BV Interviews: A Podcast About Music

Mile End Kicks director Chandler Levack

This week, we've got filmmaker Chandler Levack who actually has two new films out. The first is Mile End Kicks which is based on her own life as a music journalist and is set against the backdrop of the Montreal music scene of the late '00s and early '10s. The other film is comedy Roommates which was made for Netflix under Adam Sandler's Happy Madison production company.
We talked to Chandler about recreating the Montreal of her 20s for Mile End Kicks, getting the music and other details right, getting indie musicians to score her movies, how she got hooked up with Adam Sandler's company just after releasing her terrific, feature film debut, I Like Movies, Montreal bands she thinks deserve more attention, and more.
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Credits:
Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis
Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray
Theme music by Michael Silverstein
Photo: Greg Gorman

John Waters talks 80th Birthday Tour, punk, Mosswood Meltdown, more

This week we've got a true iconoclast: filmmaker, provocateur, author, hitchhiker, tastemaker, Sub Pop and Third Man Recording Artist, festival MC and all around legend John Waters. He's currently on tour with Going to Extremes: A John Waters 80th Birthday Celebration.
John and I talk about what he's doing on his birthday tour, and on his actual birthday which is April 22. We also talk about how Donald Trump has ruined bad taste for everyone, how John Waters has influenced punk and vice versa, his first punk show, casting The Dead Boys' Stiv Bators in Polyester, getting L7 to be in Serial Mom, his long-running job as host of Oakland's Mosswood Meltdown, rules of etiquette, and lots more.
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Credits:
Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis
Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray
Theme music by Michael Silverstein
Photo: Greg Gorman

Bob Mould Talks Sugar Reunion, Hüsker Dü, Hedwig, more

We've got a great episode for you today as punk and alt-rock icon Bob Mould is here to talk all things Sugar. The trio, who originally existed from 1992 through early 1995, will play their first show in 31 years on May 2 in NYC which kick-starts reunion tour that runs through the fall.
Bob tells us how the Sugar reunion came to be, their very loud shows, the pros and cons of earplugs, being a Williamsburg, Brooklyn pioneer in the early '90s, being signed to Creation Records in the UK, the prospect of more music from Sugar, and more.
We also discuss music documentaries, that time Bob joined Militarie Gun on stage to play a Hüsker Dü song, the possibility of Hüsker Dü studio album reissues, his solo band's rhythm section's growing side hustle as an REM tribute act, his involvement with the Hedwig & The Angry Inch movie and more.
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Credits:
Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis
Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray
Theme music by Michael Silverstein
Photo: Beau Sorensen

Carl Newman of The New Pornographers talks new LP, indie sleaze, mandolins, mai tais, more

This week we're talking to Carl Newman of Canadian indie rock institution The New Pornographers. The band's 10th album is titled The Former Site Of and it might be their most synth-forward record to date. Carl and I discuss that topic, among many others including how lyrically this album is different from their previous nine. We also talk mandolins, tiki bars, and payphones, plus memorable New York City shows, and we finally get to the bottom of whether The New Pornographers are indie sleaze or not. The answer may surprise you!
 
This is a fun one and keep an ear out for Carl's dog Banjo making an appearance in the background of this one.
 
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Credits:
Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis
Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray
Theme music by Michael Silverstein

Adrian Sherwood talks dub, Lee Scratch Perry, Mark E Smith, Tackhead, NIN, On-U Sound, Spoon, Panda Bear & Sonic Boom, Primal Scream, more

This week we've got a living legend with us -- producer, dub stylist, remixer and On-U Sound label founder and all-around cool cat Adrian Sherwood. He's worked with just about everyone which if you didn't already know, you'll learn on this episode. 
Our wide-ranging conversation includes how he stumbled into record production, working with Lee Scratch Perry, The Fall, Nine Inch Nails, and more, forming influential group Tackhead in the '80s, remixing recent albums from Spoon and Sonic Boom & Panda Bear, his 2025 solo album The Collapse of Everything, the disappointment of having to postpone his 2026 North American tour, five records he thinks everyone should own, and more.
 
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Credits:
Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis
Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray
Theme music by Michael Silverstein

MEMORIALS talk new album, vintage gear, touring with Stereolab, more

This week we're talking MEMORIALS, the duo of Verity Susman from Electrelane and Matthew Simms of It Hugs Back and Wire. Their excellent second album is titled All Clouds Bring Not Rain and is a technicolor psychedelic pop extravaganza that ranges from baroque folk to krautrock to Doors and Pink Floyd-style wig-outs and many points in between. 
 
Verity and Matthew discuss how this album differs from their debut, Memorial Waterslides, and why they went to remote Southwestern France to make part of it. We also talk about the duo's origins, the wide array of unusual instruments used on the album, translating their often complex studio arrangements to their duo live setup, touring with Stereolab, their upcoming spring tour, the value of playing loud, Simms' production work, what came of pandemic Electrelane "reunion," five records they think everyone should own and more.
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Credits:
Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis
Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray
Theme music by Michael Silverstein
 

M For Montreal's Mikey B Rishwain on French-Canadian Polka-Dot Mathrock duo Angine de Poitrine, 'Heated Rivalry,' more

This week we're doing something a little different. Dave and Bill talked to Mikey B Rishwain, who has been programming the M for Montreal Festival and industry conference for nearly two decades. BrooklynVegan first went to M in 2008 and we've been collaborating ever since, co-presenting showcases and day parties at SXSW, CMJ, M for Montreal and more.
M for Montreal celebrated its 20th anniversary last November and BrooklynVegan had a showcase to kick off the festival. It was at another M showcase that caused the most buzz, however, and that's one of the reasons we wanted to talk to Mikey on the show. We're talking about a certain French-Canadian polka-dotted math-rock duo, Angine de Poitrine, who may have flooded your Instagram and other social feeds. We get into that, and also talk about Montreal bands who should've been bigger, Canadian hockey, Heated Rivalry and Wolf Parade, and more.
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Credits:
Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis
Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray
Theme music by Michael Silverstein

Big Thief's Buck Meek on embracing joy in dark times on new solo album 'The Mirror'

This week we're talking to Big Thief guitarist Buck Meek who's fourth solo album, The Mirror, is out this week via 4AD. It was made with Big Thief drummer James Krivchenia in the producer's chair and together they envisioned a joyous rock record with an ambient sound design that really gives the album a unique sound. 
 
Our discussion gets into the production of the album and how guitarist Adam Brisbin played a major role in the way it sounds, embracing hope in dark times, plus the many guests on The Mirror including Adrianne Lenker, Jolie Holland and more. We also talk about Buck's new band Kisser which is led by his partner, Germaine Dunes, his upcoming tour plans, five records he thinks everyone should own, a little food talk, and more.
 
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Credits:
Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis
Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray
Theme music by Michael Silverstein

Cardinals: Ireland's Best New Band?

This week we're talking to Euan Manning of Irish band Cardinals who just released their terrific debut album Masquerade. We talk about the band's unique sound, which hinges on his brother Finn's accordion playing, and making their album at London's RAK Studios with producer Shrink.
 
Other topics of conversation include: getting to open for The Pogues in Boston and being part of Fontaines DC's massive show at London's Finsbury Park in 2025, the current music scene in Cork, their first trip to New York, five albums he thinks everyone should own, and more.
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Credits:
Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis
Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray
Theme music by Michael Silverstein

Heavenly's Amelia Fletcher & Rob Pursey

This week we're talking to indiepop legends Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey whose bands include Talulah Gosh, Marine Research and Heavenly who this month will release their first album in over 30 years. It's titled Highway to Heavenly and is out via the Skep Wax, the label they run together. 
 
Our hourlong conversation covers a lot of ground, including the new album, how TikTok turned their '90s song "P.U.N.K. Girl" into a 2020s viral hit, being part of the International Pop Underground, how Amelia's career as an economist came in handy for indie bands on streaming services, Heavenly's upcoming North American tour, their label Skep Wax, the dreaded "T" Word, and more. Lots more.
 
Pick up the all-Heavenly issue of Jane Duffus' Zine Things Happen we mention near the end of the episode here.
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Credits:
Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis
Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray
Theme music by Michael Silverstein