Jimmer Podrasky's guest appearances

Jimmer Podrasky

The Hustle

Independent's Day Radio

Lived Through That

Independent's Day

Chris Ballew

Walter Egan

Paul Collins

John Smith

Ian McNabb

Rich Spina

Tanya Donelly

Peppy Castro

Bill Janovitz

Jim Walker

Marge Raymond

Walter Wray

Slim Man

BERTIE HIGGINS

Clive Farrington

OwlTail

“Lived Through That” is the companion podcast to my book where I look at influential 90s musicians and where they are today. On this podcast, we’ll delve deeper into a single pivotal moment in the lives of some of the artists I feature in the book, as well as other artists I love and admire. The stories they tell are open, honest, and inspiring. On this episode, we talk to musician Jimmer Podrasky from the band the Rave-Ups. If you’re kind of a music nerd like me, you might remember watching the classic 80s movie “Pretty in Pink” and seeing his band prominently featured in a few of the club scenes singing their songs “Positively Lost Me” and “Rave Up/Shut Up.” You naturally ran out to your favorite record shop to buy the soundtrack and were disappointed that not even one of those songs were on there. What happened? Musical credits: Lumber Down by Blue Dot Sessions Palms Down by Blue Dot Sessions Jimmer's Bandcamp page where you can order his latest releases and more is here. Be sure to look out for my book, "Lived Through That," where ever you buy your books!  You can get 15% your copy of the book NOW by using the promo code PODCAST15 at this link. In addition, my book "80s Redux," is still available - pick up a copy here! You can find out more about my work and the 80s and 90s books at my website here.

“Lived Through That” is the companion podcast to my book where I look at influential 90s musicians and where they are today. On this podcast, we’ll delve deeper into a single pivotal moment in the lives of some of the artists I feature in the book, as well as other artists I love and admire. The stories they tell are open, honest, and inspiring. On this episode, we talk to musician Jimmer Podrasky from the band the Rave-Ups. If you’re kind of a music nerd like me, you might remember watching the classic 80s movie “Pretty in Pink” and seeing his band prominently featured in a few of the club scenes singing their songs “Positively Lost Me” and “Rave Up/Shut Up.” You naturally ran out to your favorite record shop to buy the soundtrack and were disappointed that not even one of those songs were on there. What happened? Musical credits: Lumber Down by <a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/110824" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blue Dot Sessions</a> Palms Down by <a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/58243" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blue Dot Sessions</a> Jimmer's Bandcamp page where you can order his latest releases and more is <a href="https://jimmerpodrasky.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here.</a> Be sure to look out for my book, "Lived Through That," where ever you buy your books!  You can get 15% your copy of the book NOW by using the promo code PODCAST15 at <a href="https://shop.aer.io/GirlFridayBooks/p/Lived_Through_That_s_Musicians_Today/9781736357934-11202" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this link</a>. In addition, my book "80s Redux," is still available - pick up a copy <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/80s-redux-your-favorite-musicians-today/9780764354960" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>! You can find out more about my work and the 80s and 90s books at my website <a href="https://www.hipphoto.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here.</a>

Episode 23 - Jimmer Podrasky from the Rave-Ups

Jimmer was the frontman of the seminal 80s college rock band The Rave-Ups who were forever immortalized when they appeared the movie Pretty in Pink. After three critically-acclaimed albums the band broke up and Jimmer basically disappeared for the next 25 years. Unfortunately, he had a rough go during that time, some of which we talk about here. Thankfully, he's finally back making music, including his excellent solo album The Would-Be Plans.

Episode 15 - Jimmer Podrasky of The Rave-Ups

More than once, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “There are no second acts in American lives.”  Scholars have long debated what the author meant by that statement, but regardless of intent or implication, when taken literally it can be a stark reality for some people.  Jimmer Podrasky’s first act opened when he cast himself as the leader of the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania band, The Rave-Ups - a band that deftly mixed country, rock and other styles of music before doing so became an avocation for the bands who would be labeled as the progenitors of alternative country music.  The Rave-Ups had enough regional buzz to warrant a move to Los Angeles, but it didn’t last.  When the other three members opted to return to Pittsburgh, Podrasky stayed, assembled a new lineup and continued to record, play shows and court record labels.  At one point, all four members of the band worked in the mailroom at A&amp;M records and they rehearsed in the basement afterhours.  When Podrasky began dating her sister, actress Molly Ringwald became a friend of the band and created a pop culture footnote when she inscribed The Rave-Ups’ name on her three-ring binder in the 1986 John Hughes movie, Pretty in Pink.  In a bewildering turn of fate, although The Rave-Ups had two songs featured in the movie as well as appearing in scene, neither cut made it onto the soundtrack of the coming of age classic.  The band garnered critical accolades but struggled to achieve mainstream success and they officially split up in 1992. The Rave-Ups played occasional shows in the ensuing years, but Podrasky took a two decade-plus break from recording to focus on being a father to Chance, the son he’d had with Beth Ringwald.  The near-collapse of the American economy in the autumn of 2008 found Podrasky being laid off from his job as a script reader and an incredible run of misfortune befell him.  As Podrasky struggled to find work, he lost his apartment, his dog died and Chance struggled with addiction.  At one point, the Podrasky’s were living in a car parked in a friend’s driveway and a phone call led to a three-day stint in a mental institution when a concerned relative mistook Podrasky’s depressed musings for suicidal intent.  A chance encounter with actor/musician Robbie Rist marked a turn in Podrasky’s fortunes.  Although he hadn’t been recording, Podrasky never stopped writing songs and there were now hundreds to choose from when producer and Dwight Yoakam drummer, Mitch Marine began sorting through them to find the ringers that would eventually comprise Podrasky’s long overdue new record, the aptly named The Would-Be Plans.  When listening to the ten songs on The Would-Be Plans, a case could be made that Podrasky was so far ahead of the curve that only by 2014 can listeners finally and fully appreciate his genius songcraft.  Podrasky’s confident and cocky vocals haven’t lost a step and the record simply crackles with pitch-perfect accompaniment by a band comprised of ace players.  It’s a hell of a second act, and one that might make Fitzgerald smile and shake his hips.

Episode 105: Jimmer Podrasky