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News Podcast

Ep. #1009: Superchunk

Mac McCaughan and Laura King from Superchunk are here to discuss their new album, Songs in the Key of Yikes, North Carolina living and many Ludwig drums, writing dark-hued songs packaged in sunny, energetic arrangements, Jon Wurster retiring from Superchunk and how the band have met the challenge of filling his role, Laura’s musical background and why drummers have been in the news so much in 2025, why Mac wanted so many women from the Merge community to sing on this record, whether Superchunk could tour across Canada by train, confirmed upcoming non-train tour dates, other future plans, and much more.

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Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the BookshelfPlanet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.

Related episodes/links:

Ep. #963: Destroyer
Ep. #924: Lance Bangs and Bob Nastanovich on ‘Pavements’
Ep. #913: Quivers
Ep. #892: Fucked Up
Ep. #847: Rosali
Ep. #845: The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis
Ep. #752: Yo La Tengo
Ep. #746: H.C. McEntire
Ep. #738: Superchunk
Ep. #545: Owen Pallett

(Alex Cox)

Categories
News Podcast

Ep. #738: Superchunk

Mac McCaughan discusses Superchunk and their wonderful 2022 album Wild Loneliness, writing and recording songs during a pandemic, acoustic guitars and lovely singing, here’s where Owen Pallett’s strings come in, how we listen and contemplating humanity, working with Amy Poehler and Amber Tamblyn, Halloween, how he writes songs, future plans for Superchunk and Merge Records, and much more. Supported by you on PatreonBlackbyrd MyoozikPizza Trokaderothe BookshelfPlanet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S. and Black Women United YEG. Follow vish online.

Categories
News Podcast

Ep. #327: Mac McCaughan

Mac McCaughan is a talented and influential songwriter, musician, and singer based in North Carolina. Renowned for his prolific output in bands like Superchunk and Portastatic, McCaughan also co-founded Merge Records, one of the world’s most resilient and tastemaking independent labels. In the face of Republican cuts to programs that cruelly impact women and other disenfranchised people, McCaughan and his bandmates in Superchunk just released a limited edition single called I Got Cut with all proceeds benefitting Planned Parenthood. They also worked with local visual artists who custom made artwork for a handful of singles that are up for auction until June 28 on the site, Paddle8.com. Again, all proceeds from the auction benefit Planned Parenthood. Mac and I recently had a conversation about what motivated this new single, the political landscape in North Carolina and how it relates to the rest of U.S., the state of progressivism, his early exposure to political punk and seeing Van Halen in the early 1980s, how his Merge Records partner and fellow Superchunk member Laura Ballance has been doing since leaving the road behind in 2013, Arcade Fire’s departure from Merge for Columbia Records, and much more. Sponsored by Pizza Trokadero, the Bookshelf, and Planet Bean Coffee.