E297 - Genny Schorr (Author, All Roads Lead to Punk & '70s LA Punks Backstage Pass) - Top 5 All (or Mostly) Girl Bands
This week, we tip our hats to the trailblazing all (or mostly) girl bands of alternative rock. Speaking of the trailblazers, today’s ceremonial Third Lad certainly is one. As a musician and songwriter, Genny Schorr (aka Genny Body) was a member of one of the first mostly female punk bands in LA, Backstage Pass, along with past O3L guest Marina Muhlfriedel (aka Marina Del Rey), Joanna Spock Dean, and Holly Beth Vincent, later of Holly & The Italians (of “Tell That Girl To Shut Up” fame). They were critical in the launch of legendary LA punk club The Masque. They landed a track on Rhino Records’ seminal LA punk comp, Saturday Night Pogo. They played with, and their story intertwines with, a jaw-dropping list of punk, new wave, and rock heroes. After Backstage Pass, she was invited to be in the Go-Go’s. She owned the influential rock n’ roll clothing boutique Strait Jacket with Stiff Records’ impresario Jake Rivera, which launched a long career as a wardrobe designer and stylist to the stars. Many of those stylish videos, album covers, and magazine shoots you love from the ‘80s? Genny had a hand in sculpting the look. She lived with and toured with Linda Ronstadt as her personal wardrobe stylist as the singer transformed her image from new wave darling on the Get Closer tour to sophisticated starlet stepping in front of Nelson Riddle’s big band. She styled and toured with the Bangles at their peak. But ultimately, All Roads Lead to Punk - which just happens to be the title of Genny Schorr’s incredible new memoir of sex, drugs, rock n’ roll and fashion fromHoZac Books. It’s not only a fantastic page-turner, but the photos and ephemera make it an indispensable time capsule of the era.
If you think the stories Genny shares on O3L are incredible...just wait til you read the book!
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1:43:54
E296 - Rebecca Pidgeon - Top 5 Musician-Actors
Well, dog our cats...it's a new episode of O3L! This week, lovin' is what EGOT, as we celebrate those artists who successfully traversed the worlds of music AND acting.
And, it just so happens that our Third Lad today, Rebecca Pidgeon, has indeed enjoyed a long and fruitful career in both worlds. As an actress, she has appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows since the late ‘80s, including The Spanish Prisoner, The Winslow Boy, State and Main (all of the preceding written and directed by her husband, the legendary David Mamet), Shopgirl, Red, Allegiant, Bird Box, her daughter Clara Mamet’s Two Bit Waltz, and many more.
As a musician, Rebecca began her career as the lead singer of Scottish folk/pop band Ruby Blue. After two charming albums with band - Glances Askances (1987) and Down from Above (1990), she has released a succession of 12 acclaimed solo albums like 1994’s The Raven, 1996’s The New York Girls’ Club, and 2019’s ambitiously brilliant double album Sudden Exposure to Light / Comfort, right up to her two most recent spectacular releases, 2024’s Songs of LA and 2025’s Unillusion.
Special thanks to Howard Wuelfing from Howlin Wuelf Media for the introduction and coordination.
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1:39:46
E295 - Gun-Shy Butterfly - Top 5 Women-led Albums of the '90s
We like women.
Not in a creepy way (usually)...we mean we really like music created by women. So, in our ongoing series of episodes celebrating women in alternative music, this week we are covering our top 5 women-led albums of the 1990s. Appropriately enough, our Third Lads this week are a dynamic duo who "lived through this" and are inspired by this music - Julie Exter and Andrea Tarka White from Philly-based rock band Gun-Shy Butterfly! They currently have four singles that exemplify what the band has dubbed "bubble grunge" - a combination of sugary melodies and crunchy hooks that would have been right at home on mid-90s alternative radio.
We hit it off right away with Andrea & Julie...we love 'em and we know you will too!
But wait...there's also discussions about: tattoos, Higglytown Heroes, Nairing...uh...various areas, Goldschlager and comics, flip-flops (yes, again), our new grunge band Grotesque Quiche,
hologram Jewel, hosers, Easttown accents, Julie's music/comedy podcast Rock'n'LOL, and much more. Oh, and guess what? A brand new O3L game called "Riot Grrrl Riot" - in which our contestants (and host) receive their very own riot grrrl names. As Kim deal would say to Gregg, "ugh!"
Songs:
Gun-Shy Butterfly - "Dark Side"
Gun-Shy Butterfly - "Manchild"
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2:06:26
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2:06:26
E294 - Splitsville - Top 5 Covers That Are Better Than the Originals
We've covered covers before, but this week we're really blowing our cover by covering covers that we feel are better than the originals. With such a controversial topic, you'd best believe that there are petty arguments, silent treatments, and fisticuffs galore as we tackle some of popular music's sacred cows. Fisticuffs, we say! (OK, well, it was more civilized than that. We're not savages!)
And joining us for this discussion today? It's Splitsville, daddy-o!
That's right...one score and two years after their last album, Baltimore indie rock/power pop heroes Splitsville are dressed up and ready to party with a brand new record, Mobtown, on Big Stir Records. It's a remarkable song cycle, a love letter of sorts to their hometown, that sits comfortably alongside the band's other essential releases such as 1997's Ultrasound, 1999's Repeater, 2003's Incorporated, and 2001's modern classic The Complete Pet Soul - a pop stunner that lives up to the weight of its referential title and influences. We welcome guitarist Matt Huseman, drummer Brandt Huseman (both of whom were the driving forces one of the best mid-90s power pop bands, the Greenberry Woods), bassist Paul Kryziak, and guitarist Tony Waddy.
Plus, play along to the brand new O3L game "Blanktown Heroes"!
Technical note:
You may also notice some imperfections on Splitsville’s vocal track in places - there was an inexplicable glitch that almost sounded like when you'd hit fast forward on a CD player. That being said, we know you’ll enjoy listening to it as much as we did recording it.
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E293 - The Rain Parade - Top 5 Debut Singles, Vol. 2
Who said you never get a second chance to make a first impression!?!? Well, we covered some of the best debut singles waaaay back in Episode 32...and now, five years later, we're back to revisit that topic. So take that, Head & Shoulders!
Hey, speaking of second times, guess who's back as our Third Lads this week? (No fair, you cheated by looking at the episode title!) Yes, that's right, it's guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Matt Piucci and bassist/vocalist/songwriter Steven Roback from seminal LA "Paisley Underground" band The Rain Parade! The last time Matt & Steven joined us (Episode 259), they subtly hinted that there was something in the works for their underrated second full-length album, 1985's Crashing Dream. We have now been treated to a spectacular double disc deluxe reissue on Label 51 Recordings, that not only gives fans an opportunity to re-appraise this lost gem, but is chock full of demos, alternate versions and live bonus tracks that flesh out the story of this fertile chapter in the Rain Parade legacy.
Prepare thyself for plenty of stories about the past, present, and future of Rain Parade, including recounting memories of their debut single, "What She's Done To Your Mind" from 1982. Hanging out with the guys is always a pleasure, but we digress. A lot.
Special thanks to Josh Mills.
Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family.
#paisleyunderground #janglepop #collegerock #psychedelic #80smusic #classicalternative #musicpodcast
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About Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast
Only Three Lads is a lively podcast celebrating the Golden Age of Alternative Music from the '70s, '80s & '90s. Join Uncle Gregg, Brett Vargo, and a variety of ”Third Lads” as we share our Top Fives, stories, and news about the music we love, and have a lot of fun along the way! Whether you‘re into indie, punk, new wave, Britpop, power pop, synth pop, shoegaze, grunge...or whatever...there is going to be something for you to discover and love. Part of Pantheon Podcasts.
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