Empty Checking with Derek Brink

Episode 48 - A Pod of a Cast

Covered a lot of ground in this one considering a half hour of it is just me demoing the Strymon Mobius! It's a fun one for me where I play guitar for a long time. I also talk about a bunch of guitar stuff and a hodge podge of other stuff. You know how it goes. Here's the time breakdown: 0:00 - Intro 6:30 - Music Break #1 - "Stranger" 7:00 - Hodge Podge including wrestling, Current Listening, Philosoffee Podcast, and the Kurt Vonneguys podcast 18:01 - Music Break #2 - "Falling" 18:31 - Talking about guitar accessories 35:32 - Music Break #3 - "Not Okay" 40:02 - Demoing the Strymon Mobius 1:02:20 - Music Break #4 - "Angel" 1:02:50 - Outro

Episode 47 - Guess What I ALMOST Named This One

This week's episode contains a lot of me ranting. I know...but more-so! I talk about the Star Trek Mission Crate from Loot Crate, the current season of The Venture Bros., and also a long talk on this week's happenings in the WWE--there was a Pay Per View and a LOT to discuss! All that, plus I freak out because I saw a bug. What are you waiting for? Click the thing! Here's the time breakdown: 0:00 - Mostly me yelling about fleas. 9:20 - Music Break 1 - Nobody Has it All 9:50 - My extreme disappointment with Loot Crate's Mission Crate. 19:07 - Music Break 2 - Nobody Else 19:39 - TV Stuff (including The Venture Bros. at the start, then WWE wrestling from 30:18 onward) 59:26 - Music Break 3 - Who I Am 59:59 - Outro

Episode 46 - Praise Stupid Nerd Stuff

This week's episode was a fun one for me. I talk at length about the new album by Amanda Shires (spoiler alert--it's great!). I spend some time talking about my 90s Ibanez Soundgear bass. I talk a bit about TV. And more! Here's the time index: 0:00 - Intro, including my dissatisfaction with Loot Crate 6:09 - Music Break 1 - "Born in this Town" from the Out from the Light record 6:40 - Music Talk including a revisit to the new Jayhawks record and an extended review of Amanda Shires' "To the Sunset." 18:10 - Music Break 2 - "Beautiful Disaster" from the Trigger Warnings & Sunshine album 18:41 - Talking about my Ibanez Soundgear bass. 27:54 - Music Break 3 - "What I'm Dying For" off of the It Could Be Worse album 28:23 - TV Talk including a little bit of WWE, a little Kimmy Schmitt, and a lot of Venture Bros. 45:38 - Music Break 4 - "Amanda, I'm Tired" from the It Could Be Worse album 46:07 - Outro, including announcing that we're turning 1 year old! Be sure to visit http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and more!

Episode 45 - When I Was Young and Virile

This week's episode is a little different. I didn't really have anything new to talk about so instead I talked about a couple of my guitars that mean a lot to me and also about the comic book Bone by Jeff Smith. It's an episode of full-on nostalgia for me, and I hope you'll enjoy the trip back in time too. Be sure to check out the blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and more! Here's how the time breaks down: 0:00 - Intro 5:40 - Music Break #1 - "One Man" from my Grounds album. 6:11 - Talking about my Ibanez EX Series bass. 16:48 - Music Break #2 - "Fall Apart" from my Grounds album. 17:18 - Talking about the comic book Bone by Jeff Smith. 35:18 - Music Break #3 - "Stranger" from my Grounds album. 35:48 - Talking about my Silvertone guitar. 43:03 - Music Break #4 - "Diner" from my Grounds album. 43:33 - Outro

Episode 44 - IT'S PROBABLY FINE

This week's episode of Empty Checking is a shorter episode, so it's a pretty good jumping-on point if you've been behind. I talk about playing retro Atari games and also music from Nine Inch Nails, The Get Up Kids, and Pulp. Plus just a little bit of wrestling--but so little it didn't even get its own entry. I liked doing this episode and I hope you like listening to it. Here's the time-index: 0:00 - Intro Stuff 4:30 - Music Break #1 - "Earned" off of the "Things I Meant to Say" album 5:00 - I strongly endorse straberry lemonade, in general. Then I also strongly endorse a gaming system from the 70s. - The Atari Flashback 15:33 - Music Break #2 - "Napalm" from the "Something to Look Forward to" album 16:04 - Music Reviews: Nine Inch Nails- Bad Witch, The Get Up Kids - Kicker (EP), Pulp - Different Class 32:42 - Music Break #3 - "Of Death and Dying" from the "Ink-Stained Fingers" album 33:14 - Outro Stuff including talking about wrestling for a couple minutes. Thanks for your support! Be sure to check out the companion blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com for photos and more!

Episode 43 - Write Your Own Funny Title (This is Hard)

This week's episodr took too long to upload, but it's better late than never! This week you'll (potentially!) listen to me talk about new releases from The Hold Steady, The Jayhawks, Snow Patrol, and Guided By Voices. I also talk about a 70s album by Nick Drake. Then I discuss this week's happenings in the WWE. After that, I talk about the recent scandal, suspension, and reinstatement of Hulk Hogan from the WWE Hall of Fame, which includes a long segment where I talk about racism and gets kinda real. Lots of ground was covered this week! Here's the time break-down: 0:00 - Intro 4:42 - Music Break #1 - "Born in this Town" from the "Out from the Light" album. 5:12 - New and Old Music Releases featuring The Hold Steady, The Jayhawks, Snow Patrol, Guided By Voices, Nick Drake 31:40 - Music Break #2 - "Live Your Life" from the "Sorry, I Didn't Mean to Shout" release. 32:11 - WWE Week in Review, with particular focus on the Extreme Rules PPV 53:59 - Music Break #3 - "Simple Things" from the "Things I Meant to Say" album. 54:30 - Hulk Hogan and Racism (Not kidding.) 1:22:19 - Music Break #4 - "AMB 4" from the "Grounds" album. 1:22:50 - Outro Thanks for your support!

Episode 42 - ULTRA SUPER MEGA BOARD!

This week is mostly about my pedal board. I spent a lot of time and money on it, so you're going to have to deal with me playing around with it. Or skip this episode. You do you. I also talked a little bit about my current listening which has been made up mostly by Mr. Big and Guided By Voices (the pairing we've all been waiting for!) and I talked about some other stuff in passing too. But it's mostly the board. Here's how the time broke down: 0:00 - Intro - Including a plug for my friends at Philosoffee at 3:33 and a little bit of wrestling talk at 7:45. 11:11 - Music Break #1 - "Nobody Else" from my It Could Be Worse album 11:41 - ULTRA SUPER MEGA BOARD!!! 46:40 - Music Break #2 - "Who I Am" also from It Could Be Worse 47:10 - Outro - Including a little bit more about the board that I forgot to mention but also my current listening starts at about 50:55. Thanks for your support! Check out the blog at http://emptychecking.blogspot.com.

Episode 41 - Stupid Freedom

After a two-week hiatus, the show is back and talking about music from Sloan, Father John Misty, Anna Burch, and Ray Davies. We also talk about wrestling and some other stuff. Enjoy! 0:00 - Intro 5:32 - Rest in Peace, Big Van Vader 9:06 - Music Break 1 - Church Girls from "Trigger Warnings and Sunshine" 9:36 - Music Talk including Sloan, Anna Burch, Father John Misty, and Ray Davies 34:38 - Music Break 2 - Falling from "New Year's Eve" 35:12 - Wrestling Stuff 49:24 - Music Break 3 - Being There from "Things I Meant to Say" 49:54 - Outro

Episode 40 (feat Dave Brink and Commedore) - The Pleasant Sloppy Drunks

It's a very different episode this week. I got tired of listening to myself, so I blindsided my brother Dave and my friend Commedore with phone calls and recorded them. We mostly talked about the Dropkick Murphys/Flogging Molly show in St. Louis on the 12th, but took a few turns as well (especially in the call with Dave). I don't talk about a lot else. It's mostly just raving about those bands, that show, and music in general. It was fun. Here's sort of a time index: 0:00 - Intro stuff including talking about how I spent my weekend and stuff like that... 6:22 - Music break 1 - "Not Quite Middle Life Crisis" off the "Trigger Warnings and Sunshine" album. 6:52 - I start talking about the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly show, but then get bored of hearing my own voice...so... 12:35 - I call my friend Commedore and talk about the concert, particularly the opening act Jake Burns, who I missed. 27:12 - I call my brother Dave and we talk about the concert some more and music in general for a long time. 1:06:58 - Music Break 2 - "Of Death and Dying" from my "Ink-Stained Fingers" album. 1:07:30 - Outro stuff. Thanks for your support!

Episode 39 - The Episode Where I Can't Pronounce Anything

Kind of a short one this week. Talked about music from Willie Nelson, Roger Daltrey, and Ghost. Also talked about being excited to have the WWE Network (finally!) and about comedy I've watched on Netflix. Here's the time index: 0:00 - Intro Stuff 6:55 - Music Break 1 - Beautiful Disaster from the "Trigger Warnings & Sunshine" Album 7:27 - New Music Releases - Willie Nelson - Last Man Standing (8:32)- Ghost - Prequelle (10:42) - Roger Daltrey - As Long As I Have You (20:54) 24:45 - Music Break 2 - Give it Up from the "Ink-Stained Fingers" Album 25:15 - Streaming Media and Stand Up Comedy 34:37 - Napalm from the "Something to Look Forward To" album 35:07 - Outro Thanks for your support!