The (unofficial) Lifers Database

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Band

Rush

Referenced in 36 episodes

Episode 252 cover

#252: Boorman and The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Pt. 2 (unfiltered)

April 10, 2026

Scott Lucas, Ben Reiser, and Gabe Rodriguez draft their picks for potential 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees from the 17 nominees, with Lucas selecting Iron Maiden, Wu-Tang Clan, Luther Vandross, INXS, and Lauryn Hill; Reiser picking Joy Division/New Order, Sade, Oasis, Jeff Buckley, and Pink; and Rodriguez choosing Billy Idol, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, New Edition, and Shakira. The hosts also discuss Lucas's recent tour with Filter and Finger Eleven, which experienced van troubles in Nashville, and briefly touch on Rush's performance at the Juno Awards and the documentary "Boorman and the Devil" about "Exorcist II: The Heretic.\

Episode 242 cover
🎸 Replacements

#242: Stacy Jones

December 4, 2025

Stacy Jones, musical director for artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Miley Cyrus, discusses his career drumming for bands like Letters to Cleo, Veruca Salt, and American Hi-Fi. He also shares a new American Hi-Fi song called "Mixtapes and Polaroids".

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#238: Road Report #26: One Battle After Another

October 31, 2025

Scott discusses the ups and downs of the current Local H tour, including a confrontation with an unruly fan at the merch booth in Cleveland. The band also reminisces about their recent shows and experiences on the East Coast leg of the tour.

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#236: Road Report #24: Backstage in Orlando

October 10, 2025

Scott Lucas and his band Local H are backstage in Orlando while on tour with Everclear and Sponge. Gabe Rodriguez joins them for a few shows in Florida and tries a non-alcoholic beer that he finds terrible. They discuss the tour so far, including playing in an underground cave venue in Tennessee, upcoming shows, and some confusion around their touring schedule.

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#234: Road Report #22: Eastbound and Dog

September 18, 2025

Scott, Gabe and Ben discuss tour life as they drive through Baker City, Oregon after playing shows on the west coast. They answer listener questions about set lists, releasing old music on vinyl, and collaborating with other artists. The conversation veers into humorous tangents about Mexican restaurants, attending 90s hip hop concerts, and debating the best Steely Dan songs.

Episode 231 cover
🎸 Replacements

#231: Art Alexakis

August 20, 2025

Art Alexakis, frontman of the band Everclear, joins the Lifers podcast to discuss his life and career in music. Alexakis talks about growing up in Los Angeles housing projects, discovering rock and roll at a young age after family tragedy, and his path to getting sober and starting Everclear in Portland in the early 1990s. He shares stories behind the making of Everclear's breakout album Sparkle and Fade as the band rose to fame.

Episode 230 cover
🎸 Replacements

#230: Randy Jackson

August 14, 2025

Randy Jackson, guitarist and vocalist of the rock band Zebra, discusses the band's origins in New Orleans in the 1970s, their move to New York and rise to success in the early 1980s with their self-titled debut album produced by Jack Douglas, and the ups and downs of their career on the Atlantic Records label. Jackson reflects on Zebra's musical influences, touring with bands like Cheap Trick, and the loyalty of their fanbase as they celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2023.

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#215: Cars: Ten and Two

April 18, 2025

In this episode, Scott, Gabe and Ben discuss songs about cars after Gabe's car was recently totaled in a roundabout accident. They debate songs like Panama by Van Halen, I Can't Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar, Drive My Car by the Beatles, and others.

Episode 205 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#205: William Goldsmith

January 22, 2025

In this episode of the Lifers podcast, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser interview Will Goldsmith, drummer of the influential band Sunny Day Real Estate. Goldsmith discusses the band's early days, getting signed to Sub Pop, their breakup and recent reunion, his drumming influences, and working with bassist Greg Saran. The hosts also discuss the recent passing of filmmaker David Lynch and share their favorite music moments from Lynch's films.

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#188: Album Imploder: Whatever Happened to PJ Soles? (Side 2)

September 13, 2024

The second half of a deep dive into the album Whatever Happened to PJ Soles? by the band Local H. The two band members discuss the writing and recording process behind each song on the album's second side. They reflect on the album's varied musical styles, lyrical themes of midlife crisis and self-reflection, and how they pushed themselves creatively on an ambitious record that didn't always meet external expectations upon release.

Episode 173 cover
🎸 Replacements

#173: Jonny Polonsky

May 31, 2024

Jonny Polonsky discusses his musical journey from growing up in Chicago to becoming a professional musician in LA. As a teenager, he made home recordings that he sent to Frank Black of the Pixies, which led to getting signed to Rick Rubin's American Recordings label. Polonsky has since worked as a solo artist and played with bands like Puscifer. His new album Supernatural Radio is coming out on Loose Groove Records.

Episode 169 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#169: Scott Quist and Real Rock’n’Roll Movers

May 3, 2024

Scott Quist, founder of Real Rock'n'Roll Movers in LA, discusses his experiences as a drummer in various rock bands and how he started his moving company staffed by musicians. Quist and the hosts reminisce about their time touring together when Quist was a drum tech, including pranks they pulled on each other. They also play a game picking the best songs about working for a living.

Episode 160 cover
🎸 Replacements

#160: Bobby Talamine

March 1, 2024

In this episode, photographer Bobby Talamine discusses his long career photographing rock bands. He talks about starting out shooting industrial bands in Chicago in the 1980s, and his approach of capturing moody, high-contrast black and white photos. Talamine also shares anecdotes about photographing bands like Depeche Mode, New Order, and The Replacements over the years.

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#157: “Gabe! Who do we have on the show today?”

February 9, 2024

Gabe, Scott and Ben discuss nostalgic teen movies like Zapped and The Stoned Age, with Scott reading excerpts from a book called "Teen Movie Hell". They also talk about the duet performance of "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs at the recent Grammy Awards, which they found very meaningful and moving. The hosts go on several tangents, including about Gabe organizing a Super Bowl squares betting pool.

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#155: Jack Douglas

January 26, 2024

Record producer Jack Douglas recounts working with John Lennon on the Imagine album after a fateful meeting years earlier when Douglas, as a young musician, had traveled to Liverpool and made headlines for getting deported. Douglas shares anecdotes about his relationships and experiences working with Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Aerosmith, and Cheap Trick throughout his producing career.

Episode 146 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#146: Jess Margera

November 24, 2023

Jess Margera, drummer of the band CKY, discusses the early days of the band and how their unique mix of music and skate videos helped them gain a following. He shares stories of touring with Guns N' Roses in their "weirdest period" and reflects on the challenges of the music industry and staying creative during the pandemic. The hosts and guest also banter about their favorite songs with "black" in the title to tie into the Black Friday theme.

Episode 143 cover
🎸 Replacements

#143: Freddy Herrera

November 10, 2023

In this episode of the Lifers podcast, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez, and Ben Reiser interview guest Freddy Herrera, the bass player from the band Everclear. Freddy discusses his musical journey, from starting out playing punk rock in California to eventually joining Everclear in the 2000s. The group also plays a game where they each name their picks for the best bass performances and bass lines in songs, with selections ranging from the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" to Iron Maiden's "Killers".

Episode 115 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#115: Eric Oblander

April 28, 2023

Scott Lucas and co-hosts Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser interview guest Eric Oblander, harmonica player from the blues rock band Five Horse Johnson. Oblander discusses his musical journey, touring extensively in Europe with Five Horse Johnson in the early 2000s, and recording with the band Clutch. The conversation touches on various topics including favorite cover songs, the preparations involved with getting a colonoscopy, and announcing upcoming live Lifers podcast shows in Chicago and Madison.

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#114: Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter

April 21, 2023

Scott Lucas and Gabe Rodriguez are joined by Scott's daughter Lily Reiser to discuss various topics including bootleg band merchandise, the upcoming "Festival of 1982" cover band show featuring Scott, and trying to guess which Canadian bands from 1982 might be covered. The episode ends with a young fan named Helena interviewing Scott about his favorite Local H songs, candies, albums to record, and Christmas stories.

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#100: 100th Episode!!!

January 13, 2023

In this special 100th episode of the Lifers podcast, hosts Scott Lucas, Ben Reiser, and Gabe Rodriguez reminisce about their favorite moments and guests from the show's history. The conversation covers many of the most memorable episodes, interviews and stories that have made the podcast entertaining over the past 100 weeks.

Episode 96 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#96: Katie Augustyn + Here Comes The Zoom

December 16, 2022

Scott Lucas recently completed the Here Comes the Zoo 20th anniversary tour with Local H, which ended in Canada. The episode features calls from fans who attended shows on the tour, sharing their experiences and favorite moments. Katie Augustyn, the organizer of the annual Katie's Kids benefit concert at Liars Club in Chicago which Lucas performs at each year, also joins the podcast to discuss this year's upcoming event.

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#89: Road Report #14 : Slurry Road

October 28, 2022

In this episode of the Lifers podcast, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser discuss Rod Stewart's disappointing concert performance, share stories from their recent show at The Metro in Chicago, and debate the best rock and roll voices of all time. They also talk about the new Halloween movie, reminisce about seeing actor Udo Kier at a film screening, and answer listener questions about their favorite venues, songs, and black and white movies.

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#84: Road Report #11 with Dave Lugo

September 24, 2022

Scott Lucas and his band Local H had to cancel their Seattle show due to Scott losing his voice from a combination of allergies, dry air, and illness spreading in the van. They discuss the vocal issues, the shows they have played so far on the tour, and are joined by their touring member Dave Lugo. The group also chats about various other topics like recent movies, the challenges of touring, and humorous anecdotes from the road.

Episode 75 cover
🎸 Replacements

#75: Louise Post

July 22, 2022

Louise Post, lead singer of the band Veruca Salt, discusses her early music influences, the formation of Veruca Salt, their rapid rise to fame, challenges the band faced, and her current solo project. She reflects on the ups and downs of her musical career and feeling creatively liberated working on her upcoming solo album.

Episode 71 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#71: Ed Valauskas

June 24, 2022

Ed Valauskas, a producer and bassist who works at Q Division Studios in Boston, discusses his music career and involvement with the annual Hot Stove Cool Music charity event. Ed shares stories about playing with various artists like Graham Parker, making records with Juliana Hatfield, and the untimely passing of his friend and Fountains of Wayne member Adam Schlesinger.

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#64: Tamar Berk

May 6, 2022

Tamar Berk discusses her long music career, from early bands like Starball in Chicago to her recent acclaimed solo albums. She opens up about the challenges of being a woman in rock, her musical family, and continuing to make music after losing her father. Berk also expresses admiration for artists like Fiona Apple and Lana Del Rey who have stayed true to their artistic visions over many years.

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#57: Keith Smith

March 11, 2022

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser interview their high school friend Keith Smith, who is in the Christian metal band Oblivion Myth. They discuss Keith's musical journey, his faith, and reminisce about the metal and hard rock scene they grew up with in Zion, Illinois in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Episode 56 cover

#56: Happy Anniversary!

March 4, 2022

Scott, Gabe and Ben celebrate the one year anniversary of their Lifers podcast by discussing listener feedback on favorite moments and guests from the past year. They reflect on how the podcast has evolved, their own rapport and dynamic, and memorable interviews with musicians like Justine Frischmann, John McCauley, and Scott's dad. Despite not having a clear mission, the hosts agree the podcast works as an entertaining hangout capturing the experience of friends casually discussing music and life.

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#52: Dave Brooks

February 4, 2022

In this episode, guest Dave Brooks discusses his experiences growing up immersed in the New York City music scene, from hanging out at his father's Harlem jazz club as a kid to later playing in bands and working as a sound engineer. Brooks shares stories of crossing paths with famous musicians over the decades and reflects on how the NYC venue landscape has evolved, expressing concern about rising rents forcing out iconic clubs.

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#42: A LIFERS Thanksgiving

November 26, 2021

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser host a special live Thanksgiving episode of the Lifers podcast. They discuss their Thanksgiving plans, answer listener questions, and bring on several fans as guests to chat about topics like the upcoming Lifers movie, Scott's gorilla suit, and everyone's favorite bands.

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#36: Brian Blockinger

October 15, 2021

Scott Lucas and his bandmate Ryan both tested positive for Covid in the middle of their tour, forcing them to cancel several sold-out shows and quarantine at home. Despite feeling relatively okay, Scott is bummed about having to miss shows right as the tour was hitting its stride. However, the band plans to resume the tour at the Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta which will take place outdoors.

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#35: Matt Garcia

October 8, 2021

Scott Lucas and Matt Garcia discuss the early days of their band Local H, including their influences from metal and punk music that shaped the band's heavy sound. Garcia, who was Local H's original bass player, left the band in the early 1990s due to personal struggles and the challenges of the rock and roll lifestyle. Though Garcia has some regrets, he is ultimately happy with his decision to leave and has gone on to have a fulfilling career as an artist in Portland.

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#31: Road Report #4: Detroit Rock Hotel (Waiting For Jeremy And Ryan)

September 10, 2021

Scott Lucas is in Detroit on tour with his band Local H, waiting for his bandmate Ryan and their friend Jeremy who plays bass in Soul Asylum, to return from a dispensary run. Lucas discusses the tour, playing pranks on other bands, and his plans to make a "slacker"-style concert film shot in real-time at a Local H show. The hosts also discuss music from Iron Maiden, Kanye West, the Replacements, Insane Clown Posse and ABBA.

Episode 25 cover

#25: Dave Pirner

July 31, 2021

In the podcast, Scott Lucas from the band Local H interviews Dave Pirner from Soul Asylum. They discuss the 1980s Minneapolis music scene that Soul Asylum emerged from, Pirner's creative influences and approach to songwriting, the challenges of sudden fame in the 1990s, and Pirner's move to New Orleans to recenter himself. Lucas and Pirner also share their frustrations with people refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19, forcing them to postpone touring plans.

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#17: Scott's Dad

June 4, 2021

Scott Lucas interviews his 82-year-old father Dave, an artist and outdoorsman who shares stories from his life growing up in northern Wisconsin, getting drafted into the Vietnam War, and working various jobs while continuing to paint. Dave discusses his artistic philosophy and influences, his love of fishing and hunting, and how he has been able to make a living selling his nature-themed paintings to locals and tourists in the Northwoods area.

Episode 14 cover

#14: How To Fuck Up An Interview With Rick Froberg

May 15, 2021

In this episode, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser interview Rick Froberg from the bands Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt, and Hot Snakes. They discuss the two Drive Like Jehu albums and debate which one is better, with Rick preferring the second album Yank Crime over the self-titled debut. Rick also shares stories about the early San Diego music scene, getting signed to Interscope Records, and the differences between his various bands.