This month we had a chat with Matt Westfall, owner of Counter Weight Brewing Co. We’ve known Matt for years through music (going to punk shows in our youth) and Counter Weight has been a venue for music here and there since it opened (originally in Hamden and now in Cheshire). It’s also where we hold an annual record fair (coming up in October again). We talk about how Counter Weight is ramping up their events schedule with music and comedy and various other events. We also do talk about beer. It’s true. We talk about the Counter Weight accolades and how they like to take input from anyone under their roof and getting involved is highly encouraged – generally trying to teach from within and grow.
We don’t talk about sprint car racing or animating Bob’s Burgers (things done by other people with the name Matt Westfall). We do talk about the role bocce has played in his life and the art and naming of beers. Conversation stretches out from there.
There is a show we’ll be selling records at coming up on July 6th, 2023:
Doors at 7:30PM / Music at 8:00PM
$10 (Shaki Presents) Ratas En Zelo Fafa Spit-Take
This month on the podcast we’re joined by Senti & Vaughn of Ephyra – a collective of 7 folks releasing metalcore that sounds 20 years displaced! Really wild to take a listen for the first time and think this is not from that original era this takes heavy influence from. We talk about all the bands currently on the label and all the members of the bands and who plays what in which. Tight group playing in quite a few formations. We talk about everything we’re listening to as usual and conversation ensues as usual!
We talk about label demands and how Ephyra caught on much more than they ever expected faster than could be. CD and tape production specifics are talked about; nice little tips and tricks if you’re starting anything up (one of which being – have someone who’s good at accounting). Prayer for Cleansing, Undying, Incubus, Limp Bizkit, a laundry list of bands mentioned… Love Lost But Not Forgotten, deadeyesunder, A Thousand Falling Skies… Jay from Papercut may have been in the room too.
Ross Wightman performs and teaches and builds and makes/creates/composes. A classical double bassist who came to Connecticut through a program at Yale, Ross now finds himself traveling in the tri-state area weekly for work between NY, NJ and CT and seems to enjoy it! The Water Feature and Fiddle Henge are two instruments Ross has put together from scratch! We talk about all that and what led to it and we talk about what we’re listening to as well!
Ross Wightman
From New Brunswick basement shows to playing in a tuxedo, Ross has had an academic and DIY varied background in music and life in general (skateboarding/punk intro etc.). Good talk here! Check it out!
We talked with Matty, Nicholas & George of Shirese this month! Lots of real CT insider talk in this one. I tried to insert context when needed. The New Hawaii, Popeye’s Garage, the Osbourne House and more DIY spots of yore! Rock and Roll gets heralded as well as some jazz fusion. Good times.
Shirese has a new record and played a great show at Cafe 9 in celebration of its release so we talk about that at length. And we just jaw on about any given subject – like music for instance.
Lumpy (Andrew Wojcik) from the Daze label, King Nine, Sanction, Out for Justice and a bunch of bands joins us this month. We talk about the bands briefly. We talk about starting and running a label since 2019. And we talk about coffee and pizza. If you had ever wondered what it would be like if we hosted a food podcast this is as close as we get!
We talk about how great CDs actually are and what makes a great CD package. We talk about merch that references specific CT institutions and how they are sold almost exclusively at fests out of state! We talk about the music we’re listening to as well of course and veer off (in mostly food directions).
