"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 list

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 Only Three Lads!"

Thanks to Howard Wuelfing for the introduction and coordination!

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It’s Labor Day Weekend here in the U.S. and for our friends in Canada.  And you know what THAT means?  That’s right…mattress sales from coast to coast!  Slashing prices 50%, 60%, 70%!  (Plus applicable tariffs.) 

Well, guess what we’ve got for you instead this holiday weekend?  Music is OUR mattress, and we’re here with insane deals on a six pack of the latest tunes. We won't rest easy 'til YOU rest easy!

Tariff free but providing as much support and comfort as the latest memory foam technology!  

Have a great weekend!

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Hip-hop culture was a dominant force during the '80s and '90s, and inspired language, fashion, film, and music. Yes, that includes plenty of alternative music. But that's not what we're talking about today. Instead, we explore the inverse - how influential was alternative music in the world of hip hop?  While perhaps not quite as pervasive, it did exist - whether it be through the use of sampling recognizable songs, a cross-pollination of styles and artists coming together, or perhaps just an overall attitude or spirit.

Our Third Lad this week, Lemoyne Alexander, is a man who has bridged both the hip-hop and alternative worlds and then some.  He played in family bands throughout the ‘70s & ‘80s including the Fascination, who had some dance club hits like 1986’s “Why Are You Always Complaining?” before settling in as a hip hop producer both solo and with the production team 3 Da Hard Way, working on records by the likes of Aalyiah, DMX, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, and for labels like Jive and Motown.  Lemoyne left the rap game to return to his earliest passions - the guitar and rock n’ roll, releasing Solitude in 2019 and Perfect World in 2023.  2024’s indie rock single “Insecurity” is an earworm that once you hear that infectious chorus, it’s going to take up residence in your head for all your days.  With a new single "Claustrophobia" (which you will hear during this episode!) and LP Alone on the horizon, Lemoyne is poised to continue making his mark on alt rock.

Oh, and on top of that, we've got a brand new O3L game for y'all: Off Da Chartz (aka Rap Draft), in which our contestants draft five albums that they believe will appear on Boombox's list of the Top 50 Alternative Rap Albums of all time. Plus, Uncle Gregg rants aplenty. Oh, the rants. Yo!

Thanks to Laura Bissett from the MyWhy Agency for the introduction and coordination.

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Anything is possible as we welcome power pop icon Chris Stamey from the dB's as our Third Lad!

Our focus topic is on the producers of the O3L era - the sonic architects that carry out the visions of the artists we love and shape the sound of our favorite records. And Chris Stamey is someone who knows, as he's produced some fantastic records over the years, including albums by Pylon, Whiskeytown, Le Tigre, The Butchies, Alejandro Escovedo, and many more. Of course, that's only scratching the surface of Chris's amazing 50 year career, from releasing one of the earliest DIY indie records (Sneakers) to playing with Alex Chilton in the late '70s to being one of the creative forces in the seminal, era-defining band the dB's, to his

We chat with Chris about his gorgeous new album, Anything Is Possible, the influence of Brian Wilson, Alex Chilton, Tin Pan Alley, and the Lemon Twigs, the essence of being Chris Stamey, and the enduring legacy of producers like Martin Hannett, Martin Rushent, John Leckie, Scott Litt, Mitch Easter, Joe Foster, Steve Albini, Rick Rubin, Gil Norton, John Fry, Chris Thomas, and more.

During this episode, you will hear:



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

Proud members of the Pantheon Podcasts family.

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This week, it's just "boys talking" (or lads conversing, if you will), as we welcome the sublime singer-songwriter Will Dailey as our Third Lad. Will has spent the past two decades perfecting a style that is not beholden to any one particular genre or set of influences, incorporating rock, folk, psych, funk, blues, and melodic pop into a catalogue where the songs always speak for themselves. Over the years, he's performed extensively with Eddie Vedder, played alongside Peter Buck, opened for the Wallflowers, performed multiple times at Farm Aid, and has had many songs placed in TV shows from 90210 to CSI and movies like the animated hit Barnyard. Now, Will has released his killer seventh record, and arguably his best yet, Boys Talking. But you won't find this gem on Spotify or Apple Music...this is not an album to simply stream and forget. Savor it on vinyl, CD, cassette, or digital through https://willdailey.bandcamp.com.

We ask Will about the new record, from the single "Send Some Energy" to the infectious romp should-be-smash "Alright Already." You won't hear the latter on streaming services...but you will hear it here on O3L!

Of course, we also delve into our focus topic this week, our Top 5 Singer-Songwriter Albums of the '80s. While "singer-songwriter" may instantly conjure up visions of troubadours with acoustic guitars like James Taylor, Jackson Browne, or Cat Stevens, we redefine the term for the high-tech '80s.

Special thanks to Karen Allison from Propeller Sound Recordings for the introduction.

Proudly part of the Pantheon Podcasts family.

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We are thrilled to welcome one of the seminal figures of alternative music - David J. Haskins (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets, solo). O3L's Brett Vargo chats with David J about his new poetry book, Rhapsody, Threnody & Prayer, and the accompanying album of five of the poems set to music, The Mother Tree.

There are plenty of new tales to tell!

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We’re in a New York State of Mind.  Sure, L.A. has beaches and sun, San Francisco clings onto its peace and love vibes, Chicago oozes the blues, and these make for remarkable settings for great songs, but New York…New York is something different.  She’s an active participant in the music, the protagonist, the antagonist, a vessel for vibrancy, romance, drama, grit, grime, decay, revitalization, glamour, hope.  The American dream.  From street corner doo woo groups to Bleeker Street folkies to CBGB punks to Brooklyn indie rock hopefuls, New York has long had a story to tell through the eyes, minds, and voices of the artists who chronicle her, some of whom are intrinsically intertwined with heartbeat of the city.  One of the finest ever to do it is undoubtedly the man we are fortunate enough to call our Third Lad.  After coming up in the New York folk clubs of the early '70s and the punk clubs of the latter half of the decade, Willie Nile released his self titled debut album on Arista in 1980 to rave reviews, with Stereo Review naming it the album of the year right alongside The Clash’s London Calling also earning him a handpicked slot opening for The Who on their 1980 U.S. tour.  After two more major label records, Willie has released a series of acclaimed indie releases, including 2006’s Streets Of New York, 2013’s American Ride, 2020’s New York At Night, and 2021’s The Day The Earth Stood Still.  He’s now back with his first 15th studio album and 21st LP overall, The Great Yellow Light, a passionate, anthemic blend of thundering rockers and sensitive ballads.  It’s a stellar addition to a brilliant and literate catalogue that has thrilled Willie Nile ardent fans and friends such as Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Lou Reed, Ian Hunter, Graham Parker, Lucinda Williams, and Little Steven. 

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Pinch, punch, first of the month. White rabbit, white rabbit. Blowing cinnamon out of your front door. So superstition goes, these are all rituals that bring luck and prosperity for the month ahead. Might we suggest one more? How about starting your month off with a six pack of great new tunes from your friends at Only Three Lads?

Let's kick off August with music by:

Thank you for supporting new music!

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The music business from the late '60s through the '90s was an exciting time that mirrored the music and the musicians making it. It was also a time of new and creative ideas on how to market this groundbreaking cultural phenomenon. Eccentric characters were everywhere, and often the managers, promoters, disc jockeys, and record company staff were just as big a show as the performers themselves. And nobody was bigger and better in promoting rock records than Rap.

Paul "Rap" Rappaport enjoyed a storied (and very appropriate) 33 1/3 year career in rock promotion at Columbia Records, where he was instrumental in the careers of an amazing roster of legends, including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Billy Joel, Blue Oyster Cult, Judas Priest, Alice In Chains, and many, many more.

Gliders Over Hollywood: Airships, Airplay and the Art of Rock Promotion is Rap's dynamic, entertaining memoir captures the magic of these times and the people who made it happen, revealing the never-before-heard secrets of the promotion and marketing that turned the music industry on its head. From creating the Pink Floyd airship to sword-fighting with Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden and receiving a guitar lesson from Keith Richards, it’s a book packed full of extraordinary adventures with some of the biggest names in rock.

This week, Rap joins us as our Third Lad to recount the wild tales of his Top 5 Album Rollouts. These are stories you have to hear (or read) to believe!

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And now for something completely different...in this special episode, we pay tribute to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne and each pick five of our favorite songs from the rock legend's career.

So you may ask yourself, why are we doing an Ozzy episode on our classic alternative music podcast? We certainly don't want to be "those guys" who churn out opportunistic memorial episodes - but, quite simply, Uncle Gregg suggested "hey, we should do an Ozzy tribute" and Brett said "OK, let's do it." That's the way decisions are made here at O3L Headquarters...and six hours later, the episode is out to the world.

Ozzy, of course, rose to prominence as the lead singer of Birmingham rock band Black Sabbath from the time of their formation in 1969 until his dismissal in 1979. Considered one of (if not THE) most influential bands in the evolution of heavy metal, Sabbath also consisted of guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward, releasing a string of classic albums like Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970), Master of Reality (1971), Vol. 4 (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), Sabotage (1975), Technical Ectasy (1976), Never Say Die (1978) before Ozzy launched a fruitful solo career. Solo records include 1980’s Blizzard of Ozz, 1981’s Diary of a Madman, 1983’s Bark at the Moon, and 1991’s No More Tears, intertwined with occasional Black Sabbath reunions, most notably their 2013 album 13. Osbourne remained at the forefront of pop culture through his popular Ozzfest tours and his unlikely stint as a lovable TV Dad on the reality show The Osbournes.

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