This Was The Scene Podcast

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The Copyrights are a punk rock band from Carbondale, Illinois, known for their fast, melodic sound and sharp, hook-heavy songwriting. Formed in 2002, the band draws heavily from the classic pop-punk tradition of bands like Screeching Weasel, The Queers, and Dillinger Four. Over the years, they've released a steady run of albums packed with short, energetic songs that balance humor, frustration, and everyday life. They've built a loyal following through years of touring and appearances at punk festivals like The Fest in Gainesville. More than two decades in, The Copyrights remain a dependable part of the DIY punk scene, delivering catchy punk rock without trying to reinvent the wheel.
Us being on the same bill together in a school in Illinois
Meeting Ian MacKaye when he was 12
Story of the Year
Red Scare Records
fucking up on stage
What's up with No Idea Records
Dear Landlord
All American Rejects
Fest with Brendan Kelly singing Slapstick
And a ton more
Catch them at Fest this year.

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Gatsbys American Dream is a Seattle-based rock band known for blending pop-punk, post-hardcore, progressive rock, and emo into a sound that rarely stays in one lane. Formed in the early 2000s, the band built a devoted following with albums like Ribbons and Sugar, Volcano, and their self-titled 2006 record. Their songs are packed with unusual structures, sharp hooks, literary references, and the kind of unpredictable shifts that made them stand out from the mid-2000s scene. Despite never reaching the mainstream level of many of their contemporaries, Gatsbys became a cult favorite and influenced plenty of bands that followed. After years of sporadic activity, the band reunited and released Modern Man in 2025, their first full-length album in nearly two decades.
I got Nic on the Zoom and this is what we chat about:
There's a song out there where he's auditioning for Chiodos
Playing short sets on purpose
Acceptance band
progressing their sound on the 2nd record
Getting made fun of by Goldfinger fans
Kane Hodder
Fearless Records
Their $40,000 music video
Playing with Katy Perry on Warped Tour
Flipping their van
Pranking on the road
And a ton more
Check out their shows in Austin and Chicago in Nov and Seattle in Dec.

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Mae is an American alternative rock and emo band formed in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2001. Known for their melodic songwriting, atmospheric sound, and uplifting lyrics, they became a standout act in the mid-2000s emo scene with albums like Destination: Beautiful and The Everglow. Rather than leaning into angst, Mae built a loyal following through themes of hope, self-reflection, and personal growth. Their energetic live shows and strong connection with fans helped them earn a lasting place alongside many of the era's most respected independent bands. More than two decades later, Mae continues to be celebrated as one of the most thoughtful and enduring bands to emerge from the 2000s alternative scene.
Sounding like Jimmy Eat World
His first band Unsung Zeros
Joining MAE
Seeing color when you hear music
Writing Everglow
The band's take on religion
Singularity
Helping charities while on tour
And a ton more
Follow whatismae to keep an eye out for their new album that's coming out on Equalvision Records.

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…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead formed in Austin, Texas in the mid-'90s, led by longtime creative partners Conrad Keely and Jason Reece. The band quickly became known for explosive live shows, smashed gear, instrument swapping, and a sound that blended post-hardcore, noise rock, punk, and indie rock. Their early albums built a strong underground following before they signed with Interscope Records and released Source Tags & Codes in 2002. That album became the band's breakthrough, featuring songs like "Another Morning Stoner," "Relative Ways," and "How Near, How Far." Over the years, Trail of Dead continued experimenting with everything from sprawling concept albums to progressive and orchestral rock while keeping their raw energy intact. More than 25 years into their career, they remain one of the most unpredictable and ambitious bands to come out of the late-'90s indie and post-hardcore scene.
I got Conrad and Jason on the Zoom and this is what we chat about:
Growing up in Seattle scene
Sneaking into a studio to record their first album
Merge Records
Interscope Records
Recording Source Tags & Codes
Trashing their equipment during their sets
Will You Smile Again
The Jesus Lizard story
Their thoughts on Spotify and streaming
The Slipknot story (you don't want to miss this one)
And a ton more
Go give Conrad's Patreon a follow
Catch Jason's band on tour and give their instagram a follow.
Check out their show with Frank Turner on Sept 27 in Dallas, TX at Southside Ballroom.

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Senses Fail emerged from New Jersey in 2002 and became one of the defining bands of the 2000s post hardcore and emo scene. Known for blending melodic hooks with aggressive instrumentation, the band built a devoted following through emotionally raw lyrics and high energy live performances. Frontman Buddy Nielsen has remained the driving force behind the group, guiding its evolution through multiple lineup changes while continuing to release new music. Albums like Let It Enfold You, Still Searching, and Life Is Not a Waiting Room helped cement Senses Fail as a staple for fans of heartfelt, cathartic rock. More than two decades into their career, the band continues to tour and create music while influencing a new generation of artists in the alternative scene.
Shot out to Ryan Dominguez from Tokyo Rose for suggesting this convo and helping Mike and I connect. Which we did on the Zoom and this is what we chat about:
His thoughts on who's winning in the music industry
Tokyo Rose
Johnny KillBrand
Drive Thru and Vagrant
Is Dave Flores the inspiration for the artwork of Let It Enfold You
Leaving the band
Penfold
How he helped get Let It Enfold You certified
And a ton more
Please buy some merch if you'd like to help out.