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PODCAST

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast

Only Three Lads is a lively podcast celebrating the Golden Age of Alternative Music from the "70s, "80s & "90s. Join Uncle Gregg, Brett Vargo, and a variety of ”Third Lads” as we share our Top Fives, stories, and news about the music we love, and have a lot of fun along the way! Whether you‘re into indie, punk, new wave, Britpop, power pop, synth pop, shoegaze, grunge...or whatever...there is going to be something for you to discover and love. Part of Pantheon Podcasts.

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All Episodes

118:57

E334 - The Grodes' Manny Freiser - Top 5 Garage Rock...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/06/16

In the '60s, thousands of young rock n' roll hopefuls picked up instruments and took to the garage to play music that was loud, raw, primitive, and spiked with attitude. It was a sound that was later branded as "garage rock", and it became massively influential when these wild records were rediscovered by a new generation of bands through seminal compilation albums like the Lenny Kaye-curated Nuggets compilation (Elektra, 1972). Many bands included garage rock staples in their repertoire and

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91:00

E333 - Tammy Ealom (Dressy Bessy, The Tammy Shine) -...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/06/09

In the 1980s, college radio served as a vital alternative to increasingly corporate and playlist-driven commercial radio. These stations became incubators for emerging alternative genres, provided early exposure for artists who would later become influential acts, and championed independent labels, local scenes, and adventurous programming.In a tenth anniversary book issued in 1989, CMJ, the trade journal for college radio, published a list of the Top 250 most played songs from the publication's

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88:07

E332 - George Usher (Beat Rodeo, House of Usher) -...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/06/02

This week, we grab the reins on a discussion of self-produced albums; that is, records on which the artist takes control over their own vision and not only performs the music, but takes responsibility for the final production as well.Joining us on this an exploration is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and pop craftsman who has been a vital part of the New York City music scene, George Usher. George was a member of Beat Rodeo on their second and final album from 1986, Home in the Heart

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76:47

E331 - Parliament-Funkadelic Guitar Hero Michael...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/05/26

Climb aboard the mothership...because we wants to funk YOU up! This week, we celebrate the music of the P-Funk universe - revolving around the nucleus of the George Clinton-led Rock & Roll Hame of Fame bands, Parliament and Funkadelic. Joining us as our Third Lad is none other than "Kidd Funkadelic" himself, P-Funk guitar hero Michael Hampton! Led by visionary bandleader George Clinton, the wildly influential collective known as Parliament and Funkadelic — together dubbed “P-Funk” —

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103:51

E330 - The Melody Chamber - Top 5 Songs About Trains

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/05/19

Choo-chooooo! All abooooooooard! This train may not run on time, but it does run off the rails...and fast. This week, the Lads complete their "Metal MAY-hem" trifecta by covering the heaviest metal of 'em all: trains. Joining in on the fun is Wallace Dietz and Dan-O Deckelman, who make up the creative engine of the Richmond, VA post-punk locomotive The Melody Chamber. Their self-titled debut (HHBTM Records/Too Good to Be True) landed not only in Brett's Top 5 Albums of 2025, but some of you

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41:33

O3L Presents: Weekend Six Pack , Vol. 31 - Glitz &...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/05/15

We've got another six pack of fresh tunes for you in our "show within the show" bonus! This week, Brett chats with composer/keyboardist Johnny Iguana from Chicago band The Claudettes, as they prepare to release their 7th album, Garage Glamour, due June 5th from Pravda Records. “Garage glamour” is about as apt a term as you can get to describe a band who has defied neat categorization over the years - mixing gritty blues, passionate soul, rabid rock n’ roll, cabaret jazz, cinematic drama, slinky

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69:49

E329 - Ben Vaughn - Songs About Cars

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/05/12

O3L's Metal MAY-hem continues, but this week we're talking about a different kind of heavy metal: the kind you drive. From “Rocket 88” to “Little Red Corvette”, the automobile has long been a popular subject in song, representing freedom, escape, prosperity, power, control, solitude, safety, danger, or passion. Some artists simply sing about cars because cars are cool. Much like a classic ‘57 Chevy or ‘69 Rambler, our Third Lad this week is an American treasure. Ben Vaughn is a

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129:31

E328 - Buried Beneath Me - Top 5 Metal Albums for...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/05/05

It's Metal MAY-hem over here at O3L! This week, we're talking about some of the metal albums that we would recommend to alt-rock fans, whether it be the thundering classics whose influence crossed stylistic boundaries or the albums that could serve as a gateway into the genre for the uninitiated. And, when we say "uninitiated", we might as well be talking about Brett.Fortunately, not only has Uncle Gregg been a connoisseur of metal for many years, but our Third Lad is the

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93:05

E327 - Bill Kopp (Author, What's The Big Idea?) - Top...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/04/28

Are you all sitting comfybold two square on your body? Then I'll begin. We return to the topic of the concept album...with a spin. Some concept albums simply don't work without context. Others function as a cohesive collection of songs, even divorced from a weighty backstory or overarching theme. Those are the records that Brett Vargo discusses with this week's Third Lad, Bill Kopp. You may remember renowned music scribe Bill Kopp from his O3L appearance a few years back discussing his book on

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83:57

E326 - The SALT Collective's Stéphane Schück - Top 5...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/04/21

DON'T you forget about us. DO listen to this week's O3L!That's right...we're covering songs with "do" or "don't" in the title. Our Third Lad is French songwriter/guitarist Stéphane Schück from The Salt Collective, the unique international collaborative project who recently released their second full-length album, A Brief History of Blindness, on Propeller Sound Recordings. The record features vocal, instrumental, and/or songwriting contributions by a wildly impressive "who's who" of indie

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72:32

E325 - Robert Deeble - Top 5 Songs About or Inspired...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/04/14

Hope you like curling up with a good podcast, because this week we're all about books...well, specifically, songs that are about or inspired by literature. How high brow of us! Our Third Lad for this discussion is "literate folk-pop" singer/songwriter Robert Deeble. Literary themes are central to the heart of his music, and his recently released 7th album, The Space Between Us, is no exception. It's another invitation into the secret, beautiful world he has been building since his 1997 debut,

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93:14

E324 - Anne Richmond Boston (The Swimming Pool Q's) -...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/04/07

We're gonna make you an offer you can't refuse...because this week, we go way back to discuss some of our favorite songs of 1972 with the marvelous Anne Richmond Boston from The Swimming Pool Q's!Possessing a crystalline voice, Anne's journey led her from church and high school choirs to the quirky new wave of the Swimming Pool Q's. Following their debut album The Deep End on DB Records in 1981, the Q's were one of the first Atlanta/Athens areas bands to be snapped up by a major label. For

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61:21

E323 - Top 5 "You'll Never Come Around" Songs

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/03/31

It's the darkest, most spiteful O3L yet!Thanks to an expected guest standing us up at the last minute, after 322 episodes of musical positivity, this week it's all about pushing each other's musical hot buttons. We each curate a list of five songs that we believe the other will loathe. Detest. Hate. Which means you get more scorn. More disgust. More Uncle Gregg rants. More annoying Brett "grunge voice" imitations. Lucky...you!?!? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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25:23

O3L Presents: Weekend Six Pack, Vol. 30 - Meritorio...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/03/27

"The merit in action lies in finishing it to the end." - Genghis KhanWell, you'll definitely want to finish this six pack to the end, because this week it's all about Meritorio in action. That is, Meritorio Records, the splendid Madrid-based record label founded by Álvaro Lissón that has been connecting some of the finest indie pop/rock artists with worldwide audiences for nearly a decade. During this six pack, you'll hear the following recent tracks by a selection of Meritorio artists: 1)

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98:38

E322 - Sgt. Splendor's Eric McFadden & Kate Vargas -...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/03/24

What the world needs now...is O3L, sweet O3L! The lads are joined by guitarist/vocalist duo Eric McFadden and Kate Vargas — collectively known as Sgt. Splendor — to count down the top five songs this messed-up world needs right now. The conversation explores how music can heal, empower, and unite in difficult times. Guest Bios: Eric McFadden — A spellbinding guitarist with a catalog stretching back to the mid-'80s punk band Angry Babies. He's played with George Clinton & P-Funk All Stars,

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98:58

E321 - Top 5 Album 1-2 Punches

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/03/17

BIFF! This week, we're focusing on Album 1-2 punches...that is, albums where the first two songs knock you out.BANG! Our Third Lad is Ben Crum from long-running Elephant 6 band Great Lakes. POW! More than 25 years and eight records on from Great Lakes' classic debut, Ben Crum returns with a fantastic new Great Lakes album, Don't Swim Too Close (HHBTM Records). The immediately accessible record draws from classic rock tradition, echoing both the Americana spirit of The Band and Neil Young and

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36:39

O3L Presents: Weekend Six Pack, Vol. 29 - Daylight...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/03/13

It's the first full weekend of Daylight Savings Time here in (most parts of the) U.S. You bring the sunshine, and we'll supply the tunes!Brett Vargo chats with electropunk pioneer Peter Pepper about his journey from a "dirtbag punk kid" growing up in Florida to becoming an underground cult hero of a genre he accidentally helped to create. He is currently a renowned multimedia creator, world-traveling storyteller, and founder of the AdventurePunk movement - a philosophy centered on curiosity,

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93:15

E320 - Frank Boscoe (The Ekphrastics, Vehicle Flips,...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/03/10

This week, we’re covering bands who released one…and only one…proper album in their career. Sometimes they say everything they need to say in one album long statement. Sometimes, they attempt to chase the same feeling of the first album and can’t quite repeat the magic. Sometimes they’re not given a chance. Our Third Lad knows a little something about being in a "one and done" band. Frank Boscoe’s great ‘90s indiepop band Wimp Factor 14 released exactly one proper album for Little Teddy

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107:28

E319 - Chuck Granata - Top 5 Alternative Crooners

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/03/03

Croon•er (n) ['kru:nər]: a singer, particularly a male one, who sings sentimental songs in a soft, low voice.Decades before Elvis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, or Uncle Gregg captured the hearts, imaginations, and undergarments of a swooning audience, crooners ruled the earth. The term typically conjures up golden throated singers like Bing Crosby, Nat "King" Cole, Tony Bennett, and Mel Torme interpreting the timeless songs of Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, George Gershwin, Cole

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105:34

E318 - The Silver Snails' Lucas Ward - Top 5 Elliott...

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast ·

2026/02/24

This week, we celebrate the life and music of Elliott Smith, tracing his journey from noisy indie rocker to lo-fi DIY troubadour to the reluctant voice of a generation. Elliott released three records with his band Heatmiser and five solo classics before his untimely passing at the age of 34 in 2003 (with two posthumous collections that followed), leaving a rich, beautiful, emotionally wrought catalogue of music that continues to influence artists today.We explore the complex, brilliant, funny,

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