NEPA SCENE PODCAST: NEPA Metal Meltdown in Scranton with Beyond Fallen and Threatpoint
The NEPA Scene Podcast is back in a new location with new co-hosts and a fresh format, conducting the same honest, uncensored interviews and in-depth discussions about Northeastern Pennsylvania that the show has become known for, covering local arts, entertainment, and the issues that matter to the area.
Recorded and produced every week by Internet marketing company Coal Creative in their production studio in downtown Wilkes-Barre, the podcast is now presented as a live, multi-camera show that streams in high definition on NEPA Scene’s Facebook page on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. Every hour-long episode is hosted by Rich Howells, editor and founder of NEPA Scene; Brittany Boote, owner of Boote Photography Studio in Forty Fort; and Johnny Popko, the senior marketing consultant at local radio stations Alt 92.1, Rock 107, and ESPN Radio. Viewers are encouraged to tune in and interact during the Facebook Live stream so that the hosts can address comments and answer questions as they come in.
After the live webcast, the show is available the following Friday as an audio podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Stitcher, while the video version can be seen on Facebook and YouTube.
In Episode 6, we sit down with Beyond Fallen vocalist Joe Karavis and Threatpoint guitarist Alex Olivetti, who are both playing in the two-day NEPA Metal Meltdown festival at the Irish Wolf Pub in Scranton on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6.
We discuss how their respective bands formed in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton; their very different writing and recording processes; touring in the U.S. and overseas and how they compare; the challenges of being an independent band and getting people to come to shows; the local metal scene and growing up on metal music; the science fiction concept and cover art of Beyond Fallen’s upcoming album, “As the Spires Fall;” musical influences; what went into Threatpoint’s latest album, “RIP;” the messages they’re trying to convey through their music; Beyond Fallen’s CD release show at the Irish Wolf Pub on Friday, May 19; and the planning, work, bands, and venue changes behind the fourth annual NEPA Metal Meltdown and what the future of this indie metal festival will be. We also answer some questions and comments from live viewers.
In The Last Word segment, we talk about two sad stories we reported lately – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre bluegrass band Cabinet parting ways with their original drummer and the singer of Wilkes-Barre “grave rock” band Curse of Sorrow losing his home in a fire – and explain why we felt they were worth covering, the ethics of covering such topics, and how to tastefully write stories that are sensitive and fair to everyone involved.
Watch the live video version on YouTube:
Listen on iTunes.
Listen on SoundCloud:
Listen on Stitcher.
Watch the original Facebook Live stream:
