Season 1
Ep. 147: John Hampson discusses Nine Days "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)"
March 20, 2023
The upbeat power pop sound of "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)" became a smash hit for Nine Days in the year 2000, propelling the band to MTV and Top 40 radio stardom. Decades later, the infectious single remains in the public …
Ep. 146: Dave King discusses Flogging Molly's "Drunken Lullabies"
March 13, 2023
Flogging Molly’s 2002 single “Drunken Lullabies” is a punk rock classic, combining traditional Irish elements with a breakneck tempo, meaningful lyrics, and an anthemic chorus. In this episode, singer and guitarist Dave King…
Ep. 145: JT Woodruff discusses Hawthorne Heights "Ohio Is For Lovers"
March 6, 2023
Hawthorne Heights caught fire in the mid 2000s, thanks in part to the success of their debut single "Ohio Is For Lovers". In this episode, guitarist and vocalist JT Woodruff details the inspiring (and sometimes hilarious) st…
Ep. 144: Ben Lee discusses his song "Catch My Disease"
Feb. 27, 2023
Ben Lee's infectious (no pun intended) 2005 single "Catch My Disease" earned him an APRA Award for Song of the Year, and it gained international acclaim when it was featured on the American television drama series Grey's Ana…
Ep. 143: John Parr discusses his song "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)"
Feb. 20, 2023
Most people know the hit song "St. Elmo's Fire" from the soundtrack of the 1985 film of the same name, but it was the true story of Paralympic athlete Rick Hansen that inspired John Parr to write this classic single. In this…
Ep. 142: JB Brubaker discusses August Burns Red's "White Washed"
Feb. 13, 2023
In this episode, guitarist JB Brubaker opens up about the inspiration and creation of "White Washed", a fan favorite from melodic metal mainstays August Burns Red.
Ep. 141: KT Tunstall discusses her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
Feb. 6, 2023
In 2004, KT Tunstall was a last minute addition to an episode of Later...With Jools Holland. Her performance of "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" launched her career sky high, as she blew away the television audience with he…
Throwback Thursday: Karina Deniké discusses Dance Hall Crashers "Go"
Feb. 2, 2023
This week's Throwback Thursday is from March 1st of 2021, when Karina Deniké sat in to discuss the writing, recording, and release of the classic Dance Hall Crashers song "Go", taken from their 1995 album Lockjaw.
Ep. 140: Sam Reid discusses Glass Tiger's "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)"
Jan. 30, 2023
In 1986, Canadian rock band Glass Tiger's ultra-catchy single "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" took the airwaves by storm, rising all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. A Grammy nomination and seve…
SNEAK PREVIEW of The After Party "Time Capsule: January 1993" episode
Jan. 26, 2023
Chris and Chris travel back in time to January 1993 to explore everything that was happening in popular culture.
Ep. 139: Vaden Todd Lewis discusses Toadies "Possum Kingdom"
Jan. 23, 2023
In this episode, Toadies vocalist and guitarist Vaden Todd Lewis discusses the writing, recording, and release of the band's 1994 hit single "Possum Kingdom". The song's eerie lyrical content matched with its unique composit…
Ep. 138: Joe Lynn Turner discusses Rainbow's "Street of Dreams"
Jan. 16, 2023
In this episode, legendary vocalist Joe Lynn Turner discusses the wild true story behind Rainbow’s 1983 hit single “Street of Dreams”.
Ep. 137: Justin Currie discusses Del Amitri's "Roll To Me"
Jan. 9, 2023
Glasgow's Del Amitri has had a long and storied career, releasing five albums that reached the Top 10 in the UK and selling over 6 millions albums worldwide. In the United States, it was the 1995 hit single "Roll To Me" that…
Ep. 136: Neil Sanderson discusses Three Days Grace's "I Hate Everything About You"
Jan. 2, 2023
Neil Sanderson is much more than just the drummer of Three Days Grace. Aside from providing the hard-hitting backbone of the band's signature sound, Neil's songwriting ability and proficiency at multiple instruments makes hi…
Ep. 135: Yotam Ben Horin discusses Useless ID's "State of Fear"
Dec. 26, 2022
Useless ID's 2005 single "State of Fear" combines infectious melodies with punk rock spirit to create an anthem that speaks to fans around the world. In this episode, guitarist and vocalist Yotam Ben Horin discusses the writ…
Ep. 134: Tony Scalzo discusses Fastball's "The Way"
Dec. 19, 2022
A newspaper story about a missing couple sparked the idea for Fastball's 1998 hit single "The Way". In this episode, bassist and vocalist Tony Scalzo details the writing, recording, and meteoric rise of this unique and catch…
Ep. 133: David Paich discusses Toto's "Africa"
Dec. 12, 2022
Generation after generation has enjoyed the feel-good sound of Toto's "Africa", making it one of the most beloved songs of all time. In this episode, vocalist and keyboardist David Paich discusses the writing, recording, rel…
Ep. 132: Keith Buckley discusses Every Time I Die's "Planet Shit"
Dec. 5, 2022
Every Time I Die's 2021 single "Planet Shit" is an intense commentary on the current state of society. In this episode, vocalist Keith Buckley details the writing. recording, and release of this brutal, no holds barred track.
Ep. 131: Vinnie Caruana discusses I Am The Avalanche's "Brooklyn Dodgers"
Nov. 28, 2022
When a demo of the song leaked on the internet, I Am The Avalanche's "Brooklyn Dodgers" became a fan favorite before it was even released. In this episode, vocalist Vinnie Caruana discusses the writing and recording of the b…
Ep. 130: Fletcher Dragge discusses Pennywise's "F**k Authority"
Nov. 21, 2022
Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge is not a fan of being told what to do, and the band's 2001 single "F**k Authority" became a rallying cry for fans all over the world who felt the same way. In this episode, Fletcher discus…
Ep. 129: Roger Joseph Manning Jr. discusses Jellyfish's "New Mistake"
Nov. 14, 2022
This week, Jellyfish's Roger Joseph Manning Jr. breaks down the writing, recording, and release of the band's epic 1993 single "New Mistake". Decades after Jellyfish's disbandment, the legend of this underappreciated band co…
Ep. 128: Kristopher Roe discusses The Ataris "In This Diary"
Nov. 7, 2022
In this episode, Kris Roe breaks down the inspiration and writing of "In This Diary", the personal and heartfelt single from The Ataris' 2003 album So Long, Astoria.
Ep. 127: Art Alexakis discusses Everclear's "Santa Monica"
Oct. 31, 2022
In this episode, Everclear's Art Alexakis details the inspiring story behind the band's 1995 breakout hit "Santa Monica".
Ep. 126: Scott Russo discusses Unwritten Law's "Seein' Red"
Oct. 24, 2022
Unwritten Law vocalist Scott Russo details the personal story behind the writing of the band's 2002 hit single "Seein' Red".
SNEAK PREVIEW of The After Party "Favorite Descendents Songs" episode
Oct. 20, 2022
This episode of The After Party was released to members of the Chris DeMakes A Podcast Supporting Cast on May 9th, 2022, as a follow-up to the Milo Aukerman episode.
Ep. 125: Stephen Egerton discusses Descendents "Everything Sux"
Oct. 17, 2022
Stephen Egerton has been a punk rock guitar icon with Descendents and ALL since the mid 80s, but it wasn't until 1996's Everything Sucks album that he began his run as prolific songwriter as well. In this episode, Stephen di…
Ep. 124: Slade Echeverria discusses Anarbor's "18"
Oct. 10, 2022
Anarbor's song "18" was not released as a single from the band's 2013 album Burnout, which is why the song's enormous presence many years later on TikTok came as a surprise. In this episode, vocalist and bassist Slade Echeve…
Throwback Thursday: Chris Carrabba discusses Dashboard Confessional's "Hands Down"
Oct. 6, 2022
Back on November 9th of 2020, Chris Carrabba sat in to discuss the 2002 Dashboard Confessional fan favorite single "Hands Down". He dives into all aspects of the song, from the experience that inspired the vivid lyrical imag…
Ep. 123: Hoodie Allen discusses "All About It (feat. Ed Sheeran)"
Oct. 3, 2022
Brooklyn-based indie artist Hoodie Allen dropped his debut album People Keep Talking in 2014, which was a vibrant mix of pop and hip-hop. In this episode, he discusses the creation and release of the single "All About It", w…
Throwback Thursday: Brendan B. Brown discusses Wheatus's "Teenage Dirtbag"
Sept. 29, 2022
Brendan B. Brown of Wheatus sat in for Episode #69 back on September 20th, 2021, to discuss their 2000 hit "Teenage Dirtbag". In the year since this was recorded, the song has reemerged in a huge way thanks to a TikTok trend…
Ep. 122: Dan Wilson discusses Semisonic's "Closing Time"
Sept. 26, 2022
Grammy Award winning songwriter Dan Wilson sits in this week to discuss the writing, recording, and release of Semisonic's 1998 hit single "Closing Time".
Throwback Thursday: Elizabeth Stokes discusses The Beths "Future Me Hates Me"
Sept. 22, 2022
With the recent release of The Beths' new album Expert In A Dying Field, it seemed like the perfect time to throw it back to Episode #44 from March 29th, 2021, when Liz Stokes sat in to discuss the writing and recording of "…
Ep. 121: Cory Branan discusses his song "The Prettiest Waitress In Memphis"
Sept. 19, 2022
"The Prettiest Waitress In Memphis" might not be the best representation of Cory Branan's sound, but this rockin' song has stood out amongst his fans as a favorite both musically and lyrically. In this episode, Cory recalls …
Throwback Thursday: Mark McGrath discusses Sugar Ray's "Every Morning"
Sept. 15, 2022
Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath sat in for Episode #38 back on February 15th, 2021, to discuss the band's 1999 hit single "Every Morning". Mark's humility and sense of humor really shine in this episode, which has made it a fan fav…
Ep. 120: Travis Shettel discusses Piebald's "American Hearts"
Sept. 12, 2022
At every Piebald show, you're sure to see the crowd light up and raise their fists in the air to sing "HEY! You're part of it!", the anthemic chorus of the band's 2002 single "American Hearts". In this episode, vocalist and …
Ep. 119: Stefan Babcock discusses PUP's "Robot Writes A Love Song"
Sept. 5, 2022
PUP vocalist and guitarist Stefan Babcock stops by to get into the nuts and bolts of the band's 2022 single "Robot Writes A Love Story". This quirky and infectious tune is a unique take on a love song, which is new subject m…
Ep. 118: A discussion on George Michael's "Faith"
Aug. 29, 2022
"Faith" was the second single from George Michael's debut solo album of the same name, which went on to produce SEVEN hit singles. In this episode, Chris and Chris dive deep into the music and lyrics of this iconic song that…
Throwback Thursday: Robin Wilson discusses Gin Blossoms "Til I Hear It From You"
Aug. 25, 2022
Robin Wilson sat in for Episode #22 of Chris DeMakes A Podcast back on October 26th of 2020. He discussed the band's 1995 hit single "Til I Hear It From You", which was the lead single from the Empire Records soundtrack. Thi…
Ep. 117: A discussion on Biz Markie's "Just A Friend"
Aug. 22, 2022
The unique vocal delivery and hilarious lyrics of Biz Markie's single "Just A Friend" launched the song into the Top 10 of the Billboard charts in 1990. Since then, the infectious chorus has remained lodged in the public con…
Throwback Thursday: Frank Turner discusses his song "Recovery"
Aug. 18, 2022
This week, we're throwing it back to April of 2021, when Frank Turner stopped by for Episode 46. He and Chris discussed the 2013 single "Recovery", a fan favorite song with a relatable (and somewhat hilarious) backstory.
Ep. 116: A discussion on Freddie Mercury and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Aug. 15, 2022
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is widely regarded as one of rock’s all time greatest songs, despite breaking pretty much every rule as to what constitutes a hit song. This week, Chris and Chris dive deep into the late Freddie Mercury’s…
Throwback Thursday: Jim Adkins discusses Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle"
Aug. 11, 2022
This week, we're throwing it back to Episode #42 from back in March of 2021, when Jimmy Eat World's Jim Adkins sat in to discuss the writing, recording, and release of the 2001 hit single "The Middle".
Ep. 115: A discussion on Amy Winehouse's "Rehab"
Aug. 8, 2022
The 2007 Grammy for Song of the Year went to "Rehab", an upbeat and autobiographical classic from the iconic Amy Winehouse. In this episode, Chris and Chris dive into every aspect of the song, as well as the career of this l…
SNEAK PREVIEW of The After Party “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man” episode
Aug. 4, 2022
Prince's "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man" might not be his most well-known song, but it is an UNDENIABLE jam! In this sneak preview of The After Party podcast, Chris and Chris break down this pop gem from the legen…
Ep. 114: A discussion on Tony Sly and No Use For A Name's "International You Day"
Aug. 1, 2022
The month of August is dedicated to songs by artists who are no longer with us. Listeners voted on who they wanted to hear episodes about, and Tony Sly of No Use For A Name was an overwhelming choice. In this episode, Chris …
Ep. 113: Dave Pirner discusses Soul Asylum's "Somebody To Shove"
July 25, 2022
Soul Asylum vocalist and guitarist Dave Pirner discusses the writing and recording of "Somebody To Shove", the lead single from the band's 1992 triple-platinum album Grave Dancers Union.
Ep. 112: Chris Cresswell discusses The Flatliners "Hang My Head"
July 18, 2022
Vocalist and guitarist Chris Cresswell dives deep into the writing and recording of "Hang My Head", a fan favorite single from The Flatliners. The song is taken from the band's 2017 album Inviting Light, and it deals with th…
Ep. 111: Brann Dailor discusses Mastodon's "Blood and Thunder"
July 11, 2022
Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor discusses the writing and recording of the song "Blood and Thunder", which was the lead-off track on the band's 2004 Moby Dick inspired album Leviathan. The record became an instant metal classi…
Ep. 110: Dave Hause discusses his song "We Could Be Kings"
July 4, 2022
Singer-songwriter Dave Hause discusses the writing, recording, and release of his heartfelt 2013 single "We Could Be Kings". From the original inspiration to the fascinating recording experience, Dave breaks down every aspec…
Ep. 109: Darryl "DMC" McDaniels discusses Run-DMC's "It's Tricky"
June 27, 2022
Rap pioneer Darryl "DMC" McDaniels breaks down the writing, recording, release, and legacy of Run-DMC's iconic 1986 smash hit single "It's Tricky".