In this episode, we sit down with Patrick Cozens, frontman of Restraining Order [https://music.apple.com/us/artist/restraining-order/6290600], the Massachusetts/Connecticut hardcore band known for blending classic early ’80s energy with modern urgency. Patrick talks about growing up in the New England scene, how Restraining Order first came together, and the balance between being easygoing offstage and all-out intensity onstage.

We dig into how both he and the band have grown over the years—from sweaty DIY shows to playing some of hardcore’s biggest stages—and how the scene itself has shifted since he first got involved. Patrick reflects on the changing spirit of hardcore, the lessons learned through touring, and what personal growth looks like when you’ve spent years living and breathing this music.

Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil Greed

Apple Music [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/100-words-weekly-reccos/pl.u-WMy3UB4N43]

Spotify  [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xMpD6cIu08GmE3PWpypA?si=83094abaefe04105]

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_akI_b6HY7yrc2Zc1ciBvw]

Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. [https://rockabilia.com/] 

Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only)  [https://evilgreed.com/]

Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. [https://wickerwoodworks.com/]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Patrick Cozens from Restraining Order

This episode features a conversation with Esden Stafne, bassist, vocalist, and founding member of saturdays at your place [https://open.spotify.com/artist/69Kp4bE7aUWEPrmTwmhVZR?si=qOAmvP0VQoGzS-50joFHGQ], the Michigan-based band whose blend of Midwest emo, pop sensibility, and raw sincerity has built a passionate following across DIY spaces and beyond.

We dig into Esden’s life offstage—the quiet moments between tours, growing up in the Midwest, and how early influences shaped his outlook on art and connection. He talks about balancing humor and honesty in songwriting, the personal growth that comes from being on the road, and the strange, grounding effect of seeing your music resonate with people you’ve never met.

It’s an open, reflective conversation with an artist learning how to stay true to himself while everything around him keeps moving faster.

Weekly Recommendation Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xMpD6cIu08GmE3PWpypA?si=83094abaefe04105] presented by Evil Greed

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_akI_b6HY7yrc2Zc1ciBvw]

Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. [https://rockabilia.com/] 

Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only)  [https://evilgreed.com/]

Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. [https://wickerwoodworks.com/]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Esden Stafne from Saturdays At Your Place

Akil Godsey of End It [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5YlX74SFjWauq32aKLwAYn?si=-Xgl8nuaSiy0mpFPBjmPqQ] joins the show for a conversation that’s equal parts reflection and release. Hailing from Baltimore, End It has built their reputation on unfiltered honesty and chaotic energy — a band that channels the city’s grit into hardcore that’s both feral and deeply human. Akil talks about the cycles of death, debauchery, and the strange internet nostalgia of the MySpace-core era that shaped how he sees connection and identity today. From the band’s early days cutting through the noise with their unapologetic attitude to their place in the modern hardcore scene, Akil brings humor, self-awareness, and a rare willingness to confront the messy parts of living loud.

Weekly Recommendation Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xMpD6cIu08GmE3PWpypA?si=83094abaefe04105] presented by Evil Greed

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_akI_b6HY7yrc2Zc1ciBvw]

Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. [https://rockabilia.com/] 

Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only)  [https://evilgreed.com/]

Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. [https://wickerwoodworks.com/]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Akil Godsey from End It

In this episode, I sit down with Josh Newton, a musician whose fingerprints are all over some of the most compelling underground sounds of the past three decades. We trace his path from the fertile Kansas City scene of the ’90s, where Shiner [https://open.spotify.com/artist/07oHSnqyeLR2Upt5JDJjfy?si=VDUSXK1eSBmy0Pt83-5y5g] carved out their space alongside the era’s noisy, angular bands, to his wild ride as a bassist in Every Time I Die, one of hardcore’s most unpredictable live acts. Josh shares stories from the early days of playing noisy, experimental music, the transition into heavier and more chaotic environments, and how he’s navigated the balance between passion and profession. It’s a conversation that digs into both the personal and historical layers of a career spent moving between scenes, sounds, and identities—while always keeping the bass as his anchor.

Weekly Recommendation Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xMpD6cIu08GmE3PWpypA?si=83094abaefe04105] presented by Evil Greed

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_akI_b6HY7yrc2Zc1ciBvw]

Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. [https://rockabilia.com/] 

Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only)  [https://evilgreed.com/]

Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. [https://wickerwoodworks.com/]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Josh Newton from Shiner

HAPPY 13TH ANNIVERSARY TO THE SHOW.

On this episode, we sit down with Tim McIlrath of Rise Against [https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Wr3hh341P84m3EI8qdn9O?si=fN6NlrfxRdGXUPyRfYhM7w] to dig into the band’s remarkable longevity and the intentional ways they’ve continued to challenge and inspire listeners over the years. Tim reflects on the band’s history—from their early days in Chicago’s punk and hardcore scene to becoming a globally recognized voice for resistance and change. We talk about his straight edge roots, what it means to keep pushing buttons in a world that often prefers comfort, and how Rise Against continue to evolve without losing sight of their core ethos. Plus, Tim shares insights on the band’s new release, offering a window into where they are headed next.

Weekly Recommendation Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xMpD6cIu08GmE3PWpypA?si=83094abaefe04105] presented by Evil Greed

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_akI_b6HY7yrc2Zc1ciBvw]

Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. [https://rockabilia.com/] 

Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only)  [https://evilgreed.com/]

Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. [https://wickerwoodworks.com/]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tim McIlrath from Rise Against 

In this episode, Harper from Greet Death [https://open.spotify.com/artist/7CddNoU6nKEW7UpcIlJF9n?si=fuKwRMERRCOF1J-MLi430w] opens up about the deeper currents running through her life and music. She reflects on the impact Blink-182 had on her formative years, not just as a gateway into punk and alternative music, but as a band that showed how vulnerability and humor could coexist. We also explore how Greet Death has often been miscategorized—labeled as shoegaze, doom, slowcore, and more—and what those shifting definitions say about the way audiences consume art. Underneath it all, Harper shares how she thinks about humor within music and life: not as a punchline, but as a subtle lens that shapes how we experience both joy and grief.

Weekly Recommendation Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xMpD6cIu08GmE3PWpypA?si=83094abaefe04105] presented by Evil Greed

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_akI_b6HY7yrc2Zc1ciBvw]

Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. [https://rockabilia.com/] 

Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWMUSIC (for a limited time only)  [https://evilgreed.com/]

Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. [https://wickerwoodworks.com/]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Harper Boyhtari from Greet Death

We sat down with Garrett Klahn from Texas Is the Reason [https://open.spotify.com/artist/7rXo5QTwwFBYZ5Z3veUVg8?si=F5b9KgOvRK271dxgpo8sTA] for a conversation that goes way beyond the band. We talked about growing up in the Buffalo hardcore scene, hanging out at Home of the Hits and why that record store meant so much, and how nostalgia creeps in when you look back on music that shaped your life. Garrett opened up about his early days, the friendships that stuck, and what it feels like to revisit those moments all these years later.

Weekly Recommendation Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xMpD6cIu08GmE3PWpypA?si=83094abaefe04105] presented by Evil Greed

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_akI_b6HY7yrc2Zc1ciBvw]

Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. [https://rockabilia.com/] 

Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code SUBURBS (for a limited time only)  [https://evilgreed.net/?srsltid=AfmBOopuCO_l3EJ0Au2cWHO4XY-pgnUodlVkM9vs7iTtvgaHRyI0yNEz]

Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. [https://wickerwoodworks.com/]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Garret Klahn from Texas Is The Reason

On this episode, I sit down with Drew Ringo from Sleepytime Trio [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5yFWk36y1daD13Z6XbK32s?si=OVMsOWQzQCGSulGCxHZKEQ] to dig into the stories and experiences that shaped his life in music. We talk about what it was like to grow up around Washington, D.C. in the 1980s, a scene that set the tone for so much of what came later. Drew shares memories from an ambitious five-month tour that pushed the band to its limits and taught them how to survive on the road, and we fast-forward to today as he reflects on what it means to prepare for shows as an adult, balancing the same intensity with a new perspective.

It’s a conversation that spans eras, connects the past with the present, and reminds us why this music still matters.

Weekly Recommendation Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xMpD6cIu08GmE3PWpypA?si=83094abaefe04105] presented by Evil Greed

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_akI_b6HY7yrc2Zc1ciBvw]

Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. [https://rockabilia.com/] 

Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code SUBURBS (for a limited time only)  [https://evilgreed.net/?srsltid=AfmBOopuCO_l3EJ0Au2cWHO4XY-pgnUodlVkM9vs7iTtvgaHRyI0yNEz]

Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. [https://wickerwoodworks.com/]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Drew Ringo from Sleepytime Trio 

In this episode we sit down with Scott Winegard, bassist of the seminal post-hardcore band Texas Is The Reason [https://open.spotify.com/artist/7rXo5QTwwFBYZ5Z3veUVg8?si=ZmLhP0XxQjysDNJTItSBVw]. Emerging from New York City’s 90s underground, the band carved out a legacy with their melodic sensibilities, introspective lyrics, and their enduring influence on the emo/post-hardcore movement. Scott reflects on those years with a mix of honesty and humor, touching on memorable stories like the inside joke of “cigarettes make you fight,” navigating the ethos of old school veganism, and the surreal experiences that came with major label interest during the height of the band’s momentum.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering Texas Is The Reason, this conversation offers a unique window into the culture, choices, and chaos of that era.

Weekly Recommendation Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xMpD6cIu08GmE3PWpypA?si=83094abaefe04105] presented by Evil Greed

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_akI_b6HY7yrc2Zc1ciBvw]

Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. [https://rockabilia.com/] 

Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code SUBURBS (for a limited time only)  [https://evilgreed.net/?srsltid=AfmBOopuCO_l3EJ0Au2cWHO4XY-pgnUodlVkM9vs7iTtvgaHRyI0yNEz]

Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. [https://wickerwoodworks.com/]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scott Winegard from Texas Is The Reason 

In this episode, we sit down with Geert Van Der Velde, best known for his time fronting the influential hardcore band Shai Hulud [https://open.spotify.com/artist/4AlPDOBuB1s7NuIPo4veZu?si=rK-b1oHKS76o8Rc9DNJVaQ]. Geert shares insights from his journey in the world of heavy music, reflecting on the band’s lasting impact and the philosophies that have shaped his life and art. From exploring nihilism and the role it’s played in his worldview, to the importance of taking chances and embracing the DIY ethos, Geert offers a candid look at how he’s navigated both music and meaning. We also dive into his unexpected path into the world of chess, where discipline and strategy mirror his creative pursuits, and talk about his new band and what lies ahead in this next chapter of expression.

Weekly Recommendation Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11xMpD6cIu08GmE3PWpypA?si=83094abaefe04105]

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_akI_b6HY7yrc2Zc1ciBvw]

Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order. [https://rockabilia.com/] 

Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code REUNION (for a limited time only)  [https://evilgreed.net/?srsltid=AfmBOopuCO_l3EJ0Au2cWHO4XY-pgnUodlVkM9vs7iTtvgaHRyI0yNEz]

Get the best vinyl storage/furniture around with Wicker Wood Works and use the promo code 100words for 10% off orders of over $500. [https://wickerwoodworks.com/]

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Geert Van Der Velde from Shai Hulud

Host Ray Harkins dives deep with creators of independent culture from musicians, artists and other interesting people to find out what inspires them, how they came to be and many other unexpected places.

100 Words Or Less: The Podcast