• Yeah Yeah Yeahs with Matt Ozelius
    Nov 17 2024

    Garage Rock. Indie Sleaze. Electronic Dance Pop. This Brooklyn trio has done it all across a surprisingly long career, out lasting almost all of their early 2000s NYC contemporaries. It's YEAH YEAH YEAHS week!

    Joining the show this week is Boston-based musician Matt Ozelius! As drummers for him in recent years, Matt weighs in on the great debate over who is better behind the kit-Jon or Alex-before diving into the theatrical TV appearances of Karen O and co! The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are on Letterman a lot, and unfortunately Dave is a weird creep for over a decade. A garden-themed performance of "Maps" on the MTV Movie Awards is equally pretty and impressive. A broadway choir backs up the band in 2013, and Karen sings on top of molten lava nine years later on Kimmel.

    Want to watch along with us? Check out the links below for the performances discussed this week!

    Date with the Night, 6/26/2003 on The Late Show with David Letterman

    Maps, 6/5/2004 on The MTV Movie Awards

    Gold Lion, 3/29/2006 on The Late Show with David Letterman

    Down Boy, 7/26/2007 on The Late Show with David Letterman

    Zero, 4/14/2009 on The Late Show with David Letterman

    Sacrilege, 4/5/2013 on The Late Show with David Letterman

    Burning, 9/29/2022 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

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    2 hrs and 12 mins
  • Pearl Jam with Ryan Agate
    Oct 20 2024

    Inarguably the biggest and most successful band of the grunge era, they persisted while others could not. They fought the man at every turn, did it their way, and are an undeniable live juggernaut. It's PEARL JAM week!

    Joining the show as our second-ever returning guest is show promoter and pod-favorite Ryan Agate aka Ryan the Terrible! Back to back performances on SNL capture the big early moments of Pearl Jam, including a super rare 3-song stint a week after the death of Kurt Cobain. David Letterman can't get Black out of his head, has the band on his show multiple times, and ultimately inducts them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jeff Ament wears lots of hats. And Ryan and the guys somehow watch multiple movies and tv series during the record.

    Want to watch along with us? Check out the links below for the performances discussed this week!

    Alive/Porch, 4/11/1992 on Saturday Night Live

    Not For You/Rearviewmirror/Daughter, 4/16/1994 on Saturday Night Live

    Hail Hail, 9/20/1996 on The Late Show with David Letterman

    Wishlist, 5/1/1998 on The Late Show with David Letterman

    World Wide Suicide/Severed Hand/Alive, 5/6/2006 on Later...with Jools Holland

    Alive/Given to Fly/Better Man/Rockin' in the Free World, 4/7/2017 on The Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

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    2 hrs and 30 mins
  • The Cranberries
    Oct 6 2024

    They're quietly one of the most successful bands of the 90s, selling over 50 million records over the course of their career. Dominating the softer side of alt-rock radio, they took over America out of nowhere as the biggest Irish band since U2. It's THE CRANBERRIES week!

    We begin this week with two very different performances of "Dreams" and "Linger" on the Irish late night show Kenny Live, with the two clips 9 months apart across 1993. The album No Need to Argue is a massive hit and the group shows it off with a dirgy performance of "Zombie" on SNL. The Cranberries burn out hard by 1996, and a clip on the MTV VMA's makes that pretty clear. And we discuss the unique global superstardom of the late great Dolores O'Riordan, exemplified by our first clip ever from the Annual Vatican Christmas Concert in 2001 hosted by da pope!

    Want to watch along with us? Check out the links below for the performances discussed this week!

    Dreams, 3/6/1993 on Kenny Live

    Linger, 12/18/1993 on Kenny Live

    Zombie/Ode to My Family, 2/25/1995 on Saturday Night Live

    Salvation, 9/4/1996 on the MTV Video Music Awards

    Promises (11:15 mark), 4/26/1999 on The Late Show with David Letterman

    Analyse/Panis Angelicus/Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night, 12/24/2001 on the 9th Annual Vatican Christmas Concert

    Tomorrow, 2/7/2012 on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

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    2 hrs and 22 mins
  • The Strokes
    Sep 22 2024

    They were cool looking boys from the large apple. Leaders of a NYC and retro guitar rock revival, they wrote two of the catchiest and most memorable records of the early 2000s. Was that it? It's THE STROKES week!

    The Strokes make their network TV debut on Conan with a perfect sounding rendition of "The Modern Age". An early performance on SNL with a dreamy Julian Casablancas propels the band up the charts. We have our first ever Late Night TV show residency, with The Strokes performing Room on Fire songs every Tuesday in November 2003 on Conan. A return to SNL in 2006 does not go as well as the first time. The band makes multiple comeback attempts, some better than others. And Fabrizio Moretti wears lot of red shirts.

    Want to watch along with us? Check out the links below for the performances discussed this week!

    The Modern Age, 11/1/2001 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien

    Last Nite/Hard to Explain, 1/19/2002 on Saturday Night Live

    Reptilia/Whatever Happened/Under Control/I Can't Win, November 2003 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien

    Juicebox/You Only Live Once, 1/21/2006 on Saturday Night Live

    Under the Cover of Darkness/Life is Simple in the Moonlight, 3/5/2011 on Saturday Night Live

    The Adults are Talking/Bad Decisions, 10/31/2020 on Saturday Night Live

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    2 hrs and 16 mins
  • Slipknot
    Sep 8 2024

    They came from the heartland to destroy us all. More brutal death metal than nu, maggots from every corner of America rejoiced at their one-of-a-kind stage show, technical precision, and devil-fueled aggression. It's SLIPKNOT week!

    The guys explore the incredible backstory, lore, and turmoil of one of the most visually arresting bands the show has ever discussed. Slipknot make their UK television debut on TFI Friday, destroying cameras in the process. A 2001 Conan performance of "The Heretic Anthem" is potentially the peak of civilization. The show bends the rules in order to talk about Mistress Juliya from Uranium on Fuse TV, and it's badass. And later era clips on Kimmel show a band stretching their boundaries, for good and bad.

    Want to watch along with us? Check out the links below for the performances discussed this week!

    Wait and Bleed, 3/3/2000 on TFI Friday

    The Heretic Anthem, 8/10/2001 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien

    Duality/The Blister Exists (16:00 mark), 7/30/2004 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    N/A, 3/5/2005 on Uranium on Fuse TV

    Snuff/Psychosocial, 10/30/2009 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    Unsainted/All Out Life, 5/27/2019 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

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    2 hrs and 21 mins
  • Supergrass with Travis Shettel
    Aug 25 2024

    They exploded onto the 90s Britpop scene with fresh faces and clean teeth. Steven Spielberg wanted to turn them into the next Monkees. Instead, this UK phenomenon eschewed America and just did it their way. It's SUPERGRASS week!

    Joining the show is a long-time musical hero of Alex and Jon: lead singer and guitarist of the legendary Boston-based band Piebald, Travis Shettel! The guys and Travis talk through the past and present of Piebald before breaking down the unique and winding career path of Supergrass. Gaz Coombes and co. bus in all their Oxford buds for their TV debut on The Word. Ray Cokes of MTV Europe has the band flush a smashed watch down a toilet in between peformances of the big 'I Should Coco' hits. And Jonathan Ross returns to the show to the dismay of all involved. Plus the debut of "Chunk, Drag, or Grass?"!

    Want to watch along with us? Check out the links below for the performances discussed this week!

    Mansize Rooster, 2/10/1995 on The Word UK

    Ray Tripper/Alright/Caught by the Fuzz, 7/11/1995 on MTV Europe's Most Wanted with Ray Cokes

    Going Out, 3/11/1996 on TFI Friday

    Moving/Mary/Faraway, 11/28/1999 on Later...with Jools Holland

    Rush Hour Soul, 12/6/2002 on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross

    St. Petersburg, 9/25/2005 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

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    2 hrs and 12 mins
  • Janet Jackson with Robby Seabrook III
    Aug 11 2024

    She holds eye-popping album sale records, ushered a whole new style of pop music into the mainstream, and did it all as a socially conscious black woman in conservative white America. But one TV performance clouded all of it. It's JANET JACKSON week!

    Joining the show this week to help uncloud that cultural memory is music journalist Robby Seabrook III! Robby and the guys discuss Janet's early Jackson family life and mall pop career, including an American Bandstand clip featuring a creepy Dick Clark. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis change the game with Janet on Control and perform with her on the Grammys. Janet takes over the pop world, to the point MTV dedicates its entire 1993 New Year's Eve programming to her. And we return to the Super Bowl for a clip that changes everything about TV musical guest performances forever.

    Want to watch along with us? Check out the links below for the performances discussed this week!

    Young Love/Come Give Your Love to Me, 10/30/1982 on American Bandstand

    What Have You Done for Me Lately?, 2/24/1987 on The Grammy Awards

    Miss You Much/Rhythm Nation, 11/17/1989 on Peter's Pop Show

    Because of Love, 12/31/1993 on MTV Janet's New Year's Eve Jam

    The Way You Move" (Spirit of Houston and Ocean of Soul marching bands)/All for You(Janet Jackson)/Bad Boy for Life(P. Diddy)/Diddy to the tune of "Mickey"/Hot in Herre(Nelly)/Mo Money Mo Problems(P. Diddy)/Bawitdaba(Kid Rock)/Cowboy(Kid Rock)/Rhythm Nation(Janet Jackson)/Rock Your Body(Justin Timberlake with Janet Jackson), 2/1/2004 on The Super Bowl

    Nasty/Throb, 5/20/2018 on The Billboard Awards

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    2 hrs and 26 mins
  • Grab Bag: Supergroups
    Jul 28 2024

    Ill-conceived. Unnecessary. Over the top. No, not this podcast, but rather the topic at hand for our third-ever Grab Bag episode: SUPERGROUPS!

    Mr. Big brings together middling hair metal pros to create the "cordless-electric-hand-drill genre of rock guitar". The Backbeat Band featuring Greg Dulli, Mike Mills, and Dave Grohl performs one time and one time only. We talk Oysterhead again because why not. Velvet Revolver combines the washed-up power of Slash with the shirtless prowess of Scott Weiland. Tinted Windows has Taylor Hanson singing over Fountains of Wayne songs backed by Cheap Trick’s drummer. Chickenfoot is a band that exists for some reason and we talk about them. And boygenius revives the supergroup to actual positive ends.

    Want to watch along with us? Check out the links below for the performances discussed this week.

    Mr. Big, Just Take my Heart/Daddy Brother Lover Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song), 6/2/1992 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

    The Backbeat Band, Money/Long Tall Sally/Helter Skelter, 6/4/1994 on The MTV Movie Awards

    Oysterheard, Oz is Ever Floating, 11/15/2001 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien

    Velvet Revolver, Dirty Little Thing, 4/7/2005 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

    Tinted Windows, Kind of a Girl, 4/21/2009 on The Late Show with David Letterman

    Chickenfoot, Sexy Little Thing, 11/7/2009 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    boygenius, Not Strong Enough/Satanist, 11/11/2023 on Saturday Night Live


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    2 hrs and 23 mins