Anthony Vacarro joined Beach Bunny as bass player in 2019 and has been playing lead guitar since 2022. He also has his own band, Helicopter Leaves and has put out two great records - Get Stuck In (2023) and his latest, Sabrina Nickels out in 2026. We talked with Anthony about the differences of being in those bands - from local gigs to playing Madison Square Garden. And we talk a lot about the Chicago music community.

Time stamps:

1:40 - Congrats on the new record - Sabrina Nickels. How did that process work?

4:05 - How different is it working with Sean O'Keefe on a Beach Bunny record vs. Helicopter Leaves?

10:10 - Is the new Helicopter Leaves record more focused than the first one?

13:45 - You made the first record at your grandfather's home studio and the new one at a full studio. What led to that decision.

15:25 - Grandpa Sam taught you to play music - how old were you?

18:35 - Tell us about your love for Pavement.

24:40 - How did you enter the Beach Bunny orbit?

30:45 - What was your Dad's band?

32:00 - You volunteer to play bass with Beach Bunny.

37:10 - How have you accepted the popularity of Beach Bunny?

41:05 - What's been the most surreal part of being with Beach Bunny?

48:20 - Can it be more fulfilling to be playing Helicopter Leaves songs in front of 100 people than playing Madison Square Garden?

49:20 - What has been the response to Sabrina Nickels?

51:05 - What are the plans for Helicopter Leaves this year?

54:40 - Your family must all be proud of you.

58:10 - You've inspired John Perrin to work on his own music.

61:40 - Deep dish or thin crust pizza?

66:05 - Favorite places to play music in Chicago and favorite places to see music in Chicago?

69:20 - What do you appreciate most about the Chicago music scene?

74:20 - Favorite cheap drink?

76:55 - What's happening in the next 6 months?