Ron breaks down the extensive public nomination and voting process, how the museum preserves and documents Illinois music history across all genres, and new initiatives like the upcoming Amplify Illinois project (which I agreed to help with). We dive into this year’s stacked class of inductees and honorees, including Terri Hemmert, Plain White T’s, Jim Peterik, Kevin Cronin, Koko Taylor, The Flock, The Boyzz, Curtis Mayfield, WDRV (The Drive), and Brunswick Records. Plus, Ron shares stories about the museum’s roots, the all-star house band, and what fans can expect on induction night.

Tickets and event details are available at roadtorock.org.

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Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. 

They’re local, headquartered in the heart of Hermosa. Here’s why I want you to consider them for your t-shirts, merch, whatever – their focus is on small businesses, bands, brands, and everything in between. 

They’ve worked on products for Meat Wave, Empty Bottle, the Music Box, Dante’s Pizzeria, the Brokedowns, and the list goes on and on. 

Jonathan at Exploding House has been doing screen printing for decades. He knows what he’s doing – besides his technical expertise, he delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices. Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or check out their site at exploding house printing dot com for a quote, or to see a list of some of their clients.

The post 2026 Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony set for 9/27 (Episode 1142) appeared first on Car Con Carne.

Sam details how Dogs with Hats grew from a solo bedroom recording project into a tight, hard-touring unit, as well as the organic recording sessions at Palisade Studios for their debut EP Lampshades at the Party. We also get into the impact of their infectious song “Almost Famous,” navigating major-label interest on DIY terms, and why staying committed to craft and full-length album cohesion matters far more than feeding the modern release algorithm.

Dogs with Hats plays Beat Kitchen on November 12.

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Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. They’re local, headquartered in the heart of Hermosa. Here’s why I want you to consider them for your t-shirts, merch, whatever – their focus is on small businesses, bands, brands, and everything in between.

They’ve worked on products for Meat Wave, Empty Bottle, the Music Box, Dante’s Pizzeria, the Brokedowns, and the list goes on and on. Jonathan at Exploding House has been doing screen printing for decades. He knows what he’s doing – besides his technical expertise, he delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices.

Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or check out their site at exploding house printing dot com for a quote, or to see a list of some of their clients.

The post The rapid and deserved rise of Dogs With Hats (Episode 1141) appeared first on Car Con Carne.

After years performing as Burr Oak, Savanna decided to wipe the slate clean and step into a new creative chapter under her own name. We talk about the breakthrough moment of writing “Bad Thoughts,” turning the raw fallout of a major breakup into vulnerable and relatable songs, and why artists have to give themselves permission to change direction entirely.

We also dive into what it was like working with co-producers Scott Lucas (Local H) and Blake Smith (Fig Dish, Caviar), alongside drummer Jason Batchko. Savanna breaks down how that powerhouse team pushed her to dig deeper, sharpen her lyrics, and deliver an unapologetic record. Plus, we get into the Jim Carroll inspiration behind the album title and why putting the full record out on vinyl via Easy Does It Records matters so much.

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Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. Check them out at explodinghouseprinting.com!

The post Breakups and breakthrough songwriting moments – Savanna Ruth (Episode 1140) appeared first on Car Con Carne.

Episode Highlights

• Radio Nostalgia & Cassette Tapes: Zak brings in his childhood box of handwritten cassette radio rips from late-’90s Q101 broadcasts, sharing early memories of recording tracks off the airwaves and attempting a fourth-grade talent show performance of Silverchair and 311.
• Origins & Evolution: The duo traces their history back to meeting in college, initially bonding over pop-punk, emo, and an Alkaline Trio cover set before steering into darker, more aggressive sonic territory.
• Dissecting Wrath: Alex and Zak detail the creative workflow behind key tracks like “Crucible” and “Thorn Crown,” explaining how bass-driven foundations, layered guitars, and vocal hooks helped define the tone of the record.
• Featured Collaborations: Zak discusses the making of the track “Tomb,” featuring guest vocals from Harlee of the Chicago band Bosses.
• Horror Influences & What’s Ahead: The band dives into favorite horror cinema classics (including Hellraiser, The Thing, and Rosemary’s Baby) and shares what’s next as they balance tour dates, live sets, and early writing for future releases.

Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. They’re local, headquartered in the heart of Hermosa. Here’s why I want you to consider them for your t-shirts, merch, whatever: their focus is on small businesses, bands, brands, and everything in between. Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or check out their site at exploding house printing dot com for a quote, or to see a list of some of their clients.

The post The shapes of ‘Wrath’ – Zak and Alex of Bleached Cross (Episode 1139) appeared first on Car Con Carne.

Discussed in this episode:

• Joining the Ramones: Richie reflects on joining the band in 1983, navigating the group’s mid-80s era, and writing iconic tracks like “Somebody Put Something in My Drink.”
• Life on the Road & Leaving the Band: What led to his departure in 1987, including the infamous merchandise dispute and the realities of touring Europe in the pre-Euro era.
• Transition to Acting: How a chance encounter at a horror convention launched a second career in film, including recent projects like Deify and working alongside Clint Howard.
• The Legacy of Punk: Richie discusses why the Ramones’ music remains timeless, connecting with generations of fans at conventions, and what true punk rock means to him.
• What’s Next: Future touring plans, scoring films, and his dream of voicing an anime punk rock character.

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Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or check out their site at exploding house printing dot com for a quote, or to see a list of some of their clients.

The post Somebody put a Ramone in my podcast: Richie Ramone (Episode 1138) appeared first on Car Con Carne.

Car Con Carne is 100% independently-run, and has been since it launched in 2014.

Car Con Carne has always been supported by brands and businesses who believe that brand awareness is boosted through inclusion on shows like mine. I’ve had sponsors large and small through the years, and I’d like to take a second to speak to the latter.

As a way to invite more people and brands to be part of the show. I’ve made ad prices intentionally low, and flights more short-term, to allow for established brands to exist side-by-side with curious and first-time advertisers. The sign-up form and transparent pricing structure are below.

Going the Patreon model never made sense for Car Con Carne; I don’t like the idea of paywalling certain content, especially content that helps expose artists and other persons of interest. Instead, I prefer to partner with local businesses that I can talk up with genuine enthusiasm and interest.

Ad money supports Car Con Carne and its ongoing expenses. Those expenses include monthly charges for various platform subscriptions and fees (e.g. Libsyn, GoDaddy hosting, Adobe, etc.), gas money, equipment needs/upgrades and even the occasional meal/drinks for guests.

When you advertise on the podcast, you help support its existence and growth, while also getting your message out on an evergreen digital episode.

Your ad message will be a “live read” (not prerecorded) message voiced by James VanOsdol at the “top” of the show (within the first five minutes). Additionally:

• Ad copy will be included in corresponding full-episode descriptions (carconcarne.com, YouTube, RSS distributed copy).
• Message will be heard and seen on full-length episodes (e.g. Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Audible, YouTube)
• Logo (PNG, JPEG) can be included in the video version of the sponsored episode(s). 
• A dedicated video file (9:16 mp4) of one live read from the show will be provided for your own use on social media channels (e.g. Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok). Please allow 7-10 days after episode publication to receive the file! Note: One video file provided per campaign, meaning if you buy time on four episodes you will receive one file, not four.

No more than three ads/messages from three different sponsors will be featured on a single episode.

Once this form is complete, I’ll follow up directly over email to talk about messaging and timing and discuss payment details (Venmo, PayPal, Gold Key Magnus: Robot Fighter and/or Swamp Thing comic books preferred).

I look forward to working with you!

James VanOsdol

Note: Car Con Carne reserves the ability to refuse ads based on any number of factors, including political messaging, unproven claims, and inappropriate/potentially offensive content. I don’t expect to face a situation like that, but it’s worth saying up front.

Car Con Carne averages five episodes per month. It’s never fewer than four (even when my appendix exploded last Fall!). Some months have even posted 7-8 over a four-week period (that may have been excessive). The pricing structure is as follows:

One ad/one show – $30

Two ads/two shows -$55

Three ads/three shows – $75

Four ads/four shows – $90

Six months / minimum 24 shows – $500

The post Advertise on Car Con Carne – It’s cheap and fun! appeared first on Car Con Carne.

James and Ron dive into:

• Saving Historic Venues: The stories behind reviving century-old local landmarks and turning them into bustling community centers.
• The Chicago Concert Business: Navigating the most competitive live music market in the country, radius clauses, and how personal relationships keep major acts coming back.
• The Full Experience: How Ron intertwines live rock, speakeasy culture, vintage pinball, and authentic Italian dining (including the new Rock ‘N Ravioli) to give audiences a complete night out.
• What’s Next: The upcoming centennial celebration of the Arcada Theatre, new projects on Harlem Avenue, and keeping the spirit of classic rock alive.

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Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. They’re local, headquartered in the heart of Hermosa. Here’s why I want you to consider them for your t-shirts, merch, whatever – their focus is on small businesses, bands, brands, and everything in between. Check out their work on Instagram at @explodinghouse, or check out their site at explodinghouseprinting.com for a quote, or to see a list of some of their clients.

The post Arcada Theatre/Des Plaines Theatre owner Ron Onesti (Episode 1137) appeared first on Car Con Carne.

In this episode of Car Con Carne, James VanOsdol catches up with Ian from Chicago post-rock/metal instrumental powerhouses Coyote Man. Parked outside Noon Whistle Brewery in Naperville where a record and comic book show was coincidentally (?) happening, they dive into the band’s long-awaited new album, Prosthetic Memories.

What’s In This Episode:

• Breaking the Instrumental Rule: Discover the story behind “Faith in a Burning Room,” the album’s closing track featuring vocals (yes, vocals) from guest singer Chris.
• 5 Years in the Making: How Prosthetic Memories evolved over five years, blending heavy riffs, psychedelic soundscapes, and even 20-year-old unused ideas.
• Production: Bringing in producer Dan Klein to help sequence a seamless, cinematic “Pink Floyd-style” album experience.
• Finally on Vinyl: Why releasing this album on physical vinyl through Smashed Plastic makes this milestone release so special for the band.

Catch Coyote Man Live!

• Album Release Show: August 21st at Liar’s Club in Chicago
• Album Streaming: Available everywhere starting August 14th

Car Con Carne is proudly brought to you by Exploding House Printing.

The post Coyote Man is back and still (mostly) an instrumental band (Episode 1136) appeared first on Car Con Carne.

In this interview, Chris breaks down:

• The origin of Neat New Monuments: How a vinyl reissue proposal from Foreign Leisure Records prompted him to pause his new Heligoats project, relearn his older material, and record new versions of the songs.
• Recording in Elburn, Illinois: Working with engineer Mark Walker and bringing in guest musicians with connections to the songs..
• Track-by-track changes: Reworking songs including “I See Molecules,” “14,000 Things…,” “Jackpot Stampede Deluxe,” “Safe and Sound,” and “Bees.”
• Craft and perspective: Taking poetry classes with Buddy Wakefield, reflecting on how his connection to his lyrics has evolved over two decades, and stepping back from modern tech connectivity.
• Release show and future plans: Playing the album release show at Kiss the Sky Records in Batavia and preparing for upcoming Heligoats recordings and tours.

Chris is a songwriting treasure, and these new versions are well worth a listen (if not an outright purchase of the vinyl version of the LP)!

Car Con Carne is sponsored by Exploding House Printing. Support them (and do your brand a favor) by visiting explodinghouseprinting.com!

The post Chris Otepka reinvents own Troubled Hubble songs with Heligoats (Episode 1135) appeared first on Car Con Carne.

Topics discussed:

• Naked Brunch’s origins via Craigslist and their self-described “slut rock” sound.
• The band’s recent 12-inch vinyl release on Rattleback Records featuring the tracks “Kiddie Pool” and “Humanoid”.
• Remixes on the 12-inch release by Chicago house music pioneer Ralphi Rosario and jazz trombonist/DJ Emma Blau (Tromblau).
• The economics and creative mission behind running an independent boutique record label.
• Rattleback Records’ new physical print zine, RPM, and its included flexi-disc releases.
• Upcoming live performances and music development for Naked Brunch.

Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. Check out their work on Instagram at @explodinghouse, or check out their site at explodinghouseprinting.com for a quote, or to see a list of some of their clients.

The post In praise of ‘slut rock’ – Naked Brunch at Rattleback (Episode 1134) appeared first on Car Con Carne.