CHAINLINKS 067: Rye Coalition

Chainlinks is a series we started back in 2017 to give our friends a space to share the stuff currently inspiring them — music, film, books, or anything else they wanted to recommend to the world.

For Chainlinks 067, we have three members of Rye Coalition: vocalist Ralph Cuseglio, drummer Gregg Leto, and bassist Dave Leto.

Hailing from Jersey City, New Jersey, the shapeshifting Rye Coalition stormed the scene in the '90s as a scrappy, sassy post-hardcore outfit, in league with the likes of Drive Like Jehu and Nation of Ulysses. The new millennium saw the band lean heavily into its classic rock and hard rock influences. Despite the playfulness of song titles such as "ZZ Topless," "Paradise by the Marlboro Light" and "Between I-Roc and a Hard Place," the transformed Rye Coalition of the early '00s rocked with power and conviction, finding a producer and champion in Dave Grohl, and landing tours with Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and The Mars Volta. 

After two decades spent mostly out of the spotlight, the band will descend upon Minneapolis for the weekend of June 5-7, 2026 to play the fifth installment of Caterwaul, the annual festival celebrating all the noisiest, most iconoclastic fringes of rock. Blast Rye Coalition here, get your Caterwaul tickets here, and enjoy Chainlinks 067...

Ralph Cuseglio, Rye Coalition:

Jackie Rogers Jr. 

A flamboyant albino lounge singer played by Martin Short on the Canadian sketch comedy show SCTV and Saturday Night Live. I’ve loved this character since I was kid. One of the greatest sketch comedy characters of all time, hands down. Amazing outfits, laugh, wit and writing. Completely absurd (which is right up my alley). Still makes me laugh every time.

Half Man (2026)

An HBO miniseries by writer and actor Richard Gadd. It is an interesting commentary on masculinity and the question, “what does it mean to be a man?”. The series is about dichotomic yet symbiotic relationship between two stepbrothers growing up in Glasgow, Scotland, the pain they cause themselves and each other, as they wrestle with their respective identities in the shadow of childhood trauma.

This Is Water

A graduation commencement speech delivered by David Foster Wallace. You can hear a recording of the speech on YouTube and find it in print too. I’ve always thought about the speech as a mediation on the importance of what we spend our days thinking about, resisting our natural self-centered urges, and consciously choosing to step outside of our limited perspectives to be more connected and empathetic. All of which is much harder than it seems (and I’m making it sound). Just listen to the speech.

Teenagers playing live music (especially rock) 

There is something about seeing this, whenever and wherever it is, that makes me happy. The band doesn’t have to be particularly good (and they usually aren’t). But, seeing the excitement, pride, and joy (and sometimes terror) each kid is experiencing, is what playing music is all about. The feeling of playing in front of an audience for the first time can be magical. I remember that feeling. It all being so new. While playing live music is still fulfilling, the novelty of the playing live for the first time (or in the beginning stage) is something special. I feel lucky when I witness it. And it’s always immediately recognizable.

Gregg Leto, Rye Coalition:

The Congos, Heart of the Congos

One album I can’t stop returning to, over and over again, and consistently recommend, even to people who are not necessarily into reggae/dub. Such an otherworldly record on so many levels. Nothing else quite like it. Luckily, my 16-year-old son has become deeply into the album as well, so listening to it with him has been like hearing it again for the first time. Love geeking out on music with that kid.

Dave Leto, Rye Coalition:

A$AP Rocky, Don’t Be Dumb

 

It’s the album Kanye (if he wasn’t living with mental illness) should have made. The art, music, videos, clothing, and live performances, and having it scored by Danny Elfman, all have this really fresh approach to hip hop which is more punk rock. Sounds that never had a place in hip hop are now being explored. This album made "newer” hip hop interesting to me again.

Born to Bowl (2026)

Just an amazing inside look at professional bowling which is nowhere near the glamour that the top athletes in other sports have. It not only makes you care about these athletes, but you also learn about the whole history of bowling and how lanes are oiled to ensure that bowlers can’t just go anywhere and bowl perfect games. It’s super nerdy, but you watch an episode and you’re hooked.