First Spin
Hey, I’m Hayden Thomas—musician, lifelong music fan, and the guy who still makes mixtapes for road trips.
First Spin is my weekly interview show where I sit down with emerging artists who I genuinely believe are doing something special. You might not know their names yet, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to change that.
This show isn’t about hype. It’s about real conversations—about the first gigs, the late-night doubts, the sound that finally clicks. It’s a space for new voices to tell their stories, and for all of us to listen a little closer.
If you’re always on the hunt for the next song that’ll mean something to you—welcome. You’re in the right place.
New artists. Real stories. Weekly drops. Let’s give ‘em their first spin.
First Spin
The Penske File on the challenges of touring in the USA
This week on First Spin, Hayden sits down with Travis Miles—vocalist/guitarist for Ontario’s long-running punk trio The Penske File—for a conversation that’s equal parts road-tested wisdom and wide-eyed love of making loud, honest songs with your best friends.
Travis pulls back the curtain on why U.S. touring has become so tough for small Canadian bands and contrasts it with the radically different reality in Germany-- where indie venue culture, artist hospitality, and tight-knit communities can transform a show day into something that actually feels sustainable. Along the way, he reflects on the unexpected kinship you find across oceans when a tiny subculture knows the same records you do.
That sense of connection threads into the band’s brand-new album, Reprieve. Travis talks about writing through the push-and-pull of getting older: nostalgia for the early-tour years when the road felt endless, acceptance that life has stakes now, and the stubborn, hopeful belief that wonder isn’t just for the beginning. Fatherhood reframes that outlook in vivid ways, and you can hear it in the songs—restless, grateful, and determined to keep the spark.
Tour stories surface, but not the usual chaos-for-chaos’ sake. Think small details that reveal how a scene functions: the volunteer who sets a tone, the post-show playlist that mirrors your record shelf, the night a venue meal turns strangers into allies. It’s the kind of lived-in texture that explains why certain places become second homes for bands like The Penske File.
Queue up the episode, then queue up Reprieve—and see why The Penske File keeps earning new believers, one honest chorus at a time.
Songs in this Episode:
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Thanks for listening—see you next week.