Episode Transcript
[00:00:13] Speaker A: We get Spotlight with BJ Swinghammer.
Is that his real name? Yes, it is.
Yeah.
We get Spotlight with BJ Swinghammer.
Is that his real name? Yes, it is.
Yeah.
DJ weekend Spotlight.
[00:00:42] Speaker B: Hey, what's going on, everybody? Happy goddamn Thursday. Ugh. It's been. It's been a week already. Geez. And then again, it's towards the end of the week, so I guess that, that happens. So I hope everybody's doing well. I hope everybody got a chance to go out and listen to some music.
Last weekend there was plenty going on. I had a great weekend with the family. You know, it was a lot of fun. Got some great time in and oddly enough, Monday, so Monday is usually not a whole lot of stuff going on, but this Monday had had a special little, little blip in it that was absolutely fantastic. That is. It was at the Jive Hive in Albany and it was Jive Hive Live featuring Shortwave Radio Band and jb, AKA Dirty Moses. Perhaps you've heard of these two entities? No, it's gotta be it. You can't not know them. And if you don't, well, we can, we can rectify a good chunk of that. Anyways, it was a great thing, was live streamed.
I got to introduce Shortwave. They did the new album Frequencies in its entirety, which was awesome. So that's why, that's one of the reasons. I mean, JB did a great set unto himself, which was so much fun.
I love watching that guy do his thing. And at the Jive Live, it's once again so, you know, it's very small, closed in like intimate kind of venue with great people. So Short Wave was doing their thing. They did a break. JB came on, did, did his thing, which was obviously, like I said, was incredible. Then Shortwave finished everything up and that was it.
But the live stream was, was fantastic. Everybody was looking good, everybody was feeling good.
And just thanks to everybody, you know, at the Jive Five. Thanks to Tom. Thanks for everybody. That sets it up. You know, there's a lot, you know, if you, if you look how that particular sausage is made, there's a lot going on to just getting one of those out. And I had the.
I had the opportunity to listen to what Tom was going through and like some of the final mixes that was getting sent out to, to the live stream on YouTube and man, it sounded so good.
So if you missed it, I'm so sorry you missed something. But I'm not too sorry because now it is on YouTube. Just always and forever. As long as YouTube exists, shortwave radio band at Jivehive Live with JB aka Dirty Moses is there for as long as as they're around anyways.
So since there has been a a goodly amount of shortwave radio band which you know, I love anyways but I really wanted to get everybody in sync with JB AKA Dirty Moses and just what he's been doing. So if you haven't had a chance to listen to what he's producing, what he's putting out, I'm going to take care of just a little bit of that now. So this next track is off the 2025 album Punctuation and this is called Great Day featuring Buggy Jive Just Because.
[00:03:45] Speaker C: Entertainment the guitars from the incredible Mr. George Spriggs introducing buggy jive.
[00:03:54] Speaker A: When you're wide awake first thing you should proclaim it's gonna be a great day While you sittin there, get your ass on it's gonna be a great day let's go and I'm about to.
[00:04:15] Speaker C: Go of course I am never gonna stop on the rock Used to get it off the block Now I'm trying to buy the block I don't have no time to plot on Down Falls that's why I'm never seen round y' all no more fake friends with ulterior motives Wireless twin turbo on the motor interior explosive Me I'm overdosing on dope yeah so it's gonna be a good day Ice cubes in my box Glass cognac to my face Heavy on the waist with the protection look both directions the devil' details the God in me always prevails Everybody's on demon time so I give them hell Then I wish him well like one's in the wishing well oh well kiss and tell, never too clever who better no one Put myself on the pedestal Pat my own back do my own horn Somebody had to write the story so there's no better person than he My frequency is everything I frequently see between you and me I stop the smell of roses for inner vision Staring in the mirror Standing on business Stand and deliver salute me Militant minded, criminal minded Looking for a style like Mind you probably be finding nothing new on in the sun but everybody loves the shine Even in darkness sun gonna shine Stare too long you might go blind but solar flares oh yeah old con tread mon Fred as a star Here view me with your space X ray vision I'm like Malcolm X Faith based How I'm living this is not thoughts and prayers Passion and action is rare Most of life ain't there, so I' ma lead his right chair.
Don't just stand there, do something.
Makes sense.
That's it.
[00:05:39] Speaker A: When you're wide awake, first thing, you should be a great day.
While you're standing there, go ahead and grab a chair. It's gonna be a great day.
[00:06:00] Speaker B: All right, that was great Day featuring Buggy jive off the 2025 album Punctuation from JB, aka Dirty Moses.
I love that track, man. I mean, Buggy Jive is awesome. And yeah, having him on this, it's just a ton of fun to listen to.
So thank you, jb. Thank you, Buggy Jive for, For. For putting this one out. It's incredible and I love it, and thanks. Oh, and if, by the way, if you ever get a chance to.
To be around jb, you can always ask him for a patch. He sells some really awesome patches, and I've got one on my patch jacket. Anybody that knows me knows I've got a. Some pretty nice patch patch jackets kicking around, so. And JB is. JB's definitely on it now. And it was. It was so good. He's, like, right under, like, KRS1 on the jacket and, you know, keeping it going. We're gonna keep it going now and a new album. So I don't know if you guys, and if you have. You're probably a little bit older, have heard of Dryer. So dryer and the 90s was like, the first punk band that I like, got super into, you know.
So you had Joel, Bobby, Rachel, and just the three of them, it was definitely a more like Pixies inspired band, which was just so good, man. I still listen to them to this day. You know, they were really big, and then everybody kind of gets older and gets busy. But they. They were still putting out a show here and there, which is great. And I think they still do once in a while.
So if you catch Dreyer doing their thing, you're very lucky because it's incredible. But all that notwithstanding. So Joel. Joel Lilly from Dreyer has a project called Cuddly Bear.
And this has been a very busy year for. For him and Cuddly Bear because it was like May of this year, Evil Era came out, which was a sick album. I think it was September, like, late September.
Another one just got put out called what Miracles Come To Light. It is.
It's. It shows you just how much fun and how creative Joel can be when he's just doing his thing. And since he's put out two albums already this year, I can't imagine his creative juices slowing down anytime soon.
All right, so this is off their September 26 album, what Miracles come to light. And this track is. You give what you get.
[00:08:58] Speaker A: That's what you give for what you get, Geppetto. Still, the puff is. Yes. A war of wheels straight out your mind A symphony, a sacrifice from now on I will say it once a long Until. Until it's time the privacy of seven miles to climb this is what she.
[00:12:12] Speaker B: All right, that was. You give what you get off the 2025 album. What miracles come to light from Cuddly Bear. Definitely. Check it out.
Joel is just doing his thing to, like, the nth degree. So it's amazing and it's funny. Like, he. He sent me something when the album hit. Here's this. Here's just a little a blur about the album and everything. Oh, man, I am definitely gonna put this up on the podcast. I'm definitely gonna put this up on my, my, my media.
And I'm like, yeah. And then I completely spaced it. So. Joel, man, I am sorry. I.
Things just get busy in a heartbeat and I just spaced on all of it. So next time you see me, you can, like, you know, swap me in the balls or something like that. You know, whatever. We'll. We'll get there. All right, moving on.
This is so October 17th, 8pm at the Strand Theater.
You've got Twilight Drive. Now, that's a Friday. So if you haven't had a chance to hear Twilight Drive, such a great band. I've been to several of the. The shows they've been playing at.
They often headline and for a very good reason.
So they are gonna be at the Strand Oct. 17 at 8pm with the opening act is gonna be lounge act. So that is a Nirvana cover band. And, you know, it's gonna be the Strand. I don't know if you've been to the Strand Theater. It is just. It's almost like a little hidden gem in Hudson Falls. But it shouldn't, because it has a long and very rich history of just putting on incredible showings for all sorts of creative forces.
So it's, it's that, like, it's a smaller place. The acoustics are incredible. The setting is fantastic. You just love going in there every time.
So I'm gonna be bringing this up pretty much until. Pretty much until they have the show.
Yeah. October 17th, 8:00pm, Strand Theater, Twilight Drive. And because I'm just going to be pushing this show because it's going to be so good. And Twilight Drive is so good, I decided to go with something off their 2023 album, Glorious Purpose.
So this track is Be aware.
[00:14:26] Speaker C: Don't.
[00:14:26] Speaker A: Break don't down come around it's not seen house it's not seeing me say this game I never asked you play when can I.
Don't break in don't break don't be aware don't break in Keep safe keep safe how Be strong It's not safe out it's not safe where you're alone.
[00:15:23] Speaker D: With God not your own.
[00:15:33] Speaker A: Don'T break it don't break down Me away Don't break it don't break down Sam.
Sa.
Sam.
[00:17:36] Speaker B: All right, that was Be Aware off of Twilight Drive's 2023 album, Glorious Purpose. And I can't wait to see if I can. If I can make on the 17th. You know I will because I love the Strand. I've been there a handful of times and there's never been a bad experience from it. All right, and. All right, so this is as far as the goings on of the week.
Saturday is just the day, you know, Saturday is the day. October 4th, first off, you have the lagoon in LAKE George at 7pm I think the show goes from seven to 10. You've got Lucas Garrett again. Lucas Garrett, known to me as goddamn Batman because he'll just be there and then you blink and then he just somehow disappears into the ether like a. Like a freaking ninja.
So, yeah, Lucas Garrett's awesome. Awesome. I will forever make every show I can of his.
So he's gonna be there at 7 o' clock. Lagoon. And for this one, I am reaching into the 2024 album Reaching Through Dreams.
And this track is called so Many.
[00:18:39] Speaker A: Times.
[00:18:42] Speaker D: I'm Going Crazy. What is under my bed?
What in my head I'm running into walls now hands up or I'll slow down Too many colors just for one pair of eyes Boy, one thing I always find I'm picking up your tune your thoughts turn the mind I have tried so many times too many.
[00:19:17] Speaker A: But.
[00:19:17] Speaker D: I I will hear all your memories in my house now.
Always think we say Turn into rhyme a gang of your tune your words turn to m.
I have tried so many times to an.
I know I will hear all your belonies.
[00:20:06] Speaker A: Laughing.
[00:20:13] Speaker D: And listening Sound of the I have tried so many times to end in the dream But I know I will hear all your boo.
I'm a focus where my time is so sharp I'm a focus each time I'll still sing to you I have tried so many times to end in the dream But I know I will hear all your rumalings I have done so many times.
[00:21:25] Speaker B: Time.
All right. That was so many times. Off the 2024 album Reaching Through Dreams by Lucas Garrett. Garrett. He's got a, a great collection of music. So he's on every platform that, that streams music. He's there. So find him, listen to him, come to his shows. And the lagoon is awesome. The lagoon is, is a great place to go just because it's a really chill, relaxed kind of place. Even when they're doing like loud shows, everyone's just really chill. So I love it immensely. And yes, also in Lake George on Saturday day. So this is gonna be at this, the Lake George Skate Plaza. And it's a festival. And then you know how I love festivals. So this is going from 11 to 8. So it's, it's a, a nice chunk of time. So that's nine hours of just you know, music, skateboarding contests and it's a festival. So you're just gonna go there and get your full. There's gonna be food, drink, you know and the contests are, are numerous. They're doing so many skate contests. I'm gonna be there but I'm gonna be like the old kind of faddish guy skateboarding, just skateboarding, no tricks, just skateboarding around, you know, in my Vans. So look for me, I'll be there.
I think it's $20 a person and kids 8 and under are free. So you know, bring the kids. I, I, it's gonna be a great day. It's a like the 10th anniversary of the skate plaza because it was like 2010, they were like we need a skate park to the town. And you know, I think they raised something like a hundred thousand dollars or something crazy like that to, to get this, to get the skate park put in.
And it's totally paid off. It's an awesome place and I can't wait to get back there.
So as far as Wild in the Trees music and Skate fest, the lion up musically anyways is going to be Chestnut Grove. The Sugar Hold Capital, Zen, the Story Boys, the Hauntings. What's up guys? I love you guys. The Hauntings is awesome. And Antoine Levy and Dust.
So it's going to be, it's going to be an awesome day. I can't wait to go. So once again that is the Wild in the Trees music and skate fest at the late Lake George Skate Plaza. And it's from 11 to 8, 8. You know, just cuz everybody knows me. I, I love The Sugar hold, you know. And once again, guys, thanks for putting in an awesome intro song for me. I. Super. So I'm gonna be doing the Sugar hold song. Surprise to everybody or nobody, if you know me. And this is their 2025 single, lo.
All right. That was Loner by the Sugar hole. That's their 2025 single.
Yeah. Sugar hold, man. If you just. If you're still listening. Have you been listening to my podcast? You know, I love the Sugar hold. And if you haven't had a chance to dive into their collection of music, it is so impressive. They do such incredible music. They're incredible people.
You know, just like there's everybody in the band. It's like one of the best people you're ever going to meet in the environment, entirety of your life. And that just kind of shines through on their music.
So they're gonna be in the Wild in the Trees Music and Skate festival this year.
I'm just gonna bring it up one more time because I'm so excited about this.
So it's gonna be at the Lake George Skate Plaza, 11 to 8. So if you play your cards right, you can go to the skate plaza, you know, hang out wild in the trees, you know, get the. Get the fun and running around and skating in if you skip.
And then you can just go not too far over and just go right to the. The lagoon and check out Lucas Garrett. So you can just have an incredibly full day of music and it's all condensed into one area, which is so much fun because you can just. You just make your way around and just have a freaking blast. So, yeah, moving on. We're gonna keep moving on. This is actually a very kind of full episode, isn't it? There's a lot of music and a lot of goings on in this episode. I love it so much, much. And we are on to one of my favorite segments, of course, and that is our band show.
Our band show. Doing. Doing the Lord's work, so to speak. I'm not a religious man, but they're doing the Lord's work as far as local music and the518 and beyond. They do such incredible stuff.
Yeah. Let's check in with them. Guys, what is going on with our band show this week?
[00:28:13] Speaker E: Thank you, bj, and welcome in to our fan show.
Patrick W. Huber here. And I gotta be honest, this week has been tough.
It's not about the work. The grind is the grind. It's just having to put on that straight, emotionless face.
It's about the daydream turned nightmare.
Pretty haunted, but, you know, I don't care. It's just dealing with society's bull.
Okay, okay, hold on, Nellie.
I think I have to take it down a note.
I'm not that revolutionary voice slipping into your podcast right now. No, sir.
What I really need is something to just get me started.
You know, BJ hit me up this week and asked, who are you submitting for this week's Spotlight?
I hadn't thought about it, and when I looked back through the week, I noticed New Monarchy was there, propelling the momentum forward.
I kept thinking about. About how they told us this origin story of the band's name. They're kind of being coy about it, hiding something, snickering laugh.
Only to find out it's as simple as naming the band after a video game faction.
[00:29:24] Speaker F: I want to talk to you guys about something I found interesting from the bio you submitted, so let's get to know each other a bit. You wrote New Monarchy is an alternative rock band that named themselves after growing up in a constantly changing environment which influenced your world views. Talk to me about that. That's a powerful statement.
[00:29:43] Speaker G: Yeah, I mean, Patrick and I.
Patrick and I first started this band, I guess, like, officially in 2021, but before that, we were always close friends because we're neighbors, so I guess not by choice sometimes.
So we. We've always been making music. And, you know, we. I think, think like, growing up in the early 2000s into, like, late or mid. Early whatever, 2000s, when we started to gain consciousness a little bit.
You know, there's a lot of. A lot of stuff that's going on, and kind of. We have a bunch of deep talks and ended up just kind of saying, you know what, New Monarchy, Turkey. Something along those lines.
[00:30:33] Speaker F: Cool. I was gonna ask you where the name comes from.
Well, it's kind of like a subtle political statement. Is that a reaction? Maybe?
[00:30:43] Speaker G: Yeah, I mean, it could be. It could have some political value in it.
[00:30:47] Speaker F: Cultural reaction, maybe.
[00:30:49] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:30:49] Speaker G: I mean, to be honest, there was one video game that we used to play called Destiny. Big fans, and there was a faction in there, so, though Political. Yeah, I guess.
And it was called New Monarchy. And so we took that and stole it.
[00:31:04] Speaker F: Cool.
[00:31:05] Speaker B: To be fair.
[00:31:05] Speaker F: And Bungie stole my heart when they ruined Halo. But that's a different podcast for a different day.
[00:31:10] Speaker E: Listening to the interview wasn't enough. They're really cool musicians, but I really needed more to rev me up this week and get me back on the road to my Personal journey. I looked at my phone and noticed New Monarchy's Passenger locked and loaded into the streaming app.
That's when the light bulb went off and I knew Passenger had to be this week's Weekend Spotlight.
I just messaged BJ back saying I.
[00:31:38] Speaker A: Put it in drive I put it in drive I put it why must skinny jeans flying down the road about 60 all I see is hair flying by high cigarettes and lighters making our lives a bit brighter Nothing's keeping us blue beside the sky Daydreams are like a nightmare they haunt me everywhere so I I put it in drop I put it in drop I put it we're sticking for the sirens in the distance Gotta love the way I'm running with resistance I don't really wanna stop no more I wanna hear how loud they roar Shut off all the lights Gotta keep it quiet for the night I can still hear them in the distance keep when we're in the clear the way you bite your lip out of fear it's got me so excited It's a dream tonight man I'm haunted everywhere so why I put it in drop I put it in drop I put air Quit looking for the starkness in the distance Gotta love the way I'm running with resistance I don't really wanna no more I want to hear how loud they roar I can see them coming closer in the distance I can feel my heart racing so vicious I can see my mind painting bad visions My daydreams are like a nightmare it haunt me and I don't care so I I put it in drive I put it in drive I put out great thinking for the summons in the distance Kind of look where you're running with resistance I don't really want to stop no more I want to hear about it more Quick thinking for the summer. Distance Gotta love the way I'm running with resistance I don't really wanna I don't really wanna I don't really wanna sa.
[00:34:48] Speaker E: All right, I hope you all enjoy this. That one clearly a guilty pleasure for me this week.
BJ made my day when he messaged me back with a car emoji. There might have been some other questions there, but I like to remember things how I like to remember them.
A little lost highway reference there for your David lynch fans out there.
Anyway, it has been an amazing summer for us at our band show. We're just wrapping up all the mixes, mastering and video editing for the unsigned 518 showcase.
I just want to thank Andy Camatron 5000 Little Saints Arrow through Me and of course New Monarchy. For such a great experience, check out their full set visual eps on our YouTube channel and then clips on our Instagram, both at our band shoot show.
It's been a wild ride. All I've seen is the hair flying by.
Bj, I don't really want to stop no more, so I'll send it back to you.
[00:35:53] Speaker B: All right, thanks a lot, man. I really appreciate it. You know, these guys are just not slackers. They are always putting out incredible music from incredible acts and they are just putting their heart and souls into it. And I appreciate them so much, man. Like, if you guys are listening, I appreciate you guys so much and you can find them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. YouTube is where I like to go to personally. Like they.
You can just go and just see what they've done already. And all these bands that you are, either some of your favorite bands or bands you haven't heard of yet and they just give them the rockstar treatment. And it is, it's amazing to watch. It's amazing to just see like people that you either know or don't know just getting the treatment that they deserve, you know, these are the people that work their asses off to bring you incredible music in the area.
And you can go to www.ourbandshow.com and see like what their lineup is. Wasn't going to be. They've just got it all right there. So.
Yeah. So thanks to everybody involved and getting that stuff done. I love it so much. And now, oh my God, we're nearing the end already. It's time for Metroland now. So hot. Single of the week.
So these are singles compiled every month by T.J. foster of Erie. I'm sure you've run into at least seen him at whatever shows you go into because that guy just seems to be omnipresent at all times. And for this week, I decided to go with la, who is there from New York City. They've got that sound that just reminds me more of just like, you know, 90s, like 90s punk kind of thing. This is off there. This is just their. This song just came out last month. So this is September 2025. The album is called Love Darla, Love comma Darla.
And this track is Strawberry.
[00:37:51] Speaker A: Sam.
Myself. Oh, Myself, Myself, Myself, Myself oh my We've been through so much.
When I come home you said what's good for me Someone that's never what you need I guess I'm in my head again When I come home I, I'M in my head again I am home I am someone else I hold myself oh, myself I owe myself oh, myself I hate myself Hate myself I love myself Love my Sam.
[00:40:48] Speaker B: All right, that was strawberry off the 2025 album that just came out called Love Darla from LA.
So well done, everybody. That's. It's such a great album. I actually, that I was checking out the song, you know, and, man, it just kept going and going. I ended up listening to the whole goddamn album and it's. It's fantastic. So well done. Well done on such a great album.
[00:41:11] Speaker A: Album.
[00:41:11] Speaker B: And you know, don't forget Metroland, their hot single of the week, is just one aspect, one, one tiny aspect of what the Metroland does these days. You can go on Facebook, Instagram, or you can just go to www.themetroland.com and just check out the immense amount of information that they've got flown through there of the goings on of local creatives in the 518 and surrounding areas. You know, just everything. If you're a creative, you're doing anything creative. There are. They got the arts, they have theater, they have music, they have all sorts of stuff going on. It's so impressive. Every time I go on that website, I'm like, there's just so much stuff on here. So if you're ever looking to fill your week or weekend with things to do in the area, this, that's like the first place I would go, quite honestly. And don't forget also the Metroland. So the Metroland, the physical copies of Metroland, they're back. They were gone. They were resurrected, you know, so it was like Aaron Harks, TJ Foster, Andy Scullum from shortwave radio band, they helped resurrect the Metroland back into what it is. And thanks you. Thank you so much, guys, because I just love going to a place and seeing a copy that I can just pick up, check out, flip through. You got great reviews, you've got great articles. It's. It's so awesome. So, and if you don't have one near you, go to themetroland.com and go to Contact. Find out where the closest place is that, you know, carries the Metroland and they'll, you know, let you know. And if you're looking to carry the Metroland in your business, you can just go to like the bottom. If you just go to the metroland.com just go like the bottom, it'll just click on, you know, click on the here. That's. And it gives you everything to fill out so you can just get it at your business, which I think is a very important thing to have at your business. It lets people know that you're, you know, you're, you're into the local scene and you're into the goings on of the areas and it just lets people know that you give a shit about where we are, you know, that you give a. About where you are and where your business is. So. And you know what? That's it. That's it. That's. That's it for me. That's. It was a full episode, but also they just go by so quick these days. So thank you for listening. Thank you for the sugar. Hold for my intro. Thank you so much for forensic Polaroids for my outro. I enjoyed doing this so much for you and I hope you enjoy listening to me just kind of blather on for like a half hour or so every week. Yeah, that's it, everybody. You have a good week weekend. We all deserve it. Enjoy yourselves, enjoy your music, enjoy whatever you do. And as usual, you stay cool. 518, I'm calling shotgun.
[00:43:40] Speaker A: Where's the party tonight?
Let's take a ride with swinging. We're driving.
It's the Weekend Spotlight.
Get ready.
[00:44:00] Speaker B: The Weekend Spotlight is a production of Unsigned 518 and part of the Metroland now network of podcasts. Unsigned 518's Weekend Spotlight is produced by Andy Scullin and hosted by BJ Schwinghammer. Look for new episodes every week at the metroland.com and everywhere you stream Podcast Sam.
