Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast

• E292 - The Whimbrels - Top 5 Noise Rock Albums

  Things are gonna get LOUD! This week, we turn the amps up to 11 and put the effects pedals on stun as we celebrate Noise Rock. What exactly is "noise rock" though?? At its simplest definition, it’s rock music that emphasizes noise - distortion, feedback, dissonance, abrasion.  But as a subgenre, it only takes a cursory look through internet music forums to see how easily these things can digress into petty arguments about what is or is not noise rock.  Commonly perceived as precursors to noise rock would be various ‘60s psych bands like 13th Floor Elevators and the ubiquitous Velvet Underground, free jazz, and early experimental music where traditional instruments were manipulated to sound like anything but traditional instruments.  In the punk era, the natural outgrowth were things like the no wave scene that was happening in New York and British bands like The Fall, Swell Maps, and This Heat.  From there, throughout the ‘80s, ‘90s and beyond, the term was synonymous with bands like Sonic Youth, Big Black, Swans, the Jesus Lizard, and any number of bands in which Steve Albini had a hand in some way.  Joining us to wade through the mud is a New York based band whose members had a hand in shaping our perception of noise rock. The Whimbrels have just released their self titled debut album on Dromedary Records, and it's an astounding, ambitious and riff-laden affair that has plenty of noise, but also a lot of dynamics and deceptively accessible moments.  Guitarist/Vocalist/Songwriter Arad Evans was associated with Glenn Branca’s ensemble from the 1980’s until Branca’s 2018 death, as well as his band Heroes of Toolik and scores of others.  Bassist/Vocalist/Songwriter Matt Hunter co-founded the great ‘90s/2000’s cult favorites New Radiant Storm King and has played with a ton of other notables such as J. Mascis, King Missile, and Silver Jews.  Thanks to Howard Wuelfing from Howlin' Wuelf Media for the introduction and coordination! Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• E291 - doubleVee - Top 5 Family Bands

  "Here's the story of a lovely couple Who are in a cool band they call doubleVee Allan & Barb Vest went on a podcast To discuss bands that are family. Here's the story of a groovy podcast, Hosted by two guys named Uncle Gregg and Brett They were diving deep through all the records Mostly classic alternative Til the one day when the Lads met the Vests And they knew it was much more than a fad That this group must somehow form a top five list That's the way we do it on Only Three Lads Only Three Lads Only Three Lads That's the way we do it on Only Three Lads!" That’s right - the focus of this week’s episode is on bands containing siblings, married couples, cousins, etc.  Coincidentally - actually, it’s totally NOT a coincidence - our Third Lads today are the Oklahoma-based married couple, Allan & Barb Vest, who make up the band doubleVee.  Allan was previously primary songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist for one of the best left-of-center indie pop bands of the early 2000s, Starlight Mints, who released four albums during the first decade of the new millennium.   Barb’s history notably includes writing, hosting and producing the nationally syndicated film soundtrack radio programFilmscapes, as well as editing a music webzine and performing with various bands.  Together as doubleVee, Allan & Barb have crafted some astounding and wildly inventive music - the highly recommended debut concept album The Moonlit Fables of Jack the Rider in 2017, the 2019 EP, the 2022 record Treat Her Strangely (containing "Your Love Is It Real?" as heard on the hit Netflix series Wednesday), and now the newly released EP Periscope At Midnight.  The music of doubleVee is a wonderful and beguiling thing - comfortingly poppy but with plenty of strange twists, turns and detours along the way.  Cinematic music with a keen and often whimsical eye for storytelling, doubleVee’s songs are beautiful and orchestral, but leaves you with the unsettling feeling that something grotesque may be bubbling underneath the surface.  Thanks to Howard Wuelfing for the introduction and coordination! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• O3L Presents: Weekend Six Pack, Vol. 25 - Music Is Our Mattress

  It’s Labor Day Weekend here in the U.S. and for our friends in Canada.  And you know what THAT means?  That’s right…mattress sales from coast to coast!  Slashing prices 50%, 60%, 70%!  (Plus applicable tariffs.)  Well, guess what we’ve got for you instead this holiday weekend?  Music is OUR mattress, and we’re here with insane deals on a six pack of the latest tunes. We won't rest easy 'til YOU rest easy! Acapulco Lips - 'Fuzzy Sunshine' (from the LP 'Now', Killroom Records) Orbis Max - 'If I Still Believe In Love At All' (single) The Planet Smashers - 'Things You Do" (from the LP 'On The Dancefloor', Stomp Records) Goodbye Wudaokou - 'I Can't Deal With September' (from the LP 'Anything Of Us', Subjangle) Sadlands - 'Twin Flame' (from the upcoming LP 'Try To Have A Little Fun', Wiretap Records) Maple Mars - 'Couldn't Have Been A Better Time' (single, Big Stir Records) Tariff free but providing as much support and comfort as the latest memory foam technology!    Thanks for supporting new music, the artists creating it and labels putting it out.  To keep this ecosystem going, we need to prop each other up now more than ever.  By downloading this podcast, you’re helping.  By following these bands on social media, you’re helping.  And, perhaps needless to say, buying their records, t-shirts, or seeing them live helps most of all! Have a great weekend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• E290 - Lemoyne Alexander - Top 5 Alt-Rock Inspired Hip-Hop Songs

  Hip-hop culture was a dominant force during the '80s and '90s, and inspired language, fashion, film, and music. Yes, that includes plenty of alternative music. But that's not what we're talking about today. Instead, we explore the inverse - how influential was alternative music in the world of hip hop?  While perhaps not quite as pervasive, it did exist - whether it be through the use of sampling recognizable songs, a cross-pollination of styles and artists coming together, or perhaps just an overall attitude or spirit. Our Third Lad this week, Lemoyne Alexander, is a man who has bridged both the hip-hop and alternative worlds and then some.  He played in family bands throughout the ‘70s & ‘80s including the Fascination, who had some dance club hits like 1986’s “Why Are You Always Complaining?” before settling in as a hip hop producer both solo and with the production team 3 Da Hard Way, working on records by the likes of Aalyiah, DMX, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, and for labels like Jive and Motown.  Lemoyne left the rap game to return to his earliest passions - the guitar and rock n’ roll, releasing Solitude in 2019 and Perfect World in 2023.  2024’s indie rock single “Insecurity” is an earworm that once you hear that infectious chorus, it’s going to take up residence in your head for all your days.  With a new single "Claustrophobia" (which you will hear during this episode!) and LP Alone on the horizon, Lemoyne is poised to continue making his mark on alt rock. Oh, and on top of that, we've got a brand new O3L game for y'all: Off Da Chartz (aka Rap Draft), in which our contestants draft five albums that they believe will appear on Boombox's list of the Top 50 Alternative Rap Albums of all time. Plus, Uncle Gregg rants aplenty. Oh, the rants. Yo! Thanks to Laura Bissett from the MyWhy Agency for the introduction and coordination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• E289 - Chris Stamey (the dB's) - Top 5 Producers

  Anything is possible as we welcome power pop icon Chris Stamey from the dB's as our Third Lad! Our focus topic is on the producers of the O3L era - the sonic architects that carry out the visions of the artists we love and shape the sound of our favorite records. And Chris Stamey is someone who knows, as he's produced some fantastic records over the years, including albums by Pylon, Whiskeytown, Le Tigre, The Butchies, Alejandro Escovedo, and many more. Of course, that's only scratching the surface of Chris's amazing 50 year career, from releasing one of the earliest DIY indie records (Sneakers) to playing with Alex Chilton in the late '70s to being one of the creative forces in the seminal, era-defining band the dB's, to his fruitful solo career, a radio play, a songwriting memoir, and working with over 100 artists including fellow dB and recent O3L guest Peter Holsapple, Yo La Tengo, Freedy Johnston, The Golden Palominos, and more recently with The Salt Collective and Jody Stephens' Big Star Quintet. We chat with Chris about his gorgeous new album, Anything Is Possible, the influence of Brian Wilson, Alex Chilton, Tin Pan Alley, and the Lemon Twigs, the essence of being Chris Stamey, and the enduring legacy of producers like Martin Hannett, Martin Rushent, John Leckie, Scott Litt, Mitch Easter, Joe Foster, Steve Albini, Rick Rubin, Gil Norton, John Fry, Chris Thomas, and more. During this episode, you will hear: Chris Stamey - "Anything Is Possible" Chris Stamey - "Meet Me In Midtown" The Salt Collective - "Last Day We're Young"  Thanks to Howard Wuelfing from Howlin' Wuelf Media for the introduction and coordination. Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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