First, Last and Always

Concert stories from all over the place.

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Episode 25: We’re moving!

We're back with an important update: as of the end of August, First, Last and Always will no longer exist as an independent podcast.

Why's that? Well, at some point in the future, we'll be joining up with metal blog Nine Circles as a featured series on their recently-revamped podcast feed! (And in case the exclamation didn't make it clear, we're pretty stoked on that!)

Exact timing on the move / new episodes is TBD -- Dan's still in school, after all -- but one thing is set in stone: this feed will be shutting down at the end of the month! So, if you want to stay in the loop on FLA going forward, make sure you take a listen to Episode 25!

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Episode 24: Mark Angel Brandt!

Last episode before another nursing school hiatus! And joining us this time, the inimitable Mark Angel Brandt!

Mark (pictured above right, alongside Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder) is a teacher, writer and fellow metalhead currently based in Merída, Yucatán, Mexico. He is also co-Managing Editor for UK/EU at the Canadian heavy music website, PureGrainAudio, which recently acquired his former website, Broken Amp.

Mark joined Dan for an excellent, wide-ranging chat just before the end of your host's winter break. It's got your first, last and always, but also a whole mess of other landmark shows from Mark's life. It was an excellent time all around and the perfect way to close out this "mini-season." So jump on in and take a listen!

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Episode 23: Durf!

We’re back with an all-new episode! Joining us this time around: Brutalitopia head instigator, Durf!

Durf is a Chicagoan, a blogger, construction worker and fellow metalhead, and friend of Dan’s since the glorious experience that was Maryland Deathfest 2016. He’s also a fellow music nerd, so when he joined Dan on New Year’s Eve day to record his installment of First, Last and Always, all kinds of tangents abounded. (Abund? I dunno. Words are weird.) At any rate, the conversation was terrific, and we’re thrilled to share it with you. Jump on in and take a listen!

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Episode 22: Kelsey Zimmerman

We're back with Episode 22, and another awesome guest in Kelsey Zimmerman! 

Kelsey --- known to some as Kelsey Chapstick --- is a drummer, MetalSucks blogger, Blast Beat Network advertising expert, and a friend and former neighbor (sort of?) of Dan's up in New York. She joined Dan just before the holiday for a great chat about her FLA shows --- including one that got Dan all kinds of jealous. There'll be no spoilers in this description, so for more, jump on in and take a listen!

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Episode 21: Tom Campagna

We're back with a brand-new, full-length episode of First, Last and Always featuring the most excellent Tom Campagna! Tom is a teacher, a family man, a blogger, and most importantly (nowhere near most importantly) a metalhead. As a contributor to Brutalitopia, Invisible Oranges and others, he's well-versed in all things heavy.

Tom joined Dan before the Christmas holiday to talk about his big three shows, and let’s just say one of the big themes of their conversation was: "location, location, location!" We're talking shows in meat lockers, boats, you name it! And some killer bands like Primitive Man, Eyehategod and others, to boot! Jump on in and check it out!

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FLA Minis #4: Jon Petkau Returns!

We're back! Finally! And with us, a very special return guest in one Jonathan Petkau. Jon rejoins us a little more than a year after his original episode to fill us in on an awesome show by Australian progressive metal band Ne Obliviscaris in Calgary, Canada. Plus, we talk a little bit about his own metal project, Domestikwom, which just released its excellent, debut full-length, A Peace That Destroys. That's just the tip of the iceberg on this edition of FLA Minis, so jump on in and take a listen!

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FLA Minis #3: Kevin Dillon Returns!

Kevin Dillon, our esteemed guest from Episode 16, returns to First, Last and Always for his very own FLA Mini! He joined us via Skype last weekend to discuss the recent (okay, it was in March) Kreator / Sepultura / Soilwork / Aborted show he caught in Dublin. As per usual, it was a terrific chat, and we're stoked to bring it to you. Jump on in and give it a listen!

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Episode 20: Bekki Vaden

We're back! Dan's finished up school for the semester and ready to kick off our third "season" with an AWESOME chat with Bekki Vaden!

A Tennessee native, Bekki is a mother, a podcaster, a women's health advocate and all-around awesome person. She's an avid #metalbandcampgiftclub member, and a co-host of the podcast On the Rag Again, alongside two of our former guests, Seth Werkheiser and Megan Osztrosits!

Bekki joined Dan for a terrific chat about all manner of awesome concert experiences -- from taking her son to see his favorite band, to dressing up in costume at a Dolly Parton show. Give it a listen!

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“Season 3″ -- Coming Soon!

Hey all,

It’s been a while! (I blame school.) In any case, the semester’s over, and that means we’ll be back with some new episodes really soon! I don’t know if it’s fair to call it “Season 3,” but...our third little mini-batch of episodes, I guess. In the meantime, by way of an apology, here’s a picture of Amorphis from their show in Philadelphia back in March.

Catch y’all soon!

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Episode 19: Hera Vidal

Our guest in Episode 19 is Hera Vidal! Hera is a writer, researcher and metalhead based in Southern California, who writes and reviews music for the website Metal Bandcamp, as well as on her own Instagram. She and Dan gush a little about Amorphis and Jeff Lynne (not at the same show, bear in mind...but how weird would that have been?) and then dig into Nightwish, Moenia and all manner of other topics. Jump on in and give it a listen!

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Episode 18: Josh Stewart

We're back with a conversation with Josh Stewart! Josh hails from South Carolina, and currently runs the show over at metal blog Nine Circles. (Which your host may or may not know a thing or two about.) He's also an active #metalbandcampgiftclub-er and one of the nicest, most stand-up dudes you will ever meet. So yes, he and Dan talked about their share of metal, but they also strayed into country territory for a bit, too. (Woohoo, genre diversity!) All that and tons more in Episode 18, so jump on in and take a listen!

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Episode 17: Brendan Hesse

Welcome back! Our guest this time out is Brendan Hesse. Brendan is a writer for Digital Trends, a Pacific Northwesterner and a former colleague of Dan's at Nine Circles -- so you know there's gonna be some metal in this chat. But would you guess there's also some Backstreet Boys? And a TOTALLY awesome "Always"? (Seriously--shit-eating grin material, y'all.) Jump in and check it out!

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FLA Minis #2: Khemmis / Crypt Sermon Pre-Show Roundtable (1/14/17; Brooklyn, NY)

We're back with the second edition of FLA Minis! This time, we're joined by an awesome panel of metalheads, including Tom Campagna (writer for Brutalitopia and Invisible Oranges), Anton Santanen (Zyklonius from #metalbandcampgiftclub, Nine Circles), Frank Santorelli (Frank of Metal, Nine Circles) and our recent guest from Episode 15, Chris Voss! We recorded over drinks at Milk and Roses in Greenpoint, Brooklyn -- just before last Saturday's Khemmis / Crypt Sermon / Sanhedrin show at Saint Vitus -- and talked about recent and forthcoming shows, bad performances from good artists...all manner of things! It was fun. Take a listen!

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Crypt Sermon -- January 14, 2017 at Saint Vitus (Brooklyn, NY)

Probably my favorite shot from the evening. Bassist Matt Knox and vocalist Brooks Wilson -- and, if you look closely, guitarist Steve Jansson and drummer Enrique Sagarnaga -- straight up killing it during Crypt Sermon’s gig at Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus over the weekend.

There may be a little audio-related something something forthcoming about this. I dunno. Maybe. BUT...if you’re into old school doom metal, you owe it to yourself to check the Philly crew out.

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Episode 16: Kevin Dillon

We've got our first intercontinental guest this week! Kevin Dillon joins us from Ireland to share his First, Last and Always in Episode 16. Kevin is a drummer, a writer and a film buff who combines those last two interests on his blog, Small Screen Saver. He's also a dedicated metalhead, who told some great stories about Metallica, Babymetal and a particularly riveting tale of lost shoes. What's that mean? Jump on in and take a listen!

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Episode 15: Chris Voss

Our guest this week is Chris Voss! Chris is a musician (Necrolytic Goat Converter, FirstForgiveness), writer (Nine Circles) and all-around good guy from Long Island, New York. He joins Episode 15 to talk about, well...a whole bunch of shows that make Dan jealous as all hell! We're talking Def Leppard, Opeth, you name it. Plus, a whole bunch of nerding out about Metallica and philosophies of music fandom. It's a great time all around, so jump on in and take a listen!

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Episode 14: Eric Pressman

Our guest this week is Eric Pressman! Eric is a veteran of the punk and hardcore communities, having played in both The Mistake and Terror, as well as a stint as tour manager for Throwdown. He joined for a chat last week and covered all manner of awesome stuff: a Bon Jovi and Skid Row show, tales from Ozzfest, plus a recommendation for Minneapolis black metal band False's next all-covers set! What band did he recommend? Jump on in and give it a listen!