204: 50mg of Nuge & Phish Burial (with Pelle Almqvist)

Summary

We're Here to Help – Episode 204: "50mg of Nuge & Phish Burial" (with Pelle Almqvist)

Release Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: Jake Johnson & Gareth Reynolds
Guest: Pelle Almqvist (Lead singer of The Hives)

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Episode Overview

This lively episode of “We’re Here to Help” brings Swedish rock star Pelle Almqvist of The Hives into the mix as guest co-advisor. Jake and Gareth, known for their irreverent style, field calls from listeners looking for advice—this time on the topics of relationship music clashes and the etiquette of being gifted cremated remains. In between, the episode is packed with humorous anecdotes about band names, the highs and lows of creative careers, and the surreal nature of fame.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin of The Hives and Band Name Anxiety

(00:35 – 02:50)

• Pelle shares the quirky story of The Hives’ name—chosen by teenage band members thumbing through a dictionary and landing on the skin condition, “hives,” rather than anything insect-related.
• He reflects on how most famous band names are “actually shit names” but become iconic over time through association and repetition.
  • Pelle Almqvist [01:32]: "With all good names, it's a shit name. And then you just kind of have to conquer it. Like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones. I'm not sure those are such great names either."
• The hosts riff on how name origins shape the mythos of a band and how it often becomes more about legacy than the name itself.

2. Success, Self-Doubt, and Imposter Syndrome

(02:59 – 06:41)

• Pelle recounts The Hives’ rocky path to success and how early struggles fostered skepticism about fame.
  • Pelle [03:34]: “We just were very skeptical of success... That's, I think, a bit of self protection in that. Like, not trusting the hype. And now we've kind of stayed up.”
• Discussion of “imposter syndrome” as a driving but maddening force in creative industries.
  • Pelle [04:53]: "We've done the Hives longer than most people I know have brushed their teeth. We should start trusting it at some point."
• The satisfaction (and paradox) of creating work—often, by the time a project is released, the artist is over it, while the audience is just catching on.

3. Comparing Music & Standup: Repetition and Burnout

(06:41 – 09:33)

• The trio explore how standup comedy and music diverge in terms of repeatability—audiences will replay favorite songs endlessly but rarely tolerate the same joke twice.
• Pelle bemoans the impact of internet leaks on premieres and how the inability to test new material live has changed music.
• The group reflects on the brutality (and fleeting shelf life) of both arts when faced with “the algorithm.”

4. The Life of a Hit Song and Cultural Identity

(09:33 – 12:53)

• Gareth asks Pelle how it feels for “Tick Tick Boom” to become soundtrack fodder for action movies and sporting events.
  • Pelle [10:55]: "We were even joking about it... this sounds like an action movie song. It was very prophetic. We talked about it in rehearsal and then... it actually happened."
• Pelle talks about embracing the notion of becoming a “caricature” to the general public—the downside and upside of mass identification with a single song.

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Listener Calls

Call 1: Abby and the Soviet Military Music Boyfriend

(18:01 – 34:14)

Abby’s Issue:

Abby, from Portland, has been dating a guy whose musical taste is exclusively Soviet-era military music and Russian space-race propaganda tracks. She doesn’t want to listen to them but also doesn’t want to offend him.

Advice Highlights:

• Pelle’s Relatable Take
  • Shares that he grew up with a father who played African burial chants loudly in the house.
    • Pelle [19:53]: "My dad would listen really loudly to African burial chants. It's a tough listen. I just want to say I think that I don't think it has a lot to do with who he is as a person."
• Evaluating Red Flag or Quirk
  • Abby describes her boyfriend’s collection of Soviet memorabilia; the hosts joke about “dating a commie”—but mostly they urge not to judge too harshly if it doesn’t dominate his politics.
• The Playlist Solution
  • Gareth proposes “mutually-assured musical destruction”: Abby should play music she thinks he’ll hate (e.g., Kid Rock, Ted Nugent) to balance the sonic scales and prompt a compromise.
    • Gareth [29:31]: “Abby, Dr. Paley just wrote you a prescription for 50 milligrams of Nugent.”
  • The consensus: make a couple’s playlist as a neutral listening space.
    • Pelle [27:41]: "I really like the idea of reframing it by picking something that you think he's gonna absolutely hate. In order to meet in the middle then."
    • Gareth [33:22]: "It's kind of a great bellwether for a relationship to be like, hey, we don't see eye to eye. What is our couple's compromise on this?"

Notable Quote:

• Pelle [32:28]: “I grew up in a socially democratic society, which is like kind of the middle ground between American Kid Rock capitalism and his Red Army communism.”

Resolution:

Abby feels good about broaching the playlist idea and is encouraged to see how this small-scale negotiation reflects bigger relationship dynamics. (“Let us know how that goes!”)

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Call 2: Matt’s Jam Band Ashes Dilemma ("Phish Burial")

(34:22 – 51:50)

Matt’s Issue:

Matt from Denver recounts a surreal story from a group trip to Mexico. After jamming on the beach with some new acquaintances—“granoli” Phish fans he met at a Dick’s Sporting Goods concert—he’s surreptitiously handed a small vial. Inside, he later discovers, are cremated remains (“Frankie”) plus four miniature $100 bills. Matt’s question: What should he do with these ashes, and can he track down the woman who gave them to him?

Advice Highlights:

• Speculation & Humor
  • Pelle and Gareth riff on whether Matt has accidentally become part of a “Phish burial,” spreading a stranger’s ashes far and wide as part of a jam band memorial practice.
    • Gareth [39:22]: "If you find everyone that has the little vial, could you reconstruct her? That's a movie, by the way."
• What To Do?
  • The hosts encourage interpreting the gesture as one of cosmic beauty—Frankie is being scattered across the globe; Matt should honor that.
  • Pelle suggests a tribute spread atop a Colorado mountain or at a jam band show, letting the music “carry Frankie.”
    • Pelle [49:37]: “If it’s a jam band fan, I think being blown around by the air from the sound waves from the speaker during a particular guitar solo would be a way to go.”
• Connecting with Others
  • The group brainstorms finding other recipients via jam band forums; Matt is receptive to the idea.
• Universal Respect
  • They appreciate Matt’s thoughtfulness in not just disposing of the ashes.
    • Pelle [50:12]: "I like that you're treating this with respect, you know? More terrible people would have just thrown it away at the airport."

Resolution:

Matt is encouraged to either find an appropriate jam band setting for a send-off or see if the podcast’s audience can help connect him with other “Frankie vial” recipients.

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Listener Update: Abby’s Playlist Compromise

(51:58–53:50)

What Happened:
Abby follows up: She tried the advice and played a playlist of 90’s country music in the car. Her boyfriend didn’t love it—but she proposed they collaborate on a “couple’s playlist.” He agrees, contributing from his “Normie Music” playlist (Billy Idol, Billy Joel, etc.), and the compromise succeeds.

Abby [53:37]: “Your advice worked, so thank you. You can ring the bell.”

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Notable Quotes & Fun Moments

• Pelle [04:53]: "We've done the hives longer than most people I know have brushed their teeth."
• Gareth [29:31]: “Dr. Paley just wrote you a prescription for 50 milligrams of Nugent.”
• Pelle [32:28]: “I grew up in a socially democratic society, which is like kind of the middle ground between American Kid Rock capitalism and his Red Army communism.”
• Gareth [39:22]: "If you find everyone that has the little vial, could you reconstruct her? That's a movie, by the way."
• Pelle [49:37]: “If it’s a jam band fan, I think being blown around by the air from the sound waves from the speaker during a particular guitar solo would be a way to go.”

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Key Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 00:35 | Pelle joins, shares band naming origins | | 03:34 | On skepticism of fame and imposter syndrome | | 06:41 | Standup vs. music: burnout and repetition | | 09:33 | On hit songs becoming soundtracks | | 18:01 | Caller 1: Abby’s Soviet music boyfriend dilemma | | 27:41 | Building a playlist compromise | | 34:22 | Caller 2: Matt receives stranger’s ashes in Mexico | | 49:37 | Advice for honoring “Frankie” at a jam band concert | | 51:58 | Abby follows up with a relationship success story |

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Concluding Tone

The episode is irreverent but sincere—balancing comedic bits with genuine attempts at actionable advice. Pelle’s international, rock-and-roll perspective blends seamlessly with Gareth’s and Jake’s affable, slightly off-the-wall sensibility.

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Summary for New Listeners

Even if you missed the episode, you’ll walk away with this:

• Creative careers are built on doubt, grind, and learning to accept success.
• Honest (if ridiculous) communication is the key to surviving even stark musical differences in relationships.
• Sometimes the right way to handle an odd responsibility—like being the custodian of ashes—is to treat it with respect, see where fate leads… and maybe let the music decide.

For more delightful, messy advice (and a little Swedish wisdom), tune in to future episodes!

Transcript

[Gareth Reynolds]

Quick time to choose a meal deal with McValue. The $5 McChicken meal deal, the $6.

[Jake Johnson]

McDouble meal deal, or the new $7.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Daily Double meal deal. Each with its own small fries, drink and Four Piece McNuggets.

[Pele Almkvist]

There's actually no rush.

[Jake Johnson]

I'm just excited for McDonald's.

[Pele Almkvist]

Price and participation may vary.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And we are back. Welcome back to a Wednesday episode of We're Here to Help. It's myself and a guest helper. We have the great Pele Amkavist, who is the lead singer of the Hives.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, here I am.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Pele, you're here to help, coincidentally. You are. Absolutely. And we just did a couple calls, it went great. Before we get into it, you have a new. A new album coming out called the Hives Forever. Forever the Hives, out Aug. 29. Which is a great title for an album, as usual. Your title. Your album titles are always pretty self referential and great.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, we've got a good title game.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, you've got strong title.

[Pele Almkvist]

Dan's name in there.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Look, I know, but it's good. It's become a thing now. It's good marketing people. How did you come up with the name the Hives? How did that even start? What is that?

[Pele Almkvist]

I think it was like we were children because it's the only band I've ever been in. I've been in band since I was 13. And at the time I think they were Chris, our drummer and vigilante, our guitar player, were flipping through a dictionary and it said hives, a condition you could get from eating, for instance, lobster or strawberries. And something about that they thought was funny. So it's the skin condition and not the beehives and that. We figured like. Well, you know, it's kind of like all good names. It's a shit name. And then you just kind of kind of have to conquer it. Like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones. I'm not sure those are such great names either. But after a while you just get into this thing where we're the first thing you think of, hopefully.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, it doesn't even matter. Or Led Zeppelin even. That you're sort of like, I don't.

[Pele Almkvist]

Even know what that's like. Yeah, that was Keith Moon telling them though, that he thought they sounded terrible, like they were gonna sink like a Lead Zeppelin. And then just.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, right.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Pele Almkvist]

I think all great bands have terrible names. Like the Beach Boys. I don't think that's a great name.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Terrible name. I agree. But then sometimes the name doesn't you? I mean, it is lofty to sort of decide you're going to have a weird name because you want to be that good. Because sometimes, obviously.

[Pele Almkvist]

But we were also 13, so I think we thought that was good.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So you were. You guys were playing together since you were 13 years old and in Sweden, obviously.

[Pele Almkvist]

Wow.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And then what was it. What was it like when you guys started to kind of hit on a global scale? Because when I was probably about that age is when I think I first heard. I hate to say, I hate to say I told you so, which was a huge hit.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What was that like? I mean, all of a sudden you're going from, like. Because Sweden is a beautiful little kind of chill country. And then all of a sudden you're rocketed probably to just this whole new stratosphere of existence. Is that difficult?

[Pele Almkvist]

Well, I think it was a big deal, like, very confusing and startling. But I think what helped us was that we had toured for maybe a couple of years, five years before that, and played like squats and punk venues in Germany and stuff. And you kind of seen it all after that. And since we'd been a band already for seven years, like, we just were very skeptical of success. Like, we were unsuccessful while. Now we're going to be successful a while, then we're going to be unsuccessful again. That's how we saw it. That's, I think, a bit of self protection in that. Like, not trusting the hype. And now we've kind of stayed up.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Now you have to believe. Well, that's imposter syndrome, which is, I think, a thing that, like, in entertainment in general, you go through where you go, like. Because even in my small bubble, I'm like, always, like, it's fleeting, it's going to go away, it's going to end. It's good for the work ethic, but it also still does drive you to total madness. But now you are like. I mean, now you're putting out an album about forever, Forever the hive. So.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, well, I think that's. This is the first time we feel like we, you know, this is making our, you know, after 30 years, like, I guess we better start trusting them.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Now you finally believe your own hype a little bit.

[Pele Almkvist]

We've done the hives longer than most people I know have brushed their teeth. We should start trusting it at some point. But yeah, I think it's that feeling of like, I just made it up. Why do you like it? No reason. There's no intrinsic value. It's not like we made Something out of gold. And the gold still has value. It's just an idea. Like, Sam, with your thing. It's like, I'm just sitting here making stuff up. Everybody's doing it. Why am I better at it? You know, I don't know. But for some reason, people like me.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Making stuff up is that. That must also be like. Because I feel like that because I do a lot of standup. And it's like by the time you record something, you are. So it's no longer for you. You're kind of sick of the material. You're kind of fed up of the process and all that. And you want other people to enjoy it, obviously, but you personally are kind of like, I don't give a shit about this anymore, to be quite honest. Do you feel like that when you're recording music, or do you still feel like. I'm sure there are certain songs you love and then there are certain songs like you just don't even want to play because you're just like, you know, this is more for the audience than it is for me. Do you feel that at this point with such a huge catalog?

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, but I'm kind of fine with that because, like, the stuff people really want to hear, like the big hits, and I think that it's so fun to see the reaction to them that I kind of don't care if I necessarily like, it's not my favorite song. I owe those songs a lot. Like my living and all that stuff. Yeah, well, with the stand up thing, it's like when you worked on it for so long and you worked so hard and you kind of fiddled with the details so much that you don't care anymore. I think that's usually when it's at its best. I agree on the special. Then, like, you don't care. But everything, your whole thing is so dialed in that that's when everybody loves it, you know?

[Gareth Reynolds]

I think that is the truth. It's like, I mean, it's such a different thing, but it's like if you're training for like a boxing match or something, it's like you're tired, you're in your best shape, you want to win the match, but you're also probably just like, you can't wait to eat when it's over and just be fucking done with it at that point.

[Pele Almkvist]

Our drummer for a while dated an Olympic skiing champion. Like, she won an Olympic gold and stuff. And she had this thing where somehow it applied to this for me where she said, like, if I don't feel like I'm going too fast and I'm gonna die at any second. I'm not gonna win.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's crazy.

[Pele Almkvist]

Like, you gotta like, shisky. If I don't feel like I might die at any second, then I know I'm slow and I gotta go faster. Like. And I think, yeah, it's the same thing. Like the boxing match and the stand up. The standup is like, I think more difficult. Like, I think we're more making a record where, like, I can't listen to this one more time. And that's when you've done your best. Like, then you put it out and then you got a few months to, like. And then it takes like six months and then you listen to it again. Like, I actually really like this. This is really good. Because then you don't just hear details anymore. Then you can kind of zoom out a little bit.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That is the difference between music and stand up. Because the standup, it is like, once you're done, you don't really want to hear it again. Whereas. And you know what the other thing is that people don't want to hear it again. Like, if people have heard your joke one time, sometimes they'll tolerate twice. Whereas your songs, like, people will listen to endlessly and still enjoy it.

[Pele Almkvist]

It's a pretty different thing. I mean, the stand up thing is so brutal. And I guess that's where that. The yonder, like, pouch thing. That's why. Because we used to think it was such a bummer that we'd play songs that we weren't quite finished with live. And people would put it on YouTube and it would, like, ruin the surprise for when the song came out. And we really liked playing songs that were like, half finished to people and then like, changing a few details and like, oh, this took way too long. I know that now because I saw the people react to it or like whatever I felt when people, you know, when we played it to people. Because it's so much different playing it to an audience than hearing it in your head and, yeah, studio. So I really miss that element of, like, trying stuff out, but you really can't do it anymore. I think that's the same thing with like a stand up. Like, if the stuff is up on YouTube the first day, why even do the rest of the tour? Like, it's so brutal. Like, you gotta, oh, come up with some new material, y'.

[Gareth Reynolds]

All.

[Pele Almkvist]

Like, it takes like a year.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, it's brutal. You do it well. That's why, like, a lot of con Like, I. I'll put post just clips of me talking to the audience. And comedians, you know, are. Some comedians are very fed up with that. But you know, in the world now where you've got to kind of feed this algorithmic, it's like, well, you can't just be putting up hilarious bits every 10 days, you know, that's not possible.

[Pele Almkvist]

For the people that pay.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, exactly. That's kind of how it is. You were a great helper on the show, probably because a. You're Swedish. I believe that probably makes you pretty empathetic. But also you've got such like, probably lived experience through touring the world, meeting so many different cultures and things like that. I could definitely talk to you endlessly. A question I do have is, what is like the song Tick Tick Tick Boom has. Is in so many movie previews. Is that weird to you that. That kind of like. Because I think that like a lot of times with like Seven Nation army, like, Jack. Does Jack White ever go like, I made a stadium chanting song. That's so weird.

[Pele Almkvist]

But like, that I send him stuff all the time. Like, I sent him when he first went off in like European soccer.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Pele Almkvist]

Kind of thing. He was not quite aware of that. And I sent him these like full stadiums, like, chanting it. And then I sent him some tugboat that played it on the like, huge cruise ship or something. Like, it becomes such a cold tale. But the TikTok thing, like, we were even joking about it. We're making it like, yeah, this sounds like an action movie song. Or like. Or we thought it sounded like one of these songs that you use for the montage in like NHL with all the tackles and stuff.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, right.

[Pele Almkvist]

Well, that's cool. And then that actually happened. Like, it was very prophetic. We talked about it in rehearsal and then. And then like I. I grew up in the 80s. I loved action movies. Like, I thought that was fun. You know, like whatever the hard rock music they were playing during the explosions and stuff.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yep.

[Pele Almkvist]

It was kind of. We always. We thought it was kind of cool to like contribute a drop to that kind of thing, you know, it's so.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Awesome because it's like there's like thunderstruck. There are just these songs that just. They really.

[Pele Almkvist]

I mean, it's also like Blitzkrieg by the REM Because I. I was self conscious about it. But then like, what are these songs? Like the Passenger with Iggy Pop basically walk by the thunderstruck. And there's that Gary Glitter rock and roll too. I'm like, those are basically my favorite songs. Like, why am I bummed out by being a part of that? Like, that's. That's amazing.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, I think it's one of those things.

[Pele Almkvist]

It's great too, you know, and it's.

[Gareth Reynolds]

One of those things where it's like, it maybe defines you, your music in some way to an enormous mass population, but then there's also so many people. Damn, there's. There's so many people who know so much other stuff and recognize that you, you know, I mean, that's kind of best case scenario, totally fine with it.

[Pele Almkvist]

Look, you know, you got to realize that there's only so much people can remember about a band or a person. Like it. It becomes caricature in people's head pretty quickly. Like, you know, like Velvet Underground, black leather jacket, heroin. You know, there's a few things about each artist and, you know, you know, just the fact that people know about us at all, like, I feel like that's pretty cool because when we were growing up, when we started met and stuff, we always thought that no good music was popular.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, right.

[Pele Almkvist]

Snobs. And then when we got popular, it was a bit of like, oh, does that mean we're bad? And now, you know, us being popular is really cool to us. We've grown into it. It took us 30 years to accept.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, I also think that you guys are. You have not changed. It's still the same, you know, style of music. Even though it evolves, it's still got all those. It really is. So it was a pleasure to have you. And by the way, get ready to see a huge bump in your career after this podcast comes out. Obviously, we're. We solved some great problems. And. And again, if you. If you have not heard the Hives, obviously go listen to them, but remember the new album, which is called the Hives Forever. Forever the hives is out August 29th. Pele, it was a real pleasure. Thank you for joining us and. And for everybody listening, get ready to solve some huge problems. Without further ado. Hey, we're heredos. This is sweet Jesse here to remind you to cast your vote in the Friendship game. If you haven't listened to episode 202, get in there and meet the contestants. Polls are still open and I gotta tell you, it's neck and neck.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

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[Gareth Reynolds]

Squarespace for Lord, I don't know, a decade. However, whenever they started, I started using Squarespace. Every website that I have any association with is Squarespace. We use Squarespace on the show all the time. Our fans are always asking if we want to do a Squarespace, you know, tie in.

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[Gareth Reynolds]

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[Gareth Reynolds]

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[Abby]

Hi.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hi.

[Pele Almkvist]

Who are we talking?

[Abby]

Hi. Hi. This is Abby.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hi, Abby. Well, you sound. Are you nervous, Abby?

[Abby]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You honestly, you should be because we actually have a guest helper today. So you have me, Gareth, and you actually have the great lead singer of the Hives. One of the greatest bands of all times, Pele Almkivist, is joining us and he's promoting the Hives new album, which is the Hives Forever. Forever the Hives, coming out soon in August 29th. So Pele is joining us. So we are going to solve your problem. Can we get your name first? What's your name?

[Abby]

I'm Abby.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay, Abby. And how old are you, Abby?

[Abby]

I'm 26.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And where are you calling from?

[Abby]

Portland, Oregon area.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Beautiful. I'm sure you guys have played a lot out there, right, Paley?

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, I've been there a couple of times.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, There we go. Yeah, it is beautiful. Well, I'm very confident we're going to solve this problem. So what are you dealing with, Abby? What can we help you with?

[Abby]

This is actually pretty ironic that we have a musician on here for this one. So I've been seeing this guy for a couple months and it's going really well. He's really sweet, but the only thing that's thrown me so far is his music taste. He listens to Soviet era military music, like the stuff armies march to and space race propaganda songs, which I didn't know was a thing until we started dating. And sometimes he'll like play it in the car and I don't want to listen to it. But also I don't want to hurt his feelings. So I don't know what to do here.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Peyley, what do you think of this? This is an interesting.

[Pele Almkvist]

I actually grew up in this kind of environment. Not so much because I'm from Sweden and it's close to the Soviet Union and this was the 80s and 90s. It's not so much that, but my dad would listen really loudly to African burial chants. Wow. So type of music I kind of didn't know existed, as in recordings. It's basically a bunch of women screaming their sorrow and pain out to drum.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's an interesting childhood soundtrack.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, it's a tough listen. I just want to say I think that I don't think it has a lot to do with who he is as a person. But I don't know. I don't know if there's a solution. Like that's pretty deep end, like Soviet propaganda music. Do you think it has anything to do with his political leanings or is it just. I think this song is.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Is he a commie?

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You know, you have to tell us if he is. Abby.

[Pele Almkvist]

I think this white power band has really good riffs or something. Does he wear past the Sovietness of it?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, it's a good question. Does it bleed into other parts of his life? Does he wear sort of Soviet era military uniforms?

[Abby]

Okay, kind of.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, seriously, Is he kgb? It might be worth asking.

[Abby]

I don't.

[Jake Johnson]

I don't know.

[Abby]

So I know he was really into like Russian history and all that. And like he. He. Because we met on a dating app because that's how everything happens anymore. But he had on his profile that his first. My first birthday, he got a shot glass with a hammer and a sickle on it. And he's got like Soviet era, like bomb hat. It's just like a black like thing. And then he'll use different Halloween costumes and stuff. So yeah, he's.

[Gareth Reynolds]

How long have you been over interest?

[Pele Almkvist]

The over interest in history. That's how it starts.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, right. Yeah, totally. Well, I mean, those who don't learn history are doomed to wear it and listen to it.

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Like, it's been a couple months. Okay, so two months. Have you asked him? Have you been like hey, like, you'll be driving in the car and he'll be like, hey, here we. You mind?

[Abby]

Yeah, yeah. So the way I've gotten around this so far is I insist on driving everywhere so I can play my music. And that. That's worked so far, but I feel like we're gonna run out of that soon.

[Pele Almkvist]

You're not gonna want to drive forever.

[Abby]

Yeah, yeah.

[Pele Almkvist]

Does he also have, like. When he listened to it, does his eyes kind of pan across the horizon in a heroic way?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Is there a lot of that sort of wistful glare?

[Pele Almkvist]

Does he carry himself differently while listening to it?

[Abby]

Yeah, a little. Yeah. Because he's a writer, so it's like.

[Jake Johnson]

It's.

[Abby]

I feel like this is like his movie soundtrack.

[Gareth Reynolds]

He's a writer, you said?

[Abby]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What does he write?

[Abby]

Fiction? Science fiction?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Science fiction. I mean, honest, Like, I'm not even. I'm not even. Communist shaming, because there's a lot. But I. I think. I mean, this is honestly like these. This is like. If you're trying to. If you find out you're dating a. Like, you find hair, like, in the drain that looks like that of a dog, you notice that there are, like, claw shavings in your bathroom. His clothes are always ripped. I'd say you're dating a werewolf. I mean, you're. You're dating a guy who has a hammer, sickle shot.

[Pele Almkvist]

Evidence. Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. There seems to be a lot of evidence piling up that you might be dating a copy and you just haven't had the conversation yet.

[Abby]

Yeah, that's very possible. I'm not mad about that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No.

[Pele Almkvist]

It's a little strange, though, that it's one of the times when. I mean, I'm not sure communism has worked perfectly that many times, but I'm not sure Russia is, like, my pick for the one that worked best.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Is it.

[Pele Almkvist]

It's, in theory, wonderful. I get that. Everyone has the same amount of stuff. Like, I agree. There's something very sound. Very good.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. The. The positive in work.

[Pele Almkvist]

Exactly.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What are we calling this boyfriend of yours? What should we call him? What's your comrade called?

[Jake Johnson]

Boy. Colin.

[Abby]

What?

[Pele Almkvist]

The boy comrade. What's he called?

[Abby]

Yeah, let's just call him comrade.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Comrade. Okay, Comrade.

[Pele Almkvist]

The comrade.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Have you. Have you said anything to. Have you. Have you inquired in two months, have you been like, hey, there's a lot of marks around the place? Has any of that come up or anything like that?

[Abby]

Yeah, yeah, that and, like, I knew. So I think it was our first or second date when we talked about music for the first time, music case. And he didn't want to tell me what he listened to. And so the second time I brought it up, I said, okay, you abated the question the first time. You need to tell me now. And he told me, and I was like, okay, cool. Yeah. And that's kind of where we left it. And, like, he'll drop. Like, I. I don't know much about Russian history, but he knows a lot about it and, like, the space race especially and everything. And he'll like, we went to an aerospace museum, and there was a lot. I didn't retain a lot of the information, but, like, he was going on about all of that. So I think he's definitely at least sympathetic to the cause. But the main problem is I. I don't want to listen to the music, and I don't know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Abby]

What to do about that.

[Pele Almkvist]

I think it's. It's. Yeah. I don't know. That seems like it's pretty easy. I'm sure a lot of couples have differing music tastes, I think. Does he have any. Any input on your music taste? Like, what do you like?

[Abby]

I like mostly rock music, modern rock, some heavier stuff. And he'll. Because I'll play music in the car, and he likes what I listen to, so that might. He does.

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's a pretty good angle. I think Pele might have maybe knocked into a little. Because maybe, I mean, look, we're talking. It might be time for a little bit of a war. It might be time for, once again, America and the Soviet Union to have a little bit of an arms race. Maybe the problem here is that you don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to compromising. Now, my one pitch would be get him into the Hives, because they are one of the best bands of all time, and Pele is joining us today. But what if you start playing some really obscure, terrible shit that makes him want to kind of reject your picks, and then you say, well, I don't like yours, you don't like mine. Let's meet in the middle and actually start maybe going through some itunes or something like that, and maybe we can come up with a couple's playlist that we both sign off of, because it's not wrong to, like, have different likes in your relationship. Obviously. I think that's probably a strength. The problem is when you're sharing the space and you're listening to this kind of, like, dark marching music or whatever. So maybe the move is to just kind of come up with some really. Some obscure shit that he's not going to like, which opens up the conversation, which leads to a couple's playlist. What do you think of that, Pele?

[Pele Almkvist]

I think this is good, but I really like the idea of reframing it by picking something that you think he's gonna absolutely hate.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Pele Almkvist]

In order to meet in the middle then, which is actually gonna be kind of where you want it to be.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Pele Almkvist]

You gotta kind of figure out where the ends are. And one end is his thing. And you can just say, you know, I. I respect your decision to like this music, but keep it in the headphones. And then.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I agree. Keep it in the headphones.

[Pele Almkvist]

There's actually one Soviet era military song that I like too. I think it's called, like, March of the Cossacks or something like that. Oh, I think I see if you recognize it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I actually think. I know. I do think that must be a pretty famous one. I feel like I know the helmet.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, it goes like.

[Gareth Reynolds]

She's like, oh, yeah, I've heard that a lot of times. She's like, that's my hell. So maybe it's maybe something like. Maybe some really kind of light classical, stringy music. Because that feels like it kind of will be a little bit on the other end of the spectrum. You could do like just maybe some Tchaikovsky. Some stuff. Like. Just some stuff. Oh, it is. Yeah. Right. You'll like that.

[Pele Almkvist]

I think maybe you should. What's the most. What's the least Covenant music there is? It's like Ted Nugent or something. Oh, then you can kind of like, you can test out how political his interests are by like, here's some Ted Nugent Forever Abby. Then you can. That's like kind of testing the waters as to how much political. Maybe he just likes the music. Or maybe it is political. And then I think the nude is going to bring it out of it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Abby, Dr. Paley just wrote you a prescription for 50 milligrams of news.

[Pele Almkvist]

But maybe that's like. Maybe that's a breakup move, though. It's like Kid Rock and Ted Nugent. Like, that's as you know, I. I really.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's so good that we have Pele on for this episode because those picks, in my opinion, are perfect. Now, obviously you're going to have to run through the news Kid Rock fire to make this happen, but I would put out there a news Kid Rock playlist. And I think with no irony, the next time he gets in the car, have some Cat Scratch Fever playing and Just, it will chemically imbalance him to the point where you're going to have to have the conversation.

[Abby]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

Okay.

[Pele Almkvist]

That's how you blow him out.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Right.

[Abby]

So I'm going full outside my music taste and wait for him to bring it up.

[Pele Almkvist]

Well, maybe if you keep it, if you keep it light hearted, like, oh, you want to listen to some commie music? This is what I'm gonna listen to now. You know, if you keep it kind of with a wink and smile, you don't have to be like aggressively pushing nudes down his throat.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's the only way to play nudes.

[Pele Almkvist]

You might as well just break up with him at that point.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Pele Almkvist]

Because if he can have a sense of humor about his, you know, other side of the wall music, you know, I think that's kind of fine. If he has no sense of humor about it, I think that might be a red flag.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, his favorite kind of flag, by the way, though, Pele. So we're. He's into that. I would, I would do it. I. It's, I would say dealer's choice on it a little bit. Abby, if you want to put it on and sit there straight faced and let him kind of process it to bring it up, that could work. I also think to what Pele suggesting, maybe you, you put it on and when he's kind of giving you like the what the fuck are you doing look, you say so sometimes. This is how your music sounds to me. And I love you. And I love everything that makes you who you are or what. I'm sure it's only two months, so maybe I want to say love, but I really like you. I like a lot about who you are. But this to me is the one thing where in our shared space, it's music that makes us both feel good. Do you think we can find somewhere in the middle? And again, I'm not trying, I'm not saying this just because Bailey's here, but you might want to put on some hives.

[Pele Almkvist]

Because it's like, it's rock, but we are geographically really close to Russia.

[Gareth Reynolds]

You're right there. You're right. He's right. I mean, really, you could not have a better pitch. You're like, look, if we just go a little bit ease or west, we're right there.

[Pele Almkvist]

So, yeah, I grew up in a socially democratic society, which is like kind of the middle ground between American Kid Rock, capitalism and, you know, his Red army communism.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I, I really think that you can also. You can, you can play some of Their the Hives enormous catalog. You can also play the Hives forever. Forever the hives, starting August 29th. But until then, I don't know. How do you feel about that, Abby? How does that sit with you?

[Abby]

I like that because I feel like this is going to, like, shake them enough and then start the conversation of, okay, let's make a playlist together that we can listen to when we're in shared. I like that a lot.

[Pele Almkvist]

Is there a way that me and Garrett could get that playlist when you're done with it?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Is that possible?

[Abby]

Yeah. Yeah. Do you want me to follow up?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, we'll definitely do a follow up where this lands. Like, what's the ground between your music?

[Gareth Reynolds]

But you know what? It is. In. In all seriousness, it would. It is kind of a great bellwether for a relationship to be like, hey, we don't see eye to eye. What is our couple's compromise on this? So it's probably a pretty good indicator to get it out there in the first couple months to see how do you guys compromise?

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah. You don't both have to love playing tennis.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Nope.

[Pele Almkvist]

To have a relationship, but the beauty.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Of that is one of you can go away and play tennis, and you don't have to do it up on the apartment wall while the other person's sitting there trying to, like, read or something like that. I will say our producer Wabi Wab pitched the Just play the Star Spangled Banner on a loop.

[Jake Johnson]

But.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But I think we. I think we got there without that, so. Well, Abby, if you feel good about that. We feel good about that, so let us know how that goes and. And keep us posted.

[Abby]

Okay. Thank you guys so much.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Thank you.

[Pele Almkvist]

Thank you for calling.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hello.

[Jake Johnson]

Hey, there.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Hi. How are you doing?

[Jake Johnson]

Good. How are you?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Good, good. Can we get your name, your age, where you're calling from, please?

[Jake Johnson]

Sure. My name is Matt. I am 33, and I'm from Denver, Colorado.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Beautiful Denver. Denver, a great city in America where our guest, the great Pele Almkvist, lead singer of one of the greatest bands of all time. I'll say it. The Hives is your guest helper today, Matt.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

Cool.

[Jake Johnson]

Awesome.

[Pele Almkvist]

Awesome.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So. So we're on a roll, Matt. We just really crushed our last problem, so we're excited for this.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What. What's going on, Matt? What can Pele and I help you with today?

[Jake Johnson]

All right, so I got a little bit of a backstory, so bear with me here. So we went to Mexico back in.

[Gareth Reynolds]

February with who's we as you and your significant other.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, a couple of her brothers and some friends. Slash coworkers, too. And a bunch of us play music, so we brought our instruments with us. And the last night we were there, we wanted to go to the beach, find a spot to play on the beach, maybe get a couple drinks and stuff. So we roam around. We found an awesome spot. These people set up a campfire for us on the beach, which was awesome. Playing music in Mexico. And then there was this couple. Few tourists and stuff stopped by and listened to us, too. And we were talking with them, and they were. They actually met at the parking lot at the Fish at Dick's concert in Denver. So we'll start there. Pretty granoli.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Cool people, though. Wait, what did you just call it?

[Jake Johnson]

Fish at Dick's. At Dick's Sporting Goods. They always do that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Okay, I didn't. I'm not familiar.

[Jake Johnson]

I thought you would. I thought you're. I thought you're a jam band guy.

[Pele Almkvist]

Me? Are you talking about. What is it? A Fish cover band at the sporting goods store?

[Jake Johnson]

No, as in Fish the band.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But they weren't at Dick's.

[Jake Johnson]

No, no, no. They met at the parking lot of Dick's. I'm just setting a backstory for these folks. Okay. Kind of hippie cool people. They are.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

So.

[Gareth Reynolds]

And Matt, you were saying you thought I was a big jam band guy? Just to be clear, I don't want to get. Yeah, okay. Yeah. So you're telling me I've got that jam band energy.

[Jake Johnson]

I don't know. I'm just guessing. Maybe, you know, like guy, so, you know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, it's a compliment. Thank you.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah. So anyways, so we're saying bye at the end of the night here, and I'm not gonna lie, it's last night in Mexico. So kind of drunk, having a fun time. And I'm talking with this woman, and she tells me about how her mom passed away or something. And she said something about hundred dollar bills. And I was kind of, you know, sidetracked. Someone else was talking. Like I said, little drunk, unfocused. And then she says. So we give a little piece to Frankie or something about Frankie. And she hands me this small little vial and I of slipping in my pocket, and I'm like, she either handed me drugs or her dead mom's ashes. I don't know. I'm thinking it's ashes. So I'm kind of freaking out a little bit. It's kind of weird. I just.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The one way to know is always to do a bump. That's the only way to find out if it's mom or coke.

[Pele Almkvist]

Apparently Keith Richards.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Actually, I've heard that as well, so. So you survive snorting and it connect with the afterlife.

[Jake Johnson]

Right.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We've got a picture here. So. Yeah, it's a nice little bottle. It looks very classy. It's got a cork, a string, a small hundred dollar bill, and in it is some powder.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, yeah. And it looks like gas. What's funny about that? Gareth?

[Gareth Reynolds]

So.

[Jake Johnson]

Oh, sorry, go ahead.

[Pele Almkvist]

What's with a small hundred dollar bill like you? Maybe you don't know.

[Jake Johnson]

They're just tiny little printed out things is what I'm assuming. But what I was gonna say was before I found out that the. I just flipped, I slipped it in my pocket and I just went back to the house. I was telling my friend, like, you got to go back and spread this in the ocean or something. I can't go back to the States with this in my pocket. And I pull it out and I just see the mini for the four mini hundred dollar bills and I just start laughing. I'm like, oh, it's not that. So I go back home to Denver and I tell my friend about it and he's like, buddy, I think there's something in there. And that's when we realized have some ashes in there. So I guess my question is one, what do I do with these? I. I got them still. I don't know what to do. It's been hanging out kind of at my house around. And then two, is there a way to try to find this person or connect if someone else has gotten the same thing from these people? Like, I'd love to know the backstory, because I don't. I don't really remember exactly what she said.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, you know, I. I think. Yeah, wow is right. Obviously, I find if you find everyone.

[Pele Almkvist]

That has the little vile. Could you like, reconstruct her?

[Gareth Reynolds]

That's. That's a movie, by the way. Yeah. A movie is finding all the people who have the ashes and together you bring Frank back. And that's the title.

[Jake Johnson]

Well, it was Frankie. Frankie.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Sorry, no disrespectful lady.

[Jake Johnson]

Frankie disrespect the dead, you know. Yeah, no.

[Pele Almkvist]

I'm assuming they're doing it to spread her as far and wide as possible. I'm assuming that's the idea. Maybe there's something cosmically beautiful in that. To these people, at least I actually spread as far and wide as possible. Why else would you. Obviously she knew you weren't from Mexico or you weren't going to stay there. So she knew this would end up somewhere else potentially.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I definitely agree that I kind of do like that idea just on its own, of we're going to, you know, try to spread our friend around as much as possible. There is a bit. It seems a bit indiscriminate to just kind of be on the beach and be like, hey, take Frankie.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, exactly. It was a little shocking at first because, you know, let's just say if it was 10 years ago, I'd have been like, what the f is this? Like, no, thank you. But like I said, I just slipped it in my pocket, moved on. It was kind of sweet. You know, she's very nice. They're very nice people, you know, so I didn't want to be disrespectful. You know.

[Pele Almkvist]

It'S. Yeah, it's a little. But like, I mean, I wonder what kind of reactions they usually get. Like, are people like. You got to assume that pretty few out of 100 are going to be really into the idea of carrying a bit of your mom in their pocket.

[Gareth Reynolds]

She probably just finds the drunkest person around.

[Pele Almkvist]

It is very personal, isn't it?

[Jake Johnson]

Well, I'd like to think that I was not that person because we had another person in our group that was wandering back alleys trying to find pallets of wood and kind of cut himself a little. He came back, we found him, but, you know, he went off for a bit.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So have that person call the show at some point because it sounds like there's some help needed there. Pele, I would imagine people have given you over the years some crazy sometimes with deep and things like that. Sent. You've gotten blood?

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, all sorts of things. They're both handed to me and like in the mail or. I mean. Yeah, people send weird things.

[Gareth Reynolds]

What do you do if someone gives you blood? What is your. What's your next.

[Pele Almkvist]

Avoid it. I. I think you're tasting it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Yeah. You don't drink it? Yeah, Not. Not anymore.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

Biohazard line.

[Pele Almkvist]

Well, I feel like ashes is probably a cleaner option then, but I agree. I really. I mean, I find a nice spot in Denver and maybe spread it and then you gotta assume that this Frankie person is like everywhere. It's hard to know. I think they wanted you to keep her in the bottle, like at your house, but. And what's with that?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Or do you bury the bottle or.

[Jake Johnson]

Do we do a send off or something?

[Pele Almkvist]

You know, I mean, that's kind of as Far as I've gone with that. I don't get the hundred dollar bills.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Though it is a puzzling.

[Jake Johnson]

That's what I'm trying to figure out. Like it would be, it would be cool if anyone who was listening, if they've had either had this happen, know of someone that this has happened to this exact kind of thing and would reach out to you guys on the show because I'd love to connect the dots and get the story.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Listen to Matt. You see what he's doing? He's trying to use our platform Pele for his own benefit.

[Pele Almkvist]

What happens? We don't solve a damn thing.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, right. Yeah.

[Abby]

Really.

[Jake Johnson]

The first, the reason I called was like what, what do with it? I thought about the connection thing a few days ago and you know, I just thought I'd throw that out there. But yeah, like, you know, do we, do we have a ceremony? Do we just put them away? I mean it's better than sitting on top of my microwave, I'll tell you that we're gonna do.

[Gareth Reynolds]

There's better places.

[Pele Almkvist]

I don't wonder what if there's. And why 400 bills. Like, what's with the 400?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Like LA is so big.

[Pele Almkvist]

Maybe it's like I'm from the country of Vikings. Our barriers were like, you cut the head off a horse and put the horse in and you put some slaves in that you killed and you put some gold in all the stuff you needed in after. Like, maybe Frankie needs like 400 bucks. Yeah. Hotel room. I don't know what it is.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I mean when you compare anything to the way the Vikings did it, it seems shittier, obviously. I mean that was.

[Pele Almkvist]

Is it the Viking funeral, how many vials there are. It might be like a million dollars.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, there didn't look like a lot of palette. It didn't look like a lot of ash. It didn't look like there was a lot of ash in there. So my guess is that a little.

[Pele Almkvist]

Bit there's like hundreds of those things.

[Gareth Reynolds]

There's got to be hundreds. Which maybe makes you feel a little less burdened in the fact that there's, you know, they're probably not. They're probably handing out a lot of these because God knows if you think.

[Pele Almkvist]

You have a problem in ashes. That was definitely not quite a full body. Yeah, they've got a pretty small vial, but not that small like that.

[Gareth Reynolds]

It's cash and ash.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I, I actually Matt, I'll be honest. I don't hate the idea of one of two things. Us maybe using the show to see if anybody. Not necessarily has gotten this. I mean, that we could float out there. But maybe the thing is to say if someone has pitches on what would be a good send off for Frankie, it can almost be like we can run a win Frankie's Ashes contest, and if someone wants them, okay, we can get them. I'm as. I'm telling you, I'm out of the running. Pele, I'm assuming you don't want Frank.

[Pele Almkvist]

But I also feel like there's something in the woman handing it to you specifically.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Pele Almkvist]

Maybe you out of it. And I think that there's. In your future, there might be. I did, like, a nice hike up to a mountain in Denver. You know, it's beautiful there. You can just kind of.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah.

[Pele Almkvist]

You know, be like that scene in the Big Lebowski.

[Jake Johnson]

The Big Lebowski, just getting hit with many hundred dollar bills in the face.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I don't hate it either. I. I think there. There is maybe something kind of what Topeo is saying, something kind of cosmic about the idea of maybe just taking, like, having it with you for a little bit and seeing if somewhere jumps out as a good place to do it. It's kind of a lot of pressure and also really no pressure because you don't know who this person is. But Denver is a beautiful place.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, I love Denver. Yeah. And also, I mean, I also think that the more I think of it and if I use my prejudice a little bit, this sounds like a jam band idea to me.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes, very much. Very much.

[Jake Johnson]

I think I agree with you on that. Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

This is the. This is a fish burial. You talk about a Viking funeral.

[Pele Almkvist]

Maybe this is how they always do it, you know?

[Jake Johnson]

You know.

[Pele Almkvist]

That gig, you know?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jake Johnson]

I mean, they're not doing that. I was gonna say they're not doing that gig again, but they're actually playing in Boulder this weekend. But I'm not gonna be up there. Like, I could have gone up there and put it somewhere, but I don't know. I'll sit on it and I'll think about maybe like. Yeah, like, maybe a spreading somewhere nice would be the proper thing to do, but I might just hold on to it for a bit and see if there's other ideas.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, you might already pounds out and gross. You know, maybe this is. Or maybe go to, like, a jam band forum and see if this is a thing in their culture.

[Jake Johnson]

That's not a bad idea. Maybe they're on a forum and I could put that up there and maybe find them that way. Or something. That's actually not. That's not a bad idea.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I like that idea.

[Pele Almkvist]

Frankie here.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, well, what's going to be funny is walking around a concert trying to, like, talk to strangers. If there's any undercover cops, they're going to be like, this person's dealing something. And really, you've just got to. But it's not going to look great when you have some sort of powder with bills in a vial. But I do like that.

[Jake Johnson]

Is this your mom?

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah. It could, like, hard to recognize, but maybe the bill or lsd.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Oh, have you licked the bills?

[Jake Johnson]

Well, that's the first thing we thought about, too. No, I. I'm trying to avoid licking the bills or snorting the ashes or anything like that, you know?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, I like the idea of dipping into a forum. I think you could do that. I. What I would do is. How long have you had them? How long ago did this start?

[Jake Johnson]

Oh, this is back in February.

[Gareth Reynolds]

So, okay, so you've had them for a while. Have you been walking around, like, with a little bit of intention to be like, what, be a thing? Or have you just been like, frankie lives on my microwave.

[Jake Johnson]

Well, now. Okay, now, just to clarify, I took Fred. That was only a week or so, but I. I had it in my guitar case for a minute. I just put it on the table. It's just sitting. It's. It's. I brought it with me here, or it's at. At home with me here. I'm down in slider right now. But I brought it with me here just in case, you know, I needed to examine it for any reason, But.

[Gareth Reynolds]

But you mean on the show?

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, you know, yeah. I mean, I forgot I had sent you guys the photos before, so.

[Gareth Reynolds]

No, we're not going to ask you to examine the ashes. Are there any bones in there, Matt?

[Jake Johnson]

No, no bones.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah. I'm assuming it's a big sign of respect in their culture. I think you should be very flattered.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah.

[Pele Almkvist]

The jam band.

[Jake Johnson]

Oh, yeah, I think so.

[Pele Almkvist]

Giving you their dead to keep.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I think I. I really do like the idea if. I mean, you are in. You are in jam band central. I think maybe the cleanest move might be to go to a jam band show. And if you don't have a willing taker there, I would maybe just let the ashes go at a jam band show. Unless something else jumps out at you as the kind of beautiful situation where you think you're going to punctuate Frankie's existence. That, to me, feels good. Do you feel good about Something like that, Paley.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, I do. I think that if it's a Danban fan, I think being blown around by the air from the sound waves from the speaker during a particular guitar solo would be a way to go.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah. Maybe take a mushroom cap and let the moment catch you. What do you think of that, man?

[Jake Johnson]

That sounds pretty good. I think that's a good start to get me moving in the right direction. Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Get you moving in that way.

[Pele Almkvist]

I like that it's like that you're treating this with respect, you know?

[Gareth Reynolds]

I agree.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, for sure.

[Pele Almkvist]

I mean, more terrible people would have just, you know, thrown it away at.

[Gareth Reynolds]

The airport, put it in the trash.

[Pele Almkvist]

You're really trying to do the right thing by Frankie, which I appreciate.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, of course. I mean, I just imagine I would like the same thing if I was crazy enough to hand someone, some of my relatives, I'll be a gesture.

[Gareth Reynolds]

I really don't hate that idea for like a death leg. Like, if I were to die, like, I wouldn't mind being like, put my ashes in 50 vials and over a month, find willing strangers and hand me out. Let's just see what happens. I mean, you know, you're playing with.

[Jake Johnson]

A drunken person and hand them something, you know.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, that was a little strange, obviously.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Well, Matt, I think that sounds pretty good. I think you. I think Pele really knocked it out of the park. I think you want to go to the jam band and, you know, and who better to know than one of the lead singers of one of the greatest bands that I can remember. So you've got a great musical influence. I think you got Frankie, you're in Colorado. There's a lot of kismet nature to this. Go to the jam band and let the. Let the solos carry you.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, well, sounds good. Well, thanks, guys. And I'll keep you updated if we find out any information about Frankie and them. So thank you.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yeah, and don't forget that August 29th, we've got the Hives Forever. Forever the Hives, the new album coming out. So pick that up, okay? Do you understand?

[Jake Johnson]

All right?

[Gareth Reynolds]

Do you understand? Are you going to do it? You got it. All right, good.

[Jake Johnson]

I understand. I got to go do it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

All right, Matt.

[Jake Johnson]

Thanks, guys.

[Gareth Reynolds]

All right, buddy.

[Abby (follow-up)]

Hi, guys, this is Abby. I am in Portland, Oregon, and I called earlier about the new boyfriend who listens to Soviet era military music. You guys gave me the advice to play a ultra American playlist, I believe.

[Abby]

Oh, my God.

[Abby (follow-up)]

Who's the guy? The dude who sings Cat Scratch Fever Ted Nugent. You recommended that? I put Ted Nugent, like, Kid Rock in there and play that and wait for him to say, hey, what the hell's going on? And then make a playlist together. And I did 90% of that. I had a playlist already made with like 90s era country music that I grew up listening to, that I listen to when I'm homesick. And I had that on in the car, and when we got in, I just let it play and I was like, okay, well, this might work because I had the American playlist on standby, but I was worried about playing it because I didn't want to make him feel bad. But anyway, so I. I just let that play. And then after I was like, oh, I'm sorry, I. You don't like country music? And he was like, yeah, it's not my favorite. And I was like, well, here's a crazy idea. How about we make a playlist together? And he was like, yeah, I like that idea. And he has a playlist that he called Normie Music of, like, actual normal songs. A lot of it's classic rock. Like, there was some Billy Idol and Billy Joel, and I'm trying to think of something that's not Billy, but, you know, like White Snake and stuff. So normal music. And we made a playlist with stuff he likes, stuff I like. And we've been listening to that in the car, so it's been good. Your advice worked, so thank you. You can ring the bell.

[Sponsor/Announcer]

We're Here to Help is hosted by Jake Johnson and G. Gareth Reynolds. If you'd like to be on the show, please email us your question@ HelpfulPod gmail.com and if you want to watch video episodes of We're Here to Help, you can go to our [e-mail] heretohelp pod to see our entire catalog.

[Gareth Reynolds]

We're Here to Help is produced by Rabbit Grimm Productions executive producers Rob Hollis, Jeff Porter and Natalie Hollis, associate producer Jesse Thurston. Editing, mix and master by Cross Chris Faller theme song by Oliver Raleigh. The COVID artwork is by James Fosdike, animations by Andrew Strelecki. And if you'd like to see Gareth do stand up on the road, go to garethreynolds.com Remember, all the advice given on We're Here to Help is for entertainment purposes only and all listeners should be adults and make their own decisions.

[Jake Johnson]

All video episodes of season one are available now on Patreon, and season two video episodes will be available every Monday starting January 20th.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Go to patreon.com heretohelpod.

[Pele Almkvist]

What's up, everybody? I'm Kyle Mooney. And what's up, everybody?

[Jake Johnson]

I'm back, Bell and man.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Ooh.

[Jake Johnson]

I got. We got something to tell you.

[Pele Almkvist]

Oh, yeah, we definitely do.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yes. It's a brand new podcast on Headgum.

[Pele Almkvist]

That's right. And it's called what's Our Podcast? Yep.

[Jake Johnson]

And that's because we don't have a single idea what our podcast should be about.

[Pele Almkvist]

Yeah, we don't. So we actually have guests come on and they tell us what they think our podcast should be about, and then we try it.

[Gareth Reynolds]

Yep.

[Pele Almkvist]

Guests like Mark Marin, Jack Black, Brittany Broski, K. Berlan, Bobby Moynihan, Meg Stalter.

[Jake Johnson]

And Tim B. Landon Axler, Jory, Joanie.

[Pele Almkvist]

McGregor, and Dender and Dender. New episodes release every Wednesday, so subscribe to what's Our Podcast? On YouTube or any of your favorite podcast platforms.

[Jake Johnson]

Yeah, I'm gonna go do it right now.