#249: Balthazar De Ley
February 26, 2026
Balthazar De Ley, founding member of Menthol and former Hum guitarist, discusses the Champaign music scene's evolution, the band's major label struggles with Capitol Records, and his current work building and repairing guitar amplifiers after spending a decade with Smashing Pumpkins. The episode includes a "best debut records" segment where the hosts and guest debate classic first albums from Jesus and Mary Chain, Violent Femmes, Iron Maiden, and others.