Bandsplain - 24 Question Party People: Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem

Episode Date: October 24, 2023

The Gaslight Anthem are dadded and in their mild era. Brian Fallon comes by the show to discuss this stage of life, describe what pork roll is to an increasingly worried Yasi, and explain why he doesn’t get jumpy around Bruce Springsteen. Join The Ringer’s Rob Harvilla (‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’), Yasi Salek (‘Bandsplain’), and Chris Ryan (‘The Rewatchables’/‘The Watch’) at the Teragram Ballroom in L.A. on 11/16/23 to celebrate the release of Rob’s new book based on his hit Spotify podcast. Click here for details! Host: Yasi SalekGuest: Brian FallonProducer: Jesse Miller-GordonAssociate Producer: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Hether Fortune Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What would you do if you got scammed? Would you suffer in silence, or would you do something about it? Well, I got scammed once, and this is the story of what I did. I'm Justin Sales, the host of the Wedding Scammer, a true crime podcast from The Ringer. And for seven episodes, we're hunting a comment. A guy with a lot of aliases, a guy who's ruined a lot of weddings. And with the help of some friends, I just might be able to catch him. Listen to The Wedding Scammer on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

24 question party people. Hello and welcome to 24 question party people. I am your host, Yossi Salak. This is a show where I invite an interesting person on for a little talk. I ask the same 23 questions every time, more or less, plus one wild card. The guess is allowed to skip one question. Sometimes the questions change a little. You guys, I tried to sit down and do this a few times this morning, and I like kept

stopping and starting and not quite getting anywhere. Normally I don't have any trouble talking, I'm sure. That's not a surprise to you guys. I was absolutely the child in all of school that every report card was like a citizenship score unsatisfactory talks too much. but I'm not like unsatisfactory citizenship talks too much girly right now. Not to be all Miss Cleo, but earlier this morning, happy Scorpio season to all who celebrate, I pulled my tarot for the first time in a long time, and many of you have checked the fuck out here. But yeah, I pulled my tariff for the first time a long time, and the cards, they were really on some shit, bit like some shit that I'm definitely currently on, which is really how it always works.

Whenever people are like judgmental about taro and like think it's like whatever, I don't know what they would think. Like it's a spectrum of either thinking it's stupid or nonsensical or creepy or whatever. I'm like, that's cool, bro. It's actually just another tool for self-reflection. but if you hate looking at yourself, I get it, babe, I would too. If I was a cynical and judgmental monster anyways, be easy, babe. That's me and sorry, that's some Scorpioces and energy right there.

I've digressed. Anyways, the cards or the high priestess, the moon and the devil. Three major arcana, babe, three. Even without knowing anything or a lot about Tara, I imagine those archetypes evoke some ideas in you, The TLDR is high priestess in the moon. That points to turning inward, a period of retreat to deepen your understanding of self. And the moon and the devil also both have indications of shadow, right?

And I'm not talking about like the shadow work journal that TikTok keeps fucking trying to sell me with those ads. Leave me the fuck alone, bitch. But like real ass shadow work, you know, like where you like really get into it and it can be. ugly and uncomfortable and fucking hard. We don't like to look at our shadow. It's where we stick all the parts of ourselves that maybe we decided weren't good enough or we're bad or talks too much, for example, might live there in my shadow. We're working on it.

But looking at it, like dead on and facing that fear of being not good enough or being you know what you think other people might judge and then accepting and assimilating it is so freeing and so fucking transformative because like and what are you going to do you know be fragmented I remember a long time ago in therapy I was talking about this like past version of myself in a time that I like just was fucked up you know and I was doing shit I wasn't proud of and all this stuff and I was really judging that past Yossi. And I remember my therapist telling me to envision her and me putting my arm around her and like bringing her in close to me. And I just started fucking sobbing. But like that's it, right? Like those are still all part of you. You can't excise

them. You can't surgically remove them. And the further away you keep them at bay, the more you you're going to feel disjointed and disconnected. So anyways, that's the shit I'm on lately. So I don't have much more to say about that or anything else. I'm sorry, but I will say once again that I am so grateful to have this job and this space to have these like stimulating fun conversations with people that I really respect and admire like my extremely talented friend Brian Fallon of the Gaslight Anthem, who is the guest today and who also just happens to be a really good fucking person. And, you know, sometimes in these

chats we get the space. It's jokes and jokes, but, you know, sometimes we hit upon some real shit and it's nice to have that balance and just have that space to talks too much, if you will. Also, you guys, two audio notes. My audio is not as good as usual because, as I love to say on here, I'm not a woman in STEM, babe. And I don't know what's. the fuck happened. My cord fell out. Who knows? And also around maybe nine or ten minutes, Brian's audio gets markedly better because he switched out a pair of rather problematic headphones. So if you notice those things and you need, must know why. That's why. Anyway, here's our chat. I hope you like it.

24 Brian Josephine Fallon As I live and breathe I can't believe you're here with me on 24 question party people Welcome to the program

Welcome As above so is below Totally It makes no sense But I love it this journey for us Yeah Brian how are you today babe? I'm good, I'm good

I was at a video last night You could see the The remaining eyeliner still on. Oh, you were making a music video. You were doing your craft. Like I was working on my craft, just sharpening that blade. Did you like wear makeup? Yeah, like skeleton makeup.

We were characters in the minor characters in the video, and we were the, the cobra Kai from the whole band was the cobra Kai skeletons. Sure, that's very cool. Look at you. Did you art direct this? Was this your creative direction, your own? No, I, this was the director's idea. Okay, so new music video, is this related to new album, history books that is out October 27th? Sure is.

It's a video for a song titled Spider Bites. Gorgeous song. Yeah, you guys, that's right. Guess what? I got to already listen to the album. Suck it. Nerds. It's so gorgeous.

Gorgeous. if you will. Autumn, babe. Thank you. Michigan, 1975, bro. When I texted you and I was like, I'm literally crying. And then you were like,

yeah, this song is sung from the perspective of Lux from the Virgin Suicides. And now I must ask you, who are you even? I don't know. I was like, I had the music part of it.

And like the book was sitting on the bookshelf and like the house we recorded the record in. And it was like, it's a very old Victorian. house. It's actually the house that Interpol did turn on the first two records. And it's like this old studio in Connecticut. And there was a bookshelf in the room and there wasn't anything else there. So I was just picking through the books. And it was I was like, oh, version suicides. And I started reading it. And I was like, oh, I was possessed. And that was it. You read the whole book

while you were recording the album? Yeah. When I was like, I was reading it and I watched the movie too. So it was like coming from all sides. So this album is actually a concept album about the version to us. Yeah. Yeah. And the rest of Kirsten Dunst's career after that. And you had never, you had never read or seen the movie? I had. I had. But I just needed to be reminded when I, I felt like it was, you ever like look at it something and it's like calling you? It's like sitting there and like, yeah, I felt like it was like brighter than all the other books on the show.

I don't know. It was sad for a minute. It's okay. That's how, that's how you're going to speak to the BPD Art Ho's like yourself. You occupied the BPD Art Ho plays and now. they're all going to really relate. What? Bipolar disorder art hose, babe. Get familiar. Wow. I feel like I'm fitting right in.

You know, unlock a new demo. One more thing about the album that is really gorgeous, and I did feel very moved emotionally by The Weathermen. Why are there so many good songs on here? What era are you in? What era is this for you? Like, I don't think it's the return to form of any kind. I think it's just the like, we're right here,

also medicated. This is the medicated era. This is we are we are not as manic we are settled. We're dadded. We're dadded. Life is pretty good but you know life always contains within it

sorrow and heartbreak or else it wouldn't be life and we're going to reflect that in our beautiful new album. Yes that's it. And also we put Bruce Springsteen on it. He was just around so he said why not? He begged you basically, right? He was like, Brian, please, I keep asking to be on one of your albums. And you keep saying, no, Bruce, it's not the right time.

And you were finally like, oh, God, fine, Bruce. Okay. Stop texting me. Stop sending me bitmojis. It's weird. Yeah, that's how it went. That's cool. Yeah.

That's really cool that he was so enthusiastic about it. There he was. It was really enthusiastic. It's good. Brian, are you ready to party? I am ready. Okay, let's go. Question number one.

What is your sign, Brian Fallon? Oh, you know, it's January 28th, so it's either Capricorn or Aquarius, but I'm not sure what. It's Aquarius. You don't know your own sign? No. Not an astrology girl.

No. What does it mean? I don't care about it. I'll tell you what it means. Actually, it makes so much sense that you're Aquarius. Aquarius, I've said this before, but for me personally is one of the signs I'm most fascinated with. It's an error sign and it's a fixed sign. So error signs are very like in the realm of the mind and fixed is like what you think is what you think and it's hard to change your mind

and you're not going to be swayed easily. You know, like you're pretty set on your course. Aquarians are like the most March to the beat of their own drum sign and not even like in a way where they're like doing it to be rebellious it's just the only way they know how to live life is like their own way and it like often kind of surprises them

when people are like wait but and they're like no but this is just how I need it. Pretty much the way that it goes I think yeah that's pretty yeah very upfront very direct some people take exception with that they'll let you know how they feel. Yeah.

This astrology is it new? New thing? It's pretty new thing old. I think it's several centuries maybe since the dawn of time. I'm not really sure I don't have it in front of me, the materials. I could open the Wikipedia page of astrology probably, but...

Do you think they have their own? Their own Wikipedia? Yeah, I don't have one, but astrology has one, which seems kind of like... Is astrology the thing where the lady will read your cards? It's not always a lady, but yeah. Well, okay, the reason I said I said because today I was at a stoplight

and I looked over and I saw it was like readings by Jane. Sure. And I looked for Jane and she was not in the window and I said, I wonder if people really still go to like Jane. Okay, great question. Two answers to your question. Number one, what you're talking about is tarot.

But number two, it was. One time, those are like, to me, the scariest, like, charlatan people. and one time years ago I was like writing a column for this magazine called Misbehave and it was like about me trying things it was called Yossi tries

and one time I was like you know what I'm going to try to go to one of those psychics I'm just going to drive past one with one of those crazy signs like the palm on their like front lawn and go so I go this woman's entire house all the furniture was covered in plastic okay she does this reading for me she asked me if I was married and I was like no

and she was like okay well there's a curse on you. And yes, you're unable to meet a man because this curse is upon you. And there's a doctor that is your soulmate and he's

dying to come into your life, but it's not possible because of this curse. But don't worry, because for a mere $7,000, I can lift this curse for you. Wow. I would have paid her right then and there. You know what? I didn't pay her. And look where we ended up. So like, who can say who was right and who was wrong?

in those circumstances. You might have made a grave error. I could have currently been the wife of Dr. So-and-so. Seuss? Dr. Seuss. Dr. Coworkian, Dr. Jordan Peterson. There's so many doctors that it could have been. Yeah.

What if you go to another one and say, getting cursed vibes? Confirm, confirm it. Perhaps like a used car situation I could negotiate. I could be like, listen, can you do five? Yeah. I got an offer for seven, but I think you could do better.

Can you go lower on this price? On the curse removing? Maybe I could crowd fund this from my famous musician friends. I would read me. I'm sure Blake would as well. He's got a big song called Jinks Removing. That's right. Blake from Jawbreaker.

I'm just going to have all you guys donate to my Kickstarter to remove this curse that's been upon me. Is Kickstarter still a website? I think so. Is that not? Patreon? Where do you raise money? Where do I raise money?

I get a job. I didn't mean you personally. I just meant people. Go fund me. Go fund me to remove curse. Yeah. You have to be sick. I am sick.

I'm spiritually sick with a curse. Upon me that is stopping the doctor from coming into my life. That's a spiritual sickness. You know who would know? You know what you should have on this? Greg Dooley, he would know about that. Maybe Greg Julie is the doctor. Maybe it's Dr. Greg Dooley and we don't know about that.

Dr. Dooley. He's a gentleman. Maybe it's Dr. Mad vibes from Fishbone. Again, there's so many options. Dr. Dre, we don't know. Dr. Dre, are you familiar with him? I've heard. I've heard it.

I think he's good with Eminem, right? That's right. Okay, number two, Brian Josephine Fowland. What did you eat today? What did I eat today? I ate one thing today. I ate Johnny. This is the most New Jersey thing I could say.

Johnny's pork roll. What? Oh, yeah. I did. Johnny's pork roll. I'm so sorry, but as a non-New Jersey native, I don't know what a pork roll is. Can you explain it?

Yeah, it's disgusting. It's like a, you know Canadian bacon? It's like round? Yeah, sure. Okay, imagine that and bacon together, but circular. When you say together, are you talking about place to top each other, or they are in one formation in a meat? More view to scantz.

But yeah, as if they were like a one. How do they make this? We don't ask because if we find out, I assume we'll stop eating it. It's like above spam but below like birthday cake. Bologna? Is it like a Bologna, cousin of Bologna? It's more dignified than Bologna. Okay. Perhaps not. There's some parts excluded from the, uh,

Right. Taylor ham. Producer Jesse says Taylor ham, and I've heard of Taylor Ham, but I also don't know what it is. Is it the same thing? That's just a different name for it. It's the same. Who's Taylor? Taylor is the company that owns the pork roll. Okay. Talk me through this a little more.

So now you have these slices of bacon Canadian, bacon hybrid on a sandwich, or you just ate those slices by itself? They're not an animal. It was on a sandwich. Well, I don't know. Sometimes people are doing keto. Yeah. Okay, yeah, all right, fair enough. Yeah, yeah, that's true. So these slices were put between bread. What kind of bread are we talking about a hero?

Kaiser Roll. Kaiser Roll, so it's a circle. Could be a bagel. Love a bagel. And what toppings did you have? What was the accoutrement? To be honest, I had ketchup and it was a mistake. I was a little annoyed.

Bro, this is disgusting. I was like kind of with you, and then all of a sudden, out of fucking goddamn left field, you pulled ketchup into the mix. I can't convince. to own this behavior. I didn't want it on it. The lady wasn't listening. And she was taken away. Her breath was removed from her body by my fame. She knew it was aware of the very famous band, good reviews on stereo gum. And she said, my God, your face has shined upon me.

Brian Fallon is in my filthy pork roll restaurant of cholesterol. And I said, you better hurry up. I got to go. And she was talking to me about something, loudly. She was talking to you about Joyce Manor. She was like, you like that band, Joyce Manor. You know, I don't know Joyce. I know who they are.

I don't know the band. But the pork roll lady, I'm a big fan. Probably loved. So I said my order. said egg, no egg. Cheese? Yeah, cheese. Salt pepper ketchup? No, no, no. I'm sorry. Can just rewind one second. Egg is also part of, okay. It's potato, egg, and cheese. And a lot of people, they have it with salt, pepper, and ketchup, which is. So it's like a breakfast sandwich.

Yes, it is. Yes. I'm back on board now. Okay, the ketchup really sent me for a loop, but now that you've brought egg into the situation, now I understand. Okay, ketchup. I personally wouldn't eat it with ketchup, but I understand the impetus. Yes, it's impetus. I think I can send you one. I think that there's someone who will spend it fast. Oh my God, please do. I would honestly, you know I love regional cuisine. You saw how happy I was when I went to Wawa in New Jersey. Yeah, that's not even as regional. This is way more regional. I know. People, a lot of people really yelled at me on Instagram. They were like, first of all, in Philadelphia, you should get this kind of sandwich. And I was like, well, first of all, bitch, I'm not in Philadelphia.

I'm in Delaware or wherever the fuck I was. And secondly, let me dip my toe in. Okay, I'm on my Anthony Bourdain adventure. Yeah. The Eastern Seaboard. And this is all new to me. Yeah, and there are other good cheese sticks. You don't have to just get Juniors.

I haven't had it. Cheese Whiz. I do love Cheese With. I don't eat it anymore because I've changed and grown as a person, but there was a time where I deeply loved Cheese With. So delicious. I'm sorry, fine. Cancel me. Cancel me right now. I love Cheez-Wis. I think you got an endorsement coming your way. No. Cheese-Wiz, close your ears. Athletic Greens. You didn't hear that athletic greens. Forget about what I just said about Cheese-Wiz. Athletic Greens,

I need you to come through, babe. You've changed my life. I love you so much. I'm going to build a shrine in your honor. I'm not even kidding. It's the most important invention of my lifetime is athletic greens. Okay. I'm going to send you some of that because we kind of need to offset this pork roll situation. Yeah. It's a thing. But it's a thing. It was a sandwich.

I was a little bit, I was like, I never had ketchup on it before. I was going, you know, should I go back? I can't go back. Can't go back. Should I get a new sandwich? Or should I, even my other option was, should I go somewhere else entirely and just throw this away? Yeah, there's a new sandwich.

Right. Yeah. I did. I just ate it. It's shame. No, I'm proud of you. You showed resilience in the face of hardship, and that's important. True hardship, yeah.

Yeah, true hardship. All right, number three, Rye. Yeah. Did you listen to music today, and what was it? Oh, I did. Do you want to know what it is? What it was? Yes, I do.

I really want to know. I listened to We've Got Tonight by Damn Bob Seeger on repeat. Is Bob Seeger from New Jersey? No. Feels spiritually from New Jersey. No, he's not. He's not allowed. Oh, no, yeah.

He's from like Detroit or somewhere in Michigan, right? Yes, he has like a song about Michigan. I'm so sorry. Apologies to the Michigan community. Fine. But I was thinking last night, I said to myself, you know what I miss? The Wonder Years episode where Winnie climbs through the window into Kevin's room.

And we've got the night plays by Bob Seeger. And I blasted it into New Jersey's face all day. Everywhere I went. I love this. Yeah. I love this journey for you. And also I'm so sorry, I'm going to have to tell you a quick Fred Savage story because you've brought this into the chat. Two things.

The first celebrity I ever encountered in real life was the brother, the older brother from... Wait! Yeah, wait. He was at the mall and I asked him for an autograph. I was probably like nine years old. Huge deal. Secondly, very recently, like last year, I was at the hair salon getting my hair did as I do. I can just see the street

and my car is parked on the street right in front of the salon. Then a car decides to just completely plow directly sideways into my car. So then I take to the street in my beautiful robe and my, you know, hair dye and this man gets out of the car refuses to speak to me, gets on the phone.

It's like sinister Armenian man just started and I'm like, Hi, can I get your insurance? Literally won't make eye contact or talk to me. Starts talking on the phone and smoking a sig. And he's blocking an alley, right? There's like an alley right there with his car. It was a BMW.

And I'm sitting there in my row being like, okay, well, I'm not really sure what's chance. Do I, I don't know. Sir, please, I just need your license and whatever. And then along comes a car who rolls down its window and starts screaming, like rage screaming. at the Armenian man to move his

fucking blocking the fucking alley fucking asshole blah and I'm like wow that voice really has a ring of familiarity and I look over and that's right it was your friend and mine

Fred Savage and I was like thank you Fred Savage that's right you tell him what's up so Fred Savage did violently scream at the man who hit my car if only we've got tonight could have started to play

That's what it would have been a perfect moment. That's Tinseltown, babe. That is Tinseltown. Yeah. The universe couldn't take that. Only in Hollywood. Okay. Number four, what is the first song that made a meaningful impact on you as a child?

Young Brian. Young Brian was in the car with younger mother Brian. Mother Brian? Your mother is also named Brian. Yes, Deborah Josephine Brian. Debra Josephine Brian. Yeah. Deborah Joan,

actually, Deborah Joan. But she, I still haven't found what I'm looking for. Oh, yes. Tell me more about,

like, how did it hit? What did it make you feel like? Well, I must have been seven because it was 1987. But I remember sitting in the car and my mom was like

coming home from the grocery store for some reason she had to go in. And I said, just leave me. It was the first time I ever was like, they just leave the car on with the radio. We were parked in front of the house. And I was like, I need to hear the rest of this. You were like, leave me in the tender arms of Bono and go, woman.

Be gone. You've raised me this far. You've done well. Your journey's over. We part ways here. Right. That's it. I've become a man today.

Today I'm a man. I have climbed highest mountain. I've spoke with the tongue of angels, bitch. Okay, let's go. I was struck. Thunderstruck. So you're seven, you probably didn't already know that you wanted to be a rock star. Did this nudge you in that direction at all, or more that you were just moved by the spirit of the beautiful music?

No, I was just moved because to me it seemed so confusing how all other songs were lame. And this one had piqued my refined taste. Sure, your seven-year-old refined New Jersey year, yeah. Right, like all other artwork had been trash to be disregarded. And this, finally, God's message got to me. Literally God's message, because that's what Bono would be channeling. Circa Joshua 3. You said this is 1987.

1987. I'm just curious what, okay, so Walk like an Egyptian didn't do it for you. That was the number one song of 1987. I want to dance to somebody who loves me, Whitney Houston. No. Here I go again on my own now. No. I'd say.

The way it is, Bruce Hornsby and the Range. That's just the way it is. I like the two-five words. Damn, shakedown, Bob Seeger, number nine. It wasn't We Got Tonight, I'll tell you that. And you know what number 10 was? We got tonight. Bon Jovesa.

Oh. Living on a prayer. Your buddy, your friend, you're a fellow in Jerseyite. My buddy. He is my buddy. I don't think I had come into, you know what? I did. I knew of all that music, but music at that time was like a television show.

Like, it was like living on a prayer. I was like, okay, cool. That's like, you know, different strokes or whatever show I was watching at the time. And like, then you would watch it and be like, all right, that's done by actors and it's not real and that's fine. Right. Like it didn't feel accessible to you. Yeah, but it was actually talking about something that I was like, my seven-year-old brain was like, yeah, I've found one out. Yeah, I'm found what I'm looking for either.

I need to scale mountain walls only to be with you. I didn't even know who you was. Who's you? There wasn't no you at seven. It was guitar rock music in the end. Your soul name was. Maybe it was Zach Wild. Maybe it was pork roll. You think that the reach of this pod will get me to meet Zach Wilde if I talk about him enough? I hope so. What do you think he's up to right now?

Like what's like what's his vibe these days? He's come up a lot actually lately. Really? Yeah. Is it his time? Maybe there's a Zach Wilde, a song. That could be his time. Did Zach Wild play in Pantera also?

He did recently. Hell yeah. So sick. Okay, Zach Weld's cool. I think we can arrange this for you. All right. Ask John Bon Joves. I don't think they can be too. But like he could play Zipal.

Oh, yeah, definitely. Number 24-114. Number five. Brian Josephine, what is the first album that you bought with your own money or shoplifted with your own two hands. The first album I bought with my own money, I think was pre-grunge business. I really think it was hanging talk by New Kids on the Block.

Hell, yeah. That makes so much sound. That was a really big album. Yeah. Well, I didn't know about it at the time, but my friend's sisters had like a little, like, stereo, and they were dancing on the front lawn. Both of my neighbor's sisters were dancing on the front lawn,

this blasting, this album. And I was like, who is this? They were like, New Kids on the Block. and I was like, if that's what girls like, that's what I'm listening to. Smart. Honestly, really smart. Yeah, eight years old. Did you have a favorite of the kids that were on the ball?

Yeah, I like Jordan. I like Jordan. I was a Jordan guy. You know what? Honestly, me too. Yeah. Jordan and John were brothers, right? Jordan and Jonathan.

Jordan Night, John night, yeah. Jordan kind of emerged victorious in the end in a way, don't you feel? Well, Joey did pretty good, too. Joey did pretty good, but Jordan had that really sick song Give It to You, like in 2009. Do you remember that song? Was actually a fucking banger. He did. He's a great, great singer.

I feel at my age of eight, it was Donnie, right, Walberg? Sure, yeah. He was too hard for me. I'm going to be honest with you. He was a little scary. He scared me a little bit. I wasn't ready to rap yet. And he seemed hard.

He seemed like he would fight me. And I didn't like that. I like Joey because he didn't want... He was the pretty boy, yeah. He was really felt safe. Yeah. Danny, I wasn't really sure what was happening there. Yeah, he had a weird jaw line.

Who had the tail? Who had the really long tail? Was that Jordan? I think it was Jordan, yeah. Yeah, I didn't like that. Cool, but kind of cool, though, in 1988. Cool now, but when I was eight, eight-year-old me was a little turned off by it. Okay, okay.

Number six. Did anyone in your childhood ever tell you you're never going to make it or something like that? Totally. Like when did you, let's quickly back up. I still haven't found what I'm looking for. Profound. Realizations. Oh my God. What is this?

I've purchased new kids on the block hanging tough because the girls like it. Not necessarily maybe the kind of music that I want to make. Maybe I don't even know what to make music. When did you be like, you know what? I want to do that. I want to make music. 11. 11. Okay. What spurred this? Okay, so I was very into the guitar and I started taking lessons and I was listening to pretty much exclusively

Guns and Roses and Ozzy Osbourne. Hell yeah. And I was learning how to play all that stuff. And then I had the brilliant idea to try and write a song one day and I started being like, well, what are songs about? Oh, well, songs are about, you know, double talk and jive, you know. That was what I was listening to. Perhaps November rain. November rain. And I couldn't really identify with those lyrics when I tried to interpret them into my own life. Right.

You're 11-year-old life, yeah. Right. So at the same time, I had sort of shunned early Nirvana and not really, I wasn't really into it. I was like, okay, whatever. I'm not sure if this is for me. because everybody was into it, and I just kind of, I just can't. Everybody was loving it, and I didn't hate it.

I just wasn't, I wasn't ready to, I was like, you know what I mean? That's for everybody else. So I did listen to Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and Pearl Jam was my breakthrough where I said, okay, this guy's writing about his mom and dad and his upbringing, and these are things I can relate to. Maybe I can write a song.

Because you were like Jeremy spoke in costume. Yeah, I mean, we've all been there, you know. We've all been there. We were at home drawing pictures, mountaintops, you know. Mountain top with him on top. Lemon yellow suns, arms, frames, race. Okay, so then you were like, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to write songs and I'm going to be a rock star.

Oh, yeah. Well, I mean, I was like, I'm going to write songs. I thought I was going to make it quite yet. Okay, so were you the one that told yourself that you were never going to make it, or were there also other people that told you were never going to make it? There were so many people. Everyone at school. All of my friends. This is how I actually became like a loner in school. Because I was very excited, and I would tend to encourage people when they said, I'm going to be. Michael Jordan and I'd be like, yeah, you are. You're going to be Michael Jordan. And then they didn't own a basketball. And then I was like, I'm going to be a singer in a band. And my friend goes, you're the worst singer I've ever heard in my life.

And I was just like, what? You know, if you, like, that's a hundred. There's like 99 other levels of insulting you could have been to like lessen that. I'm like, you could have just been like, maybe you should try some else. and it burned me up so bad and I left and I was like you know what? I was like, you go to hell and you die.

I'm going to be, I'm going to do this. That's, I will climb the highest mountain. Yeah. I will run through the fields only to be myself. That's a really insane thing to say because I don't know if you remember, but the first time we hung out,

I was like, did you always know you could sing? Because you have such a good voice. Like you have such a great, singing voice. I can't believe this person would say that to you. Well, fuck that guy. Do you ever, you know, okay, so my favorite, do you still know where he is?

Is he still in the New Jersey town that you grew up in? I don't know. I think we should find him. Do you have any, like, good photos of you and Bruce Springsteen? Like, could you perhaps get some glossies printed up? Do you know what I mean? Yeah. Like, kind of a big, like, I'm talking like an 8 by 10 glossy.

get Bruce to sign a bunch of them and then mail one to his house every month. Every month, yeah. Like on the first of the month, an envelope comes, he opens it and it's just a signed glossy of you and Bruce Springsteen.

Who's singing now, fool? That's right. Who's the worst singer in the world now, bitch? Yeah, yeah, really. Who's the only singer in the world now? This is just an idea. Toy around. We can play with it. We can workshop it more.

There's other things we can do, but I really, or, you know what, get Bruce to invite him to the next big show. Seat him very close up front. And then bring you out, put the spotlight on him and be like, that him who said that that you were the worst singer in the world, let's do it. We're going to do, I still haven't found what I'm looking for by you too. We dedicated to this bitch, Carl. Carl James

I made it up, I don't know Anyways, again, there's so many There's so many ways to play this And I just feel like you should think about it Yeah, I'm re-inspired, I'm ignited Yeah, don't let that fire inside you die All right, Brian Josephine number seven When was the last time you lied?

When was the last, oh, it was probably this morning I told my kids were late to school Because I was at the video shoot till late And I said, I said, my kid's going to be late because he had an appointment. I got to go, bye. Mrs.

Lumberer's class, okay, bye, 5th grade, bye, Jacob Poundt. They don't respect your, that you think they don't respect your career. The school. You were out late.

It was too late. Yeah. They're not, they had an appointment. Don't ask what kind of buy. I got to go. I was like, yeah, we're running late.

We gotta go. And I didn't get out of the car when he, when I dropped him off, I just let him walk in, and I just watched him until he got in there, but I didn't get out, because in case anybody saw me, it was like, it's up,

and I was like, I don't know. You're scared of the people at your child's school? I'm scared of the administrative authority of all schools. Even at 43 years old. I'm still scarred from public school in New Jersey. I presume you pay these people for this school. Oh, he goes to public school. That's right, pork roll.

We're doing it. It's New Jersey bitch. Real New Jersey hours. I'm not sure if he's cut out for private school. I met him. He's a good kid. Yeah, but just not cut out for private school. Sure, sure.

It's better. It's going to make him, much like you had to be resilient in the face of the catch-up on the pork roll, it's going to help him build resilience and strength. Well, I wasn't resilient, though. I just stuffed it down and took it like a good Irish boy. That's what I'm saying. It's just like Carl, when he told you were the worst thing in the world,

bitch, look what you did with that. Your son will have his own Carl's to deal with, and who knows what mountain he will climb. The highest. Highest, we hope. Number eight,

what character in a book or film do you relate to the most, and why? Is it, Lex? Well, first of all, her name is Lux. Lux. I mean, I mean,

it's Lux. It's Lux. It's definitely. It's Lux. or like Lux interior. Like Lux Interior, similar name. Does anyone ever been like, what character do you relate to the most from a book?

And they're like Jesus from the Bible. Not yet, babe, but I'm really hoping someone does. I mean, your answer has been the most shocking so far. Why? Lux, Lisbon from the Virgin Suicides. I just felt like that upbringing was, I really related to those choices, some of them. I mean, pretty bad choice in the end, no?

Pretty dark choice. I didn't make these same choices. I just didn't relate to it. Right. I just felt, I felt attention. So you're saying like this like sort of feeling of feeling stifled and trapped by the home environment, causing sort of misery and depression and seeing all this life happen outside that you like can't engage with. Yeah.

Well, because life always seemed like that. Like everyone was kind of doing their thing and like engaging. aging and feeling, like, plugged in and connected to, like, a society and, like, the human race and whatever. And I always felt like somehow not allowed in. Like, I don't know why. Wow. That's... Yikes. No, but that's, listen, another thing that you overcame. And you put it in your music, and that's probably why so many people find your music so relatable and healing.

Well, it's certainly not my singing. This is a gorgeous singing. And the sick guitar riffs. That's right. That's right. Luxeusband, wow. That's a good answer. We unpacked it and I'm, I think you should go talk to your therapist also about this.

I was there this morning. Dr. Cameron. Talking about Luxeusband. Did you just docks your own therapist on this podcast? What? Just letting everyone know who it is. Oh, Dr. Karen. She doesn't care.

Oh, Dr. Karen. I thought you said her last time. So Dr. Karen and you unpacked the luxe lusband of it all this morning. No. No. You're like, actually, I had bigger fish to fry this morning than that. I've been off time for childhood trauma right now. We have current trauma that we have to get to.

I'm just trying to get a sandwich. Okay. Number nine. Ryan Fallon, what was your biggest sliding doors moment? What's that mean? Okay, so it's from the Winnetth ball show film, Sliding Doors. It's about if you had made a different choice in that moment, everything in your life would be different right now.

Oh. Hmm. Well, I mean, probably if I didn't pick up the guitar to begin with. Or I think maybe if I didn't make the choice to just not listen, because so many people at that time, I think like 11, 12, 13, when I was really starting to be developing writing and that maybe I want to do this as a career and it's so fragile, you know, and people are like the meanest then. And they were like, you suck, you're never going to get this.

Like, what do you think you could be famous and be like, be like, well, yeah, kind of. Because like, what do you guys think are going to be like? You're going to be janitors? Like, you can work here? Nothing wrong with janitors, but like in the school. No, totally. Yeah. You know, I was just like, what are your ambitions?

Because they didn't have any. Right. I think it's so psychological, right? I think people are threatened by people who want something and try something because they're too afraid to, you know? And so it, like, brings up that. fear and shame and then they don't do anything so they sort of like

turn on you you know and like so if anything it's like really a good sign if people are like oh whatever you think you're fucking fancy you think you're gonna fucking blah blah blah you know it's really reminding me of like you were like goodwill hunting

of your New Jersey town except for not smart at all you are you're a songwriting savant but I was not smart like not a small job They will say I was smart because I could speak English. Well, I could use words that I read and repeat them back to you, but I was not smart. I think you're not giving yourself enough credit.

I think Carl really got in your head. We need to do some deep Dr. Karen, babe. Let's get Dr. Karen splice her in here because we didn't talk to her about the trauma inflicted by Carl. Dr. Karen? Yeah. What was it called if I said her last name? What's it called? Doxing.

You don't know all the good words. You have like a thing. I'm just like, what do they, how do you say terminally online? Like, too online. Like, these are words I shouldn't know as a 41-year-old woman. They're like the parlance of the youth. But unfortunately, the internet is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have, but I have it. You are not an old woman.

You are God's chosen podcaster. I have God's chosen podcaster. Me and Bono, God's chosen singer and podcaster. God's chosen singer and podcaster. God's chosen. sphere. Spear, exactly. Okay, number 10.

What characteristic are you most drawn to in other people? I like people who are excited about what they're doing. Like enthusiastic. Very, yeah, very much so. If people are enthusiastic, I love it. I love that answer. Oh my God, what a cool answer. Like instead of being like nonchalant or like cynical or like,

you know, irony build or whatever. Yeah, I don't like better. Like a lot of like the younger kids in the in the musical scene. Like I really am encouraged by them. And they're still excited. They haven't been like burned yet, you know? And they're like, all right, we're going to do this thing. It's cool.

It sounds like this. And you're all right. Yeah. It kind of reignites the enthusiasm in you. I mean, I think being able to be enthusiastic in the face of being burned before and burned again. It's like that's and we keep coming back to this. theme Brian, Josephine Fallon, of resilience. This is the theme of this podcast,

but that really is resilience, right? It's like, because otherwise you become bitter. You become cynical and it's like such an ugly thing to be. And it's such a terrible way to live your life because you only hurt yourself. Yeah. I mean, it does, it keeps you at a distance. I think it's, you know, people don't like enthusiasm, though. They say it's too, what do they say?

It's like it's too sincere or something like that. Yeah, no, it's true. they're really off of it. I often think to myself that I'm in my earnest goes to camp era. That's what I like to call it, because I'm really into being very earnest. I don't know if you've heard, but I tend to go on these misguidedly long, you know, pondering monologues before these podcasts where I just really sincere vibes, babe. And I think people will probably listen to that and they're like, ooh. I know. They're like, oh, they're like, oh, no. Is she okay?

Who do we call? Should we call someone? She didn't stop? What is you talking about? What this bitch on about? And I, here's the thing about being Ernest goes to camp. I don't care. Yeah, you can't care.

You can't care. Be enthusiastic and don't give a shit. And, you know, if people don't like it, God bless. There's other podcasts. There's other music. There's other people. Not for the, uh, you. You're the chosen podcaster.

That's right. As far as God's concerned, is the only podcast, but for the rest of you, you can go listen to whatever else you like. Yeah, whatever kind of lame-ass podcast, you want to listen to that doesn't matter. All right, number 11, Brian, Josephine, Fallon. This is going to be my new name.

I'm going to, I'm taking this name. I really like it. I feel like it works for you. Well, my suggested, I'm going to call it not given middle name. I'm going to say my mom suggested. Michael as my middle name on my birth certificate. She suggested that.

So, Brian Josephine Michael Fallon is strong. How beautiful is that? I mean, it's me. It's my essence. It's you. I see you, that's why. I think you.

Okay. Who is the last person you met that you were star-struck by? Because I know you'd be hobnumbing. I know you'd be having these famous friends left and right, but who was the last person you met that you were like, wow. I was pretty Starstruck when I met

John Bon Jovi I was pretty like this is big time famous like living on all the prayers You know So many prayers John Bonj So much bad medicine in the sky right now

But it was exciting Like I was like whoa Real famous person Because they're larger than life Like I mean I guess like Bruce is like almost so

to a fall, relatable. Oh, that's nice. No, he really is. He's like a real person. And whereas, like, John Bo Jovey used to, like, swing from, like, he was like David Lee Roth. Like, it was insane.

Yeah, he was like that level. And gorgeous, man. Beautiful. Still beautiful. So beautiful. Good for him. Like, I could never see myself in any of the roles,

even in Young Guns, too, that John Van Joe he took on. He did. He was great in that film. Was it Emilio Estabez also in that movie? Did I make that up? That's right.

Great movie. Good soundtrack. I think I have the soundtrack on vinyl for some reason. He wrote the whole thing. That's what I'm saying. Why do I have it? I don't know. Christian Slater in his peak.

Oh my God, those cheekbones. All of the cheekbones. Between him and John Bondge, cut glass. Can you ask next time you talk to John Bondge what the skincare routine is? Yeah. Just let me know. I'd love to know. Probably pork roll.

It's literally in New Jersey, and he's like, yeah, I eat one to two pork rolls per day, and that's my regimen. Yeah, I will. Try it, babe. It's me and my gosh. Number 12. When was the last time you slid into someone's DMs? Obviously, you're a happily married man to a gorgeous and beautiful British wife,

but non-sexualy just to be like, whatever. what's up? I like your band. Can I have some athletic greens? I don't know. What you were asking for? Not me sliding into AG1's DMs daily. I think I normally, it's amazing.

I think normally it's like musicians to work with. It was probably like, the last person was probably Karina Reichman. It was probably the last person. I don't remember whether she reached out to me or I reached out to her. but it was definitely like we should play, cool, she's from New York, great bass player.

Nice. So you wanted to just like collaborate with her, so you're like, what's up, babe? I got to be real careful. You can't call. You can say what's up, babe, no. But I can say that to athletic greens. I can say what's up, babe, to athletic cream. Yeah, I would say that to athletic cream. Or like an antifungal cream, I would say, what's up, babe?

The antifungal cream. Yeah. I had to use one of those ones because I, you don't have to tell us. Just right then I was like, maybe you don't have to tell this story, but it's actually not as disgusting as you think. So, you know, I love cats.

And many years ago, there was like a street cat that I used to feed and I loved him and I would pet him. And I got like, I didn't know this, that you can get ringworm from my cat, which is the same as athletes foot. And I got it on my wrist, like the stigmata. Because I am also saying,

in petting the cat, but then I had to get whatever the cream is that you treat athletes foot with to put on my stigmata wrists, my stigmata wrists. Just as you guys know, it's not a real worm, my name. No, and you have spoke with the tongue of angels. You know, they don't talk about saints enough, but in my, when I'm sainted and this is part of my story. Yeah, it should be. Yeah. That, that psychic in the beginning is like, Yeah, babe, actually, there is no curse on you. You do it to yourself. Whatever it is that is happening, it's you and your story of antifungal cream.

So get it together, bitch. Okay. Number 13. Brian Fallon, what is the horniest song ever in your personal opinion? Oh, it's easy. It's the Afghan Whigs song that goes, I don't remember the name because it's not. called what it's not nothing they say the title of the song but it's like it's not in 1965 which is one of the best albums uh come on little rabbit show me where you got it because you know

you got a habit that one 66 66 that's such a fucking is a funny song love it tell me baby can you shake it yeah oh i love it you'll just me will you let me take it it's also good because Greg julie does write a lot of horny songs, but they're often shrouded in the most bitter darkness of all time, but also horny. And then when you get to 1965, it's a little lighter horny.

It's lighter horn. It's light horn. It's light horn. Yeah, light horn. Lighthorn. Lighthorn. Lighthorns. Libre's horns. Lighthorns. All right. Number 14. I love this question. What is the biggest money you ever turned down? One time I turned down a hundred thousand to use a song in a beer commercial.

Why? You didn't like that kind of beer? Was that beer involved in war crimes? Like, what's the deal? No, I just said, you know, I was like, I don't know, like, my music is mine. And, like, you know, if people want to drink, I think that should be a decision that they make on their own and not because they heard my song. Like, I don't want to, I don't want to be like, hey, because like, you know, so many people, they like, this is like, I don't know. maybe see this is where you're too sincere but like the people are like there's like so many people

that I knew even like are than AA and things like that I'm like you know I don't I don't know I just was like drinking is such a culture in America anyway that I was like I just don't want like it's fine it's fine that it's a culture and I don't care like I I like a little pretty pretty cocktail more flowers the better you'll have a beautiful girly cocktail no big deal yeah but um but I just didn't want to be I didn't want to sign on the team to promote it. I was just like, this isn't what music is for. Wow, that's so interesting. And do you ever regret it or you feel like still good about that decision?

No, I feel good about it. I feel good. Oh, nice. Okay, I like it when it's like properly principled and makes sense. Yeah, there's like a bunch of things like that have happened over the years. And I feel I don't regret any of them. Like, I feel like that's a decision that I made. You can make more money somehow.

If you go work somewhere, you know, money can be made. Yeah, like my GoFundMe that we're going to make to remove me first. Yeah. There's all sorts of ways to raise and bring in money. Commercial, GoFundMe, so many different avenues. Athletic Green sponsorship. 24. What is the best live show you've ever seen?

Oh, I know. I saw Chris Cornell on the solo tour only tied by best, truly the best live band I've ever seen was Soundgarde. By far. Best live band. What tour did you see Soundgarten on? In 2014 in Paris.

Amazing. And it was mind-blowing. You're a deep head. Love it. Yeah. Love the Soundgarden. I've said this on the podcast, I think, already, but I've taken to working out listening to Soundgarden,

achieving my final form as a full-on, like, sort of bro. Just a full Jim Hesher's adjacent bro. Okay. Yeah, just throw on that super unknown, babe. Yeah. Pumping iron. Do do do do Drinking my

Athletic Greens Did you say athletic greens? Athletic Greens? Athletic Greens, do you like Soundgarten? Athletic Greens, do you like guitar rock music? In odd time signatures. In odd time signatures, you're not the first person to say this.

Yeah, they're weird tunings too. Really weird. Came Thaylil, babe. The god, the goat. To bea. Yeah, Soundgarden's really underrated, honestly, for like, what like a intensely interesting

musical band they are and also how much they were early. That's an 80s band. They formed in like 84, I want to say. They did, didn't they? Yeah, is that nuts? I know. It's so crazy. Okay. Number 16th, Brian Josephine Fallon,

when in your life, one time, not a time period, were you the most fucked up wasted hammered trashed? You know, not like a lot. I have I actually, my friend said this. You're not a big drinker. I mean, you do drink, but you're not a big drinker, yeah. My friend, Chris Farron, actually said this to me on a tour we were recently on,

and I was like, oh, like, I had like, you know, like, ah, probably a margarita and was like, I'm wasted. I've never seen you, like, actually drunk. It's not very Irish of you, I must say. Well, I was like, what do you mean? Like, actually. I'm like, because I've had many drinks. Sure. And he said, like, I've never seen you, like,

like slurring your words are falling down. Right. I don't think it happens. It's just like a light switch with the Irish. Yeah, maybe you're just genetically predisposed. Like, either I can drink 20 drinks or I go home and go to sleep. Yeah, and we just, it's the, I mean, it's the eons of inside, you know? Yeah, it's called Evolution, bitch.

Look it up. Fucking natural selection. Ever heard of it? Yeah, it's me and Shane McGowan. Yeah, exactly. Holding it down. Yeah, holding it down. Do you think Bono is a big drinker?

It's not giving big drinker. I don't know. Maybe turn water into wine left and right here, you know what I'm saying? You're so right, babe. You're so right. I got so bummed when we got picked up in, we were in Ireland one time, and got picked up by this guy in a van who had clearly had many bands in this band to be driven from the hotel to somewhere to the venue.

And he had a lot of vintage, like, holsters and memorabilia around the van. That's his thing. And I saw like a U2 one. And I was like, oh, that's cool. Like that's from the actual Joshua tree. And he goes, yeah. And then he tells the Bono God joke. And I was like,

what's the bono god job? It's like, what's the difference between God and Bono? And it's that God doesn't think he's Bono. Oh. That's not nice. It's not nice because what I said it, it was fun. But when he said it, it was not fun. And like, it was so awkward that I was like,

well you're the one with the poster yeah you're like I thought we were all I thought we were all you two fans around these parts I thought they were Ireland's national treasure maybe he's a big Damien Rice fan The Bloor's daughter great songs The van driver

No I know Damien Rice is not a song The Bloor's Daughter Did I make that? I don't know I like you too You're like me I'm uh Me too I'm a It is called the blower's daughter

This mind A Wonderland I like the video where the edge the lady like licks up the side of his face and he's just talking in it. Is that when he's rapping? It's like numb. Is it numb? It's pretty good.

The edge wrapping. Bring it back. Okay. Number 17 and 18 are tandem questions. What do you love the most about being famous and what do you hate the most about being famous? I love that my career is literally made up of like the most ridiculous thing that I love doing, which is absurd. Like the thing that I would do if I like lost my hands or was blind, I would still find a way to play music and write songs.

And the worst part about it is, you know what the worst part is that people forget that like that doesn't make life easy. Right. Like if you, because, you know, we've had times where we've had a lot of money or times we've had not a lot of money. And then times where, you know, but I'll tell you like when someone gets sick or something like that, you can't buy that.

you don't fix it. And it's like, sometimes people forget that you're a real person. That you're a real person. Yeah. Especially on the internet. They just like launch some thing at you and you're like, whoa, ow. Like, wow, you really like, you look terrible in that like picture or whatever. They'll say something about your appearance and you'll be like, ugh, I was actually dealing with that.

That bothers me still. Yeah. You're like, um, it is really crazy because like this, this answer is pretty common. and I always wonder was it different before the internet? Do you think that if this podcast existed before the internet, just imagine the podcast could exist separate from the internet.

Imagine it's radio, whatever. And I'm like asking famous people in the 80s this question, do you think they would give the same answer? I wonder. No. Because they wouldn't have to deal with such direct communication anonymously telling them to go kill themselves or whatever. Yeah, it wasn't the same.

You actually had to have, like, you had to be like a writer or a published writer. Like, you know, like, instantly I think of getting the ring from Guns and Roses where, like, Axel took such issue where you had to, like, a critic or whatever. Yeah, like, and those were like famous critics.

Like, it wasn't like just like, it was like Jay and Silent Bob, like, are you John 629? Right. Did you say? No, there's like an amazing story about Rian said that like, early, early internet days that like when they signed to Epitaph, like someone was like, hey, Tim, like they're talking shit about you, signing to Epitaph. They're saying you sold out

and then you're going to make an album like the next bad religion on the, they're saying that on the computer. And he was like, what do you mean they're saying it on the computer? And it was like at the like Cal Berkeley like computer lab. And like he was like, where is that guy? I want to fight that guy. Who is that guy? I want to fight it. And they're like, I don't know what's in the computer. It's like such a pure classic story. It's so early on. And that's actually the reason that Brett Gerwitz isn't credited as the producer of the first epitaph

Ransit album, even though he did produce it, because Tim was so apparently upset about this comment, this anonymous person about they're going to sound like bad religion, so he didn't want to, isn't that nuts? Wow. I mean, it's it sounds nuts, but it actually I can completely like

understand why. Because like, you always think if somebody says one thing on the internet, like even if it's like John 69, Sure. We're all familiar. We all know that guy. Fuck that guy.

If it's like Brian Josephine suggested by Michael Fallon, I mean, maybe I'm not like famous enough. No, no, no, no. That's not true because I have heard like, I've heard like John Bon Jovi or I remember John Resnick one time. I met him and I was asking him about. Shout out John Resnick, the goo Goo Goo Dolls. Yeah.

Like I was like talking to him about the like, you know, I'd heard the story about the writers. block and then all of a sudden he came out with Iris and I'm like oh my god like dude you know like don't worry you killed it yeah you got this man yeah you got it and slide and pretty much the whole rest of your career and then he but he would say like you know he would be really like hurt by things people would say or whatever and you don't you forget that like john 69 420 is not everyone right well it's definitely not everyone it's like it's like the yelp reviewer syndrome where it's like you have to imagine that actually the kind of person who is compelled to say something to a

complete stranger that's negative is actually the minority of people because that's like mental illness love you know like in my life I've never written a Yelp review like the fuck do I care you know what I mean like none of my goddamn business it's like it's like a self-selecting process that like you don't have to listen to those people they're mutants like I've never sent a message to a stranger. And again, that's fine. Go off. That's what you want to do.

But, like, absolutely, like, those are not the people that you need to, like, take care. I think it's, I love when, obviously, when people said nice messages, because it's heartfelt. I also, and I've said this a million times on this podcast,

but I do think it's important. I also had to, like, detach from that in a way that I, like, just let it pass through me. Like, feel the good feeling, but, like, be like, ultimately, it doesn't matter what other people think of you.

You know, like, ultimately, what other people think of you really isn't any of your business and what you do will reach who hopefully who it should and if people don't like it great that's not for them. Yeah, and they're wrong.

And also you're wrong. Yeah, and they still haven't found what they're looking for. As David Matthews famously said, if you don't like it, I'm so sorry and also you're wrong. You know, I really was pondering on this song too much the other day. Right, right.

Too much. When you were eating pork roll or a different time. No, that's ridiculous. Yeah, that's crashed. I drink too much. Yeah. Too much. I'm almost positive.

That's the song that won Grammy rock song of the year over Oasis Wonderwall. Yeah, that's impossible. Is it that one or is it ants marching? No, definitely absolutely one million percent. a David Matthews band song one Grammy rock song of the year over Oasis. Really? Yeah, 1997 Best Rock Song Grammy, they beat Oasis.

Wonderful. I'm sorry, it always just really... I mean, it wasn't like it was Grey Street, right? That's what I'm saying, Gray Street, maybe would have been a contender. It's funny, I had a similar feeling the first time I heard Crash into me that I had when I heard... I saw... I still haven't found... I remember being similarly struck by it and stopping and like kind of watching the video and like not doing anything else.

It's an exceptionally beautiful song with an exceptionally bizarre video. Yeah, and I wasn't sure so many feelings. You were like the kombucha girl meme where you were like, hmm? So horny at the end. I really didn't see that. One of the horniest songs of all time, I must say. You know, actually that might be the horny song. I like up your skirt a little more

show the world to me in a voice stream. That's hard to me. Yeah, it's a good one. Shout out David Matthews. Again, as you know, I have to talk. I'm legally and contractually obligated to mention David Matthews on every single episode of this podcast, and I'm glad it just came up naturally for us.

Yeah. All right. Number 19, wild card, Brian Josephine Fallon. Let's say you were going to start your band this year for the first time instead of in 2006. What would you name it?

Would you still call it the gaslight anthem, or would you call something different? Because I, like my friends in the band, ISIS, never had society change a meaning of a band on you since you formed. And I, innocently enough, lover of the 1960s Bob Dylan ever heard of them, Greenwich Village, New York, places. poets and artists alike named the gaslight and then it becomes a

bewitching tool of abuse and it's been bad and I go, that was unfortunate yeah, it's pretty bad it's like calling your band like rape song I don't think it's like that just kidding

I don't think it's like that at all you're like actually I'm so sorry I have us to push back on that cut I don't think I should be I'm actually not God's podcast in the end. Satan's Satan's

podcaster. I would have called it like anything else, like anything else. Like, the worst thing that you could say, I would call it,

like, I would call my man anything else. Like, I would call it, people would say, I'm going straight to hell directly.

I would call it like, I mean, you could call it like, who knows? Pork roll. Or boner or something. And it's still, Because imagine like the culture

I think there's like Imagine like the kid Like a kid now Who like hasn't heard of us before They're like what? Have you guys had a TikTok moment yet? No No

It might be the name It might be the name You think it's the name Do you change your name? No I have no idea There's no rhyme or reason For why songs get big on TikTok

There's like such random songs From like 20 years ago Of like Mac DeMarco That like go crazy on TikTok and now all these teens know about it, you know? Yeah, and, you know, I don't, like, no one I did not have on my bingo card running up that hill. Not I. Not I, sir.

It could happen. Great expectations, babe. It's primed for its moment. It really, you know, this is the, it's an anniversary of version of suicides. Hello, knock, Sophia. Sophia Coppola. So you think that they should do sort of like a new edit, including the song,

Great Expectations. No, Michigan, 1975. Oh, God, it's such a good. You're right. The song that you actually wrote. Yeah, yeah. The song that I actually wrote. I wrote actually both of those songs.

No, I mean, you actually wrote about the versions of it. Yeah, so I think they should reshoot the whole film, and they should edit out Kirsten's husband, because I don't like it. Look at your v-nex sweater you're wearing in the Great Expectations official music video. I don't know if I'd ever seen them before. Really beautiful. That was given to you. me about the lovely people at Ben Sherman.

Nice. It's gorgeous. Yeah. I don't know why I was, that was an awkward time for me. I don't even like that. You don't like that song? You watch it about that was... I don't like the guitar that's in the video. Oh, I see. Okay, I was going to be like, you watch it out of fucking soap right now. No, I think that's one of the best songs we have. It's one of the best songs anyone has ever.

Yes, well, that's more like it. That's true. Maybe I have found what I'm looking for. I know it's strange because we're IRL friends, and actually us being IRA friends is why I even know about the castling anthem, which is a very strange way to come to a band. Because as everyone knows, I have a musical blind spot for this whole eight-year period

in the 2000s, which your band falls into. But I love it so much. And I listen to that album of my own volition all the time. This is beautiful work. All the time. This is God's work. We are reconfirmed to God's podcast.

That's right. Brought us together. Imagine it had gone the other way. Imagine we became our old friends. And I was like, well, let me look in my new friend Brian Fallon's band, and it was bad. Yeah.

That happens sometimes. It happens all the time, babe. It happens all the time. I don't date musicians anymore because, again, I've healed and grown. I'm no longer spiritually sick, but when I did, it was always affecting, if I didn't already know about music, it was already, it was just, I had to fucking strap myself in and be like, what's it going to be like? because I've got to go.

There's not possible to move forward if it's bad. Yeah, if it's bad. I mean, would you say that you were cursed? That mess. This is why this woman was right all along. Doctors, they don't play guitar. They don't make music. Well, some doctors probably do.

Yeah, you're right. Dr. Dre. No, it's like a thing. All these very expensive guitars that are like vintage guitars now. I know you're in that world. You love that world. No, I hate that. that world. I don't even have any vintage guitars because the doctors and the lawyers have driven

the prices to insane levels. Listen, if you're listening and you're a doctor and you can like rudimentarily play an expensive guitar and would like to serenade me with crash into me. Very complex song choice. I'm going to be honest with really hard to play. You might want to start with Vince Mark. Yes. That song. Can you do it? You know what? I could do it, but I would have to sit down and learn it. That is a complex song. Ants marching, much easier choice. Doesn't really have the same genus et qua ants marching.

Gray Street, much easier. That's true. Gray Street, a song about depression. I now have a lot of respect for the reply guy that once filmed himself playing, crash into me on the acoustic guitar and sent it to me. It's a very difficult song to play. Wow. Shout out you, reply guy.

I was very afraid to open it because I thought it was going to be a dick. You never know. Did people still do that? You never know, babe. You have to stay vigilant. You have to stay vigilant. You have to stay vigilant.

All right, number 20, Brian Joseph and Fallon, when was the last time you cried? Oh, there was a, I do know it was a few weeks ago. There was a very, very old fan of the band who had been there since the beginning passed away. I was very sad.

And it like, kind of like hit me like a little bit of dump truck moment where it just kind of came out. I was like, oh. Well, that's really sad. I'm so sorry. Sorry. It happens. Went to sleep. Nice way to go.

Yeah. Also, like, very moving, I'm sure. Like, I don't know. If like I died and David Matthews was cried about it, I think it would be a really nice feeling for me. It was a ghost, you know. Awesome. Yeah. number 21

Brian Fallon What is your greatest regret? You're like Catch up on the pork roll Earlier today Well it might be The Pork Roll You're like naming my band

The Gaslight is No that's not I'm joking It's a punk ass We get a punk pass It's a great band name Also like that word has fallen back out of It's like no one cares anymore

Oh good Let's just start doing whatever I'm just saying it no longer holds meaning because people don't know what it means, much like other things where they're like, you're gaslighting me and that's boundaries and you're like, none of those words mean anything anymore because you all abuse them so badly without actually referring to what they mean that they're meaningless now. So your gaslight anthem is back in the clear. All right, good. Wow. Back to your greatest regret. You know, I really, really should have bought more Air Jordans before they were $30 billion. That's the truth. That's my single greatest regret. Little known fact about you that you're a sneaker head. You know, it's contagious. I blame Henif. Yeah, that's right.

Shout out Hanif, our buddy, our pal. Love. Friend of the pod. Friend of the pod. Only MacArthur genius. Friend of the pod. Truly a miracle that he knows about this pod, listens to, cares about it, an actual genius.

See? Look at that. God's only pod. God's only podcast. number 22. What song would you like to hear just before you die? Oh, let's see here. It's not going to be Bob Seeger's nightmares.

I was going to be Bob Seeger's night. It's going to be We Got Tonight, The Bob Seeker. You know what? It is going to be who we got tonight. Because who needs tomorrow, you know what I mean? Like right before you go, you know what? I'll go with Joey Ramon's, choice of in a little while by YouTube.

Is that what Joey Ramon wanted to listen to when he died? That's what he did listen to. How do you know that? It's like something that's known. He was listening. It's like rumored to be that he was listening to that song, like, out and repeat as he passed away. Wait, I love this story, Brian Palin.

I never knew this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like a thing that's like in, I mean, I don't know. Is it true? I don't know. But like people, it's pretty like, well. documented that that's what happened. That's a really good one.

It's such a beautiful song off all that you can't leave behind 2000s. Honestly, slept on an album. Really good album. That's not the iPod one, is it? No, that one's a little bit later. That was a little bit later. Wow, that's really cool. I love it. And then it ends with slow down my bleeding heart.

Slowly, slowly love, slow down my beating heart. It's a good choice. And I love that. You know me and Joey Ramon have the same birthday. No way. That's right. We're spiritually active. And everybody's got a poison heart.

Later Ramon's favorite. Really good, because they get kind of metal for a second. It's really good. We're almost done, Brian. Are you sad? No, yeah, no. Yes. No, yes.

Good, because I was just on God's best podcast. That's what I'm saying, don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. Yes. You should write that. I'm going to make some T-shirt, make some merch. Yeah, you can make a merch with that. Number 23, Brian Josephine Fallon. what do you think about me?

I think you're probably one of the possibly well two things I think I have two separate thoughts. A, one of the funniest people in the world. And not at all always able to make everyone laugh.

Not at you, but like really, really clever. Second thing is one of the most culturally in tune people that observes a culture you know like I really do think that like maybe a few different steps

and you can really ask Howard Stern you should do it. Wow. Howard Stern bitch I'm coming for your ass. Watch your back bitch. Yeah, I'm in hard for him. I really could take the throne. I love it. You were like you're a terminally online clown

and that's why I love you. And you do see me. Who said that? This is how I hear things. You heard that you're eternally online con. You're not a con. No, I think that no one's laughing at you. I think you're like the you're like the cool like Oprah.

Oh my God, the cool Oprah, that's the pets. That's the best compliment. And you, because you would be. You'd have your own show and you'd be like, you get a car and you get a black flag seven inch. So you get a black, you get a black flag seven inch. You get a Mike Kelly poster. You get pretty.

the inside hole's first album. Wow, I'm loving your vision of me. You know, sometimes you just have to hear how your beloved friend sees you and it really just like puts the wind back in your sales. Yeah, it's the literal wind beneath your wings. You're the wind beneath my wings.

Did you ever know? Thank you. Everything I would like to. We got tonight. There it is. Fuck you, Carl. Voice of an angel. Yeah, Carl.

All right. Last question. We did it, Brian Josephine. Number 24. What do you want to plug? Oh, okay, okay, okay. My friend, my dear, dear guitar playing friend, Emily Wolf has got a new record coming out called The Blowback. And it's good and nice and good and nice and mean and nice. It's good. The good record and you should listen to it. and she's better than all the other crap-ass records you have in your collection. Not you, but the people listening. Emily Wolfe, the blowback. What an angel you are that you took this time to plug your friend's album instead of history books by the Gas Van Anthem, which is out October 27th.

What's terrible name? Gorgeous. Who named that band? What else was in the running? Abuse Tactic? Abuse Tactics. No, it would be like abuse opera.

Oh, symphony of belligerence. Brian, Josie and Fallon, this was such a pleasure and an honor. Thank you for coming on God's Only podcast. It's always fun to talk to you. And you guys, check out the new Gaslight Anthem album, wherever you stream music. Come back next week for a new episode of 24 Question Party.

Hail Yassie. Thanks for listening to 24 question party people, and thanks to my guest Brian Fallon. The Gaslight Anthem's gorgeous new album, History Books, is out everywhere October 27. Their tour begins that same night, and you can find the full list of tour dates at the gaslight anthem.com. This episode was produced by Chris Sutton and Jesse Miller Gordon, with help from Justin Sales. Our gorgeous and catchy theme song was composed by Heather Fortune. Special thanks to Sean Fennessee, Rob Harvilla, and the cranky Armenian sourdough bread man at the Barmer. market. Come back every Tuesday for a new episode of 24 question party people on Spotify or

wherever you listen to podcasts. 24 question party people.