In fact, it is. Met Chris DeMakes close to 30 years ago while running a radio station at Eckerd College. We interviewed LTJ in the van, had a blast, booked them a few times for shows, and now it’s memory lane with a bunch of episodes. For the ‘80s playlist show, I was hoping for one song for the hard list. While about to go to a soundcheck at Janus Landing, Chris left the Pelican Pub (dive bar behind the stage), dropped $20 in the jukebox, and put “Live Wire” by Motley Crue on repeat until they couldn’t take it anymore. Thought that would be a lock for the summer of ‘82. Keep up the great shows guys, I really enjoy it.

Chris and Chris have made an amazing podcast. It is impressive how much thought and analysis go into each episode. It’s awesome to hear guests shocked and impressed at the depth of analysis of their own songs. Chris Demakes both has a gifted ear for breaking down songs and a impressively accurate and detailed memory, and shares awesome stories from his own experience. If you guys wind up reading this out loud, just want to say “helloooooo!!!” And if you like this review, please give it 5stars because that’s what helps keep me writing reviews.

I have enjoyed all episodes I have listened to. Chris treats his guests with such respect and dissects each song with a child like wonder. Some highlights have been Aaron Barrett and Scott Klopenstein (RBF), Jeff Rosenstock, Butch Walker, Anthony Raneri (Bayside), and Shane Told (Silverstein). Keep it up guys!! Stay Groovy, J-Rod

One of my first listens every Monday — an outstanding production, and the conversations about the craft of songwriting & the insights into the recording process behind these tracks is fascinating. I always learn something new!

There are so many songs I hadn’t heard of from artists I already enjoyed. “The YMCA down the street from the clinic,” “drag my body,” just as a few examples. And the fact that John Oates was brought on to talk about Hall And Oates, my favorite band. 5 stars across the board. Keep the hits coming.

Great podcast! I love the breakdowns of the music that are interesting and thorough, but in a friendly, non-intimidating way. The new episode on The Outfield’s “Your Love” is really terrific. Maybe feature the Judybats on a future show?

This podcast has completely reinvigorated my love for music, music production, and songwriting. Not only have I gained huge respect for artists I would’ve completely dismissed as a younger self (specifically the Mark McGrath episode, go have a listen!), these interviews are reaffirming a lot of my own instincts about songwriting. Chris picks such an amazing cross section of artists to interview and I love the depths that he dissects the songs. Side note: The first episode I heard was the Jawbreaker episode which had always been my all time favorite band. I was immediately hooked!

Goes so in depth to lyrics, writting styles, instrumentation, and everything!

I’m taking up music as a hobby and I’ve loved LTJ since the 90s. This podcast is so much more than I expected. Chris talks about song structure, production and even musical highlights unique to the interviewed guest. I think if you’re a fan or even wanting to learn about how music is made, you need to subscribe. RIP HJR. My favorite show of all time was LTJ in State College PA at the Crowbar in the early 2000s. A powerful packed room and I swear, everyone in the joint was pumping their fists and singing along. As the stage lights flickered and I could see everyone having a great time, I was filled with joy and I’ve never forgotten this moment and the way LTJ has affected my life. Thank you Chris, Roger and the band for the last 30 years of motivational music and relatable lyrics that will never make you feel alone.

Since the start of "Chris DeMakes a Podcast," my appreciation for music has reached new heights. Chris’s deep dives into songs by bands I love, such as Alkaline Trio, Descendents, and The Gaslight Anthem, have been nothing short of enlightening. The episodes featuring legends like John Oates and Huey Lewis are equally fantastic, offering rich insights into the creative process of these iconic musicians. What I love most about this podcast is how it caters to a broad audience. There's truly something for everyone. Even if a song isn't your usual cup of tea, Chris’s thoughtful breakdowns and the artists’ unique perspectives will make you see it in a new light. I encourage everyone to listen, as you're guaranteed to find something to appreciate in the artist’s approach to songwriting. The highlight for me is hearing countless artists express genuine gratitude for how in-depth Chris goes into dissecting their songs. It’s clear this isn’t just another interview for them; it’s a meaningful exploration of their work. This sets the podcast apart from the rest and makes each episode a must-listen. Highly recommend "Chris DeMakes a Podcast" for anyone who loves music and wants to deepen or rediscover their understanding and appreciation of it!

I look forward to this podcast every week and so will you. Chris & Chris effortlessly educate and entertain their audience each episode. Don’t believe me? Listen to the Mark McGrath episode. You’ll learn about the great David Kahne, pegging, and the importance of “Don’t bore us get to the chorus.” A podcast ever music fan should subscribe to!

No need for preamble, this podcast is so exceptional that it has made listening to any of the podcasts I previously enjoyed virtually impossible. Believe me, I have tried, and I soon find myself pivoting to a back-episode of Chris DeMakes a Podcast instead and being glad I did. Let’s start with Chris DeMakes. The guy is so genuine, high-spirited, and extremely likable that you could listen to him interview anyone about any subject and it would be compelling. But as the frontman of a band that’s been going strong for over thirty years, he’s got a deep rolodex of widely-represented musicians to bring on as guests with the one constant remaining the same — these guests truly love the guy. And they’re very often floored at the depth of understanding he has about the songs they wrote and/or arranged and are frequently surprised to learn things they didn’t even realize about their own songs. We also can’t overlook Chris’ co-host and producer Chris Fafalios, who’s the perfect complement to Chris D and whose research and dedication here shines, greatly contributing to the infinitely-rewarding listening experience. I’m a huge music fan, but by no stretch a musician, and the way these guys break down songs is so insightful and rich that it never feels too inside baseball for a non-musician like me. If a podcast that spends an hour breaking down a single song sounds like it could come off clinical, wipe away that notion because in these guys’ hands it is anything but. And as a final token of just how wonderful these guys are, they consistently finish the show with a segment called Band You May Not Know, where they showcase smaller bands with big dreams and give them a generous showcase by playing whatever song the band considers their best track. Though it’s certainly music-focused, this podcast is really for everyone. You listen to an episode and walk away feeling good. Every time. And that is a powerful gift these guys endlessly provide their listeners.

I’m just gonna start with where has this Podcast been all my life??? I just found out about this last week and when I found out how old this is and how many episodes there are I felt like I found a treasure trove. If music means as much to you as it does to me then this is now your new favorite thing to listen to. Chris is intelligent creative and thorough in his approach to questioning his guest and breaking down the songs involved. He’s also thoughtful in his approach to conversation, he’s super friendly and never cuts the guest off. There’s no Podcast I’d recommend over this if you’re a music lover like me. My love for music grows more and more with every episode I listen to. Thank you Chris for doing this

I enjoy this podcast so much! It's the only one I listen to regularly. If you wanna learn more than you ever wanted to know about some of your favorite songs , or get introduced to new songs , as well as grow a deeper respect for many of the guest artists , then give this a listen. Plus Chris and Chris are great !

Iv been listening since day and and each Monday I get excited for the next episode! Makes me break out of my punk rock comfort zone and really dive into songs I never thought I’d actually like or give a chance being a punk rock only kid. Makes me excited for music all over again. Thanks Chris and Chris !! Rock on

I have been listening to Chris DeMakes a podcast for a few months now, and even though i don’t know anything about song writing, I truly enjoy listening to how Chris does his research and breaks down the song with the musician. If it’s a song I know, I love learning the story behind it and even songs I wasn’t familiar with I downloaded and like listening to now. Chris’ musical expertise, interest, and empathy to the guest truly shines through in every episode. Thank you guys for being a great listen, especially on long work road trips! Keep up the great work🤘🏻🫶

Everyone likes music, right? This podcast has something for everyone who loves music. Chris DeMakes provides an entertaining and in-depth conversation with a musician about a chosen song every single stinking week! That alone is amazing, but Chris and producer extraordinaire, Chris Fafalios, make it a compelling listen every single week as well. I mean, check out the roster of guests and songs covered! Huey Lewis, Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem, and just recently, Zac Barnett of American Authors discussing “Best Day of My Life”, to name a very few! Come on! I have also discovered a lot of new music through this podcast and it has helped me appreciate the many elements that can make a song great! Hats off to Chris and Chris!!

Somehow I’m no longer a teenager, no longer a young adult. I woke up one day and I’m 40. I have seen LTJ countless times, amongst hundreds of other punk rock bands every weekend at the Rave, Summerfest and Warped tour in Milwaukee. I even worked security at Summerfest 2003-2005 because it was more cost effective for me to work basically minimum wage and see all the bands I wanted. It was amazing! I loved closeness to the music and being with so many people that loved the music as much as I did. You could always find me in the pit or body surfing. I finished college and started my career in biomedical research, became a manager, became a wife, then a mother. My son was 6 weeks old at the time I went to the last warped tour in 2018. While I think we all thought there’d be more, there weren’t. A pandemic came and sucked years from us. In addition, parenthood and careers can take over without you realizing your self becomes less of a priority in the mix, sometimes even lost. Last Dec, I was in a rare occasion riding alone in the car. I stumbled upon this podcast, trying to find something wasn’t Baby Shark and for just me. I binge listened until I caught up. Each episode allows you to reminisce about fantastic songs and times I hadn’t thought about in years but kinda miss sometimes. Back in the day of CD covers, I’d listen to songs over and over analyzing and memorizing lyrics to interpret them instead of doing homework. To be clear, I can’t read music. I have no understanding of music theory. I can’t play an instrument. None of this is needed to love this podcast. Chris and Chris work some sorcery to make you fall in love with the music all over again and bring it back to modern life. Love it! Thanks so much guys!

I’ve appreciated this show to the fullest amount. I grew up listening to punk, ska, emo in So Cal in the late 90s/00s. As a teen I wasted too much time hating on the music that wasn’t in my rotation but secretly enjoyed. This podcast truly opens up your mind and allows you to put down your guard to what makes a song so great, even the artists that you would not give a chance, you find are actually good people, great artists, and enjoy the common thread of putting your blood, sweat and tears to the love of music. 10/10 recommend.

This is the best podcast I’ve ever heard especially since I listen to reel big fish Nofx also pls make one with Green Day but honestly hearing some of my heroes on this podcast has been crazy.

Some of my favorite songwriters have been on this show and some of my favorite songwriters (de)make it. Couldn’t ask for much more out of a podcast but it’d be kinda cool if you all just started talking about sports betting on occasion!!!

Such a great insight to how all these great songs are written. Very inspiring stuff here, I’ve learned a lot by hearing some of my favorite musicians going into detail talking about how they came up with the ideas behind their songs.

Chris is my favorite

Just stumbled on this and I have hours of listening to cover.

… for anyone who loves music and anyone interested in songcraft. Chris is a great host because he guides the show along and lets his guests speak without making it all about himself. Very entertaining and informative.

Just found it and love it already after about 5 episodes. Chris is so enthusiastic and great at drawing out details from the artists about production choices, lyrics and structure. If he’s covering a song you love (there are a lot here to choose from) and you geek out on this like I do, it’s a great podcast.

I listen to quite a few music podcasts, but none are like this. Chris interviews an artist extensively about one of their hits and then goes piece by piece through the song. I love hearing about how the songs came together and inside information about the band. It’s often quite a nostalgia trip because most of the bands are 90s pop punk and alt rock.

So many great episodes and volumes to learn from it all. I’ve found songs that I have not been able to get out of my head, and gotten incredible insight into songs I already loved. A must for any songwriter. If you are at all thinking of listening, get ready for a deep deep dive.

I’ve been listening to Chris DeMakes a Podcast since episode 1. It scratches my itch for hearing any information on why and how my favorite artists write and record their songs, but it’s also helped me as a songwriter myself with song structure, lyrical inspiration, and just what the magic is to writing a good song. They cover a wide variety of genres as well so you get the best of all music, not just one subculture. Since starting this podcast I’ve now gotten the courage to write and record around 20 songs. DeMakes and producer/co-host Fafalios have enough personal connections to the guests to really get their raw responses. Love love love!

I’m probably familiar with 50% of the songs discussed and it doesn’t matter. Even the episodes where I’m clueless about the artist are entertaining. Highly recommended if you are at all interested in songwriting and popular, punk-leaning music. Some highlights if you’re just getting introduced to the podcast - Dee Snyder talking about “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and every episode involving a song from the Descendents/ALL camp (the Bill Stevenson episode is one of the most heart-wrenching things I’ve ever heard.)

Holy freaking cow!! How have I not listened to this yet??? I follow him on instagram and knew about this but never listened. I saw that he did “Santa Monica” with Art from Everlclear and then “In this Diary” with Kris Roe. Two minutes in I was hooked. Chris is such and incredible host and MAN does he bring it! It so obvious he has put a ton of thought, time, and effort into each song they talk about. It’s so fun to geek out and notice things I knew and stuff I didn’t know. If you like music and you like to really break down a song this podcast is for you. I am SOOOOOO impressed with his research and his knowledge. Couldn’t think of a better host or a better musical podcast. I’ve literally downloaded over half the episodes and don’t want to listen to anything else. The only thing I don’t like is that I wasn’t listening from the beginning

I immediately subscribed to this podcast as a Less Than Jake fan and it’s now my favourite podcast. I tune in every Monday, regardless of whether I know the song/band or not as it’s always an interesting conversation about music. I also love the “wrap” segment at the end where Chris and Chris chat about the episode. Highly recommend this podcast to any music lover.

This podcast has changed how I listen to music. I have been a musician for a long time, but I have never been one to dive into songs and the lyrics and the arrangement. I have been a big fan of both LTJ and Punchline and that helped me find this podcast, but it really covers all genres. They have definitely found their footing more and more as the show goes on. Sometimes Chris seems to talk over guests or not let them get their full thoughts out. Overall an incredibly great podcast.

This is the best songwriting, and possibly, best music podcast around. Chris takes a lot of time to research the songs and the subjects and has genuine enthusiasm for every song he covers, even if it’s not his style. It’s very refreshing to listen to, and it’s genuinely worth a listen (or a hundred).

I started listening because I love Less Than Jake, and I grew to seriously appreciate this show because of how Chris breaks down the lyrics of each song, talking to band members or song writers about the stories of how the songs came to be. So well-done and fascinating to hear from all of these artists. You can tell both Chrises love what they’re doing and each show just keeps getting better. You feel like you’re in the audience having fun with them. One of my favorite podcasts of all time!

How did I not discover this sooner??!?! This is a genius idea and I’m having so much fun working my way through all the episodes. A must listen for any music fan.

Chris is a great interviewer! I love hearing him reminisce with other people about hit songs, tours, telling stories, and really digging into how/why/where the songs were written. I’m not a songwriter or artist, so I love getting a whole new perspective and background on songs!

I came for the Cyrus Bolooki interview. I’ll be staying for everything else. Chris is every bit as personable here as onstage. Unsurprisingly.

I’ve been a huge fan of the podcast from day one. I love the fact that Chris goes deeper than just “so how did you come up with the title?” Some of the stories behind the songs blow my mind, as well as the fact that so many hit songs were last minute additions or afterthoughts. As someone with an eclectic taste in music I also love the variety of guests Chris has. Five stars all day long!!!

I’ve been listening to this podcast for about 2 years now and it never gets old. If you grew up listening to punk or ska then you will immediately love this podcast. But you don’t have to just be a fan of punk/ska to enjoy it. People that love music in general will really appreciate hearing the song writing process and even learn new concepts about music and song writing.

Look forward to the new episode every week! Very informative and quite interesting finding out how these songs came to be directly from the artists who created them! Great Job Chris & Chris! Side note, join the supporting cast! The after-party is well worth the $!

This is hands down my favorite podcast. Each episode is awesome. I discovered it during a time when I wasn’t playing music, and listening to music just didn’t hit like it used to…. It’s safe to say this podcast reignited my love of music and songwriting. Thanks Chris & Chris!

I love listening to this podcast and hearing all the little things that go into songs that I never have noticed and the stories behind the songs. Chris is a great host to put it all together. Highly recommended.

There are two incredible things in this world; listening to Chris DeMakes a Podcast and visualizing Celine Dion eating Trix for breakfast… The podcast showcases a wide array of musicians! If you’re into music and really wanna take a deep dive into a musicians brain, you really wanna listen to this. But also visualize Celine Dion eating Trix for breakfast. And just think about what it would be like to be that drop of milk that escapes the corner of her lips…

For the Dave Pirner episode. Soul Asylum wasn’t on A&M when they put out Grave Dancers Union. They had been dropped and picked up my major label Colombia at that time.

I can’t believe I haven’t rated this yet. Sorry Chris and Chris. I have always been a massive Less Than Jake fan and now I find myself totally enthralled with the world of songwriting thanks to Chris and his inquisitive detail driven interviews. It’s the first episode I listen to every Monday when it drops. Well done and rock on!

Excellent podcast breaking down a different song each week in extreme detail. It’s great hearing all the stories behind the songs and getting that behind the scenes look into what went into making a hit. It’s amazing to someone who is not in the music industry how a song is actually out together from concept to release. Keep up the great work guys!

Chris really dives deep into these songs. You can hear the musicians are having a good time and appreciate the time he has put into this.

I found this podcast because Chris happens to be the lead singer and guitarist of my favorite band, Less Than Jake. However, I've stuck with it because of how honestly great the interviews are. Chris doesn't just gush over the songs, but really gets into the songwriting process with his guests, often taking a deep dive into both the lyrics and music, not to mention teasing out some great stories along the way. Chris is a talented songwriter himself, and does a great job bonding with his guests over the process. The production is top notch, too. When a song is mentioned on the podcast, the producer (the other Chris) will often play a snippet of it. The tease is usually enough to make me want to listen to the tune after the episode. In fact, I have a whole playlist of "Chris Demakes a Podcast" inspired music that I listen to all the time. Definitely a random assortment, which really speaks to the great variety of guests. Edit: I’ve started back at the beginning and am listening through older episodes again. This podcast has really made me fall in love with music in a completely different way. I’ve always enjoyed music, but I never put any thought into the stories behind the songs. I had no clue how songs were made and, to be honest, never put any thought into it. Not only am I learning about the songs covered in the episodes, but I’ve found myself looking into the history of some of my other favorite songs, too. I feel I have a completely new appreciation for music!

I love that this pod takes different songwriters in different genres and breaks down the writing of either the guest’s biggest hit or fan favorite. The detail in the interview is amazing and great to know what people were thinking when they wrote their songs. It’s the first thing I listen to on Mondays and the bonus episodes are also a great touch.