Guitarist and Songwriter Mike Baggetta came across Mike Watt's 1997 punk rock opera 'Contemplating The Engine Room' at just the right time for him. Watt's expansive and highly personal song cycle that uses navy life as an extended metaphor for both his family history and his band, the Minutemen - created with guitarist Nels Cline and drummer Stephen Hodges - became a touchstone of sorts for Baggetta, opening his mind to the possibility of making highly original, authentic music independent of genre.

Songs featured in this episode: Pedro Bound! - Mike Watt (Live at Jillian's, Long Beach CA Feb 1998); Everywhen We Go - Mike Baggetta / Jim Keltner / Mike Watt; Boilin' Blazes - Mike Watt; Brave Captain - fIREHOSE; June 16th - Minutemen; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - Jeff Beck; What's So Funny 'Bout Social Justice - mssv; In The Engine Room, Red Bluff - Mike Watt; Prove It - Television; The Bluejacket's Manual, Pedro Bound!, The Boilerman, Black Gang Coffee, The Boilerman (Live at Jillian's, Long Beach CA), Topsiders - Mike Watt; Reoccurring Dreams - Husker Du; Lake Of Fire - Nirvana (Meat Puppets cover, MTV Unplugged); Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth - Minutemen; Scentless Apprentice - Nirvana; John Coltrane - Ogunde (Live); No One Says Old Man (To The Old Man) - Mike Watt; No One Says Old Man (To The Old Man) - mssv (Live); Fireman Hurley, Liberty Calls! - Mike Watt; What Means Solid Traveller - David Torn; In The Bunk Room/Navy Wife, Crossing The Equator, Breaking The Choke Hold, Wrapped Around The Screw, Shore Duty - Mike Watt; Hallucinating Reality - Dumbass Youth