Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah didn’t sidestep the music business. They bulldozed right past it. And in doing so, they changed how bands could break through. This is the story of the band that went viral before “going viral” was really even a thing. It’s a story of raw sound, right timing, and one album that rewrote the rules.

Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. 

✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 

🎧 Get Clap Your Hands Say Yeah on Vinyl https://amzn.to/4kOxKxn 

Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

Today, we remember Brian Wilson, the soul of the Beach Boys and a true voice of a generation. His unforgettable melodies defined an era, spanned generations, and shaped the early days of pop music. It's time to reflect on his legendary career and the impact he had on music, and on me. RIP Brian Wilson. This is why your passing hit me harder than I expected.

Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. 

✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 

🎧 Get The Beach Boys on Vinyl https://amzn.to/3FDqyFj 

Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

In the summer of 2000, Modest Mouse released The Moon & Antarctica, and today we take a deep dive into the stories, sounds, and strange mythology behind Modest Mouse’s major-label debut. From cosmic themes and broken jaw myths to existential dread and the Volkswagen controversy, this video explores how the band created one of indie rock’s most haunting and forward-looking albums just as the world itself began to fracture.

Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. 

✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 

🎧 Get The Moon And Antarctica on Vinyl https://amzn.to/4n5nSkG 

🎧 Get Modest Mouse on Vinyl https://amzn.to/3BEoPgW 

Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

Before becoming a worldwide rock icon, Jack White almost became a priest. And nowhere is the parallels between rock and roll and religion more present than on The White Stripes' 2005 album "Get Behind Me Satan." This video documents the story of Jack White's pivot away from priesthood, giving up the alb for an amp, and how he continues to weave his own parables of faith and morality into his music to this day.

Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. 

✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 

🎧 Get Jack White on Vinyl https://amzn.to/43EkaFC 

🎧 Get The White Stripes on Vinyl https://amzn.to/3T37hQv  

Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

Pain and tragedy were no stranger to Charles Bradley, who struggled throughout his life to find his footing yet never gave up on his dreams of being a musician. At age 62, he released his debut album, "No Time For Dreaming." Over the next 5 years, he recorded 3 more, the final being released after he passed in 2017. Known as the Screaming Eagle of Soul, this is the story of Charles Bradley.

Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. 

✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 

🎧 Get Charles Bradley on Vinyl https://amzn.to/3STwH2U 

Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

This is the story of how Blonde Redhead created Evil Morty's theme song, and how Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons and "For The Damaged Coda" went from a cult classic to a cultural phenomenon thanks to Rick & Morty.

ACCIDENTAL OMISSION: In addition to the core trio of Blonde Redhead, Tobias Nathaniel also contributed to this piece, providing the haunting piano part that dominates the song.

Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. 

✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 

🎧 Get Blonde Redhead on Vinyl https://amzn.to/4diKCJy

Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

With just two months to craft an album to support an upcoming tour, Hawkwind created "Warrior on the Edge of Time," and it very nearly broke them. Members left, including the infamous departure of Lemmy Kilmister, who would then form Motörhead. This is the story of the chaos behind that album, its sci-fi cred, the fall out, and its lasting legacy.

Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. 

✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 

🎧 Get Hawkwind on Vinyl https://amzn.to/4diKCJy

Poetic Wax is a weekly music history series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little told stories behind the artists, albums, and songs from within.

After touring to support OK Computer, Radiohead was at a breaking point. Thom Yorke more so than the rest of the band. And as they approached the album that would follow, he fell into a slump. He couldn't write, he couldn't create, and he was spiraling toward complete destruction. Then something miraculous happened. One song formed out of snippets he began to collect after a period of throwing everything away, and suddenly everything came together. This is the story of KID A, and how Thom Yorke's breakdown led to a major breakthrough.

Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. 

✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 

Get Radiohead on Vinyl 🎧

By the time The Decemberists released "Picaresque" in 2005, frontman Colin Meloy had been honing his narrative, storytelling style of songwriting for more than half a decade. Despite having dabbled in the theatrical side of indie rock with both Castaways & Cutouts and Her Majesty, Picaresque brought it to a whole new level. This is the story of that album, and how The Decemberists made history cool.

Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes. The YouTube episode includes reference links to audio/video clips featured in the episode.

🎧 THE DECEMBERISTS ON VINYL:

✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter. 

Poetic Wax is a weekly music history video series and podcast hosted by Andy Fenstermaker, where he digs into the record collection he's been building since the 1990s to uncover the sometimes little known or little told history from within.

Ever wonder why David Bowie’s eyes looked like they belonged to an alien? If you’ve ever wondered why Bowie’s gaze felt like it could pierce through dimensions, you’re about to find out why. This is the weird truth of David Bowie and his strange eyes...

Watch the episode on YouTube and go deeper with more video episodes.

✉️ Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter 

🎧 DAVID BOWIE ON VINYL: