Beat Motel Zine

In this episode, Andrew and Dr Sam dive into the world of singing drummers—because why settle for just bashing skins when you can also belt out tunes? Expect a thorough dissection of jazz chaos theory, led by Peter Evans and his so-called “three-stooges” approach to organised sound. The duo also explore Karen Carpenter’s dual talents, Red Fang’s unadulterated riffage, and Mastodon’s... well, let’s say, questionable riff decisions.

Dr Sam throws in some knowledge grenades about jazz producer legends, while Andrew recalls a traumatic encounter with Reading Festival toilets that left him missing Mastodon for a “pressing” appointment. They also ponder how Robert Wyatt of Soft Machine managed to keep it together, both rhythmically and vocally, before a window accident shifted his life forever. From awkward gig moments to a deep-dive into prog jazz and even John Grant’s soundcheck playlist, this episode has it all—except, maybe, subtlety.

_Featured Tracks and Artists_:

- Peter Evans and friends with some chaotic jazz noodling

- The Morons with "I Want to Stab You in the Neck" (naturally)

- Anderson .Paak, making soul look way too easy on the Tiny Desk

- Queens of the Stone Age, with zero Grohl vocals

- Yoshida Tatsuya’s wild prog jazz

- A head-turning pick from Soft Machine with Robert Wyatt singing and drumming

Grab your headphones (and maybe a stiff drink); it’s a wild ride through rhythm, riffs, and a solid bit of nonsense.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Peter Evans - Freaks (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- The Ruins of Beverast - Anchoress in Furs (opening)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. The Morons - Stab You in the Neck (0.10)

2. Anderson .Paak - Heart Don't Stand a Chance (from NPR tiny desk) : 3.57

3. Soft Machine - Moon in June (0.20)

4. Koenjihyakkei - Rattims Friezz (1.44)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Carpenters - Close to you (1:15)

2. Mastodon - Blood and Thunder (opening)

3. Queens of the Stone Age - Song for the dead (0:02)

4. Velvet Underground - After Hours

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Anderson .Paak - Heart Don't Stand a Chance (from NPR tiny desk) : 3.57 - https://youtu.be/ferZnZ0_rSM?feature=shared&t=237

In this episode of Beat Motel Andrew is joined by Dr Hannah. Join us as we dive into non-English music, from French hip-hop to North African future funk and Italian soap-opera jams. Along the way, we touch on archaeology, conspiracy theorists, and of course, toilet humor – because what’s a Beat Motel episode without that?

We chat about:

- Dr. Sam’s political philosophy doctorate (no, he can't save lives).

- Sparks’ 70s awkward sexiness and North African beats that sound straight out of _The Fifth Element_.

- Anime, cyberpunk, and Blade Runner-inspired 80s Japanese pop (shout-out to _Bubblegum Crisis_ fans).

- Icelandic shout-singing with Bjork before she got _really_ weird.

- French hip-hop legends that groove smoother than my grandmother's custard.

Hold onto your milking stools (yes, we explain that), as we explore weird instrumentals, wax lyrical about vinyl obsessions, and debate which music genre has the weirdest accents. Also, if you’re into Matt Berry and his mysterious music career, we’ve got you covered.

Dr. Hannah's knowledge runs deep, and we pretend to keep up.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Hannah's Riff

- Sparks - Happy Hunting Ground (2:54)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Norma Tanega - You're dead (opening)

### Dr Hannah's track choices

1. Abdel Kader (Live à Bercy, Paris / 1998) (2:56)

2. Bubblegum Crisis - Konya wa Hurricane (2:46)

3. Maria Arnal i Marcel Bagés - Tú Que Vienes a Rondarme (1:50)

4. Mina - Se telefonando (2:20)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Sugarcubes - Birthday (Icelandic Version) (2:00)

2. MC Solaar - Nouveau Western (1:47)

3. WIZO - Quadrat im Kreis (1:30)

4. Adriano Celentano - Prisencolinensinainciusol (2:05)

Hannah made a playlist of her tracks! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1R19nDqVi8F8JplAjOalJq?si=gG518yOgSAu3O0hh4_tnfQ&pi=di55wqNKTg-f-

In this episode of "Beat Motel," Andrew Culture and _Spamuel Rage_ (because who else could conjure up such bizarre music choices?) return to the long-anticipated second half of their chaos-fueled breakdown: _Great Band, Terrible Decision_. Naturally, things get out of hand, with deep dives into bands that alienate their own fans, riffs that make zero sense, and Devon Townsend’s baffling alien coffee addiction (yes, seriously).

Expect more music geekery, deranged anecdotes, and Andrew’s rants about Finnish milkmen’s stiffy-shaped bottles—because why not? They also explore what happens when you ask your partner, mid-act, “Who’s making love?”—results vary.

Highlights:

- ASMR misfires and a thorough misunderstanding of the purpose of _ASMR_ (what even is it?!)

- Andrew Culture’s near-confession about allotment-based dogging (we're all left hanging, thank God).

- How _King Prawn_ went from experimental brilliance to “WTF were they thinking?”

- The horror of strapping young lads deciding to ditch metal for ‘comedy’. Spoiler: it wasn't funny.

- Why asking random bus-stop strangers “Who's making love?” in Finland leads to awkward silence and not much else.

It’s a wild ride as always, with random bouts of technical difficulties and Andrew Culture monologuing about _Spamuel Rage_’s suspiciously symbolic tassels. Oh, and they manage to insult at least three beloved bands (because that's how they roll).

Listen for laughs, questionable musical taste, and a slight risk of learning absolutely nothing.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Johnnie Taylor - Who's Making Love (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- At the drive in - Cosmonaught (opening)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Misfits - Forbidden Zone (0.07)

2. King Prawn - Smoke Some Shit (1.00)

3. Mos Def - Rock N Roll (3.45)

4. Devin Townsend - Tall Latte (0.30)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Ride - Drive Blind (2:30)

2. Spacemen 3 - Revolution (4:10)

3. The Buzzcocks - Boredom (1:38)

4. Radiohead - Pyramid Song (2:02)

Strap yourselves in, folks, because this week Andrew Culture is joined by _David Jago_, and they’re taking a full-throttle dive into the wonderful (and sometimes catastrophic) world of bands who can’t keep a lineup straight. From Radiohead’s unbreakable five-piece to Faith No More's revolving door of members, this episode is a chaotic journey through rock and metal history. Ever wondered what happens when a 17-year-old guitarist joins a band mid-tour? Or when you replace drummers so often it feels like hiring temps at an office job? You're in the right place.

David Jago starts things off with a beautiful ode to Radiohead’s _Airbag_, not just for Jonny Greenwood's guitar wizardry, but for the sneaky bass lines no one ever talks about. We drift into Faith No More territory, where Jago talks about their early rap-metal influence, reminding us that Korn may have just cribbed their sound from Mike Patton’s nightmares. But of course, Andrew has to bring us down with tales of gigs ruined by awful fans. V Festival, we’re looking at you.

The theme of the week is "Bands Who Change Members for Better or Worse" – and, oh boy, does this episode deliver on that. Public Image Ltd, Korn, Fleetwood Mac, and the Sex Pistols – it’s a lineup circus, and no one is getting out alive. Andrew and David wax lyrical (and sarcastic) about drummers who can’t be replaced, guitarists who can, and band reunions that should’ve stayed dead.

Whether you're here for Flea’s slapping basslines, Ginger Baker’s drum tantrums, or just to figure out how many members Suede have gone through, this episode has you covered. It's punk, it's metal, it’s Neil Finn and Stevie Vai in the same sentence, and it’s a gloriously irreverent mess.

You’ll laugh, you’ll wince, you might even shed a tear for the mayonnaise-eating Korn fans. Tune in, buckle up, and get ready for a deep dive into rock and roll’s most dysfunctional families.

**Show Highlights**:

- The underrated magic of Colin Greenwood's bass in _Airbag_

- Faith No More and their near-decade head start on Korn

- The nightmare that was V Festival 2002 (never forget, never forgive)

- Suede's teenage guitar prodigy – what happened when Bernard Butler said, "me or the producer?"

- Public Image Ltd and their rotating cast of rock legends, including Steve Vai and Ginger Baker (yes, really)

### Riffs of the week

#### Jago's Riff

- Radiohead - Airbag (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Zero Down - Down this road (0:12)

### Jago's track choices

1. Faith No More - As the worm turns (1.11)

2. KoRn - Good God (2:20)

3. Sex Pistols - E.M.I (1:13)

4. Queen - The Hero (1:00)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Public Image Ltd - Ease (4:55)

2. Gravediggaz - Fairytalez (3:30)

3. Suede - Stay Together (6:33)

4. Wolfheart - Ancient Cold (3:15)

BAND MEMBER LEADERBOARD

PIL - 18

Faith No More - 13

Sex Pistols - 8

Korn - 6

Suede - 6

Queen - 5

Gravediggaz - 4

In this episode of **Beat Motel**, Andrew and the eloquently deranged **Spamuel Rage** dive deep into the delightful chaos of _Great Bands, Terrible Decisions_, and the unexpected tangents of _Multiple Songwriters in One Band_. Expect loud opinions, questionable facts, and unfiltered rants about music that might just leave you scratching your head—and, if you're like Andrew, maybe scratching something else too.

The dynamic duo kicks off by discussing inappropriate use of toenails (yes, that’s a thing) and eventually stumble through topics like:

- **Riff of the Week**: From obscure bands like "The Barbarians of California" to classics with questionable re-recording choices (_Johnny Cash, we're looking at you_), it’s a musical rollercoaster.

- **Troll Attacks**: Apparently, people online think they’re AI-generated… which begs the question, why would anyone make this mess on purpose?

- **Cannibal Corpse**: Yes, they talk about _Cannibal Corpse_ and their "delicate" approach to songwriting. Really.

- **Wu-Tang Clan Skits**: Are they iconic or just disruptive nonsense? Andrew's got some strong opinions.

- **Oasis**: Should Andy Bell have even been allowed near Oasis? Why does Noel Gallagher love this album so much? Discuss.

Also featured: **The Doors’ worst circus tune** and **Against Me!'s snare drum debacle**, because what’s a music podcast without some hardcore nitpicking?

This episode's as unfiltered as it gets—bad jokes, crude hints, and plenty of nonsense that'll make you wonder why you're still listening. But hey, that’s why it’s fun!

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- The Barbarians of California - 'Bazooka' (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- The Smile - Zero Sum (opening)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. fIREHOSE - Can't Believe (0.13)

2. Cannibal Corpse - Make them Suffer (opening)

3. Oasis - Turn Up the Sun (opening)

4. Descendents - Sour Grapes (opening)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Johnny Cash - Classic Cash: Hall of Fame Series Walk the Line (1:00)

2. Wu Tang Clan - Method Man (0:24)

3. The WASP (Texas Radio And The Big Beat) (3:30)

4. Reinventing - Axl Rose (opening)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

**Episode Summary:** In this episode of _Beat Motel_, host Andrew Culture welcomes guest co-host Ollie Pearson to chat about one of life’s crucial topics: music for hangovers. Together, they explore the perfect tracks to ease the pain, from ambient soundscapes to feel-good ska, and discuss how to nurse a hangover in style. From nostalgic memories to surprising musical connections, this episode covers all the bases in a delightful, soothing, and occasionally raucous way.

**Key Highlights:**

- **Riff of the Week:** Ollie kicks things off with Need New Body’s “Hot Shot,” an avant-garde tune full of cartoonish fun. Andrew follows up with the heavy, raw sound of Kulk’s “Lives For One,” a testament to the explosive music scene in East Anglia.

- **Hangover Soundtrack Selections:** The hosts each choose a series of tracks to create the ultimate hangover recovery playlist, diving into the relaxing vibes of AIX Em KLEMM, the deep ambiance of Kiasmos, the glitchy experimentalism of Oren Ambarchi, and even the big, bold ska beats of The Big.

- **Finding Musical Comfort:** Andrew and Ollie share their personal hangover music philosophies, from soothing, ambient tones that unravel gently like a head massage, to upbeat ska rhythms that remind you everything's going to be okay.

- **Music Discovery Journeys:** The duo reminisce about discovering new bands in the pre-streaming era, the joy of crate-digging, and finding inspiration from bands like Stars of the Lid, Godflesh, and even The Velvet Underground.

- **Nostalgic & Experimental Tunes:** From tracks that recall childhood Saturdays to the overlooked brilliance of The Verve’s early shoegaze, this episode takes listeners on a musical journey filled with surprises and thoughtful insights.

- **Bass, Beats, and Sound Baths:** Bass is the theme of the day, with Andrew and Ollie exploring how deep bass notes bring depth to ambient music, how certain songs are like an “auditory medicine,” and how even modular synths can help you through a morning of malaise.

**Standout Tracks Featured:**

- **Need New Body – “Hot Shot”**: Avant-garde chaos that captures the mayhem of a pre-hangover night out.

- **Kulk – “Lives For One”**: Heavy, fuzzy riffs from East Anglia’s thriving music scene.

- **AIX Em KLEMM – “The Luxury of Dirt”**: A soothing ambient piece for a gentle start to the day.

- **Oren Ambarchi – “Remedios the Beautiful”**: Guitar-based glitch that unravels with soft, intricate detail.

- **The Big – “Think Bigger”**: Ska beats to brighten up the morning after.

- **Microstoria – “Endless Summer”**: Computer-driven soundscapes with warm, comforting bass lines.

- **The Verve – “The Sun, The Sea”**: The shoegaze roots of a band that later became huge pop stars.

- **Elaine Radigue – “Trilogie de la Mort”**: A meditative three-hour drone for deep immersion.

- **The Velvet Underground – “After Hours”**: The perfect wind-down track for a restful end to a long day.

**Who Should Listen?** If you’ve ever woken up feeling worse for wear and in need of some musical therapy, this episode is for you. Andrew and Ollie curate the ultimate hangover playlist for those who need to soothe, distract, and revive their spirits with a carefully chosen soundtrack. Expect eclectic recommendations, music history, and lots of laughs.

### Riffs of the week

#### Oli's Riff

- Need new body - Hot Shot (1:10)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Kulk - Lives for one (opening)

### Oli's track choices

1. Aix Em Klemm - Luxury of dirt (opening)

2. Oren Ambarchi - Remedios the Beauty (0:15)

3. Microstoria - Endless Summer (opening)

4. Éliane Radigue - Kilasha (9:20)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Kiasmos - Looped (opening)

2. The Big - Think Bigger (1:37)

3. Verve - The Sun, The Sea (2:37)

4. The Velvet Underground - After Hours (Opening)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

In this episode of Beat Motel, Andrew Culture and Dr Sam, aka "Spamuel Rage," dive headfirst into music, madness, and musings with their signature punk rock attitude and chaotic humour. From noise gigs that leave them temporarily deaf to exploring the wildest genre mashups, the hosts passionately share the bands they wish they could have been part of. Expect raucous riffs, personal stories, and more than a few tangents about life, music, and everything in between.

**Key Highlights:**

- **Noise Gig Gone Wrong:** Andrew shares a wild story from the front row of a deafening noise gig, featuring Pikachu costumes and experimental post-rock.

- **Riffs of the Week:** Dr Sam kicks things off with Pyron's experimental riff, and Andrew follows up with Wolfheart's metal anthem, "Death Leads to the Way."

- **Bands We Wish We Were In:** The main theme of this episode is all about bands that inspire, from No Means No to the Stone Roses, Queen, and the Misfits. Discover what makes each band special and why they’d be on the Beat Motel dream roster.

- **Music Philosophy and Absurd Moments:** Ever wondered if free jazz and death metal broke up the Beatles? Or how about theories on why Queen are just too good to hate? Andrew and Dr Sam break it all down, with plenty of laughs along the way.

- **Ipswich Anecdotes:** Expect tales about Ipswich, where teeth are apparently shared among the locals, leading to some top-notch banter about the joys (and struggles) of the town.

- **The Art Punk Thrust:** The hosts get philosophical about what "art punk" truly means and explore how punk bands like The Slits, Adam and the Ants, and even Minutemen changed the genre forever.

- **Musical Discoveries & Influences:** The Stone Roses channelling Bow Wow Wow? Absolutely. How Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. & the MG’s fame could have been playing bass on the _Test Match Special_ theme tune? You bet. And of course, plenty of love for the 12-inch era of records and a nostalgic dive into discovering music before TikTok.

- **Waitresses on a Plane:** A hilarious riff on Ian Brown's airline escapades and why being a bellend gets you remembered (for all the wrong reasons).

- **Sunburnt Bumcheeks & Hat Mancock:** Yes, these topics come up. And yes, they’re as ridiculous as they sound.

**Who Should Listen?** If you're a punk, noise rock, or post-punk fan—or you just want to laugh at irreverent commentary on music and life—this episode is a must-listen. From high-energy discussions to outrageous humour, Andrew and Dr Sam will keep you entertained and craving more.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Pyrrhon - The Greatest City on Earth (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Wolf Heart - Death Leads the Way (2:45)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. NoMeansNo - Machine (1.22)

2. Queen - Best Friend (opening)

3. Misfits - Saturday Night (0.22)

4. Ruins - Outburn (0.49)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Stone Roses - One Love (5:25)

2. Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused (3:25)

3. Booker T and the MG's - Soul Limbo (0:34)

4. Russian Circles - Death Rides a Horse (opening)

Grab your studded jackets and get ready for another round of unfiltered chaos with Andrew Culture and David Jago on *Beat Motel*. This week, the lads are tearing into bands whose sound just doesn’t match their image. From the letdown of Marilyn Manson’s early albums to the baffling presence of Ghost t-shirts at metal gigs, no band is safe from their sharp, witty analysis.

Andrew dishes out some surprises as he explores black metal bands that look nothing like you’d expect. Meanwhile, Jago goes on a proper rant about The Killers – apparently the band with the best name in the history of music, but who wasted it on sugary Vegas pop. You can feel the fury coming through the mic!

Expect name-drops from Faith No More to John Coltrane, with a good dollop of British humour and punk attitude keeping things lively. There’s even a bit of introspection as the lads discuss how knowing too much about a band can sometimes ruin the magic – Charlatans, we’re looking at you!

It’s witty, chaotic, and as loud as ever—grab a pint, crank up the volume, and get ready for another wild ride with *Beat Motel*.

**Key Segments**:

1. **Marilyn Manson: Gothic Image, Not-So-Goth Sound**

2. **Ghost T-Shirts at Metal Gigs: What’s the Craic?**

3. **The Killers: Brilliant Band Name, Soft Sound – What Gives?**

4. **Helmet: Techie Look, Earth-Shattering Sound**

**Riff of the Week**:

Andrew’s pick is a black metal classic, while Jago brings *Wolfbrigade* to the table, proving that sometimes two notes are all you need to blow minds.

**Rant of the Week**:

Jago lets loose on The Killers for wasting the coolest band name ever on poppy, polished radio rock. Expect fireworks.

**Why You Should Listen**:

- You’re into music with no frills and plenty of attitude.

- Expect brutally honest takes, filthy banter, and a punk rock spirit that’ll remind you of dodgy basement gigs.

### Riffs of the week

#### Jago's Riff

- A Love Supreme, Pt. II - Resolution (0:20)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Wolfbrigade - Nomad Pack (1:16)

### Jago's track choices

1. Marilyn Mason - Lunchbox (1:02)

2. The Killers - Somebody told me (0:40)

3. Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude (0:44)

4. Helmet - Give it (0.21)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Agriculture - Look, Pt1 (opening)

2. Fontaines D.C - Cello song (2:13)

3. Har Mar Superstar - Prisoner (2:31)

4. Electric Callboy - We got the moves (opening)

https://youtu.be/D1NdGBldg3w?si=aXmXu45mACrKl9oh

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Citric Dummies - Look Out World (I'm Eating at Arbys) (0.30)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Smashing Pumpkins - Sighommi

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Metallica - Creeping Death (1.24)

2. Black Midi - John L (opening)

3. GWAR - The Salaminizer (opening)

4. Beastie Boys - No Sleep Til Brooklyn (opening)

### Andrew's track choices

1. David Bowie - Join the gang (1:31)

2. Blur - She's so high (0:52)

3. Slayer - Black Magic (2:30)

4. Radiohead - I can't (0:10)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

The Musician's Union campaigned to ban drum machines. That's like a chunk of cauliflower campaigning to ban toilet roll. It just makes no sense.

In this episode of The Beat Motel Andrew is joined by the always hardcore Dan Callis. What we didn't know before we started recording this episode is that Dan is currently under the influence of some fairly heavy sedation following surgery.

Listener discretion is advised...

### Riffs of the week

#### Dan's Riff

- How long you been driving - Party song (0:21)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Wolfheart - Ancient Cold

### Dan's track choices

1. Nerve Peel - Gutter Punx in Space (2:00)

2. Linus-Fitness Centre - Boot leather (3:09) - only 7 views!

3. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Merry cyrstmeth (1:46)

4. Big Black - Kerosene (3:05)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Jesus and Mary Chain - Reverence (0:36)

2. Clipping - body for the pile (0:43)

3. Optimum Wound Profile - Tranqhead (2:49)

4. Carter USM - Only living boy in new cross (2:20)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Girls in Cars? Boys in Cars? Nonbinary people in cars? Nongendered People in Cars? Animals in Cars! Animals driving cars! Absurd. Lets just stop, now. Please. PC gone mad! Slightly fluffy skin bags in cars!

Everybody loves a car, don’t they? They’ve have been a feature in rock’n’roll since rock’n’roll was wore bobby socks. (Apparently, Bobbysocks were a 1980s Norwegian band who entered Eurovision.) 

This week, Andrew and Sam take this week as their opportunity to explore, this week, the many-varied roll of the car in the modern Western rock and/or roll tradition. This week. And, boy do they do it! You gotta get your ears in this shit. Wowee. They conclude by discussing the unique perspective of Grace Jones channelling a parking space – she is objectifying the car whilst turning herself into an object. Wrap your head around that, academics. 

Andrew and Sam also discover the joy of internet comments. Sam wants the Internet to be turned off, as he sends these show notes in an email. If he posted them to Andrew, they’d take about 3 weeks to arrive. 

Love.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Dan Deacon - Sat By A Tree (0.10)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Rad Pitt - I went to Bristol and saw Macaulay Culkin on a boat once (1:20)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Kaonashi - I hate the Sound of Car Keys (1.06)

2. Madness - I Like Driving in My Car (opening)

3. Velvets - My Baby's Car Crazy (0.06)

4. The Dead Milkmen - Bitchin' Camaro (1.43)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Bluetones - Autophillia (1:17)

2. Suede - Breakdown (4:35)

3. Deep Purple - Speed King (1:47)

4. Grace Jones - Pull up to my bumper (2:15)

Listen to Rad Pitt - https://radpittradpitt.bandcamp.com/album/hymns-for-the-hopeful

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Noteable tracks we didn't choose

- Chop Suey by System of a Down

- I'm in love with my car - Queen

- All songs by Fu Manchu

- Little Red Corvette - Prince

- No particular place to go - Chuck Berry

- Maybelline - Chuck Berry

- Baby you can drive my car - The Beatles

Movies are too long these days. The big ones are all bladder-busting lengths, indulgences rarely seen since the bloated bullshit of early 1970s prog nonsense. If you want a bit of escapism these days, you tend to have to endure the flatulence of this nonsense. Is the death of the cinema neigh?

Who cares? A fun thing to do is watch music videos (Sorry, Jello Biafra—good ones are an art!). A lot of these, however, show us a scene and do not tell stories. But some give us a story like, er, Michael Jackson (maybe), was perhaps kind of the format.

This is why, this week, Andrew and Sam are back in their respective holes, studiously ignoring that and talking about other narrative-based music videos. Andrew gets Flowered Up, which makes Sam feel stupid about forgetting Red Fang. Sam panics and surprisingly finds a Primus song Andrew doesn’t hate (HE’S BREAKING).

All that nonsense and more. We love you.

sorry

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Inter Arma - New Heaven (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Francois X - Blurry Youth

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Beastie Boys - Body Movin (0.30)

2. Fang Island - Daisy (1.50)

3. Primus - Wyonna's Big Brown Beaver (opening)

4. Guns N'Roses - November Rain (3.55)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Richard Dawson - Ogre (4:22)

2. Red Fang - Wires (1:47)

3. My Chemical Romance - I'm not okay (2:45)

4. Flowered Up - Weekender (11:00)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Do you like metal? Do you like death? Probably not, and that's quite understandable. But do you like live music that is more metallic than Iron Man's codpiece? Or would you rather a nice sit down? For this episode, we're in the Finland, soaking up punishing music that's brutal in timbre and attack.

Andrew Culture and Dr Sam went to Finland to attend the most punk rock Death Metal festival in Christendom. Expect strong language, brutal riffs and adult spicy language. Because we're going to Deathfest and we don't give a fig.

This is the first live review we've made a fancy pants video for, so even if you don't like death metal, you should at least watch the video for the spectacle of Sam and Andrew trying to look pretty for the camera.

Since the dawn of civilisation, rock’n’roll has been featured in films. Many talking heads, in documentaries featured once upon-a-time on the BBC, have spoken about the groin-and-brain-fireworks set off by seeing Willy Hailey and his Comets on the silver screen. Elsewhere, Elvis flooded cinemas with his cinematic gyros. Even Little Richard stood on a piano in one, and in doing so, stood above everyone. Ever. The real and true kueen (sic). 

Anyway, I digress. This week, we look at the efforts of bands to make films, themselves. Or at least, be heavily featured in them. In doing so, we look at Guitar Wolf, the Beedles, Weird Al, Floyd’s Pink Pants and still more. We explore how these two things are inexplicably linked – rock’n’roll and dramatic movies, and reach surprising conclusions. 

And Sam is back from spurlunking. 

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Thumpasaurus - Struttin' (0:10)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Putrid Defecation - Impending Anal Leakage (0:36)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Slade - Far Far Away (0.18)

2. Weird Al - Beat on the Brat (entire song!)

3. Guitar Wolf - Wild zero (opening)

4. Metallica - Through the Never (opening)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Monkees - Porpoise Song (2:56)

2. Pink Floyd - Echos Part 1 - Live at Pompeii (7:49)

3. The Ramones - Rock and Roll High School (0:59)

4. Peter Sellers: A Hard Day's Night (0:10)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Edit at 40 minutes

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall when a fly on the wall documentary is made? Do music documentaries only tell a sanitised version of the truth?

We have no idea, which will become apparent when you listen to this week's episode. With special guest David Jago.

### Riffs of the week

#### Jago's Riff

- The Trio - Ennio Morricone (The Good, The Bad And The Ugly) (3:53)

#### Andrew's Riff

- The Ruins of Beverast - Exuvia (12:49)

### Jago's Track Choices

1. Metallica - "Some Kind of Monster" (7:35)

- Documentary: _Some Kind of Monster_

2. The Beatles - "The Long and Winding Road" (opening)

- Documentary: _Get Back_

3. Oasis - "Champagne Supernova" (1:56)

- Documentary: _Supersonic_

4. Bros - "Drop the Boy" (2:41)

- Documentary: _When the Screaming Stops_

### Andrew's Track Choices

1. Blur - "Oily Water" (4:30)

- Documentary: _Starshaped_

2. The Refused - "Rather Be Dead" (0:45)

- Documentary: _The Refused Are Fucking Dead_

3. Against Me! - "The Party's Over" (0:15)

- Documentary: _Never Going Home_

4. Public Enemy - "Fight the Power" (2:38)

- Documentary: _Camden_

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

The best bits of the Bros documentary

https://youtu.be/LioQzFiPCyg?si=1NANEKbTOAg-b4vS

Join Andrew Culture and Dave Jago on this electrifying episode of Beat Motel as they delve into the cinematic world of music biopics.

From the masterpieces to the absolute trainwrecks, the duo dissects what makes a biopic great and what makes it a total flop. Get ready for some unfiltered opinions, hilarious commentary, and unexpected picks.

Introduction to Biopics:

Definition and significance of music biopics. Overview of what to expect in this episode.

Best Biopics:

James Brown - Get On Up: Elton John - Rocketman:

Worst Biopics:

Sid Vicious - Sid and Nancy: Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody:

Honorable Mentions and Dishonorable Discharges:

Brief discussions on other notable biopics, both good and bad.

Riff of the Week:

Andrew and Dave's picks for this week's riff of the week.

Listener Interactions:

Shoutouts and thanks to listeners interacting on social media.

### Riffs of the week

#### Jago's Riff

- Muse - Stockholm Syndrome (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Smote – The Opinion Of The Lamb Pt. 1 (Live In Blank Studios) (13:12)

### Jago's track choices

1. James Brown - Mind Power (6:50)

- FILM: Get on up

2. **Elton John - Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding** (6:43)

- **Film**: Rocket Man

3. **The Doors - When the Music's Over** (0:25)

- **Film**: The Doors

4. **Happy Mondays - Step On** (Opening)

- **Film**: 24 Hour Party People

### Andrew's track choices

1. Sid Vicious - Something Else (0:37)

- FILM: Sid & Nancy

2. Jimi Hendrix - Axis Bold as Love (2:49)

- FILM: Jimi: All is by my side

3. Queen - Brighton Rock (3:18)

- FILM: Bohemian Rhapsody

4. Johnny Cash - Walk the line (opening)

- FILM: Walk the line

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Can you separate the art from the artists? Which songs do you really love, despite the writer's abhorrent views? Are there any artists you really respect, but absolutely can't tolerate the terrible music they churn out?

If so then you're normal. In the new episode of Beat Motel host Andrew Culture and co-host David Jago dig into the complex, and often very funny twisted logic behind the link between art and artist.

Jago on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/david_jago_/

### Riffs of the week

#### Jago's Riff

- Shocking Blue - The Butterfly And I (2:55)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Corduroy - Motorhead (0:15)

### Jago's track choices

1. Robbie Williams - No Regrets (4:15)

2. Sweating Bullets - Megadeth (0:25)

3. Kiss - Let's Put The X In Sex (2:28)

4. Pantera - Cemetery Gates (0:56)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Stone Roses - The sun still shines (1:58)

2. Ed Sheeran - Castle on the Hill (0:27)

3. The Kinks - Shangri-la (2:50)

4. Led Zepellin - Achilles last stand (6:49)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

What gigs do you wish you had gone to? It might be gig that you could have gone to, but couldn't be arsed, or it could be a gig that requires a time machine.

In this episode, Andrew is joined once again by David Jago as they discuss the raw brutality of Metallica, the weirdness of Mr Bungle and the groove of the Newport Jazz Festival. Buckle in; things are gonna get weird. In a good way. Or Not. Why are you still reading this?

Follow David Jago on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/david_jago_/ (that's an order)

### Riffs of the week

#### Jago's Riff

- The Faceless - Legion of the serpent (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Rad Pitt - Hot... Hot... Hotter... Gone! (1:19)

### Jago's track choices

1. Richie Havens - Freedom at Woodstock (2:19)

2. Mr Bungle- 1992-04-20- The Warfield, San Francisco (CA), USA (23:43)

3. Metallica - Fight Fire With Fire - Canada - 1986 (0:42)

4. Smashing Pumpkins - Siva (Reading Festival 1992)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Ride - Dreams Burn Down (live at Brixton Academy 27/03/1992) (3:57)

2. The George Shearing Quintet - Rondo Live at Newport Jazz Festival 1958 (0:20)

3. Santana - Soul Sacrifice live at Woodstock (3:54)

4. The Stone Roses - I Am the Resurrection (Live In Blackpool) (9:09)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Listen to Rad Pitt!

https://youtu.be/pdin_fQPNpY?si=nw_2MPS8-RAcsPwD

You know how it goes, you start your musical career as a screamo band and a few albums into your lifespan you realise you're not longer screamo. You're now a country power ballads bands. Sound familiar? No? Listen to this episode anyway. What else have you got going on in your life, really?

Follow David Jago on Instagram (that's an order) - https://www.instagram.com/david_jago_/

### Riffs of the week

#### Jago's Riff

- Soundgarden - 4th July (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Spitfire - Wild Sunshine (0:26)

### Jago's track choices

1. The Clash - Lose This Skin (0:30)

2. Radiohead - Like spinning plates (2:17)

3. Scott Walker - Hand Me Ups (opening)

4. The Doors - Runnin' Blue (0:55)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Ride - Seagull (0:06)

2. Cave In - Trepanning (1:20)

3. Blur - Fool (0:16)

4. Beastie Boys - Sabrosa (0:48)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Summer lovin’: happened so fast. It was a bit disappointing that it took longer to clean up the mess.

In the last podcast to feature Sam until August (unless something strange happens), SAmdrew talk about the hot music of the summer: that’s right, shit that went down years ago, but they missed out. Because they were ignorant, entitled, cis-gendered white men, too busy concentrating on being cis-gendered to let their hair down and just enjoy themselves.

They talk about missing out on the Beastie Boys, At the Drive-In, and B*witched, amongst others.

Remember what Kurt Cobain sang: just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not after you.

And, if summer music is about anything, it’s about missing out on what’s genuinely fun for whatever shit is playing festivals.

Lesson is: music isn’t want it used to be. We could’ve been there, we knew about it. But we weren’t there. Because being there isn’t cool, but it was too obvious.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- April March - Ton Rayon Vert (0.37)

#### Andrew's Riff

- University - Notre Dam Made Out Of Flesh (2:16)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. At The Drive-In - Cosmonaut (opening)

2. Franz Ferdinand - Come on Home (1.10)

3. Deafheaven - Sunbather (4.50)

4. Iron Maiden - Aces High (1.15)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Big - Insanity (0:40)

2. The Refused - New Noise (3:35)

3. Beastie Boys - Gratitude (1:41)

4. Wu Tang Clan - Method Man (1:45)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Sam will write show notes

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- The Faint - Agenda Suicide (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- The Bluetones - If (opening)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Coal Chamber - Big Truck (opening)

2. Newtown Grunts - Out of the Crowd (0.51)

3. Ruins Alone - Stonehenge (0.26)

4. Ornette Coleman - Free Jazz (8.40)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Charlatans - Then (2:50)

2. Still Little Fingers - Suspect Device (1:38)

3. Prolapse - Headless in a beat motel (3:20)

4. INSOMNIUM - Valediction (2:00)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Chris Lamont commented: "what a boring load of shite"

They say write what you know, and many, many, many musicians have just done that. Obscure lyrics about mainlining Anusol, and tell-it-like-it-is ones about that weird smell at the back of the tour bus that was there before you bought it. It’s all there, and it’s all wonderful. 

Sam is back, so join him as he joins Andrew as they fail to check anything they say and barely talk about the music they’ve decided to talk about. This week’s sponsor’s include Shell Oil, Camel Cigarettes and the HMR Treasury. 

Did we talk about how awful the Offspring are these days or last week? Is Ed Sheeran still playing for them? The usual amounts of toilet humour and ponderings what embracing European orchestral traditions suggest in black metal.
Oh, and Metallica. Yes. They sponsor us this week, as well. (Actually? Not actually).  

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Les Savy Fav - What We Don't Don't Want (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Aquilus - Into the Earth (7:10)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Minutemen - History Lesson, pt. 2 (1.34) - LOAD MATTS END AFTER THIS

2. Ozzy Osborne - Goodbye to Romance (opening)

3. Reel Big Fish - Sell Out (1.52)

4. Metallica - Turn the Page (0.30)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Replacements - Treatment Bound (0:42)

2. Mindless Self Indulgence - Shut me up (0-:27)

3. NoFx - Theme From A NoFx Album (1:25)

4. Against Me - Even At Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most (The Roller) (0:57)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

https://youtu.be/QFvAf7rjtC8?si=8ZItdfW-e1f7jIfe

Duuuuuuude, did you hear that? Do ya know what that means? This changes EVERYTHING!

Have you had your brain wiring fuddled about with by a song, a band or genre? Have you emerged from a monocultural wasteland and found yourself bathed in the wonder of a brave new aural world?

Nah, us neither, here's two people talking spaff about some tunes they like.

Dr Sam's seat is vacant this week, so his socks are ably filled by Oli A.K.A Anrufen. Get Oli up in your chuff by visiting https://www.instagram.com/anrufenmusic/

### Riffs of the week

#### Ollie's Riff

- 'Ἡ τῶν λυσσημάτων ἄγγελος (2:30)

#### Andrew's Riff

- The Lemonheads - If I Could Talk I'd Tell You (2:09)

### Ollie's track choices

1. saleontomorrow - tide of tongue and toothache (1:45)

2. Jim O'Rourke - Ghost Ship in a Storm (0:24)

3. Storm & Stress - Meet Me In The Space They Stare At Leaving Their Seat During A Show (0:25)

4. Dettinger - Intershop 6 (4:47)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Subhumans - Apathy (0:11)

2. Against Me! - True Trans Soul Rebel (0:32)

3. Pelican - March into the sea (6:10)

4. Rival Consoles - Howl (2:22)

https://youtu.be/ywcshfrpO3A?si=EWPilc28r3Wc5A4K

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- The Rapture - House of Jealous Lovers (1.30)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Mother Mother - All the dying (1.14)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. The Offspring - We Never Have Sex Anymore (0.50)

2. System of a Down - Protect the Land (opening)

3. Rage Against the Machine - How I Could Just Kill a Man (0.20)

4. PJ Harvey - Prayer at the Gate (opening)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Duran Duran - White Lines (1:04)

2. The Kinks - Somebody Stole My Car (0:35)

3. Led Zeppelin - Hot Dog (0:55)

4. Metallica - Fuel (0:55)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Progressive music is a terrible name for a genre, isn’t it? If we take the dictionary definition (“happening or developing gradually or in stages”), prog doesn’t really live up to that. Instead, it’s a series of long winded nerdy time signatures and modes: ideas repeated since the late 1960s. No, you stop being so petty minded.

This week, we tackle the prickly subject of only needing one album from a band. Some bands, you don’t need an entire album of, with others, you’re missing a journey. But, what about that band that’s incredible for an album, and nothing else nears it again?

Of course, this is all tackled in a scatological-friendly approach. As it should be, right? And Sam reveals his deep love for documentaries on progressive bands and his deep mistrust of progressive bands actual output.

Leading us onto another subject: what bands would be better left as documentaries?

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Fantastic Negrito - In My Head (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- John Kongos - He's gonna step on you again (2:45)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Between the Buried and Me - Son of Nothing (opening)

Album - Colors

2. King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man (3.56)

Album - In the court of the Crimson King

3. Slayer - Dead Skin Mask (opening)

Album - Abyss

4. Coheed and Cambria - Welcome Home (0.11)

Album - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Stone Roses - Elizabeth my dear (0:23)

Album - The Stone Roses

2. Santana - Hope you're feeling better (opening)

Album - Abraxis

3. Torche - Pirhaña (0:50)

Album - Meanderthal

4. Kiasmos - Looped (opening)

Album - Kiasmos

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

What makes a great compilation album? Can they define a genre, or even a generation? How many of your favourite bands did you discover through compilation albums? Do you have a compilation album in your list of your most favourite albums? Do some of your fingernails grow much faster than others?

If you answer no (or yes) to any of these questions then you need to listen to the new episode of Beat Motel Podcast!

Find this episode on any podcast platform by searching for Beat Motel, or head on over to www.beatmotel.com more episode details, bonus content and other listening links.

#BeatMotel #BeatMotelPodcast #musicpodcasts #musicpodcast #zine #podcast #zines #musichumour #comedy

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Anybody can put out a classic album, yeah? Anybody. Like me. I’ve done it. Suck it. Anybody can put out two classic albums, yeah? Anybody. Like you. Or three. It’s EASY. I’ll tell you how. You can even ask ChatGBT to do it (but there’ll be something inauthentic about it, so maybe not).

But, what does it take to make a career in it? To transcend the scene one emerges from, to continuously make good, interesting music that means people don’t just want to hear stuff from your first two albums.

Maybe you can go down the tech death metal route, where stuff is just too complicated to digest and thus you can play anything you want. But ... I mean, who likes technical and progressive music, anyway?

Or you can go down the route where you take an artistic approach, and the music transcends its limitations.

So, this is how you can make a classic album: just copy Scott Walker. Or Robert Wyatt.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- The Rentals - Friends of P (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Green Lung - Mountain throne (opening)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. NoMeansNo - Heaven Is the Dust Beneath My Shoes (2.56)

2. Cannibal Corpse - Time To Kill Is Now (1.33)

3. Robert Wyatt - Just As You Are (0.48)

4. Scott Walker - The Old Man's Back Again (opening)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Bluetones - My neighbours house (0:15)

2. Kyuss - Sandpiper (0:17)

3. Crowded House - Not the Girl You Think You Are (2:01)

4. Against Me - Rebecca (opening)

Andrew was going to choose Beatles but they get the video blocked worldwide!

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Sam swore 43:20

Comment from Callis

Hiiiirs!

Letter from Bowditch

Morning. Was listening to your podcast on the way to work and a couple of things about Cattle Decapitation. There is only one singer, Travis Ryan, who has an incredible range of styles. Plus, the band started out as having all vegan members and their position was that if we viewed what we do to animals as if we did the same to humans, its would be horrific. So that’s what their songs are about. Plus now also about the unsustainability of the human race as a whole. One of my favourite metal bands 🤘🏼

Gonzo review of Green Lung and Lowen at Colchester Arts centre. Thanks to Roki End Times, Joe and Paul for getting involved.

Sounds bad, feels so good.

There’s an abundance of tracks that sound jolly but have underlyingly bad lyrics. That’s what we covered last week. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, though? Why does angry stuff HAVE to be angry, and can it be something other than just dumb/wacky comedy if its not?

Neither of us went down the comic root, and both of us struggled. Along the way, we explore the deeper meaning of Otto, whether evolution may save us, and what the hell is going on with Billy Bragg? Is he truly the UK’s answer to Bob Dylan?

As with every week, we also offer scatological advice and horrorscopes and riffs of the week. What does Husker Dü?

One world, one love. Why are they spending so much money on bombs, and not enough on health care?

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Folterkammer - Agolagnia (2.43)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Husker Du - I'll never forget you (opening)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasitic Adaptation (1.35)

2. The Hirs Collective - XOXOXOXOXOX (opening)

3. Irreversible Entanglements - Our Land Back (3.17)

4. Billy Bragg - The Internationale (opening)

### Andrew's track choices

1. System of a down - Vicinity of obscenity (0:42)

2. Bjork - Hyperballad (1:54)

3. Dead Kennedys - Too drunk to fuck (opening)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

https://youtu.be/GUtQMfrhOeM?si=qfpukGNVbEbPSBSn

Happy Music, Dark Words

Your nan turns to you as you sit on the sofa, watching Tom Jones singing “Delilah” on the televised festival for OAPs (Glastonbury). “Isn’t that a wonderful song, darling. But I’m sure I heard something about a knife”, she says as she passes you the tin of Sainsbury own-brand non-alcoholic lager. You search the lyrics: aha. It’s a song about MURDER. But, it’s so much fun! HOW COULD THIS BE?

Lyrics, for lack of knowledge of a better word, tend to be somewhat onomatopoeic. As in, aggressive songs have aggressive lyrics, happy sounding songs have happy sounding music, and sad songs have sad sound music. How much this is project due to the lyrics, or projection on the lyrics due to the music, is no doubtful fascinating, but not for this discussion. What about when a song feels good, but the lyrics are telling you its not a good thing what is being sung about?

This week, Andrew and Sam are back spouting nonsense as they skip, hand-in-hand, though upbeat songs about murder, domestic disquiet, teenage prostitution, amongst other things. Mostly murder, though.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Ekko Astral - baethoven (0.45)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Wormwitch - Rayonnant banners (2:53)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Hank Williams - Move It on Over (opening)

2. Sublime - Wrong Way (0:03)

3. The Cure - Close to Me (0.55)

4. Hall & Oats - Diddy Doo Wop (I hear the Voices) (1.48)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Stone Roses - Bye Bye Badman (2:17)

2. The Beatles - Maxwell’s silver hammer (0:26)

3. Barry Manilow - Copacobana (1:04)

4. Lou Reed - Perfect day (1:46)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Here's that Imperial Triumphant track with Kenny G on it:

https://youtu.be/ywcshfrpO3A?si=LL8RO_e_Y2nuQwpu

The Beatles put a copyright block on our video on these timestamps

0:39:38:29 to 0:40:16:15

0:40:24:29 to 0:40:40:13

“Watcha talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?” (Spelling as stylised by Google) Said Gary Coleman as his character Arnold Jackson in the sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. Far be it from us to analyse the racial and other identity-based issues bought up by the existence and popularity of that catchphrase and the related sitcom, rather it is a point of departure. It’s about capturing attention, jarring you out of your complacent listening, about refusing to be put in the background. Sam is back from his endless holiday seeking, watch an April snowstorm out of his window, and needs something to capture his attention away from the question of how to get a child home. That is a strange line. That is a great one. That is a ponderous what. What ARE they talking about? Does Willis know? Join us, again, as we ponder some great opening lines. Ones that shriek “look at me”, and ones that just jar. And for some Slayer-fan bating. ‘Cos Slayer got back together, and WHO CARES? Get more Beat Motel at https://beatmotel.com/

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Iron Monkey - Concrete Shock (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- The Beastie Boys - Sounds of Silence (2:00)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Against Me - TSR (opening)

2. A Tribe Called Quest - Buggin Out (opening)

3. The Clash - Koka Kola (opening)

4. Slayer - Angel of Death (opening)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Against Me - Bourne on the FM waves of Love (opening)

2. Subhumans - Apathy (0:15)

3. Jesus and Mary Chain - Snakedriver

4. Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Billy was a Mountain (opening)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Beat Motel Zine started as an award-winning print zine sometime around 2004, and this podcast continues that trajectory with attitude, enthusiasm and curiosity. Tune in, turn up & kick back! We dig into the alternative music we live for. Join us for deep dives, on-the-spot live reviews and laughs. This is not about the world of pop, this is an alt music podcast with a punk rock zine attitude. Beat Motel is about the fringes of the musical world, and we’re going to pull at those threads until it unravels. LISTENING LINKS: Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beat-motel-zine/id1678093566 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2gScWrQd5kMCZDpu7X1smT Google Podcasts - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kY2ZjMmM5MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@beatmotelzine Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/beatmotelzine/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/beatmotelzine

Ever fallen in love with a band you shouldn't have fallen in love with? What bands do you really love, despite the fact that you know you should hate them. The reason you should hate the band could be ethics, aesthetics or gross incompetence. But when that band comes onto the radio, you fist pump the air and singalong like a wrongun.

For this episode Andrew is joined by special Guest Dan Callis, AKA DS Happy Boi.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dan's Riff

- LustSickPuppy - Horniest Song Ever (0:10)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Born to run (2:30)

### Dan's track choices

1. Millionaires - Just got paid lets get laid (1:50)

2. Motley Cru - Too Fast for Love (1:20)

3. Bilmuri -Never Better Thicc Boi (1:50)

4. NoFx - Dinosaurs will die (1:20)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Led Zeppelin - In my time of dying (6:25)

2. The Strokes - Juice Box (1:50)

3. Ed Sheeran - Castle on the hill (3:50)

4. Paramore - That's what you get

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

BOOK

Our band could be your life - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Band_Could_Be_Your_Life

DS HAPPY BOI

https://dshappyboi.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/callis1987/

ANARCHO SQUAT SAUNA!

What was that? Was that real? Is that just in my head? Where do you start with introductions to songs? Are they a part of the song, do they set the rest of it up, or are they just a side show, a distraction? Sure, there are many great introductions to songs, even if the rest of the song goes haywire, but what about those intros that stick out as a WTF?

In this episode, Andrew and Sam investigate the spooky but real world of random introductions to songs. These are introductions that either don’t seem to fit, seem tagged on, or just unedited. They both had a bit of a challenge finding them, but they come up with the goods and run the trajectory from hip hop, drug-addled Madchester types to some quite grating 2000s UK indie.

So, once again, take up your pitch fork and join them in trying to burn down the Frankensteinian labs of corporate music culture that undermine the ties that bind us. Why pay for your music to be on spotify when they don’t give you anything in return, and why vote Labour when they’re promising to manage Tory policies slightly more professionally than the Tories? Lets take a note of Kevin Rowland’s book and burn it down (not literally?).

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Joy of Fire - Thunderdome (intro)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Bob Vylan - He's a man (0:51)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Minutemen - This Ain't No Picnic (opening)

2. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out (0.40)

3. Of Montreal - Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider (0.30)

4. Busdriver - Bliss Point (1.11)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Stone Roses - Breaking into heaven (4:12)

2. Arctic Monkeys - I bet that you look good on the dancefloor (opening)

3. Wu Tang Clan - Gravel Pit (opening)

4. Soulfly - Tribe (0:58)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

https://youtu.be/kVY7-Ti77UQ?si=oo90fKn5mBI6jj1b

What makes an band a band? Is it the songwriter? The singer? The relationship between the band members?

This time, we go a bit close to home. The Replacement’s are, arguably, one of the greatest acts of the 1980s, one of the greatest to emerge from the US punk scene that would eventually birth the Pixies, REM, and Nirvana. But, it all came crashing down with their last album, fuelled by professional regrets, personal losses, and the fatigue of substance abuse.

Is All Shook Down a The Replacements album? It features all four members of the line up of the time. The songs are penned by Westerberg. They have production hints ago-go that point toward the Replacements...

Yet, it was intended originally as Westerberg’s first solo album. It has a long catalogue of session musicians (including Abraham Lincoln). It doesn’t quite feel like The Replacements?

Andrew and Sam don’t know. Anything.

### Riffs of the week #### Dr Sam's Riff - Roots Manuva - Join the Dots (1.25) #### Andrew's Riff - Slift - Ilion (8:16) ### Dr Sam's track choices 1. One Wink at a Time - The Replacements (0.30) 2. Attitude - The Replacements (1.15) 3. My Little Problem - The Replacements (1.15) 4. Sadly Beautiful - The Replacements (0.20) ### Andrew's track choices 1. Merry Go Round - The Replacements (2:30) 2. Sadly Beautiful - The Replacements (1:50) 3. Bent out of Shape - The Replacements (opening) 4. All shook down - The Replacements (1:50) 5. My Favourite Thing - The Replacements (1:03) **Andrew's notes** Merry Go Round video - Westerberg looking bored, Tommy yawning One wink at a time has nice sax throb Tracks have Westerberg mumbled intros like classic Matts Very meandering, doesn't grab me immediately Banjos? Fucking banjos? Surprising Paul lived to finish the album, he was smoking speedballs They got fired after wearing Petty's wife's dresses on stage. Sadly Beautiful has a Lovely viola in it played by John Cale! Bent out of shape opener sounds like we're back to classic Replacements, even down to the lyrics The title is a classic Matts switcheroo Very country, I think Westerberg chose Slim Dunlap because he was a country guitarist Westerberg sounds drunk Ocarina played by John Cale! I can hear a lot of influences from this album in current 6music style bands Ends reasonably well, but the last track sounds like Randy Newman The band went from hating music videos to winning an award for the ‘when it began’ single from this album Abe Lincoln gets a credit according to Wikipedia All replacements members only play on one track, so this is NOT a replacements album LETTERS Briggs recommendation Matt screaming at his headphones Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

They said what? About who? Was that intentional? Why would they even allow to that to be released? All these questions, and more, arise when one actually starts to listen to lyrics. And, what do singers/vocalists/MCs know, hey? Do they actually think about what they say, or just whether it fits the music they’re putting their noises to? Some lyricists have been lauded as poets operating in another medium – think Bob Dylan, Shane McGowan, Cliff Richards… 

This week, Andrew and Sam show off their inability to double-guess the meaning and intention of singers. They always begin hopefully, but where will it lead them? To folly. As it always does. 

So, join them as they investigate the depths of Insane Clown Posse, Thin Lizzy (although AC/DC by mistake at one point), RunDMC, and so on. Go on. Please.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Ministry - New Religion (0.15)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Weird, but not illegal - Party Cannon (2:44)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Insane Clown Posse - Miracles (1.47)

2. Alice Cooper - Feed My Frankenstein (0.55)

3. Rancid - Last One to Die (opening)

4. Flat Earth Society - Vole Sperm Reverie (0.10)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak (opening)

2. RUN DMC - You Be Illin' (0:15)

3. Green Day - Basket Case (0:58)

4. Alanis Morissette - Ironic (0:24)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Field recording of a noise gig in Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 2nd March 2024. Recorded on location at The Rehearsal Rooms.

Featuring

DS Happy Boi

Diacritical Mark

Frazer Merrick

Billy Whizz

Paul Blart Wet Dream

Hell is worth all that. Natural habitat. Just a rhyme without a reason.

I am the table.

This week, Sam beseeches Andrew consider Metallica as an act with depth behind their 125 million+ album sales. Sam was introduced to Metallica through his brother at the age of 10, and they became an essential touchstone to his musical experience. Andrew neglected metal until his 40s, when he had to slow down (or else), but could never quite get beyond the 1980s production of some of the classics of the genre.

So, join us as we try to get beyond the myths and hype of Metallica, and understand some of the base appeal in at least four of their albums (Ride the Lightening, Master of Puppets, … And Justice for All and the black album). Through 30-second snippets, we highlight the details perhaps glossed over, and perhaps reveal the best way to listen to Metallica: in 30-second snippets.

Sam takes all responsibility for Metallica choices, and he has more time for Load/Re-Load than Kill ‘Em All. Oh, and hardly anything from the last 24 years is mentioned.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

Laura Jane Grace - Hole In My Head

#### Andrew's Riff

The Lawrence Arms - Great Lakes/Great Escapes

### Dr Sam's track choices

Orion

Blackened

Master of Puppets

For Whom the Bell Tolls (S&M version)

Eye of the Beholder

Through the Never

Die Die My Darling

The Memory Remains

Dingdong! Hey now, what’s that sound? IS that the sound of a 1956 Morris Minor through a midi sampler? This week, Andrew and Sam discuss SOUNDS. Zounds, batman. These sounds might range from your “oo, that’s a lovely tone” sort of music-nerd appreciation sound to your “what on the fuck is that, then?” sort of music-nerd appreciation sound.

Along they way, they discuss said tones, the use of gravity to make music, and rototoms. God knows how they have the time in the life to do this sort of thing? Probably offloading their responsibilities to their other halves. Fuck the patriarchy.

They also spend a questionably long time just reading out the name of bands who are playing Finnish festivals this year. Good stuff. They do it to you in the earhole.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Year of the Knife - Your Control (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Necrowretch - Dii Mauri (3:10)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Charles Mingus - Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting (0.20 - from Blues & Roots album)

2. Bjork - Solstice (opening)

3. Matmos - Ultimate Care II Excerpt Three (0.20)

4. Sly & Robbie - Dub Glory - original (1.20)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Little Dragon - Rictual Union (opening)

2. Pom Poko - Danger Baby (0:40)

3. Deep Purple - Living Wreck (0:10)

4. Jon Hopkins - Open Eye Signal (3:10)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Music is frequently best when it is a communal experience. This is perhaps why we go and see bands perform live the exact version of a song we know from a record, it is why we pay good money to see this, and it is spoilt by the fuppers singing along over the vocalist. I did not pay to get in to hear you sing Born in the USA.

Except, frequently, in the best of experiences (for me), it is exactly what I paid for. It’s what I want, its what I crave. It is what destroys the stage, more than any declaration by a punk band that the “stage is yours” only to be invaded by macho morons who think music should be expressed with a kick in the head. Fup you. No, the voice is ours: it is what breaks down the individualism of the modern age, it is what grounds us in the here and now: there is no past, no future, only our voices.

This week, Andrew and Sam explore the singalong. They take their fair time to get there, but they enjoy themselves in the process. And then they discover the joy of singing along not only to the vocals but riffs. RIFFS. Madness, hey.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- John Prine - Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Crowded House - Locked out (0:12)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Metallica - Master of Puppets (4.00)

2. Ursus Factory - Rakkauttasi tarviten (3.20)

3. Sick of it All - Scratch the Surface (0:05)

4. Against Me! - We Laugh at Danger (2.30)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Sex Pistols - Buddies (0:22)

2. Black Sabbath - War Pigs (1:50)

3. Red Flag 77 - How Low (0:55)

4. Against me! - Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious (1:10)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

A few episodes ago we troubled your lugoles with some mildly profane chatter about which gigs we wish we could go back in time to attend for a second time. But what about legendary performances that you wish you could have been at regardless of decade, country, fiscal embarrassment or rank odour.

In this episode Andrew is joined by Jay Trenchart defy time, distance and some logic and reason as they delve through YouTube looking for the very bestest live clips in the world, ever.

### Riffs of the week

#### Jay's Riff

- Parquet Courts - Stoned And Starving (2:20)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Fat Dog - All The Same (1:25)

### Jay's track choices

1 - Koufar at Club Rectum (16:00)

https://youtu.be/T1_VkbeyDFE?si=3jHlf6b2hbLeovER&t=960

2 - Adam & The Ants - Physical (You're So) (Live in Manchester)

https://youtu.be/VusbSlufwmM?si=lKnvVredh1ZIH9r-&t=100

3 - Fucked Up Live on a Bridge at 2am (0:35)

https://youtu.be/TUVLm1V0pPs?si=Vi-yrjGF9m6ipBKz&t=35

4 - Bad Brains Live At CBGB's, New York City, NY 1982

https://youtu.be/WmfxWQkqLTg?si=ITLQjp__CXTmKXhg&t=1295

### Andrew's track choices

1 - Pentangle - Captured Live 1972 (9:39)

https://youtu.be/C3DFCXaqLrg?si=INKVGX-L-nAS5Z3V&t=579

2 - Rival Consoles Boiler Room x MUTEK MX Live Set (21:39)

https://youtu.be/v4gSk5GibB8?si=toWi8wQjC6JKUEeP&t=1299

3 - Crime In Stereo - Agent RR pt 1 (1:47)

https://youtu.be/RQoezd8xorI?si=85LkIeRq8Q8GClzX&t=107

4 - Coast Contra - Never Freesyle (3:05)

https://youtu.be/IdNxeepSpuk?si=rQsW51kO7UicIue5&t=185

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

All the best band names are taken, but dear, oh dear. Why on earth would they stick with that? This is the topic of this week's show, and that’s about it. The concern isn’t so much about the music but more just badly chosen band names.

Most seem like a bad pub idea moment. Others go way beyond that. Of course, there are the wilfully (and, to an extent, lazily) offensive: An_l C_nt, An_l Beard. But, then there’s also the bizarre, the stupid and the in-joke that’s gone on too long and taken too far. And then there’s all three.

So, once again, join Andrew and Sam as they explore some different nuances of the culture around music. This is what this podcast is really about culture around music and the loving relationship between two cis-straight white middle-class men from the UK. Big love.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Thomas Ignatius - In germine (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Archspire - Golden Mouth of Ruin (opening)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. The Flying Burrito Brothers - Do Right Woman (2.03)

2. Dananananaykroyd - All Us Authors (0.15)

3. The Mr. T Experience - Book of Revelation (0.15)

4. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - Nootmare (opening)

### Andrew's track choices

1. ††† - Vivien (3:04)

2. Agriculture - Relier (4:45)

3. Prolapse - Killing the bland (1:36)

4. Seymour - Dizzy (2:49)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Was 2023 a good year for pop'n'rock'n'hop? Was it a bad year? How do you quantify that sort of thing, anyway? It's all up to the ear of the beholder.

Andrew and Sam have probably been over exposed to harsh noises at this point, and can't understand what is conventional beauty in terms of music. Andrew wants to music out of angle grinders, and Sam talks about the nuances between punk-origin and metal-origin grindcore. Hence their choices of favourite music that came out of in 2023 is very person and not looking to impress. This, then, is a definitive list of music that we enjoyed and don't really care what others think or came top of other lists. We hope you're impressed.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Seavus Finns - Aeons of Spiritual Starvation (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Liam Gallagher & John Squire - Just Another Rainbow (1:15)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. JPEGMAFIA x Danny Brown "Garbage Pale Kids" (0.15)

2. Squid Pisser - Both (0.16)

3. Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra - The Space Dance Experiment (3.04)

4. Kruelty - Reincarnation (2.33)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Agriculture - Look Pt3 (4:25)

2. Yard Act - The Trenchcoat Museum (2:10)

3. WOLFHEART - Iku-Turso (1:55)

4. Daniel Avery - New Faith (1:50)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

What’s a drum fill? Well, it’s that bit the gorilla plays in the chocolate advert, yeah? Which is something discussed in this episode of Beat Motel, which also heralding the return of co-host Dr Sam from his travels abroad and obligations of parenthood.

So, in other words: we fill up space by talking about fills while getting rid of the fill-ins. It has also made me realise what a good name Phil is for a drummer (looking at you Phil Random of the Random Heroes).

We run the gamut, as usual, from pop to psychedelic to punk rock and the heaviest of metal fills, discussing what roles and styles of fills mean for the context they find themselves in. Neglected are some of the genius’ of the style – particularly, Dave Ghrol, but he’s got enough on his plate.

So, to sum up: we’re talking about drum fills, and Sam is back. It’s nice to talk.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Pharrell Williams, Trey Parker - Hug Me (0.13)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Chelsea Wolfe - Dusk (2:50)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Smashing Pumpkins - Jelly Belly (1.45)

2. Michael Jackson - Baby Be Mine (opening)

3. NoFX - Franco Un-American (1.20)

4. Darkest Hour - The Sadist Nation (3.00)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Beatles - Mean Mr Mustard (start, sort of)

2. The Clash - Train in vain

3. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis bold as Love (2:46)

4. Phil Collins - In the air tonight

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

https://youtu.be/r1x1o9UZn8M?si=P6WJoeb_lEUcgLCL

Ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have fallen in love with? Have you ever fallen in love with someone you should have fallen in love with?

In this episode of The Beat Motel Music Podcast Andrew Culture is joined by Luke Littleboy of the 'One sensational shot' podcast. Luke was also the singer for The Waxing Captors.

This episode explores songs that talk about relationships in an honest way. Not sappy, sickly-sweet love songs. We're talking about the songs that dig up the dirt but also shine a light on the glory, and terror of love and relationships.

### Riffs of the week

#### Luke's Riff

- Violent Femmes - Add it Up (1:20)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Blue Lake - Bloom (opening)

### Luke's track choices

1. The Au Pairs - It's obvious (0:58)

2. Tom Waits - Christmas card from a hooker in Minneapolis (0:33)

3. Descendents - Marriage (0:36)

4. The Beautiful South - Let love speak up itself (0:58)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Replacements - Answering Machine (2:00)

2. Buzzcocks - What Do I Get? (0:30)

3. John Grant - Vietnam (4:10)

4. The Dopamines - Ire (1:10)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

What bands do you love, but your friends hate? Which acts do you absolutely adore, but you're left wondering why your friends don't hear the magic the same way you do?

Everyone has a few favourites that nobody else loves. And that's the topic for discussion in this episode.

Dr Sam is away on tour, so in this episode of the Beat Motel music podcast Andrew Culture is joined by Jay Trenchart of Italian Books and The Volunteers.

https://trenchartnoise.bandcamp.com/

### Riffs of the week

#### Jay's Riff

- Lungfish - Non Dual Bliss (3:37)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Agriculture - The glory of the ocean (2:48)

### Jay's track choices

1. Silverfish - Big Bad Baby Pig Squeal (1:46)

2. Sheep On Drugs ‎– 15 Minutes Of Fame (opening)

3. S.N.F.U - Cement Mixer (to all my beautiful friends) (1:01)

4. Slim Cessna’s Auto Club - Last Song About Satan (2:45)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Prolapse - Pull thru Barker (2:30)

2. Francois X - Blurry Youth (opening)

3. These Arms Are Snakes - Woolen Heirs (2:10)

4. Gravediggaz - 2 cups of blood (opening)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Have you ever been to a gig that really made a massive impression on you? We know the answer is probably 'yes'. It's a dumb question, but what would you expect from us?

Have you ever been a gig that didn't make much of an impression on you at the time, but now that you 'get' the band in question do you wish you could travel back in time to that gig and experience it again? Now that's a far more interesting question.

Dr Sam is off on tour at the moment so for this Episode Andrew Culture is joined by special guest Martin Whiskin.

https://www.martinwhiskin.co.uk/

### Riffs of the week

#### Martin Whiskin's Riff

- The Imagined Village - Tam Lyn (Retold) (6:49)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Parannoul (파란노을) – Polaris (1:45)

### Martin Whiskin's track choices

1. Guns N Roses - It's so easy (0:29)

2. Guns N Roses - Estranged (0:10)

3. The Levellers - Riverflow (from start)

4. Godcone - Theme from Godcone (from start)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Pelican - March into the sea (6:10)

2. Fuck Buttons - Brainfreeze (0:25)

3. Queens of the stone age - Song for the dead (2:50)

4. Burst - (we watched the silver rain) (8:47)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

This episode is named after the feeling of post-orgasm similar to death. The moment of bare consciousness finds you after your peak. The history of pop music is resplendent with musical-about faces.

From Kraftwork giving up fingering their flutes to Finnish death metal pioneers Xsyma turning into a (more popular) indie band, plenty have given up their initial tinkering to find a more mature (and sometimes popular) sound. Yet, few have done changed their _immediately after_ their creative peak or in the face of success. 

And this is exactly what Andrew and Sam explore this week. Or sort of. So, hold onto your umbrellas as they splash about in stylistic changes that upset the earbuds. Sometimes, this led to the end of their immediate career; at other times, it cemented them as genius.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Danny Brown - Jenny's Terrific Vacation (0.10)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Ghost of a thousand - Left for dead (0:10)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Space - There's No You (0.45)

2. Smashing Pumpkins - Pug (opening)

3. Slipknot - People = Shit (opening)

4. Vic Goddard & the Subway Sect - Hey Now (I'm In Love) (opening)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Nirvana - Tourettes (0:50)

2. The Stone Roses - Begging you (2:30)

3. Suede - Asphalt world (6:20)

4. The Sex Pistols - Who Killed Bambi (1:55)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Roughly between 1967 and 2013 (these dates are arbitrary and unchecked, as is our diligence to fact-checking – Sam), the focus of many musicians (besides sex, drugs and rock’n’roll) was crafting the “perfect” album. This is something that should be endlessly playable, every track is a banger (fucking hell – Sam), but some bang (oh god – Sam) more than most. And, of course, there are some undeniable classics – Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run (you’re not ‘merican enough to like this, Sam – Sam), Limp Bizkit’s Three Dollar Bills, Y’all (I like this album, actually - Sam), Cliff Richard’s Kinda Latin (stop now, Sam – Sam), etc. – these choices are Bonafede classics. 

So, where will Sam and Andrew go with their choices? Will they provide easy listening surprises, or atonal noise assaults that means they probably need to stop and take a minute? What moral conundrums will they bring to bare in their exploration of the perfect album? Following Nitsche, if we are the creators of our own meaning, can any album be objectively perfect? 

Obviously, apart from Weezer’s Pinkerton. No. 

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Git Some - The Test (1.55)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Caroline Polachek - Dang (from start)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. The Clash - Something About England (0.45) from Sandanista

2. Daughters - The Hit (0.40) from Daughters

3. Newtown Grunts - Newtown Grunts vs. The Insidious Right Wing Conspiracy

4. White Suns - Clairvoyant (opening)

### Andrew's track choices

1. The Stone Roses - Don't Stop (1:40)

2. Torche - Trumph of Venus (from start)

3. Mansun - Wide Open Space (3:30)

4. The Velvet Underground - Jesus (0:44)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

What does it mean to be consistent, as an artist? Careers in rock’n’pop now last decades – 2023, alone, has witnessed new albums by the Rolling Stones and a new single by the Beatles who began playing with themselves back in the ‘60s. Meanwhile, while rap-rock is so old that Rage Against the Machine’s debut was 30 years old last year.  

So, this week, we discuss the issue of late blooming in the pop’n’rock world. Our biggest question is, in the face of commercial failure, how can musicians work for so long and still keep putting out bangers? Can anybody use the term “bangers” without looking like a dick?  

Thus, join us as we run the gamut from those who start out well, start to suck, and then get good again, and those who start by sucking and then reveal their genius by the fact they didn’t give up. 

Remember, we’re celebrating the white-middle-class-and-middle-aged-man-down-the-pub style of accuracy. The twist is, we’re sober. 

Talking about late bloomers, Bertie Wooster makes a (probably copywrited infringement of an) appearance As AI in this weeks letters.

What maketh a cover? Is it the woman in his arms, just because she has big … No, that’s an obscure South Park reference. Not for this day and age.

This time, the smirking infantile smurfing inflatable men-children Andrew and Sam are discussing the art of covering other people’s music (by musicians post-1970s). Whereas once songwriting was the practice of the few and performance was of the many, we now expect our guitar-based musicians to sire their own stuff.

Yet, in other musical spaces – “Western Art Music” (ie. Classical music), jazz, etc. interpreting other people’s music is what is expected.
Then, what is in a cover? What are these musicians striving for? Authentic replication of the song, their own twist on it? What does it take to make a song written by someone else feel like it belongs to someone else?

And to make this more fun, they focus only on stuff done beyond the 1970s. Mainly because many of those successful musicians of the 1960s and (early) 1970s were so well-versed in the art of playing other people’s music.

So, slip on your adult nappy and join us for fake news and pseudo-academic critique as Andrew feels ill and Sam recovers from his child’s bout of vomiting the day before.

Also, second-time contributor Al Nicholl (of Bamalama Sing Song) briefly shares his experience of the art and joy of covering music.

### Riffs of the week

#### Dr Sam's Riff

- Anthrax - Got the Time (opening)

#### Andrew's Riff

- Bloodywood - Gaddaar (3:30)

### Dr Sam's track choices

1. Robert Wyatt - At Last I Am Free (1.56)

2. fIREHOSE - Sophisticated Bitch (2.10)

3. Two Minutes to Late Night - "Never in my Life" (0.28)

4. Dolly Parton - The Great Pretender (0.13)

### Andrew's track choices

1. Kirsty MacColl - A New England (2:40)

2. Echo and the Bunnymen - People are strange (2.50)

3. Bananarama - Venus (1:00)

4. Nirvana - Lovebuzz (2:10)

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

#### A letter from Ruddiger Broomhilder

Subject: Love-Love, Game Over - Bidding Adieu to ATP

Dear Andrew Culture and Dr. Sam,

It's with a heavy heart and a twisted ankle that I, Ruddiger Broomhilder, serve this final ace to our peculiar little match. It seems my love for ATP (which I always thought stood for "Advanced Tennis Podcasts") has double-faulted into disdain.

Andrew, your last question about musicians and pizza chefs really tossed my dough into a burnout oven. I expected a slice of musical insight, but instead got a half-baked topping of irrelevance. And Dr. Sam, your melodic musings once strummed the strings of my heart, but now they sound more like a broken racket on a clay court.

I must confess, my understanding of a 'middle 8' was as confused as a linesman at a night match. And as for that drum solo query, it felt as out of place as a snowboard in Wimbledon. Your podcast, once a symphony of alternative beats, now echoes like the lonely claps of a one-man audience at a rain-delayed tennis match.

Regrettably, I'll be dropping my subscription faster than a player smashes a racket after a missed serve. It's time for me to explore other courts, where the music and tennis (or so I thought) resonate with my soul's strings.

In a twist of fate, as I pen this farewell, I fear I've trapped more than just my feelings; my foreskin seems to have found its way into the detergent tray of my mother's washing machine (again) – a fitting metaphor for our tangled relationship.

So, it's with a limp and a wince that I bid you adieu. May your podcast serve well in the future, but without me in the stands.

Sincerely flustered and forehandedly,

Ruddiger "Racket" Broomhilder

Gonzo review of BATUSHKA + Kanonenfieber live at The Dome in Tuffnell Park in London.

Cheers to Roki and Stuart Bowditch (and Stuart's mate talking about the moshpit) for getting involved in this episode.

Take it to the George Orwell bridge! Take it to the Friendship Bridge! This time 'round the musical merry-go-round, we discuss James Brown's favourite bit of any song: the Middle 8. This is a common part of many pop songs, which isn't either the verse or the chorus. So, join us and take it to the Eshima Ohashi bridge.

+ some REAL letters. As well as more AI ego trippin' for Andrew and Sam, including some really plumming stuff.

Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com

Riff of the week:
SAM - Peter Brötzmann - Machine Gun
ANDREW - Kanonenfieber - Grabenkampf (00:30)
SAM'S CHOICES
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (1.54)
The Clash - Koka Kola (0.48)
Queen - Death on Two Legs (1.44)
Megadeth - Sweating Bullets (3.05)
ANDREW'S CHOICES
James Brown from https://youtu.be/zo80gXXIH_o?si=ZKsfswTaxX5SQZ8L
The Charlatans - The Only One I Know - (2:44)
The Kinks - Shangri-La (2:47)
The Refused - New Noise (3:35)
Led Zeppelin - The Crunge (3:17)

Gonzo review of Fascinating Aida live at Ipswich Regent on Saturday, 11th November 2023.

Thanks to everyone who got involved with the recording.

Gonzo-style review of Wolfheart and Before the Dawn causing structural damage to the foundations of The Dome in Tufnell Park, London.

Cheers to Roki for getting involved with this episode.

What’s the point? Contract fillers that contribute little if anything to the repertoire of the band?

This week, Andrew and Sam explore the world and purpose of live albums, and finish the episode without conclusion (although their thoughts are pretty obvious) to go on and indulge their ego at having some real letters sent in (as well as more AI letters).

Email us at beatmotel@lawsie.com

Riffs of the week

Sam’s choicesAndrew’s choicesRuddiger Broomhilder’s letter of the week:

Subject: Harmonic Misadventures and Wheat-Field Woes!

Dear Virtuosos of Vibration at the Beat Motel,

I’ve recently immersed myself in the symphonic journey of your “field recording” episode, and what an expedition it was! Though, I must confess, the absence of Dr. Sam’s rhythmic repartee left a noticeable void, akin to a silent rest in a vivace movement. Andrew, while your solo performance was akin to a virtuoso’s bravura, the symphony of your combined energies was sorely missed.

Now, onto the heart of the matter! Andrew, your quip about the bassist’s existential crisis amidst detuned chaos was a true guffaw-inducer! It led me down a rabbit hole of pondering: If you orchestrated a symphony of musicians, each bewilderingly wielding instruments tuned to their own whims, what would this delightful dissonance be dubbed? I tender “The Harmonic Anomalies” as a suggestion, eagerly awaiting your creative decree!

And what fortune to have Stuart Bowditch in the mix, a maestro of the ambient and abstract! Stuart, your recounting of field recording escapades was a revelation. However, I must air my befuddlement. Upon your recommendation, I endeavored to set up my vintage recording ensemble amidst a local wheat field, envisaging the golden sheaves as nature’s own sound baffles. Alas, the pastoral setting proved perilous, as my prized equipment suffered an onslaught by the local rodentia, clearly mistaking my gear for an avant-garde granary! Could you elucidate how you safeguard your own apparatus from such agricultural adversaries during these ‘field recordings’?

And Dr. Sam, your drummer humor struck a chord, or perhaps a drumhead, with me. As a culinary and musical enthusiast, I’ve pondered over pizza and percussions: If a drummer were to set up a drum kit using only pizza boxes of various sizes and densities, what genre of music do you reckon would best be complemented by this saucy percussion setup? Could “Deep Dish Beats” be the next big thing, or is “Crust Punk” more apt?

I’ve championed your podcast as essential soul sustenance to every acquaintance within earshot, asserting its place as a staple in the diet of discerning audiophiles. Forge ahead on your melodious path, sirs, for you command the undivided attention of this enthusiastic, albeit recently rodent-thwarted, devotee.

In harmonious anticipation,
Ruddiger Broomhilder (Seeker of Sonic Sanctuaries and Defender of Vintage Gear)

P.S. Dr. Sam, your absence was akin to a missing downbeat in a baroque masterpiece. May your Italian sojourn be as enriching as your auditory embellishments are to our eager ears!

Beat Motel is a podcast hosted by two bassists, so it was inevitable that we would celebrate our comrades in the rhythm section at some point.

So join Dr Sam and Andrew Culture as we dive into the back section and raise an aural glass to drummers who beat their own path.

RIFFS OF THE WEEK
Sam - Marc Ribot, Tom Waits - Bella Ciao (opening)
Andrew - Truckfighters - Atomic (from 0:15)
SAM'S CHOICES
Sam Cooke - Twistin' the Night Away (from Live at the Harlem Square Club) (0.07)
Ruins Alone - Laipthcig (opening)
Adam and the Ants - Car Trouble (1.15)
Sepultura - Territory (opening)
ANDREW'S CHOICES
The Winstons - Amen brother (1.25)
The Melvins - A history of bad men (opening)
Nirvana - Scentless Apprentice (opening)
Batushka - Yekteniya II (opening)
Ruddiger Broomhilder's letter:
Subject: The Day the Beat Motel Universe Collided with Ruddiger's World!
Dear Andrew and Dr. Sam (or should I say Dr. Napalm Duck today?),
I must say, my world turned into an ecstatic mosh pit of joy when my ears graced the unexpected melody of my own name, Ruddiger Broomhilder, in your latest podcast episode! I've been dancing on cloud nine (perfectly in sync with the beat, of course) ever since.
First off, Andrew, your efforts to obscure the background with the flag are noble, indeed. It adds a layer of mystery, almost as if we're all part of some underground music revolution. Here's my question, though: if you had to choose a flag that perfectly represented the spirit of "Beat Motel," what would it look like? Are we talking guitars crossed like swords, a majestic eagle holding a microphone, or perhaps something so avant-garde it can't be described in mere mortal words?
Now, onto you, Dr. Sam, the man of a thousand names, each more intriguing than the last. Your sartorial choice, the 'napalm duck' t-shirt, has inspired heated debates and philosophical musings in my circle. So, Dr. Sam, amidst your myriad of personas, which one resonates most with your true self, and how does this alter ego influence your perception of the music you discuss?
Your podcast is like a back-stage pass to the concert of life, with each episode more riveting than the last encore of the night. Thank you for the shout-out; it's like a crowd surf that never ends, and honestly, I'm here for it!
Keep the beats eternal and the motel's lights burning bright!
Rockin' the ethers,
Ruddiger Broomhilder 🎸🕶️🚀

Considering the fact that Beat Motel is a zine podcast, we don’t talk about zines enough. This episode fixes that with aplomb; not only do we spend most of the episode talking about zines, our guest publishes one of the finest zines to come out of a town that people think is in America, but that is actually in Lincolnshire.

Our guest for this episode is the marvellous Marv Gadgie, an ardent fan of thrash, weaver of magical tales and all-around good sort of cove. Dive into this episode if you have a love of zines, d-beat bands and if you were once a child. In fact, I can’t think of any reason anyone with a pulse wouldn’t enjoy this episode.

We’ve even used AI to adapt a well-known song to accompany this zine-related episode, but we can’t afford the licencing and aren’t musically talented enough to perform it for you. So you’ll have to sing it yourself. Please send in recordings of yourself doing just that.

Email us at beatmotel@lawsie.com

Gadgie Zine on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Nowthengadgie

The punk rock ones, sung to the tune of ‘The Young Ones’ by Cliff Richard and The Shadows

The punk rock ones

Darling, we’re the punk rock ones

And punk rockers

Shouldn’t be afraid

To live, love

With zines in our hands

‘Cause we may not be the punk rock ones

For a too-long

Why wait for another zine?

‘Cause tomorrow

Marv Gadgie might share a scene

From Guisborough tales

Of his childhood so keen

With memories so sharp

And stories so clean

Once in every gig night

Comes a riff like this

Oh, I read you, and you read me

In Marv’s zine, can’t you see?

Punk dreams

Inked on zines together

And punk hearts

Shouldn’t be afraid

And someday

When the gig is done

Darling, then we’ll share with the new punks

Our favourite song

Once in every mosh pit

Comes a jump like this

Oh, I moshed with you and you with me

In Guisborough’s memory, can’t you see?

Punk dreams

Penned in hilarious tales

And punk hearts

With Marv Gadgie’s details

And some day

While the stories have grown

Darling, we’ll show the new punks

Marv’s Guisborough zone

The punk rock ones

Darling, we’re the punk rock ones

The punk rock ones

Darling, we’re the punk rock ones

Gonzo-style review of space-travelling sonic wanderers Henge, live at St Stephens Church in Ipswich.

Support from Dogshow, who, once seen, are unlikely to be forgotten.

Hear the sounds of the gig, listen to people at the gig talking about the bands, get aural experience of the venue toilets and much more!

Two bassists get a bit naval gazing by being the only ones to celebrate bassists. The bass is the four stringed instrument what rarely gets much mention beyond Rush and Primus fans. Andrew and Sam turn it music on its head for the first Sam-produced episode and consider some of the things bass contributes to the music. This is probably the first of many focuses on the bass. Remember people, bass players need love, too. Even Les Claypool. Andrew Riff of the Week – Bert Jansch Bittern Sam Riff of the Week: Mary Halverson - Amaryllis Episode tracks: Cream – Crossroads Jackson 5 – I Want You Back Pentangle - Reflection Guns N’Roses – My Michelle Blur – Won’t Do It Queen – Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy PiL - Poptones Primus – Jerry Was a Racecar Driver That Pentangle video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3DFCXaqLrg&t=0s Beat Motel Zine started as an award-winning print zine sometime around 2004, and this podcast continues that trajectory with attitude, enthusiasm and curiosity. Tune in, turn up & kick back! We dig into the alternative music we live for. Join us for deep dives, on-the-spot live reviews and laughs. This is not about the world of pop, this is an alt music podcast with a punk rock zine attitude. Beat Motel is about the fringes of the musical world, and we’re going to pull at those threads until it unravels.

Can you read? Do you like music? Well, then, this episode is for you, as Andrew and Sam show off that their basic education still goes to good use in the form of showing off that they can read books. Looks like we’ve got some readers here, as Bill Hicks said. What do you want to read for?

This episode, we discuss our favourite music biography-orientated books. We talk about whether they’ve changed our relationship to the music, and some of what makes and breaks these books. Andrew also has a new introduction for the podcast, which in itself may need an introduction.

Email us, for the love of gravy, email us! beatmotel@lawsie.com

RIFFS OF THE WEEK

SAM - Tom Zé - Ave Dor Maria (opening)

ANDREW - Kanonenfieber - Dicke Bertha (0:55)

SAM'S PICKS

Little Richard - Spreadin' Natta What's the Matter (0.14)

Little Richard by Charles White

Jayne County - Max's Kansas City (0.20)

Man Enough to be a Woman by Jayne County

Minutemen - My Heart and the Real World (opening)

Double Nickels on the Dime by Michael T. Fournier

The Slits - Typical Girls (opening)

Clothes Clothes Clothes Music Music Music Boys Boys Boys by Viv Albertine

ANDREW'S PICKS

The Auteurs - Lenny Valentino (0:20

Bad Vibes by Luke Haines

The Charlatans - Up to our hips (0:20)

Telling Stories - Tim Burgess

Spaceman 3 - An evening of contemporary sitar music (live) (37:01)

Playing the Bass with Three Left Hands by Will Carruthers

Sleeper - Statuesque (from the start)

Just for one day - Louise Wener

The Rock Geeks Podcast - https://shows.acast.com/the-rock-geeks

Episode artwork generated by Dall-E with the prompt 'metal band made up of books who can play guitars and drums, all the books are on a stage made of a bouncy castle'

This is a gonzo-style immersive live review of a very special sold-out gig at St Stephens Church in Ipswich. Including conversations with 60% of Interesting Times Gang, 66% of Hot Tramp, 33% of JS & The Lockerbillies and 75% of Ecto Peach.

Show links:

Interesting Times Gang - https://www.instagram.com/interestingtimes.gang/

Hot Tramp - https://www.instagram.com/hottrampband/

Impilo - https://soundcloud.com/impilomusic

Ecto Peach - https://ectopeach.bandcamp.com/

J.S. & The Lockerbillies - https://www.lockerbillies.com/

Do you remember secret tracks on the CD versions of albums? If so, you might be as old as we are. Which means you're COOL!

In this episode of the Beat Motel podcast, Andrew and Dr Sam share their favourite and most interesting secret album tracks. Some are good, some are interesting, and one might make you feel physically unwell.

We have introduced a correspondence section at the end of each episode, so contact us by emailing beatmotel@lawsie.com

Riffs of the week

SAM - Eric Dolphy - Hat and Beard (opening)

ANDREW - Burst - Momentum (3.20)

Sam's Picks

Andrew's Picks

Live review of the Max Cooper 3D/AV gig at Norwich Arts Centre, supported by Alex Banks.
Review ably assisted by James Howard.
Find out more about James's music at https://talkingsleeve.bandcamp.com/
Max Cooper - https://maxcooper.net/
Alex Banks - https://www.alexbanksmusic.co.uk/
Norwich Arts Centre - https://norwichartscentre.co.uk/

Gonzo-style review of two heartbreakingly heavy bands sonically demolishing the brilliant Smokehouse independent venue in Ipswich.

With our live reviews, we include field recordings and conversations with our fellow patrons, to try and immerse you in the experience. Get the sounds and smells of an independent gig in your ears!

Find out more about the bands:

VANDAMPIRE

Listen to Vandampire on any streaming service - https://songwhip.com/vandampire/the-last-good-thing-has-happened

https://vandampire.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/vandampireband

https://www.instagram.com/vandampire/

THE GREY

Listen to The Grey on any streaming service - https://songwhip.com/thegrey/dead-fire

https://thegrey2.bandcamp.com/album/dead-fire

https://www.facebook.com/TheGreyUK

https://www.instagram.com/thegreyband/

What is your problem with Country Music? Seriously?

In this episode of the Beat Motel Zine Podcast we dig into why lovers of genres like punk, electronica and metal seem so prejudiced against Country Music. What is it about this genre that makes so many people dismiss it?

In each episode of the Beat Motel Zine Podcast Dr Sam and Andrew Culture pick four tracks each that are either important to them, or that emphasise a point being made about the subject being explored. This episode follows that format, but in a slightly different way. Listen to find out more!

We have introduced a correspondence section at the end of each episode, so contact us by emailing beatmotel@lawsie.com

Riffs of the week

SAM - Screaming Females - It All Means Nothing (opening)

ANDREW - ISIS - So did we (opening)

SAM'S PICKS

Southern Culture on the Skids - Put Your Teeth Up On the Window Sill (0.16)

Kitty Wells - It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels (0.33)

Loretta Lynn - The Pill (0.17)

Webb Pierce - In the Jail House Now (opening)

ANDREW'S PICKS

Nothing at all!

Some songs appear only to exist to allow the band's guitarist to properly show off. But is this a good thing or a bad thing?
What happens when the bit of the song with singing and whatnot is pitifully short, but the solo is far too long? Join Dr Sam and Andrew as we dig into our favourite tracks that are 'more solo than song'.
For this episode, we are excluding Prog Rock from our choices, mainly because there are sub-genres of Prog full of bands who write tracks that are 99.9999992% guitar solo.
Have a listen and get in touch to let us know if you agree or disagree with our choices. Let us know if there are some amazing examples of songs that are 'more solo than song'.
Please email us at beatmotel@lawsie.com
SAM'S PICKS
Melvins - Skin Horse (0.47)
Minutemen - Cut (anywhere!)
Super Junky Monkey - Telepathy (opening)
Dinosaur Jr. - What Else Is New? (opening)
ANDREW'S PICKS
The Isley Brothers - Who's that lady (2.30)
Santana - Black magic woman (3.32)
Stone roses - I am the resurrection (3.35)
Dinosaur Jr - Start chopping
RIFFS OF THE WEEK
Sam - My Chemical Romance - Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) (2.16)
Andrew - Fu Manchu - Grendle, Snowman
BANDS MENTIONED
Hurra Torpedo - https://youtu.be/ysUjYAi0WcQ?si=aihoP1oR5Zb6385P
Slayer
Queen
No Means No
Megadeth
Funkadelic
This episode image was created by Dall-E using the prompt 'never ending guitar solo laughing fish on a pie'

What music do you like to get sweaty to? Are there certain bands or genres that get you fired up and ready to thrash yourself daft at the gym, or while you're out exercising in the fresh air?
In this episode of the Beat Motel Podcast Dr Sam and Andrew Culture share their favourite workout tracks and explore what makes some music so perfect for exercise. You will almost definitely be surprised by what you hear, especially at the end of the episode.
SAM'S PICKS
Metallica - Shadows Follow (1.30)
Me First and the Gimme Gimme's - Over the Rainbow (0.15)
88 Fingers Louie - Meds (0.00)
Horrendous - Neon Leviathan (0.40)
ANDREW'S PICKS
System of a Down - Prison Song
Power Trip - Executioner's Tax (Swing of the Axe)(0.20)
The Big - I like trains (0.50)
Jon Hopkins - Open Eye Signal (4.20)
RIFFS OF THE WEEK
Sam - Burst - I Exterminate the I (2.52)
Andrew - Empire State Bastard - Harvest (1.01)
STUPID PRISON SONG VERSIONS
Pop goes the weasel
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Cream - Sunshine of your love
The AI prompt for the episode artwork was 'Man with huge beard working out at the gym while holding pizzas'
That brilliant Burst Video
https://youtu.be/F4blt8W4dKI?si=a9042rChDVlmk4Bs
Suggs: Love Letters to London on Radio 4
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0005526

ExBuryMental is the name for a long-running series of gigs put on by Jay Volunteer in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk (UK). If these gigs had to be pigeonholed in some way, I would say they are probably noise gigs, but in reality, anybody who wants to make any kind of sound is more than welcome to get up and do their thing.

These gigs are also connected to the noise gigs in Ipswich that I (Andrew) put on. In some ways, the gigs in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich are a little bit like different sides of the same coin.

This gig was a perfect example of how incredibly fun noise gigs can be. I need to thank so many people for getting involved in this episode, most notably Jay Volunteer, Matt Rectangles and Dan Callis. You'll hear their voices a lot in this episode. I love this episode, and any time I start to get worn down by the slog of being a musician I'll listen back to this episode for a reminder of why I put myself through this nonsense.

Oh, and I have no idea how I managed not to record any of the Italian Books set (sorry Jay).

Acts in this episode:

There are no birds here

https://therearenobirdshere.bandcamp.com/

Karma Please

https://karmaplease.bandcamp.com/

Italian Books

https://trenchartnoise.bandcamp.com/

Yggdrasil

https://yggdrasil9.bandcamp.com/

Ken First

For Nika

Barney Gumble

It's summer, so we're doing a Ska Punk episode! Join Dr Sam and Andrew Culture as we wander down a slightly off-beat memory lane of peppy music!
This episode has many brilliant anecdotes, especially around the punk scene of the late 90s and early 2000s, including our adventures in German squats and the generosity of touring bands. It's not nostalgia; it's a celebration!
SAM'S PICKS
Operation Ivy - Bad Town
The Gadjits - Traffic Tickets
CapDown - An A-Political Stand of Reasons
Streetlight Manifesto - Here's to Life
ANDREW'S PICKS
King Prawn - People taking over
The Big - Don't count me in
Citizen Fish - Back to square one
Inner Terrestrials - War
Riffs of the week
Sam: SLW cc Watt - Be the Bones
Andrew: Burst - Slave emotion
Bands mentioned in this episode
Asian Dub Foundation
Terrorvision
Baba Luck
Once Over
Sonderschule
Lightyear
Reel Big Fish
Leftover Crack
Show links -

The Big - Whatever makes you happy https://edrome.bandcamp.com/album/whatever-makes-you-happy

Ed Rome (The Big) Interview - https://lawsie.com/music-consumption/the-big-beat-motel-zine-interview-2005/

Capown Wikipedia entry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capdown

Get the full show notes at beatmotel.co.uk

The Fall shouldn’t really need an introduction. But are you sure they are the band you think they are? For this episode of The Beat Motel Podcast I’m joined by writer Mark Beaumont-Thomas and we discuss the story of Mark E Smith, The Fall and most importantly, the music.

The passing of Mark E Smith appears to have inspired many to take a fresh look at The Fall. Many are realising that the appeal of this band is broader than they thought. So this episode is a look at why The Fall aren’t the scary band for elitists you might have thought they are.

There is a TON of extra info about The Fall on this page, so make sure you scroll down.

Show links

Mark’s website

Oh Brother Podcast

Review of Swans playing live at Norwich Waterfront on Wednesday, 23rd August 2023.

Thanks to Jay, Boo and Roki for getting involved.

We're sticking with our current theme of Finland for one more episode (for now). Join Dr Sam as he shares his thoughts on seeing Meshuggah in a municipal building designed for the Communist Party in Helsinki. Including Dr Sam's notes on the anthropology notes on the audience.

Riff of the week

The featured image for this episode was generated by Dall-E with the prompt 'Meshuggah in Finland with drums made of ice'.

Join Dr Sam and Andrew as they visit the very first Hellskinki Metal Festival (yes, note the two insertions of the letter 'L'). Find out what an extreme metal festival in the heart of one of the most metal countries in the world is like, first hand.

Photos and more are available at https://lawsie.com/beat-motel-podcast/hellsinki-metal-festival-2023-a-gonzo-review/

As with all our live reviews, we make a real effort to make you feel as if you might actually be at the event. We cover the daft things that happen around travelling to a music festival in a gonzo-style. We record the crowds, the noise and report on the cool bits and bobs we see that make a good live music event excellent.

Festival website - https://www.hellsinkimetalfestival.fi/

Bands reviewed in this episode:

We also bumped into the creators of a new documentary about the more gruesome side of Black Metal called ''In the Shadow of the Horns' and had a chat about this 'reality movie'. You can find out more about that at https://www.zeezome.com/

Are parody bands a pointless waste of our ears, or are they an essential part of a vibrant musical tapestry? In this episode of the Beat Motel podcast Dr Sam and Andrew chose eight of their favourite parody bands and then argue about whether they are actually parodies or not.
This episode was a LOT of fun to make!
RIFFS OF THE WEEK
Chepang - GC (Sam)
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme Pt III - Pursuance
SAM'S CHOICES
Good Clean Fun - Song for the Ladies
Beatallica - And Justice for All My Loving
Awkwafina - My Vag
Jud Jud - High Hat song
ANDREW'S CHOICES
Gentlemen's Pistols - I wouldn't let you
Frank Zappa - Louisiana Hooker with Herpes
Goldie Lookin Chain - Half Man Half Machine
The Shirehorses - You're a bastard
BAND'S MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The Big
Metallica
Pantera
Agriculture
Rush
No Means No
Sick of it all
Thin Lizzy
Hardskin
Wat Tyler
ZEEB?
The Beatles
Charles Mingus

Throughout history, venues have helped define and nurture scenes. Sometimes music venues become central to the scenes they support. For example, The Hacienda in Manchester become synonymous with the Madchester scene in the early 90s.
From the 1960s to the late 1990's, a tiny venue in Soho (London) became the heart of a music scene that spawned phenomenal stars. The venue was Bunjies. Although it wasn't a venue so much as it was a coffee shop with a tiny basement.
We could list the acts who performed at Bunjies, but we figured it would be far more interesting to speak to someone who was there. Nick Blatchley is that man! In this episode of the Beat Motel podcast, we are thrilled to be joined by poet, writer, historian and occasional rapper Mr Nick Blatchley.
Show links
Visit Nick's website at https://nickblatchleycopywriting.co.uk/
Bunjies on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunjies
Bands and acts mentioned in this episode:
Paul Simon
Bert Jansch
Ralph McTell
Rod Stewart
Adam Faith
David Bowie
Jeff Buckley
John Cooper Clark

Electronic adventures at the fantastic Smokehouse in Ipswich.

Friendship is a large part of the music experience. We meet friends at gigs, we're in bands with friends, and sometimes, when the stars align we get to put on gigs featuring friends. Then there are the magical occasions whereby we are able to promote a gig for a friend who has lived abroad for years and is back in the UK for just a short time. This episode is about one of those magical times.

Sure, the huge acts can afford impressive light shows and enough lasers to upset commercial air traffic, but what can artists who haven't already made millions do to make gigs more interesting?

This episode of the Beat Motel podcast is a review of a rare UK performance by Egypt-based Nujumi. Support from Jon Bowers, Strandings and Mawhrin Skel.

NUJUMI
Based in Eqypt, Nujumi describe themselves as 'green pastures and dark debris'. Orchestrated synth and strings emerging from the dusts of the Sahara.
Created by Daniel Merrill, one-third of the Dead Rat Orchestra.
https://nujumi.bandcamp.com/

JOHN BOWERS
In his first performance returning to Ipswich after 10 years in the Newcastle DIY scene, John Bowers will coax room feedback, chaotic noise, spectral ambience, and extreme dynamics from his modular synthesizer and Pure Data programs. John has a long history in rowdy improvised experimental electronics having performed at festivals including the Venice Biennale, Experimental Intermedia New York, Transmediale/CTM Vorspiel Berlin, Piksel Bergen, Electropixel Nantes, BEAM London, Faster Than Sound Aldeburgh, Yarmonics Great Yarmouth and Spill Ipswich, and toured with the Rambert Dance Company performing David Tudor’s music to Merce Cunningham’s Rainforest. He is one third of the noise rock trio Tonesucker. He has just launched a personal record label, https://unlanded.bandcamp.com/. Its first album, Unlanded Volume 1 is planned for release June 2023. https://www.instagram.com/johnthemodulator/

STRANDINGS
Strandings is the new project by Dead Rat Orchestra member Robin Alderton. A combination of electro-acoustic elements featuring the folk based influences of his soundtrack work with DRO and solo textural collage work utilising turntables, electronics and manipulated vinyl. For fans of Philip Jeck, William Basinski and CST Records.

MAHWRIN SKEL
Depending on whim, willingness and weather Mawhrin Skel makes music that is often described as noise, drone, techno-alt-orchestral and ambient. His music is characterised by its use of harsh, abrasive sounds, deep frequencies as well as long, slow, and meditative passages. Mawhrin Skel is the stage name of Andrew Culture, occasional novelist and bassist of These Are End Times.
https://mawhrinskel.bandcamp.com/

Someone we know* once described an electronic music performance as being like watching someone standing behind a desk doing emails. This is something that even the most ardent electronica fan can admit is often true.
Sure, the huge acts can afford impressive light shows and enough lasers to upset commercial air traffic, but what can artists who haven't already made millions do to make gigs more interesting?
Jack Hagley, AKA Supermerger has developed a brilliant reputation for fascinating, engaging and exciting live shows. The music is inventive and interesting as well. The visuals Supermerger creates pulse and morph to the music and are very much 'alive', rather than just being something for the audience to stare at.
The emphasis with Supermerger always appeared to be on creating a live experience that connects with an audience above all else. So when a new Supermerger album was released, Andrew Culture decided he had to track Jack down and ask him some interesting questions.
This interview took place in Rotterdam, and the sound clip you'll hear before the interview was Andrew and Jack Supermerger talking all over a field recording of the cool blast-beat making pedestrian crossings that appear all over the Netherlands. We included it in this episode because it's a nice example of the spontaneous fun and creativity of the Supermerger experience.
https://supermerger.net/
Listen to the Stuart Bowditch field recordings podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/stuart-bowditch-podcasts/id1466958991
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/stuartbowditch/peterborough-station-240708-15
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5N9IQeD7uMT3GpzsDXGFf2?si=429aff543e694d37
*Jason from Antigen Records, in case you were wondering. He even put it on a poster to describe one of Andrew's Mawhrin Skel performances :)

Do you know what the Amen break is? No? Then listen to this episode of the Beat Motel Zine Podcast. If you already know what the Amen break is then you should still listen to this episode of the podcast!

One of the greatest and bestest things about music is that you can always be amazed by learning something new. Once you have acquired new musical knowledge your life changes, you can't 'unknow' the Amen break once you've learned about it, and you'll start to hear it everywhere.

The Amen break is the greatest example of aural Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, so join us as we dig into the history of this short bit of drumming!

Bands and artists mentioned in this episode:

Download the presentation for this episode

Video mentioned by Andrew during the episode - https://youtu.be/2PBeKzVhWHY

Wu-Tang: An American Saga is a series shown on Disney+ (here in the UK) and is a dramatisation of the early days of the Wu-Tang clan. In this episode of the Beat Motel Podcast Andrew walks us through the first two seasons of this hip-hop historical dramatisation.

How close is Wu-Tang: An American Saga to the truth, and does that really matter at all? Would someone who isn't into hip-hop get anything from watching this series? Does this dramatisation glorify negative stereotypes? Find out by listening to this episode now.

Get the full show notes at http://beatmotel.co.uk

More details at https://lawsie.com/beat-motel-podcast/ipswich-music-day-2023/

Ipswich Music Day happens the same weekend ever year in, yup, you guessed it - Ipswich! This is the biggest free music festival in the UK. In this episode of the Beat Motel Podcast Andrew takes us on a journey through Ipswich Music Day (known locally as 'music in the park').

Bands mentioned in this episode:

Get more at https://lawsie.com/beat-motel-podcast/trv-kvlt-black-metal-lo-fi-isms-academic-notes/

This week, Sam is broadcasating from darkened cathedral. Join him as he bumbles through a lo-fi essay on thoughts and his research on trv, kvlt black metal lo-fi-isms.

Is the crapness of his recording and production due to budget and laziness, or is he being kvlt? Plus, a load of samples from the world of early 90s death and black metal. They say you ruin a joke by explaining a joke, so Sam tries to ruin kvlt by explaining kvlt.

Publications:

Music (chronological playlist):

Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii is a film that is packed with oddities, experiments, frustrations and a whole lot of sand. Live at Pompeii is required viewing for 'heads', but does this 52 year old film still have any relevance? How does it hold up against other legendary rock films?

In this episode of the Beat Motel Podcast Andrew is joined by his These Are End Times bandmate, and acknowledged expert on the topic of Pink Floyd, Simon Finbow. Join as we dig deep into the fascinating history and folklore of Live At Pompeii.

Get more at www.beatmotel.co.uk

Have you ever been to see a band that you have never heard before and been blown away, only to be confused when you got home and heard them on record? Maybe you were wandering from stage to stage at a festival, and an act stopped you in your tracks, but when you looked them up later, your only reaction was 'meh'.

In this week's edition of the Beat Motel podcast Dr Sam Page and Andrew Culture discuss bands that have a dissonant disconnect between the stage and the recording studio.

This episode also includes a new feature called 'Sam's so what segment'.

RIFFS OF THE WEEK

Thantifaxath - Solar Witch (Sam)

Prolapse - Government of Spain (Andrew)

SAM'S PICKS

Albert Ayler - D.C. (around 3 mins in)

Mike Watt - Baby-Cradling-Tree-Man

Shellac - Steady As She Goes

Deafheaven - Vertigo

ANDREW'S PICKS

The Phil Collins 3 - Pooey Stick

Sunn O))) - big church (megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért)

Shellac - End of Radio

BANDS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

David Bowie

Minutemen

Our review of day two of the Brighten the Corners festival in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Get the day 1 review (and more) at https://lawsie.com/beat-motel-podcast/brighten-the-corners-festival-day-1-review/

Bands mentioned in this podcast episode

Brighten the Corners is a huge multi-venue festival in Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. Previously called ‘Sound City Ipswich’ the festival has a brilliant reputation for booking acts that almost immediately afterwards become huge. It’s a bit like the East Anglian version of The Great Escape festival in Brighton.

Find out more about Beat Motel at https://beatmotel.co.uk/

Bands mentioned in this podcast episode

The opportunities to witness Japanese black gaze bands playing live in the UK aren’t frequent. So when Asunojokei announced they would be ending their first European tour just down the road from us at Colchester Arts Centre tickets were bought as fast as our meaty fingers could hammer in card details on the Arts Centre website. The fact our friends Lebrique were in support was an added bonus. This episode was recorded live on the night of the gig (05/06/23) with some help from James Howard and some other new friends we made at the gig.

Get the full show notes (and band links) at https://lawsie.com/beat-motel-podcast/asunojokei-lebrique-the-grey-colchester-arts-centre-review/

What makes a good live performance? Forget about the songs and musicianship and think about the other stuff.
For this episode of the Beat Motel podcast, we were going to talk about the best light shows we have ever seen, but we realised that a good gig is about more than how many lights are blinding the audience.
Join Dr Sam Page and Andrew Culture as we discuss eight of the best performances we have ever seen and explore the reasons why we loved them.
RIFF OF THE WEEK
Andrew: Queens of the Stone Age - Emotion Sickness
Sam: Private Function - Don't Want to go Out on the Weekend
SAM’S PICKS
Squarepusher - An Arched Pathway
Gwar - The Cutter
Mike Park - From Korea
Bohren & Der Club of Gore - Karin
ANDREW’S PICKS
Mogwai - Glasgow Mega-Snake
Fuck buttons - Brainfreeze
Rival Consoles - Howl
Ryan Jordan - Live at the Steamboat Tavern 27/01/18
OTHER MENTIONS
Adam Ant
Bauhaus
Stockhausen
The Slits
ATP Festivals
Metallica Piss Breaks
Sleaford Mods
John Lydon
Morrisey

Get more at beatmotel.co.uk

Blur have announced that they will soon be releasing a new album, so this seemed like the perfect time to look back over their long career and pick out some songs that highly the weirdness and glory of Colchester's finest band with a four-letter name.

We encourage you to listen to this episode even if you aren't a blur fan. When publishing Bet Motel podcast episodes that focus on one particular band, we want to highlight what we think makes the band interesting. This is not a hagiography. Sometimes finding out what other people find exciting about a band can turn us onto something new, and that's what we're going for here.

In the studio with Graham Coxon https://youtu.be/E9EPzwGRxoo

RIFF OF THE WEEK

Tony Lavorgna & The St.Thomas Quartet - chameleon

SAM'S PICKS

Clover over Dover (from around 31)

Dan Abnormal

Death of a Party (from around 0.22)

Battle (from around 0.22)

The Narcissist

ANDREW'S PICKS

Slow down

Popscene

Coping

Beetlebum