March Forth with Mike Bauman

Episode 190: Ryan Wayton of Tropic Bombs

On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Ryan Wayton of Tropic Bombs!
Hailing from Mike's hometown of Toledo, Ohio, Ryan (vocals, drums, producer) and Tropic Bombs stormed onto the Toledo music scene back in 2011. They quickly built a dedicated fan base with their high-energy live shows and fusion of rock, reggae, hip-hop, and elements of metalcore vocals. Tropic Bombs released their debut LP Nuclear Honeymoon in 2012, EP Return to Bomber Bay in 2014, and several singles in the years since.
For their forthcoming LP entitled Escape From Bomber Bay, Tropic Bombs decided to give music fans a unique offering. In addition to doing limited edition, rare vinyl variants limited to a total of 250, the gatefold vinyls of Escape From Bomber Bay will open up into a board game that accompanies the new record.
In this episode, Ryan talks with Mike about all things Escape From Bomber Bay, including finally getting the vinyls in hand this Fall, the making of the music on this album, the final sound production on the record, how 80s action movies inspired the vibe and cover art, his desire to give fans a truly unique musical offering with rare vinyl and an original board game, and more. 
This episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman also features the song "Reignite" from Tropic Bombs off their forthcoming LP Escape From Bomber Bay, available at https://www.tropicbombs.com/!
Follow Tropic Bombs on Instagram @tropicbombs. To get your copy of Tropic Bombs' new vinyl LP and board game Escape From Bomber Bay, visit https://www.tropicbombs.com/escape.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up to date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another. Happy New Year!

Episode 189: Gavin Bowles

On episode 189 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Gavin Bowles!
Hailing from Australia, Gavin is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, and frontman of Sydney indie rock outfit Gavin Bowles & The Distractions.
Comprised of Bowles (vocals, guitar), Gavin's brother Simon Bowles (drums), Cameron Hill (bass), and Michael Crudgington (guitar), Gavin Bowles & The Distractions blends elements of 90's rock and alternative with power pop and pub rock for their own unique sound. Additionally, similar to the lighthearted nature of bands like Green Day, Blink-182, and Foo Fighters, Gavin Bowles & The Distractions isn't afraid to show their sense of humor and doesn't take themselves too seriously, which is evident in their music videos. 
On October 17th, Gavin Bowles & The Distractions will drop their new album entitled Are We Having Fun Yet?, the follow-up to their 2023 LP Phoning It In. Featuring songs like "Love Is Dumb," "Sober," and "She Hates My Guts," Are We Having Fun Yet? tackles themes of relationships, internal struggles, burnout, and work/life balance.
In celebration of the album release, Gavin Bowles & The Distractions will kick off their Australian "Are We Having Fun Yet?" Tour on 10/24 at Bootleggers in Newtown, New South Wales, Australia.
On this episode, Gavin chats with Mike about how he got into music, including early support from his parents, jamming with his brother, being influenced by the tenacity and not taking yourself so seriously nature of Green Day, the Australian music scene, the fun and creativity in Gavin Bowles & The Distractions' music videos, the themes and artwork behind Are We Having Fun Yet?, and more. 
This episode of the pod also features the aforementioned "Love Is Dumb" from Gavin Bowles & The Distractions, available where you get your music!
Follow Gavin Bowles & The Distractions on Instagram @gavinbowlesmusic. To stay up to date with the band and pick up a rare vinyl of Are We Having Fun Yet?, visit https://www.gavinbowlesmusic.com/.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up to date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 188: Dylan Baumgartner of Slingshot

On episode 188 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Dylan Baumgartner of Slingshot!
Formed in 2018, Slingshot is an emo/post-hardcore band from Southern California. Comprised of Baumgartner (guitar & vocals), She-Ra (vocals), Armand Morillo (bass & vocals), and Annaleece Arellano (drums), this lineup of Slingshot has built a following through energetic live shows and an implementation of alternative, punk, and hardcore into their sound.
After releasing the EP Dawn of Decline and split EP Invaders From Uranus! with their friends in Split Image in 2023, Slingshot built on that momentum in 2024 with more live shows and new tunes "157AM," "Sons of Yoren," and "Rorschach." This year, Slingshot dropped their latest EP entitled Don't Get Lost Before Dusk in May, followed by their "Don't Get Lost" Tour. 
On October 1st, Slingshot released a new music video for their song "Sound of Metal." The video was shot and edited by Baumgartner, and produced by his production company, Reelverse Productions. On October 20th, Slingshot is set to release their live EP entitled Dawn To Dusk, which was recorded at their homecoming show in Murietta, California from the "Don't Get Lost" Tour.
On this episode, Dylan talks with Mike about Slingshot's eventful 2025, including the "Don't Get Lost" Tour, the forthcoming live EP Dawn To Dusk, the mental health themes on Don't Get Lost Before Dusk, the inspiration and meaning behind the "Sound of Metal" music video, his engagement, and more.
This episode of the pod also features the live version of "X-Rated" from Slingshot off their forthcoming live EP Dawn To Dusk, available October 20th!
Follow Slingshot on Instagram @slingshot.band. To stay up to date with the latest shows and tunes from Slingshot, visit https://instabio.cc/Slingshot.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up to date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 187: Nard Grice of Ruckus VA

On episode 187 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Nard Grice of Ruckus VA!
Based in Virginia Beach, Grice is a digital creator, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer-songwriter whose latest project is Virginia hardcore outfit Ruckus VA. Handling both the brutal vocals and musicianship on Ruckus VA, Grice has taken his heavy music chops and creative vision to a new level. 
On July 28th, Grice dropped the debut single from Ruckus VA entitled "Decidual Cast." This Friday, September 26th, Ruckus VA will drop its second single entitled "Three Foot Grave."
In this conversation, Grice speaks with Mike about the genesis of Ruckus VA, making music with his voice and creative freedom, times in life where he felt like an outcast, being drawn to hardcore music, persevering through mental health struggles, embracing who you are, and more.
This episode of the pod also features the aforementioned "Decidual Cast" from Ruckus VA, available where you get your music!
Follow Nard on Instagram @nard_dabard. Follow Ruckus VA on Instagram @ruckus.va. To stay up to date with Ruckus VA, visit https://linktr.ee/RuckusVA.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up to date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support and resources, please visit https://988lifeline.org/.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 186: Zhaklina for Stay;Fest

On episode 186 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Zhaklina Spencer!
Originally from New York, Zhaklina is an independent, alternative pop artist based in Nashville. With a strong faith as her driving force, she uses her music to encourage others to live from a place of knowing they are loved and inspire messages of mental well-being.
Suicide prevention and mental health awareness are both central focuses for Zhaklina's purpose and message as an artist. In addition to contributing to mental health organizations like NoStigmas, To Write Love On Her Arms, and Project Semicolon, Zhaklina also founded Mental Health Songwriter Nights in Nashville. Established in March 2022, Mental Health Songwriter Nights gives back to both mental health organizations and local artists.
This year, Zhaklina has partnered with Rebekah Cole of RAC Books for the first ever Stay;Fest, a multi-genre music and mental health awareness festival. Stay;Fest will take place this Saturday, September 13th at The Cobra in East Nashville in honor of National Suicide Prevention Month.
In this conversation, Zhaklina speaks with Mike about all things Stay;Fest, including the festival's inception, planning, artists, the mental health organizations and vendors involved, and more!
This episode of the pod also features the song "Paradox" from Zhaklina off her 17 Reasons Why IV EP, available where you get your music.
To get your tickets to Stay;Fest this Saturday, 9/13 at The Cobra in East Nashville, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/venue-front-bar-stay-fest-tickets-1364976454319.
Follow Zhaklina on Instagram @iamzhaklina. Follow Mental Health Songwriter Nights on Instagram @mentalhealthsongwriternights. Follow Rebekah Cole and RAC Books on Instagram @racbooksnashville.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up to date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support and resources, please visit https://988lifeline.org/.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 185: Colt Crevar & Kelly Flusk

On episode 185 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Colt Crevar and Kelly Flusk!
Musicians Crevar (guitarist, Forever May Fall) and Flusk (guitarist, Killakoi) both used to perform together in the heavy rock band Something Clever out of Charlotte, North Carolina. After forming in 2013, Something Clever went on to release multiple EPs, their album Season of Light (2017), saw their song "Rise" reach nearly 1 million streams to date on Spotify alone, and shared the stage with the likes of Nonpoint, Puddle of Mudd, and Adelitas Way, among others.
After Something Clever disbanded a few years ago around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, Crevar would go on to join Charlotte rockers Forever May Fall, while Flusk joined fellow Charlotte rock band Killakoi.
With 2025 being the 10-year anniversary of the Something Clever EP Season of Darkness and the band never having a proper send off, Something Clever is reuniting on September 6th for an official farewell show at Amos Southend in Charlotte.
In this episode, Kelly and Colt join Mike on the pod to discuss their time together in Something Clever, memorable moments in the band's history, what led to reuniting for an official farewell show on 9/6, and more.
This episode also features the song "Echoes" from Something Clever off their EP Season of Darkness, available where you get your music!
For tickets to the Something Clever official farewell show on 9/6 at Amos Southend in Charlotte, North Carolina, visit https://linktr.ee/somethingclevermusic. To stay up to date with Colt, Kelly, and their respective bands Forever May Fall and Killakoi, follow them on Instagram @colt.crevar, @forevermayfall, @killakoi_kelly, and @killakoimusic.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up to date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 184: The Spaceman

On episode 184 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with The Spaceman!
Not just a traveler of the Cosmos, The Spaceman is a harbinger of what's to come. After being launched into the void by a secretive, black budget space program, he vanished beyond a black hole. His identity, reality, and time were all fractured.
When he crash-landed back to Earth, The Spaceman was no longer human. He had transcended, returning with glowing eyes and a mission encoded in madness. That mission? To utilize seduction, spectacle, influence, and the powerful soundwaves of music to prepare the world for its unraveling as the first of the Four Horsemen: Conquest.
Upon his return, The Spaceman has attached himself to the music of the Nashville-based rock duo Sleep Nation. Comprised of Bran Merritt (vocals, guitar) and Joey Lauretta (drums), Sleep Nation has made a name for themselves in the Music City with their own style and energetic live shows.
In September 2023, Sleep Nation dropped their sophomore album entitled AND THEN THERE WERE 2, their first release as a two-piece. That album helped them get nominated for "Best Rock Album" and "Best Duo of the Year" at the 2024 Josie Music Awards, which were held at The Grand Ole Opry House. In November 2024, Sleep Nation released their album entitled Deadbeat Disco, which featured contributions from their friends and fellow talents in the local Nashville music scene.
On August 22nd, under the influential umbrella of The Spaceman's mission, Sleep Nation dropped their latest EP entitled The Spaceman - Conquest.
In this episode, The Spaceman graces Mike and listeners with his presence from an unknown location to divulge what he remembers from his time beyond a black hole, his return to Earth, potential impending doom as the first of the Four Horsemen, his attachment and fondness of Sleep Nation, the power of music, and more.
This episode also features the Sleep Nation single "The Spaceman - Setup the Controls," available where you get your music! The track is also featured on Apple Music's curated "New In Alternative" playlist.
Follow Sleep Nation on Instagram @sleepnationtv. To stay up-to-date on Sleep Nation, visit https://www.slpntn.com/.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 183: Johnny Zirkel

On episode 183 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Johnny Zirkel!
Originally from New Jersey, Johnny is a California-based musician, producer, songwriter, and content creator, among numerous other hats he wears. Over the years, he's performed in the nu-punk band The Wildfires Projekt, and also developed and hosted of the show Sounds of the Underground. An alternative rock TV series which features interviews and live performances from both up-and-coming and established artists in the alternative, punk, and hardcore music scenes, the Zirkel-hosted Sounds of the Underground aired on CBS, Amazon Prime, and Samsung TV.
In recent years, Zirkel has been releasing music under his own name. Additionally, Zirkel has been building his audience as a content creator on socials through videos and shorts that share his sense of humor, love for music, video games, and more.
The music videos for his singles "Going Blind" and "Rapture" with Outline In Color - the former inspired by Fallout and the latter inspired by Bioshock - have racked up over 165,000 and 193,000 YouTube views, respectively. In April, Zirkel just dropped his latest single entitled "Upside Down," the lyrics and artwork of which are inspired by The Killers.
In this episode, Johnny talks with Mike his decision to start releasing music and content under his own name, his love for video games and their influence on the songs "Going Blind" and "Rapture," not getting caught up in the comparison game of social media and industry stereotypes, persevering through career and mental health challenges, the excitement and changes that come with being a new dad, and more.
This episode of the podcast also features the song "Upside Down" from Johnny Zirkel, available where you get your music!
Follow Johnny on Instagram @johnnyzirkel. To stay up-to-date with Johnny, visit https://linktr.ee/johnnyzirkel.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 182: Ali Slater

On episode 182 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Ali Slater!
Based in LA via NYC, Ali is a singer-songwriter in the pop-punk/emo vein who has been into music since she was a child. Following the deaths of a coworker and her high school music teacher Joe Carbone during the pandemic, Ali kickstarted her music dreams in a big way.
On 4/8/22, Ali released her debut EP entitled LUS!D. Fueled by catchy, well-written anthems like "Over It" (featuring Jacky Vincent) and the title track, the five-track EP showed off Ali's melodic and songwriting abilities, putting her on the radar of pop-punk and emo fans.
Since her debut, Ali has continued to release new singles and covers to bring listeners into what she calls the Ali-Verse. With three different characters/alter egos - Princess Ali, Miseria (Missy), and Hallie - Ali takes listeners on a personal trip in the Ali-Verse with her music and mental health journey on her latest releases. The latest of those is a cover of "Love the Way You Lie, Pt. 2" from Rhianna and Eminem, which just dropped on June 6th.
In this conversation, Ali speaks with Mike about her latest batch of songs and accompanying music videos with the Ali-Verse, her mental health journey with Bipolar II disorder, exploring those aspects of herself through her music, people who have encouraged and helped her along the way, inspiration from Lady Gaga, growing her audience via livestreams on Twitch and TikTok, and more.
This episode also features the song "Round The Ring" from Ali Slater, available where you get your music!
Follow Ali on Instagram @alislaterofficial. To stay up-to-date with Ali, visit https://linktr.ee/alislater.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 181: Resider

On episode 181 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Resider!
Resider is a 4-piece Southern California nu-metalcore band who just dropped their new EP entitled SHADE on July 25th.
Fusing elements of nu-metal and metalcore from both past and present, Resider's aggressive and emotive sound is one that's already capturing the attention of heavy music fans. Since releasing their first single "SPORE BREATH" back in 2022, Resider has continued to hone their craft, building an audience through energetic live shows and powerful songs. That hard work has led to a big 2025 so far for the band.
In February, Resider announced their signing with Overshadow, releasing multiple singles leading up to the release of SHADE. One of those singles is "Gasfight," which is nearing 100,000 streams on Spotify alone as of this episode's release. On August 2nd, Resider will perform at Brick by Brick in San Diego, California for their EP release show with The Undertaking!, Hyper Vigilant, and Fire & Flesh.
On this episode, AJ Loera (guitar) and Will Wehrung (vocals) talk with Mike about how they got into heavy music, including influences and inspiration ranging from the likes of Linkin Park, to All That Remains, Parkway Drive, and Void of Vision, developing their sound with Resider, linking up with Joe Tichy and Overshadow, making a cohesive creative output with SHADE, music as a way to express darker emotions, and more.
This episode also features the song "Ishimura" from Resider off their new EP SHADE, available where you get your music!
Follow Resider on Instagram @residerofficial. To stay up-to-date with Resider and go see them live, visit https://linktr.ee/resideordie.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health resources, please visit the following links: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us; https://988lifeline.org/
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.