

Bandsplain
Bandsplain is a show where host Yasi Salek invites experts to explain cult bands and iconic artists—and why people love them.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 26, 2023 • 1h 39min
24 Question Party People: Lou Barlow of Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, and Folk Implosion
Celebrated musician and fellow podcaster Lou Barlow joins the show this week to compare podcasting styles and scheduling preferences and to share best practices for filing systems and great hacks for spreadsheets. Yasi and Lou don’t really do any of that, but they do chat about matters of the heart, soul, and mind—as well as an Evan Dando party story that you have to hear to believe—this week on '24 Question Party People.'
Host: Yasi SalekGuest: Lou BarlowProducer: Jesse Miller-GordonAssociate Producer: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Hether Fortune
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 21, 2023 • 3h 38min
The Smiths: Part 1 with Naomi Fry
Manchester, so much to answer for. From 1982 to 1987, The Smiths produced more goddamn gorgeous beautiful songs than many other artists do in their entire careers. How did something so fragile burn so brightly in such a dark corner of northern England? How did a stylish young guitar savant find the shyest poet, the one who lurked alone in the corner at every gig in the city? This week we are joined by the fantastic Naomi Fry to discuss all of this and more, on Bandsplain.
Follow Naomi Fry on Twitter @FryNaomiFry
Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE
Host: Yasi Salek
Guest: Naomi Fry
Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon
Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges
Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles
Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 19, 2023 • 1h 54min
24 Question Party People: Slug of Atmosphere
If you were given $5 to go away in 2007, that would be worth $7.40 in today’s economy. Fortunately, Yasi’s fee has gone up in the years in between, and she reunites with Slug this week to discuss this inciting incident, as well as child-rearing and break dancing. It’s another perfectly normal week on '24 Question Party People.'
Host: Yasi SalekGuest: SlugProducer: Jesse Miller-GordonAssociate Producer: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Hether Fortune
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 14, 2023 • 1h 49min
The 1989 Music Draft with Chris Ryan, Rob Harvilla, and Jon Caramanica
Chris Ryan, Rob Harvilla, and Jon Caramanica join Yasi in the Thunderdome to pick their favorite songs and moments from the year that started the 90’s: the last year of the 80’s. Can someone’s own take also be their draft pick? And who ultimately emerged as the winner of the draft? Listen and decide for yourself, this week on Bandsplain.
You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisRyan77
You can follow Rob on Twitter @Harvilla
You can follow Jon on Twitter @joncaramanica
Listen songs we detail in the episode HERE
Host: Yasi Salek
Guests: Chris Ryan, Rob Harvilla, and Jon Caramanica
Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon
Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges
Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles
Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 12, 2023 • 1h 20min
24 Question Party People: Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys
This week on '24 Question Party People' we are joined by Yasi's mate Matt Helders, founding member and legendary drummer of the Arctic Monkeys. Matthew joins us from backstage somewhere on the eastern seaboard to weigh in on his experiences with Lisa Vanderpump and Sir Paul McCartney, starting a band before you play an instrument, true love, and humor as a British cultural value.
Host: Yasi SalekGuest: Matt HeldersProducer: Jesse Miller-GordonAssociate Producer: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Hether Fortune
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 7, 2023 • 2h 33min
Death Cab for Cutie with Michael Tedder
Death Cab for Cutie emerged from the Pacific Northwest in the late 90’s and came to embody the indie sound of the mid aughts, rising to fame alongside the teenage melodrama they helped soundtrack. Today they are still releasing meaningful music while many of their peers faded away. Author Michael Tedder joins Yasi to trace their path from early years to the present.
Follow Michael Tedder on Twitter @Mtedder
Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE
Host: Yasi Salek
Guest: Michael Tedder
Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon
Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges
Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles
Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 5, 2023 • 1h 36min
24 Question Party People: Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie
On this week’s show, Ben Gibbard comes on to chat with Yasi about life, death, and the truth. Other big topics include: Daryl Hall—one of the greatest vocal ad-libbers of all time? Can a live performance make you want to flip a car over? What kind of protein powder are we all using? All this and more is revealed on another riveting episode of '24 Question Party People.'
Host: Yasi SalekGuest: Ben GibbardProducer: Jesse Miller-GordonAssociate Producer: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Hether Fortune
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 31, 2023 • 4h 5min
Television with Evan Laffer
Arguably the band to start the CBGBs scene paving the way for the Ramones, Talking Heads, Patti Smith, Blondie and more, was a band called Television. One of the most innovative bands of the early New York "punk" scene, Television were there and then they weren’t and then like 15 years later, they were again. Their influence casts a long shadow, and the music continues to influence artists today. Press play to find out why Television didn’t become their own sort of Grateful Dead.
Follow Evan Laffer on Twitter @EvanLaffer
Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE
Host: Yasi Salek
Guest: Evan Laffer
Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon
Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges
Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles
Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 29, 2023 • 1h 31min
24 Question Party People: Bethany Cosentino
Bethany Cosentino is a brilliant solo artist from Southern California, formerly of the band Best Coast. She is also the generous writer of the 'Bandsplain' theme song and the real-life BFF of our host, Yasi Salek. We laughed, we cried, and Yasi somehow learned something new about the smart, funny, talented person she talks to every single day on every single communication platform.
Host: Yasi SalekGuest: Bethany CosentinoProducer: Jesse Miller-GordonAssociate Producer: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Hether Fortune
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 24, 2023 • 2h 58min
Talking Heads: Part 2 with Rob Harvilla
Yasi and Rob return this week to find a band in peril. Side projects are popping up left and right, tropical vacations are being taken, Tina Weymouth has quitting on her mind, and Chris Frantz does not. What David Byrne is thinking at any point in time is anyone’s guess. What will become of the Talking Heads? You probably already know, but press play to find out how it happened.
Listen to the songs we detail in the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Vtk9g0QOypaWVCePqx7oc?si=878c3724100b4cdd
Host: Yasi Salek
Guest: Rob Harvilla
Producer: Jesse Miller-Gordon
Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges
Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles
Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


