Bands we respect but don't get
Beat Motel Zine
Ever bought an album just because you should love it... only to file it under “respect, but no thanks”? This week, Andrew Culture and Dr. Sam go full chin-strokey and dive deep into the bands, albums, and entire genres that make them go, “I get it. I just don’t want it.” We’re talking Flux of Pink Indians’ sonic assaults, John Zorn's sex-jazz chaos, Minutemen’s minute-long jazz-punk spasms, and yes, that unholy racket from Merzbow. Along the way we also chat about Damon Albarn’s trouser-based stage antics, Janis Joplin’s wardrobe malfunctions, and what happens when Rick...
info_outline
Musicians in films that weren't about them
Beat Motel Zine
In this episode, we dive into the slightly baffling and often hilarious world of musicians turning up in films that have absolutely nothing to do with their own music. Some do it well. Some… should’ve just stayed on stage. From Joe Strummer’s pigeon-themed songwriting to Damon Albarn’s dodgy gangster role, we shine a flashlight on cinema’s most unexpected rock star cameos. Expect righteous rambling, questionable facts, and a whole lot of chaos as Andrew and Dr. Sam chew over: Flea appearing in Back to the Future II as a race-happy chancer Joe Strummer pretending a traffic cone is...
info_outline
Crazy Crowds
Beat Motel Zine
info_outline
Odd concept albums
Beat Motel Zine
What do stoner-era ZZ Top, a mountain named Billy with a tree girlfriend, and a kid who astral projects into Rasputin’s beard all have in common? Concept albums, mate. And not just any old proggy b*llocks – this week we’re diving into the oddest concept albums we could find (and a few we just wanted to waffle on about anyway). Andrew is joined by first-time Beat Motel guest host James Kindred – a fellow Ipswich musician, longtime mate, and possibly the only person who can explain a Mastodon plotline without crying blood. Together, they take you on a journey through the weird, the...
info_outline
How to end side A
Beat Motel Zine
If you’ve ever flipped a vinyl and thought, “well that was a limp finish,” then this episode is your new religion. Andrew and Dr. Sam dive into the fine art of ending Side A—the lost craft of crafting a sonic cliffhanger that makes you want to flip that record like your nan flips a Digestive into her cuppa. We’ve got: The Clash’s perfectly measured chaos An R.E.M. song even the R.E.M. boys can’t remember Richard Dawson punching you in the feelings A mystery smackhead guitar hero who wandered into a Funkadelic session and laid down one of the greatest solos of all time ...
info_outline
Bands That Are Better as a Documentary Than to Listen To
Beat Motel Zine
Ever watched a music doc and thought, “Cor, this band’s story is brilliant!” only to press play on their actual music and feel your soul quietly retreat into your ankles? This week, Andrew and co-host Dr. Sam put the needle on the record and realise some bands should’ve stayed in the cutting room. We take a scenic drive through the trainwreck glory of Milli Vanilli, the baffling existential crisis that is Metallica’s St. Anger, and the CIA’s alleged soft-rock psy-op via The Scorpions. Plus, there's a detour through the fever-dream nonsense of Brian Pern, Joan Jett’s bad...
info_outline
Cats
Beat Motel Zine
This week on Beat Motel, Andrew relives his childhood by rolling down Ed Sheeran’s hill into a pile of dog muck, and Dr. Sam reveals he’s spent more time chasing cheese than dignity. Somewhere along the way, they accidentally remember this is supposed to be a music podcast.
The theme? Cats. That’s it. Not subtle. Not deep. Just cats. From SpongeBob’s snail-pet Gary to the purring sleaze of Queen’s “Cool Cat,” we dig into feline-inspired tunes like they’re buried in a litter tray. info_outline
Obscure Genres
Beat Motel Zine
If you’ve ever wondered what a Finnish man in a bedroom with a broken keyboard sounds like, then you’re weird. But also in the right place. This week, Dr. Sam joins Andrew for a dive headfirst into the murky swamp of obscure music genres, where rules don’t matter and the cats are in charge.
Expect tangents galore: from liturgical black metal to folk electronica via squee (yes, it’s a thing), this episode is a chaotic tour of sounds you probably never asked for. Th
info_outline
Back to School
Beat Motel Zine
In this nostalgia-drenched episode of Beat Motel, Andrew Culture and voiceover man extraordinaire Martin Whiskin hurl themselves headfirst into the deep, murky swimming pool of school memories—and promptly slip on a Verucca sock.
Expect less of a structured discussion and more of a chaotic ramble through:
Drinking out of pickle jars, Nutella jars, and possibly things we shouldn’t mention.
Childhood trauma via public service announcements that were m
info_outline
Songs to swing your pants to
Beat Motel Zine
Ever wondered what it's like to be whipped in the cobblers by a carbon fibre tent pole? No? Well, you’re about to. In this episode, Andrew returns to the studio and brings along Dr. Sam for a high-brow chat about testicular trauma, Trev & Simon, and the absolute best music to make your hips involuntarily wiggle like an over-caffeinated toddler.
The theme this week? Songs to swing your pants to. The result? A genre-skirting playlist filled with funkadelic basslines, ska-pu
info_outlineThis week, Andrew Culture is joined by Dr. San to answer the all-important question: what do Viz magazine, squirrel-based hip-hop folklore, and Captain Sensible have to do with sunglasses? A lot, apparently. From tales of tragically inebriated rodents to obscure country pastiches and mid-80s goth crooners, we dive eyeballs-first into a lens-tinted trip through musical mayhem.
Expect a lovingly detailed discussion on Viz’s Buster Gonad and the gang, a passionate defence of Ray Orbison’s vocal blanket, ZZ Top’s fraudulent tour as The Zombies, and the serious existential implications of Skepta’s lyrics: "I can't see anything." Same, mate.
The riffs are glorious, the tangents are ridiculous, and the jokes? Almost clever. Almost.
Whether you love Skeeter Davis or just want to hear two aging music nerds trying to remember why the 2004 Viz movie was a thing, this is your stop. Just don’t Google blue waffle. We warned you.
### Riffs of the week
#### Dr Sam's Riff
- Gary Owens Jr - Tomorrow's Stew (opening)
#### Andrew's Riff
- Current Value - Serenity (3:20)
### Dr Sam's track choices
1. Roy Orbison - Dream (opening)
2. the Damned - Anti-Pope (0.10)
3. ZZ Top Cheap Sunglasses (0.43)
4. Tracey Ullman - Sunglasses (0.45)
### Andrew's track choices
1. Echo and the Bunnymen - Killing Moon (3:11)
2. Skeeter Davis - Sunglasses (0:27)
3. Skepta - Sunglassses at night (1:22)
4. Jesus and Mary Chain - Just like honey (opening)
Email us - beatmotel@lawsie.com
Takeaways
- The importance of humor in storytelling.
- Cultural references can enhance podcast engagement.
- Childhood memories shape our perspectives.
- Health discussions can be both serious and humorous.
- Music can evoke nostalgia and personal connections.
- The evolution of genres reflects societal changes.
- Creative processes often stem from everyday observations.
- Engaging with listeners through relatable content is key.
- Exploring themes in music can lead to deeper discussions.
- Humor can be a bridge to discuss serious topics. Ray Orbison's voice is described as comforting and warm.
- The aesthetic of sunglasses in music reflects deeper themes.
- Punk movement stripped down the concept of stage clothes.
- ZZ Top's unique history includes impersonating British bands.
- Skepta's humor adds a layer of absurdity to his music.
- Tracy Ullman's covers highlight the obscurity of 60s music.
- The conversation reveals the personal connections to music.
- Music aesthetics evolve with cultural movements.
- The influence of past artists is evident in modern music.
- Humor in music can bridge generational gaps.