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RSS Feed Aug. 5, 2026
Aaron Bruno (Barbarians Of California/AWOLNATION) Interview Part Two
Uncover the behind-the-scenes genius of Aaron Bruno — the mastermind blending heavy music, pop sensibility, and wild creativity in ways you’ve never heard before.
If you haven’t seen part one of our chat with Aaron Bruno, be sure to start there and then pop back over here!
Aaron Bruno, the iconic voice behind AWOL Nation and now the fiery Barbarians of California, reveals how he's breaking the rules of heavy music, blending genres, and infusing humor into hardcore. From his early bands through the wildly successful AWOLNATION to his eye-opening take on the modern music landscape, Bruno shares how he’s transforming heavy, chaotic sounds into accessible, fun, and dangerously catchy hits.
Aaron talks about how releasing singles instead of full albums keeps his music fresh and vital; the secrets behind his unique vocal style rooted in hardcore and metal and how it has matured over decades; and how his relentless passion for good vibes, humor, and authenticity shapes his work. Plus, Aaron dives into the importance of staying playful amidst the chaos and how music remains his ultimate escape — a visceral, emotional connection he’s cultivated for over 30 years.
This episode is essential listening for any fan of boundary-pushing music, genre-bending artistry, or anyone craving a candid, raw journey through the chaos and creativity of an artist redefining what heavy means. If you want real insight, hilarious stories, and a taste of the future of heavy music, hit play now — before someone steals your attention.
Aaron Bruno is a legend in the making, blending humor, authenticity, and sheer talent, and this episode is your exclusive ticket inside his wild, inspiring world.
Key Takeaways
- Aaron Bruno discusses the creative process behind blending heavy music and pop sensibility in Barbarians Of California.
- The conversation explores the strategy of releasing singles over full-length albums to keep the music fresh and vital in the modern landscape.
- Aaron shares hilarious and candid stories, including trying to work with the NFL and Las Vegas Raiders.
- The episode dives into the roots of Aaron's unique vocal style, which has matured over three decades of making aggressive and boundary-pushing music.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Aaron Bruno?
Aaron Bruno is the iconic mastermind and voice behind AWOLNATION and the heavy-hitting band Barbarians Of California.
What bands are discussed in the Aaron Bruno interview?
The episode primarily focuses on Aaron Bruno's current work with Barbarians Of California and his background with AWOLNATION. He also discusses Prophets of Rage, Rage Against the Machien, Inside Out, Sick Of It All, Strife, Weezer, Nirvana, and Chuck D of Public Enemy.
Why does Aaron Bruno prefer releasing singles?
Aaron releases singles instead of full albums to keep his creative output fresh, vital, and directly connected to his listeners.
Chapter 1: Aaron’s YouTube rabbit holes
0 seconds
If you've happened across this tasty little bit [music] of conversation with the illustrious Aaron Bruno, but you haven't yet experienced the other part8 seconds
of the chat, we implore you to find the first half as well. Your curiosity for15 seconds
all things Aaron Bruno and the Barbarians of California will undoubtedly thank you for it.24 seconds
And [music] now, part two of the Ship Talk Reviews interview of Mr. Aaron Bruno, [music]33 seconds
what are you listening to these days that would surprise people?36 seconds
We know your your your ears are open to all kinds of stuff, but what what playlist have you put on or what did you pull up on YouTube that people would go,45 seconds
"Holy [ __ ] never would have guessed that." I don't know. I don't know. I I don't know what people would be surprised by,52 seconds
but um Eric and I like to start a lot of studio sessions, let's call them, off by YouTubing stuff that we had never thought to YouTube before, you know.1 minute, 3 seconds
Um whether that's like uh something hilarious, you know, or or1 minute, 11 seconds
something very serious. We're always trying to look back to um I think you got I'm guessing both of you remember a time where you1 minute, 19 seconds
couldn't see live footage of your favorite bands or even bands that just had a good song and so we go oh1 minute, 27 seconds
what was it like to look back at uh Steve Winwood Higher Life1 minute, 34 seconds
sorry higher love um live you know so we watch that and and it's so and there weren't tracks back then there wasn't1 minute, 41 seconds
tuning. So, you'll see some people with some pretty raw moments almost blow it and you're rooting for them. And so, again, I don't think this1 minute, 49 seconds
would surprise anyone, but um we're just trying to find like, okay, we we watched uh Life is a1 minute, 57 seconds
Highway live, like the first time he he performed. I'm not talking about the Rascal Flats cover that was in Car Love, uh but the original and and it kicked ass.2 minutes, 7 seconds
Yeah.2 minutes, 7 seconds
You know, Yeah. I had a similar moment actually. I came across a a live performance of Baker Street by Jerry Rafferty. It was2 minutes, 16 seconds
amazing song and it was just thought I I don't know if he was a one hit wonder. I think he kind of was, but yeah, seeing that footage,2 minutes, 24 seconds
the raw stuff there was nothing was nearly as polished back then in a live atmosphere as it is now, which I think2 minutes, 31 seconds
Yeah, we're minuses, of course. Yeah. But we're so lucky to have access to that, you know.2 minutes, 39 seconds
Yeah. um our kids won't know how lucky to have it. And I do think that well a lot of older people like ourselves are,2 minutes, 48 seconds
you know, kind of mad about streaming or or um you know, the way everything is with social media. I I try I try best my best to look at it um in a positive way.3 minutes
And I think that the access to any song you could think of, for the most part, 99% of any song you think of, you can3 minutes, 6 seconds
hear within 30 seconds of thinking of it, one way or another.Chapter 2: Snarkcore – the next new genre of music
3 minutes, 12 seconds
Um, I think that we haven't quite seen what brilliant new artists will come as a result of that just yet. And I think3 minutes, 20 seconds
that's sometime in the next five to 10 years where um there's going to be something that that is the next ner, you3 minutes, 28 seconds
know, nirvana that's five years old right now that's going to be like, okay, well, I've been able to see everything I could think of and as a result, here is3 minutes, 36 seconds
this elite product and artistically wild thing that we could never have ever uh even comprehended. So, I'm looking3 minutes, 43 seconds
forward to whatever out of all of this um results in a brand new genre cuz it seems like there's no new genre.3 minutes, 53 seconds
Right. Right.3 minutes, 55 seconds
There's different there's different levels of heavy, there's different levels of metal, there's all this stuff, but like what's the next bust through4 minutes, 2 seconds
the door moment? And I can't wait to hear what that is.4 minutes, 4 seconds
I don't know. I think you guys I'll try not to be jealous. I I think maybe you guys have created that new genre with snark core with the barbarian.4 minutes, 13 seconds
Yeah, that's cool.4 minutes, 16 seconds
Is that a thing or did you just make that up?4 minutes, 18 seconds
I I don't want to say I'll take credit for it, but I'll take credit for it. But I I remember talking with Eric about that when we chatted with him whenever a4 minutes, 26 seconds
couple years ago and just the snark factor was so high on that first record and so much fun4 minutes, 33 seconds
and again you guys have delivered that with the material on this new one and um that is something that4 minutes, 40 seconds
like you said you're bringing a lightness to heavy music that I don't think was there and so I think you may have inadvertently created that new genre.4 minutes, 50 seconds
Uh maybe uh thank you. Um I always you know like I if you were to4 minutes, 58 seconds
tell if you if you were a time traveler and said hey in five years you're going to be as big as Slayer you know or5 minutes, 7 seconds
whatever. Like part of me would say that sounds right because I think it's really good and part of me would say you're insane. There's no way you know. So it5 minutes, 15 seconds
just depends on what what what day you catch me on. So, it's hard to take that in, you know, cuz this is kind of a it's not a joke cuz it's serious, but like I5 minutes, 24 seconds
said, if you know, we don't take our you can't take yourself that seriously with heavy music because it's already so heavy, you know, like I think there are some bands Thank you for saying that.5 minutes, 34 seconds
Yeah.5 minutes, 34 seconds
Okay. That's that's insane and I really appreciate that. Um, but I don't know, some some of the imagery of the satanic5 minutes, 42 seconds
imagery and over-the-top uh artwork of a band like Slayer is5 minutes, 51 seconds
really badass obviously and we were all drawn to it or Metall early Metallica or Mega Death, but there's some other stuff that goes so far like they're ser you5 minutes, 59 seconds
know with Slayer you could tell that it was just really shocking to look at you know and it and it looks how it pounds.6 minutes, 8 seconds
But I hope that that that um that's just not my route, you know? Like I can't it's I I want I want to be a little bit6 minutes, 17 seconds
uh ridiculous, I guess, is is the right thing because you can't get heavier. There's so many bands that are6 minutes, 23 seconds
so good like Mishuga. How do you outhe it's you just don't it's not done. I mean6 minutes, 30 seconds
even Knock Loose I love I love their like I can't get heavier than them.6 minutes, 35 seconds
They're so good, you know, what they do and their show is ridiculous. And to me, they're the best. I I think they're the6 minutes, 43 seconds
best new heavy band in years. And I'm so happy to see uh how well it's doing. And I remember they had that big Coachella6 minutes, 51 seconds
moment. I don't know if you guys follow that, but you know, you got Billy Isish on the side of the stage and people went nuts.6 minutes, 57 seconds
And so that all to be said, it feels like a really good time for heavy music. So maybe people are open to um something as ridiculous as the Barbarians of California.7 minutes, 7 seconds
100%. We don't want to take up too much more of your time. You have been exceedingly generous uh with us, but two thing two things before we get toChapter 3: The marketing and videos for TBoC
7 minutes, 14 seconds
quickies. One, Cole Higgins and Justin Warren's work on your the videos for Barbarians is fantastic.7 minutes, 23 seconds
Your the videos you guys are putting out are so good and so fun. And again, it's just that nice contrast to the heavy7 minutes, 30 seconds
music that it's showcasing. So, props on on your visual thanks7 minutes, 37 seconds
presentation and your marketing. I don't know who the hell is doing your marketing for you, but it is absolutely hysterical. The whole campaign about,7 minutes, 46 seconds
you know, I don't even remember exactly what it was. I'll put some screenshots up in the edit of like the uh I saw a bunch of stuff on Instagram7 minutes, 53 seconds
about you guys winning awards, you know, film awards for the videos and stuff like I don't know who's doing that, but my god, please keep that going.8 minutes, 1 second
This project is just if I think of it, we can do it, you know, and I'm really lucky. I'm around a lot of talented people and um8 minutes, 9 seconds
it's back to the snark core, I guess, in a lot of ways. Oh yeah. We we will never be nominated for an award obviously, so why not just say that we were, you know,8 minutes, 18 seconds
who cares? Like just just lie a little bit, you know? And I'm a truth seeker as part of my my personality makeup and I8 minutes, 25 seconds
and I like to think I'm a truthful person, but um when it comes to art and music, why not approach this like Muhammad Ali would or or world wrestling, you know,8 minutes, 34 seconds
or pro wrestling and just talk a little [ __ ] It's just fun, you know?8 minutes, 38 seconds
So good. No, you are dancing like a butterfly. You sting like a bee, dance like a butterfly, sting like a bee. And8 minutes, 45 seconds
well, I was watching I was watching uh I think the documentary is called in the words something like in the words of Muhammad Ali and it's just all his8 minutes, 52 seconds
quotes, right? And I was so motivated and and um inspired by the charisma9 minutes
because you're fighting a guy and this music does it's not on the same level as real fighting and boxing obviously, but it feels so physically confrontational.9 minutes, 7 seconds
I remember Tim Miklrath when I sent him the record, he said, "I love how confrontational it feels." And I and you know, no one's trying I'm9 minutes, 15 seconds
not probably just confronting the man in the mirror really, but um it does feel so physical and so so intense that I use9 minutes, 24 seconds
Muhammad Ali and and a lot of his quotes, you know, as inspiration for Megatons and some of the some of the stuff I ended up saying that's quite9 minutes, 32 seconds
ridiculous, especially on the first record, the [clears throat] uh you know, so I I can't wait to see if people like to uh you know turn it up and get9 minutes, 41 seconds
motivated to go take on the world or whatever the task of the day is or if they're like geez you can't say that you know I I don't know cuz I said some9 minutes, 48 seconds
crazy [ __ ] you know I I'll I'll tell you the I when I found the Barbarians of California and sent it to John back inChapter 4: Dangerous vulnerability
9 minutes, 56 seconds
the day I go through I the music the labels send me everything they've been sending them to me for years I had a a gig back in the day um10 minutes, 5 seconds
and It stood out to me because to me heavy music needs to be dangerous and if it's not it it it doesn't work. But10 minutes, 15 seconds
you're dangerous and fun at the same time. Thanks.10 minutes, 19 seconds
And that is the for me that was the secret sauce. And as soon as I sent it to John and as soon as John was like, "What the [ __ ] is this?" I was like, "Yes, we've like this is a cool band.10 minutes, 31 seconds
This is cool. This is different." because we do this mostly just because we were talking about music all the time, but there needs to be something10 minutes, 37 seconds
else. It can't all be just a label of this is black metal, this is thrash metal, and you have been able to go10 minutes, 45 seconds
across the different genres of not just the metal world, but dabbling your toes into rock and anything else that you10 minutes, 53 seconds
want to do, and it's all fun, but yet still dangerous. Does that make sense?10 minutes, 58 seconds
Am I talking [ __ ] I don't know.11 minutes, 2 seconds
you know, I mean, yeah, I don't know how to address the it being dangerous or not. Um, I think it's11 minutes, 11 seconds
it can be vulnerable to put yourself out there like this and and say some throw the some of the lyrics out that that we11 minutes, 19 seconds
have or I have. Um, and maybe it's dangerous to make a video like really really rad11 minutes, 28 seconds
where cuz no one's ever I know people have made rollerblade videos and it's funny and it's kind of on the nose. It's obvious gag, but has anyone really made11 minutes, 36 seconds
one where you're standing in the sand, you know, and so and and then injure your [ __ ] leg because you're old, you know, your left calf muscle like I did.11 minutes, 44 seconds
Um I I didn't do it that day, but and um it's just a lot of fun. You know, with Awol, it's so it's so earnest and the11 minutes, 52 seconds
lyrics are more emotional that it it has a certain kind of um responsibility, but this is just like, you know, this is um12 minutes, 1 second
there's there's no there are no rules whatsoever. You know, I had some very poignant thought that I that completely12 minutes, 8 seconds
escaped me, which is uh appropriate for this band in a lot of ways. We're gonna have to get together with you again forChapter 5: Quickies
12 minutes, 16 seconds
a part two because I feel like this could go on for hours, but um we're going to try and be marginally respectful of the fact that you have a12 minutes, 24 seconds
family and a life outside of this conversation. So, this uh last section is called quickies. They're just rapid fire. This or that kind of things. Feel12 minutes, 32 seconds
free to keep your answer short, go long, whatever you want. Uh big city energy or small town quiet?12 minutes, 40 seconds
Small town quiet.12 minutes, 41 seconds
Okay. one take vocal catharsis or meticulously layered vocal stacks?12 minutes, 48 seconds
Mostly one take. Uh you, if I may brag a bit here, uh12 minutes, 55 seconds
most stuff is the when we do a comp, let's say I do three takes, we usually I I hope Eric could13 minutes, 2 seconds
completely destroy my cred here, but um especially with barbarians, it's usually the first take unless I'm trying to13 minutes, 9 seconds
learn how the hell to do it. But then it but then I will maybe stack some vocals if there's a harmony and there's some some other kind of stuff like that, you know.13 minutes, 17 seconds
Okay. So, a little bit of both then.13 minutes, 19 seconds
Yeah, a little bit of both. But but um with both bands, it seems to be most special when it's the first my first try cuz I'm a little scared and vulnerable.13 minutes, 28 seconds
Yeah.13 minutes, 29 seconds
Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Okay. Uh action movies or psychological thrillers? Either. Okay.13 minutes, 36 seconds
Mostly I love sci-fi, you know. Uh, favorite movie all times.13 minutes, 42 seconds
Back Back to the Future one. [sighs] Great choice. Um, raw unedited room mics or surgical polished studio mix.13 minutes, 53 seconds
Both. I use them for different for different moments. You know, sometimes if you have a tight uh precise recording14 minutes
and then you blast into a room mic, you know, snare for just one part, that could be very helpful.14 minutes, 5 seconds
Yeah, that one perhaps wasn't all that fair. Uh, let's see. Talk to a person from the future or time travel to the past.14 minutes, 13 seconds
To the past.14 minutes, 14 seconds
Okay. Analog tape or digital audio automation? Both.14 minutes, 20 seconds
Both. God, you're killing me here. An empty cathedral or an abandoned warehouse? Empty cathedral.14 minutes, 27 seconds
Okay. Why? More history.14 minutes, 30 seconds
Uh, ghosts and stuff, you know, more ghosts. Yeah, I was just going to say that. Yeah.14 minutes, 35 seconds
uh forgetting your greatest achievement or remembering every failure in vivid detail. Like which would I rather?14 minutes, 44 seconds
Yeah. Yeah. If you're picking one, would you rather?14 minutes, 46 seconds
I would definitely I would rather forget my greatest achievement. Yeah.14 minutes, 50 seconds
Cuz I I'm I'm very forward focused, you know. I mean, I have um as my wife calls them, some awards, you know, like14 minutes, 58 seconds
different plaques from things and quite a few of them and some some are repeats.15 minutes, 3 seconds
So, I'm not saying that I have millions of awards, but um as as a song grows, you get a gold plaque and then Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.15 minutes, 12 seconds
Platinum and then diamond, you know, and and so there's quite a few for different songs and whatever and I don't know where they are. So, my and I'm not15 minutes, 20 seconds
trying to sound so virtuous, but No, no, no. Bring it.15 minutes, 23 seconds
I'm not a fan of looking, you know, maybe my kids will enjoy it one day, but I'm not a fan of looking back. Like a lot of studios, you walk in, they have15 minutes, 30 seconds
all their stuff hung up as bragging rights, and I get that too because maybe you're luring in clients. They want to say, "Oh, this this this person has15 minutes, 37 seconds
achieved this." But, um, I just want to look look forward, you know, not be too fixated on anything.15 minutes, 43 seconds
Yeah. and bearing I want to always write a better song, you know, and I know that like, you know, I know that because you turn in a record for what whichever15 minutes, 52 seconds
project and you if you become too attached to one song and we're all guil I'm definitely guilty of it, you just going to be let down, you know?15 minutes, 59 seconds
Um, it's like investing in a bunch of different stock and you care for some reason about one more than the other when it doesn't really matter as long as16 minutes, 7 seconds
is as something does well. Horrible business analogy, but I think you get the point. Well, bearing bearing in mind keeping in mind rather that you don't16 minutes, 15 seconds
hang your hat on those awards. What is the award that you've got that you're most proud of?16 minutes, 20 seconds
I don't have any awards. That's the thing or plaques or or whatever it is.16 minutes, 24 seconds
You know, what what musical achievement say are you most proud of in your career?16 minutes, 29 seconds
Um I I think I think that I would be most proud that I was able to find success and have a real career beyond my16 minutes, 38 seconds
wildest dreams. um based on making music that I really wanted to make. You know,16 minutes, 45 seconds
there was never, you know, like I was in a few other sign bands before and there were ideas and compromises that were made as there always are when you have a16 minutes, 54 seconds
a group together. But, um I feel most proud that when I finally went my own way and didn't have any other influence17 minutes, 1 second
or opinions around me, that was what put me on the map, so to speak. So, it's something I I'll get to tell my kids like, you know, really follow your own17 minutes, 9 seconds
instinct and, you know, make sure you know what you're doing and h and have a clear vision, but um I would probably be most proud of that part of it. Um awesome.17 minutes, 18 seconds
But back to the the ridiculous videos we make and the awards, some people think those are real, you know? Some people like, "Oh my god, [laughter]17 minutes, 26 seconds
someone's like, "Congratulations. I heard I heard that you won this thing." And I'm like, "Come on." That's right. Yeah. you were nom you were nominated for uh con a palm to ore17 minutes, 34 seconds
or whatever I think was one of the things that you guys put out.17 minutes, 36 seconds
Yeah, because I you know really rad was my directorial debut. So um people are already saying it's better than jaws you know obviously wait until you see the video for our17 minutes, 45 seconds
next song earthquake which we're going to shoot next Tuesday. Um, the other thing is like we'll have these ideas and I'll call Justin, my camera, you know,17 minutes, 52 seconds
the the director really, and I'll say like, "Hey, I don't know how what what the story will be, but here's here's a location18 minutes
and this is ridiculous, so let's just do that." And then kind of figure out the rest. Like we were on the cruise for vanilla latte, and I'm like, "Well, let's just make like a a cruise who done18 minutes, 8 seconds
it kind of thing." And, you know, it it was fun. But there was talk in Awol ofChapter 6: Winning a Grammy, pantless maybe?
18 minutes, 15 seconds
being I think people tried to get it in the Grammy conversation and we were just fully denied. So I you know maybe it's18 minutes, 23 seconds
my way of getting back at the uh at the committee. [laughter] The Grammy. Yeah. At the committee because like man you should have put me18 minutes, 30 seconds
in there but but also what is what is that any of that mean? What is an award really? Um, yeah, it's a seriously.18 minutes, 39 seconds
Yeah, it would be the greatest joke of all time would be if the Barbarians of California were nominated for something substantial. That would be the great and18 minutes, 48 seconds
then the pressure would be on on me to figure out the greatest joke of all time within that. So, I don't know what that would be. 2118 minutes, 56 seconds
Pilots, I must give credit where credit's due. Uh Tyler said that when he was younger if they ever got nominated19 minutes, 4 seconds
that they would take their pants off and just walk up and accept the award in their underwear. And he did it. He did do that. So I that's that's pretty high19 minutes, 12 seconds
bar. But I'd have to All right. Well, Derek, we're going to have to start the campaign then. Let's let's get the word out. Let's let's make Aaron's life miserable.19 minutes, 21 seconds
Yeah. I don't know what we do. Do you pull the gangster movement? Just don't go because it doesn't matter. But but see the thing is stuff like that would19 minutes, 28 seconds
matter so much to other people. So you wouldn't want to let your friends and family down. But um as you guys know I've already accepted all these19 minutes, 36 seconds
different awards for for the greatest director of all time and acting. Acting too we surpassed Daniel D. Lewis obviously and um clearly the sky's the limit.19 minutes, 45 seconds
It's fair. I mean I I will say to you that watching the RAD video I was thinking the acting on this is is not19 minutes, 52 seconds
it's it's not bad. And it's it's just incredible. And I said that to my son and he's looking at it. He goes, "The [ __ ] the [ __ ] wrong with you? Are20 minutes, 1 second
you feeling okay?" But in all seriousness, like we had a ball watching it. I mean, it's just hilarious. He's 12 and he's he he's wearing, you know,20 minutes, 10 seconds
Metallica t-shirts. He has a Mishuga t-shirt and he's like in a really heavy.20 minutes, 14 seconds
He's like, "This is great. Music's great." He goes, "I don't understand the video. Like, what's going on here?" I go, "That's the point. It's It's amazing. It's It's not anything too serious. doesn't have to be.20 minutes, 24 seconds
We're just trying to make each other laugh. You know, some of these guys are the funniest people I've ever known. You know, Zach mostly, I would say, and20 minutes, 31 seconds
Isaac, who's in guns now. Um, these guys are the two funniest people I've ever known. And so, I just want to make them laugh and impress them, you know, and20 minutes, 40 seconds
and if I premiere, if I premiere, we call premiering, when you play a song for someone for the first time, um, to either of these guys, I hope they're20 minutes, 48 seconds
like, "Did you really just say that?" You know, and that that's the goal. And if it that doesn't happen, I'm kind of let down.20 minutes, 54 seconds
We wish you nothing but the best and you've made us laugh and you make us happy. Um, you know, just the whole package, the whole everything about the21 minutes, 2 seconds
Barbarians of California and Awol. Um, I've, you know, I heard Sale the other day. I was sitting in a pizza shop and21 minutes, 11 seconds
it's just a great song and you have uh touched a lot of lives with what you do and continue to do it. and we'll do our21 minutes, 18 seconds
little part to try to get you to a place where you can go up on stage and win a Grammy with your pants down. [laughter] It wouldn't be pants down. I don't know what it would be. It couldn't be shirtless.21 minutes, 28 seconds
I'm not a fully shirtless guy. Tank top hides a lot of stuff. Um yeah, I don't know what it' be like. Maybe a football helmet would be cool.Chapter 7: The NFL, working for The Raiders and $10k haircuts
21 minutes, 36 seconds
Um just a football helmet. A Raiders helmet.21 minutes, 40 seconds
Yeah, football helmet. Raiders. Yeah, football helmet. Wireless mic in the helmet. So, you could accept the award through the helmet.21 minutes, 48 seconds
It's all right. Are you going to wear a Mendoza jersey?21 minutes, 53 seconds
Look, I I don't I don't I don't believe in false idols, right? So, I don't need to wear someone else's name on my back, you know? Got it.22 minutes
Someone pointed that out. My wife, I think, pointed out because I love it's like a whole thing in our house, the Raiders games. Although, the last last season, I just was like, that's it. We22 minutes, 8 seconds
need the first pick. I I don't even care what happens. Pete Carol's a disaster.22 minutes, 12 seconds
his son was even more of a disaster as the O line coach. And it was so it was so brutal that I I wasn't gonna I I had finally had enough where it wasn't even22 minutes, 21 seconds
entertaining anymore. So, I just didn't watch the games. I told her that it was because I was being a good dad, but really I just [laughter]22 minutes, 29 seconds
um you can't do it anymore.22 minutes, 30 seconds
But this season, we made the Bruno may need to get back into it. Um but yeah, I've been following it and I don't think he'll play for a little bit. Kurt22 minutes, 38 seconds
Cousins should have a nice season. love love the coaching hirings and um but yeah22 minutes, 45 seconds
well it sounds to me like it's time to move on and she's like wait so you you guys wear other people's22 minutes, 52 seconds
names on your back that's what you you know and she had a good point and so but I do have a Bo Jackson jersey it just doesn't say his name on it23 minutes, 2 seconds
Bo it sounds to me like what an athlete when you're ready to hang up uh you know all the musical career stuff there's23 minutes, 10 seconds
There's another career waiting for you in the Raiders front office.23 minutes, 14 seconds
I know. And I was trying to uh get in there. I'm not even kidding. You know, I don't I don't really use the the musical23 minutes, 22 seconds
connections for um free things or anything like this. Like I actually23 minutes, 29 seconds
wrote Max Crosby his rookie year. I was like, "Hey, I'm a huge fan. You know, good luck blah blah blah." He's like, "Yeah, I remember you. that your song23 minutes, 38 seconds
was a big part of my child. I'm like, "Yes, I'm in." And then I actually reached out to the Daniel Carlson um and23 minutes, 45 seconds
AJ Cole, the the punter and kicker, and they responded. I reached out to the beat writers, they responded. So, I' I've used the success of Awol Nation.23 minutes, 55 seconds
Sure.23 minutes, 55 seconds
To get me closer to being part of the front office of the now Las Vegas Raiders. And so that that is my main goal ultimately24 minutes, 4 seconds
um with all with all of this is to actually be a full member of the silver and black.24 minutes, 9 seconds
Well, we will chop this up. We will do a short and we will tag Tom Brady uh as a minority old owner and uh the Raiders and let them know.24 minutes, 19 seconds
Mark Davis. Mark Davis.24 minutes, 21 seconds
Um I heard that he takes a private jet to Palm Springs to get a $10,000 haircut once a week.24 minutes, 29 seconds
Well, it's an excellent haircut and by 10,000 I think it was a thousand.24 minutes, 33 seconds
So, I was exa exaggerating effect, but yeah. Yeah. Uh maybe I can meet him there, but man, I just just get me in there. I know what to do. I knew to fire24 minutes, 41 seconds
Antonio Pierce. I knew to fire uh Pete Carol after like week three. I'm like, this is over, you know? And I and I was excited about Pete in a lot of ways.24 minutes, 51 seconds
Anyways, and Spike knows what he's doing.24 minutes, 55 seconds
The deviation that [clears throat] this conversation has taken. I'm just we're gonna we're gonna build this as Aaron Bruno talks football25 minutes, 3 seconds
and see how many how many people I was trying to do a Raiders podcast and um realized that I just didn't have enough time. But I was25 minutes, 10 seconds
trying I was trying to do that and uh but I did there's a I should say there's a podcast called the um just win podcast25 minutes, 19 seconds
when all we do is just lose really but uh I did the intro music for that and that's me beat writer Ted Nin and25 minutes, 27 seconds
Marshall New House are the guys for that and um I listen to it every every episode they release and um I made them promise if I gave him25 minutes, 34 seconds
this piece of music that I could go on and give my prediction of the season.25 minutes, 38 seconds
So, that should be coming up in about in a couple months. And I'll just tell you right now, I think we're going to hover around 500 and and be sneaky dangerous regardless of who's playing quarterback.25 minutes, 50 seconds
Um because we have very competent coaching and some some young talent and the average age is 27 or younger. And I25 minutes, 57 seconds
think that it's going to be an exciting year to uh we'll lose a lot plenty of games, but I think it'll be we'll be headed the right direction for the first time in I don't even know how long.26 minutes, 9 seconds
Sounds good. I'm a Giants fan, so I I have no hope, but we'll see.26 minutes, 12 seconds
I'm not feeling good about Did you Did you see your coach address the team? That was pretty weird.26 minutes, 17 seconds
Yeah, he acted like a weirdo. And that was weird.26 minutes, 19 seconds
Dart Dart and Scatabo, they're they're not focused on football, so I'm not feeling good about it. But it it it's part for the course.26 minutes, 27 seconds
Don't Don't I know it. Don't I know it.26 minutes, 30 seconds
But hey, Lawrence Taylor, one of the greatest of all time. So, you got that at least.26 minutes, 33 seconds
Well, you know what? When you get coked up and you have his physical abilities and go out on the field, you know, I mean, yeah, that's that's what he did. Coked up and26 minutes, 42 seconds
destroyed. So, bring back Koke to the NFL.26 minutes, 46 seconds
I agree. It make the product great. I mean, it' be more injuries, but that's what those guys are doing in that tent. When they prop up the tent, they're saying they're injured, but26 minutes, 53 seconds
they're just racking lines. [laughter] They probably are. There's the clip. There's the clip. There's the clip.27 minutes, 2 seconds
Aaron, this has been a treat, man. Awesome. All right. Thanks for having me.27 minutes, 7 seconds
Yeah. Thank you so much. And uh we believe the album comes out August 21st. If it's if it's not the 21st, blame it on Aaron.27 minutes, 17 seconds
And uh yeah, we look forward to getting you uh you and the rest of the guys back to chat again for the next uh next record, too.27 minutes, 25 seconds
Sounds good. And thanks for being so supportive. I I I remember um y'all did some sort of review on one of the earlier songs and that being one of the27 minutes, 33 seconds
first very supportive clips that I had seen and uh Yeah.27 minutes, 38 seconds
Yeah. and and Eric sent me that like or actually we have a wild group chat and uh he said he sent that and um we're27 minutes, 47 seconds
thinking like okay these I always appreciate people who get it you know some people just like the songs or whatever and some people go a little further into appreciating the whole27 minutes, 55 seconds
package and so you guys have been really um really sweet about that and I appreciate it very much. Uh well I will speak for both of us.28 minutes, 4 seconds
Easy. Yeah, it's [music] easy because we love the material. It's fantastic. I am not a huge fanboy of too many [music]28 minutes, 12 seconds
different uh bands or artists, but I am uh an unabashed fanboy of what you guys28 minutes, 19 seconds
are doing and I will shill for your band any day of the week for sure. So, keep it coming. Thank you very much.28 minutes, 26 seconds
Yeah, keep the stuff. We'll do.28 minutes, 28 seconds
Well, thank you, man. Appreciate your time. Talk to you [music] soon. All right. Take care. All right.
Singer, Song Writer of AWOLNATION & The Barbarians of California
Best known as the mastermind behind the multi-platinum alternative rock force AWOLNATION, Aaron Bruno is a songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist who has spent decades defying genre boundaries. Long before radio-dominating hits like "Sail" racked up billions of streams, Bruno was forged in the fiery underground of West Coast punk, metalcore, and post-hardcore.
The Career Arc & Musical DNA:
* Early Punk Foundations: Before mainstream stardom, Bruno cut his teeth screaming in West Coast underground acts like Insurgence and Home Town Hero.
* The AWOLNATION Phenomenon: Launched in 2010, AWOLNATION transformed Bruno into a global rock staple. His ability to blend massive electronic hooks with explosive vocal intensity yielded multi-platinum hits across five studio albums.
* Return to Heavy Roots: Driven by an itch for raw, unfiltered aggression, Bruno formed The Barbarians of California alongside Eric Stenman. Trading synth-pop production for abrasive riffs and crossover thrash stomp, the project marks his full-circle return to metallic hardcore.
Vocal Style & Performance
Bruno's vocal versatility bridges the gap between commercial radio appeal and throat-shredding hardcore intensity. Whether delivering soaring melodies or brutal, barked screams, his live presence is defined by raw emotional output and relentless physical energy.
The ShitTalkReviews Take
While casual listeners know him for massive radio singles, heavy music heads respect Bruno for never abandoning his roots. Stepp… Read More
