Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast

10/10/2025

Huge gratitude to Jim Doherty aka DJ Calc for the O3L shoutout and for playing my song "Didn't Know I Needed This (Until I Needed This)" on his September 30th show on WRKC! Jim's show is always two of the best hours of music on the radio every week. Check it out here! https://djcalc.com/2025/10/05/finding-a-new-home/

-Brett

I am hoping to use this site to not only host the recordings of my weekly show on wrkc.kings.edu but also to include playlists and commentary about my choices for the show. Who knows, we might even…

10/10/2025

Thank you to everyone who has kindly sent in messages for our 300th show. We've received so many wonderful and thoughtful clips...it's going to be a great show! There's still time if anyone else is interested in participating - details below. We love the O3L Community!

We don't claim to be math wizzes, but by our calculation, we're pulling up on a milestone! The 300th episode of Only Three Lads will be released in late October. We tend to go into blatant self-congratulatory mode for these big episodes 😉, and would love YOUR help!

To mark the occasion, we would love to get as many messages as possible to play during the episode. It doesn't need to be anything too elaborate (unless you want it to be...ha) or professional (a cell phone recording works!) or long (30 - 60 seconds is perfect). And, if you are a musician, writer, podcaster, or any other sort of creator, feel free to throw in a plug for what you have going on! Be sure to include in your message who you are.

If you are willing and able, please send your messages to us by DM or email: onlythreelads(at)gmail.com by October 15th. We will be forever grateful!

07/10/2025

**NEW EPISODE ALERT! Listen wherever you get podcasts or go to https://linktr.ee/onlythreelads. Drop your list in the comments!**

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.

Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family.

07/10/2025

Thanks to the legendary Tony Valentino from the Standells for sending this picture of him rocking an O3L t-shirt live on stage!

How does he launder it, you ask? Only in Dirty Water! (Sorry, we'll show ourselves out.)

30/09/2025

**NEW EPISODE ALERT! Listen wherever you get podcasts or go to https://linktr.ee/onlythreelads. Drop your list in the comments!**

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 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? We've got 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"

Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family.

23/09/2025

**NEW EPISODE ALERT! Listen wherever you get podcasts or go to https://linktr.ee/onlythreelads. Drop your list in the comments!

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 SplitsvilleUSA 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 driving forces behind one of the best mid-90s power pop bands, The Greenberry Woodsberry Woods), bassist Paul Kryziak, and guitarist Tony Waddy.

Plus, play along to the brand new O3L game "Blanktown Heroes"!

Thanks to Rex Broome & Christina Bulbenko from Big Stir Records!

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.

NO BIG DEAL by Dean Brownrout

20/09/2025

We don't claim to be math wizzes, but by our calculation, we're pulling up on a milestone! The 300th episode of Only Three Lads will be released in late October. We tend to go into blatant self-congratulatory mode for these big episodes 😉, and would love YOUR help!

To mark the occasion, we would love to get as many messages as possible to play during the episode. It doesn't need to be anything too elaborate (unless you want it to be...ha) or professional (a cell phone recording works!) or long (30 - 60 seconds is perfect). And, if you are a musician, writer, podcaster, or any other sort of creator, feel free to throw in a plug for what you have going on! Be sure to include in your message who you are.

If you are willing and able, please send your messages to us by DM or email: onlythreelads(at)gmail.com by October 15th. We will be forever grateful!

16/09/2025

**NEW EPISODE ALERT! Listen wherever you get podcasts or go to https://linktr.ee/onlythreelads. Drop your list in the comments!**

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 from It's Alive Media.

Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family.

09/09/2025

**NEW EPISODE ALERT! Listen wherever you get podcasts or go to https://linktr.ee/onlythreelads. Drop your list in the comments!**

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.

08/09/2025

We're moving from the wholesome fun of family bands to the ear-piercing loudness of noise rock in our brand new episode dropping tonight at midnight PDT...but, until then, make sure you've caught up on our last episode with one of our favorite couples, Allan & Barb Vest from doubleVee. And check out this incredibly charming and cool video for "Submarine Number Three Vee" from their new EP, Periscope At Midnight!

"Submarine Number Three Vee"From the doubleVee EP “Periscope at Midnight” Video directed by Allan Vest and Barb Vest Animation by Allan VestSubmarine and alb...

04/09/2025

Some of today's greatest pop artists celebrating the music of one of pop's greatest bands? Can't go wrong here. Spearheaded by our friends Carl Cafarelli and Big Stir Records.

Big Stir Records continues to share the Flashcubes songs that have been covered for "Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes" (out September 12 CD/Streaming and up for preorder/presave now: https://orcd.co/flashcubes-tribute). It's a wonderful chamber pop excursion as Super 8 and Lisa Mychols reimagine "When We Close Our Eyes"... hear it at:
https://bigstirrecords.com/track/4359098/super-8-featuring-lisa-mychols-when-we-close-our-eyes

02/09/2025

**NEW EPISODE ALERT! Listen wherever you get podcasts or go to https://linktr.ee/onlythreelads. Drop your list in the comments!**

"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
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 O3L!"

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 program Filmscapes, 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 series Wednesday Netflix), 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 from Howlin' Wuelf Media for the introduction and coordination to two of the coolest people we've met!