What Lies Ahead Podcast

60- Cole and Cruz of Pool Scum

Cole and Cruz from NJ hardcore band Pool Scum talk about their new EP, which dropped in the late winter, and the run of shows they’ve been on since. We get into how the band first came together, their connection with Ant $ from E-Town Concrete, and what that’s meant for them. They also talk about their cover of Madball’s “Pride (Times Are Changing)” picking up traction online, and how they reacted to it reaching a wider audience. Toward the end, we touch on what’s next, including the direction their newer songs are heading and how their sound is evolving. Pool Scum (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/poolscum?igsh=MWVscHd5MHBjZXE5bA== [https://www.instagram.com/poolscum?igsh=MWVscHd5MHBjZXE5bA==]

59-Danielle Dombrowski- Photographer

In this episode, Danielle Dombrowski talks about her background in photography and how it developed alongside her involvement in the hardcore scene. She shares stories about the bands she’s worked with and her experience contributing to album projects, where her images help shape a band’s visual identity.  She explains what it’s like shooting hardcore shows in different venues, including how lighting can vary from dark, low-lit rooms to brighter spaces that change how she approaches a shot. Outside of photography, Danielle discusses the challenges she has faced with her health and what it’s like owning and running a hair salon. Balancing both has its challenges, but it’s an important part of her life. The discussion ends with her reviewing her favorite albums, and favorite bands she shot over the years. Danielle Dombrowski (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/danielledombrowskiphotography?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== [https://www.instagram.com/danielledombrowskiphotography?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Hair Design by Danielle (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/hairdesignbydanielle845?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== [https://www.instagram.com/hairdesignbydanielle845?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Danielle Dombrowksi Wedding Photography: https://daniellesweddinggallery.com/ [https://daniellesweddinggallery.com/]

58-Drew Stone and Tristan D'Graves of Incendiary Device

In this episode, I talk with Drew Stone and Tristan D’Graves of Incendiary Device. The interview focuses on their upcoming album, New York City, due out Friday, May 1 on Creep Records. We go track by track through the record, discussing how each song was written and the lyrical ideas behind it. We also get into how the band puts together their set lists, what they’re trying to do live, and how that connects to the new material. Drew and Tristan talk about their history in their previous bands and how that experience shaped where they are now. Drew discusses his work as a filmmaker, including NYHC Chronicles Live, his involvement in documenting hardcore over the years, and organizing shows at Bowery Electric. The interview wraps up with a conversation about their favorite records, shows, and a few other related topics.

57-Jame McElroy of Two Crow Collective

On my podcast, Jame McElroy [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=0] broke down the shift from Dirty Bourbon Clothing [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=1] into Two Crow Collective [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=2], and how that transition shaped what the brand became. We also talked about how “PBS is Punk” came about, how it grew quickly, and how it helped raise money for PBS [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=3]. The conversation also includes a day in the life of Two Crow, his favorite records, and what influences his work.

56-Shi of Scarboro

On this episode of the podcast, I talked with Shi from New York punk band Scarboro. The conversation focused on the band’s new album, Hate Season, coming out April 17 on Sell the Heart  and WTF Records. We went through the record track by track, discussing the lyrical themes and musical direction behind each song. Shi explained the band’s songwriting approach and how the songs work together as a full release, rather than standalone tracks. We also talked about how Scarboro structures their live setlists, including how they think about pacing, energy, and flow during a set. Shi shared how those decisions affect the way the songs from Hate Season are presented live. The episode also covered the origins of the band, how Scarboro formed, early influences, and how their background in the New York punk scene continues to shape their sound today.