Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast

Welcome to the crossroads...making a deal with the devil is optional.

This week, we examine the crossroads of punk rock and the blues with returning Third Lad Johnny Iguana from The Claudettes. We explore the zone where the primitive riffs, repetition, swagger, and emotional themes of the blues intersect with punk’s volume, attitude, and lack of polish.

It's a description that has - in part - been used to describe the music of Chicago band The Claudettes, who have a regard and respect for both the tradition of the blues and the DIY aesthetic of punk, but that’s also just a little tiny part of the band's appeal. Listen to their back catalogue right up to their new Pravda Records album Garage Glamour, and, yeah, you have shades of punk sass and blues grit, but also deep jazz, retro soul, cabaret noir, slinky funk, rock and pop, all tied together with the powerful vocals of the band’s new singer Rachel Williams and, as always, the impeccable songwriting and musical direction of keyboardist Johnny Iguana. Johnny’s illustrious career has included playing with legends like Junior Wells, Koko Taylor, John Primer, Johnny Winter, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, and scores more. Oh, and speaking of scores, he’s also the co-composer of the music for the hit FX show The Bear.

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They're creepy, they're kooky, they're altogether spooky...but they ROCK!

It's a MONSTER of a Halloween edition of the Only Three Lads Weekend Six Pack, featuring six frighteningly groovy new tunes guaranteed to rattle a few bones!

Our very special guest is Matt Favazza from Chicago garage punk veterans THE GOLDSTARS, who joins us to talk about their first full-length album in over 20 years, The Halloween Album! It's 13 tracks (what else?) of ghoulish rock n' roll goodness, out NOW on Mordorlorff Music!

This week's spine-tingling Six Pack:

•

The Goldstars – "Monsters Go Away" (from The Halloween Album, Mordorlorff Music)

•

The Darts – "Vampires In Love" (from Halloween Love Songs, Meow Hiss Music)

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Palmyra Delran & The Doppel Gang – "Spirit In My House" (single, Wicked Cool Records)

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The Hellflowers – "Creature" (from the forthcoming album Haunted)

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Guerrilla Teens – "Gravedigger" (from the EP Sympathy For The Decibel, Sonic Jett Records)

•

Lady Darkevyl feat. Chris Church – "I Watch You Sleep" (from the compilation Chilling, Thrilling Hooks and Haunted Harmonies, Big Stir Records)

TURN IT UP...IF YOU DARE!

Hear The Goldstars' new album at https://thegoldstars.bandcamp.com/.

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Looking at critical lists of the greatest New York albums of all time, they seem heavily slanted towards the initial art punk blast of the late ‘70s (and deservedly so) with Ramones, Blondie, Television, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, etc., hip-hop in the ‘90s like Nas, Biggie, Wu-Tang, Jay-Z, or the indie rock of the 2000s with The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Interpol. But the ‘80s was the decade that provided the crucial bridge to all of that, a melting pot of styles as diverse as the city itself. From noise rock to pure pop to rap to no wave jazz, we celebrate the kaleidoscopic world of the Big Apple in the Reagan era.

Joining Brett for the discussion is someone who wasn't just merely there, but was a crucial part of the New York music and art landscape in the '80s. Drummer Bob Bert spent the decade behind the kit for two legendary bands, Sonic Youth and Pussy Galore. His recently released debut solo album, Beach Bongo Bloodbath (Bar/None Records) is the record you didn't realize you needed in 2026 - 25 minutes of percussion-forward, guitar free, gloriously unhinged originals and cover versions like you've never heard them done before.

Hear about Bob's adventures through the vibrant NYC art punk scene of the '70s and '80s, silkscreen printing for Andy Warhol, joining Sonic Youth and making of one of the most beloved albums of their career (Bad Moon Rising), the force of nature that is Lydia Lunch, and what makeshift percussion "instrument" Steve Albini gifted Bob to complete his drum kit with Pussy Galore.

Thanks to Howard Wuelfing from Howlin' Wuelf Media for the introduction and coordination.

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#OnlyThreeLads #O3L #BobBert #BeachBongoBloodbath #SonicYouth #PussyGalore #NYC #80sMusic #AlternativeMusic #PunkRock

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This week's Third Lad Wesley Stace (aka singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding) had dinner reservations to get to, which meant that we didn't get to play this absurdly fun O3L game with him - "The Dylan Dylemma".

But, hey, we're not ones to let a good game go to waste. Play along with our only contestant, Uncle Gregg, as he is challenged to guess which quote came from which famous Dylan - Nobel Prize winning, Rock n' Roll Hall Fame troubadour Bob Dylan; hard-drinking Welsh poet Dylan Thomas; or brooding Porsche owner Dylan McKay (as played by Luke Perry on the hit '90s TV show Beverly Hills 90210).

How well do YOU know your Dylans!?

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With over 1,500 covers of 350+ compositions by over 600 artists, Bob Dylanis is clearly one of the most frequently covered songwriters in music history. His material has been covered at some point by a wide range of rock, pop, folk, soul, blues, country, and jazz artists. For a folkie from Minnesota inspired by songs learned from Woody Guthrie to a rock legend, he has built a songbook that will surely be passed down as long as there are voices to sing and ears to listen.

Appropriately enough, our Third Lad is a prolific singer / songwriter who cribbed the stage name that he’s used throughout his career from one of Dylan’s iconic records. Since the late ‘80s, British born and raised Wesley Stace and his alter ego John Wesley Harding has strung together a remarkable and varied catalogue, from early records like 1989’s Here Comes The Groom and 1991’s The Name Above The Title that grabbed the attention of alternative radio and MTV to recent critical favorites like the Americana of 2017’s Wesley Stace’s John Wesley Harding and the elegance of 2021’s Late Style. His brand new album on Pravda Records, One Last Heist, is an organic, slinky, groovy affair - one that will surely thrill long time fans of Wesley’s clever narratives and exquisite songcraft, yet doesn’t quite sound like anything he’s ever done before. As if he wasn’t already a renaissance man, he’s also penned four novels and since 2009 has curated the recurring live variety show Wesley Stace’s Cabinet of Wonders at New York’s City Winery, featuring a few dropping assortment of his creative friends from the worlds of music, literature, and comedy.

Special thanks to Howard Wuelfing for his introduction and coordination.

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Explore the past, present, and future as we welcome the return of one of the most pivotal figures of alternative music, Robyn Hitchcock!

The past: We wax ecstatic about the best albums of 1968, the year that happens to be the launching point in Robyn's newly released second memoir, Stranded In The Future (Akashic Books).

The present: Stranded In The Future is a delightfully surreal self-portrait of the artist as a young man, from teenage obsessions through to the formation of his seminal band The Soft Boys. Fans of his first volume, 1967: How I Got There and Why I Never Left, will delight in how the story continues to unfold. But Robyn has not only turned in an exquisitely crafted page-turner in 2026, he also also released an exquisitely crafted new album, The Confuser, on Tiny Ghost Records. It's a record bearing all of the trademarks of classic Hitchcock - absurdist imagery, clever lyrical turns, sparkling pop melodies, and the perfect combination of jangle and groove.

The future: The lads contemplate the future of rock n' roll and the impact of artificial intelligence on art and life.

We are this thing.

Thanks to Holly Watson from Holly Watson PR for the coodination!

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Go ahead. Laugh and point as Brett struggles through pronunciations...because this week, we're taking on the Top 5 German Albums. Diese Alben sind sehr gut!

Fortunately, we are joined by the gloriously cinematic experimental duo hackedepicciotto - comprised of musical and life partners Alexander Hacke (formerly of German post-punk/industrial pioneers Einstürzende Neubauten) and multi-disciplinary artist Danielle DePicciotto. Their newly released 10th album, Lichtung (Mute Records), is a beautiful, expansive mix of electronics and organic instrumentation, with lyrics - for the first time in their discography - written entirely in German. As Alex and Danielle put it, "[Lichtung] means a clearing, a place in which you can suddenly see the light in a dark forest, a place to rest. As the world seems to be spinning ever more quickly into a place of madness, being in this quiet place helps us think about how to deal with it all.”

Put on your best tablecloth dress and listen to our picks, get swept up in the love story of Alex and Danielle, take in a history lesson or two, learn what the "ZZ Top Theory" is, and much, much more.

Special thanks to Howard Wuelfing from Howlin' Wuelf Media for the introduction and coordination.

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It's time for another in our series of label spotlights, as this week we turn our focus to Hoboken indie Bar/None Records, celebrating its 40th anniversary. Joining us is no better authority than the most omni-present figure in the label's history, Glenn Morrow! In 1986, Glenn's band Rage to Live became the first act signed to startup label Bar/None. Later that year, Glenn would become a partner with the label's founder Tom Prendergast and eventually sole proprietor - a post he held until earlier this year.

Even though he stepped away from his role at the label, his third opus with his current outfit Glenn Morrow's Cry For Help, Our Final Album - Vol. 1, is out now on (what else??) Bar/None Records. The album features 11 new songs and finds the band exploring a number of styles and moods that are sure to please long-time fans as well as newcomers.

During Bar/None's influential history, they have released pivotal records by They Might Be Giants, The Front Bottoms, Yo La Tengo, Freedy Johnston, Edwyn Collins, 10,000 Maniacs, Alex Chilton, The dB's, Ben Vaughn, The Feelies, of Montreal, Richard Hawley, and over 100 other arists. During this episode, we chat about our Top 5 albums from the Bar/None catalogue, catch a history lesson on the label, and get a glimpse of future releases.

Thanks to Howard Wuelfing from Howlin' Wuelf Media for the introduction and coordination.

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Hear ye, hear ye! We hereby declare this month SKEPTEMBER at O3L! That's right, the releases of the UK fiercely independent label Skep Wax Records have been so uniformly excellent this year that we thought it was high time to dedicate an entire episode to them.

Skep Wax is run by indie legends Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey, whose long history runs through seminal bands like Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, Marine Research, Catenary Wires, and Swansea Sound. The label carries forward the DIY spirit that drove labels like Sarah Records and K Records, with the simple premise of releasing terrific music on their own terms, driven by the belief that NOTHING beats a great pop record. During this episode, you will hear this delectable six pack of tracks:

1) Swansea Sound - "Mean To Be Mean" (from the forthcoming LP Pre-Post Truth)

2) British Birds - "Scary Movies" (from the upcoming album Oscillate, Murmurate)

3) Jetstream Pony - "Grimalkin Tom" (from the compilation Pets Sounds)

4) The Would-Be-Goods - "Witch Hazel" (from the marvelous record Tears Before Bedtime)

5) Railcard - "Flannelette" (from the brand new long player Two Steps At A Time)

6) Foglights - "A Brighter Kind of Almost" (from the debut EP Nous Deux)

Bonus Track!

Gay Skeleton Club - "2 Cats" (also from Pets Sounds)

Thanks to Amelia, Rob, and the brilliant Skep Wax roster. Get these releases and more at https://skepwax.bandcamp.com. Have a splendid weekend!

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Anyone who have ever had any sort of aspirations of making it in the music business know this well - the chances of “making it” are so slim you might as well play the Lottery with the expectation of becoming a gazillionaire or stand motionless in the same spot waiting to be hit by lightning. All of the things they tell you to keep you motivated are important - having a dream, drive, determination, and, of course, talent…but that’s clearly not all there is to it. There are connections and industry politics, but, more than anything, it takes a world of luck. It’s like this constant series of sliding doors where you need to be at the right place at the right time, and any little tweaks to your timeline and decisions could be the difference maker between being a hopeful and being huge. Today, we’re going to be talking about the bands that should have been huge - but never quite crossed over to the massive audience they deserved.

Case in point is the band Freedom Quest, who built up a solid following in San Diego and Southern California in the early ‘70s, built off of the soulful, stirring songs of Craig Ingraham. It’s hard not to listen to this material (available on streaming services as the album Freedom Quest under Craig Ingraham’s name), and wonder how they didn’t become huge. All of the ingredients are there - beautiful tunes, expert musicianship, messages of peace, love, and unity that perfectly capture the zeitgeist of the era. So what happened to Freedom Quest? Well, a lot, it turns out and you can read the slightly fictionalized version of events in Debora Masterson’s debut novel Freedom Quest: A Love Story (Atmosphere Press), which winds through nearly 60 years in the lives of main characters Michael and Grace - from young star-crossed lovers to bandmates with a world of possibilities in front of them to facing life’s unique twists and turns separately to, ultimately, finding their way back to each other. It’s the kind of story that reminds you that fate and destiny are very real and powerful forces, and it doesn’t take you long to recognize that the love story of Michael and Grace is largely the love story of Craig and Debora. It’s a compelling read with a real life soundtrack, as you will learn as we welcome educator, producer, musician, dancer, and now author Debora Masterson!

Thanks to Philip Nakov from City PR for the introduction and coordination.

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Hey you! Not so F.A.S.T.!** This week, we welcome one of the coolest people on the planet, Nicole Laurenne, to talk about one of the coolest instruments on the planet...the organ!

Nicole has been working double duty this year, constantly touring and turning in amazing albums with both of her projects. All-female garage punk band The Darts released the riotously fun, fiendishly campy rock n' roll blast of Halloween Love Songs, while Nicole's smoky, jazz-soaked project Black Viiolet weighed in with the velvety, soulful record Dark Blue. Both records wonderfully capture two sides of Nicole's musical personality.

Sure, you'll get a condensed history of the organ from aqueducts and pipes to modern electronics, but we, of course, focus on music that RAWKS! Plus, we also talk doorbells, body positivity, tofu, vegan cheese, life on the road, famous fans, movie ideas, pizza and more. Also, to celebrate Nicole's past life, we play a brand new world-famous O3L game "Here Comes the Judge!"

Y'know, just the kind of high-brow commentary you would expect from not just one, but TWO Phoenix New Times award winners!

**Farfisa All Silicon Transistor

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This week, Uncle Gregg, Brett, and Third Lad Stephen Hunking (guitarist/vocalist of cult '80s/'90s band Hypnolovewheel) dig into albums that critics raved about...but the record-buying public just didn't show up for.

Stephen joins the show to talk about Hypnolovewheel's history — from a hilarious and chaotically-worded "drummers wanted" flyer that started it all, to their new reissue campaign kicking off with the compilation Parallel Universe (out now on streaming and Bandcamp), to reclaiming their masters decades later, and their reunion performance at Dromfest in the Catskills over Labor Day weekend.

From the comic book store to the flower fields (and with plenty of Gregg bile), this is a fun-filled joyride that critics love...and you WON'T want to ignore!

Featured tracks: "Wow" and "Everywhere and Nowhere Girl" (both available on Parallel Universe.

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Surrender to the rhythm as we drink up the Pub Rock scene with author Mark Wilkerson!

U.K. , early 1970s: In response to the glitz of glam and the pomp of prog there emerged a DIY, back to basics scene known as pub rock: no-fuss, grass roots rock’n’roll bands playing in tight, sweaty rooms to packed throngs in the Victorian pubs of north London. Pub rock was a relative flash in the pan, lasting only a handful of years, but it produced a seismic shift, bridging the gap between rock’s Baroque period and the ensuing punk and new wave scene, and crucially, restoring the visceral connection between artist and audience.

Through trailblazing artists like Brinsley Schwarz, Dr. Feelgood and Kilburn and the High Roads, pub rock paved the way for countless acts of monumental stature including the Clash, Madness, the Sex Pistols, Blondie, and the Pretenders.

Mark Wilkerson's new book, Pub Rock (33 1/3 Genre series, Bloomsbury Academic) explores the genre’s hardscrabble evolution, and examines its significant and enduring legacy.

Mark is also the author of Who Are You: The Life of Pete Townshend, Tomas Young's War, and Hollywood Dream: The Thunderclap Newman Story, and the co-author of the New York Times bestseller Pearl Jam Twenty.

Do anything you wanna do...especially if that "anything" includes O3L!

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During last week's episode, Jon Langford from The Mekons joined us on the heels of Horror-ble, their newly released dub reimaging on their 2025 album Horror. While we’ve got dub on the mind, we were reminded that we have been sitting on a long lost interview with pioneering English producer, remixer, and label owner Adrian Sherwood. Throughout his career, Adrian has worked with reggae greats such as Lee "Scratch" Perry and Mikey Dread, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Blur, Primal Scream, Sinead O’Connor, KMFDM, Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Einsturzende Neubauten, and so many others, formed the early ‘80s post-punk dub collective New Age Steppers with members of The Slits, The Pop Group, and Public Image Limited, as well as industrial hip-hop group Tackhead in the ‘90s. His record label On-U Sound System has been one of the most beloved and respected labels for dub, reggae, and experimental electronic music since 1979.

As a solo artist, the record we were focused on for our chat was his 9th album, 2025’s The Collapse of Everything. This meticulously constructed record sees Adrian move beyond the mixing desk and take centre stage, pushing his ever adventurous sound into new frontiers.

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Ahoy, mateys! This week, we hoist the sails for a swashbuckling, deadline-fueled speed date with a genuine punk legend: Jon Langford of The Mekons (as well as The Three Johns, Waco Brothers, and Men of Gwent). We catch up with Jon somewhere in upstate New York next to a farm stand selling tomatoes and honey (which Jon assures us is "quite civilized").

The Mekons are going on 50 years as a band, from their chaotic early days on the Leeds art-punk scene to classic records like 1985's Fear and Whiskey and 1989's The Mekons Rock n' Roll. And they're still making great and very relevant music. Jon dives into their new dub companion album Horror-able — a wild reimagining of 2025's Horror - by Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu), done with zero input from the band on what the songs were "supposed" to sound like.

We go full nautical with our list of Songs of the Sea this week — including a shockingly filthy history lesson and the mythology of sirens and selkies.

Special thanks to Josh Mills from It's Alive Media for the introduction and coordination.

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What's going on, you ask? Well, we can't make any promises, but we have a sneaking suspicion that we're gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove...because this week we focus on the classic albums of 1971!

Our Third Lads love the music of 1971 as much as we do, as evidenced by their sparkling jangle pop and harmony-drenched folk-rock - the Scottish father/son combo Kevin and Scott Robertson! The pair have been recording music for a nearly a decade as part of the band The Vapour Trails, and now have treated us to their first album as a duo, simply entitled Robertson. Separately, Kevin and Scott have also released terrific solo records (Kevin appeared as a Third Lad during Episode 159 on the heels of his marvelous 2023 album Magic Spells Abound).

Feel the family love as we talk about the joy and pride of recording together, being a first time grandad (Kevin) and uncle (Scott), and...huge spoiler alert...we pick the World Cup winner! (Second spoiler alert: yeah, we know it's already over. We recorded this episode before though.) (Third spoiler alert: we got it wrong.)

Turn and face the strange!

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We're back with a brand new Weekend Six Pack, bringing you six fresh tracks that have made us feel warm and fuzzy inside.

This time out, Brett welcomes Swedish singer/songwriter David Myhr, formerly of the band The Merrymakers, who released two albums in the '90s including the pristine pop classic Bubblegun (which was released in the U.S. on past Third Lad Dean Brownrout's Big Deal label). David has a new album on tap for September 18th (physical) and October 2nd (digital) called Everything Is All About You, and we've got the joyous forthcoming single "Say Yes" on tap. Plus, five other cool tunes, including a track from the newly released Strawberry Alarm Clock LP Where's One? to cap off an exciting SAC Week on O3L!

In this Six Pack:

1) David Myhr - "Say Yes" (from the forthcoming LP Everything Is All About You, Oglio Entertainment)

2) The Roadhouse Rebels with Tony Valentino - "Fury and Dust" (single)

3) Paper Tigers - "Go Out" (from the LP East Coaster...out next Wednesday!)

4) British Birds - "Lie Down with Dogs, Stand Up with Fleas" (from the upcoming album Murmurate, Oscillate, Skep Wax)

5) Joel Cusumano - "Buying Time" (from the Appendix EP, Dandy Boy Records)

6) The Strawberry Alarm Clock - "I'm Not The One" (from the psych-pop legends' first new album of all-original material since 1969 Where's One?, Big Stir Records)

"Say Yes" to this Six Pack!

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Whoaaaaaa, man. This might be the nutmeg tea talkin', but we're seeing double. Two episodes with twice the requisite amount of Lads. It's time for the exciting conclusion of our conversation with '60s psych-pop pioneers the Strawberry Alarm Clock. in which we discuss our Top 5 songs that best represent the psychedelic era.

Bassist George Bunnell, keyboardist Mark Weitz, drummer Randy Seol, and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/producer Steve Bartek (also a founding member of Oingo Boingo!) join us to discuss the band's history, the music of their peers, and - perhaps most importantly - the first new SAC album of original material since 1969, Where's One? , out on Big Stir Records on August 7th! The band will also be headlining the final night of the Tiki Oasis festival in San Diego on Sunday, August 9th.

Far out!

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Pass time with the SAC...as we welcome '60s psych-pop pioneers the Strawberry Alarm Clock to O3L for a very special two parter!

During part 1, bassist George Bunnell, keyboardist Mark Weitz, drummer Randy Seol, and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/producer Steve Bartek (also a founding member of Oingo Boingo!) join us to discuss the band's history, the creation of one of the greatest and biggest hits of the psychedelic era, "Incense and Peppermints", the underappreciated second album, unscrupulous managers, and - perhaps most importantly - the first new SAC album of original material since 1969, Where's One? , out on Big Stir Records on August 7th! The band will also be playing the final night of the Tiki Oasis festival in San Diego on Sunday, August 9th.

Stay tuned for Part 2 - where we discuss our Top 5 Songs That Best Represent the Psychedelic Era!

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It's BANDAMANIA as we welcome Brazil’s sensational pop combo Banda AL9 to celebrate the release of their new album, Hey! Hey! We’re Banda AL9, on Wicked Cool Records.

Known for their dazzling harmonies, retro-inspired style, and infectious melodies, Banda AL9 have quickly become one of the most exciting new acts in modern pop.

This is the audio edit of our very first livestream event, where we were joined by an international group of fans, including representation from Brazil, Japan, Mexico, and the U.S. Even if you didn't catch it live, you can experience this one-of-a-kind interactive event packed with behind-the-scenes stories, games, and discussions on everything from hair metal to fast food to Disney princesses to Miley Cyrus to what it's like to have rock legend/label boss Little Steven write a song for them.

The boys also treated us to a live acoustic version of "Indigo Skye" (albeit captured in very lo-fi quality).

Many thanks to Mike Cubillos from Earshot Media for his incredible coordination for this event, and to the Wicked Cool Records crew for the vinyl and CDs we gave away during the show!

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