Arden and Courtney of DØUBLE IDENTITY jump in the car in the dead of winter to talk about the band’s growth, songwriting, live show, and the need for CDs.

Car Con Carne is sponsored by Exploding House Printing.

Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. They’re local, headquartered in the heart of Hermosa. Here’s why I want you to consider them for your t-shirts, merch, whatever - their focus is on small businesses, bands, brands, and everything in between. They’ve worked on products for Meat Wave, Empty Bottle, the Music Box, Dante’s Pizzeria, the Brokedowns, and the list goes on and on.

Jonathan at Exploding House has been doing screen printing for decades. He knows what he’s doing - besides his technical expertise, he delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices.

Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or check out their site at exploding house printing dot com for a quote, or to see a list of some of their clients.

You can always expect prompt and quick communication as they're a small company and are hyper-focused on making your vision a reality. Their goal isn't just to print another t-shirt; you put your heart and soul into your project or business- they want their work to reflect that passion, as well. Email info at exploding house printing dot com for a quote today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You're born, you'rе cursed, and every deck is stacked.”

Who are the Brokedowns? “A tradesman, two remote workers, and a pizza chef named Mustafa forged their sound in the industrial glow of Chicagoland, channeling blue-collar grit through a lens of existential comedy and transforming Midwest frustration into something loud enough to sound like hope.”

The Brokedowns piled into the car to chat about their excellent new album, “Let’s Tip the Landlord.” It’s not every day you can get all four guys in the same place, so I was excited to be joined by:

Kris Megyery (guitar/vocals)

Eric Grossmann (guitar/vocals)

Jon Balun (bass/vocals)

Mustafa Daka (drums)

We go deep into “Let’s Tip the Landlord,” an album that includes a saxophone, a disturbing recurring ad, loving gaslighting, the Beach Boys and Sirhan Sirhan … a must-listen!

See the Brokedowns at Beat Kitchen in April! You have plenty of advance notice!!

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Car Con Carne is sponsored by Exploding House Printing.

Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. They’re local, headquartered in the heart of Hermosa. Here’s why I want you to consider them for your t-shirts, merch, whatever - their focus is on small businesses, bands, brands, and everything in between. They’ve worked on products for Meat Wave, Empty Bottle, the Music Box, Dante’s Pizzeria, the Brokedowns, and the list goes on and on.

Jonathan at Exploding House has been doing screen printing for decades. He knows what he’s doing - besides his technical expertise, he delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices.

Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or check out their site at exploding house printing dot com for a quote, or to see a list of some of their clients.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve been reading comics since I was a small child. I’m pretty sure, without exaggeration, that I learned how to read largely because of comics.

Like anyone in the hobby, I’d fallen in and out of it through the years. These days, I’m fully back in it, though I’m not terribly concerned with new titles. I’m more interested in back issues, mainly from the formative years of my youth- the so-called “Bronze Age “ between 1970-1985.

I’ve been building up my collection with lots of “reader copies” - books that are good for the home library but won’t exactly be paying for any college tuition bills. As I’ve been jumping back in, it’s clear that since I started collecting many years ago, the hobby of collecting has changed a lot, to no one’s surprise.

“Slabbed,” or professionally graded and encased comics are very much a factor in modern collecting, making even amateur collectors think of comics less as pieces of a narrative and more as numbers on a 10 scale. I used to - still do - chase missing books and key issues. The chase for books that are only graded above certain numbers is relatively new and kinda gross to me, though I realize that may make me sound like an old man.

It’s an interesting time for the aftermarket, and that’s the focus of this episode. Don’t be scared: this one’s not a nerdy deep dive into comic book lore. Instead, it’s about the art and science of collecting, speculation, and the buying and selling of used comics. You don’t need to read comics to listen or watch this episode.

Two of my Facebook friends seem to have figured a lot of this puzzle out, and I’ve wanted to pick their brains for a while. Joining me are two guys who never met before recording.

First, it’s Jon Belonio. Find him at cstyledog on Instagram, cstyledog_comics on ebay

And here’s Dave Zortea. He’s at Zortea.us, Tiki Comics on Facebook Marketplace, and Tikicomicsandmore on ebay.

For this episode,we met outside the Half Price Books in Schaumburg - I’m not convinced there are deals to find at Half Price Books, but it made geographic sense to meet there.

Discussed on this episode:

-Is there money to be made in flipping comics?

-Where do you source comics?

-What platforms are best for selling?
-Should we all pool resources and do a video claim sale together?

-Raw vs. slabbed.

-The simple joy of having a good “reader copy”

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Car Con Carne is also sponsored by Exploding House Printing.

Bands, brands, listeners who want to get the word out: Exploding House Printing can help with your screen printing, embroidery and other merch needs.

Exploding House delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices.

Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or go to their website or just email info@explodinghouseprinting.com to get a quote!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As I head toward the end of my appendectomy/ileocectomy recovery, I jump back into podcasting with an obvious guest: Dr. Daryl Wilson of the Bollweevils. Who better to talk through the past 2 ½ months of medical madness than a celebrated ER doctor with decades of experience?

We talk through my experiences, from the moment my appendix burst through my current recovery, all discussed with a requisite amount of dark humor (and insight). If you ever wanted to know what the most vomit-inducing experience was during this period, we don’t hold back (spoiler: the colonoscopy doesn’t even come close).

After Daryl “clears me” to return to podcasting and we put a bow on my appendix era, we get into Daryl’s new band, Pressure Set. It’s surprising, brand new, and something you’ll want to look out for in 2026. And don’t forget the Bollweevils: They have big plans for ‘26, as well.

I’m grateful to have a friend like Daryl, and I think after listening to this episode Daryl will feel like a friend of yours, as well.

So yeah… I’m back. As Daryl says in the episode, I’m “big back.” Thank you for your support, positive vibes, and kind words. Let’s have fun this year.

-JVO

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Let’s talk about merch.

Exploding House Printing is here for all of your screen printing, embroidery and other merchandising needs. They’re local, headquartered in the heart of Hermosa. Here’s why I want you to consider them for your t-shirts, merch, whatever - their focus is on small businesses, bands, brands, and everything in between. They’ve worked on products for Meat Wave, Empty Bottle, the Music Box, Dante’s Pizzeria, the Brokedowns, and the list goes on and on.

Jonathan at Exploding House has been doing screen printing for decades. He knows what he’s doing - besides his technical expertise, he delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices.

Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or check out their site at explodinghouseprinting.com for a quote, or to see a list of some of their clients.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest host Gillian McGhee is a local musician, leading bands Hi Ho and Turnspit over the last decade, and is returning to Car Con Carne to interview her friend and fellow musician, Aly Jados. Aly's here to discuss her band Blood People's debut full length record 'Here' - a collection of songs that weave together heavy distortion, intricate guitar riffs, singalong choruses and Aly's unmistakably raw vocals. In short, you need to hear ‘Here.’

Join Gillian and Aly as they have a cozy fireside chat about:

• Faking sick as a teenager to win Foo Fighters tickets on Q101
• How songwriting is a way for Aly to connect with her highest self
• Special guest Cat from Scarlet Demore asks Aly a question about the new record
• Gillian and Aly reminiscence on their favorite albums and artists of 2025

(Note from James: Many thanks to Gillian and Aly. I can’t imagine a better way to wrap up the year than with this episode.)

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Car Con Carne is sponsored by Exploding House Printing.

Bands, brands, listeners who want to get the word out: Exploding House Printing can help with your screen printing, embroidery and other merch needs.

Exploding House delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices.

Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or go to their website or just email info@explodinghouseprinting.com to get a quote!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest host Jake “Jacques” LaMore, formerly of Pop-Punk & Pizza, now the voice behind new narrative storytelling podcast, “This One Time in Kankakee”, sits down for a conversation with Kevin Andrew, the lead vocalist of Chicago’s diet punk band, Guardrail. The two discuss:

-Kevin’s recent wedding

-How their bands used to play shows together

-The meaning behind the group’s new single, “Heroes”, now streaming everywhere

-The upcoming ten anniversary of their yearly benefit show, Snuzfest

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Jake did an incredible job - and his mic/audio quality are tops (I notice this stuff). I’m incredibly grateful that he was willing to jump behind the mic to talk punk rock on behalf of CCC. And thanks of course to Kevin for again agreeing to have the world’s premiere diet punk band featured on the podcast.

-JVO

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Car Con Carne is nominated for “Best Music Podcast” in the Chicago Reader’s “Best of Chicago” survey (https://chicagoreader.com/best-of-chicago-music-nightlife-2025/). Please consider voting for the podcast - recognition like this can go a long way for a DIY, one-person operation!

###

Car Con Carne is sponsored by Exploding House Printing.

Bands, brands, listeners who want to get the word out: Exploding House Printing can help with your screen printing, embroidery and other merch needs.

Exploding House delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices.

Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or go to their website or just email info@explodinghouseprinting.com to get a quote!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m back for a special end-of-the-year episode! Watch/listen for a handful of memorable highlights from 2025, including two especially wonderful musical performances.

As I explain early in this episode, this is in no way meant to be considered a “best of.” With over 80 episodes recorded this year, it would be impossible to pull something like that together (and incredibly unfair to my guests). Consider this an “amuse-bouche” for the podcast; a hint of what made it so much fun to host this year and a promise of more to come in 2026.

Thank you to all my guests (who are each individually named in this episode), and to you for supporting the podcast. I appreciate you.

-James

Car Con Carne is nominated for “Best Music Podcast” in the Chicago Reader’s “Best of Chicago” survey (https://chicagoreader.com/best-of-chicago-music-nightlife-2025/). Please consider voting for the podcast - recognition like this can go a long way for a DIY, one-person operation!

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Car Con Carne is sponsored by Easy Automation:

If you’re looking to transform your home, office, or business into a smart, seamlessly connected space, Easy Automation delivers custom automation solutions that are tailored to your lifestyle.

Easy Automation makes technology work for you—effortlessly, reliably, and always with your satisfaction guaranteed.

Visit easy-automation.net or call Dan at 630-730-3728 and take control of your environment today!

##

Car Con Carne is also sponsored by Exploding House Printing.

Bands, brands, listeners who want to get the word out: Exploding House Printing can help with your screen printing, embroidery and other merch needs.

Exploding House delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices.

Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or go to their website or just email info@explodinghouseprinting.com to get a quote!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian/radio personality Kevin Kellam returns to guest host and welcome special guests Sklar Brothers!

Randy and Jason Sklar have been seen everywhere, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Playing House, Better Call Saul, Roast Battle III, Grey’s Anatomy, Entourage, and Cheap Seats on ESPN Classic.

My big takeaway from watching this episode is that I want the Sklars to be my best friends. I think you’ll love this chat - JVO.

See Sklar Brothers at The Den Theatre (1331 N. Milwaukee) for two shows on December 13!

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Car Con Carne is sponsored by Easy Automation:

If you’re looking to transform your home, office, or business into a smart, seamlessly connected space, Easy Automation delivers custom automation solutions that are tailored to your lifestyle.

Easy Automation makes technology work for you—effortlessly, reliably, and always with your satisfaction guaranteed.

Visit easy-automation.net or call Dan at 630-730-3728 and take control of your environment today!

##

Car Con Carne is also sponsored by Exploding House Printing.

Bands, brands, listeners who want to get the word out: Exploding House Printing can help with your screen printing, embroidery and other merch needs.

Exploding House delivers production efficiency and cost awareness to offer boutique print shop quality at much lower, large print shop prices.

Check out their work on Instagram at (at)explodinghouse, or go to their website or just email info@explodinghouseprinting.com to get a quote!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.