September 18, 2025

00:41:16

Unsigned518 - Weekend Spotlight 9/18/25

Hosted by

Andy Scullin
Unsigned518 - Weekend Spotlight 9/18/25
Unsigned518
Unsigned518 - Weekend Spotlight 9/18/25

Sep 18 2025 | 00:41:16

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Show Notes

Hosted by BJ Schwinghammer.

Produced for Metroland Now by Andy Scullin

Outro music written and performed by Forensic Polaroids. Underscore music written and performed by Ab The Audicrat.

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www.themetroland.com

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Episode Transcript

[00:00:13] Speaker A: We get Spotlight with BJ Swinghammer. Is that his real name? Yes, it is. Yeah, we can spotlight with BJ Swinghammer. Is that his real name? Yes, it is. Yeah. DJ Weekend Spotlight. [00:00:45] Speaker B: Well, holy shit. What's going on, everybody? Happy Thursday. How you doing? I don't know if you notice, but I have a new badass intro that just landed on this week's episode. It is fucking amazing. I love it so much. I just want to do a huge thank you to the Sugar hold, who took time out of their immensely busy schedules piecing that together over the past few weeks. It's incredible. You're incredible. Thank you guys so much. And I think everybody enjoys it as much as I do and I enjoy it a hell of a lot. So thanks guys. What a great way to start an episode, knowing that this is now my. My intro. So we've got a crazy awesome intro from the Sugar Hole coupled with that badass outro from Forensic Polaroids that's spearheaded by Lonnie Eaton of Shortwave Radio Band. I've got the front, I've got the back. I am now complete as far as my audio. Just incredible entities. And I'm so happy. And I'm just gonna stop talking about it right now because I could talk about this for another like 15, 20 minutes. Anyways, this past week has seen some incredible music in my life. I'm very happy. I got to, I got to be there for it. So you had the last Thursday, the very last Thursday night market and Food Truck Corral at the Shirt Factory for the season. So now it's. That's done until May, which I already can't wait for because I already miss it so much. And what a day that was. So Short Wave couldn't, couldn't make it onto the stage, but a lot of the band members were still there to hang out, watch a band called Eerie hop up on the stage and just wreck the shit out of the evening with some incredible music. And you know, people that were there from shortwave got a chance to get up on stage and do a song. They did. They did Blink 182, which was awesome and so much fun. Cuz nobody knew what the hell was going on. All of a sudden they're on stage singing Blink 182 and just. It caught him off guard. It was incredible. They totally pulled it off, but it was super funny to watch. So yeah, that was awesome. A great send off for the night. And then Super Dark Monday. I actually made it to a Super Dark Monday. I'm usually Fast asleep or ready for bed when that even starts. But I actually made it to this one. And yeah, because Safety Meeting was playing and I love Safety Meeting. Those guys are great. But I was sideswiped completely by Gray Monitor and Last Pages. Wow. Wow. If you guys are listening to this, well done. What a good night. You guys had great sets. Safety Meeting, of course, rocked as well. They. They finished off the night. So well done to you guys too. Always a big fan. But yeah, what a great night. You know, I got to meet the. Meet some people from the bands, had some great conversations with them, and you're definitely going to be hearing from them as they kind of make their way into our weekends. And I'm definitely going to put them on the show. So once again, thank you guys so much for all the bands that were there. Thank you for Shane Sanchez for just doing Super Dark and just getting all that moving. Thanks for everybody at Desperate Andes. So thanks for hosting it. Cause, you know, I got to see some great friends behind the bar on the other side of the bar. And it was just a sick night altogether. And while I was at Super Dark Monday, I came across a gentleman who heads a band called Vexus. I have decided to put on Vexus. They just put out a new album, just dropped, called Mea Culpa. And the song you're about to listen to is called Sick. [00:05:05] Speaker C: Now lead away in a billion doll People make me sick Just a mortal strike I have my craze that makes me sick don't say my brain. [00:06:09] Speaker A: Sam. [00:06:42] Speaker C: Do people make me sick? Just wake up and stick or fight all night. [00:07:55] Speaker B: All right, that was Sick off the brand new album Mia Culpa by Vexis. Well done, guys. I suggest that everybody look these. Look these guys up and listen to them because what a great band. If you're looking for some really good solid metal that you can just throw your head around to, this is. This is an album to definitely listen to. They're very proud of it. And they are proud of it for a damn good reason, because a fantastic album. So, yeah, listen to that and, you know, keeping it going. So we've got Friday Night at no Fun in Troy at 7pm no fun, of course, keeping it going. I think they're doing like seven days a week now. It's. It's incredible. So Friday night, they've got Gas Leak, Sophie's Body, SuperEGO, and the ID. And if you haven't had a chance to listen to these bands, get over there. I mean, you should just probably just show up on no Fun on Fridays anyways just because it's like the place to be in Troy. So get over there, check out the bands, have some beers or have some great non alcoholic stuff that's kicking around there to kind of highlight what's going on on Friday. I have chosen Gas Leak. So they've got a new single that just hit this week. You know, we got a lot of new stuff on this episode which makes me so fucking happy. So yeah, this is just their new single. It's out this week. This is Gas Leak with Flicker. [00:09:38] Speaker A: I'm the Witching now has come and Gone. [00:10:24] Speaker D: Oh, Rerun's yet to Be Done, Appearing Hand, the Lingering sm, Desperate Broken Strain and Cold. [00:11:12] Speaker A: Sam, Spirit of My Shaggy. [00:12:34] Speaker B: All right, that was Flicker. Brand new single out this week from the band Gas Leak. Well done everybody. That's a great song. I'm. I, I understand completely why you wanted to feature this one because that's, that's a badass song. So thank you so much. All right, Saturday, on to Saturday. Saturday is Single cut North at 5pm has not one, but two great acts coming out. And the songs that everybody decide to feature from the bands collectively are two of my new favorite Driving Around Just Being awesome songs. So first up up Lucas Garrett, followed by the Alec Lewis group. So this goes from 5 to 8. Just because it's my prerogative. I am doing both the bands. This first one is from the unstoppable Lucas Garrett. And the song is Loosey Goosey. All right, that was Lucy Goosey from Lucas Garrett, who by the way was at the the last food truck night last week. And I looked over, I was waiting in line for some food and I looked over and I go, oh shit, it's Lucas. And I was in the middle of a conversation, I finished up the conversation and I looked back and he just disappeared like goddamn Batman. So Lucas, I noticed you and then you just evaporated into thin air it seems. So we didn't get a chance to talk. And up next is the Alec Lewis group. Alec wanted me to feature a song off the newest episode, Don't Cross Me. So this one is called Half Empty, Half Full. [00:17:48] Speaker E: Walking through the park in a part of town that I don't know I was surprised by an older guy coming up on my left side. Nowhere to be. And I wasn't feeling mean, he just wanted time so I gave him some of mine and he said thanks. Gotta be careful, there's some freaks up in this park, you know. In fact, those who leave might say that it left its mark I said hold up what do you mean those who leave? Then he pulled a knife said don't scream well that's my cue to beat I wanna trust people but people fuckin suck I wanna like this light but fuck around, it's all fucked maybe it's just me maybe I should toughen up Half EMP empty, no, half full. [00:18:40] Speaker C: Shit. [00:18:41] Speaker E: I can't even find a cup luckily for me I got 30 years upon that guy so I book it through a thick tree line Till I get through the other side Feeling pretty shook Think I'd better stop and pet some dogs but once I walk away I feel my wallet is gone Retrace my steps but that dog walker must have got me in quick take out my phone Phone to call to cancel all my cards so my bank account don't slip Put the call and all was lost when it hit I couldn't find my wheels this is where I parked I guess that Civic was a steal I wanna trust people but people fucking suck I wanna like this light but look around it's all fucked maybe it's just me maybe I should toughen up Half empty no, half full I can't even find a cop Found a bar next to the park where I can stop and think I asked to use the phone but they say not unless you buy a drink Tell them about that day I've had but no pity Diddy dole voice from behind me says I'm buying Bobby make it cold Thinking maybe Found myself a friend Help me find a route but she's staring me down with baby browns I know that look and I am out Second guess the drink Just as my lips hit the foam and I'm thinking Better luck if I just start walking home I wanna trust people People fucking suck I wanna like this life but look around it's all fucked maybe it's just me maybe I should toughen up Half empty I can't even find a cop all. [00:21:12] Speaker B: Right, that was half empty, Half full from the new ep Don't Cross Me from the Alec Lewis group. Alec, thank you so much for letting me put this song up on the podcast today. I really appreciate it. It's. It's a song I connect with and anybody that knows me personally, you listen to the song, you know exactly why I connect so much with this song. I love it so much, I immediately just put it, like, right off on, like, three of my playlists. So, yeah, thanks again, man. That's. That's. That's an awesome song and moving Forward. We're going to the segment that so many of you love and for the best reasons. This is our band show so we get to check out what's going on with these guys. So guys, what is going on this week? [00:21:54] Speaker F: Thank you BJ and welcome in to our band show. Before we get started, let me just say we are posed to go live Saturday, September 20th at 8:30pm we have an amazing band from the Hudson Valley, Wickham Falls. They're just a band and they're rocking out and they will be doing it with us this Saturday night. We hope you'll tune in on our YouTube channelband show and for more details just keep an eye on our Instagram feed. Our band show as well. Now let's turn to the business at hand, the Weekend Spotlight. This week we want to talk about an amazing band from New York City that we had on the show a little while ago. That's Slumber S lmbr. They're cool like that. The band's music investigates dreams, fears and the human experience all through a alt rock lens. This trio really changed the way that we looked at the show. We started off very small, keeping it to a limited amount of songs, and we asked Slumber to come on in and play a full set of music, really expanding how much the bands bring to the show. Nick, John and Christian have formed a tight bond and it shows through their music. Just a couple months ago they released a music video for their latest song, no Sudden Moves. Definitely go on to their YouTube and check it out. It is a fantastic, animated, cool story worth seeing and that's part of who Slumber is. They are filmmakers at heart and they do really much like to put a lot of detail into their music videos. And during our interview we asked them just that, you know, what is it about creating these visual worlds that's important to them? You know, I was watching some of the music videos for like probably the 10th time last night. What always gets me is the waking nightmare, the, the paint scene, which just what, what amazes me about it is the fact that throughout the behind the scenes video you keep talking about how you have one more setup to do after the paint. I'm just curious like as, as a film guy, why'd you schedule the paint being poured on you and then an outside scene and what seemed to be like the complete cold. [00:24:18] Speaker G: So I answer the question, Nick. Yeah, I, I, I let me step back by saying my, my job on set typically is an assistant director, which means I do a lot of the scheduling and planning and stuff. And I. Bunch of cool videos in New York City. That was before I really thought about doing that. So when we did that video, I didn't apply the same philosophy to my own, you know, directing video thing. So yeah, that was, that was quite dumb. It was mostly because we had the location for a set portion of time and we were waiting tonight for the last setup. But I guess we didn't realize how bad the paint was going to go everywhere. If you haven't seen it, there's a shot in the. In the Waking Nightmare music video which we uploaded. Oh God, like two years ago. And it's three. Well, yeah, oh my God, whatever. But there's a shot of just me and I'm spinning in a circle and our wonderful friends in our production design paint dumped, you know, skin washable paint all over me while I'm performing Waking Nightmare, which was the first song that we performed tonight. And yeah, it was a, it was an incredible performance. I will say that was the most scared I've ever been to be on camera because I wasn't sure what that was gonna do to me. Like I wasn't sure if I was gonna even get a minute into the song before I was just choking to death. We ended up actually doing two takes, which was great because we had a lot to cut through with. But yeah, that was a, that was a wild night. And when I think I say it in the behind the scenes video. But through when we go to that last setup, which is just. We were in like an alleyway somewhere in Astoria in Queens. I washed off just enough so it was visible, but I still have like blue all up and down my like non visible body. So covered by my shirt and my pants and stuff. But there was paint everywhere. It was, it was a mess. I spent an hour and a half in a second sink washing myself down. [00:26:14] Speaker H: I gotta add the Easter egg too that we threw into the next music video, which might be a good site, I don't know. But the shirt that Nick wore in that scene, right, and tell me if I'm wrong, that got paint all over it. Is the same shirt that Nick wore in the opening shot of the next music video. [00:26:28] Speaker G: Yeah, yeah, and I love that shirt. I still have it. It looks like this very obscure tie dye, really cool shirt. But yeah, just to quickly hit on it. I like directing videos and for us I wanted to always bring something that you've never seen before before. So the paint thing is something I'd never directly seen before. So I wanted to try it and we Did a bunch of stuff that just was. People constantly comment like, how do you get the doors to float on the water and all that stuff. So we just wanted to always try to. Yeah, Magic. Only magic. [00:26:58] Speaker F: Very much. Creative Spirits slumber really brought that energy to the table during the performance on our band show. We really loved all their songs from the deep end to conundrums. State of flux is one of my favorite songs of theirs. They didn't play it on the show, but it is definitely worth streaming. And for this week's spotlight, we're actually going to play another one of my favorite songs from them, and that is photogenic. This song focuses on growth, personal growth. You know, where we were in the past, where we are now and where we're going in the future. And it's a concept that I think we can all get behind. You know, there's times in our lives when we look back back and think about the things that were done and. And we're looking forward at the things that we want to do. So this song sort of encompasses that idea of personal growth and that's why photogenic is the r band show spotlight for this week. [00:28:02] Speaker G: This a lot. A lot of what we're writing right now. Our newer stuff is about change and moving from one chapter of our life to another one. And this song is kind of the song that kicked that movement for us off. It's called photogenic, and it's about the fear of getting older. The song is kind of like it's split up into three parts. It's one setting when I was a kid, one set when I'm a teen and one now. And I hope you can kind of hear the difference between what it all sounds like Here we go. [00:29:02] Speaker D: Let me speak to an audience of mirrors after every marshal sunset in the rain Pack of faithful friends cause I show them how I feel But I still feel But I still feel But I still feel Now I'm older but I I still feel I still feel I might look stupid yeah, my face has changed a lot My virtual realities keep ties to what I got. [00:29:52] Speaker A: I. [00:29:52] Speaker D: Exist in every universe I make and I'll imagine I'll imagine I'll imagine oh, I'll dream and I'll imagine and I'll. [00:30:09] Speaker A: Imagine Take your photogenic soul Claim it till you're on God Stay in the camera Take your wits to let go hold til you show what does it matter? Here we go. [00:30:51] Speaker D: I'm sorry if I worry you too. [00:30:54] Speaker G: Much again desperate conversations make me happy. [00:30:58] Speaker D: Just for once and rather just the way I did But I go back But I go back But I go back all the way back But I. [00:31:15] Speaker A: Go back But I go back if I could take your photo check next door and claim it Till your own God save the camera hurts Take your wits to let you go home to you what Take your photogenic soul and claim it to your own God Saying the camera take your way to let go into the future what doesn't matter yeah. [00:32:24] Speaker D: What does it matter? [00:32:41] Speaker F: Another fantastic performance. Slumber slmbr. Great band from New York City. Definitely go online and check them out, you know, sign up for their social medias et cetera. Etc. They are a group of fantastic guys, really showing the love after every show. They kind of give each other a group hug to celebrate such amazing performance that they had definitely delightful musicians to have in the studio with us and we wish them the best as they march forward playing their original music. And remember, we're going live this Saturday September 20th at 8.30pm with Wickham Fall Falls. We are really going to have a great rock show for you. So check us out on our Instagram feed, our YouTube channel, our band show or visit our website ourband show.com have a great weekend. Keep rocking out and enjoying the music. And bj, back to you. [00:33:38] Speaker B: All right, thank you so much man. All right, that was our band show. One of the best things about local music in the518 and you can check them out on Facebook, Instagram, if you go right to www.ourbandshow.com you can check them out there. I of course like to hop on YouTube and just see right off the bat what they're up to because they just take your your favorite bands from the 518 and beyond and just give them the rock star treatment which they deserve so much. So thanks again from the the team at our band show. You guys are just doing the best work. And now, now it is one of my favorite segments of the show and that is Metroland Now's hot single of the week which is a list that's put together every month by T.J. foster from a band called Eerie who has such a great ear for music and you know, obviously he does because hot single of the week is Black Ton Reverend off the new album Up State of Mind which has just been lighting it up as of late and if you got a chance to listen to it, you'll know why because what a good friggin album. And the song that was picked for a hot single of the week is when the Reverend Was comes To town. [00:35:32] Speaker A: Celebration will abound Fear will flood the rivers when the R comes to town Sat party never ends when you got all your friends and the Reverend comes to town. [00:37:59] Speaker B: All right, so that is this week's hot single of the week. That is when the Reverend comes to town from Black Tongue Reverend off, their new album up State of Mind, which is straight fire, as I'm sure the kids are still saying. I'm sure they are because I'm not old yet. And you know, Metroland. Always make it a point to check out what's going on in Metroland. What we do here on this podcast gives you some pretty damn good insight, but nothing, nothing in comparison if you just go right to the source. You know, you can go Facebook, Instagram, but if you end up going to the metroland.com there is just so much information of all the goings on in the area. It'll just, it'll blow your mind and probably give you too much to do for your week and your weekend. So go ahead and check that out. You're welcome, by the way. And don't forget physical copies of the Metroland. The Metroland is back. It was gone for so long and it has returned and it makes me so happy. And I just love getting a copy of that in my hand. You know, go to, you know, my local wherever, because around Glens Falls it is. It's all over the damn place. And I just like to go and pick it up and just. And read through it. There's great reviews, all sorts of great articles. So check that out. And if you, and if you can't find any copies in your area, just let me know or let us know. You know, go to the metroland.com and go to Contact Us and you can just find out who's carrying it. And if you're looking to carry it in your establishment, which I highly recommend, you can just go down. There's a whole. There's a little section for it. You just click on the link, put in your information, and it will start showing up at your door, which is good for you. It's good for your customers and clients. So once again, highly recommended. And that's it for me, everybody. Jesus Christ, this episode goes by so quick. I think they all just go by so quickly these days. And thanks again for listening. I really appreciate it. I hope you appreciate that. I appreciate you guys that listen and the people that put out the music. Music. You guys are the fucking stars of all this. So thanks to everybody and I can't wait to do this again for you next week. But until then, have fun, Relax. We all deserve it. And as usual, you stay cool. 518. [00:40:18] Speaker A: I'm calling shotgun. Where's the party tonight? Let's take a ride Been swinging for driving? [00:40:33] Speaker E: It's the Weekend Spotlight. [00:40:41] Speaker A: Get ready. [00:40:42] Speaker I: The Weekend Spotlight is a production of Unsigned518 and part of the Metroland now network of podcasts. Unsigned518's Weekend Spotlight is produced by Andy Scullen and hosted by BJ Schwinghammer. Look for new episodes every week at the metroland.com and everywhere you stream podcast.

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