The MC Lars Podcast

I met Dr. Will Tattersdill in the autumn of 2006 when my band and I played a show in Oxford. While he was currently working towards his master's degree, he was performing as FaceOmeter, a solo DIY folk project. He gave me a CD after the show; I listened to his music and became a big fan of his clever lyrics and original instrumentations... so much so, that Tattersdill and I eventually collaborated and toured together. On this week's episode, we talk about the early years of our friendship, his research on science fiction and dinosaurs, his life as a professor, and his upcoming musical projects. Special Guest: Will Tattersdill.

5 Aug 20191h 31min

This week on the podcast, I catch up with my guitarist Mike Russo, who has co-written many of my favorite songs with me, including “Do the Bruce Campbell”, “1984” and “Mike Russo Cut Your Hair” (surprise!). Mike and I reminisce on our thirteen years of friendship, our tour with mc chris, how Napster created a new wave of musicians, and the world of college music booking. Recorded on the eve of our recent Boston show with Big D and the Kids Table, we talk about “This Gigantic Robot Kills” and how Mike’s Megadeth-inspired guitar playing technique helped give the live MC Lars band a live "rap metal" sound I always wanted. It gets hella real!! Thanks Mike! Special Guest: Mike Russo.

29 Jul 20192h

Jon Thatcher Longley auditioned to play drums with me shortly after "the Graduate" dropped. He had played in a band with my bassist Rob, and not only did Longley quickly learn the songs, he also had a van in which we could tour and a house at which we crashed between shows in New Jersey. On this episode, we talk about Warped Tour, opening for mc chris, and the true story behind "35 Laurel Drive". As we preapred to open for Big D and the Kids Table and the Atlantic City Warped date, Jon and I sat down and had this candid conversation. Special Guest: Jon Thatcher Longley.

22 Jul 20191h 24min

I discovered Weird Paul on YouTube when I saw that Pittsburgh rapper Lord Grunge subscibed to his channel. When I commented on one of Paul's videos and Paul recognized my name, I reached out to him and asked him if I could interview him when I played Pittsburgh next. We talk about how he started creating content in the 80s, his influences and the future of YouTube. We also talk about his upcoming album "Lit A.F." and the new documentary about his life, "Will Work for Views". An amazing conversation with a very inspiring guy! Special Guest: Weird Paul.

15 Jul 20191h 28min

This week, I sit down with with Sean Jordan (a.k.a. Wordburglar), one of Canada's most revered nerdcore rappers. Sean talks about how he got his start, the stories behind some of his more serious songs, and why he loves G.I. Joe so much. We also talk about how he joined the Backburner crew, his friendship with Jesse Dangerously, and the time he beat Drake for a commercial audition. An energetic, talented rapper, Wordburglar was a lot of fun to talk to this week. Thanks Sean! Special Guest: Wordburglar.

8 Jul 20191h 48min

I met Rob Lanterman a few years ago when he played bass for Big O, while they supported Mega Ran and me on our US tour. I learned that Rob had a record label, Hidden Home Records, a Boise label that specializes in pop punk. We talk about how Rob gets his bands publicity, the economics of his business, and what he's learned from other labels. We also talk about his philosophy, and how he translates his knowledge as a touring musician into helping grow Hidden Home Records. Thanks Rob! Special Guest: Rob Lanterman.

1 Jul 20191h 53min

This week, I catch up with to Bryan Atchison, the other half of Koo Koo Kanga Roo. We talk about how we met on the VANS Warped Tour, our frequent tours together to the UK, and how he and Neil first met at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, shortly before starting Koo. We also talk about fatherhood, the music industry, and the creative process, and the serious business of being silly on stage. We discuss our musical influences and speculate on the future of Koo Koo Kanga Roo and MC Lars. An awesome conversation with a creative and brilliant artist! Special Guest: Bryan Atchison.

24 Jun 20191h 52min

An interview with Neil Olstad (one half of the legendary Twin Cities childrens’ band Koo Koo Kanga Roo)!  I caught up with Neil while we were both on tour in the UK to talk basketball, theme parks and music.  We discuss about the similarities between a curated day at Disneyland and coming to see a Koo show, and tips and tricks on how touring bands can help rescue bad shows (which never happens to Koo or me).  We also talk about the podcast medium and Neil’s two shows, both on Minneapolis’s professional basketball teams ("Lynx Dynasty" and "Wolvescast").  A great interview with a brilliant dude. Special Guest: Neil Olstad.

17 Jun 20191h 19min