Fruitless

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Josh and I discuss Steal This Album by System of a Down and Wildlife by La Dispute. Also this is the 50th Patreon episode.

Music by System of a Down, La Dispute, and SHADE08

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141

EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/gemstones-4-out-137047530

Joseph (@gross_online), Josiah, Josh, and James (@cigarette_liker) all reconvene to run through the house with a pickle in our mouth and discuss the final season of The Righteous Gemstones. Shout out to Hayden Christensen.

Music by The Righteous Gemstones & SHADE08

On today's episode, Phil Christman joined Josiah to discuss Sam Tanenhaus' excellent new biography, Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America

• Pre-order Why Christians Should Be Leftists here: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802884053/why-christians-should-be-leftists/
• Check out Phil Christman's Substack The Tourist: https://philipchristman.substack.com/
• Follow Phil on Bluesky @philipchristman.bsky.social
• Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141
• Check out Fruitless on YouTube
• Find more of Josiah’s work: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter @josiahwsutton

References

• Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America by Sam Tanenhaus
• "William F. Buckley’s Bill Never Came Due," Brandy Jensen in Defector, https://defector.com/william-f-buckleys-bill-never-came-due
• "A Complicated Man: William F. Buckley, Jr. (w/ Sam Tanenhaus)," Know Your Enemy, https://www.dissentmagazine.org/blog/know-your-enemy-a-complicated-man/
• "Keeping Up with the Bozells," Know Your Enemy, https://www.patreon.com/posts/unlocked-keeping-100674682

Audio credits

• Whatever - 80 horse
• Yesterday - bloom.
• "Gore Vidal vs. William F. Buckley Jr.," YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ1cRbkoPus
• Lindbergh - Woody Guthrie

On today's episode, Luke Savage (Michael & Us, @lukewsavage) joins Josiah to discuss the state of Resistance liberalism under the second Trump administration. 

• Follow today's guest on Twitter @lukewsavage and Bluesky @lukewsavage.bsky.social‬
• Check out Luke's Substack: https://www.lukewsavage.com/
• Listen to Michael & Us: https://www.patreon.com/c/michaelandus/
• Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141
• Check out Fruitless on YouTube
• Find more of Josiah’s work: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter @josiahwsutton

Audio credits

• Lighter - midsummer
• Yesterday – bloom. 
• In My Dreams - bloom.

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141

EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/134976204

Content warning for in-depth and detailed discussion of school shootings.

On today's episode, Josh and I end Christian Rock Summer 2025 on a somber note by exploring the legacy of the Columbine shooting in Christian media, specifically the martyr narratives that developed around the murders of Cassie Bernall and Rachel Joy Scott.

Music by SHADE08 and Alvedon; audio of news report from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4M05RtlGMs

Christian Rock Summer 2025 continues! On today's episode, Brian Alford (The Worst of All Possible Worlds, @spocksbrian) joined Josiah and Josh to discuss !Hero: The Rock Opera: a 2003 musical attempting to be "Jesus Christ Superstar for the MTV generation," featuring a CCM star-studded cast including Michael Tait, Rebecca St. James, Mark Stuart, and more. 

Content warning: Today's episode contains a lengthy discussion about the sexual assault allegations that have come out regarding Michael Tait.

• Follow today's guest on Twitter @spocksbrian and Bluesky @spocksbrian.worstpossible.world
• Listen to The Worst of All Possible Worlds
• Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141
• Check out Fruitless on YouTube
• Find more of Josiah’s work: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter @josiahwsutton

References

• !Hero: The Rock Opera, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sAAtOosJVY
• !Hero: The Rock Opera, Various Artists, https://open.spotify.com/album/2xyLlMkoj24VBhzRsKJMBT?si=Vg4quh3rSIOvoV7S_lUqfw
• "'!Hero' puts spin on familiar story," Sarasota-Herald Tribune, https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2003/10/31/hero-puts-spin-on-familiar-story/28772644007/. This is where the quote of Michael Tait saying Jesus "probably looked more like a terrorist" is from.
• "JFH Concert Review: !Hero - The Rock Opera Tour, 11/8/03, Washing Township Performing Arts Center, Sewell, NJ," Jesus Freak Hideout, https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/concerts/!Hero.asp
• "!Hero: The Rock Opera," God Awful Movies, https://podcasts.apple.com/lk/podcast/hero-the-rock-opera/id1041876428?i=1000554848223
• "Hayley Williams Hopes Christian Music Industry ‘Crumbles’ Amid Michael Tait Scandal: ‘F— All of You Who Knew and Didn’t Say Anything,’" Chris Willman in Variety, https://variety.com/2025/music/news/hayley-williams-christian-music-crumbles-michael-tait-ccm-1236430953/
• "EXCLUSIVE: Former Newsboys Frontman Michael Tait Accused of Sexual Assault, Grooming, and Substance Abuse, Dating Back to 2004," Jessica Morris in The Roys Report, https://julieroys.com/former-newsboys-frontman-michael-tait-accused-sexual-assault-grooming-substance-abuse-dating-back-to-2004/
• "Ex-Newsboys Singer Michael Tait Breaks Silence on Sexual Assault Allegations: ‘I Will Simply Call It What God Calls It — Sin,’" Jessica Nicholson in Billboard, https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/michael-tait-newsboys-responds-sexual-assault-allegations-1235995610/
• "'He stole a piece of our souls’: Christian music star Michael Tait accused of sexual assault by three men," Josiah Hesse in The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/13/michael-tait-sexual-assault-allegations
• "Woman Accuses Michael Tait of Drugging Her and Watching While She Was Raped; Says Newsboys Tour Manager Covered It Up," Jessica Morris in The Roys Report, https://julieroys.com/woman-accuses-michael-tait-drugging-her-watching-newsboys-tour-manager-covered-up/

Audio credits

• Yesterday – bloom.
• !Hero: The Rock Opera, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sAAtOosJVY
• Ooh Ahh (My Life Be Like) - GRITS (feat. tobyMac) 

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141

EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/133681381

Christian Rock Summer 2025 continues! On today's episode, Josiah, Josh, Nate, and James discuss the kings of Christian post-hardcore/metalcore/screamo: Underoath.

Music by SHADE08 and Underoath

Christian Rock Summer is back for 2025! And this time, we're kicking it off with a more general introduction to the history of Christian rock. On today's episode, Josiah and Josh introduce Tom O'Mahony (@gotitatguineys, Beneath the Skin, Lions Led By Donkeys) to the edgier side of CCM.

• Follow today's guest on Twitter @gotitatguineys and Bluesky @gotitatguineys.bsky.social
• Listen to Lions Led By Donkeys and Beneath the Skin
• Become a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141
• Check out Fruitless on YouTube
• Find more of Josiah’s work: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsutton
• Follow Josiah on Twitter @josiahwsutton

References

• Intro to Christian Rock, Spotify Playlist, https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7yggUowVXfHsluI7TNfLlg
• God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Christian Contemporary Music by Leah Payne
• This Substack piece from Josiah includes the infamous Amy Grant album art and also a bit about Michael Tait: https://josiahlist.substack.com/i/165291996/christian-rock-summer-baby
• "Video Redeemed The Radio Star: Definitive Edition (feat. Rosey Armstrong)," The Worst of All Possible Worlds, https://www.patreon.com/posts/182-video-radio-125187076

Audio credits

• Yesterday – bloom.
• Shine - Newsboys
• Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music? - Larry Norman
• Gotta Serve Somebody - Bob Dylan
• I Wish We'd All Been Ready - The Fishmarket Combo (Originally by Larry Norman)
• Walkin' in the Light - Petra
• To Hell With the Devil - Stryper
• On the Fritz - Steve Taylor
• I Want to Be a Clone - Steve Taylor
• Luv is a Verb - dc Talk
• Jesus Freak - dc Talk
• Colored People - dc Talk
• Big House - Audio Adrenaline
• Liquid - Jars of Clay
• Pour Me Out - PFR
• I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever - Delirious?
• I've Always Loved You - Third Day
• Kiss Me -Sixpence None the Richer
• Super Good Feeling - Bleach
• Punk Rawk Show - MxPx
• Supertones Strike Back - The O.C. Supertones
• Get Your Riot Gear - Five Iron Frenzy
• Lies Of Serpents, A River Of Tears - Zao 
• Youth of the Nation - P.O.D.
• Meant to Live - Switchfoot
• All Around Me - Flyleaf
• Cassie - Flyleaf
• Be My Escape - Relient K
• Comatose - Skillet
• Monster - Skillet
• Lips of an Angel - Hinder
• Voices - Saosin
• Ohio is For Lovers - Hawthorne Heights
• Undo Me - Jennifer Knapp
• Hey Hey - Superchick
• Phenomenon - Thousand Foot Krutch
• Love Addict - Family Force 5
• Pitiful - Blindside
• Breathe Into Me - Red
• Scars Remain - Disciple
• Fire At Will - Jonah 33
• Evil (A Chorus of Resistance) - Project 86
• White Washed - August Burns Red
• In Regards to Myself - Underoath
• A Boy Brushed Red Living In Black and White - Underoath
• Say This Sooner - The Almost
• Empire - As Cities Burn
• New Medicines - Dead Poetic
• The Feel Good Drag - Anberlin
• Gravedigging - The Classic Crime
• Identity - August Burns Red
• God's Not Dead (Like a Lion) - Newsboys
• Breakfast - Newsboys

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141

EPISODE ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/posts/132809608

Josh and I discuss FIDLAR by FIDLAR and Freak Out! by The Mothers of Invention.

Music by FIDLAR, The Mothers of Invention, and SHADE08

THIS IS A PREVIEW. IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK OUT FRUITLESS ON PATREON HERE: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141

Alien and Josiah go through their ballots for the New York Times' 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century. 

Music by SHADE08