How often do you get to talk to the boss of your record label, bass player in one of your favourite bands & one of the first people to ever hire you in the music biz? Well, this once in a lifetime confluence happens to Damian this week when he welcomes LAURA BALLANCE OF MERGE RECORDS / SUPERCHUNK on to the show show!!! Listen in as the two discuss Laura’s journey, why MERGE gets it in a way some other label can't & the night in London twenty years ago when Damian had to work the merch table for Superchunk.

Also Touched On:

Big Sister’s record collection as a gateway

Adam Ant on late night tv and a sexual awaking

Was it Prince & The Revolution on Purple Rain OR Bad Brains & Neon Christ for the first show?

ATL Alternative Culture Unity

The difference between Raleigh and Atlanta’s punk scenes

the uniqueness of the various hardcore scenes in NC

Learning to overcome stage fright

Starting Merge

Gerard’s stamp of approval

Not being proud of the early stuff

You can’t be discerning if you’re going to be prolific

Erectus Monotone: pre- Double Negative

not liking the bands that signed to major labels

Jon Wurster: the punkest motherfucker you ever did see

AND MORE!!!!!!

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Episode 203 - Laura Ballance (Superchunk, Merge Records)