No Wristbands! We Drink For Free

No Wristbands! We Drink For Free is a podcast for Chicago music scene fanatics BY Chicago music scene fanatics. With over 40 years of music memories and experiences we are here to champion all things Chicago music - from local bands, to touring bands passing through Chicago, to radio stations, to music venues, to the background players - concert promoters, record pressers, engineers, producers. Each episode runs about 1 hour, and features an in depth interview with someone associated with the Chicago Music Scene. We will be releasing podcasts monthly. If you care about Chicago music, you will love our Podcast.

No Wristbands! We Drink For Free is a interviews podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 74 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts No Wristbands! We Drink For Free, a interviews show with 74 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #73

  Jon Langford & Sally Timms of the Mekons (and more)

  Aug 14, 202645 min

  Jon Langford and Sally Timms have been making great music for a long time. Originally hailing from Wales and England respectively, they both eventually found their way to Chicago. They've done a lot in the 30 plus years that they've called this home. We talked a bunch about their most famous band, The Mekons, as well as their many offshoots that developed over the years. Waco Brothers, Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Three Johns, Cowboy Sally's Twilight Laments and more. We also get into Jon's artwork and the beautiful new John Prine mural that he designed. Of course, plenty of discussion about the incredible City of Chicago and what they have planned for the future. photo by Frank Swider Time stamps: 2:10: What led to you moving to Chicago? 8:05: Talk to us about what the evolution of Chicago music has been like in your time living here? 14:45: Trying to make it in the music business from the standpoint of how hard it is, and you were wondering why there weren't more patrons of the arts for music. 21:16: How did the Mekons on the Mekong come together? 24: The Mekons should set up a travel agency. 26:50: The band has to be open to those unique opportunities. 32:30: More immediacy in playing in more intimate settings. 33:10: How did the John Prine mural come about? 39: What is your favorite go to cheap drink? 40:10: What do we want to plug on the way on out of here? 43: What do we need to do to get you to play at their house?

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #72

  Jeff Lescher of Green

  Jul 11, 20261h 32m

  Jeff Lescher has been putting out records since 1984. His band, Green, is one of my all-time faves. He's a unique talent with an eclectic group of influences - The Kinks, 40's/50's/60's pop songs, Big Star, The Beatles and more. If you haven't heard them before, maybe start with Green's 1987 album, Elaine MacKenzie. We talked with Jeff about his long career, a few of his regrets and his recent solo records. Of course, we also talked about his long history with the Chicago music scene. Time Stamps: 3: When did you first become enamored by music? 8:34: When did you decide that you wanted to make your own music? 13:30: Did you think people would come around to your music or you just explored what you wanted? 16: You got critical acclaim eventually. 17: At what point did you think Green coalesced into what you wanted? 25: Elaine Mackenzie is quite varied, it's impressive. 30: Did you aspire to be a rock star? 39:45: You got to open for Husker Du at their final Chicago gig. How did that come together? 43:10: Looking back, do you feel like you wish you'd done something differently, or do you not regret any of it? 48:50: Why did europeans respond so favorably to the band? 51:40: You weren't following trends, you were just doing your thing. 53:30: What do you attribute the gap in Green releases to? 59:20: Do you want to continue to make music regardless as to whether or not it helps make a living for you? 60:50: Is there a reason you put out solo music instead of as Green? 65: There is a resurgence of power pop, does that surprise you? 67:14: Thick or thin crust pizza? 69: Where is your favorite place to play shows? 72:22: What makes Chicago unique? 80: What is your go to cheap drink? 81:29: Jeff is working on a podcast! 87:30: When is the next time we can see Green play?

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #71

  Deanna Belos of Sincere Engineer

  Jun 1, 202655 min

  Deanna Belos joins us again with a new album on its way. Probable Claws is due out June 26th. We talk about how that one came together and how she plans to support the new record. We also cover how things have progressed since Cheap Grills was release three years ago. And we definitely spend some time talking about Chicago. Be sure to catch Sincere Engineer at Riot Fest in September. Time Stamps: 2:20: What's been going on since we last talked? 3:15: Did the response to Cheap Grills surprise you? 5:22: Was the creative process different this time for Probable Claws? 7:17: How did the song "LOL" come about? 10: Talk to us about a song on the new record about getting older? 11:30: There's more moderate tempo songs later in the record. 12:30: What went into re-recording "Settle Up for Your Downfall"? 13:30: Did you ever think you'd record at Electrical Audio? 16: Did recording at Electrical Audio impact the sound of the record? 17: What was the impetus for making your documentary? 19:36: How do you write? Does a theme present itself? 21:30: Do you feel pressure putting out a new album? 23:10: It's so funny that you are so self-effacing about being a slacker. 25:43: What other cities love the band? 28:16: What's been the most surreal moment from touring over the past couple of years? 31:45: Your mom is on the album cover. Is she really holding that tiger? 35:10: Is your move hitting the fans with an emotional song at the end of each album? 38:20: Does this upcoming headlining tour feel different/like there is more pressure? How is the band as travel partners? 41:30: What does it mean to you to be held up in the lineage of Chicago punk bands? 45: What's the best Chicago food aside from pizza? 47:20: What are some of your favorite shows you've seen? 48:40: What are your go to spots to take people to when they come to town? 51:13: Where should people buy the new record? 53: What else do you have coming up?

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #70

  Anthony Vaccaro of Beach Bunny & Helicopter Leaves

  May 7, 20261h 21m

  Anthony Vacarro joined Beach Bunny as bass player in 2019 and has been playing lead guitar since 2022. He also has his own band, Helicopter Leaves and has put out two great records - Get Stuck In (2023) and his latest, Sabrina Nickels out in 2026. We talked with Anthony about the differences of being in those bands - from local gigs to playing Madison Square Garden. And we talk a lot about the Chicago music community. Time stamps: 1:40 - Congrats on the new record - Sabrina Nickels . How did that process work? 4:05 - How different is it working with Sean O'Keefe on a Beach Bunny record vs. Helicopter Leaves? 10:10 - Is the new Helicopter Leaves record more focused than the first one? 13:45 - You made the first record at your grandfather's home studio and the new one at a full studio. What led to that decision. 15:25 - Grandpa Sam taught you to play music - how old were you? 18:35 - Tell us about your love for Pavement. 24:40 - How did you enter the Beach Bunny orbit? 30:45 - What was your Dad's band? 32:00 - You volunteer to play bass with Beach Bunny. 37:10 - How have you accepted the popularity of Beach Bunny? 41:05 - What's been the most surreal part of being with Beach Bunny? 48:20 - Can it be more fulfilling to be playing Helicopter Leaves songs in front of 100 people than playing Madison Square Garden? 49:20 - What has been the response to Sabrina Nickels ? 51:05 - What are the plans for Helicopter Leaves this year? 54:40 - Your family must all be proud of you. 58:10 - You've inspired John Perrin to work on his own music. 61:40 - Deep dish or thin crust pizza? 66:05 - Favorite places to play music in Chicago and favorite places to see music in Chicago? 69:20 - What do you appreciate most about the Chicago music scene? 74:20 - Favorite cheap drink? 76:55 - What's happening in the next 6 months?

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #69

  Steve Baker of Chicago Fret Works

  Apr 19, 20261h 23m

  Steve Baker is the co-owner of Chicago Fret Works. After starting his career as an English teacher, he began working on guitars in 2000, learning his craft at Bryan Galloup's School of Luthiery in Michigan. In 2008, after working together at another Chicago guitar shop, he and Dan Wolf partnered up to go out on their own with Chicago Fret Works. Now eighteen years in, they've worked on instruments by many famous musicians - including lots from Wilco - as well as everyday guitars used by students at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Steve shares a bunch of those stories with us and we talk a lot about the Chicago music community. Time stamps: 02:00 — How or when did you get into music? 07:48 — Who's your favorite Beatle? 09:06 — What's the most recent thing that's cracked open for you musically? 15:32 — When did you start? How did you learn? What's your journey through the guitar world? 17:47 —how do you start dipping your toes into the guitar repair world? 21:55 — Did it click right away, being in bands? 24:49 — So how did you decide, where's this going? 27:46 — How does that come about? (re: going full time at the shop) 29:30 — Was he like, "you're dead to me" or "fuck yeah, go for it"? (re: telling the boss) 34:18 — Do you have plans for the 20th anniversary celebration? 37:48 — When did you feel, have you felt like, "yeah, we've made it"? 40:14 — How did that relationship with Wilco develop? 45:47 — Do those guys fall in love with something and say, "you've got to keep this thing going"? 48:12 — How did you get that opportunity? (re: tuning guitars for shows) 50:52 — So what's your greatest [story]? 58:54 — Is it hard to find people? Is it a good career working as a guitar tech? Is it hard to get people who know what they're doing nowadays? 69:18 — Are you a deep dish or thin crust pizza fan? 71:10 — What is your favorite venue to see a show at? 72:37 — What do you think makes Chicago a unique music scene? 75:30 — What's your go-to cheap drink? 79:02 — What's happening [at Chicago Fretworks for the next couple months]? 79:12 — What's the easiest way if I have a guitar that needs to be fixed? What's the best way? Do I just come in with it? Do I call you ahead? Do I send you an email? 79:50 — What are your hours?

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on No Wristbands! We Drink For Free. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.