Formed in the South Bronx by four African American sisters, ESG coined a sound with their very first release: the "You're No Good" 7-inch, released on England's famed post-punk label Factory. Marc and John dig into how they got there, and why their sound was so unique—and so often sampled, without the sisters seeing much in the way of credit or cash. Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and videos at WASTOIDS.com | Follow us on Instagram and YouTube.

It's time to tumble down internet rabbit holes once again with Sam and Jason on an all-new Click Vortex. On this episode, they set the time machine in motion and travel back to April 1994, to reflect on that momentous month. Discussed: Kurt Cobain & Nirvana and Courtney Love & Hole, Blur (and their infamous recent Coachella performance), the tale behind Danzig's unlikely hit "Mother," the Beastie Boys, Enigma's beat-heavy new age gloss, and Bruce Springsteen at his most "mall...

If you're of a certain age, you've probably heard The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie," a '60s top 10 staple that got a later boost when it soundtracked a crucial scene in the 1978 frat comedy Animal House. But did you know it was also a target of the FBI? Marc and John dissect this 1963 hit and why it got kids dancing and adults griping, on this new episode of the Spindle. Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and videos at WASTOIDS.com | Follow us on Instagram and YouTube.

Sam and Jason are back on the bi-coastal swing, digging into the wild world of Beatles covers, encompassing the great to the terrible. To kick the clicks off, Jason rounds up selections from Vortex favorites PM Dawn, Todd Rundgren, Tom Jones, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers,  plus left field takes from Boris and Merzbow, Spooky Tooth, Sinéad O’Connor, and more. Then, Sam takes things in a cosmic direction, examining multiple covers of one song, the Beatles' classic "Across the Universe," with...

While Marc and John are gathering new 7″ singles to play for you, we’ve got a Spindle Rewind from the archives: here’s the guys on the On the Corner epic, this alternate version/sonic collage presents five and a half minutes of textural, mind blowing jazz fusion. Though the electric era found Miles seeking a wider audience, this single demonstrates just how subversive, surprising, and totally non-sellout his early ’70s period remains. Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and...

Hey, this is WASTOIDS With, featuring interviews with some of our favorite musicians from a rotating cast of WASTOIDS. This week, we’re hanging out with Will Anderson of Hotline TNT. He’s been traveling the offroads and byways of the American rock underground for years, often working in a more offline capacity, but his latest, Cartwheel, has opened Will up to a new audience via its release on Jack White’s Third Man Records. Will joined us to hang out, share his thoughts on the so-called...

Sam and Jason had a very special guest ready to roll for the 50th episode of Click Vortex, but when they postponed, they decided to honor their inner chatterbox and just riff off the dome. Topics covered include their favorite musical biopics, like Walk Hard and La Bamba, the forthcoming Timothée Chalamet Dylan movie, the Beatles Cinematic Universe, cult Australian comedy Young Einstein, and Jason's hairbrained proposal for Austin Powers IV.  Plus, all the details about iNDIEPLAZA 2024, your...

In 1988, Dead C. member Bruce Russell started Xpressway Records, which quickly became a vital center for New Zealand experimental music. This week on The Spindle, John and Marc dip into the 1991 compilation that Xpressway put together for Chicago's Drag City Records, I Hear the Devil Calling Me—12 tracks in less than 12 minutes and all of them a joy to dig into!  Songs featured in this episode:  The Renderers - I Hear the Devil Calling Me Gate - Never  Dead C. - 5.12.90 Alastair Galbraith...

Fronted by bassist Ned Russin (Title Fight), Glitterer crafts strident and melodic songs with nods to classic D.C. punk like Fugazi and Nation of Ulysses. Initially a solo project, the band's latest album Rationale finds Russin joined by a cast of collaborators including keyboardist, guitarist Connor Morin, and keyboardist Nicole Dao. The record's 12 song indulge in catchy soft grunge textures and post-punk ambiance, with Russin's lyrical focus dedicated to sorting through the day-to-day...

Sam and Jason contend with audio demons and fictional bands. Thrill as they look at Russ Meyer and Roger Ebert's satirical 1970 romp Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Dirk Diggler's stunning tunes from Boogie Nights,  2001's hard rock daydream Rock Star, 2000's record store comedy High Fidelity, Hanna-Barbera and Syd & Marty Croft's late '60s children's show, The Banana Splits and ponder a strange question: what kind of music do they listen to in a galaxy far, far, away? Plus: calm down...

Marc and John are Nirvana agnostics—neither big fans nor big detractors of the Seattle trio. But they do really like the 1990 single "Sliver" b/w "Dive", so on this episode they delve into what makes both songs really good—and what it was like at that weird moment when Nirvana was getting bigger but hadn't yet gotten massively, world-wide huge. Tune in for some grunge explosion history, this time on the Spindle! Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and videos at WASTOIDS.com |...

Sam and Jason are back, armed with two turntables and a microphone. Err, make that two SM7-Bs and an aux cord. The Click duo is looking at the world of samples, pressing play on tunes by Cornershop, Beck, Oasis, Insane Clown Posse, the Verve, Fatboy Slim, Doja Cat, Wu-Tang Clan, Gorillaz, Beastie Boys' sample-delic Paul's Boutique and even more.  And while the internet refused to cooperate, they soldiered on just for you, dear listener.  Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and...

While Marc and John are gathering new 7" singles to play for you, we've got a Spindle Rewind from the archives: here’s the guys on the 1978 single from Public Image LTD, ”Public Image” b/w “The Cowboy Song.” Dropping the needle on this strident and stark recording, John and Marc dig in on its attendant Beeheartisms and John Lydon's uncompromising art rock ethos. Originally aired Nov 23, 2022.  Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and videos at WASTOIDS.com | Follow us on...

LA skate punks FIDLAR specialize in brash, direct tunes. Drawing on a legacy of hard rock and punk, they join us backstage to answer fan questions from the 1-877-WASTOIDS hotline. On this special episode, they share their favorite kind of pancakes, records that inspired them and outline the band's official cigarette replacement policy.  Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and videos at WASTOIDS.com | Follow us on Instagram and YouTube.

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but if it's a record instead maybe that's OK? This week on Click Vortex, Sam and Jason are talking covers: good, bad, and ugly from artists like the Beatles, Big Bear, Megadeth, Molly Hatchet, Rolling Stones, and more. Get hip to Hipgnosis, learn the secret history of Sgt. Pepper's iconic sleeve, and check out perhaps the best album cover ever created by Pen & Pixel (famous for their No Limit and Cash Money covers).  Plus: Bo Diddley's...

This time around Marc and John delve into the origins of Royal Trux, via their first 7-inch and second release, "Hero Zero" b/w "Love Is..."—not coincidentally, the record that launched the now-legendary label Drag City. Find out how Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema got the magic working from the get-go on this episode of The Spindle.  Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and videos at WASTOIDS.com | Follow us on Instagram and YouTube.

This week on Click Vortex, Sam and Jason discuss internet pioneers and music culture. With the online landscape morphing into something new, we look back on the ways artists like Radiohead, Prince, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, and Sam's band The Format, and services like the Internet Underground Music Archive and Napster connected fans directly to music they love. Boot up and jack in, it's time for Click Vortex's look at Internet Pioneers. To watch while you listen visit WASTOIDS.com and...

This time on the Spindle, Marc and John delve into the concept of "bubblegum" pop via 1910 Fruitgum Company's "1,2, 3 Red Light" b/w "Sticky, Sticky", a single so good that it's been covered many times: listen in for versions by Talking Heads, Pooh Sticks, and Apache Dropout.  Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and videos at WASTOIDS.com | Follow us on Instagram and YouTube.

Is a CD revival underway? This week on Click Vortex, Sam and Jason weigh in on the humble compact disc, discussing its merits, drawbacks, packaging and more. Learn about how Sam brought creative energy to The Format's packaging, watch some vintage news clips, and find out if CDs really are more durable than records. Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and videos at WASTOIDS.com | Follow us on Instagram and YouTube.

As 2023 winds to a close, Marc and John take a look back at the first year and half of the Spindle, each choosing their 10 favorite 7-inches from what's been covered so far, plus a few favorite episodes too. From freak out jazz edits to New Zealand rock, experimental rock to classic R&B, there's a little something for everyone here.  If you're new to the Spindle, here's a great way to get a glimpse at everything we've talked about, and why a lot of it is super great! See you in...

This week, your Click Duo Sam Means and Jason Woodbury wander into the frosty wonderland with special guests Anita Means and DJ Johnny Volume. Exploring both Anita and Johnny's yuletide playlists, they riff on classics from Phil Spector's immortal Christmas comp, JD McPherson's rockabilly cheer, Vince Guaraldi, CJ Ramone, various Beatles, Adam Sandler's Hanukkah anthem, Christmas classics from departed artists like Shane McGowan, Sinead O'Connor, George Winston, Robbie Robertson, and much,...

This week on WASTOIDS With, we’re hanging with Marc Masters. You know him best for his work with NPR, Bandcamp, Pitchfork, and of course his biweekly WASTOIDS show with John Howard, The Spindle, where each episode focuses on a different 7” record.  This talk concerns Marc’s latest book, High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette. Marc was interviewed by Jason P. Woodbury in front of a live audience at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe on November 30th, 2023. It was a dreary, rainy...

LA's Germs were the stars of The Decline of Western Civilization, with front man Darby Crash frothing out his lyrics atop a sloppy punk stomp fueled by guitarist (and future Nirvana/Foo Fighters member) Pat Smear. John and Marc delve into their first 7-inch, 1977's "Forming" b/w "Sex Boy" (the latter recorded on the set of Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke, for real) with the help of guest Joe Gross, supreme rock writer and author of Fugazi's In on the Kill Taker from Bloomsbury's 33.3 series....

Sam and Jason dive headlong into the world of banned music on this week's all-new Click Vortex. Joined by the clickhead live chat who weigh in with jokes, takes, and occasional fact checks, they "Rumble" with Link Wray, whose music managed to get outlawed even though it was instrumental, and dive into the confusing state of post 9-11 radio, the FBI's investigation into "Louie Louie," "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," Rage Against the Machine, and the strange history of Soviet "bone...