After attending Best Friends Forever Festival, my mind was transported back to a time in the late 90s when I was leaving high school and entering college in Illinois. It just so happened that at the same time, the Midwestern Emo scene was blossoming all around me, and the out of body experience I would feel about these bands inspired a truly emotio…

This week on Waterproof Records I welcome drummer Tim Dow from Shiner, Year of the Rabbit, as well as several other collaborations and side projects. Tim shares his musical journey, some of his dazed and confused inspirations as a teenager, and why becoming a sandwich drummer could very well be the next best thing. Learn more about your ad choices.…

In 1998 The Smashing Pumpkins returned to us in a different shape than before. Now there were only three, and what remained of the band felt like grief in a gothic gown, introspective and embracing solitude. Somehow Adore mirrored where I found myself as a young man learning to be alone for the first time, and this album has only matured over time.…

During the early 2000s, the garage rock revival was dominating the airwaves when I first heard Cursive's 'The Ugly Organ' with a sound I'd never heard before with its of blending post-hardcore punk and cello. Two decades later and Cursive, led by prolific musician/songwriter Tim Kasher, continues to churn out albums with catchy hooks and infectious…

Being born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it wasn't long before I caught wind of The Flaming Lips-- an experimental psychedelic art-rock band rising out of our neighboring Oklahoma City. By summer of 1993, you could hear people singing 'Taaaaaangerines' along with front-man Wayne Coyne on MTV, but it was when I first purchased Transmissions from th…

In 1996, Jonny Polonsky greeted the world with his debut album 'Hi My Name is Jonny' on Rick Rubin's American Recordings Label. Since then, Jonny has continued to be a prolific singer/songwriter by writing catchy melodies, releasing solo albums, and collaborating with artists like Neil Diamond, Frank Black and Johnny Cash-- to name a few. That's wh…

Sing along with the common people! Sing along and it might just get you through! In 1995, a band from Sheffield, England called Pulp finally had their day in the sun when that anthemic chorus elevated them to a different class. For many of us in the U.S., we were watching the wave of popular Britpop bands like Blur and Oasis, but Pulp wasn't gettin…

Have you ever sat down with a close friend with completely different music tastes and asked them show you their favorite songs? Or do you remember the first time you heard an artist that felt dangerous and unsafe in the best possible way? This week on Waterproof Records I welcome Julie Christmas, Brooklyn musician and vocalist from bands like Made …

After 14 seasons of the VH1 Classic’s hit heavy metal talk show series, That Metal Show, Don Jamieson has continued to write, produce and perform his unique blend of comedy and music at clubs and rock tours across the country. This week I welcomed Don to Waterproof Records to talk about the stand-up comedy grind, the first album that changed his mu…

The Trip Hop music scene out of Bristol made its way to the U.S. in the mid-90s with artists like Portishead and Tricky, but once Massive Attack's Mezzanine arrived in early 1998, it brought with it an unexpected sensual awakening as I exited my teenage years. This week we explore why this album in particular splintered Massive Attack, how it all b…

When understanding how the band came up with the name "Garbage," Butch Vig once wrote in his 1993 studio journal about the creative process; "I hope that all this garbage will become something beautiful," and that's exactly what happened. The perfect storm brought Scotland's Shirley Manson all the way to Madison, Wisconsin to join forces with three…

If you were a teenager like me in the 90s you found yourself in the early 2000s dizzied by your increasing responsibilities, an entry-level work week, and trying to maintain your youthful connection to music. That's why the title of New Jersey post-hardcore band Thursday's album "Full Collapse" felt like a premonition about where I was headed when …

Can you still feel the butterflies...? I can. Even writing out this lyric takes me right back to my college years where I was first introduced to Jimmy Eat World and their third album. As we reached the end of the 90s, the chapter of my adolescence had come to an end, and the transition into adulthood was nebulous and uncertain. It was the perfect …

Don't ask why... 16 candles down the drain! In 1994, singer/songwriter Vinnie Dombroski sang that catchy refrain in the chorus of "Molly (16 Candles)" with his Detroit rock band Sponge and their debut album, Rotting Piñata. This week I am thrilled to welcome Vinnie to Waterproof Records to hear how he soaked up a lifetime of experiences with Sponge…

Did you forget about me, Mr. Duplicity? Well I am here to remind you about that Jagged Little Pill in 1995 that first introduced us all to Alanis Morissette. An unforgettable voice, incredible song hooks and a powerful presence for women in rock in the 90s, Alanis was everywhere all at once and it was almost too much for this 20-year-old Canadian s…

After the death of Andrew Wood from Mother Love Bone, Chris Cornell used his gift of music and songwriting to channel his grief. What was initially meant to be a single song released as tribute, transformed into a full album bringing together a supergroup of talented artists to capture a moment in time that would create one of the most memorable co…

When we think of this album, we can hear that iconic opening bass riff followed by Perry Farrell crying out "Comin' down the mountain!" Nothing's Shocking came out in 1988, and I wouldn't get my hands on a copy of the album until the very first Jane's Addiction LIVE album landed in my older brother's hands as a cassette, and I was introduced to thi…

As the refrain "I'm a loser, baby..." echoed around the world in 1994, it was easy to assume that Beck might be here today, gone tomorrow as a slacker one-hit wonder on MTV's buzz clip floor. But Beck proved us wrong when he dropped Odelay in 1996, as teenagers now shouted "I've got two turntables and a microphone!" With that, Beck was here to stay…

Behind my older brother's bedroom door was a giant poster of The Cure's Boys Don't Cry. I remember hearing Robert Smith's voice wailing over cavernous guitars, syncopated beats and dramatic synths... but it took me a moment to understand what it meant to be lost in The Cure. In 1992, Wish arrived with layered guitars and an album that traveled betw…

A lot of incredible new music released in 2023, some of which were new bands I just discovered while others were some of my favorite artists releasing new records. This week on Waterproof Records, I list off my top 10 in no particular order, as well as include 15 honorable mentions along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm…

During the many years I did stand-up comedy in Los Angeles, you tend to gravitate toward funny, like-minded people as you wait for your turn at late night open mics. Which is exactly where I first met this week's guest, Jordan Olds, before he left L.A. and made his way back east over a decade ago. Cut to 2016 when a hilarious heavy-metal themed tal…

It was the summer of 1994. I had just finished my freshman year in high school, spent a week recording my first album with my church youth group band, and Green Day's Dookie was cranked in all of our car stereos. This week on Waterproof Records I reminisce about this very specific window of time when pop punk interrupted all the alternative music s…

This week I welcome Seattle based singer, songwriter and composer, Daniel G. Harmann, who most recently released a full cover of the Counting Crows debut album "August and Everything After." Daniel is a good friend and talented musician who has spent decades honing his craft and releasing oodles of good tunes. On this episode we discuss the twists …

It's 1993 and the creeping bass riff of Tool's "Sober" starts to play on MTV when my eyes witness this unsettling claymation music video that features zero footage of the band... and I loved every second of it. The lyrics were intelligent and thought-provoking, and this dark, heavy sound with complex time signatures and haunting vocals sounded so d…

The opening bass line from "Cannonball" is an instant time warp back to 1993. I remember watching MTV and seeing Kim Deal from the Pixies on my screen and realizing she had a twin sister in this band I had never heard of called The Breeders. Decades later and Last Splash holds up as one of the standout albums of the 90s, with its unique tempo shift…

I would be a few years late to hearing 1993's Slip by Quicksand for the first time, but once "Head To Wall" landed on a gifted mixtape in the mid 90s, I was ready for more! That signature raspy voice belting out the gut-punching chorus was none other than Walter Schreifels, the legendary musician from New York Hardcore bands like Gorilla Biscuits a…

From the moment the album kicks off with "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due," I was hooked. The speed, the fury, the thrash-- everything about Megadeth was turning my love of metal up to eleven. Let's go back to 1990 when one of the best possible line-ups of this band dropped a metal masterpiece, securing it as one of my all-time favorites of the gen…

Upbeat piano chords, distorted bass guitar and well-crafted harmonies was exactly what I needed when I stumbled upon the trio known as Ben Folds Five in 1995. The 90s music scene was always reminding us to expect the unexpected, and by the time this band hit their sophomore release titled 'Whatever and Ever Amen,' they delivered the perfect blend o…

It was around 1998 when I first saw Dave Holmes on my television for MTV's 'Wanna Be a VJ,' competition, and I could instantly see that his love of music ran as deep as mine. Fast forward 25 years later where Dave Holmes is an accomplished writer, actor, tv host, podcaster, and Editor-at-large for Esquire. Recently I connected with Dave, so I invit…

During one of my most challenging adolescent years, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness arrived at the right time for me to get lost in this monumental behemoth of a double album. Already my favorite band in the world, The Smashing Pumpkins presented what would be held up as one of the most incredible accomplishments by any band in the 1990s. Th…

An unforgettable cover with a New York City slacker cool, Sonic Youth's sixth studio album 'Goo' arrived just in time to make things noisy in 1990. A band defined by alternate tunings and experimental art rock, Sonic Youth had been releasing albums for nearly a decade before Goo hit. On this week's Waterproof Records we discuss the tale behind the …

I discovered the music from a Chicago indie band called Into It. Over It. a few years ago, and shortly after I found myself adding multiple favorite songs to playlists. Soon after I would be fortunate enough to connect with Evan Thomas Weiss, the man responsible for this band, and get the chance to not only befriend him, but to invite him on my sho…

Cue the opening guitar of Enter Sandman and let's headbang our way back to 1991 and talk about Metallica's self-titled fifth album, which would forever be referred to as 'the black album.' Now most die-hard Metallica fans will tell you, you're supposed to go back a decade before to the heavy underground thrash days of Kill Em All-- BUT, there was s…

The soaring vocal range and dynamic sounds of Jeff Buckley's music arrived in 1994 when rock was still angsty and fuzzy. I remember being stunned when I first bought Grace, as the haunting vibrato and unique song changes made me an instant fan of Buckley's all too tragically short career. On this week's Waterproof Records, we journey back to New Yo…

Allison Hagendorf is one of the few music tastemakers in our post-MTV, music streaming world. Her many years of experience working in A&R at record labels, Spotify, and a successful career as a TV personality and host interviewing rockstars has led her right where her skillset shines the most-- The Allison Hagendorf Show. This week I welcome Alliso…

Before you'd see an NIN patch sewn on the backpack of every scowling teenager dressed in black, Trent Reznor crafted Pretty Hate Machine during his off-hours at a recording studio in Cleveland where he worked in the late 1980s. After my first listen, I remember feeling drawn in by the angsty lyrics, eerie synths with grinding guitars and unique pan…

"For the life of me I cannot remember, What made us think that we were wise and we'd never compromise..." Sing it with me! We all know that song by heart and so does my guest this week, Brian Vander Ark, who is the lead singer and songwriter of the band The Verve Pipe. I was delighted to welcome Brian on the show this week to learn about his prolif…

After a few social media messages and a winning game of rock puns, Chris Traynor and I became friends... so I was thrilled when he agreed to come on Waterproof Records and talk about his impressive career as the guitarist for bands like Orange 9mm, Helmet, and now Bush, where he has played lead guitar since 2001. Chris shares stories about his earl…

When I first met Allison Scagliotti, we were playing guitars at a music event in Los Angeles where we became fast friends. Shortly after I would learn about her acting career where she is best known for roles in Drake & Josh, Warehouse 13, and Stitchers, but I knew Allison as a musician first. So when I asked her to to be a guest on the show, Allis…

What is It?! It's IT! In 1990, and for many years since, a lot of us ponder this confusing question until we and just give in and sing along to Faith No More's "Epic." I remember watching MTV and seeing the music video for the first time as Mike Patton jumped around in the rain, a fish flopped on the ground and a piano exploded-- but there was some…

I welcome another fantastic musician this week who I found on TikTok named Dusty Gannon, who is the lead singer and guitarist of the goth rock band Vision Video. You can find Dusty online playing good music, wearing perfect goth makeup, and doing a hilariously charming character named 'Goth Dad.' But all of those things led him to where he is today…

This week I'm being taken to hip hop school, and my instructor is none other than Patrick Hicks with his music stories. You've probably seen Patrick in a viral video or two where he begins with his signature phrase, "This is a story about..." and then proceeds to take you on a well-crafted journey of a musician's career path that led them to where …

We all remember belting out at the top of our lungs as we sang 'Whee-hen the dogs do find her' as Stone Temple Pilot's Plush played on the stereo with a group of friends in the 90s. Oh wait, I mean I still do that with my friends to this day! You've got to hand it to STP for delivering a debut album like Core, filled with Scott Weiland's unforgetta…

One of the joys of being a music content creator on social media is discovering other talented musicians in the world and befriending them! This week I welcome Zach "Mac Glocky" MacLachlan, who is a singer, songwriter, TikToker, YouTuber, and multi-instrumentalist from Sacramento, CA. We go back to the beginning and talk about Mac's love of music f…

I remember seeing the music video for "Seven" by Sunny Day Real Estate on MTV for the first time in 1994. This delicate singing voice luring me in close only to be smacked in the face by frenetic drum hits as if Animal from The Muppets was playing. This band would pop up again on the Batman Forever soundtrack in 1995, but it wasn't until a few year…

Once the Seattle music scene exploded into the mainstream in the early 90s, bands like Soundgarden had already been carving their path since the mid 1980s. But it wasn't until the band's third album, Badmotorfinger, that some music videos were making their way to MTV in the middle of the night, but once Superunknown arrived in 1994 the world explod…

Somewhere in the early 90s, an adorable nymph-like singer emerged from Icelandic landscape with heavy beats and soaring vocals and I was immediately smitten. While Debut had arrived 2 years prior, it was Post that took my breath away and made me a Björk fan for life. Whether it was the trip-hop elements, cinematic strings, or a surprising broadway …

It's 1994 and the Beastie Boys drop their fourth studio album which explodes on the scene with a unforgettable music video by Spike Jonze for Sabotage. It really is the decade where anything is possible, and in this episode we talk about why Ill Communication is the perfect sequel to Check Your Head. Through art and activism, we witnessed the Beast…

"I'm angry... but I'm learning." I'll never forget sitting down and watching the video for Rage Against the Machine's 'Freedom' as a kid, and experiencing this aggression fueled by the injustices of the world. I was just a suburban kid in the middle of the country with my knowledge primarily given from school textbooks and generational tales. Not o…

Flannel and combat boots. Stage dives and bellowing vocals. This... was Pearl Jam. I watched a grainy, black-and-white video on MTV with a long-haired baritone singing about being alive and I was hooked. Ten was a remarkable debut album from this collection of talented musicians from several dissolved bands. It truly was a key ingredient in the Sea…