B-Side Breakdown cover art

B-Side Breakdown

B-Side Breakdown

Written by: Brett Johnson
Listen for free

About this listen

 Welcome to the B-Side Breakdown! A podcast where I, Brett Johnson your host, will chat with friends, heroes, and those who inspire, to learn about a song or piece of music they have written, new or old, released or previously unreleased that is particularly meaningful to them and ideally get deep into the “Why?” behind it.

Not only will learn more about the artist’s selection, but you will hear the song or piece in its entirety, and you’ll get a sneak peek into what they are working on now, regardless of artform or medium.

I look forward to having artists on the show covering a spectrum of genres, including independent rock, punk, Hip-Hop, post-hardcore, Americana, Country, progressive and beyond.

Personally, I think this is going to be a lot of fun and I look forward to you joining us for the ride!2025 Music
Episodes
  • E48 - "Upside Down" by Battery Eyes with Johnny and Andrew

    E48 - "Upside Down" by Battery Eyes with Johnny and Andrew
    Feb 2 2026
    In this episode of B-Side Breakdown, Brett Johnson talks with Johnny Laberda from Battery Eyes and Andrew Cahak of Unstable Shapes about “Upside Down,” a collaborative track that stretches beyond both bands’ usual comfort zones.

    Born from a casual conversation at Minneapolis mainstay Mortimer’s, the song evolved into one of the most anthemic and stylistically distinct moments on Battery Eyes’ upcoming album zero three.

    The discussion digs into the song’s “Frankenstein” creation process—written separately, then stitched together through trust rather than traditional co-writing—and how shared vocals were designed to blur identity and perspective.

    Johnny and Andrew unpack the song’s central idea of reframing situations, looking at problems from new angles, and embracing found interpretation over fixed meaning. The episode also highlights the importance of scene-level collaboration, thoughtful studio production, and why “Upside Down” feels just as much about creative process as it does about the lyrics themselves.

    Follow Battery Eyes:
    https://batteryeyes.bandcamp.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/batteryeyes

    Follow Unstable Shapes:
    https://unstableshapes.bandcamp.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/unstableshapes

    Follow Cloudland:
    https://www.instagram.com/cloudlandtheater
    https://www.cloudlandtheater.com/

    Thanks for supporting B-Side Breakdown — where the song is just the start of the story.

    Brett Johnson
    Host, B-Side Breakdown

    https://www.patreon.com/c/bsidebreakdown
    https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
    https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

    #JohnnyLaberda #BatteryEyes #AndrewCahak #UnstableShapes #UpsideDown #ZeroThree #MinneapolisMusic #Collaboration #CreativeProcess #CloudlandTheater #BSideBreakdown #BrettJamesJohnson #MusicPodcast
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • E47 - "Through The Shadows" by Dead History with David Jarnstrom

    E47 - "Through The Shadows" by Dead History with David Jarnstrom
    Feb 2 2026
    In this episode of B-Side Breakdown, Brett Johnson sits down with David Jarnstrom of Minneapolis post-hardcore stalwarts Dead History to talk about “Through the Shadows,” a standout track from the band’s 2025 album Departures.

    Built around an initial guitar idea from Matt Rezac, the song took a long and winding path to completion—nearly left behind before emerging as one of the record’s most spacious, groove-driven moments. David walks through the tension between restraint and power in the song’s arrangement, the intentional use of space and feel, and why it occupies such a unique place on the album.

    The conversation also touches on the song’s impressionistic lyrics, personal interpretations shaped by life in post-George Floyd Minneapolis, and the sense of endurance and rebuilding that runs quietly beneath the surface.

    With Departures likely marking a closing chapter for Dead History, this episode reflects on creative maturity, community, and seeing something through—even when it’s hard.

    Follow Dead History:
    https://deadhistorymn.bandcamp.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/deadhistoryband

    Thanks for supporting B-Side Breakdown — where the song is just the start of the story.

    Brett Johnson
    Host, B-Side Breakdown

    https://www.patreon.com/c/bsidebreakdown
    https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
    https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

    #DavidJarnstrom #DeadHistory #ThroughTheShadows #Departures #MinneapolisMusic #PostHardcore #Shoegaze #CreativeProcess #BSideBreakdown #BrettJamesJohnson #MusicPodcast
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • E46 - "Teenager" by Killing Stares with Brad Gunnarson

    E46 - "Teenager" by Killing Stares with Brad Gunnarson
    Feb 2 2026
    In this episode of B-Side Breakdown, Brett Johnson sits down with Brad Gunnarson—better known around the Twin Cities as B-Gun—to unpack “Teenager,” a Deftones cover recorded under the project name Killing Stares. Originally appearing on White Pony, the song was reimagined for For the Song You Saved, a community-driven Deftones tribute benefiting Oasis for Youth.

    Brad talks through the long-held idea behind Killing Stares: assembling one-off lineups of musicians who don’t normally play together and letting instinct guide the process. With Zac Boyd (johnnyrook) on acoustic guitar, Nick Larsen (ExactlyNo) on drums, and Callie from Dadbod on vocals, the track came together quickly and intentionally—sparse, emotional, and respectful of the original while still feeling personal.

    The conversation also traces Brad’s decades in the Minneapolis–St. Paul music scene, his philosophy of “put out records with your friends,” and how this project reflects the power of community, timing, and doing things the right way.

    Follow Killing Stares:

    https://forthesongyousaved.bandcamp.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/killingstares
    https://www.oasisforyouth.org/
    https://www.instagram.com/cardinalsunrecords

    Thanks for supporting B-Side Breakdown — where the song is just the start of the story.

    Brett Johnson
    Host, B-Side Breakdown

    https://www.patreon.com/c/bsidebreakdown
    https://www.instagram.com/bsidebreakdown
    https://linktr.ee/bsidebreakdown

    #KillingStares #Teenager #BradGunnarson #BGun #Deftones #WhitePony #ForTheSongYouSaved #OasisForYouth #TwinCitiesMusic #CommunityOverCompetition #BenefitCompilation #BSideBreakdown #BrettJamesJohnson #MusicPodcast
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 11 mins
No reviews yet