The Hang! As Seen On Almost Famous Magazine!

Mad Tab & Norwood Fisher on The Story Behind “Awake”, Punk, Ska, Synths, DIY Videos & the New Album!

Mad Tab has been grinding through the Orange County and Huntington Beach punk underground since 2006 — surviving lineup changes, DIY shows, reggae and rocksteady detours, long silences, and the kind of chaos most bands never make it through. Now, with the release of “Awake” and the upcoming full-length album "Alas! The Bomb Voyage…", Mad Tab is stepping into a new era with the backing of Norwood Fisher, founding member and bassist of the legendary genre-breaking band Fishbone. Dave and Graham talk about growing up together, discovering punk, ska, reggae, and hardcore, and turning years of friendship into a creative partnership built on lyrics, riffs, chaos, and instinct. Graham shares how influences like Fishbone, The Specials, Madness, Sublime, NOFX, Strung Out, and classic ska helped shape his playing, while Dave explains how keyboards, synths, organ, and cinematic ideas became part of Mad Tab’s punk identity. Norwood explains why Mad Tab became the first artist he chose to back through InnaNuttshell Reekordingz, calling the band a complete package because of their songwriting, production, and fully realized creative vision. The conversation also dives into the band’s DIY videos, their love of film, the possibility of Norwood appearing in a future Mad Tab video, dream collaborations, touring plans, and why supporting independent music matters now more than ever. This is more than a band interview. It is the story of a SoCal punk band that went through everything, kept writing, built its own machine, and finally sounds fully awake. 👉 Subscribe to The Hang! for more artist interviews, music stories, punk rock conversations, and behind-the-scenes episodes with the people keeping independent music alive. #MadTab #NorwoodFisher #punk #skamusic #skapunk

Jesus Christ Taxi Driver on Lounge Punk Chaos, Taxi The Rich, and a band name you can't ignore!

Jesus Christ Taxi Driver breaks down their sound, their story, and why they’re redefining what punk can be. In this episode, Scott Saldinger sits down with Ian, Colin, and Miles of Jesus Christ Taxi Driver for a raw, hilarious, and completely unfiltered conversation. From the accidental origin of their band name to the creation of their latest album Taxi the Rich, this interview explores how chaos, collaboration, and zero rules shaped their identity. Here’s what makes this episode hit: this band doesn’t just play music—they experiment, collide genres, and build songs in real time. Punk, jazz, country, disco—it’s all in play. They call it “lounge punk”… and honestly, it fits. This interview explores songwriting without limits, building a band with shared creative ownership, and turning weird ideas into something fans can’t ignore. What You’ll Learn: • The real story behind the name! • How Taxi the Rich was created from pure experimentation • Why “lounge punk” might be the next evolution of punk rock • The best songs to start with if you’re new to the band If you’re into garage rock, indie bands, punk energy, or discovering artists before they blow up—this is your episode.   Linktree [https://linktr.ee/jctaxidriver?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=56ad3c90-e9ef-49b2-9874-e20aadb09837]

Leah Nawy Is Building Her Own Sonic World | The Hang!

Leah Nawy breaks down Quicksand, indie pop songwriting, music production, and navigating the modern music industry as an independent artist in New York City. In this episode of The Hang!, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Leah Nawy,  a Taiwanese American indie pop artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist — for a powerful conversation on creativity, identity, and building a sound that blends indie rock, folk, soul, and electronic textures. This interview explores Leah Nawy’s journey from the New Jersey live music scene to the New York City indie music world, and the emotional story behind her single “Quicksand.” Written as a conversation between her present self and her inner child, the song captures anxiety, growth, and self-reflection in a way that resonates deeply with listeners. In this episode, Leah also shares how she taught herself music without perfect pitch, developed her own songwriting system, and evolved into a self-producing artist experimenting with synths, guitar layers, and vocal production. What you’ll learn about Leah: • How Leah Nawy first connected with music through piano, performance, and family • The story behind “Quicksand” and its inner-child perspective • Why production, texture, synth bass, guitar, and vocal stacks shape her sound • How independent artists navigate creativity, social media, singles, EPs, and albums Leah also discusses her dream collaboration with Brittany Howard, the influence of mentors from Lakehouse Music Academy, and what comes next as she prepares new singles, an EP, and eventually a full album. Subscribe to Almost Famous Magazine for more artist interviews, music journalism, and deep conversations on The Hang!   Website [http://leahnawy.info/]

EZ Band on Viral Success, Touring & Future Plans!

In this episode of The Hang!, EZ Band breaks down their viral success, touring growth, and genre-defying sound. In this episode, host Scott Saldinger sits down with EZ Band—Jaime, Aldo, Johnny, and Nate—to uncover how they transformed viral TikTok covers into a national touring phenomenon. This interview explores their unique ability to fuse Norteño, rock, hip-hop, and pop into a sound that connects with diverse audiences across the U.S. From early experimentation to selling out shows and performing for massive crowds, EZ Band shares the strategy, creativity, and hustle behind their rise. Here’s what you’ll learn about building a viral music brand, mastering live performance, and standing out in today’s music industry. Whether you're a music fan, artist, or creator, this episode delivers real insight into how modern bands break through using social media, originality, and performance. 👉 Subscribe for more music interviews, artist stories, and behind-the-scenes industry insights 👉 Follow EZ Band and catch them live on tour Website [https://ezbandofficial.com/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ezbandofficial/]

Khurram on Conscious Rap, Cultural Fusion & Finding His Voice

In this episode of The Hang! from Almost Famous Magazine, Scott Saldinger sits down with Khurram, a Pakistani American rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer whose music blends hip-hop, melodic rap, and South Asian influence into something deeply personal. Khurram traces his journey back to a family rooted in Pakistani music, growing up between cultural tradition and the realities of life in America. He talks about how basketball, freestyle sessions, and later the Los Angeles dance community helped shape his creative path, eventually pushing him from movement into music. What comes through in this conversation is an artist who is not chasing trends. He is building a sound that reflects where he comes from, what he believes, and how he wants to connect with people. The conversation also dives into Khurram’s socially conscious side, including the story behind his song inspired by Palestinian journalist Motaz Azaiza and why he believes hip-hop should still report on what is happening in the world. He shares the songs new listeners should start with, why timeless music matters more than hype, and how independence has helped him protect his creative identity. If you care about conscious rap, cultural fusion, independent artists, and music with something real to say, this is a powerful episode to watch. #Khurram #ConsciousRap #DesiHipHop #pakistaniamerican #independenthiphopartist  Chapters: 0:00 Intro to The Hang! and guest Khurram 2:08 Meeting Khurram + shared values and connection 4:21 Pakistani roots and early musical influences 6:29 Basketball, freestyle rap, and hip-hop beginnings 9:46 LA move, dance community, and creative awakening 12:15 Transition into music and cultural fusion sound 14:45 The story behind “River to the Sea” 19:49 Songs to start with: “Love Torture,” “World of Hate,” Elevate 26:16 Creating timeless music vs chasing trends 33:43 Independence, consistency, and Spotify growth strategy 34:53 Dream collaboration: why Macklemore 39:32 Artists Khurram is listening to right now 42:41 Final thoughts, supporting artists, and closing message The Hang! Podcast – Presented by Almost Famous Magazine https://www.almostfamousmagazine.com