The MC Lars Podcast

Parry Gripp and I talk about his early years, his love of RUSH, what it was like touring with Weezer while they supported "Pinkerton" and how he created the "nerdcore" musical subgenre in the mid-90s. We also talk about how winning an Emmy for his song “I’m Not Very Nice" from the Disney show "The 7D" both changed and did not change his life. He explains why Nerf Herder stopped touring as much as they did in the 90s, but talks about their upcoming album. We also brainstorm on a future Parry Gripp / MC Lars collab. Oh shoot! Awesome episode! Special Guest: Parry Gripp.

15 Apr 20191h 28min

On today's podcast, I sat down with Greg Carlisle, a theater professor at Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. I was playing a show in Lexington, so I rented a car and came to visit him. We talked about what inspired him to write his "Elegant Complexity" book, a companion piece to David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest". In this episode, we speculate on why "Infinite Jest" is so populary, and like a Sierpinski triangle, try to fill in the unknown parts of the mysterious plot of Wallace's book. A great talk with a brilliant teacher and writer - thanks Greg! Special Guest: Greg Carlisle.

8 Apr 20191h 32min

Lisette Rimer went through something that no mother should have to, the loss of her son Patrick Wood to suicide in 2006. In trying to figure out why someone so brilliant and succesful would take his own life, Rimer has spent the last thirteen years grieving, healing and writing a book about her experience ("Parade Rest"). In this special podcast, she and I share our memories of her son, who was a close friend and roommate of mine at Stanford, as we talk about the hows and whys depression. Thank you, Lisette, for your love and bravery. A truly special episode. Special Guest: Lisette Rimer.

1 Apr 20191h 55min

In 1982, programmer Howard Scott Warshaw had five weeks to create an Atari 2600 game based on Spielberg's hit movie "E.T.", and he was up for the challenge. According to urban legend, when fans found the game frustrating, stacks of excess unpurchased cartridges were burried in the deserts of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Warshaw then left Atari, later becoming a therapist, helping engineers deal with the stresses and strains of 21st century life in Silicon Valley. A great interview with a very versatile and creative man. Special Guest: Howard Scott Warshaw.

25 Mar 20191h 37min

Twenty years ago, Sean Donnelly and I were both teenage artists attending Stevenson high school in Pebble Beach, California. He was a year older than me and always inspired me to be creative and do my best, in our collaborations and beyond. Since graduating college, Sean has directed three of my music videos, made a feature-length documentary and co-created the hit Comedy Central animated series "Jeff and Some Aliens", amongst other projects. This week on the podcast, we talk about his creative process and his future endeavors. Special Guest: Sean Donnelly.

18 Mar 20191h 25min

MC Hawking (Ken Lawrence) and I met online over ten years ago when I posted my misgivings with nerdcore's problematic potential racist overtones. We performed together in and around Boston for the following decade, culminating in a show together in front of the actual Stephen Hawking at the STARMUS festival in 2016. On today's episode, we talk about nerdcore's early years, the future of Lawrence's project and his conflicted relationship with MC Frontalot. Thanks Ken, it was great catching up! Special Guest: MC Hawking.

11 Mar 20191h 23min

Louis Logic once rapped as part of the Demigodz and was a protégé of Vinnie Paz from Jedi Mind Tricks. This week, we talk about his childhood on Long Island, the beginnings of his career as a Philadelphia indie rapper, sobriety, fatherhood and the Brooklyn real estate hustle. We talk about the importance of not repeating oneself artistically and his upcoming mystery novel. Do I manage to bring Roger Rabbit up, yet again? Tune in to find out! Special Guest: Louis Logic.

4 Mar 20191h 40min

I met Vinnie Caruana when I Am the Avalanche, Plain White T's and I played a show at Rutgers in 2007. We kept in touch over the years and crossed paths again at the VANS Warped Tour in 2013. On today's episode, we talk about how he and I got our start with Long Island producer Mike Sapone and continued our careers linking with the Rondo Brothers in San Francisco. We talk about his memories and short stint in Head Automatica, as well as his solo project and his current bands I Am the Avalanche and the Movielife. Special Guest: Vinnie Caruana.

25 Feb 20191h 26min