Silversun Pickups bassist Nikki Monninger joins host Mike Gomoll on the Joey's Song Podcast for a warm, wide-ranging conversation ahead of the band's third year performing at Joey's Song. Nikki opens up about the band's latest collaboration with legendary producer Butch Vig — teasing a harder-edged sound and a January release timed near Freezing Man.

The conversation dives into the origin story of Silversun Pickups' relationship with Butch Vig, the "family" atmosphere that's grown around the Joey's Song community, and why the band keeps returning year after year to support epilepsy research. Nikki also reflects on meeting bandmate Brian Aubert during a study abroad program in Cambridge (and finally confirms that infamous airplane story), shares memories of the band's Rock Band fame with "Panic Switch," and talks about welcoming Marissa Paternoster and Hugo Burnham into the Joey's Song fold

Things wrap up with a fun round of This or That (Beatles or Stones, Seinfeld or Friends) and Overrated or Underrated (eight hours of sleep, vintage guitars, and the great debate over making your bed on tour)

Recorded October 7, 2025

Joey's Song is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to funding epilepsy research and treatment. Every stream, download, and share helps push that mission forward.

Learn more, buy tickets, or donate: https://joeyssong.org

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This interview originally took place August 2025. Go-Go's founding member Jane Wiedlin joins Joey's Song founder Mike Gomoll for a wide-ranging conversation covering the band's surprise return to the festival circuit, five decades of friendship (and occasional friction) within the band, and a deep dive into her life outside music. Jane opens up about the Go-Go's headlining slot at Coachella, the surreal moment Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong joined them onstage for "Head Over Heels," and playing the 80s-themed Cruel World Festival alongside contemporaries like Til Tuesday. She also shares a wild backstage story about a stage-rotation mishap that cut off another band's set mid-song, reflects on what it means to be one of the few bands from that era still performing with its original lineup, and talks candidly about being a trailblazer for women in rock. In the "This or That" segment, Jane picks Beatles over Stones, shows off her prized Beatles "Butcher Cover" memorabilia, recounts a magical Paul McCartney moment at Outside Lands, and reveals she'd rather talk to animals than speak every language — leading into a joyful rundown of her three rescue dogs. About Joey's Song: Joey's Song is a federally registered 501(c)3 charity with one mission: raising money to fund research into treatments and cures for epilepsy. Through concerts, merchandise, and community support, Joey's Song brings together musicians and fans to fight this disease — and have some fun doing it along the way. - Learn more, buy tickets or merch, or donate at https://joeysong.org - Subscribe to this channel and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform — it helps more than you know! Hosted by: Mike Gomoll, Founder of Joey's Song Guest: Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Go's) Theme music composed by: Sam Gomoll

Dave, Ryan and Jeremy are joined by Butch Vig, Tanya Donelly, Gail Greenwood, Kay Hanley and Freedy Johnston to cover this CVB classic

She's the scene stealer of Joey's Song — and in this episode, you'll find out exactly why. Singer-songwriter Sierra Swan joins Joey's Song Founder Mike Gomoll for a wide-ranging and entertaining conversation. From touring the world with Ringo Starr to co-writing with Aimee Mann, from growing up as the daughter of legendary songwriter Billy Swan to singing on a Frank Black solo album with a black eye and a story she probably shouldn't tell — Sierra brings the kind of warmth, candor, and rock 'n' roll wisdom that makes her one of the most beloved recurring artists in the Joey's Song family. Sierra Swan is a Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and producer who has released multiple albums and EPs, most recently sharing exclusive new music with fans through her Substack community (Sierra Swan Music). Her collaborators read like a who's who of rock royalty: Ringo Starr, Linda Perry, Aimee Mann, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), and Frank Black of the Pixies — connections that go back to her famous father, Billy Swan, the songwriter and rockabilly artist who penned "I Can Help," rubbed elbows with Kris Kristofferson at the first-ever recording of "Me and Bobby McGee," and counted John Lennon among his superfans.

In this episode, Mike and Sierra cover: - What it was really like to tour with Ringo Starr — first class all the way, a tight-knit band van, and a love story backstage that Mike found deeply moving

- How Linda Perry pulled strings to get Sierra signed to Interscope — and why Aimee Mann ended up co-writing AND singing on one of her records - Growing up as Billy Swan's daughter — Nashville legends, a communal music scene, and why John Lennon was obsessed with her dad's music - The Frank Black story — a black eye, a wooden ladder, too many drinks, and an impromptu studio session she and her sister still can't believe actually happened - Sierra's take on what's gone wrong in the music industry: the death of the band, the streaming economy, the "grit" that disappeared with the '90s, and why she wakes up every morning tempted to pull her catalog off Spotify - Why Joey's Song feels like "summer camp" and "recess" — and what makes the Girls vs. Boys band format one of the most pure expressions of musical joy she experiences all year Plus: This or That (Beatles vs. Stones, Seinfeld vs. Friends, past vs. future), Overrated or Underrated (vintage guitars, eight hours of sleep, making your bed), and Sierra's Substack where paid subscribers get exclusive music you won't find anywhere on streaming. Joey's Song is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity with one mission: raise money so that research into treatments and cures for epilepsy gets the funding it needs. Our annual flagship benefit, Freezing Man, brings together some of the most talented independent artists in rock to perform, collaborate, and raise money for a cause that matters. Every listen, subscribe, and share helps us spread the word. #SierraSwan #JoeysSong #LINERnotesPodcast #EpilepsyAwareness #EpilepsyResearch #IndieMusicPodcast #RingoStarr #LindaPerry #AimeeMann #BillySwan #FrankBlack #Pixies #DaveStewart #MusicHistory #WomenInRock #IndependentArtist #FreezingMan #MusicPodcast #RockMusic #SongwriterPodcast

The story of how Mike cornered and badgered Chris until he agreed to join Joey's Song

Two-time Grammy nominee Tracy Bonham ("Mother Mother") joins Mike Gomoll on the Joey's Song podcast for a candid conversation about her journey from major label breakout to fully independent artist. Tracy opens up about the whiplash of early fame, getting dropped from Island Def Jam, touring with Blue Man Group, and how she rebuilt her career on her own terms — plus a first look at her plans to re-record her debut album The Burdens of Being Upright for its 30th anniversary. Tracy also talks about why she said yes to performing at Joey's Song 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin, and what the show's tight-knit artist community means to her. This interview was recorded August 30, 2025. Joey's Song is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to raising money for epilepsy research and treatment. Subscribe, leave a review, and visit joeyssong.org to learn more, buy tickets, or donate. LEARN MORE Joey's Song: https://joeyssong.org Tracy Bonham: https://tracybonham.com #TracyBonham #TheBurdensOfBeingUpright #JoeysSong #LINERnotes #MikeGomoll #IndieMusic #SingerSongwriter #GrammyNominee #MusicPodcast #EpilepsyAwareness #IslandRecords #IndependentArtist #MadisonWisconsin #90sRock #MusicIndustry #SongwriterInterview

The Know-It-All Boyfriends go into their home studios during COVID and come out with this gem !

Marissa Paternoster — guitarist, vocalist, and visual artist best known as the frontwoman of New Jersey punk institution Screaming Females — talks with Joey's Song Founder Mike Gomoll for a wide-ranging conversation about her life in music, her creative future, and what it was like to walk into the Joey's Song benefit concert with absolutely no idea what she was getting into.

Named the 77th greatest guitarist of all time by Spin and the 150th by Rolling Stone, Marissa spent 18 years fronting Screaming Females — a band that never chased the mainstream, never got radio play, and never headlined big festivals, but toured relentlessly, built a fiercely loyal following through DIY venues and house shows, and earned those rankings purely on the strength of her playing.

In this episode, Mike and Marissa talk about how Butch Vig connected them ahead of last year's Joey's Song benefit (Screaming Females once recorded a Patti Smith cover with Garbage), what it felt like to jump into the crowd during a Bikini Kill cover at the show, and the tight-knit community of artists — including Gail Greenwood, Butch Vig, and Vicki and Debbi from The Bangles — who keep coming back to Madison every January to play for a cause.

They also get into life after Screaming Females: Marissa's monthly songwriting project on Patreon (the Pattern Posture Listener Alliance), her new band Universal Girlfriend, her long-running solo project Noun, and how she balances music with freelance illustration work. Plus — the weirdest venue Screaming Females ever played (hint: it doubled as a sex party warehouse), her very strong opinions on Chicago deep dish pizza, and whether she'd rather read minds or be invisible.

🎸 About Joey's Song Joey's Song is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with one mission: raise as much money as possible to fund research into treatments and cures for epilepsy. Every year, Joey's Song brings together an extraordinary community of musicians and music lovers for a benefit concert in Madison, Wisconsin — and every dollar raised goes toward changing lives. 🌐 Learn more and donate: joeyssong.org ▶️ Subscribe to the Joey's Song YouTube channel 🎙️ Subscribe & leave a review on your favorite podcast platform — it helps more people find us!