Waterproof Records with Jacob Givens

Some soundtracks don't just accompany a movie. They pull you into an entirely different world. Just in time for Halloween, we're taking a trip down David Lynch's Lost Highway and revisiting one of the darkest, strangest, and most unforgettable soundtracks of the 1990s. Produced by Trent Reznor and featuring music from David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, and more, this 19...

Before grunge took over the world, there was a time when soaring guitar solos, enormous choruses, and a whole lot of heartbreak ruled our Walkmans. This week on Waterproof Records, I'm revisiting my 10 favorite power ballads from the late '80s and early '90s! From Def Leppard and Skid Row to Bon Jovi, Poison, and beyond, we're traveling back to a time when a childhood crush could feel like the end...

Neil Diamond on Waterproof Records?! Yep. This is happening. In my first solo episode in six months, I’m stepping outside the usual world of 90s alternative and grunge to talk about an artist who has been part of my musical life since childhood. From hearing The Jazz Singer on family road trips to discovering just how deep Neil Diamond’s songwriting catalog really goes, this episode is about nosta...

Craig Wedren and Adam Wade of the legendary Shudder to Think join me on Waterproof Records! We talk about the band’s return to making new music, their new EP Who Sent You?, and why creating together again feels different after nearly 30 years. We also travel back through Shudder to Think’s history—from the DC scene and Dischord Records to Pony Express Record, MTV, and the wonderfully strange music...

Dig frontman Scott Hackwith joins me to trace the band’s journey from the early ’90s Los Angeles music scene and the MTV success of “Believe” to their long-awaited new album, [i]. Scott shares how an album discovered during an isolated childhood became his musical escape, how a punk-rock girlfriend reshaped his world, and how Dig found its sound alongside influences like My Bloody Valentine,...

Kira Roessler joins me to trace a remarkable musical journey—from discovering Billie Holiday and witnessing the birth of the Los Angeles punk scene to playing bass with Black Flag, forming dos with Mike Watt, and creating her new solo album, Enigma. We talk about the evolution of punk, surviving brutal Black Flag tours while attending UCLA, her innovative approach to intertwining bass lines, and h...

This week on Waterproof Records Podcast, Petey USA joins me to talk about his journey as a musician and songwriter—and how his viral absurdist comedy introduced his work to an even wider audience. We explore the strange magic of the Midwest, the humor and vulnerability behind his music, and the formative records that helped shape his creative DNA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

This week, Greg Katz, Mark "Echo" Edwards, and Mandy Tannen of the L.A. band Cheekface join me for a conversation about how they came together, embracing creativity without expectations, the surprising success that followed, and the albums that shaped each of their musical journeys. Along the way, we talk about art, songwriting, nostalgia, and why making something just because you love it can some...

On this episode of Waterproof Records, I sit down with Mark Hennessy, the voice of Paw, an underrated band to emerge in the '90s from Lawrence, Kansas with their own special "heartland grunge" sound. Mark shares a bit about his stage 4 cancer diagnosis, how it changed his outlook on life, rediscovering the joy of performing, and why music continues to give him purpose. It's an honest conversation...

For nearly 40 years, Greg Attonito and The Bouncing Souls have been one of punk rock's most beloved and enduring bands. In this episode of Waterproof Records, Greg joins Jacob to talk about the band's upcoming album Born to Be, the creative process behind new music, and what it means to make uplifting, unifying art in a divided world. The conversation explores Greg's musical roots growing up in Ne...

In this episode of the Waterproof Records podcast, I sit down with drummer David Glass of Christian Death to talk about the legacy of one of the most influential and controversial bands to ever emerge from the underground music scene. From the early days of the Los Angeles deathrock movement to the artistic vision of Rozz Williams, this conversation dives deep into music, rebellion, creativity, id...

This episode of Waterproof Records lands on the perfect date: 5/8… which means it’s only right that I sit down with Five Eight, a staple of the Georgia indie rock scene. In this inspiring conversation, I chat with drummer Patrick Ferguson and filmmaker Marc Pilvinsky about the documentary, Weirdo: The Story of Five Eight, surviving the chaos of the 90s alternative rock explosion, and why making ar...

In this episode of the Waterproof Records podcast, I sit down with the incredibly talented Zach MacLachlan (aka Mac Glocky)—the mind behind those viral “what if this song was done by that band” videos you’ve definitely seen scrolling through your feed. From turning pop hits into heavy rock anthems to building a massive following through sheer dedication, Zach has carved out a lane that’s equal par...

Episode 100… I still can’t believe I’m saying that. From the very beginning of Waterproof Records to right now—whether you’ve been here since day one or you’re just tuning in because of today’s guest—thank you for being part of this journey. This show has always been about the music that shapes us, the albums that change us, and the stories that stay with us forever. For the first time ever in the...

Episode 99 is here… and this one means everything. After 99 episodes, the new home studio is finally dialed in—and it feels like the perfect moment to sit back, relax, and talk about one of the most important albums of my life. Today, we’re diving into Explosions in the Sky – The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place. If you’ve ever been unsure about instrumental music… if you’ve ever thought, “I need vo...

Remember when making a mixtape meant something? You didn’t just throw songs together — you crafted a vibe. You built a story. And if you were like me, you probably spent hours deciding which track belonged where.  So that’s exactly what I did here. This episode is Part One of my 90s B-side mixtape, a collection of deep cuts, soundtrack gems, and rare tracks from some of my favorite artists of the...

Pantera’s Vulgar Display of Power is one of those albums that didn’t just play in the background of my teenage years — it hit me square in the chest. Released on February 25, 1992, this record arrived at a time when I was trying to figure out who I was. I was a young metalhead in Tulsa, Oklahoma, feeling awkward, small, and unsure of where I fit in. Then along came this cassette tape — Vulgar Disp...

How did it take me 96 episodes to finally talk about Dusk by The The?! This album has lived in my heart since I was a teenager, and revisiting it now hit me in a totally different way. In this episode of Waterproof Records, I dive deep into Matt Johnson’s 1993 masterpiece — an album that charted huge in the UK but flew under the radar here in the U.S. We talk about the haunting atmosphere of Dusk,...

On this episode of Waterproof Records, I sit down with the artist known as Two Feet (Bill Dess) for an intimate, honest, and deeply human conversation. Recorded back at Lazy Pickle Studios, this episode dives far beyond the hits. We talk about Two Feet’s rapid rise after “I Feel Like I’m Drowning” went viral, what it’s really like navigating massive success as a DIY artist, and how that moment cha...

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026. In this episode of Waterproof Records, I’m kicking things off by reflecting on time, age, and how music continues to meet us exactly where we are—and then diving headfirst into my Top 10 Albums of 2025, along with a very necessary list of honorable mentions. This isn’t a critic’s list. There are no rankings, no hype chasing, and no obligation to agree with what...

Merry Christmas — and welcome to a special holiday episode of Waterproof Records. Whether you’re listening on Christmas Day, sneaking away from family chaos with earbuds in, or finding this episode weeks (or months) later — this one’s meant to feel like a personal Christmas mixtape made just for you. In this special holiday episode, I share 10 Christmas songs that live a little outside the standar...

Primus sucks.…or do they? 😏 If you know, you know. And if you don’t know, this episode is about to bring you fully into the weird, wonderful world of Primus. In this episode of Waterproof Records, I dive deep into Sailing the Seas of Cheese — the 1991 album that introduced a generation to Les Claypool’s alien-level bass playing, bizarre humor, nautical nonsense, and one of the most misunderstood...

Smashing Pumpkins fans — this one’s for YOU.Today we take a deep dive into Machina / The Machines of God, the fifth studio album from the original Smashing Pumpkins era and one of the most fascinating chapters in the band’s entire history. From the chaotic label politics, to D'arcy’s departure, to the abandoned double-album concept, to the mythic story of Glass and the Machines of God — this episo...

It’s Halloween, and I'm back with a special Waterproof Records bonus episode! This week, I'm setting the mood for your haunted house, late-night drive, or dance floor with ten underrated songs that belong on your Halloween playlist. Forget the same old Monster Mash and pop hits—these tracks go darker, moodier, and way cooler. From Poe’s haunted beauty to Nine Inch Nails’ chilling cover of Joy Divi...

Sometimes a concert weekend hits you so hard it demands its own episode — and that’s exactly what happened at this year’s Best Friends Forever Festival in Las Vegas. From lightning storms and soaked sneakers to emotional sets from Mineral, Cursive, Knapsack, and Elliott, this weekend reminded me why I created Waterproof Records in the first place: to celebrate those transcendent, life-changing mom...