Episode Transcript
[00:00:02] Speaker A: Hey, what's going on, everybody? Welcome to another episode of Unsigned 518's Weekend Spotlight. I'm your host, BJ Swinghammer. And, you know, I'm gonna. I'm gonna start this off with a little. A little funny confession. I had this episode done.
I had it done. And I'm like, man, what? This is a great episode. I had great energy.
You know, I've been, like, really, like. I've had, like, you know, tooth issues that have been hurting all week. But, like, all right, I'm doing it now, and it's sick. Sounded great. And I go upstairs, you know, to edit it, and I accidentally delete the whole goddamn thing. And, Andy, I can. I can hear your eyes rolling from the basement of my house. Yeah, so that's. That's. That's classic Schwinghammer. I suppose so, yeah. Welcome to unsigned 518's Weekend Spotlight.
If you were.
If you were lucky enough to make it to the shows that I mentioned last week, good on you.
Amazing lineups, and doubly so if you were able to make it to the Mind Blown Festival in Glens Falls. Holy shit. What a day. One incredible day. I brought the family. We had a ton of fun. You had incredible music. You had incredible people. You know, it's a whole thing that's got that core of mental health around was just so good. It was so much fun. And, you know, of course, all the bands were amazing. I wasn't there for the whole thing. You know, the kids, they were troopers. They got through a good chunk of it, but we couldn't see all of it. But from what I saw, everybody did an amazing job.
And one band that I had never even heard of before popped up, and they were fucking amazing. And that band was. Uncle Frank says no. So if you guys are listening to this, what an incredible job you did, and well done, because that dude dancing around with the tuba and going out to the crowd, and he's just ditching. He's going, like, in and out of the crowd. It was so much fun. And you guys have amazing music, which I'm going to start listening to on a regular basis because I love me some sky.
So thanks again, guys. Well done.
So, yeah, that was an amazing day, and I think a lot of people felt a great sense of community and family that is much needed these days. And I'm hoping a.
That this becomes a yearly thing because it deserve. Because it deserves to be, baby. I think it shows almost like a renaissance, a revolution happening as far as the community in the area. And it showed. It showed up that day. So thanks to everybody who came.
You may not know it, but you made a huge difference just by being there and showing who we are as, like, a local family.
And speaking of the music in the area, you know, Labor Day is done. Labor Day is done. It's come and gone. I hope you enjoyed it. Even if you're working, I hope you're able to get out and enjoy some of it and go, you know, have some time with some friends and family.
But that marks the. The end of a lot of outdoor local music being played by local people now, not in it. Not in its entirety, of course, because that would be ridiculous. There's still plenty of stuff going on during the. The cool season, but it's significantly less than it is in the summertime.
So as things become more difficult to try to find out what's going on during the weekend, two things.
One, if you are a local band that's got, you know, original music that you just want to get out there, get in touch with me. Get in touch with me on Instagram. It's Weekend Spotlight with no ease. So Weekend Spotlight, take the ease out and send me a message and send me some music, you know, if you would like to be featured on the show, you know, it's. And if you're listening to this, that's. That's all you have to do. Send it to me. I'll listen to it, and we can get you on here. So second, when there's like a hole, you know, a vacuum that's left on a day in the weekend, I am just gonna put up music that I like and that I hope that you will like and that you will likely like.
So that's what I'm going to start doing. So.
And that's going to start, oddly enough, this week.
So I decided to pick the Sugar hold, because anybody who knows me knows that those guys are absolutely amazing. They have incredible music, incredible albums, incredible presence. They are easily one of the best bands in the 518 and beyond.
And I decided to do seven nights in Lackawanna.
A, because it's my show and I want to do it, and B, these days, I miss Judson something terrible. So that's what we're gonna start off with.
So this is the Sugar Hold.
Seven Nights in Lackawanna.
All right, that was the Sugar hold with Seven Nights in Lackawanna. And although I didn't catch anything really going on today, there is always the Thursday night food truck market corral going on in Glens Falls.
So we have two more of those left.
And I cannot, I cannot impose upon you enough to go to these shows because the last two, I mean, they're all awesome.
And that's why I go damn near every Thursday during the summer. But these last two are going to be fucking awesome. So you should definitely show up for it. But you know what? You. You don't want to hear that from me. And I get that. Which is why we do our check in with James Mullen and House of M Entertainment. So, James, what exactly is going on today?
[00:07:47] Speaker B: Hey, everybody, how's it going? Hope you're having a great week so far. It's James from House of M Entertainment. Just checking in to let you know what we've got on deck at this Thursday's market and food truck corral up at the shirt factory in Glens Falls on the Metroland now stage at Rock Hill Bakehouse. This week we've got Black Tongue Reverend and Gozer coming for you with some of the hardest stoner doom rock you've heard all year. Black Tongue Reverend just put out a brand new record last week and Gozer just debuted their new frontman, Jackson last month. So you're really going to want to come out and catch these guys and see what they've got cooking for you. You won't regret it. Come on down, get some of the awesome food that you get every week at the shirt factory. Bring the kids. There's plenty of family friendly entertainment going on. And grab yourself a seat at the picnic tables right in front of our stage and enjoy the night with us. We've got two left for the entire season. Let's send summer off with a bang. Back to you, bj.
[00:08:37] Speaker A: All right, thanks a lot, James. See, I was not lying. Just get to the last two. You have to do it. And you know, you got some food trucks that are highly anticipated that are going to be there, so. And I'm not even going to. I'm not even going to tell you who it is. I'm not even going to tell you. You got to show up. So I'll see you on Thursday.
Yeah, I will.
All right. And we know we're going to skip right to Saturday.
You know that Saturday is like the big day of the week. And if there's going to be a big day of the weekend, it's going to be Saturday, so. But it also presents kind of a quandary because on Saturday you have two really fantastic shows going on.
So hopefully you can somehow open a portal into space, time and make it to both.
Me personally, I'm going to be flipping a quarter, man, because this is. This is some tough going on Saturday.
So first you have at Bound By Fate in Skylerville at 6pm You've got Ben Zaleski. So if you haven't heard him, he's fantastic. He's an amazing artist. But it's him and Shortwave Radio Band. And once again, anybody that knows me knows that I love me some shortwave radio band.
That new album they just put out, Frequencies is played probably too much in my car these days, but, you know, fuck it, I'm gonna do it anyways.
So since Shortwave Radio bands playing, and I love Shortwave Radio Band, I'm gonna play from their new album, Frequencies, Shorts and a Hoodie. So here it is, Short Wave Radio Band. And the song is Shorts and a Hoodie.
[00:10:26] Speaker C: Mom said get back on the couch. You're not leaving this house wearing shorts and a hoodie all the cops are on the lookout Somebody's on the run Wearing shorts and a hoodie oh yeah, oh yeah I don't really give a damn about cigarette burns on my shorts and my hoodie Too late to graduate, been huffing l pain Wearing shorts and the hood is oh yeah oh yeah Kick, flip dropping and swing witch grinding blindside Wearing shorts and a hoodie oh yeah oh yeah.
[00:12:37] Speaker A: All right, that was Shorts in the Hoodie from Shortwave Radio Band off the new album Frequencies. If by some reason you haven't come across and listened to this, this album, do it, I would almost say shame on you. I would almost say that. I'm not gonna say it, but I would almost say it. So go check out the album.
Next is Troy. So no fun in Troy. Always no fun in Troy. They've always got incredible stuff going on at 7pm They've got a hell of a lineup.
Tropa Magica, who I actually haven't seen, so I'm very curious about.
And then they have the Sugar hold and the Jagaloons. And a lot of you have heard the Sugar hold. And I don't know, I think a lot of you out there may be missing the wondrous music that comes from the Jagaloon, which I suppose happens. But you know what? It's easily correctable. And I'm gonna start correcting that right now if you haven't heard them.
So I have picked Jagaloons.
Wolfman's Got Nards. So this is a single from 2024. And this seems like it's just like a culmination of what they've been. What they've been doing for the past few years.
So, yeah, here we go. Enjoy it? I enjoy it so much. I love the song. So this is Jagaloon's Wolf Man's Got Nars.
All right, that was Wolfman's gotten ours from the Jagaloons off their 2024 single.
And once again, good luck.
Good luck trying to pick between the two shows. Good luck with it because they're both great venues, great bands.
Yeah, it's a quandary for me, but I'm sure I'll figure it out. And either way, that's the thing. Either way, we all win because you got incredible music from incredible artists. So speaking of incredible music from incredible artists, we are gonna check back in with our band show. This is one of my favorite segments of the show because our band show is this great group of people doing awesome and important work for local music.
So, guys, what is going on this week with our band show?
[00:17:16] Speaker D: Hey, guys, Christian Ivanko here yet again with another our band show segment. This week we're bringing you a song from yours truly. Aside from producing our band show, I'm also a musician. I release music under my name, Christian Ivanko. It's kind of like folky Americana with a little pop and a little rock mixed in. Really a culmination of all of my influences. And I'm just so excited to finally be releasing music again. It's been six years since I've put out any original material and that is absolutely crazy and it's been way too long. But I think it was all well worth the wait. I'm so proud of this release and I can't wait to share it with you guys. I and a big reason why we're choosing to share it in the our band show segment is because a ton of the our band show crew have worked one way or another to help me bring this project to life. The filmmaking team behind all of the music videos you'll see throughout the cycle of me promoting not only the single which we're about to hear soon, called Valley of the Bluebird, which is also the title track of the EP that's coming later in November. But the our Bansho team has helped me create all of the content around this release and it's just so amazing to work with such talented friends and just to share in the vision with them. It's just. It was a truly great process. So I want to thank Patrick W. Huber, my co producer and creator of our band show, Eric Greenop, Steve Montana Andrew Jemay and everyone on the Ban show crew who helped me bring this song to life visually.
Yeah. So like I said, the song is called Valley of the Bluebird. It's about my love for my home here right in the Hudson Valley, New York. It's a very personal track.
It's about home and feeling thankful for where you are, you know, letting go of the longing for what you don't have and truly appreciating what is right there in front of you. Took me a while to get to that point. I'm sure we all as artists or have heard the classic story if we're not artists, at the very least of wanting to move to LA or Nashville or New York to pursue music. And I did New York for a little bit, but I just couldn't find myself staying too far away from the Hudson Valley for too long and always thinking, man, what could have happened if I really would have given the big city life a chance? Could I have made a real run for it? But you know what? At the end of the day, that's not the path I took. And I'm glad now that it's all said and done that it's not the path I took. Because I think that this new round of songs I'm going to release are so personal and just. I'm so proud of them. I don't think they would have come to life if I hadn't been surrounded by the beautiful nature of my home, if I hadn't still been in close contact with my friends and my family. You know, the love of my dog, Honey is a big inspiration for this record. So, yeah, I just wanted to share with you guys my own artistry, my personal music. And so thank you for indulging me. Thank you to Andy and BJ for having me and thank you guys for listening. Valley of the Bluebird is out Everywhere this Friday, September 5th, on all major streaming platforms and I hope you'll enjoy this sneak preview of the full track right now. Again, this is Valley of the Bluebird. I've been Christian Ivanko. Have a great rest of your day.
[00:20:32] Speaker C: I see the sun rise on the mountain the presence of the fawn and all at once I feel forgiveness in my heart I see a fog on the horizon Flowing like the song of the blue bird against the valley of the light and I know I'll never walk away from all that I have done but for a moment I can feel like I'm alright and it takes time to heal a broken heart but when all is said and done Will I have something to show for all of my fight?
I hear the echo of the oak tree Blowing in the wind In a familiar type of sadness takes a hold I sense a kinship with the willow for he's the only only one who knows how to make it so the sadness doesn't show and I may never walk away from all that I have done But I find comfort in the places I may go and I'm sure there is a plan for me in space that I may run into the valley Valley of the blue bird the sunrise of surrender the valley of the blue bird I may roll.
[00:23:07] Speaker A: All right, thank you so much. That was freaking awesome. Once again, our band show one of the best things about music in the 518. You can check them out on Facebook, Instagram, go right to the website. So that's www.ourbandshow. com.
Me personally, I like to shoot right to YouTube because that just drops in your lap right there.
What they do for local musicians, they give them, they, they give local musicians the star treatment that they deserve. And it's so much fun to watch and it's so much fun to know that it exists, especially when, like, me, you know a good amount of bands and you know that they, they deserve the out of it.
And here we go. We're going into Metroland Now's hot singles of the week. So this is the hot single of the week.
It's a list compiled by TJ Foster, who has incredible music taste. And that's not just me. I'm not like kissing up. If you go to the hot singles of the week section on the metroland.com you will see what he picks out. And it's, there's, there's, they're all incredible. So. And yeah, so he's got great taste and I'm glad he does this because I in turn get to show them to you.
And, you know, it seems to be kind of like a short wave radio band heavy episode this week, which, you know, I have no problems with and those you probably have no problems with that whatsoever because they are awesome.
But this hot single of the week is Forensic Polaroids. So that is Lonnie from Short Waves, like side gig he's doing right now, which he's been putting out some great music if you haven't heard it enough. And a few people I know have, they don't know that he's, he's doing what he's doing because, you know, you don't, you don't see Lonnie like, out in the world. You know, and you go, oh, man, where's Lonnie? I miss Lonnie. And, yeah, he's missable. But then when you realize he's laying down some crazy tracks at home, well, alright, then that kind of makes up for it. And so, you know, that is what it is. And by the way, if you didn't know the outro to this podcast, that's. That's Forensic Polaroids. So now you know and known as Half the battle. And once again, Lonnie, thank you so much, man. That is a badass Outro. And I love it every single time.
So hot. Sing of the week, Forensic Polaroids. And this one is called One Hit.
[00:25:40] Speaker C: Why didn't I turn to you? When the world came crashing down?
I found something else and the feeling went away?
Getting amongst the crowd I completely numb myself?
Then the flashback came and the movie played over in my head?
You were the only one in a crowded room?
Now there's empty space where we used to play?
Laugh ended way too soon?
That one hit hit me so hard?
I'm still not seeing straight? That one hit me so?
And everything changed from hearts to spades? That one hit, it hit me so hard?
But you'll never knock me down again?
After the 10 count the lights went out?
Didn't expect to get hit below the bells?
Everyone has a plan Till they get punched in the mouth?
But I'm getting up, I've had enough? The next route you're going down.
Don't want to let myself get close to you?
Cause I've seen some things too complicated to explain?
That one hit hit me so hard?
I'm still not seeing straight? That one hit hit me?
Everything changed from hearts to space? That one hit hit me so hard?
Knocked me right into next wing. That one hit hit me so hard?
But you never knocked me down again.
[00:27:57] Speaker A: He appears to be pinned against the ropes.
[00:27:59] Speaker C: Watch this. The gloves are coming off. He throws the uppercut. It' that one hit hit me so hard?
I'm still not seeing straight? That one hit hit me so hard?
I've got to admit? That one hit hit me so hard I'm spitting Chiclets. That one hit me so hard?
But you'll never knock me down.
Never knock.
[00:29:01] Speaker A: All right, that was One hit from Forensic Polaroid, a song I Am so Happy is a hot single of the week this week because it just kind of fits into everything.
If. If you're looking as far as Metroland goes, check them out on Facebook. Instagram themetroland.com is huge. It is inundated it is a treasure trove of goings on in the 518. There is so much information flowing through that website.
If you want to know what's going on with creatives in the 518 and beyond, on you go there, they cover such a wide breadth of what's going on in the area that it's. It's so impressive. And I go on it actually fairly regularly and I'm always amazed. So well done, everybody. There's a lot of people, there's a lot of moving pieces into the Metroland. You know, you've got the. The people that do the editing. You got. The editors are awesome. You have the people that do the reviews. There's just a lot in there. So definitely go and check it out. And never forget, physical copies. The Metroland is back. So it was gone for so long and now it's back. And that makes me so happy. And I'm gonna bring this up every goddamn episode. Because going out to your local wherever and grabbing a copy of it and just, you know, reading it during lunch or, you know, before work, after work, while you're pooping, whatever, the Metroland is great. And if you can't find a copy in your area, go to the metroland.com, look up, contact us and reach out to somebody. They'll let you know what's close to you. And if you're a business looking to carry physical copies, go to the metroland.com. there's a. There's a section for that too. So you fill your information and then they start getting dropped off. Yet it's incredibly easy and it's incredibly fun.
So do that, do that and do that.
And you know what? That's.
That's it for me. This was a kind of a quick episode, I think, which might happen for a bit until everything starts to get filled out and I start learning of fun new ways to fill out things.
But you know what? In any case, thank you so much for listening518. I love doing this for you every week and I hope that you love listening and I look forward to seeing you next Thursday. But until then, you know, go relax, have some fun. We all deserve it. And most importantly, you stay cool. 51 8.
[00:31:18] Speaker C: I'm calling shotgun.
Where's the party tonight?
Let's take a ride. Been swinging, we're driving.
It's the Weekend Spotlight.
Get ready.
[00:31:43] Speaker A: 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 DJ Schwinghammer. Look for new episodes every week at the metroland.com and everywhere you stream. Podcast D.
