DC Rock History9 Kesä 2025

The Slickee Boys - "Cybernetic Dreams of Pi" with Don Zientara

In this episode, we explore Cybernetic Dreams of Pi, the 1983 release from The Slickee Boys that blends garage rock revivalism with punk attitude and sci-fi themes. The Slickee Boys had been a fixture in the DC music scene since the mid-1970s, building a dedicated following with their irreverent stage shows and DIY approach to recording. With a lineup featuring Mark Noone on vocals, Kim Kane and Marshall Keith on guitars, Dan Palenski on drums, and John Chumbris on bass, the band delivered an album that balanced catchy hooks with an adventurous spirit.

Our guest is Don Zientara, founder of Inner Ear Studios and one of DC’s most influential recording engineers. Don shares insights on working with The Slickee Boys and the recording of Cybernetic Dreams of Pi, as well as the role of Inner Ear Studios in shaping the sound of DC’s music scene. Together, we discuss how The Slickee Boys’ album fits within the broader story of DC rock, from their early DIY singles to their lasting influence on the city’s underground music community.

We also examine the album’s production process, the impact of Inner Ear Studios on the DC scene, and how The Slickee Boys helped expand the boundaries of what punk rock could be in the nation’s capital.

Sponsor:

Get 10% off New Columbia Record Club with checkout code DCROCKS

Go Further:

Don Zientara – Inner Ear Studios
Dance of Days by Mark Andersen and Mark Jenkins
Trouser Press – The Slickee Boys

Social Media: @dcrockpod
Email: dcrockpod@gmail.com
Philip Basnight - Broke Royals
Alex Vidales - Pilot Waves
Don Zientara - Inner Ear Studios

Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

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Smart Went Crazy - "Con Art" with Devin Ocampo

In this episode, we take a deep dive into Con Art, Smart Went Crazy's 1997 swan song and one of the most ambitious records to ever come out of the Dischord catalog. The band formed in DC in 1993 as a ...

11 Touko 1h 2min

Tuscadero - "The Pink Album" with Tuscadero

In this episode, we take a deep dive into The Pink Album, Tuscadero's 1994 debut and one of the defining records of the DC indie pop scene. Formed 1993 in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, Tuscadero bu...

4 Touko 56min

The Dismemberment Plan - "Emergency & I" with Chris DeVille

In this episode, we take a deep dive into Emergency & I, the Dismemberment Plan's 1999 landmark and the album that cemented the band as one of the most distinctive acts to emerge from the DC indie sce...

27 Huhti 1h 5min

The Pietasters - "Willis" with Stephen Jackson

In this episode, we take a deep dive into Willis, the Pietasters' 1997 record and the album that brought the DC-bred ska band to their widest audience. Formed at Virginia Tech by a group of suburban W...

20 Huhti 58min

Foo Fighters - "The Colour and the Shape" with Mike Jones

In this episode, we take a deep dive into The Colour and the Shape, the Foo Fighters' 1997 sophomore record and the album widely credited with establishing Dave Grohl as a frontman in his own right. R...

13 Huhti 53min

Shudder to Think sets the record straight!

In this episode of the DC Rock History Podcast, we sit down with Shudder to Think, one of the most singular and adventurous bands to emerge from the Washington, D.C. underground, for a wide-ranging co...

6 Huhti 1h 1min

Fugazi - "In On The Kill Taker" with Chris Ryan

In this episode, we revisit Fugazi and take a deep dive into In On The Kill Taker, the band’s explosive 1993 follow-up to Steady Diet of Nothing and Repeater. Released on Dischord Records, In On The K...

15 Joulu 20251h 1min

Shudder To Think - "Pony Express Record" with Nabil Ayers

In this episode, we explore the history and impact of Shudder to Think and their groundbreaking 1994 album Pony Express Record, a release that pushed the boundaries of what DC post-hardcore could beco...

8 Joulu 202559min