Secrets From The Scene

Ep. 90: What Comes Back After 15 Years? The Plastic Constellations Reunion

This week on Secrets From the Scene, I’m joined by Aaron Mader and Jeff Allen of The Plastic Constellations. Since their band is coming back after more than 15 years, this ended up being a really fun conversation about friendship, memory, local music scenes, and what it feels like to step back into something that used to be such a huge part of your life. We talked about how the band started, what it’s been like to play together again after all this time, and how different music feels in your forties than it did in your twenties. We also got into the bigger-picture stuff around building a band then versus now: all-ages venues, promoting music before social media, the value of local scenes, and why real relationships still matter so much. Aaron and Jeff shared great stories about Foxfire, opening for Low at First Avenue while still in high school, and how a chance airport conversation with Craig Finn opened a door that changed the band’s trajectory. One of my favorite takeaways from this one was a line Aaron dropped near the end: a hang is a win. That idea kind of ties the whole episode together. Whether you’re trying to build a band, a creative career, or just a meaningful life with good people around you, there’s a lot in this conversation about showing up, playing the long game, and staying connected in person. Full show notes, links, & mentions [https://secretsfromthescene.com/90] Interested in working with us on your next song? 👋 ⁠https://helvigproductions.com/letsconnect⁠ [https://helvigproductions.com/letsconnect] Connect with the Guest: 🔗 https://instagram.com/lazerbeak [https://instagram.com/lazerbeak] 🔗 https://instagram.com/jeffallen [https://instagram.com/jeffallen] Featured Song: "Bring What You Bring" by The Plastic Constellations 🎧 Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/track/7sn8L0UE37NJ2k3xrxpbqz?si=1430285d36084754] 👀 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1UysFkP5Js] Connect with Me: ✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠ [https://secretsfromthescene.com/] 📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/secretsfromthescene/] 🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@secretsfromthescene] 📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@secretsfromthescene] Give Feedback: 📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠stephen@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠ [stephen@secretsfromthescene.com] 💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠podcast@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠ [podcast@secretsfromthescene.com] 🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/57b3vOVgDr5yF1Yt4lCLiN?si=21403747171c4f75] ✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secrets-from-the-scene/id1706158542] ⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠ [https://helvigproductions.com/] Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime. 🙏 Thank You This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening. Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Zj7gsA0rAKgUEecQpTPLh?si=uvrRfXAFQ_WHFGW1RN8gSQ]

Ep. 89: From Jay’s Longhorn to MTV - The Story of the Flamin’ Oh’s

This week I’m joined by Robert Wilkinson, Ben Kaplan, and Bob Burns of the Flamin’ Oh’s for a conversation about Twin Cities punk and rock history, the scene around Jay’s Longhorn, Twin/Tone, Fat City, Oar Folkjokeopus, KQRS compilations, local studios, and the people behind the scenes who helped shape and amplify what was happening. We talk about how that late-’70s scene opened the door for original music in Minneapolis, what made the Flamin’ Oh’s stand out, and how a band stays alive for decades. We also get into the band’s early records, working with Chuck Statler on videos for “I Remember Romance” and “Stop,” and how those clips were among the earliest music videos featured on MTV when the channel was brand new. On top of all that, Robert shares an amazing story about meeting David Bowie after a 1974 St. Paul show, and the guys tell the story of the time they ended up serving as Chuck Berry’s backing band at Riverfest. Full show notes, links, & mentions [https://secretsfromthescene.com/89] Interested in working with us on your next song? 👋 ⁠https://helvigproductions.com/letsconnect⁠ [https://helvigproductions.com/letsconnect] Connect with the Guest: 🔗 Robert Wilkinson [https://www.facebook.com/robert.wilkinson.58555] 🔗 Flamin' Oh's Website [https://www.flaminohs.com/] 🔗 Flamin' Oh's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FlaminOhs] Featured Song: 🎧 I Remember Romance [https://open.spotify.com/track/7GeyNPrvHhLMGkUDgZEp5S?si=2b6a409570cd4e00] Connect with Me: ✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠ [https://secretsfromthescene.com/] 📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/secretsfromthescene/] 🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@secretsfromthescene] 📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@secretsfromthescene] Give Feedback: 📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠stephen@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠ [stephen@secretsfromthescene.com] 💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠podcast@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠ [podcast@secretsfromthescene.com] 🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/57b3vOVgDr5yF1Yt4lCLiN?si=21403747171c4f75] ✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secrets-from-the-scene/id1706158542] ⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠ [https://helvigproductions.com/] Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime. 🙏 Thank You This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening. Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Zj7gsA0rAKgUEecQpTPLh?si=uvrRfXAFQ_WHFGW1RN8gSQ]

Ep. 88: The Season You’re In: Identity, Balance, and Music with Hank Donato

This week I am joined by Hank Donato, frontman of Beemer, and also a guy who has done a little bit of everything in the Twin Cities music world. We talk about the seasons of a music career, how priorities shift as life changes, and what it looks like to keep music meaningful even when it cannot be your whole life. Hank shares how he came up through the scene in John Chuck & The Class, spent years playing countless sideman gigs, and eventually ended up stepping into a newer chapter as a frontman. We also dig into the stuff that actually keeps sidemen working. Yes, chops matter, but Hank makes a great case that accuracy to the artist’s vision and being a good hang often matter even more. From there, we get into relationships and networks, how people grow together when it is real, and what happens when the “dream” starts to feel like a trap. We talk about parenthood, time constraints, identity, and why stepping back from full-time music does not have to mean stepping away from music. This is not an episode telling younger artists not to go for it. It’s the opposite. It’s about learning how to chase big dreams without tying your worth to outcomes, and how to build a relationship with music that can survive real life. * How Hank built his career through the Twin Cities scene * The underrated sideman skill set: serve the song, serve the vision, get your sound accurate * Why “good hang” is not fluff, it’s part of the job * How networks really form when the relationships are deeper than business * Reframing competition: keeping drive without falling into a scarcity mindset * Parenthood and the question a lot of artists eventually face: where does music fall now? * Survivorship bias, streaming-era pressure, and why the internet can distort what “success” looks like * A more sustainable definition of success that still feels ambitious and alive * Hank’s 10-year vision, and why fun is not a consolation prize Highlights Full show notes, links, & mentions [https://secretsfromthescene.com/88] Interested in working with us on your next song? 👋 ⁠https://helvigproductions.com/letsconnect⁠ [https://helvigproductions.com/letsconnect] Connect with the Guest: 🔗 Hank Donato Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hanksfornothin/] 🔗 Beemer Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beemer.mp3/] 🔗 Garland Piano Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/garland_piano/] Featured Song: “Closes In” by Beemer 🎧 Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/track/78qPGsZJ227CV4quBqU7ID?si=74ec94ff112945cf]👀 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxPe8briyg0] Connect with Me: ✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠ [https://secretsfromthescene.com/] 📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/secretsfromthescene/] 🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@secretsfromthescene] 📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@secretsfromthescene] Give Feedback: 📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠stephen@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠ [stephen@secretsfromthescene.com] 💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠podcast@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠ [podcast@secretsfromthescene.com] 🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/57b3vOVgDr5yF1Yt4lCLiN?si=21403747171c4f75] ✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secrets-from-the-scene/id1706158542] ⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠ [https://helvigproductions.com/] Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime. 🙏 Thank You This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening. Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Zj7gsA0rAKgUEecQpTPLh?si=uvrRfXAFQ_WHFGW1RN8gSQ]

Ep. 87: From 90s Boy Band Life to a TikTok Second Wind with Darnel Alexander

Darnel Alexander is a soulful R&B singer and songwriter whose journey stretches from the 90s boy band era to a surprising second wind on TikTok. In this conversation, Darnel takes us back to his Seattle roots, the early talent show circuit, and his first group, Third Level, including the grind of learning the industry from the inside before anyone was paying attention. From there, he breaks down what it was really like being in the a cappella R&B group Second Nature: the rehearsals, the compromises, the pressure, and the lessons you only learn when you are sharing bills with major artists and trying to meet the standard night after night. Then we get into the moment everything changed. Darnel posts a raw Luther Vandross cover, a cappella in a parking garage, and it takes off. He shares what happened next: figuring out a repeatable approach to content, balancing covers with original music, handling accusations of lip-syncing once he started adding music, and staying grounded through the mind games of social media. We also talk about the deeper stuff that makes his story more than “went viral”: personal growth, confidence without ego, building discipline through fitness, vocal care, and what it looks like to pursue music while working a full-time job and raising kids. If you have ever felt like your window closed, this episode is a reminder that a second wind is real, especially when you are ready for it. In this episode, we cover: * The real day-to-day of 90s group life: rehearsals, roles, compromise, and pressure * What he learned from sharing stages with major acts and seeing true professionalism up close * Why covers are not “cheating,” plus how to use them without getting stuck * The parking garage Luther cover that sparked a viral moment * Social media mind games, haters, algorithm swings, and staying consistent anyway * Fitness, discipline, and vocal care habits (including his no-dairy rule before shows) * Making music while balancing a full-time job, fatherhood, and limited free time * Confidence, humility, and building a life that is actually good Full show notes, links, & mentions [https://secretsfromthescene.com/87] Interested in working with us on your next song? 👋 ⁠https://helvigproductions.com/letsconnect⁠ [https://helvigproductions.com/letsconnect] Connect with the Guest: 🔗 Darnelalexandermusic.com [https://darnelalexandermusic.com/home] 🔗 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/darnelalexandermusic] 🔗 YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@DarnelalexanderMusic] 🔗 TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@darnelalexandermusic] Featured Song: 🎧 https://open.spotify.com/track/0KK3QEaUNYasQ19x17g5dd?si=6e7feb40a6b54e3f Connect with Me: ✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠ [https://secretsfromthescene.com/] 📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/secretsfromthescene/] 🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@secretsfromthescene] 📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@secretsfromthescene] Give Feedback: 📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠stephen@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠ [stephen@secretsfromthescene.com] 💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠podcast@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠ [podcast@secretsfromthescene.com] 🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/57b3vOVgDr5yF1Yt4lCLiN?si=21403747171c4f75] ✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/secrets-from-the-scene/id1706158542] ⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠ [https://helvigproductions.com/] Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime. 🙏 Thank You This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening. Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Zj7gsA0rAKgUEecQpTPLh?si=uvrRfXAFQ_WHFGW1RN8gSQ]

Ep. 86: Lean Into the Fear: Meghan Kreidler on Live Performance, Momentum, and DIY with Kiss The Tiger

Meghan Kreidler (Kiss The Tiger) joins Secrets From The Scene to unpack the thing that separates a decent set from a truly memorable live show: stage presence. Meghan talks about the early discomfort of being “herself” on stage, how acting tools translate (and sometimes do not translate) to the rock club, and why experimentation matters. We dig into physical embodiment, the power of stillness, and how intention changes everything. Meghan also shares how the band stays tight without forcing a uniform approach to movement, how she prepares mentally before shows, and why you sometimes have to commit first and let the emotions follow. We also get into the realities behind the momentum: managing expectations, avoiding the comparison trap, booking tours DIY, and what is actually worth spending money on as an independent artist. Plus: Kiss The Tiger’s annual I Love Lucy: Kiss The Tiger Pays Tribute to Lucinda Williams returns on Valentine’s Day (Feb 14, 2026) at the Turf Club with Molly Maher and Her Disbelievers, and we’ve got a ticket giveaway in this episode’s post. * Why early shows can feel weird, even with an acting background * Experimentation vs overdoing it, and how to stay connected to the song * Stillness as a performance weapon * “Commit first” as a way to lead the room * Band dynamics: what you can ask of bandmates (and what you cannot) * Managing ambition without making yourself miserable * DIY vs outsourcing: what to learn first, and what to hire out * Best investments: photos, posters, shirt designs, and other “infrastructure” * What to be cautious about with PR and rushed spending * Meghan’s stage presence “secret”: lean into the fear I Love Lucy: Kiss The Tiger Pays Tribute to Lucinda Williams Saturday, Feb 14, 2026 | Turf Club (St. Paul) | 21+ | Doors 8pm | Music 9pm With: Molly Maher and Her Disbelievers Full show notes, links, & mentions [https://secretsfromthescene.com/86] 🌐 🌐 🌐 🔗 Kiss the Tiger Linktree [https://linktr.ee/kissthetiger?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnrnO6XMRIaLMUoOr2Eiz_Z6BODGNBocE8_l0Mrpy9_4_7DhKeNujcfMDXVVg_aem_X6kQbtNP4OzsdEXYvlAeXA] 🔗 Kiss the Tiger Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kissthetiger/] 🔗 Kissthetiger.com [https://www.kissthetiger.com/] 🔗 Kiss the Tiger Bandcamp [https://kissthetiger.bandcamp.com/] "Big Booty Scooty" by Kiss The Tiger 🎧 Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/track/3SKwUySpHgwrHtyH87eDtW?si=664399861d4a44f9] 👀 Watch on YouTube [https://secretsfromthescene.easyfunnels.io/me/blog/103/youtube.com/watch?v=TQ43MJTE8Fo&feature=youtu.be] What we coverGiveaway and upcoming showEpisode Links and MentionsConnect with the GuestFeatured Song