Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast

Brett and Uncle Gregg don't always agree on things, including the top albums of 1993.  But you know what they do agree on?  Gregg ruins everything! Love, Mr. Grumpypants This week's O3L Spotlight artist is Scottish indie pop institution The Orchids.  The Orchids formed in Glasgow in 1985 and recorded three splendid albums for the legendary Sarah Records label from 1989-94.  Since reforming in the...

If YOU like piña coladas, then come with us and escape. Of course, even if you don't like piña coladas, you're still welcome, because this episode we cover our top songs from 1980. Yes, among the smooth soft rock, schmaltzy ballads and booty-bumpin' disco was some truly groundbreaking classic alternative songs.   As the Hungarians say, "dog poop on your nose!" We think.   Plus, in the O3L Spotligh...

Hey, hep cats!  This week, we celebrate our "homer picks" - the classic alternative era artists and bands from our respective areas who made an impact on us.  Uncle Gregg is representing "the Valley of the Sunstroke," Phoenix, AZ, while Brett is bringing eternal sunshine from the paradise of San Diego, CA.  Plus, we share the picks from some of the "Third Lads" of the O3L Community around the worl...

Flurgy flurga...after an unexpected week off due to dang COVID, O3L is back! This episode, we're hanging out at the local Hot Topic to chat about our favorite punk "bangers" of the '90s. Of course, we also talk about a myriad of other stuff - bathrooms for the rich, German lessons, groupies, Uncle Gregg in love, and Brett's shocking secret.   Our O3L spotlight for the week is The White Collars, an...

Atten-HUT! Join Laverne, Shirl, Squealy and the gang through a rip-roarin, time-travelin', pubis-hurtin' adventure back to the year 1981. It was the year of MTV...The Greatest American Hero...LASITA (c'mon, you kids know)...and a whole lotta great classic alternative music. Join us as we cover our Top 5 Albums from this pivotal year. And, yes, in case you were wondering, hi-jinks DO ensue!   So, i...

"Reverent" isn't exactly a word that you usually associate with Only Three lads. But that's the best word to describe this week's episode, as we pay tribute to some of the dearly departed heroes of the O3L era. They may be gone...but they will never be forgotten.   We talk a lot about James Calvin Wilsey. It's a name you may not recognize, but we guarantee you've heard him play guitar. Jimmy start...

Welcome to the 1st Annual...oops, the Inaugural O3L Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.  Tired of your favorite classic alternative musicians getting the shaft in Cleveland?  Well, we're going to show some of these artists some love (and give you something else to complain about!) as we induct our Class of 2022 into the HOF.  Who made it?  Who got snubbed this year?  We've inducted our first 10, and...

**PART 1 of 2**   Aye, dinnae miss this one or well gie ye a skelpit lug! OK, we won't really, but we've got a special two parter for you this week, as we discuss our favourite Scottish albums with JIM SHEPHERD from The Jasmine Minks!   Aberdeen, Scotland's Jasmine Minks were one of Creation Records' earliest signings, scoring two UK Top 30 indie singles ("What's Happening" and "Cold Heart") and s...

  **PART 2 of 2**   Aye, dinnae miss this one or well gie ye a skelpit lug! OK, we won't really, but we've got a special two parter for you this week, as we discuss our favourite Scottish albums with JIM SHEPHERD from The Jasmine Minks!   Aberdeen, Scotland's Jasmine Minks were one of Creation Records' earliest signings, scoring two UK Top 30 indie singles ("What's Happening" and "Cold Heart") and...

Hey, we know what you're thinking...is it next Tuesday already?!? Nope, but we're bringing you this one early, because we're getting excited for Cruel World - a festival geared towards classic alternative music lovers like us: new wavers, goths, punks, and synth-poppers alike.  It's a concert lineup that we could have only conjured up in our, um, most inappropriate dreams:  Morrissey, Bauhaus, Blo...

It's an O3L party!  We've got nothing better to do than listen to O3L and have a couple of brews (or ginger ales), because this week we discuss the ultimate American punk rock label, SST Records.  SST was founded in 1978 by Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn as a vehicle for his band's records, but over the years has released classic underground music by the likes of Hüsker Dü, Minutemen, Meat Puppets...

We go all the way back to the dawn of Creation for this one...that is, Creation Records.  This week, we celebrate Creation B.O. (Before Oasis) and the 69 amazing singles the classic UK indie released from their formation in 1983 through 1989. Creation's music first and art-for-art's-sake aesthetic not only produced some absolutely wonderful records, but has served as a source of inspiration for ma...

Oi!  Get ready for the most anarchic O3L ever, as we dive into '70s punk albums this week.  Because we're so punk, you may want to send the kids away before listening to this one, because we talk about the outrageous things that we punks talk about: Mucus!  The Monkees!  Debby Boone's secret punk rock past!  Booties!  Tiger Beat!  The Blue Lagoon!  The Flying Nun!  An anti-drug message (unless you...

1979...the greatest year for alternative music ever?!? As Exhibit A, we submit to the jury the fine list of '79 albums hand selected by Uncle Gregg, Brett and the Third Lads of the O3L Community.   Appearing this week is none other than The Scurvee, a hot band guaranteed to appeal to disco freaks and Jugaloos alike!   #musicpodcast #musicpodcasts #classicalternative #alternativerock #indiepop #ind...

In this week's sparkling, poptastic O3L, we tackle our Top 5 (mostly) American (mostly) Power Pop Songs of the '70s.   Our Third Lad is a true '70s Power Pop hero - singer, songwriter and guitarist from Pezband, Mimi Betinis. Pezband released three albums chock full of melodic pop and explosive rock n' roll during their original run: Pezband (1977), Laughing In The Dark (1978), and Cover To Cover...

We had such a great time with Bill Goffrier from The Embarrassment and Big Dipper that we had to adjourn for a little while and reconvene after the sun went down.  And, if you recall our first After Dark micro-episode, we tend to go off the rails when we record at night! Hey, it's not Andrew Dice Clay, but we do talk about things that three red blooded American lads talk about.  You know, like pop...

Part two of the three part O3L extravaganza with the marvelous Bill Goffrier from The Embarrassment and Big Dipper! Hear nearly a half hour of our conversation with Bill that we couldn't fit into Episode 105.   Bill came up in the Wichita, KS punk rock scene of the late '70s, with The Embarrassment forging their own unique, nervy, nerdy brand of music that they dubbed "blister pop."  After the sem...

Hide the cats, strap yourself in and get ready for an O3L three part extravaganza! This week, we discuss the Top 5 Albums of 1986 with Third Lad Bill Goffrier, guitarist, singer and songwriter from not just one, but two groundbreaking bands of the O3L era, The Embarrassment and Big Dipper.   Bill came up in the Wichita, KS punk rock scene of the late '70s, with The Embarrassment forging their own...

Clucking Bell...it's another O3L! This week, we're getting all amphetamined** up and discussing our favourite MOD songs of the O3L era. Whether you're a mod or rocker, mocker or moth, put on your parka, pour yourself a pimple & blotch, and join us.   We are beyond excited to welcome our Third Lad this week, none other than CHRIS POPE from The Chords UK! As one of the best and most prominent bands...

Our two part retrospective covering our first 100 episodes concludes!  Relive some of our favorite stories from and hi-jinks with a variety of Third Lads ranging from legendary musical heroes to authors, comedians, friends and fellow podcasters.  Sometimes off-kilter, sometimes off-color, but always with a love for the O3L community and the classic alternative music we all love. Here's to the next...

Pour yourself a "stiff" drink, whether it be a Wrecking Eric, a Double Dury, or a whole cannister of instant coffee, and enjoy the "One Hundred and Tooth" episode of Only Three Lads...wherein we celebrate one of the seminal indie labels of the O3L era, STIFF RECORDS.   During Stiff's initial run between 1976-86, the London label released a slew of classics by Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, Nick Lowe, M...

  In our main episode this week, we count down our Top 5 singles on the Stiff Records label.   One of the incredible groups on the Stiff roster was ANY TROUBLE, whom Melody Maker called "the most exciting band since The Pretenders" in 1980 and AllMusic today calls them "an underappreciated bright spot on Stiff..." For our Stiff celebration, we are very fortunate to welcome Any Trouble's singer, so...

We celebrate 100 episodes by taking it to the very beginning.  Whether you're a new listener or you've been with us since the first show, relive some of the finest, funniest, and creepiest moments from Episodes 1 - 50.  You'll hear the stories, the characters, the accents, the wackiness, and the huge giant tentpoles that has made O3L the classic alternative music podcast.  Join us on this trip dow...

It's here...the landmark 100th episode of Only Three Lads!  A huge thanks to everyone in the O3L Community for sticking with us.  Without you, the big 1-0-0 would mean nothing.  It truly warms the cockles of our hearts (wasn't that a Jackyl song!?!). For our centesimal show, we bow down and pay tribute to arguably the most awesome of all rock n' roll tropes - the guitar solo.  Experience all the d...

Hop in the O3L time machine and go where no other episode has gone before!  This week, we were each given the opportunity to travel back to attend five concerts - any date, any venue, any artists - during the O3L era.  Oh, the places we will go!   Episode 99 is full of concert memories, tips on how to get backstage (hot tip: bring a clipboard!), mullets, imaginary hookers, and...uh...horse dung! ...