RUINOUS Presents

Nate Mendel from the Foo Fighters: Live Nude Guys

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:55:00 -0500

Nate Mendel is the bass player of the Foo Fighters. He cut his teeth in the Northwest punk rock scene touring and recording with Diddly Squat, Christ On A Crutch and Sunny Day Real Estate, to name a few. In this episode Nate shares the curious history of nudity in his rock n roll career.

Music by Nate Mendel, Lieutenant, and Joe Plummer.

⁠https://lieutenantmusic.bandcamp.com/album/if-i-kill-this-thing-were-all-going-to-eat-for-a-week

This episode supported by our friends Izotope This episode is produced with Ozone 12, the newest from Izotope. Head over to izotope.com now for savings on all their production software. Go check out Ozone 12 Now! 20 plug-ins for mastering mastery. Use code FRET10 at checkout.

Ep supported by @distrokid. Distrokid now has Banzoogle, where you can build your website and store in minutes. @thetourstories listeners get 30% off at distrokid.com/vip/tourstories. GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE! ITS EASY WITH @distrokid

Companies mentioned in this episode:

Foo Fighters
Ruinous Media
Christ on a Crutch
Subvert

Mentioned in this episode:

Izotope

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Izotope⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the leader in audio repair, mixing and mastering. Ruinous uses ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Izotope⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you should too. Trust us. Check out Ozone 12 now!

Distrokid

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Navigating the Unpredictable: Stories from the Road

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 17:17:00 -0500

Yuki Matthews recounts an extraordinary experience involving an unexpected accommodation mishap due to a name mix-up, which leads to an unforeseen adventure during a headlining show at Coachella. The narrative unfolds as Yuki and his band, Seldom, find themselves in a precarious situation when they arrive at the home of a fan who, unbeknownst to them, is not the individual who initially reached out for their stay. This unexpected twist sets the stage for a series of events that culminate in a surreal encounter with a group of unfamiliar individuals in an unfurnished mansion. Concurrently, Yuki shares a harrowing account of his battle with hand, foot, and mouth disease during a pivotal performance, which ultimately transforms into one of the most memorable shows of his career. The episode encapsulates the unpredictable nature of life on tour, where unforeseen circumstances can lead to both chaos and triumph.

SPECIAL REQUEST FROM JOE ..."if you like this podcast, please subscribe and tell all your friends. also, if you love, hate or kinda sometimes like Tour Stories/The Check In, please express yourself loudly in the comments .

Lovingly, Joe

Links referenced in this episode:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Izotope⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is the leader in audio repair, mixing and mastering. Ruinous uses ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Izotope⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you should too. Trust us. Check out Ozone 12 now!

Ep supported by @distrokid. Distro now connects direct to

TikTok!!!!! with exclusive access to your tiktok artist account. @thetourstories listeners get 30% off at

distrokid.com/vip/tourstories.

GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE! ITS EASY WITH ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Distrokid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The narrative unfolds through the experiences of Yuki Matthews, who recounts a particularly tumultuous episode from his touring days with the band Seldom. The tale begins with an unexpected twist when an email from a fan, promising lodging during their Houston show, leads to unforeseen complications. The anticipation of a sold-out performance at Walters on Washington, coupled with the promise of hospitality from a fan named Darren Walker, sets the stage for a series of misadventures. What ensues is a comical yet alarming sequence of events, culminating in a dramatic confrontation with a stranger in an unfamiliar mansion. The episode intricately explores themes of trust, miscommunication, and the unpredictable nature of life on the road, accentuated by the revelation that two individuals share the same name, leading to a cascade of confusion and unexpected outcomes. Yuki's ability to narrate this experience with both humor and gravity highlights the unpredictable essence of touring life, providing listeners with a profound reflection on the challenges and surprises that accompany the pursuit of musical dreams.

Mentioned in this episode:

Distrokid

Izotope

Light in the Attic's Liner Notes - Ukrainian Sonic Archives

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 06:12:00 -0500

In this episode of Liner Notes, we go behind the music of a new release, Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996. Join liner notes writer, filmmaker, and music enthusiast Vitalii “Bard” Bardetskyi for a journey of historic significance through the sonic landscape of Kyiv, Lviv, & beyond.

Mentioned in this episode:

Distrokid

Izotope

Light in the Attic's Liner Notes - Pete Jolly's Seasons with The Wrecking Crew's Chuck Berghofer

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 02:32:00 -0500

Organic, electric, freeform. Pete Jolly's Seasons is an unsung masterpiece of ensemble groove and stellar musicianship, equally unsurpassed and inspired in its quiet excellence. Recorded in 1970, Seasons never had significant commercial success upon its release but has since amassed a cult following, leading collectors to pay top dollar for copies of the rare record, whose tracks would eventually be sampled by Cypress Hill, Jay Dee, & Busta Rhymes. Legendary Bassist Chuck Berghofer (The Wrecking Crew) not only plays on Seasons but was also a close friend of Pete Jolly. In this episode of Light in the Attic's Liner Notes, we hear from Chuck Berghofer himself along with music journalist & liner notes writer Dave Segal (The Stranger) to discuss the making of this improvisational masterpiece and celebrate the visionary talent of West Coast jazz keyboardist Pete Jolly. Liner Notes is a co-production of Light in the Attic and Ruinous Media. Edited and Mixed by Chris Duryee and Joe Plummer.

Mentioned in this episode:

Distrokid

Izotope

Light in the Attic's Liner Notes - A Tribute to Lou Reed with Bill Bentley

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 02:29:00 -0500

It goes without saying that the legendary Lou Reed was a true rock ’n’ roll pioneer. From The Velvet Underground’s debut in 1967 all the way through the end of his days, Reed sang truth from his heart. He lived life to the limit—and then some. On this episode of Light in the Attic's Liner Notes, we sit down with album producer Bill Bentley to talk about our new release, The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed. Bentley, who was Reed's publicist and friend, shares his personal stories and insights into the making of this compilation. The album is a tribute to Reed’s freedom of expression with new covers spanning his ground-breaking years with the Velvets into his majestic solo career. Featuring newly recorded covers from Keith Richards, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Rufus Wainwright, Lucinda Williams, Maxim Ludwig & Angel Olsen, Rickie Lee Jones, Mary Gauthier, Bobby Rush, Automatic, The Afghan Whigs, Rosanne Cash, and Brogan Bentley, The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed (Light in the Attic Records) is available at fine independent record shops worldwide on Record Store Day (4/20/24) and streaming everywhere you get your digital music.

Tracklist:

Keith Richards - I'm Waiting for the Man

Maxim Ludwig & Angel Olsen - I Can't Stand It

Rufus Wainwright - Perfect Day

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I'm So Free

Bobby Rush - Sally Can't Dance

Rickie Lee Jones - Walk on the Wild Side

The Afghan Whigs - I Love You, Suzanne

Mary Gauthier - Coney Island Baby

Lucinda Williams - Legendary Hearts

Automatic - New Sensations

Rosanne Cash - Magician

Brogan Bentley - The Power of the Heart (Bonus track CD/Digital Only)

Mentioned in this episode:

Distrokid

Izotope

Light in the Attic's Liner Notes - Lou Reed: Hudson River Wind Meditations

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 02:27:00 -0500

Hudson River Wind Meditations combines Reed's love of creating drone music with his passion for Tai Chi, yoga, and meditation. The album's ambient soundscapes have been described as a counterpoint to his intense Metal Machine Music album—but they are similar outliers in Reed's 40+ year exploration of drone music and feedback harmonics, music created specifically for a certain time and place of mind.

Liner Notes is a co-production of Light in the Attic and Ruinous Media.

Edited and Mixed by Chris Duryee and Joe Plummer.

Mentioned in this episode:

Distrokid

Izotope

Light in the Attic's Liner Notes - Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 02:21:00 -0500

This Light in the Attic podcast episode is a companion piece to Pacific Breeze, the acclaimed series of Japanese City Pop compilations.

Mark “Frosty” McNeil and Yosuke Kitazawa, co-producers of the Pacific Breeze series, delve into the origins of City Pop as well as breaking down specific tracks throughout the history of the genre. To learn more about Pacific Breeze and to pick up a copy of the record, visit the Light in the Attic site

Liner Notes is a co-production of LITA and Ruinous Media. Edited and Mixed by Chris Duryee and Joe Plummer

Mentioned in this episode:

Izotope

Distrokid

Light in the Attic's Liner Notes: Lou Reed: Words and Music May 1965

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 20:05:00 -0500

This Light in the Attic podcast is a companion piece to Words and Music, May 1965, an album of previously unreleased songs recorded by a young Lou Reed with future Velvet Underground bandmate, John Cale. It includes first known recordings of such iconic songs as "I'm Waiting for the Man" and "Heroin." These recordings will be released to the public for the first time on Light in the Attic Records.

Our host, Tunde Adebimpe sits down with Matt Sullivan (co-owner and founder of Light in the Attic Records) and Lou Reed archivists Jason Stern and Don Fleming to get their insights into how the tape was discovered and how the songs were recorded by Cale and Reed in the spring of 1965.

Listen along with Matt, Don and Jason as they share their appreciation and knowledge of these extraordinary recordings. Produced by Light in the Attic, Ruinous Media and Dann Gallucci.

Explore Light in the Attic's Lou Reed archive.

Listen to more podcasts at Ruinous Media.

Mentioned in this episode:

Distrokid

Izotope

Ruinous Media and Little Everywhere Present: Demoitis: The Shins, New Slang

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 08:00:00 -0500

Demoitus isn't just the artistic fear or regret that you've "lost the magic" on the path from first demo recording of a song to the “studio” version. It's also the experience musicians and artists go through getting to the final version.... the people, the spaces and the resources that influence the process.

As the 20th anniversary of the release of The Shins Oh, Inverted World arrives, we hear about the creation and the evolution of that album’s 2001 hit song New Slang with James Mercer, singer, songwriter and founding member of The Shins. We dive in with James and learn about the inspiration that helped create New Slang and The Shins itself, as well as hear for the first time the original micro cassette bedroom demos of the classic song.

Demoitis is hosted by Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse, The Shins, Mister Heavenly, Cold War Kids) and Dann Gallucci (Murder City Devils, Modest Mouse) and produced by Ruinous Media and Little Everywhere.

Mentioned in this episode:

Izotope

Distrokid

Ruinous Media Presents: Whittaker

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 13:00:00 -0500

We all want to celebrate, restore, and responsibly manage our wilderness areas. When Bobby Whitaker got off the road as a tour manager with REM and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, he did too and that’s exactly what happened. In this podcast, hear how Bobby Whitaker combined his tour managing skills and his love for the outdoor community to conquer the hearts and minds of a small Northwest town.

Bobby Whitaker IS the Northwest. He’s perfectly half grunge and half outdoors. When a young Bobby wasn’t learning the rules of the road with rockers Mudhoney, his alpinist/REI founding dad was showing him the rules of the woods in the Puget Sound. Hear the harrowing story of how he built a beautiful 25-mile trail on an otherwise unused rail corridor that benefits the community economically and brings them together. If you like Rock-N-Roll intuition and love the outdoors, let Bobby show you how dedication to community, hard work, and a little bit of punk rock attitude will build a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy.

https://ferrycountyrailtrail.com/

Sub Pop

Mentioned in this episode:

Distrokid

Izotope