Full Transcript for Hometown Sound

always say, Where where are you from? 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:03.040 Houston, where are you really from? 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:04.480 Oh, Sugarland. 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:05.920 Like you know. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:15.120 But right now, like in this very present moment, I live in Third Ward, which is where we know Beyonce is from. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:24.879 It's also home to a lot of really, in my opinion, very interesting and unique singers and or rappers, whatever you want to call them. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:29.039 But Third Ward is like a really iconic historic neighborhood in Houston. 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:30.400 It's historically black. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:34.879 There's a historically backed college here, Texas Southern University. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:43.360 And I'm so close to the campus that at night and sometimes even in the afternoons, I can hear their marching band, The Ocean of Soul practicing. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:43.919 Wow. 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:45.759 And that is so cool. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:48.319 Do you know about HBCU marching bands? 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:48.719 Yes. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:49.039 Yeah. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:49.439 Okay. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:53.759 I mean, I know I've probably talked about life like it's it's very cool. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:57.599 Like the other night we were walking the dog and saw them all like out late at night. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:02:59.759 Like I was like, I love this. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:00.159 Oh. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:08.960 But some of the other fun things I see in my neighborhood are cars, sometimes known as slabs, which stands for slow, loud, and banging. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:09.280 Oh. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:11.599 Cruising through, playing their music real loud. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:16.240 And then cars that have what are called swangas on them. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:17.439 Have you ever heard of this? 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:18.240 What's that? 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:25.680 It's these hubcaps that have extremely long, pointy ends on them with like almost like spikes. 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:35.680 And the whole thing with like the cars with swangas is like you're weaving in now, like nobody wants to get too close to you because they don't want to like bust their shit or whatever. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:38.960 But I see them regularly in my neighborhood. 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:41.360 And it's just like I just get so happy. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:46.719 Like it's such a fun, weird, very hyper-local experience. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:50.879 And that's kind of why I wanted to do hometown sound this week. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:51.280 Yeah. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:56.240 Because the sounds of my hometown are like totally in a league of their own. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:56.960 Yeah. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:04.000 So Houston actually shaped me deeply in terms of my musical knowledge and appreciation. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:11.039 Like I was born here, but I don't remember much of my early days as a child in Houston because I was three when I moved to Baton Rouge. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:27.920 But it did have a big musical impact on me even when I was living in Louisiana, because every year my parents loved to come back, not only for the art car parade, but also for international festival or iFest, which no longer exists. 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:31.759 But it was, in my opinion, one of the coolest festivals that was out there. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:34.720 Um it would happen in like downtown Houston every year. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:48.639 And I got to see a lot of really cool, not only international, but local and national musicians, such as the Texas Tornadoes, Freddie Fender, Hugh Masakella, Lucinda Williams. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:51.519 A lot of bands I can't even remember seeing. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.120 So get this, Christine. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:56.319 The last year that I remember going was in 2006. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:00.399 I was volunteering in high school and Tanar helped me. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:01.519 Tanarawin? 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:02.959 Tanarawin was playing. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:04.000 Oh wow. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:04.560 Yeah. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:06.399 So I know that I would have gone to see them. 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:08.800 I just probably just was like, cool African band. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:09.839 Yeah, yeah. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:11.360 Very cool. 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:11.839 Yeah. 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:13.360 It says a lot about my memory. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:13.759 Yeah. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:26.639 But yeah, speaking of my memories, I have a very clear mental image of what it was like when I moved back to Houston, aka Sugarland, which is where my family moved in 2001. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:32.879 I discovered a totally new to me type of music, which was chopped and screwed. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:35.439 Does this mean literally anything to you? 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:39.120 I'm thinking salad and pasta? 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:41.600 Like, I don't know. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:44.079 I'm so enchanted. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:45.040 Like, I love that. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:45.759 Amazing. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:46.879 It's a thing, though. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:47.439 It's a thing. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:52.879 I'm really quickly gonna talk about it so that we can set the stage for my song, which eek. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:54.319 It's gonna be just a minute. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:06:04.959 So this genre, the history that we need to address is if you never heard of DJ Screw, aka Robert Earl Davis Jr., it probably means you're not from Houston. 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:09.439 But DJ Screw was one of the most lauded figures in Houston's rap scene. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:15.199 And I know you were recently in your hip-hop era, but I'm specifically talking about rap today, Houston rap. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:20.160 DJ Screw created the chopped and

screwed technique and the genre that flowed out of it. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:27.839 So essentially he would take a song and slow it way down and then make the record skip so that it was really choppy. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:29.519 So the chop part is obvious. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:31.920 Screw is slowing it way down. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:38.959 And this genre is usually associated with a type of illicit substance called lean, aka liquid codeine. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:39.279 Oh. 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:40.959 Is that familiar to you? 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:44.160 I got some right over there in my medicine cabinet. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:45.600 Coffee syrup. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.560 Houston, you would say I got lean in my cup. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:57.600 But lean, codeine, syrup, drank, these are all synonyms for, you know, liquid coding. 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:03.759 And apparently drinking with Sprite is a way to enjoy chopped and screwed music. 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:04.959 Okay, good to know. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:12.560 I've never done that personally, but at age 13, I was just excited to hear something that was wildly different on the radio. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:25.199 I already liked hip hop and rap at that age, and Southern Louisiana is actually home to a lot of famous rappers, and I was listening to them regularly as a preteen, but this chopped and screwed music was far out. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:35.439 And in 2001, I was a wide-eyed weirdo taping these songs that I heard, and sometimes just the DJ sets from 97-9 the Bucks every Sunday night. 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:40.319 Shout out to the Chopaholics, Wish a House, and DJ Michael5000 Watts. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:46.720 It was such an introduction to my new city, or at least the city that was down the highway from me in Sugarland. 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:56.959 And little did I know that my cassette tapes were part of the music culture here in Houston, which thrived off hyper-local mixtapes to share their neighborhood unique sound. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:14.639 And I know I took a bit of a detour because I didn't finish talking about DJ Screw, but DJ Screw is the leader of the screwed up clique, which gave us such great artists as Fat Pat, Paul Wall, Lil Kiki, Lil Flip, Big Mo, ESG, not to be confused with the dance ESG and many more. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:19.759 And I just want to pause here again because I'm curious if you've heard of any of these artists, Christine. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:21.279 I have not heard of any. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:24.639 And should I be embarrassed about that? 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:27.519 Or is this like purely like Houston? 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:31.199 Like I'm curious if this music has gone beyond Houston. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.600 It definitely has, and that's a good question. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:35.600 I don't think everyone would have heard of it. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:44.080 But like there are people, of course, in LA and New York and all over the world, I would say, that that like a lot of these musicians. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:51.919 Maybe not some of the, like some of them, but like Paul Wall, for example, Lil Flip, these are people who are very popular. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:58.159 And to your point, I can't stress enough how these are hometown heroes here in Houston. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:04.720 Not listed above because he wasn't in the screwed up click, but when I was 17, I was flying by myself to Mexico City. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:11.759 And while I was in the Bush International Airport at like 7 a.m., I saw Slim Thug, who's another prominent Houston rapper. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:19.600 I see him from across the airport, like space that I'm in, and I yell, Slim, when I saw him, and he waved at me. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:30.320 Oh so please, like picture 17, like tall, scrawny blonde girl from the suburbs yelling with glee at a local rapper at the airport. 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:32.000 I see it so vividly. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.240 Only in Houston, baby. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:34.960 I know. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:36.399 I have always been this way. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:36.960 I'm sorry. 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:37.600 No. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:39.279 It's wonderful. 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:43.200 Okay, so let me not get any more down my rabbit hole. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:50.159 I want to introduce you to my song for this week's theme, 25 Lighters by DJ DMD, Lil Kiki, and Fat Pat. 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:50.960 Love it, man. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:53.919 25 lighters on my dresser, yes, sir. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:55.919 I got stuck in payday. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:59.519 We got 25 lighters on the dresser, yes, sir. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:05.200 I got 25 lighters on my 25 phone boom. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.080 About to break the mic, didn't break 25 foam boom. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:09.039 About to rip the track. 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:12.159 Any initial thoughts when I share this with you, Christine? 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:13.519 I'm not gonna lie. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:16.480 Like, I'm not a huge fan, but I enjoyed it. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:18.960 I enjoyed the lyrics in a way. 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:20.320 I mean, the it's funny. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:23.759 I enjoyed the I watched the video, of course, the cassette tape thing. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:25.600 Now it makes sense what you just said. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:29.919 But yeah, it's a little bit of a we earworm once you start listening to. 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:33.039 Especially that refrain, you know? 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:33.519 Yeah. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:34.799 The 25 lives. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:37.759 And that I will talk about because it's very influential. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:39.440 But yeah, I get it. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:41.919 And there's so many Houston rap songs that I love. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:44.480 It was really hard for me to just pick one. 00:10:44.799 -->

00:10:58.000 Like I actually am blinking to my swang and bang playlist that I made on Spotify because like swinging and banging is when you're weaving it out in traffic with your uh with your swangers and whatnot. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:02.480 But I am actually a little bit curious what other Houston rap heads will think of my selection. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:07.200 But this is just one of those songs that every time I hear it, I'm gonna listen to the whole thing. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:09.919 Like, or if it's on the radio, you know, I stop. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.039 Oh, this is my song. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:12.559 I've gotta listen to it. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:15.679 And right from the very beginning, I love when he's like, love it, main. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:19.279 And I feel like that's such a thing we say here in Houston. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:20.480 Is it like man? 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:21.200 Yeah. 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:21.519 Okay. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:23.120 Like, but it's just the way it's pronounced. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:24.399 Yes. 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.639 And I can't wait to tell you a little bit more about this. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:35.519 I'm sure you picked up on the night and day sample by I'll be sure and that song that gets it like that super smooth bass line. 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:37.360 Like yeah, I like that a lot. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:38.159 It's good. 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:40.559 Like I said, not a fan, but I liked it. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:41.440 I enjoyed it. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:47.679 Probably will never listen to it again, but very curious about it because it's clearly got something. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:54.240 And in the video, I think it has a very like, I don't know, warm feel to it. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:54.720 Yeah. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:56.399 Very commun community-oriented. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.679 Community for sure. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:02.960 And like you said, it this song is very loved by musicians, especially that line. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:09.919 I got 25 lighters on my dresser, because you might have even heard Kendrick Lamar say that on backseat freestyle. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:20.720 Or ZZ Top did a weird version of their 2012 Gots to Get Paid, which again, strange, but that's the Houston-Houston connection and recognition. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:22.000 So very fun. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:27.600 There were a few comments, I think, in the video section about ZZ Top brought me here. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:28.399 Oh my god. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.200 I think so. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:33.679 That is so funny and weird, but I don't love the ZZ Top version. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:37.759 It's very strange, but I do again, I rec I appreciate their recognition. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:49.039 But there are artists who have sampled this, including Drake, Dochi, Megan the Stallion, who's also an H-town Hottie, Travis Scott, also from Houston, so's Tray the Truth, and

so many more. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:52.080 So who are these guys on the song? 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:59.519 Oddly enough, the song is credited to DJ DMD, but it features two of my favorite Houston artists, Lil Kiki and Fat Pat. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:05.919 And I say oddly enough because DJ DMD didn't have nearly as much success as the other two artists on this song. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:12.879 And Fat Pat and Lil Kiki were both members of the screwed up click, like I mentioned earlier, and proteges of DJ's crew. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:32.559 But they better watch out for the RP and D. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:38.639 So I was actually listening to an interview with Lil' Kiki that Pat sadly was murdered. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.399 Uh I'll touch on that in a minute. 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:47.840 But on DJ Vlad's podcast, and I do that is so random, but he's like interviewed so many people in the rap scene. 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:49.360 He's been around for a really long time. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:50.799 So so strange. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.639 Just because I was thinking of Vlad the Intelligence. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:55.279 No, I was thinking the same thing. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:57.440 I'm like, is he Romanian? 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:02.879 I I need to figure out who Vlad is, but Kiki, little Kiki or Kiki the Don. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:06.000 I feel like he he goes by or Don Key, that's it. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:06.559 Sorry. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:21.840 He talked about when he was a teenager going over to the screw house, which is what they called it, and learning how to freestyle and record tracks because freestyling was like very much the style that all of these artists kind of partook in. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:27.360 It wasn't writing stuff down, it was like being really proud of how much you could just go off the top of your head. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:33.519 And Lil Kiki went on to have great success, not only in the Houston rap scene, but also internationally. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:39.360 And like I mentioned, Fat Pat was murdered in 1998 before he could even be featured in the music video. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:48.080 So if you saw in that one scene when they're like showing footage, it looked like from the recording studio, it's like Fat Pat and it shows Theory's born and then Theory died. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:51.360 And you mentioned the video, it's so Houston in the 90s. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:56.480 Not that I can claim to know, just that you know, I was in batteries, but I love the vibes. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:15:00.000 It's the house party, the rain comes, they've all got to run inside. 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:02.879 It's just so it's so cute and so lo-fi. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:05.200 Like it is, it's really fun. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:08.159 And so, just a quick aside about that freestyling. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:15.840 Like I mentioned, DJ Screw is world famous in Houston for his June 27th freestyle. 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:26.480 It was D Mo, DJ Screw, Big Mo, Casey, Youngstar, Big Pokey and Haircut Joe freestyling for 35 minutes, and it is iconic. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:29.039 I don't challenge you to listen to it. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:29.279 Okay. 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:33.440 But if you're yeah, you just to get a taste of what it's like. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:47.360 Because, like, so one of the things Kiki talks about on this interview is talking about how you do a normal speed, obviously, when you record your song, and then you'd slow it all the way down, or like you'd slow it down and then chop it later. 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:52.000 So it's not like they were recording slow music, it just got chopped and screwed later. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:55.759 But I listened to that song on June 27th every year and Christine. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:56.399 Uh-huh. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:59.120 Oh, is that for real? 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:01.120 Yeah, I had a custom shirt made. 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.480 It's an Astros t-shirt. 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:02.960 I'm gonna go. 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:03.840 Yeah, I saw the Astros. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:04.399 Okay. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.960 Well, it says June 27 on the back. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:10.720 The funny thing is, Jose Altuve is number 27. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.799 He's like our big guy at the Astros. 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:16.559 But this is me being, again, just like a dum-dum. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:18.879 And I love it. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:20.480 Do you ever get comments on it? 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:22.559 No, actually, rarely. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:26.080 People don't, they probably just think it's an Altuve shirt. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:30.559 But like if you are a real one, if you know, you know. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:33.360 You know, I hate that. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:38.879 But um, I could literally talk like ad nauseum about Houston rap. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:41.440 And I did not scratch the surface. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:54.960 So there's a lot of resources that I'm going to link to in the show notes, including there's this book that um Lance Scott Walker wrote about DJ's crew because of how influential he was on our music scene, the Houston rap scene. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.240 I will link to that. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:17:01.279 And yeah, I really want to hear about your hometown sound. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.519 So please indulge me. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:14.240 I feel like we are complimenting each other because you had this very beautiful hometown like love fest in a way. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:21.200 And and I'm I'm not having the same relationship with Huntington Beach and Orange County. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:30.720 But when you proposed the theme, I I thought I might actually just go with No Doubt because, you know, Orange County, honestly, like that's the band that came to mind. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.960 But I was never really into No Doubt.

00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:33.599 Were you? 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.960 Like really? 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.200 I could just as a child, yeah, for sure. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:43.200 I remember my sister got Tragic Kingdom probably from like you remember the the C D subscription thing. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.000 Oh, yeah, yeah. 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:46.960 Because I very clearly remember her having, you know, the CD. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:47.519 Was it Tragic? 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:49.279 Yeah, Tragic Kingdom with the orange. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.640 See, I don't even know. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:52.799 I know that's maybe a little later on. 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.799 I was I was definitely a No Doubt fan. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:55.359 Okay. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:58.480 But see, I I didn't know much about No Doubt. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:02.960 And then in preparing for this episode, I was Googling around and I found a song. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:07.759 I think it's actually their first song, and it's called Trapped in a Box. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.119 And I kind of loved it. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:09.680 Oh yeah. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.000 Yeah. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:13.839 I feel like I vaguely remember it, but I can't think of it off the side. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.640 It's super surreal. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:21.440 And it's like before Gwen Stefani gets all bleached blonde, and it's just like it's cool. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:21.920 Yeah. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.319 Okay. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.279 Yeah. 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.720 Uh I I checked that out. 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:27.279 But but still, I'm like, they weren't my thing. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.559 I'm not gonna choose them. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.119 Sure. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:36.079 Yeah, generally I wasn't like all like HB pride, because if you were, that that could mean something else. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.559 I hate groups. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.279 Yeah. 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:44.400 But like honestly, if I look back on my childhood, I recognize how privileged I was. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:50.960 I mean, and I I did meet a lot of cool people, and there were, of course, a lot of misfits like myself. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:59.039 And we did have access to like some pretty cool concert venues, Pacific Amphitheater, Irvine Meadows, and the Coach House. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:03.039 I saw Bootsy Collins at the coach house. 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.079 That's dope. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:07.440 But, you know, I'm not seeing the local bands there. 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:10.559 And I don't even think I knew who the local bands were. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:12.960 I definitely didn't care about them at the time. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:21.839 And maybe it was like after high school or during high school that I started to learn a bunch of bands actually did come from Orange County. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:25.119 And even then, they just, it's not my thing. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:31.519 So yeah, when you proposed the theme, a dread sort of set in. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:38.960 Um but then one band popped into my head that I actually have a connection to. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:42.319 So I had to Google them just to confirm their origins. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:49.920 And sure enough, an OC weekly article had this band on their 25 greatest OC bands of all time list. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:57.039 But before I unveil my pick, I want to know if you have any opinions on the other OC bands on the list. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:59.680 Okay, so Save Ferris, are you familiar? 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.799 They're number 22. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.000 I am familiar. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.480 Okay. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:02.799 Yes. 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:05.839 Ska band cover of Come On Eileen. 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.680 I never really listened to them. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:10.799 But did you know that I liked ska a lot in high school? 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.160 That probably doesn't surprise you. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.200 It doesn't surprise me. 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:15.279 And I mean the thing is, ska is fun. 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:18.559 Like I feel like everyone had a ska face at some point. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.039 Yeah. 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:22.079 Did you know Aquabats at I do know that? 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:22.480 Okay. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:25.519 Yeah, they're they're like kind of silly. 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:29.359 I I never really cared much about them. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:32.480 And then Offspring and Sublime, they're like within the top ten. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.079 I didn't like offspring. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:40.880 I mean, everybody heard their stuff on the radio because they they got pretty big, but I did like Sublime when I was in like middle and high school. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:41.359 Okay. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.599 Yeah. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.160 Popular. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.680 Feels very like stoner. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:44.160 Yeah. 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:44.400 You know. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:47.200 And again, not that I was one, but you know. 00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:47.920 Yeah. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:49.519 And and like I I don't know. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:52.240 I just I wasn't feeling this that much. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:52.720 Okay. 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:55.440 Can you guess who was number one on the list? 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:57.200 No, because I don't feel like I know those. 00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:58.400 Okay. 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:00.079 Well, it was not, no doubt. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.200 No doubt was number two. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:01.920 Shocking. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:03.920 It was social distortion. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.559 Wow. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:09.680 I didn't even know they're from Huntington Beach or maybe not Huntington Beach, Orange County, but yeah.

00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:10.880 I should have guessed. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:12.960 The ball and chain song, I guess. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:13.519 I don't know. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.240 I don't know. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.119 Yeah. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:28.240 So coming in at number 18, formed in Huntington Beach in 1980, my hometown sound is the punk band, The Vandals, and I'm going with a cover they did in 2004. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.519 I'm gonna have a real good time. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.359 Don't stop it. 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:55.839 Don't mean it's you don't get it, and I'm gonna stop me. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.359 Don't stop me now. 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.519 Did you watch another video of Christina? 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.559 I did. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.039 Okay. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.599 Good. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:03.680 I mean funny. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.279 It was funny. 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:15.039 Um, I will say one of the things I like the least about ska is when they cover songs that are good and shit-ify them. 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.880 I'm not saying that's what they did. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.119 Yeah. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:21.359 I'm just saying I feel like a lot of people who really like ska love that. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.960 And that's where all fall falling. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:23.759 Okay. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.319 No. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:27.680 And and I mean, to be fair, Vandals, not ska. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:32.960 They they do a puncied version of the the Queens, of the Queens. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:33.279 Yeah. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.480 Of Queens version. 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:37.519 I felt like it was bordering on ska-esque. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.000 Okay. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:38.720 Ska. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.000 Interesting. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:40.799 I don't know. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.960 That's up to debate, I think. 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:51.039 But yeah, it's the the video, it's a very gorilla style, like shot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:23:03.599 The guitarist Warren Fitzgerald takes off his street clothes in a car and transforms into Freddie Mercury with a wig, fake mustache, tight running shorts, suspenders, and then performs to tourists on the sidewalk. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:05.920 But he's singing without the music. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:11.759 And then there's the Elvis and Michael Jackson impersonator shoving him aside out of their territory. 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:13.920 And he nearly gets hit by a car. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:17.440 But throughout it all, he's like a hundred percent committed to the bit. 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.960 There was a crossover. 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:21.680 Our hometowns united. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:24.880 Did you see what hat he was wearing when he's wearing his street clothes? 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:25.759 NASA. 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.119 Oh, I see.

00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.839 That's right. 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:30.640 So I just saw that and it gave me a little chuckle. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.200 Oh, nice. 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:31.599 Yeah. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:40.000 Well, Warren, the guitarist who is singing in this song, he seems to be quite the character in real life, too. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:42.559 And he he does some pretty eccentric art. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:48.720 And there's a YouTube video of him giving a tour at the punk rock museum in Las Vegas. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:54.799 And one commenter said that had to be the most ADH museum tour ever. 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:55.680 Hilarious. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:56.480 I loved it. 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:58.319 Warren's a real character. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.039 Nice. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:02.079 Yeah, I'm I'm actually curious about this museum. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:10.400 So it seems like just various band members of punk rock bands will show up and give a tour sometimes. 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:10.720 Yeah. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.200 Cool. 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.400 That's kind of fun. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.480 But okay, get this. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:17.920 I I'm just learning this as I'm researching for the episode. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:22.480 But Warren and I both went to Edison High School in Huntington Beach. 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.200 Oh shit. 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:23.519 Yeah. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:25.200 Though I missed him by a year. 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:30.319 I think he graduated in 86 and I started in 1987. 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.039 Oh, dang. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:33.680 Was he like a homeschool like legend? 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.440 Truly, I had no idea. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.079 Oh yeah. 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:36.559 Interesting. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:40.559 I mean, I truly like just googling around, preparing for the episode, I learned about that. 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:49.920 And then I also learned that Scott Wheland from Stone Temple Pilots was also at Edison around the same time as Warren. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:50.559 Damn. 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.039 Okay. 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:54.960 But Stone Temple Pilots actually considered a San Diego band. 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:56.400 They were formed in San Diego. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:00.799 Funny to think of moving from Huntington Beach to San Diego to be like, I'm gonna go start a band. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:01.039 Yeah. 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:01.920 Weird, huh? 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.400 Yeah. 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.759 Okay, Scott. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:17.599 Okay, but the bigger connection to the Vandals for me is that I was in a wedding with Joe Escalante, the bassist songwriter, and the longest serving member of the band who also directed this video. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.960 Don't stop me now. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.160 Yeah. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:25.359 My cousin married his older brother

Greg when I was around 13. 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:32.720 And even though I had no idea about the Vandals, you could tell he had something. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:35.279 Like that whole family was cool. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.240 It's yeah. 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:40.319 And I felt like so lucky to be a part of the wedding. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:44.079 Like I wasn't even a first cousin, I was a second cousin. 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:47.759 And it just felt like such an honor to be a part of this. 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:58.720 And and you know how it is when you're around that age and you think you're older, and you're kind of like you're starting to get like, you know, more into the stuff you're into. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:10.319 And and you like really don't know anything, but you know like things are different, and you're kind of curious to know more about like these, oh, this is this is interesting. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.759 What is that about? 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:30.000 And I just felt like that whole moment like was really like emphasized at the wedding and just with like with Greg and Kristen and and just how they saw me as like a person with interests, and even though they were older. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:34.319 So yeah, I'm just I have good memories of of those days. 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:38.640 Is this around the time you're lying to the convenience store clerk about being a deadhead? 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:43.920 I think that would come in a couple years, maybe, or like a year later or so. 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.960 Nice point, yeah. 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.960 Just trying to get the timeline correct. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:49.759 It all went downhill after this wedding. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:57.039 So, so yeah, I eventually learned that Joe was in this punk band. 00:26:57.119 --> 00:27:06.640 And at the time of the wedding, they already had two hits Urban Struggle in 1982, and then Lady Killer on their second album in 1984. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:15.599 And a few years later, my brother became a fan, other cousins were fans, my boyfriend was a fan. 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:19.039 They would like, yeah, they really were hometown heroes. 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:22.480 In a way, I mean, for HB in Orange County. 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:31.759 Now, Joe started as the drummer in 1981, but eventually became the bassist, and he's been the only constant member since then. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:42.400 In addition to Joe and Warren, the Vandals' current lineup since 1990 includes Dave Quackenbush on vocals and John Fries on drums. 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:51.279 Another fun connection here: Fries has been the touring session drummer for many bands, including Devo. 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:55.519 So Joe is a fascinating guy, aside from having a law degree. 00:27:55.599 --> 00:28:04.400 He's written for TV, he produces, he's a pretty hardcore Catholic, even serves as an altar boy or altar man. 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:08.880 He was in an interview with the poor man of all people. 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:19.920 Poor man was a DJ on K Rock back in the day, and talking about how he will serve as an altar boy during the week when the students are in school. 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:27.119 And so, like, if there's a funeral or something happening at his church, he might just be like helping out at mass. 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:27.680 Wow. 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.559 Yeah. 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:33.119 And okay, he's also dabbled in bullfighting. 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:36.160 I know that's not something I call Peta. 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.279 Yeah, yeah. 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:47.200 Um, but perhaps even more problematic, he's in a Mexican Smiths and Morrissey cover band called Sweet and Tender Hooligans. 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:49.119 What did I tell you about those Altenos? 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:51.200 Yeah, yep, no, exactly. 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:54.799 Um, and I think they still perform, so that's kind of fun. 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:57.039 And then he manages Sublime. 00:28:57.519 --> 00:29:01.759 So yeah, he's doing a lot, and this is like only a little bit. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:04.160 There's I'll link to a couple of interviews. 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:12.960 There's one where he's flying in a plane with somebody and and talking about the history of the band and what he's been doing throughout his life. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.640 Yeah, kind of interesting. 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:30.400 Now, my song pick might seem like an odd choice to showcase for hometown sound since the video is shot in LA and the song is a cover of a British band, but I think it kind of captures the Vandals zany punk spirit. 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:40.319 And it was the lead single on their 10th and and last, I mean, last up until now, um, studio album, which is called Hollywood Potato Chip. 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:46.240 And even though Fitzgerald is not the usual lead singer, he really owns it here. 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:24.400 And that's on their 1990 album, Fear of a Punk Planet, and Moon Zappa sings the Sandy Parts. 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.759 Moon or Moon Unit. 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:27.440 Well, Moon Z, I mean Moon Unit. 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:28.960 Moon Unit, Moon Zappa. 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:32.160 It's for record, I do know the difference between punk and ska. 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:32.799 I don't know. 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.279 I know you know. 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:37.200 I don't like when either of them cover those anyway. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:37.440 Okay. 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:39.599 Yeah. 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:44.559 See, I I and maybe that's because like I'm not so into punk. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:50.079 So if I'm going to listen to it, I want it to be somewhat familiar to me. 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:50.720 Uh-huh. 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:55.119 Well, I just think it's more fun when they come up with a truly unique song. 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:55.839 Yeah. 00:30:56.000 -->

00:30:58.400 In their defense, they have a few, so more than a few. 00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:00.799 I'm just I'm I just I bet they do. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:01.440 No, no, no. 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:04.319 I'll share a couple in the show notes. 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:05.440 Put them out there. 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.480 Yeah, yeah. 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.680 Now, okay. 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:16.319 I only learned about this summer night's cover when I came across an old show that I hadn't thought about since high school called Request Video. 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:22.240 I doubt you're familiar with this because I think it was purely like in Orange County, maybe LA. 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:27.119 Well, the Vandals performed the Grease cover and a couple other songs on that show. 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:35.519 And they're very silly, childish, like bordering on inappropriate, but hey, it's 1991, so different time. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:47.599 But I also found an interview for for that same show in 1992 with Joe as a guest host interviewing Bjork and C from the Sugar Cubes. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:52.480 And I had to share that with you immediately because like crazy. 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:58.640 I did not watch the whole thing, but he really succeeded at making them uncomfortable, which was fun. 00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:00.799 But they were really firing back some good. 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:02.720 Oh, yeah, big especially Siggy. 00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:03.519 Yeah, funny. 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.480 It was great. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:15.680 Of course, that sent me down a whole rabbit hole about request video and KDOC, the station it was on, and we'll link to an article about the program that ran from 1987 to 1992. 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:22.079 They also had De La Sol, Alison Moyer, Lou Reed, and several other hometown sounds as guests. 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:32.160 But during the Vandals interview, in addition to their live performance, they also requested a few videos, including Devo's post postmodern man. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:37.519 And the host, the truly amazing Gia DeSantis, asked them why they chose Devo. 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:43.519 And they pretty much all agree that Devo is the greatest band in the universe. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:47.759 And that's where I'll end because that is the word of God. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.559 Amen. 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.359 Amen. 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:51.519 Thank you for indulging me, Christine. 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:57.359 I'm excited to have learned more about your hometown and to share a little bit about mine. 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.799 So here we go. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:00.000 Yeah. 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:04.799 I do want to take uh a moment to give a quick unsolicited advice. 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:09.920 And that is take a guided tour of something, anything. 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:14.480 Whether you're listening to a dozen at a museum or going on a historical bayou boat ride. 00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:20.480 Let someone teach you about something in real time while you can see, hear, and feel it. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:26.400 Speaking of which, it's weird that the Queen Mary didn't take us up on our offer to record on deck. 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:28.160 I bet they give amazing tours. 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.279 Exactly. 00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:34.799 Think of how much fun you can have listening to an expert share about something they feel passionately about. 00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:47.759 Strolling through a museum gallery is amazing, but zeroing in on one piece of art and learning little known information when you might have just breezed by it really changes the way you approach a museum or a city or even a neighborhood. 00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:51.519 Are you just saying this because you were a college tour guide, Christina? 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:53.279 Not entirely. 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:59.440 I did make up a lot of facts on my campus tours, but at the end of the day, 90% of my information was factual. 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:01.599 And I still love taking a tour myself. 00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:03.279 And I think you might too. 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:05.039 Advice over. 00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:07.039 Christine, any hints for next week? 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:09.840 Can we try to be nonverbal, please? 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:11.440 I'll say less. 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:14.559 Thanks for listening to Stereothematica. 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:19.519 If you like what you're hearing, please consider a review, a rating, or sharing with a friend. 00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:23.440 And follow us on Instagram where you can share a song from your hometown. 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:27.760 We also got our infinite Spotify playlist linked in our show notes. 00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:31.519 And visit stereothematica.com for more fun.