The Trap Set with Joe Wong

223: Jimmy LaValle (The Album Leaf, Tristeza, The Locust, Film Composer, etc.)

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Joe met this week's guest--Jimmy LaValle--on tour over twenty years ago. A lot has happened in the intervening time, and Jimmy catches Joe up on: the ...

222: Hrishikesh Hirway (The One AM Radio, Song Exploder, etc.)

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

By any external measure, Hrishikesh Hirway is an incredibly successful polymath; but boy, is he ever hard on himself. Or perhaps his success is due—...

BNS: Bill Bruford Revisited

28 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We're moving Trap Set Headquarters! This week, we're revisiting our conversation with the incomparable Bill Bruford. Bill happens to be a favorite dru...

221:Danny Carey (Tool, Green Jello, Carole King, Zaum, etc.)

21 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Danny Carey is the rare artist with a wildly ambitious imagination, coupled with the virtuosic ability to manifest his singular ideas. Joe joined Dann...

220: Billy Brimblecom (The START, Blackpool Lights, Steps of Faith Foundation)

14 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Billy Brimblecom plays drums with an emphatic crispness, that has made him a valued member of his native Kansas City music scene since the 90s. After ...

219: Joey Armstrong (SWMRS)

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Joey Armstrong co-founded SWMRS when he was still in grade school, and at the age of 24, he already has decades of musical experience. Joey talks abou...

BNS: Carla Azar Revisited

31 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're renovating Trap Set HQ; so we're sharing one of our favorite episodes, featuring the great Carla Azar. This episode was recorded a fe...

218: Steven McDonald (Redd Kross, Melvins, Off!)

24 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When he was eleven years old, Steven McDonald co-founded a band with his older brother, Jeff. That band, which soon became known as Redd Kross, became...

217: J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, GI, Channels, Office of Future Plans, etc.)

17 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As a member of influential bands such as Jawbox, Burning Airlines, and Channels, J. Robbins exhibits an exceptional gift for unorthodox yet unforgetta...

216: Aaron Harris (Isis)

10 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Harris comes from a family of ship builders. Although he broke from tradition to become a drummer, his drumming is finely crafted and architectu...

BNS: Sara Lund Revisited

03 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're taking off for the holiday; so we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes, featuring the incomparable Sara Lund. Sara is still pla...

215: Ray Barbee

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Skateboarding and music have been forever intertwined. This week's guest, Ray Barbee, while best known as a pioneering skateboarder, is also a serious...

214: Jeff Parker (Tortoise, AACM, Solo Artist)

19 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff Parker—one of his generation's preeminent guitarists—talks with Joe about: his aversion to formal education, despite having teachers as paren...

213: Greg Anderson (Sunn O))))

12 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Greg Anderson of Sunn O))) discusses the creation of the band's massive sound; the evolution of the creative dynamic with his partner Stephen O'Malley...

212: Hayden Menzies (Metz)

05 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Menzies drums with a sense of controlled bombast; his beats are often as memorable as melodic hooks. He tells Joe about his musician parents; h...

211: Mindee Jorgensen (Dale Crover Band, Dangerously Sleezy, ModPods)

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mindee Jorgensen experienced a devastating loss at an early age and found solace in music. She tells Joe about: growing up in Iowa; marching band; mak...

210: Mary Timony (Ex Hex, Helium, Autoclave, Wild Flag)

22 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A consistently adventurous artist, Mary Timony inhabits the intersection of virtuosity and experimental abandon. Her diverse, decades-spanning body of...

209: Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think, Film Composer)

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Craig Wedren is a Midwest native whose father owned a fast food chain. He spent some time in DC, fronting the influential band Shudder to Think, while...

208: Jay Bellerose (Sam Phillips, T Bone Burnett, Plant/Krauss, Paula Cole)

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past forty years, Jay Bellerose has earned a reputation for musical excellence and rarified artistic integrity. He tells Joe about: growing u...

207: Aldous Harding

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Over the course of three excellent albums, Aldous Harding has distinguished herself as an incredibly compelling songwriter with a singular voice. Aldo...

BNS: Brian Blade Revisited

24 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're hard at work recording new episodes, so we're sharing one of our all time favorite Trap Set conversations featuring the singular geni...

206: Bardo Martinez (Chicano Batman, The Doves)

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Best known as the lead singer for LA band, Chicano Batman, Bardo Martinez has recently embarked on a solo career. Joe spoke to Bardo last year in fron...

BNS: Mimi Parker Revisited (Low)

10 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we revisit one of our favorite episodes, featuring the great Mimi Parker of Low.

205: Tucker Rule (Thursday)

03 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For 20 years, Tucker Rule's crisp, authoritative drumming has laid the foundation for the band Thursday. Tucker discusses: his childhood obsession wit...

204: Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone LIVE (The Zombies)

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Zombies are, simply put, the greatest rock band in the world. This week, the band's co-founders Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone discuss: the format...

203: Ian Mackaye Pt. 2 (Minor Threat, Fugazi, The Evens, etc.)

20 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This Week: Part Two of our conversation with Ian MacKaye. Four years ago, we began The Trap Set with Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty. As we expand the sh...

202: Ian MacKaye Pt. 1 (Minor Threat, Fugazi, The Evens, etc.)

13 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As a member of bands such as The Teen Idles, Minor Threat, Embrace, Fugazi, and The Evens—as well as co-founder of Dischord Records—Ian MacKaye ha...

201: Brooks Headley (Born Against, Oldest, Universal Order of Armageddon, etc.)

06 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Brooks Headley fell in love with music while listening to Dr. Demento on his grandmother's radio. He's also had a lifetime obsession with food, leadin...

200: Episode 200 Spectacular!

06 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate our 200th episode, past guest and friend of the show Patty Schemel returns, this time to interview Joe. They discuss how creating The Tra...

199: Larry Herweg (Pelican, INTRCPTR)

30 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Larry Herweg's commanding drumming has helped shaped Pelican's dense, longform compositions for nearly 20 years. He tells Joe about: growing up in Ill...

BNS: John Good (Drum Workshop)

23 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus episode, Joe talks to John Good, vice president of Drum Workshop.

198: Zach Lind (Jimmy Eat World)

16 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For 25 years, Zach Lind has carved a creative niche within the often rigid parameters of modern rock. He talks about: manufacturing pressure to force ...

197: Mona Tavakoli (Raining Jane, Jason Mraz, Ebi)

09 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mona Tavakoli is a modern polymath whose impressive versatility and fierce creativity have resulted in a 20 year tenure in Raining Jane, along with co...

196: Budgie (The Slits, Siouxsie Sioux and The Banshees, The Creatures, John Grant, etc.)

02 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Budgie has the rare ability to metabolize influences ranging from taiko to dub, from gamelan to punk to Indian classical, all into a singular, uniquel...

BNS: Steve Gadd Revisited

26 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're closing out the year by revisiting a pensive conversation with one of the greatest drummers of all time, Steve Gadd. (This episode was recorded ...

BNS: Bill Cardwell (C&C Drum Company)

19 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, a fascinating bonus episode with Bill Cardwell--drum builder and co-founder of C&C Drum Company. Dozens of our guests have played Bill's dr...

195: Bryan St. Pere (Hum)

12 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Illinois band Hum created an expansive sound world, and Bryan St. Pere's drumming is the beacon that guides the listener through thick fields of disto...

194: Jason Gerken (Shiner, Molly McGuire, Season of Risk, Birth Defects, etc.)

05 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jason Gerken likes to party. He also has the unique ability to make unexpected musical choices sound natural and powerful. Jason tells Joe about: why ...

193: Nabil Ayers (The Lemons, The Long Winters, 4AD, Sonic Boom)

28 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nabil Ayers was born into a deeply musical family and began playing drums as a toddler. Eventually, he toured and recorded with bands such as The Lemo...

192: Kevin Haskins (Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets, etc.)

21 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin Haskins's spare, hypnotic style laid the foundation for goth luminaries, Bauhaus. He tells Joe about: growing up in Northampton; seeing bands li...

191: Aaron Sterling (John Mayer, Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift, Liz Phair, etc.)

14 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Sterling's percussive prowess would have gotten him plenty of work during the golden age of the recording studio, but his attention to sonics an...

190: Parker Kindred (Joan As Police Woman, Jeff Buckley, Amen Dunes, etc.)

07 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Parker Kindred has a supernatural gift of musical intuition. His intensely imaginative, lyrical playing style imbues the music with a deep hypnotic su...

189: Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey, Marianne Faithfull, Bat for Lashes, Cold Specks, etc.)

31 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Rob Ellis possesses the dynamic touch of a concert musician, the ferocity of a punk rocker, and the compositional sense of a New Music luminary; but i...

BNS: Rob Ellis on Addiction and Recovery

31 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus mini-episode, Rob Ellis discusses his struggles with alcohol and the decision to become sober. Be sure to check out Rob's introspectivel...

BNS: Steven Drozd Revisited

24 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're hard at work on new episodes, so this week, we're revisiting one of our favorite conversations with Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips. Steven has...

188: Brendan Buckley (Shakira, Volumen Cero, JJ Lin, Teagan and Sara, etc.)

17 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Brendan Buckley's omnivorous musical taste, disciplined approach, and granular attention to detail make him well-suited for work with artists such as ...

187: Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson, Earthworks, UK, Genesis, Bruford)

10 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Bill Bruford's instantly identifiable sound and brilliant sense of composition made him the defining drummer of the progressive rock movement; but at ...

186: Rat Scabies (The Damned)

03 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Rat Scabies and his influential band, The Damned, were integral members of the fledgling UK punk community. Rat's controlled bombast earned him compar...

185: Fay Milton (Savages, 180dB)

26 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A classically trained percussionist, Fay Milton possesses an adventurous compositional sense and keen sonic sensitivity that helped Savages become one...

184: Mick "Woody" Woodmansey (David Bowie, Art Garfunkel, U-Boat, Holy Holy)

19 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Woody Woodmansey propelled the legendary Spiders from Mars to international stardom and helped the post-war generation escape the prison of banality. ...

BNS: Tessa Pollitt (The Slits)

12 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this Bonus Episode, The Slits bassist, Tessa Pollitt, sat down with Joe after a recent screening of "Here to Be Heard", a documentary about the ban...

183: Nate Wood (Kneebody, Four)

05 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nate Wood has a gift for mastery when it comes to the mechanics of music; but he also possesses a creative clarity that transcends mere virtuosity. He...

182: Ryan Pope (The Get Up Kids)

29 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan Pope's metronomical groove and uniquely memorable beats helped The Get Up Kids become one of the most influential rock bands to emerge from the M...

181: Alan Cage (Quicksand, Seaweed)

22 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Formed in 1990 in New York City, Quicksand drew inspiration from the energy of their native hardcore scene. Powered by drummer Alan Cage's dexterous g...

180: Adam Topol (Jack Johnson, Culver City Dub Collective, etc.)

15 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Adam Topol's formative years were spent listening to Kiss and punk rock, but he soon discovered a lifelong passion for jazz and world music that influ...

179: Matt Helders (The Arctic Monkeys, Iggy Pop)

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Arctic Monkeys started out as more of an aspiration than an actual band--its members were teenagers who had just started playing their instruments...

178: Geoff Mann and Marcos Garcia (Here Lies Man, Antibalas)

01 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The Trap Set Live, Joe sits down with Chico Mann and Geoff Mann to discuss: musical parents (Geoff's father being the legendary Her...

177: Lucky Lehrer (Circle Jerks)

25 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Lucky Lehrer's ferocious and agile style helped Circle Jerks become standard bearers of the nascent SoCal hardcore scene. He tells Joe about growing u...

176: Dean "Clean" Sabatino (The Dead Milkmen, I Think Like Midnight)

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Formed in Philadelphia in 1983, The Dead Milkmen created a downright hillarious sonic universe that stood in stark contrast to their hardcore punk con...

BNS: Dale Crover Returns!

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The incredible Dale Crover (Melvins) graced The Trap Set during our salad days (Episode 10). Today, he makes a triumphant return to update us on what ...

175: Tony Hajjar (At The Drive-In, Sparta, Gone is Gone)

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tony Hajjar's explosive, emotionally-raw style propelled At The Drive-In to mainstream success. He tells Joe about emigrating to the US from Lebanon, ...

174: Kate Schellenbach (Luscious Jackson, Beastie Boys)

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Schellenbach's formative musical experience was in the choir at the Church of St. Luke in Greenwich Village; but soon enough, she was watching Cl...

173: John "J.R." Robinson (Rufus, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Daft Punk, etc.)

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

John "J.R" Robinson has an extraordinary sense of time, a crisp tone, and a gift for developing rhythmic hooks. All of these attributes contribute to ...

172: Pete Moffett (Government Issue, Wool, Burning Airlines, Second Letter, etc.)

20 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Pete Moffett cut his teeth in the DC punk scene, where he developed a signature style balancing angular inventiveness with oversized bombast. He talks...

171: Dave Elitch (Antemasque, Justin Timberlake, M83, Killer Be Killed)

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dave Elitch has the rare ability to deconstruct the craft of drumming on a granular level. This gift has led to a diversity gigs ranging from The Mars...

BNS: Ezra Miller

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus mini-episode, actor Ezra Miller (Justice League, Fantastic Beasts) talks about harnessing anxiety for creative endeavors, diarrhea, and ...

170: Brian Blade (Fellowship, Wayne Shorter, Joni Mitchell, etc.)

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Brian Blade burst on the scene in the early 90s and has since distinguished himself as one of the all time greats. Brian met with Joe in Chicago to di...

169: Brad Wilk (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Prophets of Rage)

30 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Rage Against the Machine is an exceptionally rare band that managed to combine a radical, populist message with massive popular success. At the core o...

168: Michael Shrieve (Santana, Go, Solo Artist)

23 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In 1969, Michael Shrieve took the world by storm with his jaw-dropping performance at Woodstock. His raw power, combined with jazz-inflected finesse, ...

167: Live from KEXP, Seattle

16 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we share Joe's epic live panel with Matt Cameron (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam); Ruby Dunphy (Thunderpussy); Tendai Maraire (Shabazz Palaces); an...

166: Karriem Riggins (Ray Brown, Hank Jones, J Dilla, Common)

09 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Karriem Riggins is a rare artist whose creative voice resonates in improvised music and popular music alike. Karriem spoke to Joe in front of a live a...

RIP: Remembering John "Jabo" Starks

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Yesterday, John "Jabo" Starks--one of the most important drummers of the twentieth century--died of cancer. He was 79. In tribute, we're revisiting Jo...

165: Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees, Barrett Martin Group, Mad Season, REM)

25 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In the 80s and 90s, Barrett Martin was a member of seminal Seattle bands Screaming Trees, Mad Season, and Skin Yard; but according to Barrett, talking...

164: Adrienne Davies (Earth)

18 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Adrienne Davies joined long-running Washington band Earth in 2001. She brought with her the requisite aptitude for slow tempos, and--over the course o...

163: Atom Willard (Against Me!, Rocket from the Crypt, Angels and Airwaves, The Offspring)

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Atom Willard joined Rocket from the Crypt when he was still in high school. During his ten-year tenure with the band, he honed a unique style, balanci...

162: Ralph Johnson (Earth Wind & Fire)

04 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ralph Johnson brought his disciplined, unstoppable groove to Earth Wind and Fire in 1973; and over the subsequent 45 years, he's played an important r...

161: Dan Bailey (Father John Misty)

28 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Bailey learned to play drums in church. By the time he was in his early twenties, he was the house drummer at one of the biggest churches in the U...

160: Adam Carson (AFI)

21 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Adam Carson co-founded AFI in 1991, when he was still in high school. Nearly 30 years later, the band is still going strong and has far surpassed its ...

BNS: Joey Castillo Answers Listener Questions

21 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus mini-episode Joey Castillo answers listener questions about: recording techniques, his time with Scott Weiland, working out, and more! W...

159: Joey Castillo (Wasted Youth, Sugartooth, QotSA, Eagles of Death Metal, Zakk Sabbath)

14 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Joey Castillo grew up in Gardena, CA, and he found an early musical home in the vital Southern California punk scene of the early 80s. Joey's unique s...

158: Stephanie Luke AKA Rusty Coathanger (The Coathangers)

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Stephanie Luke grew up in a conservative, southern family, but she found her true tribe after discovering punk rock. She tells Joe about being a "nerd...

157: Orpheo McCord (The Magnetic Zeros, Cass McCombs, The Fall)

01 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Orpheo McCord stops by The Trap Set to tell Joe about: being raised by a Merry Prankster and a model; living without a game plan; the shortcomings of ...

156: Michael Stuart-Ware (Love, The Sons of Adam)

21 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Although Love never became a household name like some of its contemporaries, the band is certainly one of the most innovative and influential rock ban...

155: Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (The Killers, Big Talk)

14 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ronnie Vannucci joins Joe for a discussion about his childhood in Las Vegas; the genesis of The Killers and how they've navigated band dynamics over n...

Remembering Leon "Ndugu" Chancler

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, the world lost the great Leon "Ndugu" Chancler at the age of 65. Ndugu's art has been a constant presence in Joe's life for as long as he c...

154: The Trap Set Turns Three!

31 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

"So, it's come to this," as the Simpsons would say! This week, for the third anniversary of the show, Joe is joined by co-producer, Chris Karwowski. T...

153: Abe Rounds (Meshell Ndegeocello, Seal, Doyle Bramhall, Andrew Bird)

24 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Abe Rounds was born into a musical family in Sydney and began drumming at age one. Now 26, he has quickly become one of his generation's most sought-a...

152: Live in Minnesota (Eric Gravatt, Lori Barbero, Todd Trainer, Gordy Knudtson)

17 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Joe sits down with four of The Twin Cities' most captivating drummers. Gordy Knudtson and Todd Trainer describe their respective approaches to teachin...

151: Chad Molter (Faraquet, Medications, Grass)

10 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Chad Molter grew up playing bass, but he became picked up drums in a matter of months in order to co-found Faraquet, a DC-based band that merged progg...

ML1: Laura Veirs + Carol Kaye (Beach Boys, Sonny and Cher, Frank Sinatra, etc.)

03 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past several months, Joe has been co-producing a new podcast hosted by Laura Veirs called Midnight Lightning. We're excited to share the very...

BNS: Bernard Purdie Revisited

27 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The Trap Set team is taking some time off to enjoy the holidays, so we've decided to share one of our very favorite early conversations with the inimi...

BNS: Bill Ward Answers Listener Questions

20 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus mini-episode, Bill Ward answers listener questions ranging from Black Sabbath to his favorite meal. Be sure to listen to last week's epi...

150: Bill Ward (Black Sabbath, Day of Errors)

13 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

As a child in working-class Birmingham, the only career options presented to Bill Ward were working in a factory or enlisting in the military. Against...

149: Bryan Devendorf (The National)

06 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Despite a deceptively unassuming stage persona, Bryan Devendorf's cleverly deconstructed beats are central to The National's sonic identity. He tells ...

BNS: Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra, Solo Artist)

29 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're hard at work on a new live episode and a special Episode 150, so here's one of our favorite episodes, featuring the legendary Billy C...

148: Aaron Steele (Chrome Sparks, Portugal The Man, Alice Smith)

22 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Steele grew up in New York City, raised by two Panamanian immigrants who become pastors. His adventurous spirit, deep pocket, and attention to s...

147: Scott McPherson (Elliott Smith, M. Ward, Sense Field, etc.)

15 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Scott McPherson's seemingly effortless musicality has made him the drummer of choice for many of his generation's greatest songwriters. He tells Joe a...

146: Dave King (The Bad Plus, Happy Apple)

08 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Minnesota native, Dave King, grew up a voracious listener of seemingly disparate forms of music. This is reflected in his playing, which illuminates t...

145: Riley Breckenridge (Thrice, Less Art)

01 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Riley Breckenridge dreamed of becoming a professional athlete, but after his prospects were cut short after an injury, he turned to drums. He achieved...

144: Steven Drozd (The Flaming Lips)

25 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Steven Drozd joined The Flaming Lips in 1991. His one of a kind drumming style fuses Bonhamesque bombast with a clever compositional sense reminiscent...