Special one-on-one interview with the San Jose-based band Family Obligation. We pulled back the curtain on this self-proclaimed "glitter pop" group and dived into the surprising backgrounds of its members.

Listeners heard from the band's brilliant songwriter and frontperson, Christine Derrick, who revealed how her academic past in wearable technology and a PhD from UC Berkeley influenced the band's "clinical" lyrics. We also met guitarist Kevin Ryan, who shared the story of a memorable backyard show that left him with a blown amp, and drummer Micah Turney, who explained how his decades of working at a local music store and his time in a legendary San Jose ska band shaped the band's sound. Finally, bassist Kyle Lester talked about his life as an artist and skateboarder and how that creative energy found its way into the band's riffs.

This was a deep dive into the band's origins, their love for cats, and the real-life "family obligation" that led to their name. Listeners got a taste of their sound with several tracks from their upcoming album, and we found out where they were playing next.

The Solo Sessions: A Live Interview with Trestles

This special one-on-one interview featured Trestles, a "four-piece rock 'n roll band from Santa Cruz." Their frontman performed a stripped-down, solo set, showcasing the band's energetic live presence.

During the interview, he talked about the band's musical influences, including The Kinks and early '60s surf and British Invasion rock. He also shared stories of how the band members—Sophia Wall, Jackson Jones, and Melinda Clark—all came together from different backgrounds to form the group.

As he played fan favorites like "Steering Wheel" and "Rip Curl Sweatshirt," he offered some valuable advice to aspiring musicians: "Don't let school get in the way of your education." This was an authentic glimpse into the life of a modern indie band, captured live on air.

In a special live in-studio performance at Pirate Cat Radio, the legendary third-wave ska band Slow Gherkin joined the host for an energetic session. The show was broadcast to the station's various frequencies, including those in Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Portland. The host, a self-proclaimed long-time fan, expressed that having the band in the studio was a "teenage dream come true."

The band, whose members have known each other since high school (and even preschool for some), explained that they reunited for a big, free, all-ages show in Santa Cruz. Throughout the session, they played several fan favorites, including "How Now Lowbrow" from their second album and "Slaughterhouse" from their debut.

Interspersed with the music, the band shared personal anecdotes, including the story behind their "Join or Die" logo and a near-miss with getting matching tattoos in El Paso, as well as the story behind their "Fangbat" logo. They also gave an update on a book project, a "skatobiography" titled "Run Screaming," that documents their journey. The performance concluded with a song dedicated to a fan named Scott and a live request from a friend who arrived at the studio.