Waterproof Records with Jacob Givens

Episode 100… I still can’t believe I’m saying that.

From the very beginning of Waterproof Records to right now—whether you’ve been here since day one or you’re just tuning in because of today’s guest—thank you for being part of this journey. This show has always been about the music that shapes us, the albums that change us, and the stories that stay with us forever.

For the first time ever in the Waterproof Records studio, I’m sitting down in person with a guest—and not just any guest.

Aaron “P-Nut” Wills of 311 joins me for Episode 100.

We talk about everything—from the early days of 311 and carving out a completely original sound, to life on the road, staying creative for decades, and what it really means to connect with music on a deeper level. We also get into those “waterproof records”—the albums that changed his DNA—and the impact of growing up in the Midwest, discovering music through MTV, and chasing that feeling we all know when something just hits.It’s a conversation about passion, longevity, creativity, and why music still matters as much as it ever did.This one means a lot to me. Hope you enjoy it.
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Episode 99 is here… and this one means everything.

After 99 episodes, the new home studio is finally dialed in—and it feels like the perfect moment to sit back, relax, and talk about one of the most important albums of my life.

Today, we’re diving into Explosions in the Sky – The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place.

If you’ve ever been unsure about instrumental music… if you’ve ever thought, “I need vocals to connect”… I get it. But if you’re going to give one album a chance to change your mind, let it be this one.

This record isn’t just music—it’s emotion. It’s memory. It’s life unfolding in sound.

In this episode, I talk about:

Why this album is in my all-time top 10

The beauty of instrumental storytelling and post-rock

How certain songs can hit you so hard… you can’t help but feel everything

A personal story about music, nostalgia, and choosing positivity over criticism

And why “music lover, not critic” is the energy I want to bring into everything I create

There’s something about this album that reminds you…the world isn’t cold and dead—it’s alive, emotional, and worth feeling deeply.

If you’ve been riding with me for a while—thank you.If this is your first episode—welcome. You picked a meaningful one.

Hit play, lean back, and let’s get into it.
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Remember when making a mixtape meant something? You didn’t just throw songs together — you crafted a vibe. You built a story. And if you were like me, you probably spent hours deciding which track belonged where. 

So that’s exactly what I did here.

This episode is Part One of my 90s B-side mixtape, a collection of deep cuts, soundtrack gems, and rare tracks from some of my favorite artists of the era. These are the kinds of songs you only discovered if you hunted down singles, B-sides, and compilation records back in the day — the songs that made you feel like you were in on a secret.

Think of this episode like the mixtape I would’ve made for you in the mid-90s… the one I hoped would make you think I had the coolest music taste in the world.

If you ever spent hours making a mixtape for a friend — or a crush — this one’s for you.

🎧 Sit back, press play, and then let’s flip the tape.

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Pantera’s Vulgar Display of Power is one of those albums that didn’t just play in the background of my teenage years — it hit me square in the chest.

Released on February 25, 1992, this record arrived at a time when I was trying to figure out who I was. I was a young metalhead in Tulsa, Oklahoma, feeling awkward, small, and unsure of where I fit in. Then along came this cassette tape — Vulgar Display of Power on one side and Gish by The Smashing Pumpkins on the other — and it completely reshaped my world.

From the opening punch of “Mouth for War” to the swagger and groove of “Walk,” this album felt powerful in a way that was almost overwhelming. Songs like “A New Level” and “F***ing Hostile” gave me a place to put the rage and confusion I didn’t yet know how to articulate. And “This Love” — with its haunting clean intro exploding into sheer sonic violence — remains one of the most dynamic metal songs I’ve ever heard.

Produced by Terry Date, the sound of this record is massive. Dimebag Darrell’s guitar tone slices through everything with that unmistakable groove. Vinnie Paul’s drumming is thunderous. Phil Anselmo’s voice moves between bark, growl, and melody in a way that felt alive and unpredictable. It was heavier than anything I had really absorbed up to that point — and I couldn’t get enough.

This episode isn’t about controversy or debate. It’s about what this album meant to me in 1992 — how it felt to hear it for the first time on a Walkman, how it carried me through insecurity and bullying, and why it still hits just as hard decades later.

Whether you grew up with Pantera or you’re hearing this album for the first time, I’d love to know your experience. Where were you when you first heard Vulgar Display of Power?

Let’s talk about it.
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How did it take me 96 episodes to finally talk about Dusk by The The?! This album has lived in my heart since I was a teenager, and revisiting it now hit me in a totally different way.

In this episode of Waterproof Records, I dive deep into Matt Johnson’s 1993 masterpiece — an album that charted huge in the UK but flew under the radar here in the U.S. We talk about the haunting atmosphere of Dusk, the emotional weight of tracks like “Love Is Stronger Than Death,” “Dogs of Lust,” “This Is the Night,” and “Bluer Than Midnight,” and why this record still feels just as powerful decades later.
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