Lead Singer Syndrome

Lead Singer Syndrome (with Shane Told) is a podcast where 15 year touring veteran Shane Told (of Silverstein) interviews other lead singers to talk about what it's really like to front a professional, touring, Rock 'n Roll band.  

Episode 54: Craig Owens (Chiodos, D.R.U.G.S., BadXChannels)

November 21, 2016  /  Shane Told

Craig Owens joins Shane this week to talk about his "roller coaster" career as the singer of Chiodos, supergroup D.R.U.G.S, and now his new project BadXChannels. Craig openly discusses his role as the "heel" of the scene, his departure and rejoining of Chiodos, the collapse of D.R.U.G.S, his polarizing personality, and what is was like to collaborate with Dr. Dre. Go Blue!

Episode 53: Caleb Shomo Pt. 2 (Beartooth, Attack Attack, Silvertooth)

November 14, 2016  /  Shane Told

Happy One Year Anniversary Everyone! The very first guest to ever join Shane on this podcast for the inaugural episode is back..... Mr Caleb Shomo of Beartooth. It's been almost a year and a half since Shane and Caleb talked, they discuss: the hype machine that doesn't stop for Beartooth, feeling more and more comfortable in Caleb's own skin, but not 100%, the pressure of following up a hit debut album, and of course, Silvertooth! Silvertooth Lives.

Episode 52: Mike Hranica (The Devil Wears Prada,

November 14, 2016  /  Shane Told

The Devil Wears Prada frontman Mike Hranica joins Shane on the back of the Silverstein bus for a casual chat over some beers. Mike talks about the embarrassing beginnings of the band, his disdain for Donald Trump, feeling rejuvenated with new band members, and how he feels conflicted writing down "musician" as his occupation.

 

What You May Not Know About The Devil Wears Prada

  • The original three members whose started the band are no longer in it.

  • Started as a Christian band.

  • Mike was 16 when he joined the band.

  • Been together for over 10 years now.

Mike’s Approach to Lead Singing and Performing

  • “Yell and flub around on guitar”

  • Don’t force things

  • Writes most of the lyrics

  • Does Not deal with melodies much

  • Vocal warmups minimized

  • New Lyrical approach much different not as drastic and melodramatic

What’s Next For The Devil Wears Prada

 

Quotables:

“I just wanted to go to all the shows I was going to anyways”- Mike Hranica

 

“It came from the heart and if I couldn’t say that, it would be further embarrassing”- Mike Hranica

 

“I get to play guitar that’s my favorite thing in the world”- Mike Hranica

 

“We need to give our money to help people” - Mike Hranica

 

 

Venues Mentioned In This Episode:

 

Bands & Artists Mentioned In This Episode

Final Song

To The Key of Evergreen - The Devil Wears Prada.

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Episode 51: Chris Roetter (Like Moths To Flames, Ex-Emarosa)

November 14, 2016  /  Shane Told

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! Chris Roetter of Like Moths To Flames joins Shane on the Rise Records "Rise Up Tour" for a super honest discussion. Topics range from How To Get Signed to a label then versus now, being a secular band touring with Christian bands, and how to deal when the initial hype surrounding your band fades away. Bonus: Chris announces their re-signing back to Rise Records!

 

What You May Not Know About Like Moths to the Flame

  • The band is created from various other bands including Agraceful.

  • Accumulated a lot of popularity from their first two albums.

  • Touring with Silverstein, Memphis May Fire and The Devil Wears Prada this year.

  • Next two albums will be released on Rise Records.

Chris’s Approach to Lead Singing

  • “We want to provide our fans with a great album and we want to do better than we did on the last albums”

  • He likes to write and be vulnerable on and off the stage.

What’s Next For Like Moths To Flames

  • New album studio time booked in L.A. January, February 2017

 

Quotables:

“It’ll work out when it works out” - Chris Roetter

“It's important to find faith in something”- Chris Roetter

“Sometimes being in a band is like a roller coaster”- Chris Roetter

“I don’t want to get to the point when I write songs and they don’t mean anything”- Chris Roetter

Songs & Videos Mentioned In This Episode:

Venues Mentioned In This Episode:

Bands & Artists Mentioned In This Episode

Final Song

Into the ground - Like Moths To Flames

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Episode 50: Jonny Craig (Dance Gavin Dance, Slaves, Emarosa)

October 24, 2016  /  Shane Told

There isn't a much more polarizing figure in music than Jonny Craig.  His fans love him, and credit him with bringing soul inspired vocals into heavy music.  But he is also known for controversy, scandals, and a long running battle with drug addiction.  Now a month sober, Jonny sits down with Shane to discuss moving forward, but also his troubled past, which has led to his horrible reputation in the scene.

Show notes:

What You May Not Know About Jonny Craig

  • Only 2 members in Slaves, Colin and Jonny

  • Left his house at age 15 and went to California

  • European 10th Anniversary Tour with Dance Gavin Dance

What’s Next For Slaves

  • Finished a recent single that’s about to be put out

  • Recording a new album soon with Colin

  • Taking the band in a completely different direction

Venues Mentioned In This Episode:

Bands & Artists Mentioned In This Episode

Get In Touch:

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Episode 49: Fat Mike (NOFX)

October 17, 2016  /  Shane Told

This is a BIG episode. Shane talks to the singer of his all time favourite band - Fat Mike of NOFX. The conversation ranges from Mike's recent detox after a bout with an addiction to pills, his unique take on songwriting, the new NOFX album and tell-all book, his hatred of religion, and of course Donald Trump.

Episode 48: Joel Birch (The Amity Affliction)

October 11, 2016  /  Shane Told

The Amity Affliction frontman Joel Birch joins the show this week while on tour in Toronto. Recently sober, Joel discusses life as an alcoholic on tour and in the studio, the moral issues of changing their lyrics for a radio edit, having 3 number 1 albums in a row in Australia, and him having no qualms about calling out other musicians.

Episode 47: Ben Barlow (Neck Deep)

October 03, 2016  /  Shane Told

Ben Barlow of self described "Generic Pop Punk" band Neck Deep joins the show this week discussing everything from his deep love for Manchester United to being violently kissed on stage by girls during a show. The band is good, so why are they so self-deprecating? Great talk with a newer band that gets it.

Episode 43: Cory Brandan (Norma Jean, Hundred Suns)

September 05, 2016  /  Shane Told

Norma Jean and Hundred Suns frontman Cory Brandan joins the show to discuss the juggling act of having 2 bands and a family, turning 40, how having kids can affect a band, the morality of crowdfunding, the feeling of joining a band as the second lead singer, and a lot more. Shane recalls the first time he ever got a text message.

Episode 42: Dennis Lyxzen (Refused, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, INVSN)

August 28, 2016  /  Shane Told

Shane sits down on the back of a tour bus with one of his biggest influences -Dennis Lyxzen of Refused. Shane picks his brain for over an hour, getting him to explain why Refused broke up in the first place, why they decided to get back together after 14 years apart, how it felt to be named the sexiest man in Sweden, how he became the "Mick Jagger of punk rock", and a lot more. Candid and honest, Dennis holds back nothing in this must listen episode.

Episode 41: Chris Motionless (Motionless in White)

August 23, 2016  /  Shane Told

Shane sits down with Chris Motionless of Motionless In White to discuss some things he doesn't usually talk about. Everything from being a huge sports fan, to how he got started NOT as a lead singer, to his love for early 2000's screamo, and finally addressing the role makeup and image plays in Motionless In White.

Episode 40: Keith Buckley (Every Time I Die)

August 16, 2016  /  Shane Told

Shane sits down with Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die in the back of their tour bus on their 8th stint on the Vans Warped Tour. Topics include: Keith doing Warped Tour completely sober, the Canadian scene versus the Buffalo scene, Keith's new love for Dr. Phil, His novel "Scale", and the scary near loss of his wife and unborn child. A must listen.

Episode 39: Derek DiScanio (State Champs)

August 08, 2016  /  Shane Told

Shane and Derek from State Champs crush a few Budweisers in the back of his bus on Warped Tour in San Diego.  Among the topics discussed are the amazing rise of State Champs, being a local band that "gets it", the term "pop-punk", touring with 5 Seconds of Summer, and not taking Joel from Good Charlotte's advice in the studio.  Thanks for the beers Derek!  

Episode 38: Mike Herrera (MxPx)

August 01, 2016  /  Shane Told

Mike Herrera, lead singer of the seminal pop-punk band MxPx (and host of the Mike Herrera Hour) joins the show for a super honest and hilarious conversation.  Shane and Mike discuss everything from piggybacking on the 90's punk explosion, losing his faith and becoming an agnostic, adapting to ever changing trends in the scene, and even his recent vasectomy.  Bonus:  Shane admits to Mike how he really used to feel about MxPx.

Episode 37: Kevin Jordan (This Wild Life)

July 25, 2016  /  Shane Told

Shane sits down with acoustic frontman and pokemon master Kevin Jordan of This Wild Life. The conversation discusses the unconventional move transitioning from a full on 4 piece Pop-punk band to a stripped down acoustic duo, the pitfalls of having only 2 band members, and the somewhat crushing realization that Kevin will never be Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional.

Episode 36: Garrett Russell (Silent Planet)

July 18, 2016  /  Shane Told

Garrett Russell of Silent Planet is NOT your typical frontman. He holds a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology and has also been diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder. He's also one of the most cutting edge lyricists in music right now. A self-proclaimed non-musician, Garrett discusses everything form touring China, to the magic of Underoath, how to make a conceptual video not miss the mark, to what we are all going to do if Trump gets elected.

Episode 35: Joel Quartuccio (Being As An Ocean)

July 11, 2016  /  Shane Told

Shane sits down with Joel Quartuccio of Being as an Ocean for a heartfelt discussion while on tour together in Europe. Topics include: The irony of winning an Alternative Press award for Best Underground Band, Spending a lot of time in the crowd and being banned from venues, Getting bigger versus selling out, Money and fame "changing" people, and of course his technique when it comes to writing such great lyrics. Bonus: Shane fights a spider