Power of the Dog

Referenced in 4 episodes

#61: Gwen Ihnat

April 11, 2022

Gwen Ihnat, a longtime writer for The A.V. Club and other publications, discusses her career in music and pop culture journalism. She shares anecdotes about interviewing musicians like Tom Jones and Liz Phair, accidentally misquoting Phair's lyrics in a review, and her experiences working at The Onion and A.V. Club offices in Chicago. With The A.V. Club moving to Los Angeles, Ihnat reflects on this end of an era and what the next chapter of her writing career may hold.

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#60: Joe Shanahan

April 1, 2022

Joe Shanahan, owner of the Metro and Smart Bar in Chicago, discusses the venues' 40-year history. He shares stories of booking and befriending influential artists like REM, Nirvana, New Order and Gang of Four in the 1980s and 90s. Shanahan also talks about his own battle with cancer and subsequent activism to support cancer research.

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#59: Greg Suran

March 25, 2022

Greg Suran discusses his long career as a touring and session guitarist, playing with acts like Cupcakes, Sunny Day Real Estate, the Goo Goo Dolls, Joe Walsh, the B-52's, and Lionel Richie. He shares stories of his experiences, from recording with famous producers to meeting musical legends while on the road with Joe Walsh. Suran reflects on the all-consuming dedication required of professional musicians and the disorienting impact the pandemic had on those who've built their lives and identities around performing.

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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.

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