The Five Count

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with musician Jason McMaster. Jason is best known as the founder and frontman for the band Dangerous Toys. He’s also played with bands like Watchtower, Broken Teeth and Igniter. During the show he discussed the early days of Dangerous Toys, putting together Dangerous Toys’ latest album Demolition, and his new band Night Terror. Night Terror’s new album Return of the Witches is out now! During the rest of the show we discussed the 10-foot statue of Robocop in Detroit, mourned the retirement of pro wrestler John Cena, and paid tribute to Five Count alumnus Steve Cropper. Play it, Steve! https://youtu.be/tMWvrE5udIk?si=m82WSbzRMTOBIPJk

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we spoiled the new season of Stranger Things, Ton bought a piano from an old lady on Facebook, and we interviewed Greg Prato about his new book Alternative for the Masses: The ’90s Alt-Rock Revolution – An Oral History, Tony Russell about his new book Vintage Country: The Essential Artists and Songs, from Old-Time to Honky-Tonk, 1920–1970 and Daniel Bukszpan about his new book Iron Maiden at 50. The Five Count is well read!

The Five Count recently had a chance to speak with longtime Minnesota deejay Mary Lucia. Mary is best known for her tenure with Minnesota’s 89.3 FM “The Current” from 2005-2022. She currently works for Minnesota’s “Radio K” 770 AM. Her new memoir “What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Weirder and Harder to Relate To” is out now!

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we talked a lot about oatmeal, paid tribute to Five Count alumni Jellybean Johnson and Jimmy Cliff, and celebrated episode #1,111 of the show. We’re number one!

Check Playlist This was a special Thanksgiving episode of The Five Count! During the show we discussed our favorite memories of the Mankato music store Ernie November, chose which sitcom characters we would pick for a five-on-five cage match, and learned turkey hunting techniques and wild turkey calls. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Five Count recently had a chance to peak with actress Lizzy Caplan. Lizzy is best known for her role as "Janis Ian" in the film Mean Girls. She also appeared in films like Hot Tub Time Machine, 127 Hours, Cloverfield, and TV shows like True Blood and Freaks & Geeks. Her latest film Now You See Me: Now You Don't is in theaters now! https://youtu.be/uogrgIasYcA?si=TNHqQBMDsPMYmikO

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with actress Elise Freshwater-Blizzard. Elise is best known for her YouTube series Middle of Nowhere. She also created the series Only in Sheffield and Unfit for YouTube. During the show she discussed her comedic influences, her process and attention to detail when creating content for YouTube, and her recent foray into stand-up comedy. Subscribe to her channel today! During the rest of the show we argued about how handsome Dustin is, heard from a caller who loves Echoes on KMSU more than us, and explained why we only need to do our best during the first 10 minutes of the show. People usually turn it off by then, so they never hear how bad it gets in the back-half! https://youtu.be/eAtPAHO_wkA?si=c-Tpi_ftWO4zHS5l

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with WWE Superstar Ricky Saints. Ricky is WWE’s NXT Champion. He’s also a former NXT North American Champion, NWA World Television Champion and AEW World Tag Team Champion. During the show he discussed his transition to the WWE, working under the tutelage of wrestler Shawn Michaels and where he would like to go next in his career. See Ricky Saints on Nov. 13 when WWE NXT comes to Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul! During the rest of the show we discussed the proper way to get rid of wood ticks, received a lucrative partnership offer with Reebok, and announced The Five Count House Band’s new musical team-up with Mankato’s favorite musical combo MOLS. The new cassette release, featuring both bands, is available now! https://youtu.be/TaHGo82y5KE?si=6JQJJcqnrehZEykq

Check Playlist This was The Five Count’s Halloween Special for 2025! During the show we played all our favorite Halloween suns, discussed what a Five Count museum would be like, and debuted a new song from The Five Count House Band called Grandma’s Answering Machine. Happy Halloween! Photo by John in New Ulm https://youtu.be/tpR9POUhSLQ

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we paid tribute to Ace Frehley of KISS, discussed a side-business where Ton will officiate weddings on the show, and begged for money for the KMSU Pledge Drive. Thanks for your support! https://youtu.be/KsvtJ2npPiA?si=-pEPGSWHdhg909G0

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we discussed doing the dishes, got caught in a chamber of horrors, and Ton broke the news that he cut his hair off. Now he looks like Keanu Reeves! https://youtu.be/Q5z3qV5_ups?si=wzmKGy4_0-_3TFMk

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with singer and actress Lea Salonga. Lea is best known for her role as the singing voice of “Princess Jasmine” in the film Aladdin. She also provided voices for films like Mulan, My Neighbor Totoro and KPop Demon Hunters. During the show she discussed being known as a Disney princess, her memories of appearing in the film Ninja Kids as a child, and her current “Stage, Screen & Everything In Between” tour. Watch for her in your city soon! During the rest of the show we tried to decide if the death of Windows 10 means the death of The Five Count, Ton went on and on about his love for Depeche Mode and we discussed which buildings we’d like to be stuck in if we were ghosts. It’s starting to get spooky around here! https://youtu.be/0QsqDQIVNMg?si=btu8FkJf8K7YjE7M

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we discussed Halloween decorations, Ton told stories about being probed by aliens, and we interviewed Twin Cities Con Founder Ben Penrod. We also gave away tickets to Twin Cities Con Nov. 7-9 at the Minneapolis Convention Center!

The Five Count recently had a chance to speak with Musician Josh Hight. Josh is best known as a member of the band The Detachment Kit. He has also released music as Irons an PINES. The latest PINES release In His Wake is available now! https://youtu.be/qQ0jpEhVYRI?si=1hGvuK5nz3cI2B_y

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we talked about how cool fog machines are, discussed which tattoos we should get, and reminisced about our days at Saginaw High School. Go Trojans!

The Five Count recently had a chance to speak with musician A.J. Croce. Releasing music since the early ’90s, A.J. has played with people like Willie Nelson, T Bone Burnett, Leon Russell, Béla Fleck and Ry Cooder. He’s also the son of Jim Croce. See A.J. on Oct. 3 with the “Croce Plays Croce: Where The Songbook Ends, The Story Begins” tour at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis! https://youtu.be/JhUcb35DFiw?si=e6OgM0ut2mFRmnTQ

Check Playlist This episode of The Five Count featured an exclusive interview with musician Colin Blunstone. Colin is best known as the singer for The Zombies. He’s also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During the show he discussed the re-release of The Zombies’ Odessey and Oracle album, the new Zombies documentary Hung Up on a Dream, and his new solo album Less is More. All three are available now! During the rest of the show we discussed our favorite wallpaper, Ton continued to explain why he loves Radiohead, and we gave away tickets to see “The World of Hans Zimmer” tour. See it Sept. 27 at the Target Center in Minneapolis! https://youtu.be/JctjMqtsFsU?si=-Kfoab2mdaAUgZEV

The Five Count recently had a chance to speak with musician and actress Rebecca Pidgeon. Releasing music since 1987, Rebecca has played with the likes of Billy Preston, Walter Becker and the band Ruby Blue. She’s also appeared in films like State and Main, Heist and Bird Box. Her latest album Unillusion is available now! https://youtu.be/CHhRlsPLif8?si=jnP0wLFCAPa7UrAl

Check Playlist During this episode of The Five Count we enjoyed a tall can of Liquid Death, tried to figure out why people like Radiohead, and took a trip to paradise. It was almost as good as the film Emmanuelle!

The Five Count recently had a chance to speak with musician Scott McCaughey. Scott is best known as a founding member of The Baseball Project and The Minus 5. He’s also played in bands like The Young Fresh Fellows and R.E.M. See Scott McCaughey with both The Baseball Project and The Minus 5 on Sept. 17 at the Fine Line in Minneapolis! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZbearvNxRI