Public Record

In the world of cult bands, Memphis power pop band Big Star reigns mythically. And while the former teen heartthrob Alex Chilton might be the first member who springs to mind, guitarist and songwriter Chris Bell figures heavily in the band's tragic saga.

In this episode of The Spindle, John Howard and guest co-host Jason P. Woodbury drop the needle on Bell's 1978 single "I Am the Cosmos," b/w "You And Your Sister." Released in scant quantities by Car Records, an imprint founded by Chris Stamey of The dB's, the single balances Bell's mysticism with flesh and blood heartbreak.

Let the tone arm down and learn more on this all new episode of The Spindle, and visit our sponsors Hello Merch to score Chris Bell merch via Omnivore Records and Ardent Music.

When you think of Oklahoma band The Flaming Lips, you probably don't think of singles. They're mostly known as an album rock band—and they already had three full-lengths out by the time they released their first 7-inch, part of the nascent Sub Pop Singles Club. 1989's "Drug Machine" b/w "Strychnine/(What's So Funny Bout) Piece Love and Understanding?" shows their early noise-rock prowess, and predilection for weird cover versions—and points to the Lips' strange future as part of the rock mainstream. On this all-new episode of The Spindle, Marc and John dig into it all. 

This is the Band Shirt Day Podcast. In this episode, Dylan Gette King and Jason P. Woodbury share band shirt stories from Oliver Ackermann of A Place to Bury Strangers who describes the torn and frayed charm of his favorite Minor Threat shirt, pilfered from his older brother. And then Jess Abbott of Tancred takes us on a guided tour of some of her favorite band shirts, including a killer Taco Bell/Limp Bizkit bootleg, a Shania Twain tee, and her favorite shirt from her wife, Jenny Owen Youngs.

On one hand, a band shirt is a simple everyday item, the kind of thing you might take for granted. But when you start thinking about it, the topic encompasses so much more: band shirts help us tell stories about ourselves and what music means to us. And that’s why we’re here: to think a little more about band shirts and the holiday invented to celebrate them, Band Shirt Day, a global fundraising initiative uniting artists, fans, and the music industry at large on Friday, September 20th.

Artists like Portugal. The Man, Wilco, The Revivalists, The Format, K.Flay, Cherry Glazerr, Geese, and Warren G, along with many more confirmed to participate through the Band Shirt Day. Wanna sign up as an artist for fan? Register now.

Since launching, Band Shirt Day has raised more than 30k for charities, much of that from the Band Shirt Day Fund in partnership with GoFundMe, raising cash for organizations like Planned Parenthood, ACLU, Project Hope, The Ally Coalition, MusicCares, and Animal Legal Defense Fund.

This is the Band Shirt Day Podcast, featuring Dylan-Gette King, the communications manager for MerchFriends, a coalition of merch makers working together to create a sustainable music merch ecosystem, and Jason P. Woodbury, creative director of WASTOIDS.

Tune in and get your best band tee ready for September 20th, 2024. 

This week on the news, Decoy says HELLLLLLO to Sleater-Kinney. Formed in Olympia in 1994, Sleater-Kinney was one of the defining bands of the riot grrrl movement. After releasing seven studio records, the band entered a hiatus in 2005 but returned with full force with No Cities to Love, released in 2015. The band’s latest is called Little Rope, released earlier this year.

Head over to the band’s official Hello shop for shirts, totes, camo hats and music—I recommend checking out this great tribute album, featuring bands like Wilco, Low, Big Joanie, and St. Vincent, who’s also produced Sleater-Kinney music in the past.

In other news, earlier this week we were surprised to see that Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio AKA Bad Bunny, has joined the cast for the forthcoming Happy Gilmore 2, the sequel to the 1996 original film. The Puerto Rican rapper joins Adam Sandler, and the film is slated to appear on Netflix in the future.

And to close: in 1998, Swedish hardcore band Refused released their landmark album, The Shape of Punk to Come, which blended electronica, hard rock, jazz, and other forms. The band broke up not long after. But their influence continued to grow—prompting a reunion.

This week, the band announced that it will stage its final tour in 2025, sharing dates, word of an expanded version of their classic album, and news about a tribute album, The Shape of Punk to Come Obliterated, featuring remixes and covers from bands like Zulu, Touche Amore, Quicksand, Ho99o9 and more. 

Find more music news, podcasts, videos, and fun at WASTOIDS.com.

In the late '70s, The Specials took the UK by storm with their hybrid of punk and reggae and an explicit anti-racist stance. A few years later, the band was coming apart—but not before they made an amazing final 7", the chart-topping, zeitgeist-capturing "Ghost Town." 

John and Marc dive into this great single on the latest episode of the Spindle.

On one hand, a band shirt is a simple everyday item, the kind of thing you might take for granted. But when you start thinking about it, the topic encompasses so much more: band shirts help us tell stories about ourselves and what music means to us. And that’s why we’re here: to think a little more about band shirts and the holiday invented to celebrate them, Band Shirt Day, a global fundraising initiative uniting artists, fans, and the music industry at large on Friday, September 20th.

Artists like Portugal. The Man, Wilco, The Revivalists, The Format, K.Flay, Cherry Glazerr, Geese, and Warren G, along with many more confirmed to participate through the Band Shirt Day. Wanna sign up as an artist for fan? Register now.

Since launching, Band Shirt Day has raised more than 30k for charities, much of that from the Band Shirt Day Fund in partnership with GoFundMe, raising cash for organizations like Planned Parenthood, ACLU, Project Hope, The Ally Coalition, MusicCares, and Animal Legal Defense Fund.

This is the Band Shirt Day Podcast, featuring Dylan-Gette King, the communications manager for MerchFriends, a coalition of merch makers working together to create a sustainable music merch ecosystem, and Jason P. Woodbury, creative director of WASTOIDS.

In this episode, they share band shirt stories and hear how indie R&B singer Vicky Farewell created the kind of rebellious shirt she dreamed about as a young person for her musical project. Plus, official Weezer historian Karl Koch drops in to discuss how Weezer's scrappy lo-fi shirts helped establish a sense of community and share details about some of the rare shirts he's granted permission for us to display at the Band Shirt Day Art Show at Hello Lincoln. 

Tune in and get your best band tee ready for September 20th, 2024. 

Nada Surf may have broken in the '90s with the sardonic mega-hit "Popular," but songwriter Matthew Caws isn't big on living in the past. On the band's new album, Moon Mirror, out September 13th from New West Records, he sets his sights on the present moment, focusing on the anxieties, hopes, and fears of our age while never losing sight of the hope and restless energy that has always fueled the band's music. Whether rocking out or settling into ballads, Nada Surf sounds focused and optimistic: "Don't be afraid, you won't be replaced," he sings, like a friend helping you get through a tough night of doubt.

For this episode of Hotline, Matthew answers fan calls from the WASTOIDS answering machine, addressing his favorite Elliott Smith and Green Day songs, his tire changing prowess, mowing the lawn, drinking games, and more.

Nada Surf, Moon Mirror is out September 13, click here for more info.  

Decoy Deloy is back with a news bulletin from the Hello Lincoln loft studio. In this episode, he shares some history and a new merch drop from People Under the Stairs, a legendary underground rap duo who have recently resurfaced at Hello Merch.

Then, an interview with two more legends: Steve and Jeff McDonald of the mighty Redd Kross. 

Fresh off releasing an incredible new self-titled record, Redd Kross is the subject of a new documentary and a forthcoming book, which shares behind the scenes stories from their wild, improbable 45-year-career. In this chat, they speak with Sam Means (The Format) about their early days, the hardcore scene, Beach Boys and Beatles lore, Charles Manson, and much more. 

Find more podcasts and videos at WASTOIDS.com and call us at 1-877-WASTOIDS.

In 1967, Columbia decided to debut a new band called Moby Grape not just with an album—but also five simultaneously released 7-inch singles! 

Fall On You w/Changes
Sitting By the Window w/Indifference
805 w/Mr. BluesOmaha/w Hey Sunday
Hey Grandma w/Come in the Morning 

It might've been a dubious marketing plan, but it produced a ton of great music, and Marc and John delve into why on the latest episode of the Spindle.

Decoy Deloy is back with more Music News brought to you by Hello Merch. Here at Hello, we don’t mess around: we do merch, we do it right, and we put artists first. And this week, we’re pleased to announce a fresh new addition to the Hello fam: that’s right, the legendary DEVO is in the house. Formed in Akron, Ohio in 1973, DEVO has gone on to inspire countless bands, blending high concept satire with catchy post-punk sounds.

This is a big year for Devo. First off, there’s Devo Doc, which premiered this year at Sundance. Directed by Chris Smith, director of the incredible film American Movie, this film offers an inside look at DEVO’s creative process. In late September, DEVO’s Gerald Casale will receive the Ernie Kovacs Award at Dallas VideoFest, an honor that’s previously gone to Robert Smigel and Pee-Wee Herman himself, Paul Reubens, and of course, DEVO recently hit NPR to offer a one-of-a-kind Tiny Desk performance.

Over in their Hello shop, you can score everything from signed posters to shirts, beach towels, or your very own ENERGY DOME!

In other news: Lusine, Yppah, and Arms and Sleepers‬ are heading out on what they’ve dubbed the “Earth To Moon” tour. Formed in 2006 by Mirza Ramic and Max Lewis, recent years have found Mirza acting in a solo capacity, blending ambient music with trip-hop beats and found sound samples. Back in March, we invited him and his friends at Sly Vinyl up to the WASTOIDS loft for a special set and it was pretty dang sick.

The tour kicks off October 23rd in Brooklyn, and will find the crew traveling cross country, hitting Phoenix on November 10th, when they’ll play Thunderbird Lounge. Arms and Sleepers latest is called What Tomorrow Brings.

And to close, meet Jaimie Muehlhausen. He’s the man behind Vibrosonic Graphic Design Studio, the viral website Men Who Look Like Kenny Rogers, and for decades, he’s worked as the creative director of legendary skater Tony Hawk. When he emailed Decoy, we knew we had to reach out to learn more. Tune in to hear his fascinating story.