What Do We Know?

Andrew Rooney and Danny McCrum are weird. Breaking a variety of stereotypes, these two are both musicians with a mind for business. In today's episode, cohost Mike puts on the interviewing hat to find out how they've both sustained careers in music for over two decades, without living on the bones of their asses.

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I warned him. I told him there would be repercussions, no matter how much Botox he used in preparation. Watching Tommy Emmanuel on YouTube is one thing, but seeing him live is another. Mike was excited but didn't take the warning seriously, and now he is permanently disfigured. On today's episode we relive Mike's first time seeing Tommy Emmanuel live, the moment he met the man himself backstage, and the impromptu private performance that finished him off completely.

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What exactly is Yacht Rock and why is it called that? Mike, Danny and Rooney each bring their chosen Yacht Rock tracks to enjoy, analyse and debate. Are these songs gloriously cheesy, pure genius, or secretly both? And should we even be calling it Yacht Rock at all?

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Is Rush a legendary rock band or just a Canadian addiction? In this week's episode Mike (our resident Canadian and Rush evangelist) attempts to convert his sceptical co-host from Rush ignoramus into a genuine appreciator, if not a fully signed-up cult member. Join us as Mike takes us through the Rush story and plays some of their 'iconic' tunes. Allegedly.

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Was Steven Adler the greatest drummer in 1980s rock 'n' roll? Maybe not the flashiest. But listen to Appetite for Destruction and you'll hear something no technically perfect player could replicate: a groove that breathes, swaggers, and feels like it's one beat away from flying off the rails. When Adler left, something walked out that never came back. Drummer Andrew Rooney joins us to break down exactly why.

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Danny has a theory. Was 1991 actually the greatest year in music history? Mike's not convinced. So the two pseudo-scientists did what any reasonable person would do: built a scoring system, applied it to the evidence, and let the results speak for themselves. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers. 1991 had everything. But does having everything actually make it the best? It's closer than you'd think.

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He helped build one of the greatest rock bands of all time, so why does everyone seem to hate him?  This week, drummer extraordinaire Andrew Rooney joins us to dig into the Lars Ulrich debate. Great drummer or overrated? Visionary leader or certified jerk? And does he actually deserve the hate he gets? 

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This week Danny and Mike dig into one of the most powerful and often overlooked tools in music: dynamics. Not just in how you play, but in your songs, your band, how a record is made and how a live show breathes. They pick up the guitar and work through some examples together before Danny plays Mike a number of iconic tracks that show dynamics done right. The kind of conversation that will genuinely change how you listen to music. Worth your time.

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Back in 2017, Danny and former cohost Bobby Kennedy sat down with the legendary Tommy Emmanuel. With Tommy returning to New Zealand next month, we're re-releasing the episode. Since Mike is hearing it for the first time, we discuss his reactions and thoughts, knowing he's about to see Tommy live for the very first time too.

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In a world of ever advancing tech, who gets to call themselves a musician? We dig into the technology quietly reshaping music, why new tech always gets a rough reception, DJs, AI, and the big question: can a machine ever really make art? Spoiler: we don't think it can.

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