Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast

Waaaaay back in Episode 67 (Season 2), we discussed the albums from arguably THE most crucial year of the O3L era: the year two sevens clashed, 1977. It was such a fruitful, revolutionary time in music history that it's time we revisit some of the best records from '77.Our Third Lads this week are founding members Matt Piucci (guitar/vocals) and Steven Roback (bass/vocals) from one of the leading lights of the '80s Paisley Underground scene, Rain Parade. Along with guitarist David Roback (who would later form Opal and Mazzy Star), keyboardist/violinist Will Glenn and drummer Eddie Kalwa, Rain Parade's first album, 1983's Emergency Third Rail Power Trip remains one of the defining records of the Paisley Underground - an album that critic Jim DeRogatis would declare "...ranks with the best psychedelic rock efforts from any era." Shifting lineups (always anchored by Piucci and Roback) would produce the fantastic 1984 mini-LP Explosions in the Glass Palace and 1985's Crashing Dream - the latter of which has since been revealed as a souped up double LP reissue for Record Store Day on April 12, 2025! In 2012, Matt, Steven, and mid-80s guitarist John Thoman regrouped for live performances and new music. Now augmented by multi-instrumentalists Derek See and Mark Hanley, and Stephan Junca on drums, the current lineup has released 2023's full length Last Rays of a Dying Sun and the 2024 EP Last Stop on the Underground, both of which serve as vital reminders of why Rain Parade was - and is - so important and influential to legions of neo-psych, dream pop, and harmony-drenched jangle pop bands.https://rainparadelabel51.bandcamp.comThanks to Josh Mills from It's Alive Media for the introduction and coordination.Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1980s saw an explosion of independent record labels across the US, shaping the sound and spirit of underground music to this day. This week, Daniel House from Skin Yard and C/Z Records joins us as we dive into some of the finest labels whose DIY ethos, fearless experimentation, and raw energy broke away from the corporate music machine. One of the crucial American indie labels of the era was C/Z Records, the Seattle imprint that will forever be remembered as the second most important label in the burgeoning grunge scene. That being said, it was C/Z, not Sub Pop, who released the defining document of the new sound of the Pacific Northwest with 1986's Deep Six compilation - introducing Soundgarden, The Melvins, U-Men, Green River, Malfunkshun, and Skin Yard. Founded in 1985 by Chris Hanzek and Tina Casale, Skin Yard bassist Daniel House took over operation of C/Z in 1987, subsequently releasing music by Nirvana, Henry Rollins, Built To Spill, The Gits, Hammerbox, Presidents of the United States of America, 7 Year B---h, Coffin Break and many more.Skin Yard was a foundational band in the development of the grunge movement, not only due to the groundbreaking music they recorded between 1985 - 1991, but also the band members' other contributions to Seattle music. Aside from the aforementioned impact that House made with C/Z Records, guitarist Jack Endino would go on to produce and engineer some of the most enduring records of the era - including Nirvana's Bleach, and music by Mudhoney, Tad, Soundgarden, L7, and Screaming Trees. Lead singer Ben McMillan would form the band Gruntruck, and sadly passed away in 2008 at the age of 46. Drummer Matt Cameron is a world class musician who has been behind the kit for Soundgarden and, for the past 25 years, with Pearl Jam.Skin Yard Select is the brand new, limited collection of 14 songs loving curated by Daniel House and Jack Endino, culling tracks from their four studio albums, but also featuring enough rarities to please long-time fans. This beautiful package consists of seven individual 7" singles, each in their own sleeve and pressed on limited edition colored vinyl (or good ol' fashioned black). Get your copy now from https://skinyardselect.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We recently covered the topic of "all killer, no filler" albums, but what about the perfect single side of a record? If the physical time and space limitations of a vinyl LP or a cassette must exist, why not do something compelling? Is it all poppycock...or cockypop?!? You make the call!Our Third Lad for this exploration is frontman/saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist Dan Voznick, aka Alec Tension from underground '80s post-punk band Afterimage. Referred to in the Los Angeles Times as "LA's Joy Division" back in the day, Afterimage created a sound that was hypnotic, skittery and chilly, but is also adventurous, playful and complex. The original lineup of the band (Alec Tension, A Produce, Rich Evac and Holland DeNuzzio) only stayed together for a couple of years and released a scant discography of one single ("Strange Confession"/"The Long Walk") and an EP (Fade In), both in 1981. Those original recordings, plus a generous helping of unreleased demos and live tracks, are now available from Independent Project Records on the new retrospective compilation Faces to Hide. Out now on double LP (available in both black and opaque white), special edition CD and digital formats, Faces to Hide proves as scathing, urgent, taut, angular and gripping as Afterimage’s scarce but unforgettable output must have sounded more than forty years ago. Packaged with extensive, career-spanning liner notes by noted journalist Richie Unterberger and previously unseen band photos, Faces to Hide also features Independent Project Records’ signature hand letterpress-printed custom design for the vinyl and CD packaging.  Thanks to Josh Mills from It's Alive Media for the introduction and coordination!Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you ready for some football?!? Even if you're not, we've got the soundtrack for your Super Bowl weekend, with six new tracks to kick off your weekend (see what we did there??)! Sorrows - 'Out of My Head' (from Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow, Big Stir Records) Exploding Flowers - 'Crowded Streets' (from Watermelon/Peacock, Meritorio Records) Helen McCookerybook - 'Three Cheers for Toytown' (from Showtunes from the Shadows, Tiny Global Productions) Above Me - 'Grass Mouth' (from Above Me, Dandy Boy Records) Jetstream Pony - 'Bubblegum Nothingness' (from Bowerbirds and Blue Things, Spinout Nuggets/Shelflife) The False Dawns - 'The King of Bagel Mountain' (from Our Tanks, Your Lawn!, Subjangle) Forget about the Kendrick vs. Drake beef and Taylor Swift cutaways every two minutes...this is your Super Bowl entertainment!P.S. No, the guys in the episode cover image are NOT Uncle Gregg and Brett. In fact, if we knew more about football, we could tell you who they are. Coaches? Announcers? Anyway, we borrowed the picture from https://worldwideinterweb.com/the-stars-of-super-bowl-50-with-bowl-haircuts-gallery/ and thought it was funny, so credit where credit is due.P.P.S. Because we love you, we don't want you to live in pain and discomfort. Exclusively for O3L listeners, take advantage of a special offer on the cloudlike comfort of Stand Shoes. Get 15% off your order with promo code O3L at https://standshoes.com! "(Don't You) Forget About Me" be darned...because these shoes are so comfortable that you'll forget you put 'em on! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we tackle the lofty, ambitious, sometimes bombastic topic of rock operas and concept albums.Most acknowledge that the rock opera was the outgrowth of the psychedelic era where, particularly in a post-Sgt. Pepper world, the rock n’ roll album became an artistic statement. As musicians sought to expand and alter the fabric of pop music, “rock operas” with narratives, character development, and distinct movements were being explored on records like the Pretty Things’ SF Sorrow (1968) and the Who’s Tommy (1969).All rock operas are concept albums, but not all concept albums are rock operas. The concept album is a collection of songs that are tied together to present an overarching theme, going back as far as Woody Guthrie's Dust Bowl Ballads, a 1940 collection of 78 rpm records that stayed true to the title. Joining us as our Third Lad for this discussion today is Dave Gebroe, the creator & host of the music obsessives’ podcast Discograffiti. Dave dives into amazingly deep and immaculately researched discussions on the catalogues of a wide range of artists - if not with the artist themselves, then with a jaw-dropping roster of guests. Dave is also a filmmaker, writing, producing and directing the movies The Homeboy and Zombie Honeymoon. If that weren’t enough, he’s masterminded a 2 LP tribute to-slash-reimagining of Lou Reed’s much maligned album Metal Machine Music, and I believe is working on a rock opera of his own.Oh, and you thought Gregg ruins everything? Just wait until he meets his match...Berlin! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey baby. Yeah, you know we're chill. We can keep this whole thing casual. No strings attached.Oops...sorry, wrong post. Because we totally have strings attached this week, as Simon Chesterfield (aka Simon Barber) from UK indie pop faves The Chesterfields joins us to discuss our Top 5 Songs with Strings.The use of strings in pop music has traditionally been to contribute texture and dimension to a record. In the context of rock bands, it often symbolizes musical sophistication, grandeur, and the ambition to break outside of the standard band format.It's all very timely too, because Simon has just released his first solo album, Simon Chesterfield, in which he re-imagines six of his compositions as orchestral performances. This gorgeous album was co-produced by Ben Scott Turner, Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey) and Simon, and was orchestrated by Charles Harrison. It is now out on digital platforms and on limited edition 10-inch vinyl from Legere Recordings.Simon Barber is the co-founder, ever-present member, bassist, songwriter, and vocalist of The Chesterfields. Their jangling, exciting sound made them fixtures on the UK indie charts - with albums like their debut Kettle (1987, #5) and 1988's Crocodile Tears (#10), and singles like "Completely and Utterly" (1986, #16), "Ask Johnny Dee" (1987, #4), "Goodbye, Goodbye" (1988, #10), and "Blame" (1988, #11). Nearly two decades after lead singer Dave Goldsworthy's tragic death, Simon led a new lineup of The Chesterfields (featuring Loft guitarist and past O3L guest Andy Strickland, Helen Stickland and Rob Perry) on their first new album in 27 years, the marvelous New Modern Homes.Hey, think of us as your friends with benefits. Y'know, if those benefits are learning about cool music and stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everybody's feelin' groovy, because this week we're traveling way back to 1970 with bassist/vocalist Ron Flynt and guitarist/vocalist Steve Allen from legendary power poppers 20/20!Aside from remembering the staggering number of great records released during our year of focus, we celebrate the release of 20/20's new album Back to California, their first LP in over 25 years, out now on Spyderpop / Big Stir Records. Whether you're a newcomer to the band or an ardent fan of their classics like "Yellow Pills", "Cheri", "Remember The Lightning", and "Nuclear Boy", prepare to fall in love with the hooks n' harmonies of the new record, which hearkens back to their roots but maintains a fresh and modern sound. Plus, Steve and Ron talk about feeling the magic again, reminisce about the early days of the band, the recording of their signature track (1979's "Yellow Pills"), hanging out in Phil Spector's mansion, dancing with Linda Blair, rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars at Sunset Strip haunts...and did O3L turn into the High Times podcast?!?Finally, we give the guys their belated induction into the Power Pop Hall of Fame...which we're in no way authorized to do, but they weren't aware they were already in it!Great stories, lots of laughs, and amazing music...turns out hindsight really is 20/20!Thanks to Rex Broome and Christina Bulbenko from Big Stir Records for the introduction.Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ah, the "all killer, no filler" album. Records you can listen to from start to finish without a lull or dip in quality. It's a tougher exercise than one would think, as many of our favorite albums are flawed...perhaps beautifully or purposefully so, but that's not what this episode is about, kids.Joining us for this discussion is Ed Mazzucco and Laura Watling from Portland dream pop/shoegaze band Tears Run Rings. In September 2024, they released their fourth album, Everything In The End. And, true, to this episode's topic, it's a double album ("two hefty boys") that is a front-to-back modern classic., with each side having a distinct tone and feel.Everything In The End is out now of Shelflife Records, which, incidentally, is run by Ed and TRR singer/guitarist Matthew Bice. Since its 1995 roots in a Southern California bedroom, Shelflife has amassed an incredible catalogue of indie pop gems, including highly recommended releases by The Ocean Blue, Close Lobsters, Treasures of Mexico, Acid House Kings, The Caternary Wires, The Shermans, Souvenir, The Luxembourg Signal, Red Sleeping Beauty, Even As We Speak, Jetstream Pony, and much, much more. https://shelflife.comThanks to Mike Turner from Crashing Through Publicity for the introduction! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"It's astonishing that a group as dedicated to quality and craft as California's Black Watch could go for...decades with a cult following the size of a kitchen sponge."So begins Michael Toland's entry of the black watch in the Trouser Press Record Guide. But what exactly is a cult band? It's something that we seek to define - with fifteen prime examples, natch - during O3L's Season 6 premiere! Joining us is the black watch's singer/songwriter/guitarist/prolific genius himself, John Andrew Fredrick!It should be noted that Toland follows up the kitchen sponge comment with "...the band's body of work is remarkably consistent, worth searching out by more than just epicures of obscurity." He's right, y'know. John Andrew Frederick has two dozen albums of stellar indie pop to his name since 1988, including a pair of fantastic records in 2024 - The Morning Papers Have Given Us the Vapours and Weird Rooms. You can find those and more at https://theblackwatch.bandcamp.com.What's it like to be a cult hero? What's the most "cultish" thing black watch fans have done? What beloved cult band can John not get behind? Did the lads give John some ideas for his upcoming double album?So whaddya say? Join the "Mark E. Smiths of podcasting" for an episode stuffed to the gills with epicures of obscurity, brilliant failures, and horrible pleasures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year!  After a long 2024, you deserve a weekend six pack to ring in 2025.  This week, we’re going to crack open six tunes that signify not only the changing of the calendar, but a sense of renewal and hope.  And can't we all use a little bit of optimism this year?Imbibe this: SUPER 8 - 'Resolution (Happy New Year)' (single, Think Like A Key) The Okmoniks - 'He Left The Party With Me' (from Afterparty Fever!!!, Slovenly Recordings) The Che Men - 'So It Goes' (from Echoes of the 30s) sparkle*jets uk - 'This Will Be Our Year' (from Box of Letters, Big Stir Records) Brett Vargo - 'New Era' (single, Little Train Rec.) Librarians with Hickeys - 'Everything Will Be Alright' (from How To Make Friends By Telephone, Big Stir Records) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices