Beginners Bandom Podfic List

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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 shiningartifact
Summary: 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 byreni_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 skoosiepants
Summary: 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, pennyplainknitsgreedy_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