Houseboy was a Chicago-based pop‑punk/emo outfit that emerged in the mid‑1990s, co-founded by Brett Friesen (drums) and Ace Cowden (vocals/guitar) along with Daniel Garcia and Thom Lemke discogs.com +7 last.fm +7 skatepunkers.fandom.com +7 . Known for their high‑energy live shows—often opening for acts like Guttermouth, Samiam, and Face to Face—the band released a handful of catchy DIY recordings including the Last Friday’s Selfless Allstars 7″ and the full‑length Ya Right! before lineup changes and personal tragedy led them to disband in 1999 discogs.com +4 skatepunkmemories.blogspot.com +4 skatepunkers.fandom.com +4 . Despite a relatively short run, Houseboy became a staple of the Chicago punk scene and left behind a legacy of spirited melodic tunes celebrated by local fans and preserved on compilations like Achtung Chicago! Drei

I got Brett and Ace on the ZOOM and this is what we chat about:

• Seeing Green Day for $5
• Brett’s friend getting caught up with the mob
• Playing with Sublime at the Fireside
• Brett meeting his wife
• Punching a Mall Cop
• Stealing beer and getting chased by the cops
• Driver Eleven
• Stiffpole records
• Brian Granik
• Recording their last album
• Local H
• The reason the last album is greyed out on Spotify
• Reuniting recently
• And a ton more

Keep an eye out for their next album when it drops. They’re still writing it so it might take some time but you can follow them on their IG @houseboyband_official

Check out Brett’s discogs

Check out Ace’s discogs

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Moving Mountains is an American indie rock band known for blending post-rock ambiance with emo and post-hardcore intensity. Emerging from New York in 2005, they gained a devoted following with emotionally driven albums like Pneuma and Waves, praised for their cinematic soundscapes and introspective lyrics. Their music captures both quiet vulnerability and explosive power, earning them a lasting place in the hearts of fans across the alternative scene.

I got Greg and Nick on the Skype and this is what we chat about

• Recording their new record
• Deep Elm
• Waves
• Why it takes so long to put out a record
• Their song Alleviate
• Triple Crown Records
• The alley money story
• Prawn
• Taking forever to release records
• And a ton more

Check out their first full-length album in 12 years—Pruning of the Lower Limbs, which is set for release on June 27 of this year—featuring ten tracks including the haunting lead single “Ghosts”.

Day at the Fair was a New Jersey-based pop punk band that gained attention in the early 2000s with their emotionally charged lyrics and catchy, melodic hooks. Best known for their 2005 album The Rocking Chair Years, the band blended heartfelt storytelling with energetic, anthemic soundscapes. Though their time was brief, they left a lasting impression on fans of the Drive-Thru Records era.

I got Rob on the Skype and this is what we chat about.

• The weird show at Mt Arlington Elks in Jersey
• Joining Lanemeyer
• Joining Scratch Kid
• Joining Humble Beginnings
• The antics of Humble Beginnings
• The Forever Endeavor
• Almost getting killed by Casey Lee Morgan
• Him being the reason Brian Fallon joined Lanemeyer
• The origins of Day at the Fair
• The Pain Game
• Signing to Drive Thru / Rushmore Records
• The Bees artwork on the LP
• The Mile After trying to out drink them
• Having weed in the Humble van while it’s getting searched
• The time he slapped me across the face
• And a ton more

Here are the links that I mention in the intro:

Check out his company www.aimplfy.com

Go see him play with Humble Beginnings

Go see him play with Day at the Fair