What bands are overrated?  Everybody seems to love them, their albums are considered classics, their T-shirts are everywhere…and you just don’t get it.  And then there are the bands on the other end of the spectrum. The ones you can’t believe more people aren’t talking about. The bands that deserve more respect, more listeners—and maybe a few more T-shirts on teenagers who actually know who they are.

On this episode of Any Man with a Microphone, we tackle one of the most subjective arguments in music: overrated or underrated?

Nirvana. Radiohead. The Beach Boys. Sublime. INXS. Hall & Oates. Matchbox Twenty. Oasis. U2. The Smashing Pumpkins. And plenty more.

Which bands deserve the hype? Which ones have been riding on reputation for way too long? And which bands never got the appreciation they deserved?

We have opinions.

Probably too many of them.

Find out where we land.

In this episode, we look back at Phish’s recent run at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, GA and talk about everything that made the experience so memorable.

We break down the music, the jams, the song choices—and yes, the lengths of some of those songs—along with the moments that stood out most.  But we also go beyond the setlist to talk about the crowd, the atmosphere, and the unmistakably positive energy surrounding the shows.

After decades of playing together, how does Phish continue to create concerts that feel spontaneous, unpredictable, and completely alive?

We turn our attention to movies and the new Spider-Man: Brand New Day—and use it as an excuse to talk about all things Spider-Man, Peter Parker, and Marvel.

What makes Spider-Man so unique—and perhaps the most relatable superhero of them all?  We dig into the character of Peter Parker, the ordinary guy behind the mask, and why his struggles with family, responsibility, relationships, failure, and doing the right thing have connected with audiences for generations.

We also look back at the many actors who have brought Peter Parker to life, rank our favorite performances, debate the best villains from across the films, and discuss past and future Marvel movies.

On this episode of AnyMan with a Microphone, we dive into Jack White’s new album, Frozen Charlotte, and the controversy surrounding his decision to invite Twin Temple to open for him after country singer Charley Crockett dropped the self-described “satanic doo-wop” duo from his tour.

We look at the music, the feud, and the larger questions it raises about faith, art, and humanity—all from a Catholic perspective.

We also talk about the surprising relatability of Johnny Knoxville during the recent Jackass: Best and Last movie tour, along with a few other cultural detours along the way.

And all of that leads into our next episode, when we turn our attention to the new Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Some bands chase trends.  Others chase hits.  They Might Be Giants chase after being themselves and let the music happen.
For more than four decades, John Linnell and John Flansburgh have been building a strange musical universe where songs can be about night lights, dead presidents, particle physics, palindromes, or the quiet existential panic of everyday life—and somehow still get stuck in your head for the rest of the week.
Emerging from the New York underground in the 1980s, the duo first made their mark with drum machines, accordion, and an approach to songwriting that treated pop music like a playground.  Their early “Dial-A-Song” project let fans call a phone number and hear new recordings long before the internet made that sort of thing normal.  Since then, they’ve written everything from cult radio favorites to television themes, children’s science albums, and songs that manage to be funny, unsettling, and oddly profound.
In this episode, we discuss the world of Linnell and Flansburgh: the songs, the stories, the strange corners of their catalog, and why a band that refuses to stay in one lane has managed to stay relevant for so long.

On this episode, we dig into The Crux by Djo—and how Joe Keery uses modern rock and synth-pop to process nostalgia, identity, and a shifting moment in rock culture. We explore how the album channels its influences without imitation, landing in a sound that feels both deeply personal and perfectly timed. We also dive into Stranger Things, and how its music functions not just as a soundtrack, but as a character in the story itself.

Our Annual Christmas / New Year’s Rock n’ Roll Extravaganza is back!
We count down our Top 10 Bands of All Time and dig up some new and lost Christmas tunes that haven’t been played into the ground.  Friendly debates, surprise picks, and holiday riffs you didn’t know you needed.  Turn it up and end the year with a bang!

In this episode, we step into the eclectic world of Beck—genre-bending musician, Grammy winner, and one of the most inventive artists of the past three decades. We walk through his top tracks, celebrating the weird, brilliant, and endlessly creative phases of his career. Then we craft our totally definitive (and profoundly subjective) essential Beck playlist. Tune in for music nerdery, debate, and plenty of love for one of modern music’s true originals.

It’s our own (highly subjective!) list of the voices that mean the most to us—featuring legends like David Bowie, John Lennon, Liam Gallagher, Roger Daltrey, Zack de la Rocha, St. Vincent, Eddie Vedder, and many more.  Who will be in our top 3?  What would your list look like?  And stick around until the end for another fun round of “Name That Song in Two Seconds!”

Any Man with a Microphone is back for Season 4! We’re kicking things off with a look back at our summer music and concerts—from Phish jams to St. Vincent grooves, to a concert at Madison Square Garden. We dive into the biggest tour of the summer (Oasis!) and break down Taylor Swift’s recent album announcement. Stick around until the end for our lightning-fast game of Name That Tune—can you guess the song in two seconds or less?