I've talked before about how I got into bandom by way of podfic. Yesterday,
fire-juggler saw that I'd finished my MCR Epic
Discipline and Punish (coming in at 18 hours long) and decided to dip into bandom.
There are LOTS of bandom primers out there, (
frank/gerard,
mcr,
panic!,
general) but I wanted to put together a beginners bandom podfic primer/rec list. I am NOT going to apologise for personal bias - I have not listened to all the bandom podfic in the universe (though I've listened to a lot). Feel free to make your own heading and rec in comments - eg. Ryan/Spencer or gen or Mikey/Gerard. Also, feel free to point out bandom podfic 'essentials' you think I missed. I am going to allow people to add suggestions in comments that I will then add to the post for 24-48 hours depending on responses.
All fics are Frank/Gerard for MCR or Brendon/Spencer for Panic! unless otherwise indicated.
These podfics are good for introduction as they rely on other fandoms:
Outside the Rules by
bexless read by
klb and
shiningartifactSummary: 1600 words of MCR/AI8 high school au crossover fic where they go LARPing.
Zombies ate your idols (they were delicious) by
solar_cat read by
pennyplainknits Summary: In which Gerard Way takes a stand against discrimination, Adam Lambert discovers the importance of dice, Kris Allen is not kidnapped against his will, and the folks at 19E learn to love the stage!(?)gay. Welcome to the Zombies Ate Your Idols tour, 2010!
Life on the Fashion Scene by
idyll Bandom does Project Runway.
Panbandom, gen. With three different versions, by
2naonh3_cl2 here,
klb here and
reena-jenkins here.
AU is a good way to fall in love with the characters when knowledge of canon is lacking. This is how I did it.
MCR:
Forever Now by
passe_simple ready by
klb - 9hrs
Summary: Gerard and Mikey have lost their parents, but they've found Brian.
A gen kid fic that OWNS my HEART. It's pre-slash Frank/Gerard.
Conclusions by
bexless read by
rosekolodny - The one which I call "the roommate AU". This was the first bandom podfic I listened to and it was a complete accident - there was no going back after that - 4hrs.
Summary: Set in 2006. "Smokes," Mikey reads aloud. "Likes dogs in case ever get one. Likes rock music. Likes loud rock music. Is interesting. Does not hog bathroom." He looks at Frank over the top of his glasses. "Dude, it's like you're meant to be."
Due to the audio archive having tech issues I've uploaded it
here Buy Handmade by
jjtaylor read by
falter - 1 hr 49
Find the unique, support the independent. Go handmade. Go etsy.com.
Gerard Way's (Vampire) Detective Agency by
jjtaylor read by
pandarus +
Sequel read by
pennyplainknits - 12hrs total.
SO much detailed world building, so much AMAZING characterisation.
The Accountant AU by
shoemaster read by
coriande - 45 min
Gerard is an artist, Frank is an accountant
Hard Candy by
ladyfoxxx read by
shiningartifact - 33min - possibly the hottest thing ever!
Summary: Frank didn’t realise it was that kind of peepshow
Hey Mr DJ by
shoemaster read by
argentumlupine - 33min.
Summary: Frank is a late night DJ; Gerard is an avid listener.
Panic!:
(Snowmen Have) Nothing to Hide by
sunsetmog read by
fleurrochard - 3hrs - Christmas AU. I accidentally listened to this without the first part and I still thought it was awesome. This is another podfic I listened to without ANY knowledge of the characters.
Adventures in Solitude (we thought we lost you) by
sunsetmog read by
greedy_dancer - 1hr 42 - A sort-of Christmas Carol AU.
I really enjoyed this interesting characterisation of Spencer and the secondary characters of Pete and Gerard are hysterical. The reading knocks this out of the park.
Lego Rainbow by
lalejandra read by
crazybutsound - 1hr 12.
Summary: Spencer falls hard for his daughter's kindergarten teacher. Fluffy schmoop.
Tell me to Stop by
airgiodslv read by
klb - 3hr 36 - a currently wip version by
crazybutsound here.
Summary: “You have no idea what you’re doing, okay?” Ryan says in exasperation, blowing out a huffy breath. “I’m just saying. I think…I might know a guy."
Panbandom:
The One Where They're All Ducks by
sunsetmog read by
diane-mckay - 19min - technically gen
Summary: Gerard's feathers brushed Frank's beak. "Quack," Gerard said, for want of something better to say.
bessyboo rec (from the comments on lj):
As Close As It Gets To Home by
airgiodslv and read by Group Slashpad (
diurnal_lee,
parka &
kronos999). Brendon/Ryan, Jon/Spencer, Frank/Gerard - 2 hr 55 min.
"This is a MUST for Bandom newbies. It's a telepath AU, where Brendon, Spencer and Ryan are telepaths working for the police department. Gerard is their supervisor (also a telepath), Jon is their shrink, and Frank also works for the police. It's perfect for beginners because, besides being an AU (which lends itself well to introducing characters anyway), it gives you a flavor of the larger bandom cast, but doesn't overwhelm you--it's tightly focused on Panic + Frank & Gerard (with a bit of Mikey). Aside from those six (/seven), it has mentions of Ray, Bob, and William, but doesn't try to shoehorn in a million people. Also it's just an amazing, gorgeous podfic of an incredible fic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANYONE, but especially perfect for beginners."
High School is another good way to go (some are also VERY AU).
MCR:
Vampire's Will Never Hurt You + Sequel by
solarcat read by
isweeden - 1hr 40 total.
[Elementary School AU] and [High School AU]
So cute and adorable. Frank is the most AMAZING flailboat ever and Gerard is a vampire (well not really).
A Matter of Logistics by
brooklinegirl read by
shiningartifact - 43mins
Summary: High school AU. Frank would like to know the logistics of going down on girls. Gerard can help him with that.
This Never Happened by
bexless read by
klb+
Sequel read by
celtic_cookie. Not!fic where Frank moves in with the Ways his senior year of high school.
And thus started my love affair with not!fic as a listening experience.
A Guided Tour of October County by
novembersmith read by
klb - 47mins.
A loose AU of Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree.
Panic!:
If Music be the food of love (I'll have a Veggie Burger) by
sunsetmog read by
pennyplainknits - 4hr 26
Summary: Oblivious High School Failboats in Love, or, Brendon Urie: The High School Years.
This one gets extra points for a beginner because it follows the process of how the band gets formed. It is read amazingly well and gives a really good sense of how fandom interprets canon.
Lame by
reni_days read by
roga - 26min
Summary: Spencer has a crush on the twins' piano tutor.
Nicest Thing written and read by
sneaky_sena - 1hr 19
Summary: In which Spencer isn't yet on academic probation, but he's close, plus he has to figure out how to keep Brendon from getting evicted and he's pretty sure he'll never be able to look anyone in the eye ever again if they find out that sometimes he uses Craigslist to meet up with guys for sex.
Ten by
reni_days and with multiple versions read by
pennyplainknits,
quintenttsy and
xthebackseatx - 20min
Summary: "Are you gay yet, Spencer Smith?"
Good For One by
reni_days read by
fleurrochard - 16min
Summary "It's a kissing booth," Brent explains, gleeful. "A gay kissing booth!"
Then we get band/tour fic:
MCR:
New Rule by
bexless read by
shiningartifact - 14min
Summary: Pitch-black basement sex
Reasons we Don't by
airgiodslv read by
greedy_dancer - 47min
Summary: Frank/Gerard, R. “Why don’t we fuck?” Frank asks, tipping his head back to blow smoke at the sky.
Necessary Requirements by
bexless read by
pennyplainknits - 21min
Summary: In which Gerard believes a stable, loving relationship is a necessary requirement for the viewing of genitalia.
Mis En Place by
coreopsis read by
argentumlupine - 30min.
Summary: Between tours, Frank watches too much Food Network. And angsts and has epiphanies and also knits. (Inspired by Frank's tweet about being pissed about not getting Food Network on his cable.)
Maybe Pete was onto Something by
impertinence read by
draconic-girl - 19min
Summary: Gerard is in love with Frank, but the only person he can tell about it is his hamster.
Sparkle Motion by
bexless read by
paraka - 47min
Summary: For the next week, Gerard woke up every morning to a new list of Words that Describe how Gerard is In Bed pinned on the fridge. It disappeared after one of them wrote, ‘Sparkle Motion’ because, Bob explained to Gerard, they felt they’d nailed Gerard’s essence with that one.
Panic!:
The Name of this thing is not love by
fictionalaspect and
reni_days read by
pennyplainknits - 2hr 14min
Reader's summary: Brendon Urie: Gay Sex Guru
Spencer Smith Saved my Gay Cred and all I got was this sparkly t-shirt by
reni_days read by
pennyplainknits - 18min
Summary:"God, you messed him up bad, Spence. He's like a twelve-year-old girl around here today.
A Trouble of Humingbirds by
jukeboxghost read by
bohemeyourself - 65min.
Summary: Surf trip!
There Should be a Name for Something Like This written and read by
skoosiepantsSummary: It was the best idea Brendon had ever had, ever
With Friends Like These ... by
iamtheenemy read by
silentcs - 18min
Summary: The whole thing fucking sucked, especially because he could clearly remember a time when he didn't want to have sex with Brendon Urie.
bessyboo rec (from the comments on lj):
Read me like no one else (we'll make them so jealous) by
foxxcub, read by
knight_tracer - Jon/Spencer, Brendon/Ryan, Pete/Patrick.
Summary: Um, Daemons! at the Disco! Or something. Partial AU (basically only AU in that EVERYONE HAS DAEMONS).
"I firmly believe that Daemon!AUs (aside from being amazing and awesome and I LOVE THEM <333) are a great starting point for a fandom, because when chosen well, a character's deamon can tell you SO MUCH about them. And this story is the story of early Panic...BUT WITH DEAMONS! Also it's subtle and gorgeous and omg I'm not sure I'm really coherent about it but YES. HIGHLY recommended as another good starting place."
Extra Credit:
A Light to Burn all Empires by
arsenicjade read by
h_lunulata - 3hr 21
Frank/Mikey is a personal favourite pairing (see my 18 hour epic) and this fic is brilliant, it's Frank/Mikey/Pete, so is maybe one to bookmark and come back to after you complete the FOB section.
Nightswimming is a wip by
greedy_dancer, currently 6hrs.
reni_days has a master list of all her fic that's been recorded,
here Advanced: I'd listen to everything by
klb,
shiningartifact,
pennyplainknits
greedy_dancer,
crazybutsound and
argentumlupine.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention here that I've podficed at least 40 hours of bandom podfic fairly evenly split between MCR and Panic! with 4 podfics from other bands (
masterlist)
BONUS
Pete/Patrick:
Better off as Lovers by
hapakitsune read by
pennyplainknits - 1hr 49min.
Rolling Stones discuss a celebrity wedding
So, so fucked by
reni_days read by
pennyplainknits - 1hr 9min.
Summary: Pete accidentally "outs" himself and Patrick on Good Morning America. Only problem? They're not gay. What now?
Random Pete/Patrick by
lovelypoet and
iphignia939, read by
pennyplainknits - 19min
Summary: In which Pete asks Patrick to record some pick up lines and gets more than he bargained for.
This Seed Burst and Grown by
sneaky_sena, read by
pennyplainknits - 1hr 8min.
Summary: Nobody's in a band, but Pete and Patrick meet in the Chicago music scene, anyway. Patrick's sixteen and mostly innocent and kind of confused and Pete's older and cooler and fucked up in ways that just make Patrick like him more.
Other Fall Out Boy podfics
Stars when you shine you know how I feel by
sneaky_sena read by
pennyplainknits - 52min - Patrick/Spencer
Summary: College AU Drumline fic
Emergency Contact by
ladyfoxxx read by
pennyplainknits - 1 hr 27 min - Pete/Patrick/Mikey
Summary: I need your help. There's something..." Patrick's trailing hand finds its way under Pete's t-shirt and Pete's breath catches in his throat. He swallows hard before continuing. "Something is wrong with Patrick."
Kant's Theory of the Sublime by
sinsense read by
shiningartifact - 13min - Frank/Pete
Summary: Frank bemoans the fact that the Way brothers are motherfucking cockteases. Gerard is VERY VERY SINCERE. Mikey shrugs. Often. Pete just needs a profound deep dicking. Frank can maybe help him out with that.
Just a Taste of What You Paid For by
fictionalaspect read by
pennyplainknits - 10min- Pete/Brendon
Summary: "You zoned out," Pete said. "Answer me, young padawan. Do we need to find you a lover?"
Baby, My Heart's Ticking Only for You by
fictionalaspect read by
quintenttsy - 20min - Pete/Mikey
Summary: ROBOTS ARE DANGEROUS, the napkin says, with a tiny drawing of what looks like an angry cardboard box. PROTECT YOURSELF.
Self-recs:
I am not very comfortable with self recs, but I thought about this for the snowflake challenge. So consider this my day 1 entry.
About a Girl by
sunsetmog - 41min
Summary: Teenage lesbian always-a-girl fic.
My first podfic! I still love it to pieces, even if my tech has been upgraded since.
Stealing Series by
passe_simple - 1 hr 55.
Summary: Early days Panic! at the Disco, always-a-girl Brendon
Discipline and Punish by
arsenicjade - 18hrs - link to podbook
1 2.
Summary: The Prison AU
Pairings: Frank/Mikey, Gerard/Bob.
An Epic labour of love for me. I can't quite believe I managed this.
Excellent resources:
Bandom podfic masterlists, made and maintained by
klb. These are especially useful as the audio archive is no longer up to date.
MCR PANIC! PART TWO aka more recs
here