Ep 274: Joyous Wolf’s Blake on Why Rock Isn’t Dead, Their New Album & the Power of Live Music

On Episode 274 of The Popko Project Podcast, Popko sits down with Blake, guitarist for Southern California rock band Joyous Wolf, ahead of the release of their long-awaited debut full-length album, In Between, arriving August 21st.Blake takes us inside the evolution of Joyous Wolf—from their early days playing local shows in Orange County and hitting the road in a van, to signing record deals, navigating lineup changes, and welcoming new vocalist Pedro Cordeiro into the fold. We dig into the making of In Between, why the album took years to finally see the light of day, and the songs that helped define the band's next chapter, including “Juniper,” “Storm,” “Get Myself Right,” and the sleeper track “The Mechanic.”The conversation also goes well beyond the new record. Blake and Popko talk about the lost art of listening to albums front-to-back, discovering music in record stores, Guitar Hero inspiring a new generation of musicians, whether rock is really “dead,” the importance of live music, and why genuine human connection still matters in an increasingly digital world.If you love rock music, record stores, killer live shows, and conversations about why music continues to mean so damn much to us, this episode is for you.Joyous Wolf's In Between drops August 21st. Follow Joyous Wolf on social media and find their music wherever you stream.And as always, a huge thank you to the sponsors who support The Popko Project Podcast and help make the show possible - Keller's Garden Center & Landscaping Services, Ionic Development, The V-Spot Bar and Scotch Sauce - makers of Happy Boy Hot Sauce - get 15% off your order at scotchsaucehotsauce.com with code POPKO at checkout