The (unofficial) Lifers Database

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Rick Ness

Referenced in 25 episodes

Episode 239 cover

#239: Road Report #27: So Much for the Afterglow

November 14, 2025

The band Local H discusses the highlights and lowlights of their recently completed 43-show tour opening for bands like Everclear and Sponge. They reminisce about their favorite pizza places on the road, standout shows in places like Minneapolis, Boston and Cincinnati, and the grueling final days of the tour. The band also previews some of their upcoming solo acoustic shows and New Year's Eve gigs to close out the year.

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#225: Fig Dish Promotional Obligation Part 2: The Revenge

July 11, 2025

Blake Smith, Rick Ness and Mike Willison of the band Fig Dish discuss the inspiration, recording process and marketing of their 1995 debut album "That's What Love Songs Often Do" with Scott Lucas and Gabe Rodriguez. The band shares anecdotes about working with producer Lou Giordano, their expectations for the album's success, and the record label's reaction upon delivering the finished album. Thirty years later, the band reflects on their mixed feelings about the album as they prepare to re-release it on vinyl and play anniversary shows.

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#224: Hotdogs, Fireworks, and Fig Dish!

July 4, 2025

In this podcast episode, the members of the 1990s Chicago rock band Fig Dish (Blake Smith, Rick Ness, and Mike Willison) discuss the 30th anniversary reissue of their debut album "That's What Love Songs Often Do" and reflect on the writing, recording, and promotion of the album. The band also discusses their upcoming shows and the challenges of rehearsing after many years.

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#211: Road Report #23: The LIFERS movie tour edition #1

March 14, 2025

Scott Lucas is on a movie tour screening the Local H documentary "Lifers" in theaters across the country. He shares stories from the road, including screenings in St. Louis, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Portland. Lucas and his co-hosts also discuss his upcoming fall tour with Everclear and Sponge.

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#209: Hello, Larry Damore and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

February 21, 2025

Scott Lucas and his co-hosts Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser discuss this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees, doing a draft to pick their top choices from the list. They also briefly mention an earlier podcast episode featuring an interview with Larry Damore from the band Pegboy, which they decide not to replay due to being an off episode.

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#202: Christmas with The Effigies

December 20, 2024

Steve Economou and Paul Zamost, the bass player and drummer from the Chicago punk band The Effigies, discuss the early Chicago punk scene in the 1980s and playing shows at the Metro. They also talk about carrying on as a band after the tragic death of their guitarist John Kezdy in a biking accident last year. The Effigies are playing a show at the Metro in Chicago with the Bollweevils.

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#201: Hey, everybody! It’s STILL our 200th episode!!!

December 12, 2024

In this 200th episode of the Lifers podcast, hosts Scott and Gabe discuss their favorite episodes and guests over the show's history, as voted on by listeners. Top episodes feature guests like Jeanine Andersson, Jeff Murphy, and Andy Gerber, with Scott's dad taking the top spot. The hosts also reflect on the show's evolution and recurring segments like "road reports".

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#189: Road Report #19 or: How To Stop Worrying and Learn To Pronounce Lititz, PA.

September 18, 2024

In this episode of the LIFERS podcast, Scott, Ben, Ryan and Gabe catch up while on tour in Pennsylvania. They discuss the shows so far, issues with rowdy audience members, and ongoing tour logistics. The conversation meanders through various topics including 80s novelty songs, recent movie remakes, and Gabe's struggles shipping merchandise. Overall, it's a casual, humorous chat between friends sharing the trials and tribulations of life on the road.

Episode 183 cover
🎸 Replacements

#183: Dave Rockland

August 9, 2024

Dave Rockland, who has worked at Jam Productions in Chicago since 1994, joins the hosts to discuss his experiences in the Chicago music scene over the past few decades. They reminisce about memorable shows and albums from 1993, the year Dave moved to Chicago, including Nirvana's final Chicago shows, Liz Phair, The Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream, and Quicksand opening for Rage Against the Machine at Metro.

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🤘 Iron Maiden

#164: Doni Blair

March 29, 2024

Donnie Blair, bassist of the Toadies, discusses his musical journey, from discovering punk and metal with his brother Zack, to playing in bands like Hagfish and Only Crime. He shares stories of touring with Bad Brains in the '90s, the ups and downs of major label deals, and how practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has impacted his life. The hosts also engage Blair in a game of "What's the Best" focused on Iron Maiden songs.

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#153: 153. LIFERS Live!!! - At Gman Tavern with Fig Dish (01/02/24)

January 12, 2024

Scott Lucas of Local H hosted the Lifers podcast live at the Gman Tavern in Chicago. The show featured Scott playing some acoustic songs and discussing topics like working remotely during the pandemic with co-hosts Gabe and Ben. Special guest Rick Ness from the band Fig Dish also appeared to discuss an upcoming album of previously unreleased recordings from the 1990s.

Episode 148 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#148: Joel Spencer

December 8, 2023

Joel Spencer, formerly of the band Menthol from Champaign, Illinois, discusses his music career and current work as a librarian. Menthol recently reunited to play shows after disbanding in the late 1990s when they were dropped from Capitol Records.

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#132: Sleepaway Glamp

August 25, 2023

Scott, Gabe, Ben and their significant others are on a "glamping" retreat at Camp Wandawega in Wisconsin. Scott and Gabe performed at a campfire the previous night, with mixed results. The group shares stories and jokes about their experiences at the camp so far, and discuss movies, music and pop culture tangents throughout the conversation.

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#131: Rick Ness 2: The Krakening!

August 18, 2023

In this lighthearted conversation, Rick Ness of the band Fig Dish shares humorous stories and insider details about recording the band's songs and music videos. The hosts and Rick also engage in playful banter about their differing opinions on Billy Joel's music and personal life.

Episode 130 cover
🎸 Replacements

#130: Rick Ness

August 11, 2023

Rick Ness, member of the band Fig Dish, discusses the band's history, from their early days playing Neil Diamond and REM cover songs to getting signed by a record label using creative tactics. The band recently released a collection of unreleased tracks recorded with producer Andy Gerber during sessions for what would have been their third album. Ness also shares humorous tour stories and anecdotes about the 1990s Chicago music scene.

Episode 122 cover
🎸 Replacements

#122: Post-tour Reflections, Dolly Parton’s Coleslaw & How To DJ A Prom (w/Steve Reidell)

June 16, 2023

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser reflect on their recent live podcast shows in Chicago and Madison. They are joined by guest Steve Reidell, who DJed the shows under his former stage name Steve Sleeve. The hosts discuss 1982 prom songs they would hypothetically DJ, including hits by Adam Ant, The Dazz Band, Duran Duran, Prince, and Billy Idol.

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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.

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#81: Paul Massaro

September 2, 2022

Paul Massaro discusses his experiences working as a live sound engineer and tour manager for bands like Local H, Cheap Trick, Mastodon, and Andrew WK. He shares wild stories from the road, including getting kicked off the Ozzfest tour after Brent from Mastodon insulted another band and trashed a bathroom, and an infamous incident where Paul destroyed a hotel room after partying too hard. Paul explains how the grind of constant touring and partying eventually led him to stop working on the road so he could focus on his family.

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#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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#58: Blake Smith

March 18, 2022

Blake Smith, formerly of the bands Fig Dish and Caviar, joins the podcast. They discuss the Chicago music scene in the 90s, touring mishaps and pranks, and the ups and downs of being in major label bands during that era.

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#1: Ben's Bits #1 - Waiting for Steve Tulipana

December 7, 2021

Scott, Gabe and Ben engage in a wide-ranging conversation while waiting for guest Steve Tulipana to arrive. They discuss topics including the new Beatles documentary Get Back, albums by the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen, and various movies and TV shows. The conversation is filled with tangents, inside jokes and playful arguments between the hosts.

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#33: Wes Kidd

September 24, 2021

Scott Lucas interviews his old friend and bandmate Wes Kidd about their wild times touring together in the 90s in the bands Rights of the Accused and Triple Fast Action. They reminisce about crazy pranks, trashed hotel rooms, getting beat up by gangs of kids, and disastrous major label debuts before Wes reveals what he's up to these days managing bands like Old 97's. Despite the painful memories, Scott and Wes share laughs over their unhinged youthful hijinks.

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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.

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#11: Rachel Lichtman

April 23, 2021

In the podcast, Scott Lucas interviews Rachel Lichtman, the creator of Network 77. They discuss Rachel's creative process, her influences like SCTV and Fernwood Tonight, and her latest project Easy 66, a scripted comedy radio station that blurs the lines between reality and fiction.