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
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    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
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    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
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • E45 - "The Walk To Heartwood" by The Jukebox Romantics with James and Terry

    E45 - "The Walk To Heartwood" by The Jukebox Romantics with James and Terry
    Feb 2 2026
    Brett Johnson sits down with James and Terry of The Jukebox Romantics (Downstate NY) to talk about “The Walk to Heartwood” — a heartfelt standout from their 2025 full-length, This One Looks Cool.

    Equal parts punk gratitude and FEST devotion, the song is a self-described “love letter to Heartwood Soundstage” and the Gainesville DIY scene. Built around themes of chosen family, emotional return, and saying yes to the chaos, the track blends urgency and joy without a hint of sarcasm.

    James and Terry open up about writing from the heart, embracing vulnerability, and chasing authenticity over polish. From late-night singalongs to post-pandemic reconnections, this one’s for the lifers.

    Follow The Jukebox Romantics:

    https://thejukeboxromantics.bandcamp.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxromantics

    https://www.selltheheartrecords.com
    https://www.instagram.com/selltheheartrecords

    https://www.instagram.com/thefestfl/
    https://linktr.ee/thefest

    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

    #TheWalkToHeartwood #ThisOneLooksCool #TheJukeboxRomantics #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast #FEST #punkrockfamily #HeartwoodSoundstage
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • E44 - "Feedback City" by and with Too Late, But Still

    E44 - "Feedback City" by and with Too Late, But Still
    Jan 31 2026
    In this episode of B-Side Breakdown, Brett Johnson talks with members of Too Late, But Still about “Feedback City,” a standout track from their 2025 EP Night Songs.

    The conversation traces how the song came together organically in the room, shaped less by traditional structure and more by evolving movements and shared instincts.

    Lyrically, “Feedback City” pulls directly from lived experience—tour memories, found objects, small personal details, and moments of humor and reflection that give the song its emotional weight.

    The band discusses their collaborative approach, their preference for short, focused releases over full-length albums, and why each song feels like a Polaroid of a specific moment in time.

    The episode also touches on creative freedom, resisting algorithm-driven expectations, and how trust between band members allows the music to unfold naturally without forcing it.

    Follow Too Late, But Still:
    https://toolatebutstill.bandcamp.com/
    https://instagram.com/toolatebutstill

    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

    #FeedbackCity #TooLateButStill #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #NightSongs #minneapolismusic #posthardcore #musicpodcast
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    52 mins
  • E43 - "Goodbye Before You Go" by Banquets with Travis Omilian

    E43 - "Goodbye Before You Go" by Banquets with Travis Omilian
    Jan 3 2026
    Brett Johnson sits down with Travis Omilian of Banquets (Jersey City, NJ) to talk about “Goodbye Before You Go” — a stirring track from the band’s first album in over a decade, Petty Relics.

    What started in 2010 as a group of friends making melodic punk with a wink (a band named after a beer, a debut 7" titled This Is Our Concern, Dude) has grown into something far deeper. Across Top Button, Bottom Shelf and their self-titled follow-up, Banquets built a reputation for tight arrangements, anthemic energy, and lyrical introspection that lingered longer than the last chord.

    Now, after ten years of silence, Petty Relics marks not just a return, but a reckoning. “Goodbye Before You Go” is a standout — a meditation on love, loss, and letting go that captures the band’s matured voice. Travis opens up about writing from a place of deep personal meaning, about what it takes to reconnect with your sound after a decade, and why this particular goodbye needed a melody.

    With lines like “Say I am better to have known” and “We won’t catch lightning like you again,” the song delivers both a farewell and a benediction — a moment of gratitude wrapped in grit. There’s a quiet ache beneath the melodic lift, a layered balance of hope, hurt, and reflection that few bands in this genre ever touch.

    Be sure to show your support on Bancamp Friday and connect with them on IG to stay connected.

    Keep up with Banquets at:

    https://banquetshq.com
    https://www.instagram.com/banquetshq
    https://banquets.bandcamp.com/

    Thank you for your continued support!

    Brett Johnson
    Host, B-Side Breakdown

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

    #GoodbyeBeforeYouGo #Banquets #TravisOmilian #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast
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    41 mins
  • E42 - "Unrest" by Kind Skies wtih Chris Boss & Mitch Snyder

    E42 - "Unrest" by Kind Skies wtih Chris Boss & Mitch Snyder
    Nov 14 2025
    Kind Skies is a great band from Lexington, KY. They do things their way, authentically and organically, and allow things to unfold as they do.

    I caught up with Chris on the first segment of the episode then the rest of the band showed up for the second. It was great to chat with them and deep dive into their track "Unrest" that comes off their August 2025 release, "Echo".

    Be sure to show your support on Bancamp Friday and connect with them on IG to stay connected.

    Keep up with Kind Skies at:

    https://kindskies.bandcamp.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/kindskiesband

    #Unrest #KindSkies #ChrisBoss #MitchSnyder #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast
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    37 mins
  • E41 - "All I Need" by ExactlyNo with Nick and Ted

    E41 - "All I Need" by ExactlyNo with Nick and Ted
    Oct 15 2025
    Finally got a chance to talk with ExactlyNo, one of my favorite bands from Minneapolis, MN about their single, “All I Need”.

    Known for their big, dynamic sound—explosive drums, guitars that double as riffs and atmosphere, and vocals that carry both raw edge and melodic intention—ExactlyNo push their sonic boundaries on this track.

    “All I Need” was produced by Jeremy Tappero and mastered by Bruce Templeton at MicroPhonic Mastering.

    In our conversation, we’ll explore how the song came together—from writing and arrangement choices to emotional themes. What drove the lyrics? How did the production serve the message? And where does “All I Need” sit in ExactlyNo’s evolving identity, especially as they edge toward their next full-length? Whether you’re into songwriting craft, rock production choices, or the stories behind new independent records, this one’s for you.

    Be sure to show your support on Bancamp Friday and connect with them on IG to stay connected.

    Keep up with ExactlyNo at:

    https://exactlyno.bandcamp.com/
    https://exactlyno.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/exactlynoband

    Thank you for your continued support!

    Brett Johnson
    Host of B-Side Breakdown

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

    #AllINeed #ExactlyNo #NickLarsen #TedAnderson #CardinalSunRecords #bsidebreakdown #threecrowsclub #brettjamesjohnson #musicpodcast
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    41 mins