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PODCAST

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer

Joe Plummer and friends share their stories from life on the road. We hear funny, sad and sometimes scary tales from musicians, comedians and writers. He"s also "Checks-In" with artists to hear new music, find out what they"ve been up to and whats next on the creative docket. Have a tour story? Want to get in touch with Joe? Send a message to hello@ruinousmedia.com. Tour Stories is produced by Ruinous Media. http://www.ruinousmedia.com/tourstories/

music music interviews

All Episodes

15:45

Michael Cera Revisited

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/08/14

It's that time again, my annual Michael Cera episode. Yes, the first face you see when you open Netflix is Michaels from the forever giving show Arrested Development. Yes, three generations of humans understand ALL the jokes from his hit movie Superbad. And finally, yes he played the most iconic character in film history in Barbie, the most watched film in film history. But none of this helps the guy who played the most powerful bass player in the world in Scott Pilgrim recover his lost/stolen bass

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22:23

The Check In with Chelsey Hahn-Perennial

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/08/07

Chelsey Hahn is a singer, organist and founding member of Perennial. They’re newest record Modernism will be released on September 18th via Earnest Jenning Record Co. Chelsey tells us how the band approached the new record and why capturing their live energy is essential to all of their recordings. She shares the band’s dual vocal and writing process, how their instrumentation allows them to maximize their performance and why playing hi-energy shows is Perennials main objective. Joe and Chelsey

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19:25

The Check In with Jim Blaha-I Will Die In This Jean...

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/07/31

Jim Blaha is a singer, guitarist and a founding member of The Blind Shake. His debut solo effort Hang From A Cloud from his new project I Will Die In This Jean Jacket is due out August 21st via Swami Records. Jim shares how his songwriting process became the catalyst for the new record and why it steps away from the punk garage sounds of The Blind Shake. Joe and Jim commiserate on the importance of skate punk in their musical lives, Jim tells us how his vocals and lyrics have evolved and the role

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25:34

The Check-In with Mallory Hawk

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/07/24

Mallory Hawk is a singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist based in Philadelphia by way of Fayetteville NC. Her self-released debut record Chinook is out July 31st. Mallory shares her experience growing up in a music rich household and why she ultimately settled with guitar as her main instrument. We learn how her songwriting style has evolved for the new record, she tells us the story behind the record title and how a military upbringing influenced the concept. The two discuss Mallory's

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43:11

The Check-In with Lily Wolter-Penelope Isles

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/07/17

Lily Wolter is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and along with her brother Jack, a founding member of Brighton based band, Penelope Isles. Their newest release, 3 is due out September 25th via Bella Union. Lily shares her experience growing up on the Ilse of Mann, how that shaped her relationship with music and what motivated her and her brother to start playing music together. She tells us why the band took a three-year break, what they did with that time, and why Penelope Isles feels stronger

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36:05

The Check-In with Dent May

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/07/10

Dent May is an LA based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His 7th full length record The Big One is due out August 14th via Carpark Records. Dent share’s his experience growing up in Mississippi and why his connection to music was so meaningful both as a child and in his formative years. He tells us how his production approach rides the line of maximalist and minimalist, why he chose to track live and how he wrangled his array of influences to create a unique sound for The Big One. Dent

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48:46

The Check In with Evil Island- Cody Votolato-Johnny...

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/07/03

Evil Island have announced their debut album, Terraform The Afterlife, arriving August 14 via Blowed Out Records. Born from the creative firestorm that followed The Blood Brothers' 2024 reunion tour, the record finds Johnny Whitney, Cody Votolato, Mark Gajadhar and Autry Fulbright pushing their collective chemistry into bold new territory. In this episode, Johnny and Cody explain the story behind Evil Island, how The Blood Brothers 2024 tour was the springboard for the new band and why it feels like

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29:42

The Check-In with Dawson Daugherty-Almost Monday

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/06/26

Dawson Daugherty is a singer, songwriter and founding member of Almost Monday. Their second album Thank God It’s Almost Monday is due out September 9 via Hollywood Records and are on tour now with Young The Giant and Cold War Kids. This week Joe reports from the back of a tour bus where Dawson share’s the unique origin of Almost Monday, how surfing played a role in the formation of the band and why Dawson with inspired to delve into songwriting as a youngster. The two discuss the sophomoric pressure

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13:27

Special Episode ! As Many Weirdos As Possible with...

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/06/19

This is a special episode. We would like to present As Many Weirdos As Possible, a documentary photography project honoring the Pacific Northwest music scene from 1985 to 1995. A team of photographers is capturing portraits of bartenders, musicians, engineers, journalists and others from the community, in places that tie them to their stories. Through portraits and handwritten memories, it spotlights the creators and unsung figures who shaped a movement that changed the world. In this episode we

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16:58

The Check in with Bob Bert- Beach Bongo Bloodbath,...

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/06/12

Bob Bert is a New Jersey based drummer, writer, and punk rock veteran whose resume includes Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Knoxville Girls and Lydia Lunch. His debut solo record Beach Bongo Bloodbath is due out June 12th via Bar None Records. Bob shares the process and inspiration behind the new record, which is largely made up of an eclectic collection of covers. We learn how a specific percussion setup shaped the record, how he chose the songs to record and why Beach Bongo Bloodbath is a guitar-free

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22:53

The Check-In with Melanie Radford

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/06/05

Melanie Radford is a bassist, singer and songwriter based in Seattle. Her debut solo album For The Sake Of Stillness is due out June 26th via Jealous Butcher Record. Melanie shares her experience in the Boise music scene and why she shifted her playing from jazz to rock. We learn how For The Sake Of Stillness is both a personal mediation and a need for stillness and grounding. She tells us why field recordings operate as the core of the record and how they operate as a living collaborator. Joe and

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26:59

The Check-In with Beck Zegans

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/05/29

Beck Zegans is a Queens based singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Her newest record Engraving Of Armor is out now via Exploding in Sound records. Beck tells us why Engraving Of Armor has taken her to a new level and sound in songwriting. She shares the collaborative process it took to make the new record and how arranging, mixing, and writing simultaneously shaped the overall sound. We learn how she accidently joined a ska band as a youngster, Joe and Beck discuss the art of the photobooth relay and

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33:57

The Check-In with Alden Hellmuth

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/05/22

Alden Hellmuth is a NY based saxophonist and composer. Following her acclaimed 2024 debut album Good Intentions, Hellmuth returns with the aptly titled Tether, an eight-track exploration of jazz, punk and freeform improvisation. Alden share’s the inspiration behind the new direction and sound on Tether, what it was like writing for two basses and how mixing and processing played a role on not only in the production, but the composition as well. The two discuss the significance of texture in

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29:41

The Check-In with Kevin Barnes-of Montreal

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/05/15

Kevin Barnes is the singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter for of Montreal. aethermead, of Montreal’s 20th studio album is due out June 5th via Polyvinyl Record Co. Kevin shares the unusual heartbreak story behind the new record, why it felt right to go with a more collaborative approach and how the invented record title relates to a very important part of his daily routine. He tells us how limited time shaped the record and brought more life than expected into the songs. The two discuss

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39:14

The Check-In with Nick Thorburn-The Creem-Pear Shape

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/05/08

Nick Thorburn is the singer and founding member The Creem, a new collaborative project with Ratatat’s guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Stroud. Their debut release The Taste of Cherry is due June 5th, with two irresistible singles Goodbye and Taste of Cherry available now.After a quick catch up from the Mister Heavenly bandmates, Nick shares the slow blossoming story behind The Creem and how it finally came to fruition. The two discuss the 70’s FM sound, how those artists we’re celebrating

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29:16

The Check-In with Cold Court

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/05/01

Mini Serrano and Jojo Lavina-Maldonado are the founding members of the Philadelphia based band Cold Court. Their debut EP Hands Up is out June 19th with lead singles Burn and Nina available now. Mini and JoJo tell us how they’re music interest and proficiency evolved from their pre-teens to now and why they are increasingly relinquishing genre mixing rules to create their own identity. We learn why Hands Up was a sonic shift for them, how it is a product of experimentation and frustration and the

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31:43

The Check-In with Telehealth

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/04/24

Alexander Attitude and Kendra Cox are the founding members of Seattle based Telehealth. Their second full length and Sub Pop debut Green World Image will be available May 15th. Alexander and Kendra share the origin and evolution of Telehealth, how they secured an airtight record deal with Sub Pop and why the band partially functions as a coping mechanism. We learn how their pessimistic and satirical approach make’s sense of tech culture’s destruction of human culture and relieves the anxiety of a

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24:37

The Check-in with Mrs Magician-Jacob Turnbloom

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/04/17

Jacob Turnbloom is the singer, guitarist and founding member of Mrs. Magician. The newest record Spiritual Hangover is due out May 15th via Swami Records. Jacob tells why the new record is driven by a heftier sound, what inspired that and how the magic of The Foo Fighters Studio 606 brought it to fruition. He tells us how his song-writing perspective has evolved, what role humor plays in his lyrics and why he’s increasingly involved in the visual presentation of Mrs. Magician. The two celebrate the

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20:13

The Check-In with Evan Cartwright

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/04/10

Evan Cartwright is a composer, collaborator, and drummer for the band Cola. Cola’s third LP, Cost Of Living Adjustment is due out May 8th via Fire Talk Records. Evan tells us how the band allowed themselves more time and space in the writing process for Cost Of Living Adjustment and how that contributed to the sound of the record. Joe and Evan discuss the of the newest single Conflagration Mindset, Cola’s songwriting process and Evans history with the band. The two drummers delve into the freedoms

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23:29

The Check-In with tofusmell

Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer ·

2026/04/03

Rae Chen is a singer, songwriter and guitarist operating under the moniker tofusmell. His debut full length album All My Time is due out April 24th via Hardly Art. Rae tells us how he grew up in Florida on the edges of both a pop punk and worship scene, and why he picked up the guitar and eventually found himself in Winnipeg. We hear how his approach to writing gives a feeling of sonic closeness, how he responded to more production on All My Time and the role ambiance plays on the new record. Joe

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341 results

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