriety, the arduous task of beating Elden Ring, Counterparts' recent surprise drop of the "Heaven Let Them Die" EP and the making of the record, END, the history of the band, the creative process behind their latest LP "The Sin of Human Frailty", if "Necessary Death" has the best modern breakdown, navigating online criticism and more. 

Episode 262: Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage / Times of Grace

Keith sits down with Jesse Leach  to discuss growing up across the country and settling in Providence RI, discovering the local scene, early music influences including Dropdead, Bloodlet and Threadbare, Jesse's early work in music and personal experiences that informed his outlook and creative process. We also discuss Killswitch Engage , their recent tour of Australia and New Zealand with Iron Maiden, the logistics of playing to a stadium sized audience, Killswitch Engage's history as a band, their quick rise to notoriety after the release of their debut Self Titled LP and the massive follow up LP "Alive or Just Breathing", Jesse's departure from the band shortly after its release, Jesse's post-Killswitch band Seamless and how he learned to live as a touring musician in that band, some Times of Grace history, rejoining Killswitch Engage for the "Disarm the Descent" LP, how Jesse rediscovered his artistic voice for their upcoming LP "This Consequence" and more.

Episode 261: Best of 2024 with Ryan Savitski of One Step Closer

Keith shares his top records of 2024 and meets with Ryan Savitski of One Step Closer to discuss The New Scene's favorite record of 2024: "All You Embrace".

Episode 260: David Grossman of Rosetta / New Miserable Experience + Artist Spotlight: Mean Jesus

Keith sits down with Dave Grossman to discuss his career teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Rosetta, the band's history, touring China and Russia, the arduous process of recording their 2013 LP "The Anaesthete" and how the record changed things for the band moving forward, Dave's new band New Miserable Experience, their 2024 LP "Absent Lovers", the band's creative process, what's coming up for Rosetta and New Miserable Experience plus more.

Artist Spotlight: John DiGiorgio of Mean Jesus. We discuss the history of Mean Jesus and John's time in Converge during the Poacher Diaries era of the band.

Episode 259: Mike Cunniff of Boston Manor

Keith sits down with Mike Cunniff to discuss growing up in Blackpool UK, making friends in his hometown that would become Boston Manor, the intense creative process behind their 2024 LP "Sundiver", how Mike revisited past music influences and incorporated them into the record as well as their 2022 LP "Datura", living a split life as a scientist and musician before fully committing to the band, how Mike and his bandmates give back to their community through charity and booking local shows, international travel expectations vs. reality, mental health and more.

Episode 258: Jared Cortland of State Faults

Keith sits down with Jared Cortland to discuss growing up in Santa Rosa California, discovering the local scene, early music influences, the early days of Brother Bear who eventually became State Faults, all of the work that goes into developing a new band and some on-stage mess up stories. We also discuss State Fault's hiatus due to personal and creative exhaustion and the subsequent formation of Slow Bloom, the return of State Faults partially inspired by an article written by Dan Ozzi, their return LP "Clairvoyant", the band's new momentum being sidelined by the pandemic, the writing and recording of their 2024 LP "Children of the Moon" which began during lockdown in 2020, the themes behind the record, the band's creative process and more.

Episode 257: Will Putney of Fit For An Autopsy / Better Lovers / END

Keith sits down with Will Putney to discuss the same day release of "The Nothing That Is" by Fit For An Autopsy and "Highly Irresponsible" by Better Lovers, all the prep work that went into the double release day, the gear selection process for the current Better Lovers tour, digital vs. analog gear, Will's early history with music, discovering the local scene and his path to becoming a leading (and Grammy Award winning) producer and engineer in the scene. We also discuss Better Lovers, the formation of the band, their creative process, the making of their debut LP "Highly Irresponsible", Fit For An Autopsy, some of the band's history, the themes behind their latest LP "The Nothing That Is" and how the record came together, END, the formation of the band, if "Necessary Death" contains the greatest modern breakdown, some of the signature gear Will has released and more.

Episode 256: Rachel Rubino of On The Might Of Princes / Open City + Artist Spotlight: Private Hell

Keith sits down with Rachel Rubino to discuss growing up in Long Island, discovering the scene in the late 90's, influential bands, the impact of seeing On the Might of Princes for the first time had on Rachel and some of the difficulties she navigated in the male-dominated scene at the time. We also discuss Rachel's earlier work in the bands Regarding I and Bridge and Tunnel, joining Open City as their vocalist, their debut Self Titled LP and the follow up LP "Hands in the Honey Jar", joining On The Might of Princes as their new vocalist and Rachel's history with the band, our experiences with sobriety, how the music scene has impacted us and more.

Artist Spotlight: Mikey Kent of Private Hell. We discuss the band, their recent EP "Days of Wrath", their new singles and more.

Episode 255: Chad Neptune of Further Seems Forever / Strongarm

Keith sits down with Chad Neptune to discuss growing up in South Florida, his history with music and early influences, being inspired to start playing bass guitar through discovering the local scene, joining the band Ikthus which eventually became Strongarm, the band's history and the scene in South Florida at the time, their debut LP "The Advent of a Miracle" which became the first Solid State records release, their breakup and the formation of Further Seems Forever. We also discuss the early days of Further Seems Forever, recruiting Chris Carrabba as their vocalist, the debut LP "The Moon is Down", Chris's departure from the band and the introduction of their new vocalist Jason Gleason, the follow up LP "How To Start a Fire", Jason's departure from the band amidst mounting pressures, recruiting Jon Bunch of Sense Field as vocalist for the band's follow up LP "Hide Nothing", memories of Jon's time with the band, what's next for Further Seems Forever and more.