May 5, 2026 • 31 mins
Ever feel like skipping ahead to see what's in store for the next chapter?Understandable, but it's probably best to let your next chapter unfold naturally. That's what we're doing this week--embracing next chapters and the music we listen to as we mentally settle into a new path. Welcome to Season 3, friends!
SONGS:
Broadcast: Before We Begin (2003)
Canned Head: Going Up the Country (1968 / 1970 Performance)
RESOURCES AND REFERENCES:
Broadcast Wants You to Stay Inside (Medium)
Untold Stories (Part 1) - The History of the Birmingham Music Scene in the 1960s (YouTube)
Broadcast Singer Trish Keenan Dies (Rolling Stone)
A true artist: The legacy of Broadcast’s Trish Keenan (Far Out Magazine)
Distant Call - Collected Demos 2000-2006 (Bandcamp)
Spell Blanket - Collected Demos 2006-2009 (Bandcamp)
Henry Thomas: Bull Doze Blues (1928)
Henry Thomas: Honey, Won’t You Allow Me One More Chance (1927)
Bob Dylan: Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance (1963)
Henry Thomas: Fishing Blues (1928)
Lovin’ Spoonful: Fishing Blues (1965)
Henry Thomas: Don’t Ease Me In (1927)
Grateful Dead: Don’t Ease Me In (1966)
Tommy Jones: Canned Heat Blues (1928)
Son House: Father of Folk Blues Album (1965)
Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson Website
Alan Wilson: The Bridge Between Woodstock and the Delta Blues
Five Reasons Alan Wilson Remains a Guitar Legend
HAPPENINGS:
Devo: The First 50 Years! (Until June 20 at MutMuz Gallery)
ADVICE:
Download the Merlin Bird ID app
Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)!
If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and review would send us into the exosphere of excitement.
And email us at stereothematica@gmail.com! We will write back!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_03 (00:04):
I'm Christine.
And I'm Christina.
In 2024, I moved to Texas fromLA.
And to keep in touch, Christineand I started a weekly game
where we each pick a song thatfits a chosen theme.
SPEAKER_02 (00:14):
This game deepened our understanding of each other
and the songs that shape us,inspiring the podcast you're
listening to now.
Each week we share our pics,swap stories, and dig into
tracks you might love.
And a lot of the time have neverheard of.
SPEAKER_03 (00:27):
Welcome to Stereothematica, your favorite
atypical music podcast.
Hello, Christine.
Hello, Christina.
Happy season three.
SPEAKER_02 (00:39):
Oh yes, happy season three to you.
SPEAKER_03 (00:41):
Have you done anything interesting lately?
SPEAKER_02 (00:43):
Um, as a matter of fact, guess who I met last
night?
SPEAKER_03 (00:47):
Oh my god, please tell me.
SPEAKER_02 (00:49):
Mark Mothers Baugh.
What?
Stop! I am lie, like real timereactive.
Okay, she she did not tell methis.
Okay.
How did this happen?
Okay, so maybe met.
I don't know.
Does saying hello and making eyecount that counts, right?
That counts.
Where?
Tell me the whole thing.
Okay, so there's a Devo exhibitat his gallery in Chinatown.
(01:12):
The Mutt Moose.
I don't know how to pronounceit, but it's the Mutt Moose
Gallery.
That sounds good.
And it was the last 50 years ofDevo, and it just like
photographs, all their iconicphotographs, a lot of
photographs you've never seenbefore.
And so we're I'm I'm with mycousin, we're walking up down
the alley, and you hear likemusic playing and lots of people
(01:36):
outside.
And it looks like there's a bigcrowd inside the gallery,
outside.
They have a little like drinkarea, they have clearly some
t-shirts and posters.
And then coming out, as we'regoing in, is Mark Mothersball.
And he looks at me and I look athim and I say, Hello.
He says, Hello.
(01:56):
Oh my god.
Thank you.
And that was the extent of it.
It was very exciting.
And my cousin's like, why don'tyou talk to him?
You have so much to talk about.
You can't.
You can't.
You can't.
Like, oh my God, I loved you.
Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_03 (02:10):
You just go.
No.
SPEAKER_02 (02:13):
I I wouldn't.
Yeah.
I mean, look at me.
I can't even, I it's hard for meto even articulate the
experience.
SPEAKER_03 (02:19):
I feel like I'm going to cry.
That's crazy.
I can't.
You you have kept this for me,and you're like, that's that's
so nuts.
I didn't even know you weregoing to this exhibit.
SPEAKER_02 (02:29):
Yeah, I almost mentioned it last week when we
talked, but I figured I I knewwe'd be recording right after
it.
I didn't know he would be thereeither.
Like I mean, you can have toguess.
It's all away.
I was it was like 50-50.
SPEAKER_03 (02:42):
Wow.
SPEAKER_02 (02:43):
So I recommend anyone in a way.
Like it's going on until June20th.
SPEAKER_03 (02:48):
Good call.
SPEAKER_02 (02:49):
It's if you like Devo, Devo Curious, check it
out.
It's a cool gallery.
The Mutt Moose, uh, you can lookthat up.
We'll we'll share it in the shownotes.
Please do.
Was anyone wearing an energydome?
A few energy domes.
Okay.
Super hipsters.
Yeah.
A lot of people, you know, milesage and older and younger too,
(03:09):
but a lot of like cool people.
Just like a really nice crowd.
Everyone super enthusiasticabout like Devo, the energy.
SPEAKER_03 (03:18):
Yeah.
I feel like if you're a Devofan, it like makes you're
automatically a good person.
I think so.
Is that a I have too much?
SPEAKER_02 (03:26):
No.
I I have definitely found thatto be the case, at least like
from last night and at theconcert.
Yeah.
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (03:33):
That I've been to.
Very cool.
Yeah.
Oh my God.
I'm so jealous.
I'm so happy for you more thananything.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (03:39):
I know I know you know what the big deal this is
to me.
So yeah.
Have you met any of your heroeslately, Christina?
SPEAKER_03 (03:47):
Um, let's see.
This morning I saw a glossy ibisat the swamp.
unknown (03:54):
Oh.
SPEAKER_03 (03:55):
Well, that's kind of exact.
Uh yeah, I was having a blastlooking at all the birds this
morning.
Um, no, nothing tops meeting,which you officially met, Mark
Motherspaw.
Very cool.
SPEAKER_02 (04:06):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (04:07):
Okay, well, uh, truly that's derailed my whole
day, but I'm gonna try to getback on track.
And since it's our third season,I thought one way that we might
just kind of have a cleansingnew beginning.
Yeah.
And with that, I'm curious ifyou have any like approaches to
(04:29):
a new beginning, whether it's anew job or a new friendship or a
new chapter in your life.
Like, are you a planner or justkind of a let's roll the dice
and see how this goes kind ofperson?
SPEAKER_02 (04:41):
What do you think?
SPEAKER_03 (04:42):
Yeah, I do have a little bit of a feeling.
SPEAKER_02 (04:45):
Uh over planner, over-researcher.
SPEAKER_03 (04:48):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (04:49):
I mean jobs, people, friends, anything, a restaurant.
Before I go, I will read themenu and know what I'm ordering.
SPEAKER_03 (04:59):
Okay.
Interesting approach.
Okay.
But it is very on brand for you.
SPEAKER_02 (05:03):
Yeah.
But I I I will say I'm willingto like, okay, I plan this out,
but you know what?
The special sounds kind of good.
SPEAKER_03 (05:11):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I love to hear a special.
But I I the funny thing is, asyou could also guess, since
you're my foil, um, I don'tplan.
I don't when I have a newbeginning, I I like to just see
where the path will take me.
Did you know I don't even watchmovie trailers?
I like refuse to watch thembecause I'm like, that will
(05:32):
spoil the whole thing.
Like, that's how committed tojust vibes-based approach that I
am.
But it doesn't always work outfor me, like spoiler alert.
But I do like to I lovesurprises.
I like, I like that element ofkind of seeing where the path
will take you.
SPEAKER_02 (05:48):
Yeah, I can see that.
And I do like getting into amovie or a book without knowing
anything about it sometimes.
SPEAKER_03 (05:55):
That's fun.
Man, that reminds me of when youwere recommending all fours to
literally everyone.
SPEAKER_02 (06:01):
I know.
SPEAKER_03 (06:03):
It paid off.
It was like the book of thesummer.
SPEAKER_02 (06:06):
But it was like it only, I don't know, 10% in, and
I it didn't get to the reallydirty part.
SPEAKER_03 (06:13):
God, that was funny.
SPEAKER_02 (06:15):
Yeah.
Well.
SPEAKER_03 (06:16):
Well, in the spirit of New Beginnings, this week's
theme that I I selected is nextchapter.
I actually did not remember whyI picked this theme, and I had
to go back and check our text tosee why I did.
And I had a completely differentidea of why I picked the theme.
But what I said in our text wasit was an honor of your
(06:37):
birthday.
SPEAKER_02 (06:38):
Huh.
I kind of remember that, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (06:40):
Yeah.
And it seems like a weird pick.
What do you think?
Do you think I was phoning itin?
SPEAKER_02 (06:45):
No, I mean, it's appropriate, like around my
birthday, and I think that wasall what else was going on in
January of 2020.
Something intensely depressing.
Yeah.
So a lot.
And I think even though we weredepressed because of the
inauguration, I think.
Right, exactly.
It was like, well, we couldstill have an uplifting
(07:08):
experience independent of that,right?
SPEAKER_03 (07:10):
Yeah.
I also think this might havejust been an occasion that I
wanted to share a song with you.
And I tried to create a themethat actually would hold the
pick well.
And so, you know, that's whereI'll I'll just kind of veer my
ship.
And without further ado, myselection for next chapter is
Before We Begin by broadcastfrom their 2003 album, Ha Ha
(07:33):
Sound.
(07:53):
I I know I remember you sayingyou liked the song, but what was
your initial reaction?
And I I'll just share.
The song is like intenselysoothing to me, which is
probably a good thing to be likesoothed and calm when you're
starting a new chapter.
What do you think?
SPEAKER_02 (08:08):
Yeah, no, I think so.
And I I liked that it had thatvery like retro 60s feel, very
ethereal.
Maybe not something I wouldlisten to on my own, but but
definitely something I can seelike in a movie or or like a
scene in a TV show, and likefeeling like, oh, this is
perfect for this situation, andespecially a new chapter or next
(08:32):
chapter.
SPEAKER_03 (08:32):
That's funny.
I do think it has a really goodlike movie or show quality to
the song because it's like kindof dreamy, spacey, fuzzy, even.
Yeah, and I I want toacknowledge for our listeners
and for you, I feel like I'vebeen doing a bad job of sharing
information about the bandswhose songs I select on some of
the recent episodes.
(08:53):
Because again, vibes andfeelings are kind of the thing
that rule my life.
But I do really want tocelebrate this band broadcast.
I think they're pretty indie andhaven't gotten a lot of
attention, even though I thinkthey're they're just so
interesting and probably I haveto imagine very influential on a
lot of other bands that I like.
(09:13):
And in case you're not familiarwith them, broadcast is a male
and female duo that formed inBirmingham, England.
How would you say that if youwere British?
SPEAKER_02 (09:22):
Birmingham.
SPEAKER_03 (09:23):
Birmingham.
SPEAKER_02 (09:24):
Birmingham.
I get it.
SPEAKER_03 (09:26):
It depends on which part of England you live.
Good call.
Anyway, they formed in 1995, andthe band members are named Trish
Keenan, who does vocals,guitars, um, one guitar and
keyboard, and then JamesCargill, who plays bass.
And they only ended up releasingthree albums because Trish
Keenan actually passed away in2011 at age 42 due to
(09:50):
complications from pneumoniaafter contracting H1N1, aka
swine flu.
Do you remember when that crisiswas kind of happening?
Yeah, but I've never heard ofsomebody like dying.
SPEAKER_02 (10:03):
Especially somebody young dying.
SPEAKER_03 (10:04):
I mean, someone I know, and like I actually saw
this band in uh 2009 at Fun FunFun Fest in Austin, and I felt
really lucky to see them.
Like there's this super etherealband that like to me felt very
mysterious, and to see themperform really felt like oh my
(10:26):
gosh.
It's like for me, it was likeit's broadcast.
Like I'm seeing them at a musicfestival.
Like in my head, they were kindof like almost mythological.
Yeah, yeah.
I I'm like curious if you'veever had this experience with a
band.
SPEAKER_02 (10:40):
Off the top of my head, I can't think of a band.
However, I could think of acomedian.
Oh.
That I recently had thisexperience with James A.
Caster's most recent comedyshow.
He performs as Craig Simons, afictional James A.
(11:00):
Caster tribute act.
Oh my god.
And I just loved it so much.
And I'd seen him before, I'veseen his specials before, and
I've seen him in person before.
But you know, obviously we lovehis podcast off menu.
But this was something specialbecause of that, like that meta
thing that he's doing.
(11:21):
He's it was just like sobrilliant how he explored the
boundaries between like hispersona and like his true self.
And it just felt so intimate andreal.
And it was this like, I thinkfor some people, like they found
it alienating.
And if you're not like a I thinkone of the um reviews was like,
it's horrible for plus ones,because if you don't know his
(11:44):
comedy and his background,you're just like gonna be like,
what the fuck?
But for someone like me who'slike deep dived like everything
he's ever done, I'm like justdying the whole time.
And I was just like, this is thebest thing I've ever seen.
SPEAKER_03 (12:01):
I love that.
I think the neat thing for meabout broadcast too is like
there is that ethereal, almostlike otherworldly, but this song
in particular is like so sweetsounding and a really like great
mix of their classic sound, the1960s psych mixed with
electronica.
And I actually read this greatblog post that I will link to by
(12:24):
Sets and the C D.
Oh my god, I just got the pun.
Sets and the C D.
Yeah, you have to say it outloud, okay?
I'm not stupid.
Anyway, it was on medium.
And in this blog post, theyintroduced some of the lore
about the Birmingham.
I'm just gonna have to say itthat way because I don't know
how to say it the British way.
Music scene.
And in the 1960s, Birmingham hadone of the most popular music
(12:46):
scenes in England with the brumbeat, and it was defined by
their psychedelic sound.
So that psych sound was whatinfluenced Trish when she was
developing her own musicalstyle.
And like some of my favoritesongs by them are fuzzy, a bit
distorted, and then like a bitdark and ominous.
So that's why it's funny thatthis song is like it's very
(13:09):
upbeat and melodic, and I stillgravitate towards it.
And so maybe that's kind of thenew chapter influence coming
out.
(13:31):
The alternative side of that isthat if you listen very closely
to the lyrics, the sweetness ofher voice and the melody are
kind of betrayed by the lyrics.
Beginning again is seemingly achore that the singer has to do
every day in their relationshipto see how things will pan out
that day.
They say, you know, what's intomorrow, fortune or sorrow.
And then sadly, I'm sitting herethinking, Am I trying to hype
(13:54):
myself up for having a goodyear?
Thinking back to January 2025.
You know?
SPEAKER_02 (14:00):
Yep.
No, I I it's funny because Ithink I even paid more close
attention to the lyrics thistime, you know, before before we
record, I like to listen to thesongs like even more closely
sometimes.
And thinking back to that, I'mlike, oh yeah, these are really
like perfect lyrics.
SPEAKER_03 (14:17):
Yes, I know.
And it's so it's so interestingbecause like it allows you to
think, like, I don't know, let'ssay your new next chapter is
like, and this was not the casefor me, but like starting a new
job or something.
You're like, well, I'm stilllaboring, but maybe I'm in a
position where I can like have afresh start or whatever.
(14:40):
But yeah, back in January 2025,there was that intense darkness
looming over me, and I was, I'msure, looking for some
motivation.
Maybe, who knows?
Maybe I found it in this song.
But while broadcast popularitymay have been primarily with
electronic and indie music fans,their legacy lives on.
Warp Records actually releasedtwo demo albums in 2024.
(15:02):
Distant Call collected demosfrom 2000 to 2006, and Spell
Blanket collected demos from2006 to 2009, which I hope
introduced a new audience totheir work.
A new chapter for this band,too, if you'll humor me, even
though after the release ofthese two albums, broadcast
officially disbanded the sameyear.
So Trish's other half of thisduo, James Cargill, he went on
(15:24):
to form the project Children ofAlice with Julian House of the
Focus Group, which is a bandthat Broadcast had collaborated
with and former broadcast memberRaj Stevens.
And the name is actually anhomage to Trish, as she cited
Alice in Wonderland as one ofher primary influences.
So I can see that.
Yeah, right?
Like kind of I know a lot ofpeople who are into psych are
(15:45):
really into like Alice andWonderland and mushrooms for
obvious reasons.
Yeah, exactly.
But I think it's really cool.
I love that homage and just thekind of next chapter for James,
which is so neat.
But that's all I got.
And I am not joking when I say Iliterally can't wait for your
explanation for your nextchapter song because I've been
(16:07):
thinking about it and wonderingabout it all day.
SPEAKER_02 (16:09):
Really?
Okay, well, let's just get rightto it.
Please.
So, okay, my pick was as muchabout the lyrics as it was about
how the music makes me feel, ofcourse, because I too can be a
vibes person.
Thank you very much.
So my next chapter song is GoingUp the Country by Canned Heat.
(16:51):
Do you remember what you textedafter I shared this?
I don't remember.
SPEAKER_03 (16:54):
Can you remind me?
I didn't picture you as acountry girl.
And that's so that's funny thatI said that because like I don't
I I don't think this is acountry song.
SPEAKER_02 (17:07):
That's that's exactly what I was wondering.
Like, I never thought of this asa country song.
SPEAKER_03 (17:11):
I think I must have been like thinking, oh, I'm
going up to the country.
Like, like, let's get out oftown and go to you know the
sticks or something.
I don't know.
I yeah, who knows?
Maybe that's such a weirdresponse.
SPEAKER_02 (17:23):
But did you know the song?
Yeah, for sure.
Okay, okay, good kid.
It's pretty popular, right?
Yeah, no, it's very I think so.
It's it's probably their mostpopular song, too.
It is fun though.
Yeah, so no, um, Cand Heat isnot country music.
Just it's just in the title,Christina.
SPEAKER_03 (17:39):
What if I was drunk and I was like, you're a
country?
SPEAKER_02 (17:44):
Um, no, they they consider themselves blues rock.
Oh and but okay, before I getinto the song, you know, I need
to share how I rediscovered it.
Yes.
So 2022, I'm at the HollywoodBowl for the French electronic
duo, polo and pan.
Do you know them?
I know them because you'vementioned them before.
(18:05):
So the lighting, you know howlike when the main act is gonna
come on, the lighting changes,and in polo and pan, they have
like they're kind of known fortheir psychedelic light shows.
So it's starting to get groovy,the lighting's changing, and and
you're expecting the band tocome out.
And then suddenly thatunmistakable flute and even more
(18:25):
unmistakable voice of AlanWilson comes on.
And and so polo and pan, they'reknown for sampling.
So I'm assuming it's going toturn into something new, but the
song keeps playing, andsomething just came over me, and
I sang aloud with like completeabandon.
I was probably the only onebecause not really like the polo
(18:46):
and pan audience.
SPEAKER_03 (18:47):
Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_02 (18:49):
They're they're not the audience or can't eat.
Now, of course, it's HollywoodBowl, and we've been there a
while because I like to getthere early.
I may have finished an entirebottle of rose.
Woo! But I gotta say, it waslike such a pure moment, and it
brought me back to another time,and I was just like, oh,
immediately I downloaded thesong because I hadn't listened
(19:11):
to it for so many years.
SPEAKER_03 (19:12):
Cute.
SPEAKER_02 (19:13):
So now going back to being a teenager, going up the
country was my driving themesong.
So, like as soon as I'd get inthe car, I'd press play.
Actually, have we ever talkedabout my first car?
I know we've talked about yours.
SPEAKER_03 (19:27):
No, tell me.
SPEAKER_02 (19:28):
Okay, so it was a blue, white-hooded Chevy Caprice
classic.
SPEAKER_03 (19:33):
Oh shit.
What year?
SPEAKER_02 (19:34):
I mean, I want to say 78, 79.
So that was originally mygrandma's car.
And by the time I got it, likeyou turn it off and it would
fart.
I mean, that's what it soundedlike.
Like a it was just like all theexhaust.
It was horrible.
(19:55):
Wow.
But like that car was my ticketto freedom and self-expression.
I had flower stickers on it, andI drove around dude.
I was driving around HuntingtonBeach as if it was Woodstock in
1969.
SPEAKER_03 (20:09):
I can totally picture this.
SPEAKER_02 (20:11):
But um, and and Woodstock is how I learned about
the song, of course.
Funny.
Yeah.
While like my friends werewatching The Princess Bride and
Dirty Dancing, I was renting allthe 60s movies that I could get
my hands on at the video store,the library, Easy Rider, The
Trip, Alice's Restaurant, PsychOut.
Woodstock was huge for me.
(20:33):
When going up the country cameon for the montage of people
arriving at Woodstock, I wastotally transfixed.
(20:58):
I always love that gulp of air.
Do you remember that?
SPEAKER_03 (21:02):
I don't know.
No, no.
SPEAKER_02 (21:03):
It's like he just breathes in right before he
starts singing the fast part.
SPEAKER_03 (21:08):
And can I ask a question?
Because I don't know any of therest of their repertoire.
Does he always sing like this oris it just for this song?
SPEAKER_02 (21:16):
So he's the other song that you probably know on
the road again.
Like William.
That's his voice.
No, no, it's not.
It's a different song.
I mean, I I don't blame you forfor thinking that, but it's a
different song, and we'll sharethat.
Okay.
And it's his, it's just hisvoice, what he was known for.
He's a co-lead singer.
Like they there's another leadsinger, but the songs that I
(21:38):
know, and I'm not like, youknow, super fan of Canned Heat.
It's really just these twosongs.
SPEAKER_03 (21:44):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (21:45):
They're sung by Alan Wilson.
SPEAKER_03 (21:47):
Okay.
And it's he sounds like that.
And he just sounds that's hisvoice.
SPEAKER_02 (21:50):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (21:51):
Yeah.
It is kind of it's kind of crazythough, right?
No, I know.
SPEAKER_02 (21:54):
It's it's kind of like it's ghostly almost.
SPEAKER_03 (21:57):
Yeah, it it reminds me of like somebody.
Like maybe in I don't know,Appalachia or something.
It's like sitting on their frontporch, I kind of you know,
singing.
SPEAKER_02 (22:06):
Yeah, no, for sure.
But if there's something specialabout it, for sure.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, music critic LindsayPlaner called the song, which
was on their third album, Livingthe Blues, a rural hippie
anthem.
Attracts.
Yeah, right.
You know, I as as a teenager, Idefinitely identified as a
(22:29):
hippie or a flower child.
Or at least that's what peoplecalled me.
SPEAKER_03 (22:34):
Sure, for sure.
SPEAKER_02 (22:36):
But I don't know, it it might seem presumptuous for a
band of mostly white dudes fromLA to call their album Living
the Blues, but the record trulyis full of homage to blues
legends.
Now, I wonder if you know whothis is, but Goin' Up the
Country is based on Bulldozeblues recorded in 1928 by your
(22:58):
man from Texas, Henry Thomas.
SPEAKER_03 (23:00):
I definitely know who Henry Thomas is.
Okay, see?
Yeah.
But I don't know Bulldoze blues.
SPEAKER_02 (23:04):
Okay.
But but still, you know HenryThomas.
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
But yeah, Wilson kept Thomas'smelody, but arranged it as a
rock song.
And he completely changed thelyrics.
In the original, Thomas playedthe quills, an African-American
folk instrument similar to thePanpipes.
On Canned Heat's version,session musician Jim Horn
(23:25):
recreated that part on theflute.
SPEAKER_03 (23:27):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (23:27):
But you know who else covered Henry Thomas?
I have an inkling.
Yeah, yeah, you're right.
Of course, pod favorite BobDylan reinterpreted Thomas's
Honey, Won't You Allow Me OneMore Chance?
As Honey, just Allow Me One MoreChance.
Dang, Bob.
Yeah.
And so Love and Spoonful did aversion of Fish and Blues.
(23:48):
And unsurprisingly, The GratefulDead covered Don't Ease Me In.
SPEAKER_03 (23:53):
Yeah, hippies from San Francisco.
SPEAKER_02 (23:54):
Yeah, you can see that, right?
SPEAKER_03 (23:56):
Yeah, totally.
SPEAKER_02 (23:57):
Now, I truly didn't know much about Wilson until I
started prepping for thisepisode.
He was also known as the blindowl because of his severe
nearsightedness, but also hisintelligence.
He dropped out of BostonUniversity during his sophomore
year because he wanted to playmusic, not just study it.
(24:18):
And by the early 60s, he waskind of known around the
Cambridge music scene as arecord collector and blues
scholar.
And then in 1964, he actuallyspent hours helping Delta Blue
singer Sun House relearn songsfrom his old records.
SPEAKER_03 (24:33):
Wow.
SPEAKER_02 (24:33):
Yeah, like scratchy old records.
He would play them back for himand then demonstrate the guitar
parts and help him revive likemusic that House hadn't
performed in decades.
Damn.
Wilson got to play harmonica onLevy Camp Moan on House's 1965
album, Father of Folk Blues.
(24:54):
And all these things I'mreferencing, I'm going to put
them in the show notes becausethey're all so just amazing to
listen to, and you're all gonnalove it.
So shortly after Wilson moved toLA to help guitarist John Fahy
with research on Delta Bluespioneer Charlie Patton, and it
was at a record store he metfellow blues obsessive Bob
(25:16):
Height, and then they formedCanned Heat in 1965.
The band's name was taken fromanother blues icon, Tommy
Johnson's 1928 song, Canned HeatBlues.
You know what that is about?
I actually am stressed thinking.
I feel like you would know.
Well, okay.
SPEAKER_03 (25:34):
You tell me, and then I'll tell you my reaction.
SPEAKER_02 (25:37):
It's about an alcoholic who turned to drinking
sterno canned heat cooking fuel.
SPEAKER_03 (25:43):
Okay, and this was my thought.
Like, I wonder if the namecanned heat comes from that,
like truly the can.
You know, you light it in fireand it's like a heat source.
But drinking it is that's nextlevel.
Wilson drinking mouthwash.
SPEAKER_02 (25:57):
I know.
Oh my god.
I know I know stress.
But sadly, Wilson died in 1970of a drug overdose.
He was found in a sleeping bagbehind Bob Heights' Topenga
Canyon home.
And according to the manager whofound him, he was smiling and
looking at the sky.
So that's I don't know.
(26:19):
At least he was smiling.
SPEAKER_03 (26:20):
Yeah, yeah, looking at the sky.
I thought there were some nicescars out there in Topenga
Canyon.
SPEAKER_02 (26:25):
I know.
And he, I mean, he had beensuffering with depression a lot,
and just yeah.
So um Wilson's death now onSeptember 3rd was the beginning
of a pretty shocking few monthsin rock history.
Jimi Hendrix died on September18th, and then Janice Joplin on
(26:46):
October 4th, and all three were27 years old.
SPEAKER_03 (26:50):
Damn, I was gonna ask you if Wilson was in the 27
club.
That's a huge bummer.
Yep.
That's so young.
I know.
Isn't it crazy to look back onlike the photos of these people?
And it's not like I think theylooked old, but then you find
out they died when they were 27,and you're like, what the fuck?
I also the insane talent thatthey're able to have, and like
(27:11):
it's like a meteor, just likesuch a short amount of time.
SPEAKER_02 (27:15):
It's insane.
No, I know.
It's I mean, Jim Morrison wasthe following year at 27.
And then I mean, in ourlifetimes, I mean, there's Amy
Winehouse at 27.
Kirk Cobain.
Yeah, yeah.
So a lot of people, a lot ofpeople, weird, yeah.
But in their years that they'realive, they're producing so
(27:35):
much, and there is genius.
I mean, I know we don't I don'tlike use that word, but but
there is there is I'm notcalling them geniuses, I'm
saying there is genius andbrilliance in what they're
creating.
But anyway, so you so you mightask why something so nostalgic
(27:55):
for me represents a nextchapter.
I I still don't, I feel like Ihaven't quite answered.
SPEAKER_03 (28:02):
No, I'm still waiting.
SPEAKER_02 (28:03):
Okay.
So I think it goes back toessence, the essence of who you
are and the importance ofpursuing that.
That's the next chapter for me,more than any big changes.
I don't know.
It's more about knowing what Ireally care about and keeping
that as my north star.
Okay, that's deep.
But this song in particular isjust such like it, it really
(28:26):
does represent my teenage yearswhen I was just like, you know,
kind of rebellious and andfiguring myself out and being
true to myself.
So I think that's why I chosethis song.
SPEAKER_03 (28:39):
That's so cool.
And then I can, you know,totally editorialize a little
bit and be like the the car andlike going off to college and
like just having your nextchapter and like a soundtrack
playing along with it.
For sure.
SPEAKER_02 (28:53):
Yeah, maybe.
SPEAKER_03 (28:54):
Cute.
I love it.
What a really neatinterpretation and a fun song.
I love this song.
SPEAKER_02 (28:58):
Yeah, no, it's like maybe you hear me in talking
about it.
SPEAKER_03 (29:02):
I can't even imagine.
Well, I was going to ask, andnow I know since he passed away
at a very young age.
I was like, oh, was he actuallythere singing?
SPEAKER_02 (29:10):
Oh no, yeah, it was it was the recorded version.
Yeah.
Also, interestingly enough, asI'm doing research about Alan,
I'm like, is this guy autistic?
And while he was not diagnosed,because you know, at that time
people weren't really diagnosingautism.
Right.
People have talked about himsaying that likely he was he was
(29:32):
super socially awkward, superobsessed about the blues.
SPEAKER_03 (29:37):
The blues.
He just really loved the blues.
SPEAKER_02 (29:41):
He's just really how we know.
Yeah.
And I mean, he he wasn't goodwith eye contact either.
People have surmised that heprobably was autistic.
Yeah.
unknown (29:51):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (29:51):
But okay.
So um I feel like it's time,maybe.
Yeah, it's it's gotta be time.
Okay.
In response to recent events,Derek Matica is issuing a
statement on the Hold on,Christine.
SPEAKER_03 (30:04):
Can I give you some unsolicited advice?
Actually, I was thinking it'd befun to start giving our
listeners unsolicited adviceeach week.
What do you think?
SPEAKER_02 (30:12):
Why not?
It's the next chapter.
I'm game for anything.
Excellent.
Here's some unsolicited advicethen.
SPEAKER_03 (30:18):
Download the Merlin app.
At the risk of encouraging moretime using technology, I
actually think it could helpthose of you seeking an
opportunity to shake up yourmorning routine.
Doom scrolling is out, birdidentification is in.
Even folks who don't like birdsmight find this app charming.
Wake up, walk outside, turn onthe Merlin sound ID, and revel
(30:43):
in the natural beauty aroundyou.
Before you know it, you'll besaying, Hear that, it's a
woodpecker.
We're both Merlin users, right,Christine?
Actually, I use bird soundsidentifier, but I'll switch.
SPEAKER_02 (30:54):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_03 (30:54):
This is unpaid promotion for the folks over at
the Cornell Lab Ornithology.
As a matter of fact, it wouldn'thurt if you donated, but we'll
save the unsolicited adviceabout how to give charitably for
another episode.
Advice over.
Christine, want to give thelisteners a hint about what next
week's theme will be?
Next week, in the spirit of nextchapters, we're gonna do some
(31:15):
introductions.
SPEAKER_02 (31:16):
Can't wait.
Thanks for listening toStereothematica.
If you like what you're hearing,please consider a review, a
rating, or sharing with afriend.
SPEAKER_03 (31:24):
And follow us on Instagram at Stereothematica,
where you can share yourfavorite songs that signify a
new chapter for you.
We've also got our infiniteSpotify playlist linked in our
show notes.
SPEAKER_02 (31:34):
And visit stereothematica.com for more
fun.
I'm Christine.
And I'm Christina.
In 2024, I moved to Texas fromLA.
And to keep in touch, Christineand I started a weekly game
where we each pick a song thatfits a chosen theme.
SPEAKER_02 (00:14):
This game deepened our understanding of each other
and the songs that shape us,inspiring the podcast you're
listening to now.
Each week we share our pics,swap stories, and dig into
tracks you might love.
And a lot of the time have neverheard of.
SPEAKER_03 (00:27):
Welcome to Stereothematica, your favorite
atypical music podcast.
Hello, Christine.
Hello, Christina.
Happy season three.
SPEAKER_02 (00:39):
Oh yes, happy season three to you.
SPEAKER_03 (00:41):
Have you done anything interesting lately?
SPEAKER_02 (00:43):
Um, as a matter of fact, guess who I met last
night?
SPEAKER_03 (00:47):
Oh my god, please tell me.
SPEAKER_02 (00:49):
Mark Mothers Baugh.
What?
Stop! I am lie, like real timereactive.
Okay, she she did not tell methis.
Okay.
How did this happen?
Okay, so maybe met.
I don't know.
Does saying hello and making eyecount that counts, right?
That counts.
Where?
Tell me the whole thing.
Okay, so there's a Devo exhibitat his gallery in Chinatown.
(01:12):
The Mutt Moose.
I don't know how to pronounceit, but it's the Mutt Moose
Gallery.
That sounds good.
And it was the last 50 years ofDevo, and it just like
photographs, all their iconicphotographs, a lot of
photographs you've never seenbefore.
And so we're I'm I'm with mycousin, we're walking up down
the alley, and you hear likemusic playing and lots of people
(01:36):
outside.
And it looks like there's a bigcrowd inside the gallery,
outside.
They have a little like drinkarea, they have clearly some
t-shirts and posters.
And then coming out, as we'regoing in, is Mark Mothersball.
And he looks at me and I look athim and I say, Hello.
He says, Hello.
(01:56):
Oh my god.
Thank you.
And that was the extent of it.
It was very exciting.
And my cousin's like, why don'tyou talk to him?
You have so much to talk about.
You can't.
You can't.
You can't.
Like, oh my God, I loved you.
Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_03 (02:10):
You just go.
No.
SPEAKER_02 (02:13):
I I wouldn't.
Yeah.
I mean, look at me.
I can't even, I it's hard for meto even articulate the
experience.
SPEAKER_03 (02:19):
I feel like I'm going to cry.
That's crazy.
I can't.
You you have kept this for me,and you're like, that's that's
so nuts.
I didn't even know you weregoing to this exhibit.
SPEAKER_02 (02:29):
Yeah, I almost mentioned it last week when we
talked, but I figured I I knewwe'd be recording right after
it.
I didn't know he would be thereeither.
Like I mean, you can have toguess.
It's all away.
I was it was like 50-50.
SPEAKER_03 (02:42):
Wow.
SPEAKER_02 (02:43):
So I recommend anyone in a way.
Like it's going on until June20th.
SPEAKER_03 (02:48):
Good call.
SPEAKER_02 (02:49):
It's if you like Devo, Devo Curious, check it
out.
It's a cool gallery.
The Mutt Moose, uh, you can lookthat up.
We'll we'll share it in the shownotes.
Please do.
Was anyone wearing an energydome?
A few energy domes.
Okay.
Super hipsters.
Yeah.
A lot of people, you know, milesage and older and younger too,
(03:09):
but a lot of like cool people.
Just like a really nice crowd.
Everyone super enthusiasticabout like Devo, the energy.
SPEAKER_03 (03:18):
Yeah.
I feel like if you're a Devofan, it like makes you're
automatically a good person.
I think so.
Is that a I have too much?
SPEAKER_02 (03:26):
No.
I I have definitely found thatto be the case, at least like
from last night and at theconcert.
Yeah.
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (03:33):
That I've been to.
Very cool.
Yeah.
Oh my God.
I'm so jealous.
I'm so happy for you more thananything.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (03:39):
I know I know you know what the big deal this is
to me.
So yeah.
Have you met any of your heroeslately, Christina?
SPEAKER_03 (03:47):
Um, let's see.
This morning I saw a glossy ibisat the swamp.
unknown (03:54):
Oh.
SPEAKER_03 (03:55):
Well, that's kind of exact.
Uh yeah, I was having a blastlooking at all the birds this
morning.
Um, no, nothing tops meeting,which you officially met, Mark
Motherspaw.
Very cool.
SPEAKER_02 (04:06):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (04:07):
Okay, well, uh, truly that's derailed my whole
day, but I'm gonna try to getback on track.
And since it's our third season,I thought one way that we might
just kind of have a cleansingnew beginning.
Yeah.
And with that, I'm curious ifyou have any like approaches to
(04:29):
a new beginning, whether it's anew job or a new friendship or a
new chapter in your life.
Like, are you a planner or justkind of a let's roll the dice
and see how this goes kind ofperson?
SPEAKER_02 (04:41):
What do you think?
SPEAKER_03 (04:42):
Yeah, I do have a little bit of a feeling.
SPEAKER_02 (04:45):
Uh over planner, over-researcher.
SPEAKER_03 (04:48):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (04:49):
I mean jobs, people, friends, anything, a restaurant.
Before I go, I will read themenu and know what I'm ordering.
SPEAKER_03 (04:59):
Okay.
Interesting approach.
Okay.
But it is very on brand for you.
SPEAKER_02 (05:03):
Yeah.
But I I I will say I'm willingto like, okay, I plan this out,
but you know what?
The special sounds kind of good.
SPEAKER_03 (05:11):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I love to hear a special.
But I I the funny thing is, asyou could also guess, since
you're my foil, um, I don'tplan.
I don't when I have a newbeginning, I I like to just see
where the path will take me.
Did you know I don't even watchmovie trailers?
I like refuse to watch thembecause I'm like, that will
(05:32):
spoil the whole thing.
Like, that's how committed tojust vibes-based approach that I
am.
But it doesn't always work outfor me, like spoiler alert.
But I do like to I lovesurprises.
I like, I like that element ofkind of seeing where the path
will take you.
SPEAKER_02 (05:48):
Yeah, I can see that.
And I do like getting into amovie or a book without knowing
anything about it sometimes.
SPEAKER_03 (05:55):
That's fun.
Man, that reminds me of when youwere recommending all fours to
literally everyone.
SPEAKER_02 (06:01):
I know.
SPEAKER_03 (06:03):
It paid off.
It was like the book of thesummer.
SPEAKER_02 (06:06):
But it was like it only, I don't know, 10% in, and
I it didn't get to the reallydirty part.
SPEAKER_03 (06:13):
God, that was funny.
SPEAKER_02 (06:15):
Yeah.
Well.
SPEAKER_03 (06:16):
Well, in the spirit of New Beginnings, this week's
theme that I I selected is nextchapter.
I actually did not remember whyI picked this theme, and I had
to go back and check our text tosee why I did.
And I had a completely differentidea of why I picked the theme.
But what I said in our text wasit was an honor of your
(06:37):
birthday.
SPEAKER_02 (06:38):
Huh.
I kind of remember that, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (06:40):
Yeah.
And it seems like a weird pick.
What do you think?
Do you think I was phoning itin?
SPEAKER_02 (06:45):
No, I mean, it's appropriate, like around my
birthday, and I think that wasall what else was going on in
January of 2020.
Something intensely depressing.
Yeah.
So a lot.
And I think even though we weredepressed because of the
inauguration, I think.
Right, exactly.
It was like, well, we couldstill have an uplifting
(07:08):
experience independent of that,right?
SPEAKER_03 (07:10):
Yeah.
I also think this might havejust been an occasion that I
wanted to share a song with you.
And I tried to create a themethat actually would hold the
pick well.
And so, you know, that's whereI'll I'll just kind of veer my
ship.
And without further ado, myselection for next chapter is
Before We Begin by broadcastfrom their 2003 album, Ha Ha
(07:33):
Sound.
(07:53):
I I know I remember you sayingyou liked the song, but what was
your initial reaction?
And I I'll just share.
The song is like intenselysoothing to me, which is
probably a good thing to be likesoothed and calm when you're
starting a new chapter.
What do you think?
SPEAKER_02 (08:08):
Yeah, no, I think so.
And I I liked that it had thatvery like retro 60s feel, very
ethereal.
Maybe not something I wouldlisten to on my own, but but
definitely something I can seelike in a movie or or like a
scene in a TV show, and likefeeling like, oh, this is
perfect for this situation, andespecially a new chapter or next
(08:32):
chapter.
SPEAKER_03 (08:32):
That's funny.
I do think it has a really goodlike movie or show quality to
the song because it's like kindof dreamy, spacey, fuzzy, even.
Yeah, and I I want toacknowledge for our listeners
and for you, I feel like I'vebeen doing a bad job of sharing
information about the bandswhose songs I select on some of
the recent episodes.
(08:53):
Because again, vibes andfeelings are kind of the thing
that rule my life.
But I do really want tocelebrate this band broadcast.
I think they're pretty indie andhaven't gotten a lot of
attention, even though I thinkthey're they're just so
interesting and probably I haveto imagine very influential on a
lot of other bands that I like.
(09:13):
And in case you're not familiarwith them, broadcast is a male
and female duo that formed inBirmingham, England.
How would you say that if youwere British?
SPEAKER_02 (09:22):
Birmingham.
SPEAKER_03 (09:23):
Birmingham.
SPEAKER_02 (09:24):
Birmingham.
I get it.
SPEAKER_03 (09:26):
It depends on which part of England you live.
Good call.
Anyway, they formed in 1995, andthe band members are named Trish
Keenan, who does vocals,guitars, um, one guitar and
keyboard, and then JamesCargill, who plays bass.
And they only ended up releasingthree albums because Trish
Keenan actually passed away in2011 at age 42 due to
(09:50):
complications from pneumoniaafter contracting H1N1, aka
swine flu.
Do you remember when that crisiswas kind of happening?
Yeah, but I've never heard ofsomebody like dying.
SPEAKER_02 (10:03):
Especially somebody young dying.
SPEAKER_03 (10:04):
I mean, someone I know, and like I actually saw
this band in uh 2009 at Fun FunFun Fest in Austin, and I felt
really lucky to see them.
Like there's this super etherealband that like to me felt very
mysterious, and to see themperform really felt like oh my
(10:26):
gosh.
It's like for me, it was likeit's broadcast.
Like I'm seeing them at a musicfestival.
Like in my head, they were kindof like almost mythological.
Yeah, yeah.
I I'm like curious if you'veever had this experience with a
band.
SPEAKER_02 (10:40):
Off the top of my head, I can't think of a band.
However, I could think of acomedian.
Oh.
That I recently had thisexperience with James A.
Caster's most recent comedyshow.
He performs as Craig Simons, afictional James A.
(11:00):
Caster tribute act.
Oh my god.
And I just loved it so much.
And I'd seen him before, I'veseen his specials before, and
I've seen him in person before.
But you know, obviously we lovehis podcast off menu.
But this was something specialbecause of that, like that meta
thing that he's doing.
(11:21):
He's it was just like sobrilliant how he explored the
boundaries between like hispersona and like his true self.
And it just felt so intimate andreal.
And it was this like, I thinkfor some people, like they found
it alienating.
And if you're not like a I thinkone of the um reviews was like,
it's horrible for plus ones,because if you don't know his
(11:44):
comedy and his background,you're just like gonna be like,
what the fuck?
But for someone like me who'slike deep dived like everything
he's ever done, I'm like justdying the whole time.
And I was just like, this is thebest thing I've ever seen.
SPEAKER_03 (12:01):
I love that.
I think the neat thing for meabout broadcast too is like
there is that ethereal, almostlike otherworldly, but this song
in particular is like so sweetsounding and a really like great
mix of their classic sound, the1960s psych mixed with
electronica.
And I actually read this greatblog post that I will link to by
(12:24):
Sets and the C D.
Oh my god, I just got the pun.
Sets and the C D.
Yeah, you have to say it outloud, okay?
I'm not stupid.
Anyway, it was on medium.
And in this blog post, theyintroduced some of the lore
about the Birmingham.
I'm just gonna have to say itthat way because I don't know
how to say it the British way.
Music scene.
And in the 1960s, Birmingham hadone of the most popular music
(12:46):
scenes in England with the brumbeat, and it was defined by
their psychedelic sound.
So that psych sound was whatinfluenced Trish when she was
developing her own musicalstyle.
And like some of my favoritesongs by them are fuzzy, a bit
distorted, and then like a bitdark and ominous.
So that's why it's funny thatthis song is like it's very
(13:09):
upbeat and melodic, and I stillgravitate towards it.
And so maybe that's kind of thenew chapter influence coming
out.
(13:31):
The alternative side of that isthat if you listen very closely
to the lyrics, the sweetness ofher voice and the melody are
kind of betrayed by the lyrics.
Beginning again is seemingly achore that the singer has to do
every day in their relationshipto see how things will pan out
that day.
They say, you know, what's intomorrow, fortune or sorrow.
And then sadly, I'm sitting herethinking, Am I trying to hype
(13:54):
myself up for having a goodyear?
Thinking back to January 2025.
You know?
SPEAKER_02 (14:00):
Yep.
No, I I it's funny because Ithink I even paid more close
attention to the lyrics thistime, you know, before before we
record, I like to listen to thesongs like even more closely
sometimes.
And thinking back to that, I'mlike, oh yeah, these are really
like perfect lyrics.
SPEAKER_03 (14:17):
Yes, I know.
And it's so it's so interestingbecause like it allows you to
think, like, I don't know, let'ssay your new next chapter is
like, and this was not the casefor me, but like starting a new
job or something.
You're like, well, I'm stilllaboring, but maybe I'm in a
position where I can like have afresh start or whatever.
(14:40):
But yeah, back in January 2025,there was that intense darkness
looming over me, and I was, I'msure, looking for some
motivation.
Maybe, who knows?
Maybe I found it in this song.
But while broadcast popularitymay have been primarily with
electronic and indie music fans,their legacy lives on.
Warp Records actually releasedtwo demo albums in 2024.
(15:02):
Distant Call collected demosfrom 2000 to 2006, and Spell
Blanket collected demos from2006 to 2009, which I hope
introduced a new audience totheir work.
A new chapter for this band,too, if you'll humor me, even
though after the release ofthese two albums, broadcast
officially disbanded the sameyear.
So Trish's other half of thisduo, James Cargill, he went on
(15:24):
to form the project Children ofAlice with Julian House of the
Focus Group, which is a bandthat Broadcast had collaborated
with and former broadcast memberRaj Stevens.
And the name is actually anhomage to Trish, as she cited
Alice in Wonderland as one ofher primary influences.
So I can see that.
Yeah, right?
Like kind of I know a lot ofpeople who are into psych are
(15:45):
really into like Alice andWonderland and mushrooms for
obvious reasons.
Yeah, exactly.
But I think it's really cool.
I love that homage and just thekind of next chapter for James,
which is so neat.
But that's all I got.
And I am not joking when I say Iliterally can't wait for your
explanation for your nextchapter song because I've been
(16:07):
thinking about it and wonderingabout it all day.
SPEAKER_02 (16:09):
Really?
Okay, well, let's just get rightto it.
Please.
So, okay, my pick was as muchabout the lyrics as it was about
how the music makes me feel, ofcourse, because I too can be a
vibes person.
Thank you very much.
So my next chapter song is GoingUp the Country by Canned Heat.
(16:51):
Do you remember what you textedafter I shared this?
I don't remember.
SPEAKER_03 (16:54):
Can you remind me?
I didn't picture you as acountry girl.
And that's so that's funny thatI said that because like I don't
I I don't think this is acountry song.
SPEAKER_02 (17:07):
That's that's exactly what I was wondering.
Like, I never thought of this asa country song.
SPEAKER_03 (17:11):
I think I must have been like thinking, oh, I'm
going up to the country.
Like, like, let's get out oftown and go to you know the
sticks or something.
I don't know.
I yeah, who knows?
Maybe that's such a weirdresponse.
SPEAKER_02 (17:23):
But did you know the song?
Yeah, for sure.
Okay, okay, good kid.
It's pretty popular, right?
Yeah, no, it's very I think so.
It's it's probably their mostpopular song, too.
It is fun though.
Yeah, so no, um, Cand Heat isnot country music.
Just it's just in the title,Christina.
SPEAKER_03 (17:39):
What if I was drunk and I was like, you're a
country?
SPEAKER_02 (17:44):
Um, no, they they consider themselves blues rock.
Oh and but okay, before I getinto the song, you know, I need
to share how I rediscovered it.
Yes.
So 2022, I'm at the HollywoodBowl for the French electronic
duo, polo and pan.
Do you know them?
I know them because you'vementioned them before.
(18:05):
So the lighting, you know howlike when the main act is gonna
come on, the lighting changes,and in polo and pan, they have
like they're kind of known fortheir psychedelic light shows.
So it's starting to get groovy,the lighting's changing, and and
you're expecting the band tocome out.
And then suddenly thatunmistakable flute and even more
(18:25):
unmistakable voice of AlanWilson comes on.
And and so polo and pan, they'reknown for sampling.
So I'm assuming it's going toturn into something new, but the
song keeps playing, andsomething just came over me, and
I sang aloud with like completeabandon.
I was probably the only onebecause not really like the polo
(18:46):
and pan audience.
SPEAKER_03 (18:47):
Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_02 (18:49):
They're they're not the audience or can't eat.
Now, of course, it's HollywoodBowl, and we've been there a
while because I like to getthere early.
I may have finished an entirebottle of rose.
Woo! But I gotta say, it waslike such a pure moment, and it
brought me back to another time,and I was just like, oh,
immediately I downloaded thesong because I hadn't listened
(19:11):
to it for so many years.
SPEAKER_03 (19:12):
Cute.
SPEAKER_02 (19:13):
So now going back to being a teenager, going up the
country was my driving themesong.
So, like as soon as I'd get inthe car, I'd press play.
Actually, have we ever talkedabout my first car?
I know we've talked about yours.
SPEAKER_03 (19:27):
No, tell me.
SPEAKER_02 (19:28):
Okay, so it was a blue, white-hooded Chevy Caprice
classic.
SPEAKER_03 (19:33):
Oh shit.
What year?
SPEAKER_02 (19:34):
I mean, I want to say 78, 79.
So that was originally mygrandma's car.
And by the time I got it, likeyou turn it off and it would
fart.
I mean, that's what it soundedlike.
Like a it was just like all theexhaust.
It was horrible.
(19:55):
Wow.
But like that car was my ticketto freedom and self-expression.
I had flower stickers on it, andI drove around dude.
I was driving around HuntingtonBeach as if it was Woodstock in
1969.
SPEAKER_03 (20:09):
I can totally picture this.
SPEAKER_02 (20:11):
But um, and and Woodstock is how I learned about
the song, of course.
Funny.
Yeah.
While like my friends werewatching The Princess Bride and
Dirty Dancing, I was renting allthe 60s movies that I could get
my hands on at the video store,the library, Easy Rider, The
Trip, Alice's Restaurant, PsychOut.
Woodstock was huge for me.
(20:33):
When going up the country cameon for the montage of people
arriving at Woodstock, I wastotally transfixed.
(20:58):
I always love that gulp of air.
Do you remember that?
SPEAKER_03 (21:02):
I don't know.
No, no.
SPEAKER_02 (21:03):
It's like he just breathes in right before he
starts singing the fast part.
SPEAKER_03 (21:08):
And can I ask a question?
Because I don't know any of therest of their repertoire.
Does he always sing like this oris it just for this song?
SPEAKER_02 (21:16):
So he's the other song that you probably know on
the road again.
Like William.
That's his voice.
No, no, it's not.
It's a different song.
I mean, I I don't blame you forfor thinking that, but it's a
different song, and we'll sharethat.
Okay.
And it's his, it's just hisvoice, what he was known for.
He's a co-lead singer.
Like they there's another leadsinger, but the songs that I
(21:38):
know, and I'm not like, youknow, super fan of Canned Heat.
It's really just these twosongs.
SPEAKER_03 (21:44):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (21:45):
They're sung by Alan Wilson.
SPEAKER_03 (21:47):
Okay.
And it's he sounds like that.
And he just sounds that's hisvoice.
SPEAKER_02 (21:50):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (21:51):
Yeah.
It is kind of it's kind of crazythough, right?
No, I know.
SPEAKER_02 (21:54):
It's it's kind of like it's ghostly almost.
SPEAKER_03 (21:57):
Yeah, it it reminds me of like somebody.
Like maybe in I don't know,Appalachia or something.
It's like sitting on their frontporch, I kind of you know,
singing.
SPEAKER_02 (22:06):
Yeah, no, for sure.
But if there's something specialabout it, for sure.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, music critic LindsayPlaner called the song, which
was on their third album, Livingthe Blues, a rural hippie
anthem.
Attracts.
Yeah, right.
You know, I as as a teenager, Idefinitely identified as a
(22:29):
hippie or a flower child.
Or at least that's what peoplecalled me.
SPEAKER_03 (22:34):
Sure, for sure.
SPEAKER_02 (22:36):
But I don't know, it it might seem presumptuous for a
band of mostly white dudes fromLA to call their album Living
the Blues, but the record trulyis full of homage to blues
legends.
Now, I wonder if you know whothis is, but Goin' Up the
Country is based on Bulldozeblues recorded in 1928 by your
(22:58):
man from Texas, Henry Thomas.
SPEAKER_03 (23:00):
I definitely know who Henry Thomas is.
Okay, see?
Yeah.
But I don't know Bulldoze blues.
SPEAKER_02 (23:04):
Okay.
But but still, you know HenryThomas.
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
But yeah, Wilson kept Thomas'smelody, but arranged it as a
rock song.
And he completely changed thelyrics.
In the original, Thomas playedthe quills, an African-American
folk instrument similar to thePanpipes.
On Canned Heat's version,session musician Jim Horn
(23:25):
recreated that part on theflute.
SPEAKER_03 (23:27):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (23:27):
But you know who else covered Henry Thomas?
I have an inkling.
Yeah, yeah, you're right.
Of course, pod favorite BobDylan reinterpreted Thomas's
Honey, Won't You Allow Me OneMore Chance?
As Honey, just Allow Me One MoreChance.
Dang, Bob.
Yeah.
And so Love and Spoonful did aversion of Fish and Blues.
(23:48):
And unsurprisingly, The GratefulDead covered Don't Ease Me In.
SPEAKER_03 (23:53):
Yeah, hippies from San Francisco.
SPEAKER_02 (23:54):
Yeah, you can see that, right?
SPEAKER_03 (23:56):
Yeah, totally.
SPEAKER_02 (23:57):
Now, I truly didn't know much about Wilson until I
started prepping for thisepisode.
He was also known as the blindowl because of his severe
nearsightedness, but also hisintelligence.
He dropped out of BostonUniversity during his sophomore
year because he wanted to playmusic, not just study it.
(24:18):
And by the early 60s, he waskind of known around the
Cambridge music scene as arecord collector and blues
scholar.
And then in 1964, he actuallyspent hours helping Delta Blue
singer Sun House relearn songsfrom his old records.
SPEAKER_03 (24:33):
Wow.
SPEAKER_02 (24:33):
Yeah, like scratchy old records.
He would play them back for himand then demonstrate the guitar
parts and help him revive likemusic that House hadn't
performed in decades.
Damn.
Wilson got to play harmonica onLevy Camp Moan on House's 1965
album, Father of Folk Blues.
(24:54):
And all these things I'mreferencing, I'm going to put
them in the show notes becausethey're all so just amazing to
listen to, and you're all gonnalove it.
So shortly after Wilson moved toLA to help guitarist John Fahy
with research on Delta Bluespioneer Charlie Patton, and it
was at a record store he metfellow blues obsessive Bob
(25:16):
Height, and then they formedCanned Heat in 1965.
The band's name was taken fromanother blues icon, Tommy
Johnson's 1928 song, Canned HeatBlues.
You know what that is about?
I actually am stressed thinking.
I feel like you would know.
Well, okay.
SPEAKER_03 (25:34):
You tell me, and then I'll tell you my reaction.
SPEAKER_02 (25:37):
It's about an alcoholic who turned to drinking
sterno canned heat cooking fuel.
SPEAKER_03 (25:43):
Okay, and this was my thought.
Like, I wonder if the namecanned heat comes from that,
like truly the can.
You know, you light it in fireand it's like a heat source.
But drinking it is that's nextlevel.
Wilson drinking mouthwash.
SPEAKER_02 (25:57):
I know.
Oh my god.
I know I know stress.
But sadly, Wilson died in 1970of a drug overdose.
He was found in a sleeping bagbehind Bob Heights' Topenga
Canyon home.
And according to the manager whofound him, he was smiling and
looking at the sky.
So that's I don't know.
(26:19):
At least he was smiling.
SPEAKER_03 (26:20):
Yeah, yeah, looking at the sky.
I thought there were some nicescars out there in Topenga
Canyon.
SPEAKER_02 (26:25):
I know.
And he, I mean, he had beensuffering with depression a lot,
and just yeah.
So um Wilson's death now onSeptember 3rd was the beginning
of a pretty shocking few monthsin rock history.
Jimi Hendrix died on September18th, and then Janice Joplin on
(26:46):
October 4th, and all three were27 years old.
SPEAKER_03 (26:50):
Damn, I was gonna ask you if Wilson was in the 27
club.
That's a huge bummer.
Yep.
That's so young.
I know.
Isn't it crazy to look back onlike the photos of these people?
And it's not like I think theylooked old, but then you find
out they died when they were 27,and you're like, what the fuck?
I also the insane talent thatthey're able to have, and like
(27:11):
it's like a meteor, just likesuch a short amount of time.
SPEAKER_02 (27:15):
It's insane.
No, I know.
It's I mean, Jim Morrison wasthe following year at 27.
And then I mean, in ourlifetimes, I mean, there's Amy
Winehouse at 27.
Kirk Cobain.
Yeah, yeah.
So a lot of people, a lot ofpeople, weird, yeah.
But in their years that they'realive, they're producing so
(27:35):
much, and there is genius.
I mean, I know we don't I don'tlike use that word, but but
there is there is I'm notcalling them geniuses, I'm
saying there is genius andbrilliance in what they're
creating.
But anyway, so you so you mightask why something so nostalgic
(27:55):
for me represents a nextchapter.
I I still don't, I feel like Ihaven't quite answered.
SPEAKER_03 (28:02):
No, I'm still waiting.
SPEAKER_02 (28:03):
Okay.
So I think it goes back toessence, the essence of who you
are and the importance ofpursuing that.
That's the next chapter for me,more than any big changes.
I don't know.
It's more about knowing what Ireally care about and keeping
that as my north star.
Okay, that's deep.
But this song in particular isjust such like it, it really
(28:26):
does represent my teenage yearswhen I was just like, you know,
kind of rebellious and andfiguring myself out and being
true to myself.
So I think that's why I chosethis song.
SPEAKER_03 (28:39):
That's so cool.
And then I can, you know,totally editorialize a little
bit and be like the the car andlike going off to college and
like just having your nextchapter and like a soundtrack
playing along with it.
For sure.
SPEAKER_02 (28:53):
Yeah, maybe.
SPEAKER_03 (28:54):
Cute.
I love it.
What a really neatinterpretation and a fun song.
I love this song.
SPEAKER_02 (28:58):
Yeah, no, it's like maybe you hear me in talking
about it.
SPEAKER_03 (29:02):
I can't even imagine.
Well, I was going to ask, andnow I know since he passed away
at a very young age.
I was like, oh, was he actuallythere singing?
SPEAKER_02 (29:10):
Oh no, yeah, it was it was the recorded version.
Yeah.
Also, interestingly enough, asI'm doing research about Alan,
I'm like, is this guy autistic?
And while he was not diagnosed,because you know, at that time
people weren't really diagnosingautism.
Right.
People have talked about himsaying that likely he was he was
(29:32):
super socially awkward, superobsessed about the blues.
SPEAKER_03 (29:37):
The blues.
He just really loved the blues.
SPEAKER_02 (29:41):
He's just really how we know.
Yeah.
And I mean, he he wasn't goodwith eye contact either.
People have surmised that heprobably was autistic.
Yeah.
unknown (29:51):
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (29:51):
But okay.
So um I feel like it's time,maybe.
Yeah, it's it's gotta be time.
Okay.
In response to recent events,Derek Matica is issuing a
statement on the Hold on,Christine.
SPEAKER_03 (30:04):
Can I give you some unsolicited advice?
Actually, I was thinking it'd befun to start giving our
listeners unsolicited adviceeach week.
What do you think?
SPEAKER_02 (30:12):
Why not?
It's the next chapter.
I'm game for anything.
Excellent.
Here's some unsolicited advicethen.
SPEAKER_03 (30:18):
Download the Merlin app.
At the risk of encouraging moretime using technology, I
actually think it could helpthose of you seeking an
opportunity to shake up yourmorning routine.
Doom scrolling is out, birdidentification is in.
Even folks who don't like birdsmight find this app charming.
Wake up, walk outside, turn onthe Merlin sound ID, and revel
(30:43):
in the natural beauty aroundyou.
Before you know it, you'll besaying, Hear that, it's a
woodpecker.
We're both Merlin users, right,Christine?
Actually, I use bird soundsidentifier, but I'll switch.
SPEAKER_02 (30:54):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_03 (30:54):
This is unpaid promotion for the folks over at
the Cornell Lab Ornithology.
As a matter of fact, it wouldn'thurt if you donated, but we'll
save the unsolicited adviceabout how to give charitably for
another episode.
Advice over.
Christine, want to give thelisteners a hint about what next
week's theme will be?
Next week, in the spirit of nextchapters, we're gonna do some
(31:15):
introductions.
SPEAKER_02 (31:16):
Can't wait.
Thanks for listening toStereothematica.
If you like what you're hearing,please consider a review, a
rating, or sharing with afriend.
SPEAKER_03 (31:24):
And follow us on Instagram at Stereothematica,
where you can share yourfavorite songs that signify a
new chapter for you.
We've also got our infiniteSpotify playlist linked in our
show notes.
SPEAKER_02 (31:34):
And visit stereothematica.com for more
fun.
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