Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast

During Episode 223, we took an extensive look at one of the best rock documentaries in recent memory, Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement, with the film's director Jed I. Rosenberg and co-producer Brian Thalken. It is the inventive, hilarious, and heartbreaking tale of original Pavement drummer Gary Young: a rock n' roll wild man, consummate entertainer, and brilliant drummer who was unfortunately plagued by self-destructive tendencies. When we had the film's other co-producer, Jeffrey Clark, on this week to chat about Northern California punk, we also took the opportunity to delve further into this must-see movie and its fascinating subject. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Bay Area to the Central Valley to the Redwood Forest, this punk rock was made for you and me. Since the late '70s, Northern California has been a hotbed of punk rock activity. San Francisco sat at the epicentre of the first wave, with bands like Crime, Dead Kennedys, Avengers, Chrome, The Mutants, and The Nuns bringing the house down at the legendary Mabuhay Gardens. East Bay bands like Green Day, Operation Ivy, Rancid, and The Mr. T Experience ruled the punk revival of the late '80s and beyond. But, all over the northern part of California, great bands sprouted up in cities like Stockton, Santa Cruz, Davis, and Fulton. This week, we'll cover some of the great punk singles from the area, from familiar favorites to obscure treasures. What better Third Lad for this assignment than Northern California alternative music legend Jeffrey Clark?!? Jeffrey got his start as the singer/songwriter in early '80s Stockton garage/psych/synth combo The Torn Boys, whose recordings were recently released by Independent Project Records as 1983. Following the demise of the band, Jeffrey departed for LA with Torn Boys bandmade Grant-Lee Phillips (later of Grant Lee Buffalo fame) and formed the moody, mystical, marvelous Shiva Burlesque, who released two LPs - their eponymous debut in 1987 and Mercury Blues in 1990. Jeffrey subsequently released two cinematic, gorgeous solo records - Sheer Golden Hooks in 1996 and If Is in 2009. But wait, there's more: This renaissance man also founded one of the most acclaimed film festivals in North America, the Nevada City Film Festival; he revitalized the legendary Independent Project Records with label founder/Savage Republic guitarist Bruce Licher; and, he co-produced the documentary Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement. Oh, and did we mention that he's practically a member of the Wu-Tang Clan?? Speaking of Louder Than You Think, you may recall our recent episode where we chatted with director Jed I. Rosenberg and co-producer Brian Thalken. We made sure to chat with Jeffrey about the film as well, so stay tuned for a separate mini-episode on Thursday for more of our discussion! Special thanks to Paul Richison for the amazing guest suggestion, and to Josh Mills from It's Alive! Media for the incredible coordination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last episode, you heard the thrilling, incredible rock n' roll stories of the Hollywood Stars' Scott Phares and Jeff Jourard. This week, we conclude our epic conversation by revealing each of our Top 5 LA Albums! The Hollywood Stars were THE "It Band" on the Sunset Strip in the early '70s. Originally concocted by legendary Hollywood impresario and cult figure Kim Fowley to be LA's answer to New York Dolls, the Stars' mix of glammed-up hard rock and pop hooks made them mainstays at clubs like the Whisky a Go Go and the Starwood. Bands like Journey, the Runaways, and Quiet Riot opened for them. Iggy Pop joined them on stage. John Lennon attended their performances. Their songs were covered by Alice Cooper ('Escape') and KISS ('King of the Night Time World'). Every major label wanted to sign them, eventually recording a debut album in 1974 for Columbia with Eagles producer Bill Szymczyk. But fate had other plans for the Hollywood Stars...a shake up at Columbia's west coast division led to the band being dropped before the album was released (and would remain that way until 2013, when Shine Like A Radio: The Great Lost 1974 Album surfaced), and the original incarnation of the band broke up. The remnants of the band would finally release an eponymous debut album for Arista in 1977, but that was effectively the end of the Hollywood Stars' story...until now. Following the success of their archival release, the band would get back together in 2018 for live shows and new recordings, with original lead vocalist Scott Phares returning to the fold. Their brand new 2024 album, Starstruck, finds the band in fine, rockin' form. The current version of the band also includes a veteran guitarist with more incredible rock n' roll stories to tell, Jeff Jourard. Jeff played with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers during the recording of their first album - the motorcycle jacket you see Petty wearing on the cover was Jeff's - but his departure from the band as they left for England meant that his sole credit on the record was a "Heartfelt Thanks." After that, Jeff teamed up with Martha Davis to form the Motels, co-writing their oft-covered classic 'Total Control.' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hollywood Stars were THE "It Band" on the Sunset Strip in the early '70s. Originally concocted by legendary Hollywood impresario and cult figure Kim Fowley to be LA's answer to New York Dolls, the Stars' mix of glammed-up hard rock and pop hooks made them mainstays at clubs like the Whisky a Go Go and the Starwood. Bands like Journey, the Runaways, and Quiet Riot opened for them. Iggy Pop joined them on stage. John Lennon attended their performances. Their songs were covered by Alice Cooper ('Escape') and KISS ('King of the Night Time World'). Every major label wanted to sign them, eventually recording a debut album in 1974 for Columbia with Eagles producer Bill Szymczyk. But fate had other plans for the Hollywood Stars...a shake up at Columbia's west coast division led to the band being dropped before the album was released (and would remain that way until 2013, when Shine Like A Radio: The Great Lost 1974 Album surfaced), and the original incarnation of the band broke up. The remnants of the band would finally release an eponymous debut album for Arista in 1977, but that was effectively the end of the Hollywood Stars' story...until now. Following the success of their archival release, the band would get back together in 2018 for live shows and new recordings, with original lead vocalist Scott Phares returning to the fold. Their brand new 2024 album, Starstruck, finds the band in fine, rockin' form. The current version of the band also includes a veteran guitarist with more incredible rock n' roll stories to tell, Jeff Jourard. Jeff played with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers during the recording of their first album - the motorcycle jacket you see Petty wearing on the cover was Jeff's - but his departure from the band as they left for England meant that his sole credit on the record was a "Heartfelt Thanks." After that, Jeff teamed up with Martha Davis to form the Motels, co-writing their oft-covered classic 'Total Control.' The amount of unbelievable stories was far too much for one episode, so we are treating you to a two parter that you will not want to miss! Part 1 includes the first half of our discussion, but stay tuned for next week's conclusion when we talk about our Top 5 LA Albums! Proudly part of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our 13th (unlucky for some!) installment of the Weekend Six Pack series celebrates one of the best indie labels currently going, Subjangle. Subjangle is the South African based label that boasts an impressive, consistently growing catalogue of some of the finest jangle-, indie-, psych- pop, and much more. This week, hear these six modern classics from Subjangle: 1) The Blue Herons - 'In The Skies' (from Go On) 2) Pantomime Horses - 'Lily Morita' (from Forever Polyester) 3) Kevin Robertson - 'The Guilt Trip' (from The Call of the Sea) 4) Alice Kat - 'Waves' (from Around the World & Back to You) 5) Race - 'Meddler' (from Half Men, Half Sympathy) 6) Majorette - 'Soon' (from Forever Starts Tuesday) Find these releases and much more at https://subjangle.bandcamp.com/music. Thanks to Subjangle founder Darrin Lee for the support and great music! Thank YOU for supporting independent music! Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1979, 2 Tone Records (formed by Coventry, England art student and Specials keyboardist/songwriter Jerry Dammers) exploded into the consciousness of music lovers in Britain, the US, and beyond, as albums by the Specials, the Selecter, Madness, the Beat, and the Bodysnatchers burst onto the charts and a youth movement was born. 2 Tone was black and white: a multiracial force of British and Caribbean musicians singing about social issues, racism, class, and gender struggles. It spoke of injustices in society and fought against right-wing extremism. It was exuberant and eclectic: white youths learning to dance to the infectious rhythm of ska and reggae, crossed with punk attitude, to create an original hybrid. This week's Third Lad, Daniel Rachel, has penned the definitive story of the label that, for a brief, bright burning moment, shaped British, American, and world culture. Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story is out now from White Rabbit (UK) and Akashic Books (US). Daniel Rachel is a Birmingham-born, best-selling author whose previous works include Isle of Noises: Conversations with Great British Songwriters; Walls Come Tumbling Down: The Music and Politics of Rock Against Racism, 2 Tone, and Red Wedge; Don't Look Back in Anger: The Rise and Fall of Cool Britannia; The Lost Album of the Beatles: What If the Beatles Hadn't Split Up?; One for the Road: The Life & Lyrics of Simon Fowler & Ocean Colour Scene; and Oasis: Knebworth: Two Nights That Will Live Forever. He is also co-author of Ranking Roger's autobiography, I Just Can't Stop It: My Life in the Beat. In 2021, Rachel was a guest curator of the "2 Tone Lives & Legacies" exhibition as part of Coventry Cultural City 2021, and he curated the anniversary edition of the Selecter's debut album, Too Much Pressure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grab your popcorn, Milk Duds, and RC Cola (that'll be $42.75, please), and join us in the back of theatre. We promise not to put the moves on you...we're here to watch the movie. Let's take it slow and see where this goes. Oh, sorry, got lost in the moment. This week, we discuss some of our favorite music documentaries, and celebrate one of the latest additions to the canon of great "rock docs"- Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement. Joining us for this discussion of Citizen Kane-esque proportions is Louder Than You Think's Director, Jed. I Rosenberg and Co-Producer Brian Thalken. Louder Than You Think, a 2023 SXSW Audience Award winner, is an up-close cinematic walkabout through the life of Gary Young (May 3, 1953 - August 17, 2023), the original (and highly unlikely) drummer of indie rock royalty Pavement. His booze and drugs-fueled antics (on-stage handstands, gifting vegetables to fans) and haphazard production methods (accidentally helping launch the lo-fi aesthetic) were both a driving force of the band's early rise and the cause of his eventual crash landing. Leaving a wake of joy and/or destruction at every turn, Gary teeters the thin line between free-form self-expression and chaotic self-destruction. With its inventive use of marionette sequences and featuring revelatory archival footage, Louder Than You Think is equal parts hilarious, heartbreaking and human. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The O3L Time Machine has gone berserk...it's landed all the way back in 1967! It's nice here, so we'll stay a while. The love is free, the clothes are groovy, the drugs are psychedelic (but just say no, kids), and the music is jaw-droppingly brilliant! The reason why we've blasted right past our normal era of focus, you ask? Well, it's not every day that we get to welcome living legend, singer, songwriter, guitarist, rock n' roll surrealist - and now author - Robyn Hitchcock to O3L. That particular year is the focus of Robyn's brand new memoir, 1967: How I Got There and Why I Never Left, out now on Little Brown Books (UK) and Akashic Books (US). 1967 explores how that pivotal slice of time tastes to a bright, obsessive-compulsive boy who is shipped off to a hothouse academic boarding school as he reaches the age of 13 - just as Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited starts to bite, and the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper explodes. When he arrives in January 1966, Robyn Hitchcock is still a boy pining for the comforts of home and his family's loving au pair, Teresa. By December 1967, he's mutated into a 6'2" tall rabid Dylan fan, whose two ambitions are to get really high and fly to Nashville (spoiler alert: mission accomplished on both fronts!). In between - as the hippie revolution blossoms in the world outside - Hitchcock adjusts to the hierarchal, homoerotic world of Winchester, threading a path through teachers with arrested development, meatheads, groovers, and a sullen old maid - a very English freak show. On the way he befriends a cadre of bat-winged teenage prodigies and meets their local guru, the young Brian Eno. At the end of 1967, all the ingredients are in place that will make Robyn Hitchcock a songwriter for life. But then again, does 1967 really ever end? Robyn Hitchcock is a master of the absurd, creating "pictures you can listen to" that revel in the beauty of the unexpected. His first publicly visible band, the Soft Boys (1976-81), has remained an influential art-rock touchstone for generations of musicians. With a career spanning nearly five decades, his discography consists of more than 30 albums, including Underwater Moonlight (1980). I Often Dream of Trains (1984), Fegmania! (1985), Globe Of Frogs (1988), Queen Elvis (1989), Perspex Island (1991), Ole! Tarantula (2006), The Man Upstairs (2014), Robyn Hitchcock (2017) and Shufflemania (2022), and classic songs like "I Wanna Destroy You," "My Wife and My Dead Wife," "The Man with the Lightbulb Head," "Heaven," "Balloon Man," "Madonna of the Wasps," "So You Think You're In Love," and so many more. Special thanks to Robyn's wonderful wife Emma Swift, herself a brilliant singer/songwriter...and, it turns out, quite the IT tech; and Holly Watson from Holly Watson PR for the introduction and coordination. Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another introspective week spent going down memory lane, as we relive some of the best concert experiences from our respective pasts. And, believe us, that's no easy feat with quite literally thousands of concerts collectively between us. Yowsah! Yes, you could say that our "Third Lad" this week is quite the authority on the subject, as Linda Chadwick was a Texas groupie on the hard rock and metal scenes between 1982 - 1987. Weaving together a series of often hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes salacious, but always remarkable tales about Pantera, KISS, Dio, Deep Purple, Metallica, Motorhead, Poison, Whitesnake, Aerosmith, Guns n' Roses and more, On The Road: A Texas Groupie's Memoir blends vivid storytelling with nostalgic anecdotes. Meet passionate fans, ambitious musicians, and unforgettable groupies, all brought together by a shared love for rock 'n' roll. Experience the highs of sold-out concerts, the lows of band breakups, and the exhilaration of that first chord. As you delve deeper, discover how music was not only a form of entertainment but a way of life, a rebellion, a movement that shaped a generation. This book is more than a mere recollection-it's a tribute to a time when melodies held memories, lyrics voiced dreams, and every beat was a heartbeat of an era. Since leaving groupie life behind, Linda Chadwick is a happy married wife of more than 30 years, with two grown children and many fur babies. This lifelong Texas girl recently relocated to Costa Rica, the beautiful home to "a lot of things that can kill you." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer's here and the time is right for...well, you know... This week, we spotlight tracks by: The Vanrays - 'Survivors' (from Hey! Alright Now, Bonerattle Records) L.A. Drugz - 'Outside Place' (from Outside Place, Hovercraft Records) The Anti-Queens - 'Overthinking' (from Disenchanted, Stomp Records) WolfWolf - 'Twenty One' (from Tolentanz, Ghost Highway / Lux Noise / Off Label Records) Mad Ones - 'Drone' (from What It Takes, Fortune Stellar Records) Theremin Man - 'Are You Receiving Me' (from Songs for the Future) Thank you for helping us support new music and the new artists making it. Music gives us all so much pleasure, and being able to sustain yourself as a musician is tougher than ever now. Whenever you can, get out and see some live music, buy physical product and merch, and the easiest and most cost effective way you can help is by sharing the new music you hear…and sharing this episode is a good place to start! Enjoy your weekend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, guitarists (OK...and wannabe guitarists too)! What were the records that made/make YOU want to pick a guitar and learn to play? That's the burning question this week, as we welcome Third Lad Andy Golding from C86 legends The Wolfhounds to O3L! The Wolfhounds are an English noise pop band formed in Romford, Essex, in 1985 by Dave Callahan, Paul Clark, Andy Golding, Andy Bolton and Frank Stebbing, and originally active until 1990. The band reformed in 2005 and continues to write, record and play live, releasing new albums in 2014, 2016, and 2020. (Thanks, Wikipedia.) Andy's current project is called Dragon Welding (hmmm...what does that mean? Listen and find out!), whose latest single is "TADT (These Are Dangerous Times)." What the hip kids are saying about Dragon Welding: "..a pulsating beat with all sorts of strings being strummed and plucked, in all sorts of 60's/70's school holidays tv series soundtrack kind of ways." - Whisperin' & Hollerin' - 2023 "Dragon Welding.. guitarist of Essex post-rock outliers The Wolfhounds, is a wondrous tapestry of ambient guitar instrumentals and sonic manipulations. This is music that channels the cosmic experimentations of 70s German avant-garde synth-rock with a dark Essex twist that somehow has glorious poptones. For fans of : Mouse On Mars, Plaid, Cluster." - Platekompaniet - 2023 Plus, as an added bonus, hear some of Brett's teenage recordings, including the "legendary" 1990 Empty Glass concert! What the hip kids said: "Wow, he sounds like a neanderthal toddler who just discovered music for the first time!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cccan't you see? This week, we're talking about Club Jams with the fantastic Brian Moss from Vicious Pink! Originating from a serendipitous encounter in a smoky Leeds nightclub back in 1979, Josephine Warden and Brian Moss embarked on a musical journey that would redefine the synth-pop landscape. Initially known as Vicious Pink Phenomena, they made their mark by providing distinctively off-kilter backing vocals for their friends in Soft Cell, a collaboration that unfolded organically and without rehearsal. Transitioning to the simplified moniker Vicious Pink, the duo continued to captivate audiences with their avant-garde sound, releasing a string of singles that defied conventional expectations and climbed the UK dance charts between 1982 and 1986. Despite their modest intentions, their music proved to be both artful and provocative, leaving an enduring legacy in the annals of electronic music history. Minimal Wave has just released a long-awaited LP showcasing previously unreleased gems from the influential UK duo, 'Unexpected'. The album offers listeners a glimpse into the duo's creative process, compiling pop experiments recorded spontaneously, some in collaboration with Soft Cell's Dave Ball. Order Unexpected: Unexpected | Vicious Pink (bandcamp.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're going back to the days when the geeks inherited the earth...specifically, the bands that were influenced by the monumental commercial and artistic triumph that was Weezer's 1994 self titled album (or, as it's affectionately known, The Blue Album). That's the subject of the new oral history and accompanying 11-track compilation album Generation Blue, out now from Big Stir Records and Spyderpop Records. Compiled and edited by this week's Third Lad, S.W. Lauden, Generation Blue is a fascinating celebration of the '90s Hollywood scene that included bands like Ozma, Nerf Herder, Baby Lemonade, Chopper One, and more. S.W. Lauden (aka Steve Coulter) was not only an active participant in the Geek Rock and Power Pop scenes, drumming for a series of LA bands like Ridel High, Tsar and The Brothers Steve, but is also accomplished writer. He is the editor of the essay collections Go All The Way: A Literary Appreciation of Power Pop and Forbidden Beat: Perspectives on Punk Drumming. His power pop-themed crime fiction novellas include That'll Be The Day: A Power Pop Heist and Good Girls Don't. He is also the author of the Greg Salem punk rock PI trilogy, starting with Bad Citizen Corporation. Find more of Steve’s music writing on Substack at Remember The Lightning, including his semi-annual print/ebook Guitar Pop Journals. Generation Blue is also available as on Kindle: Generation Blue: An Oral History of The Hollywood Geek Rock Scene in the 1990s & 2000s - Kindle edition by Lauden, S.W., Koch, Karl, Fisher, Justin. Arts & Photography Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. Plus, if you're a fan of unhinged Uncle Gregg rants (and who isn't?!?), this one's for you! Proudly part of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1986 is undoubtedly one of the great years in music history, but one in which the chasm in alternative music grew. Especially for more established artists, 1986 represents the apex of the "BIG '80s" sound - glossy production, synth horns, Fairlights and DX-7s, gated snares, etc. Conversely, there was a new crop of guitar bands who eschewed these big budget sounds for concise, exuberant, noisy, scrappy pop music - brilliantly captured on NME's C86 cassette compilation. Discussing the songs of 1986 with us (and whose presence is certainly one of our biggest thrills to date) is Miki Berenyi from Lush, Piroshka, and The Miki Berenyi Trio! During their initial run from 1987 - 1996, Lush were one of the essential British bands of the era, releasing three seminal early EPs (collected on Gala) and three crucial albums that showcase the breadth of the band's formidable talents: 1992's Spooky, 1994's Split, and 1996's Lovelife (all on 4AD). Miki's recently released memoir, Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success, is one of the most compelling and searingly honest books we have read. Often traumatic, often hilarious, Fingers Crossed peels back the layers of the public figure you thought you knew from the British weeklies to reveal a complex and gifted storyteller. The Miki Berenyi Trio is currently on a short tour of the US. Catch her if you can! The new track "Vertigo" is available on all streaming/digital platforms. Plus, there's a lot of swearing in both Hungarian and English. This one is definitely NSFW, kids. Special thanks to Paul Richison for the suggestion and introduction! Proudly part of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here in the U.S., it's Memorial Day weekend...the unofficial start to summer. So what better time to grab a six pack of fresh new indie tunes? This week, we highlight: Venus Sugar High - 'The God And The Sun' Jim Basnight - 'Summertime Again' (Power Popaholic Productions) Steve Conte - 'Shoot Out The Stars' (Wicked Cool Records) Yea-Ming & The Rumours - 'Big Blue Sea' (Dandyboy Records) Ray Richardson - 'A Crack In The Sky' (Nanneroo Music) Even As We Speak - 'Beauty, You Will Break Us All' (Skep Wax Records) Have a great weekend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we crank the wayback machine to 1972, a year filled with political turmoil, social unrest, and a whole lotta groovy, life affirming, socially conscious, groundbreaking music that cut across multiple genres and geographic boundaries. With possibly our most eclectic batch of lists yet, we cover a good cross section of what 1972 had to offer. Joining us on this journey are guitarist/vocalist Henry Girard and drummer/vocalist Pablo Garcia from Montreal garage-pop provocateurs The Wesleys, who have just released their highly anticipated Self-Titled debut LP on Little Village Records. The debut album is a dynamic exploration that ventures into a sonic landscape that transcends conventional boundaries, blending elements of the rock, power pop, indie, and alternative genres. The Wesleys embrace their DIY ethos, channeling their creativity into music that feels authentic and natural, a reflection of their shared passion and unwavering dedication. The Wesleys craft melodic rock n' roll songs that resonate with both heart and adrenaline, and will surely appeal to fans of The Clean, The Replacements, Teenage Fanclub, Pixies, The Shins, or Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. Plus: Get the inside scoop on the awesome Montreal scene! Teletubbies on acid! Trouble at the border! Trudeau cuts off the band's wifi! Morgan Freeman! Hockey! Capes! Clam pizza! The Wesleys: Website: https://www.littlevillagerecords.com/the-wesleys Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewesleysmtl/ Linktree: linktr.ee/thewesleys Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_wesleys Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7dNiuSl1RTkNZgYcioK8Z5?si=PccDtLU-RTa4Y_kSIst_IQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your Tuesday grey? Does it break your heart? Give you a heart attack? Make you wanna stay in bed? We say pshaw, Robert Smith, PSHAW! He apparently doesn't know that Tuesday means brand new O3L episodes. Come to think of it, no matter what day you listen, you'll say "I'm in love." Or perhaps this our thinly veiled way of saying that, in this episode, we chat about songs with a day of the week in the title. Our Third Lad this week is Dan Cuddy, the bassist/singer/songwriter who has been leading Hoboken, New Jersey's The Special Pillow since 1995, and was previously in the late '80s/early '90s psych-tinged indie rockers Hypnolovewheel. The Special Pillow are esteemed purveyors of a full-spectrum, string-driven sound encompassing concise ’60s-flavored pop gems, dreamy hallucinogenic reveries, and pulse-pounding propulsion redolent of your favorite antipodean indie upstarts of the ’80s. The band specializes in catchy and confounding songcraft that has earned them notable fans such as Yo La Tengo, who have covered the group’s classic "Automatic Doom" The Special Pillow Meets the Space Monster is the latest in a series of acclaimed EPs, following in the wake of Mind Wipe (2022) and World’s Finest (2020). It is named in honor of the 1965 science-fiction potboiler, Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster, the soundtrack of that cinematic milestone being the source of the featured cover song, "That’s the Way It’s Got to Be," originally performed by Scotland’s beat titans The Poets and an underground hit for The Special Pillow in the summer of 2023. SOCIALS: https://www.facebook.com/TheSpecialPillow/ https://www.instagram.com/thespecialpillow/ https://thespecialpillow.bandcamp.com Special thanks to Mike Turner from Crashing Through Publicity for the intro! Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a Cruel World after all. Yes, the preeminent festival for lovers of new wave, darkwave, synth-pop, goth and post-punk music (new and old) is back for a third year. Whether you're going...or just wish you were...let your friends at O3L be a part of your pre-game celebration! We will be conspicuously absent from the fun this year. Brett's usually right there, but has something even more important to celebrate - his son's university graduation. But we won't let a little thing like that deter us from building our fantasy day at Cruel World. This year's roster includes Duran Duran, Tones On Tail, Interpol, Blondie, Simple Minds, Soft Cell, Adam Ant, Ministry, Jesus And Mary Chain, Gary Numan, Heaven 17, The Mission, The Stranglers, General Public, The Motels, Lol Tolhurst x Budgie, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Silver Biplanes is the retro-futurist band led by a husband-and-wife duo of indie veterans - bassist/songwriter Tim Vass (formerly of early Creation Records heroes Razorcuts and '90s psych-pop combos Red Chair Fadeaway and Dandelion Wine) and singer Vanessa Vass (formerly of '90s indie poppers The Melons). Their upcoming second album, Traveling By Candlelight, will be out May 24th on Old Bad Habits/wiaiwya. As evidenced by the lead single "Radiogram," the LP is a heady mix of choruses, hooks and catchy tunes in which you’ll hear traces of psychedelia, post-punk, krautrock and more. Tim and Vanessa stop by to chat about the new record, their careers, their music, marriage and family, colouring books, why Vanessa can't touch Tim's record collection, and, of course, the topic on hand. This week, we're heading back to 1981 to discuss our favourite 7" singles of that incredible year. This is a fun one, kids! Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know we'd give you anything, anything...including this special episode with the one and only John Easdale from Dramarama! The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductees were recently announced, including Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, and A Tribe Called Quest. Yet, year after year, so many deserving and influential artists are overlooked for this honor, which is our focus this week. John Easdale is the singer/songwriter in the iconic Wayne, NJ band Dramarama. They found widespread acclaim with the alternative radio classic "Anything, Anything" from 1985's Cinéma Vérité, and the succession of modern rock staples that followed - "It's Still Warm" (from Box Office Bomb, 1987), "Last Cigarette" (from Stuck in Wonderamaland, 1989), "Haven't Got A Clue" and "What Are We Going To Do?" (from Vinyl, 1991), and "Work For Food" (from Hi-Fi Sci-Fi, 1993), right up to their latest excellent album, 2020's Color TV. Join us as John recounts the early days of the band, the shock of getting played on KROQ, cover versions, playing with legends, K-Pop, and much more. Plus, we play the latest in our ongoing series of world famous O3L games, Rhymatima! Most importantly, John is one of the kindest, humblest rock stars we've ever met...a true gentleman and a family man. Thanks to our friend Paul Richison for yet another amazing introduction! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's the thrilling conclusion of our conversation with Clive Farrington from When In Rome, where we discuss our Top 3 Dance Hits...plus, as you may have gathered from last week, a whole lot more! In both podcasting and in life, when you need a friend, don't look to a stranger. Well, unless you've never listened to O3L before...in which case, you should totally look to a stranger. But if you wait around a while, we'll make you fall for us. We promise you we will. This week, we cover the songs that were hits in the dance clubs and on the dance charts. One such song was "The Promise," the emotionally charged synth-pop smash by UK band When In Rome, which hit #1 on the US Hot Dance chart on June 11, 1988. Since then, it has become a beloved classic - on radio, at weddings, on movies and TV. Serendipitous, then, that our Third Lad this week is none other than singer, songwriter and original member of When In Rome UK, Clive Farrington! Fresh off the '80s Cruise with musical partner Andrew Mann, When In Rome UK is busy working on a new album - including the new single "2 Fix Us." On top of being a great musician, Clive is a passionate and knowledgeable music fan with a flair for storytelling. You can also hear Clive Farrington Friday and Saturday nights on his villageradio.net show Weekend Dance Trance. Special thanks to Paul Richison for the introduction! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Record Store Day is upon us once again! On Saturday, April 20, 2024, masses of music fans will queue up early and partake in the collective cultural experience on RSD, hoping to score some of the exclusive and limited releases hitting independent record stores. It's a communal celebration of our favorite bit of retail therapy. For fans of classic alternative music, there is a plethora of special releases coming out on Saturday. Let O3L's Brett Vargo be your guide as you prepare your own shopping list. Plus, Brett reveals the RSD items that he thinks Uncle Gregg will put on his list that Brett would not consider, and vice versa. Also, hear "Markin' It Down," the brand new single by UK indie supergroup Swansea Sound (Hue Williams from The Pooh Sticks, previous O3L guests Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey from Heavenly, previous O3L guest Bob Collins from The Dentists, and Ian Button from Thrashing Doves and Death in Vegas). To mark RSD, it's a fun record store themed track. You also must see the video! Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 1 of a two part extravaganza! In both podcasting and in life, when you need a friend, don't look to a stranger. Well, unless you've never listened to O3L before...in which case, you should totally look to a stranger. But if you wait around a while, we'll make you fall for us. We promise you we will. This week, we cover the songs that were hits in the dance clubs and on the dance charts. One such song was "The Promise," the emotionally charged synth-pop smash by UK band When In Rome, which hit #1 on the US Hot Dance chart on June 11, 1988. Since then, it has become a beloved classic - on radio, at weddings, on movies and TV. Serendipitous, then, that our Third Lad this week is none other than singer, songwriter and original member of When In Rome UK, Clive Farrington! Fresh off the '80s Cruise with musical partner Andrew Mann, When In Rome UK is busy working on a new album - including the new single "2 Fix Us." On top of being a great musician, Clive is a passionate and knowledgeable music fan with a flair for storytelling. You can also hear Clive Farrington Friday and Saturday nights on his villageradio.net show Weekend Dance Trance. Listen to our #5 & #4 picks this episode, and stay tuned next week for our Top 3. Special thanks to Paul Richison for the introduction! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring is in the air, and it feels like the perfect time to break open another Weekend Six Pack! This week, we feature six of our favorite new songs: Jetstream Pony - 'Look Alive' (from Under the Bridge 2, Skep Wax Records) Lame Drivers - 'Become An Island' (from Become An Island, Jigsaw/Bleeding Gold) The Armoires - 'We Absolutely Mean It' (from Octoberland, Big Stir Records) Elena Rogers - 'Queen' (single) The Wesleys - 'A Lot To Lose' (from The Wesleys, Little Village Records) Secret Shine - 'Captivate This Broken Love' (from Under The Bridge 2, Skep Wax Records) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keep smilin', keep shinin', knowing you can always count on O3L for your fix of classic alternative music discussion. That is, after all, what friends are for. When bands have one member in particular that does most of the songwriting, friends also come in handy sometimes to shoulder a little of the burden from time to time. This week, we talk about the great songs that were NOT written by the band's main songwriter. Plus: Sniffin' glue, baseball, Uncle Gregg's busy concert calendar, K-Pop "creepy uncles", the genius of Rick Springfield, past music from Brett, future music from Gregg. and oh so much more. Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When most people hear the phrase "sampling" in music, their minds usually go to one place: hip hop. Some may even still hold onto misguided preconceptions that sampling is blatant thievery perpetrated by talentless hacks who can't come up with their own original music. Well, friends, we're here to set the record straight... because we celebrate the art of sampling in all of its different forms with this week's Third Lads, forceghost (Eric Kinlaw and Marcus Barfield). From the experimental composers who borrowed bits of familiar pieces and manipulated them into something daring and new, to the hip hop trailblazers who skillfully transformed stacks of dusty records into an essential part of their street poetry, to the electronic pioneers who utilized cutting edge technology to open up unimaginable worlds, sampling has indelibly and undeniably impacted the music we love. About forceghost: Eric Kinlaw (Vocals/Guitar/Bass/Sound Design) and Marcus Barfield (Production/Sound Design) are forceghost, an electronic psych duo based out of Augusta, GA. Both members sport a long list of previous bands and projects, but are elated to be bringing forceghost into its fullest realization. After their initial formation in 2019, time and circumstance have led to the reshaping of the band into its current form. forceghost is the product of impromptu jam sessions, free form experimentation, and friendship. Many years of musical evolution and collaboration between the duo have culminated into a sound both piercingly focused, and kaleidoscopic in scope and texture. Creamy guitars, soaring synths, sharp drums, and hauntingly beautiful vocals will leave the listener enveloped in a radiant afterglow. All previous recordings have fallen by the wayside. This is the definitive starting point for forceghost. With the release of their debut EP, unknowing the known, the band hopes listeners find themselves enriched by their listening. Come apart and put yourself back together with forceghost. SOCIALS: https://forceghostmusic.com https://www.facebook.com/forceghostmusic https://www.instagram.com/forceghostmusic/ https://forceghost.bandcamp.com/album/unknowing-the-known https://www.youtube.com/@forceghostmusic Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brief, but extremely important, announcement. Big changes on April 1st! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's double trouble this week! Poof...just like a Criss Angel routine, we've magically got double the lads, double the laughs, double the fun...and double the vinyl! Yep, that's right, during this episode, we talk about double albums with our special guests Bryan Cook and Tom Cheek from Is/Ought Gap. More than just an album spread across two slabs of wax, symbolically the double album is an opportunity for artists to use the recording medium as a grand, bold artistic statement, a blank canvas for experimentation, stretching out, and crafting a long form musical narrative. When executed well, double albums can be beautiful, messy, ambitious, kaleidoscopic masterpieces. Is/Ought Gap was formed in Athens, Georgia by Bryan Cook (Time Toy, Club Gaga, Hindu Love Gods) and Tom Cheek (Kilkenny Cats) in the early '80s while attending the University of Georgia. Athens, as you well know, was already the musical hotbed of the south, with The B-52's, R.E.M., Pylon, Oh-OK, and other legends, and while those bands certainly informed the sound of Is/Ought Gap, they were also a bit looser and noisier. Despite being live favorites and recording a never officially released album in 1984, Lucky 7, Is/Ought Gap's original run was relatively short and the band members went on to other endeavors. It's now time to reclaim their rightful place in Athens music history with the release of the compilation album SUA, out on April 5th from HHBTM Records. SUA collects tracks from Lucky 7 along with songs that were demoed back in the day but recorded until 2014 and some vintage live tracks. The stage is set for a grand return, a celebration of sonic resurrection, as Is/Ought Gap weaves their enigmatic melodies once more into the tapestry of Athens, live and in person! Special thanks to Mike Turner from HHBTM for orchestrating our visit! Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We pay tribute to another of the great labels of the O3L era...this time shining the spotlight on the magnificent DB Recs, the Atlanta-based label founded by Danny Beard, and run from 1978 - 1997 out of his still thriving record store Wax'n'Facts. Through Danny's ingenuity, support, and incredible ear for talent, it's safe to say that the alternative music scene in the Southeastern US would not be the same without him. DB's initial release was catalogue number DB-52, 'Rock Lobster' / '52 Girls', the first single by none other than The B-52's. From there, DB gave a voice to a wide range of artists in Atlanta, Athens, and beyond, including Pylon, Love Tractor, Oh-OK, Guadalcanal Diary, The Swimming Pool Q's, Fetchin Bones, Zeitgeist/The Reivers, The Jody Grind, The Coolies, Chris Stamey, and others. This week, we each offer up our Top 5 DB Recs songs with special guests Current Rage - John Moore (rhythm guitar), Paul Lenz (drums), and Bryan Lilje (bass). In absentia is lead guitarist and vocalist Olivia Bewley. You may remember the remarkable story of Current Rage from Episode 140: The band formed in 1979 by professional skateboarders Chris Bewley (brother of Pylon's Randy) and John Moore. By the beginning of 1981, they were headlining shows in the southeast with their brash, energetic, catchy post-punk tunes. They released the indie EP Seven Songs in 1982, which became a highly coveted collector's item among fans of DIY indie rock. After Current Rage ceased to be, each of the members followed different paths, with Chris Bewley succumbing to a heart attack in 2018 at the age of 57. Coinciding with the expanded 40th anniversary reissue of Seven Songs in 2022 on Propeller Sound Recordings, Current Rage is now back and experiencing a resurgence...with a twist. Chris's daughter Olivia plays lead guitar and sings in the current iteration of the band. While she never had much of a relationship with her father, through his music, his former band, and even some of his equipment, she is able to connect with Chris in powerful, unexpected ways. During this episode, we catch up with the band and (despite not being DB Recs artists themselves) discuss the indelible impact of Danny Beard and the DB roster on them. Deep gratitude to Current Rage's manager, Robin Hall Bewley Frankland, for organizing this return visit to O3L! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Repost of a "classic" episode that has been missing from podcast platforms for the last year! Challenge accepted! For our last "regular" episode of Season 3 (before our holiday party and best of 2022 shows), we discuss the artists who continue to challenge us, defy expectations, and create uncompromising art. Some of these artists have such deep catalogues that it can be daunting to take it all in, some may be too esoteric or eccentric to immediately grab you. But the 25(!) artists that we pick during this episode have one thing in common...stick with them, and their music will reward you handsomely. In other words...you'll come around, Gregg! On the other hand, there are certain artists who we find immediately appealing...even if it took 40 years, like the Atlanta band Current Rage. To celebrate the 40th anniversary reissue of their 1982 mini-album Seven Songs on Propeller Sound Recordings (now generously expanded to 15 tracks) is guitarist John Moore, drummer Paul Lenz, and singer/guitarist Olivia Bewley (daughter of late Current Rage singer Chris Bewley). It's a powerful rock n' roll story about family, loss, redemption and second chances that you won't want to miss. It's the Penicillin Sound! Get the Seven Songs reissue at: https://propellersoundrecordings.com/ About Current Rage: Current Rage are a four-piece, post-punk, musical group that played live in the Southeastern United States during the early eighties. They were comprised of Chris Bewley, John Moore, Pat Kirkland, and Paul Lenz. In the landscape of a fertile, burgeoning Athens/Atlanta music scene Current Rage gained notoriety and a loyal following performing with such musical icons as REM, Pylon, Swimming Pool Q’s, The Fleshtones, The Bush Tetras, and The Bongos. Eventually Current Rage would headline shows on their own at such iconic venues as Athens, GA’s 40Watt Club, Atlanta’s 688 Club, Chapel Hills’s The Cat’s Cradle, Birmingham’s The Nik, and Nashville’s Frankensteins. Current Rage released an indie label E.P. album called Seven Songs on EOD Records in late 1982. Current Rage was known for short catchy post punk tunes dripping with danceable irony as well as darkwave surf instrumentals. “Seven Songs” was produced by legendary Athens-Atlanta engineer, Bruce Baxter. Baxter had engineered the B-52’s single, “Rock Lobster”, Pylon’s debut album “Gyrate” followed by the debut albums of The Swimming Pool Q’s and Love Tractor. Current Rage’s album was the first release on Ron Bond’s EOD (Entertainment on Disc) Records. “Seven Songs” was recorded in April 1982 at Channel One studios with Bruce Baxter handling engineering and sound mixing and was released in late October. It is highly regarded by record collectors seeking out early eighties DIY releases. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some artists knew exactly when it was the right time to check out. Others ended their recording careers with a big question mark or ellipsis, like there was unfinished work to be done. The latter is the topic of our discussion this week: Which artists or bands do we wish had stuck around longer and released more music? A little more than a decade ago, we probably would have included B-Movie on that list, as they were one of the major "what if?" bands of the '80s. After a run on the Dead Good and Some Bizarre labels in the early '80s that resulted in post-punk classics such as the era-defining "Nowhere Girl", "Remembrance Day" and "Marilyn Dreams", they released the fantastic synth-pop single "A Letter From Afar" (1984) and their sole full-length LP, Forever Running (1985), before calling it a day. That is, until they resumed their recording career in 2012, picking up and expanding upon their legacy with the full length albums The Age Of Illusion (2013) and Climate Of Fear (2016), as well as the EPs Distant Skies (2013), Repetition (2018), and two new tracks in 2022. It has been a most welcome return and artistic triumph for our heroes. So then, what an incredible thrill it is for us to welcome singer, songwriter, and bassist from B-Movie, Steve Hovington, as our Third Lad this week! Special thanks to Paul Richison for making the connection! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's true that we're givers here at O3L...so, to paraphrase from the gorgeous new Jack Rubies track that closes this episode, "we'll give you more." Once again, we step out of our era and treat you to a six pack of some of the finest new music to pass through O3L headquarters: Crumbs - 'You're Just Jealous' (Skep Wax Records) The Kobayashi Bookstore - 'World Gone Crazy' High Water Marks - 'YFF' (6612 Tapes) Fog Lamp - 'You Prove Yourself Wrong' (The Bucket Records) Hollow Horse - 'I'm Building A Scarecrow' The Jack Rubies - 'I'll Give You More' (Big Stir Records) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we set the way back machine for 1996…with a stop off in 1999, which is the setting for the new book by Kyle Wiltshire and Jay Watson, The Dead Rock Stars. Coincidentally, then, we welcome co-author Kyle Wiltshire as our Third Lad! Kyle is a husband, father, and writer who has seen U2 eleven times. He tries to paint like Bob Ross and enjoys talking about the Star Wars universe on a very deep level. He loves pop culture and prides himself on being able to name the year any movie from the 1980s or '90s was released. P.S. We put him to the test with a brand new O3L game, “B-Movie…or Be Dead!” About The Dead Rock Stars: What if famous rock stars from the past, those who died young, in sudden and tragic ways, actually faked their deaths to become secret agents? Welcome to the world of The Dead Rock Stars, the heroes we never knew we had. The Dead Rock Stars is a tale about Cole Denton, a young tech genius who discovers the secret world of rock star secret agents. He is tasked with saving the world from an unknown threat—one that’s closer to home than either Elvis Presley or the team can imagine. But can they beat the clock before it strikes midnight on December 31, 1999? In a twisting and nostalgic story, The Dead Rock Stars is an alternate history, placed squarely in the realm of real-world events, that happened without anyone knowing. Brimming with pop culture references for music lovers of every generation, the novel’s fast and hilarious plot will keep readers guessing at every turn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finally...a podcast episode that captures all of the glitz and glamour of the City of Angels. You'll feel like you're right there on the red carpet with all of your favorite stars. Or something like that. OK, we all know that Los Angeles has a rich musical history, from the '60s heroes lining the Sunset Strip and packing clubs like The Whisky and The Roxy, to sensitive Laurel Canyon singer/songwriters, to the laid back California studio sounds of the mid-'70s, to the debaucherous sleaze of hair metal. But how about the classic alternative bands who kept LA on the musical map during the O3L era? That's our challenge this week. Plus, Uncle Gregg has a chat with Brett's inner demon! A powerful anti-drug message (we think??)! Health trends! Sticking it to big corporations! Hot robots! Meowing! Yeah, it's another late at night recording, which typically means nothing but trouble. You have been warned. Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you wake up in the morning, feeling shy and lonely, and think "gee, I gotta go to school" (or work), brighten your day with O3L. If you don't think you can make it, don't think you can take it, and wonder what you're going to do, we're here for you. Everybody can succeed, all you need is to believe. Be honest with yourself, forget your fears and doubts. C'mon, give us a try at Degrassi...oops, we mean, Only Three Lads! By now, it may be abundantly obvious that we are celebrating our friends to our north, as we discuss our Top 5 Canadian Albums of the O3L era. Joining us for the topic on hand is the synth-soaked power poppers Autogramm, whose members are from Vancouver, Seattle, and Chicago. Their recently released album Music That Humans Can Play is out now on vinyl and digital formats on Stomp Records. It's an album that draws influences from The Cars, 20/20, Devo, Cheap Trick, The Boys and others, resulting in a cohesive and blissfully cool album that will appeal to listeners from record store snobs to garage rock slobs to synth-pop heartthrobs! We had a blast speaking with Jiffy Marx (vocals, synths, guitars), The Silo (vocals, drums, synths, guitars), CC Voltage (vocals, bass, guitars) and Lars Von Seattle (guitars, vocals). So please don't be a hoser or a broomhead - just listen, eh? Technical note: We experienced technical difficulties with a couple of audio tracks and had to resort to a lower resolution cloud recording for some sections. You may hear some echo or inconsistent volume at times, but it shouldn't impair your enjoyment of this fun conversation! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's President's Day weekend here in the ol' US of A, so we invite you to come chill with us in the Presidential Suite with a six pack of new tunes! This weekend, we highlight: Outer World - "The Drum, The Beat" (HHBTM Records) Tony Valentino from The Standells, ft. Lisle Engle & Kristen Kohary - "Hollywood Fake" Gentleman Jesse - "Where Time Stands Still" (Drunk Dial Records) Hungrytown - "Another Year" (Big Stir Records) Sorry Monks - "Girlfriend" (Subjangle) Sirius Voltage - "For Your Dreams" (Invicta Sound & Vision) How's that for a little high octane rock n' roll to kickstart your weekend?!? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're running hot and cold this week, as we cover our Top 5 songs with "fire" and/or "ice" in the title or as a central theme. Joining us all the way from Paraguay is Catherine Gairard, a diversely talented singer/harpist/composer/artist/model of Peruvian and French descent. Cath shares her unique and fascinating journey, as well as her very thoughtful and honest approach to music. Oh yeah...and Gregg's a solid 7. Catherine Gairard Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've made it...the big O3L 200th episode extravaganza! First off, it's the biggest reunion since Kajagoogoo - original Lad and O3L co-creator Bueno returns for this special occasion, for the first time since Season 2! We chat about the genesis of the show, divulge early contenders for our pod name, read our original treatment, share favorite moments, and catch up with the wild world of Bueno. Yeah, and some other wabbit holes like cartoon character crushes, petty thievery, and the endless wait for Cure music. Most importantly, we play messages from the most important people to this show...the "Third Lads" of the O3L community! We are so touched by all of the wonderful and thoughtful messages from listeners, friends, musicians, past guests, and fellow podcasters. It is because of all of YOU that we have made it to this milestone! Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our scheduled guest this week called in sick at the last minute...oh no! So, instead of our planned topic, we decided to be a little opportunistic. We put together our list of songs to listen to when you're sick to lift your spirits. We've got just the cure for your ailments!** **Please note that this statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 5 premiere…we missed ya! Join Gregorio Delirio & Bretto (El Rocktor) for a journey south…because this week, we’re talking about the songs of South America. New discoveries and utterly hi-larious attempts at Spanish pronunciations. THIS is real alternative, as much of it has crossed over to the English speaking world. Enjoy and learn! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here it is…the first six pack of 2024. You may know that our fifth season officially starts on January 23rd - that’s next Tuesday if you’re listening to this episode on the weekend of release. So, there’s no better time to hang out in the parking lot with a weekend six pack. Consider this the tailgate party! In this six pack, you’ll hear the following recent tracks: The Yellow Melodies - "Follow The Sun" Holy Smokes - "Chip On My Shoulder" Blank Generation - "Antihero" Couchboy - "Second Chances" SUPER 8 - "Keep Doing It" Autogramm - "Born Losers" Help us in supporting new music! Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join in on more fun with our second part of our retrospective of some of our favorite games on O3L! This week, you'll hear: O3L Lie Detector - with author Allison Landa (Bearded Lady) Only Three Lads Had a Farm - with Scottish '90s indie rocker Graham Kemp from Urusei Yatsura Is "C" Heavenly's Option? - with seminal Sarah Records band Heavenly Which Saturday Is It? - with Power Pop Hall of Famers The Flashcubes Name That Long Title - with radio veteran and friend of the show Lance Carmine THIS is the kind of Family Game Night we can all agree on! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've been listening to O3L for a little bit, you've probably gathered that we fancy playing games every so often. So, as we get ready for the launch of our 5th season, we thought we'd have a little fun with a multi-part retrospective of some of our favorite games. In this episode, join in on the riotous fun with: "Goth or Bubblegum?" with goth/dreampop singer AMMO (aka Silent Mass) "Pilot or Lie-lot?" with Sarah Shay from the Pilot House podcast "That's Not Power Pop!" with Power Pop Hall of Famer Mimi Betinis from Pezband "Psych? Or Psych!" with C86/indie pop legend Robert Sekula from 14 Iced Bears It's all fun and games...until someone gets hurt. Well, nobody gets hurt, but a few egos may be bruised. Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 4 finale! The festivities in Times Square may be over, but our balls don't officially drop until we've covered our Top 5 Songs of 2023! Uhhh...you know what we mean. Ring in the New Year with O3L and relive the best tunes from that bygone era of 2023. Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We step out of the classic alternative era and into the here and now as we recount our Top 5 Albums of 2023. And it just so happens that our guest this week is Jolie Holland, the acclaimed American singer/songwriter who released one of the best records of the year, Haunted Mountain. Actually, it's one of the TWO best records of the year named Haunted Mountain, but we'll get into that... Join us as we hip each other to new sounds, new films and new games (who's up for a round of music baseball?), and talk gender studies, the stories behind the songs, and New Mexican cuisine. Thanks to Maurice Bursztynski from the Love That Album pod for the introduction with Jolie! Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett presents The Vargo Family's 16th annual Musical Christmas Card, "La La La, It's Christmas." From the O3L family to yours, we wish you a joyous holiday season, a very Merry Christmas, the most prosperous of new years, and an abundance of “la la las.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's beginning to look a lot like the O3L Holiday Party! In what's become something of a holiday tradition, we invited listeners to join us for fun, games and frivolity. This year, we welcomed Briony from Ohio; Julie from California; Julio from Puebla, Mexico; Kimberly from California; and Paul from California. And who was the mysterious "S" that joined us but wouldn't talk?!? Was that you, Ed Sheeran? We chat about our favorite Christmas #1s and sausage rolls, and play two brand new world famous O3L games: "Dear Blank" (inspired by our chat with the great Dave Philpott last week) and "That's Sooooooo '23!" Plus, to get in the festive mood, we have music from one of our favorite current songwriters, London's Rich Longley. From Rich's various musical projects, we play two seasonal gems: Les Bicyclettes De Belsize - "Andy Partridge (from XTC)" Valentina Way - "A Sleigh Ride In The Sky" The party may be over, but you can still listen in to the fun! Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The '60s were marked by dizzying revolutionary change, musical evolution, and technological innovation. It was the decade where pop music as a whole went from ephemeral entertainment to serious art. It was the catalyst for social and cultural shifts. Most of the music that we talk about on this very show, from punk rock to power pop to synth pop, has very strong roots in the music of the '60s. Yet very few '60s pioneers were able to successfully cross over into the O3L era. Many sounded hopelessly out of touch as they tried to chase the trends of the day - glossy synths, gated snares, etc. Artists who were once the harbingers of cool traded in their mop tops and Spanish boots for big hair and Member's Only jackets. Who successfully crossed over to the classic alternative era? Joining us to discuss the topic is author Dave Philpott. For close to a decade and a half the Philpotts (Dave and his father Derek) have been getting under the skin of musical artistes. Picking up on glaring errors in their lyrics or sometimes getting completely the wrong end of the stick (perhaps to irritate things a little further) they totally misunderstand the meaning of ‘poetic license’. Hundreds of missives have landed on the real and virtual doormats of musicians, worldwide. In return, these lyrical legends have exercised their right to reply, correcting and sometimes confirming the authors’ summation of what went wrong... or right. In their new book Dear Catherine Wheel: Bonkers Letters to U.K. Indie Bands with Genuine Replies, letters were addressed to some of the finest indie/C86 bands, including The Soup Dragons, The Jasmine Minks, The Bevis Front, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, The June Brides, Talulah Gosh, and 80+ more. It's a brilliant, absurd, and hilarious book that you never knew you needed! It's now available at Amazon worldwide. The Philpotts have also authored the companion volumes Dear Mr. Kershaw, Dear Mr. Pop Star, and Grammar Free in the U.K. A portion of all sales aid the Musicians Against Homelessness organization. Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ah, punk rock. Some punks held onto the style and ideology for dear life (some more successfully than others). For others, punk was a springboard into exciting new territories where the possibilities were limitless. It's the latter that we cover this week - the artists who shed the ripped shirts and safety pins to creatively flourish after punk's initial rush. Join crusty old punks Gregg Grinder and Brett Ba$t@ard for an exploration on the topic of "life after punk," as well as Blue October, Liquid Death (no, we're not sponsored by them), Playboy (no, we're not sponsored by them either), the Post Office, scambaiting, Shakira, middle aged forgetfullness, and the pinnacle of human existence. Oi oi oi! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we celebrate the beginning of the '90s (Or was it the end of the '80s? You be the judge.) When MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice and Wilson Phillips ruled the airwaves. When Uncle Gregg found some direction and joined the Navy. When teenage Brett co-founded his first band, Empty Glass. And when our special guest, power pop legend Jamie Hoover was caught in a flurry of activity, releasing his debut solo album Coupons, Questions And Comments and prepping for The Spongetones' 1991 third full length, Oh Yeah! Formed in 1979 and very much influenced by the British Invasion, Charlotte, North Carolina's The Spongetones carried on the musical genre through acclaimed original songwriting, jangle pop riffs, and lilting, Beatlesque vocals. In his 2007 authoritative book Shake Some Action, John M. Borack rated The Spongetones' Beat And Torn (a CD containing 1982's Beat Music LP - one of Brett's all time favorites - and 1984's Torn Apart mini-LP) at #24 of his Top 200 Power Pop Albums of all time. The band features the triple threat of talented singers and songwriters: Jamie Hoover, Pat Walters and Steve Stoeckel. In addition to The Spongetones, Jamie has shared the stage and recorded with Don Dixon and Marti Jones, The Smithereens, Graham Parker, Hootie & The Blowfish, Bill Lloyd, Emitt Rhodes, and Ray Paul, among others. Hoover either produced or co-produced all the Spongetones' albums, and continues to produce a wide variety of other musicians, recently including '60s singer/songwriter Bob Lind ('Elusive Butterfly') and young prodigy Elena Rogers. Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices