The Trap Set with Joe Wong

Stan's Lynch's swinging, powerful groove and chiming backing vocals propelled Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ascent from bar band to one of the greatest bands in the history of rock. Stan tells Joe about growing up in Ohio and Florida; being raised by two mental health professionals; how drumming felt like a superpower; lessons learned playing in the house band at a strip club; how The Heartbreakers felt "closer than family"; and how Don Henley helped him gain a foothold in the world of production. Stan's latest band, The Speaker Wars, released an eponymous album last week.

Over the past 40 years, Lou Barlow's body of work--with bands like Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, and as a solo artist--has immensely impacted Joe's life. Lou tells Joe about growing up in the chaotic 1970s; his early love of pop radio; the enormous influence the Ramones had on his life; hearing his early songs on college radio; sleep hygiene; and his inclination towards flittering and fretting.

Dave Elitch returns for a bonus episode to discuss his new course, Staying Out of Your Own Way. At its best, learning to play an instrument can be the catalyst for self exploration. Joe and Dave share a curiosity about the nature of learning, and Dave--who has taught many of the best working drummers--talks about the impetus to create his new course.
We'll be back with full-length episodes next week.

Steve Albini died yesterday, May 7, at the age of 61. Here's Joe's conversation with Steve from 2017. Originally intended to be a gag episode featuring Roland (the drum machine used in Steve's band, Big Black), this turned into an earnest conversation documenting Steve's evolution from sharp-witted provocateur to sharp-witted empath. With thousands of recordings to his name, Steve has left a brilliant legacy of massive influence. Requiescat.

King Coffey tells Joe about: growing up in a single-parent, Christian household; his 40+ year tenure with Butthole Surfers; his interest in Buddhism; and caring for his husband, who suffered from dementia.