The 5v5 Podcast

Although we do not like the term Yacht Rock, it represents an important and influential time in popular music. As the Baby Boom generation matured into their 30’s and 40’s, many members transitioned into a subset named the Me Generation. In the late 1950’s and throughout the 1960’s, the Baby Boomers changed pop culture forever and at the same time scared the hell out of their parents, but nothing softens the edges like age. Icons like Eric Clapton, CSN, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Jefferson Airplane, and others started to share a more personal musical journey reflecting their own lives and the lives of their 30 something fans. This and the rise of the singer songwriter, led to an abundance of thoughtful love songs, story songs, and soul-searching self-reflection. Whether you call it Easy Listening, Soft Rock, The West Coast Sound, or Yacht Rock, there is no doubt this music lives on and influences current and future artists.

As charter members of Generation X, Louis and Mike experienced a lot of this firsthand as the adults around us grappled with adulthood after the turbulent 1960’s and during the laid back yet stressful 1970’s. On this episode we discuss the music of this time as well as its connection to greater pop culture and our lives.

Although we do not like the term Yacht Rock, it represents an important and influential time in popular music. As the Baby Boom generation matured into their 30’s and 40’s, many members transitioned into a subset named the Me Generation. In the late 1950’s and throughout the 1960’s, the Baby Boomers changed pop culture forever and at the same time scared the hell out of their parents, but nothing softens the edges like age. Icons like Eric Clapton, CSN, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Jefferson Airplane, and others started to share a more personal musical journey reflecting their own lives and the lives of their 30 something fans. This and the rise of the singer songwriter, led to an abundance of thoughtful love songs, story songs, and soul-searching self-reflection. Whether you call it Easy Listening, Soft Rock, The West Coast Sound, or Yacht Rock, there is no doubt this music lives on and influences current and future artists.

As charter members of Generation X, Louis and Mike experienced a lot of this firsthand as the adults around us grappled with adulthood after the turbulent 1960’s and during the laid back yet stressful 1970’s. On this episode we discuss the music of this time as well as its connection to greater pop culture and our lives.

We open season 3 with a bonus episode about the Greyson Chance v Ellen DeGeneres story that has been in the news. We opine about Greyson and Ellen of course but also go off on tangents about child singers and actors, discuss if Ellen is a mean person, Taylor Swift, Ethan Hawke, Journey, synch licensing, and whatever else crosses our minds.

The movie industry reached it's mid-life crisis in the 1970's as dark realism and nostalgia crept into all genres.  The major studios embraced outsiders blurring the lines between major and independent influencing nearly every movie that came after. On this episode Louis and Mike discuss their five favorite movies released in the 1970's and of course go off on multiple tangents.  

No filmmaker has had a greater impact on film and culture over the last 30 years than Quentin Tarantino. As much as he is influenced by the movies and television of his youth, music has always been a big part of not only the finished film, but Tarantino uses music all throughout the process as inspiration and character and plot development. As the world anticipates his 10th and final film, Louis and Mike discuss their 5 favorite Quentin Tarantino songs and scenes from the previous films.

No filmmaker has had a greater impact on film and culture over the last 30 years than Quentin Tarantino. As much as he is influenced by the movies and television of his youth, music has always been a big part of not only the finished film, but Tarantino uses music all throughout the process as inspiration and character and plot development. As the world anticipates his 10th and final film, Louis and Mike discuss their 5 favorite Quentin Tarantino songs and scenes from the previous films.

The Who may be the world’s loudest band, but they may also be the most creative. While the song writing and recording got more and more complex, they never stopped taking their unique version of Rock ‘n’ Roll to the stage demonstrating that they were never shy of the spotlight. Roger Daltrey the shirtless and bellowing front man. Pete Townshend the ever-active bordering on violent guitar player. John Entwistle the calm and quiet giant on bass, and Keith Moon the manic wild man behind the drum kit. While their contemporaries were getting a lot of the accolades, The Who broke barriers as song writers with complex songs and concept albums, iconic live performances at the Monterey Pop festival and Woodstock, and making solo records while remaining a group. Throughout it all Pete Townshend remains the driving force behind the Who as the main songwriter and creative engine that has driven the group for almost 60 years. That is why on this episode Mike and Louis not only discuss their favorite Who recordings, but also their favorite Pete Townshend solo songs.

The Who may be the world’s loudest band, but they may also be the most creative. While the song writing and recording got more and more complex, they never stopped taking their unique version of Rock ‘n’ Roll to the stage demonstrating that they were never shy of the spotlight. Roger Daltrey the shirtless and bellowing front man. Pete Townshend the ever-active bordering on violent guitar player. John Entwistle the calm and quiet giant on bass, and Keith Moon the manic wild man behind the drum kit. While their contemporaries were getting a lot of the accolades, The Who broke barriers as song writers with complex songs and concept albums, iconic live performances at the Monterey Pop festival and Woodstock, and making solo records while remaining a group. Throughout it all Pete Townshend remains the driving force behind the Who as the main songwriter and creative engine that has driven the group for almost 60 years. That is why on this episode Mike and Louis not only discuss their favorite Who recordings, but also their favorite Pete Townshend solo songs.

According to pop culture author and essayist Chuck Klosterman, the 90’s may be the last decade to be easily defined by itself. After the fury of Grunge abated, Rock became dominated by what was called Alternative music. From singer songwriters to just short of heavy metal, everybody was included under the Alternative umbrella. It was a time of inclusion and collaboration with Hip-Hop, Punk Rock, Hardcore all coming together as an “alternative” to the mainstream. On this episode we discuss our favorites from our first full decade as bona fide adults and our top 5 90’s Alternative Rock songs.

THIS EPISODE CONTAINS MUSIC According to pop culture author and essayist Chuck Klosterman, the 90’s may be the last decade to be easily defined by itself. After the fury of Grunge abated, Rock became dominated by what was called Alternative music. From singer songwriters to just short of heavy metal, everybody was included under the Alternative umbrella. It was a time of inclusion and collaboration with Hip-Hop, Punk Rock, Hardcore all coming together as an “alternative” to the mainstream. On this episode we discuss our favorites from our first full decade as bona fide adults and our top 5 90’s Alternative Rock songs.

THIS EPISODE CONTAINS MUSIC

At the end of the last episode, we promised that the next subject would take us closer to the present, but then we both watched the Get Back Documentary by Peter Jackson and had to talk about it.  The Beatles are ubiquitous; not only as a result of their recordings, but also because an argument can be made that they influenced (directly or indirectly) every song and artist in popular music from their debut forward.  On this episode we discuss our favorite songs, our reactions to the new documentary, and everything we can think about associated with the fab four!

At the end of the last episode, we promised that the next subject would take us closer to the present, but then we both watched the Get Back Documentary by Peter Jackson and had to talk about it.  The Beatles are ubiquitous; not only as a result of their recordings, but also because an argument can be made that they influenced (directly or indirectly) every song and artist in popular music from their debut forward.  On this episode we discuss our favorite songs, our reactions to the new documentary, and everything we can think about associated with the fab four!

Thanks to our producer and editor Billy Gardella, Larry Gendron for our logo, Jay Reason for graphics and technical support, and our executive producer Ethan Isaac and everyone at the Factory Underground.

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and sometimes Young are not quite a band and not quite a super group. More accurately they are a collective of solo artists collaborating to make their individual songs better. Since 1969 they came together and split apart working solo, in duos and trios and sometimes as a quartet. Alongside their peers (Joni Mitchel, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and others), they basically invented the singer songwriter genre that would go on to dominate the 1970’s and influence contemporary artists like Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Brandi Carlisle. Louis and Mike discuss CSN&Y’s roots, how the group came together in the middle of the burgeoning LA Music scene, and of course their five favorite songs from all configurations of the group.

This version of the episode contains music.

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and sometimes Young are not quite a band and not quite a super group. More accurately they are a collective of solo artists collaborating to make their individual songs better. Since 1969 they came together and split apart working solo, in duos and trios and sometimes as a quartet. Alongside their peers (Joni Mitchel, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and others), they basically invented the singer songwriter genre that would go on to dominate the 1970’s and influence contemporary artists like Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Brandi Carlisle. Louis and Mike discuss CSN&Y’s roots, how the group came together in the middle of the burgeoning LA Music scene, and of course their five favorite songs from all configurations of the group.

When Yankee great Joe DiMaggio made appearances at sporting events and mall openings, he would insist upon being introduced as the world’s greatest living baseball player. At a time when Ted Williams, Wille Mays, Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron still walked the earth, it was a false claim, but like being the King of Pop or the King of All Media, say it enough and it will become true in people’s minds. There is no similar controversy surrounding The Rolling Stones. They ARE the greatest Rock n Roll band of all time both from the studio and from the stage. There was no one before and they created the template for all that followed.

On the first episode of the second season of the 5v5 Podcast, Mike and Louis discuss The Rolling Stones legacy including Charlie Watts recent passing, The Beatles vs Stones debate, good saxophone, the dynamic between Mick and Keith, the fact that Bill Wyman is still alive, and of course their top 5 song choices.

When Yankee great Joe DiMaggio made appearances at sporting events and mall openings, he would insist upon being introduced as the world’s greatest living baseball player. At a time when Ted Williams, Wille Mays, Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron still walked the earth, it was a false claim, but like being the King of Pop or the King of All Media, say it enough and it will become true in people’s minds. There is no similar controversy surrounding The Rolling Stones. They ARE the greatest Rock n Roll band of all time both from the studio and from the stage. There was no one before and they created the template for all that followed.

On the first episode of the second season of the 5v5 Podcast, Mike and Louis discuss The Rolling Stones legacy including Charlie Watts recent passing, The Beatles vs Stones debate, good saxophone, the dynamic between Mick and Keith, the fact that Bill Wyman is still alive, and of course their top 5 song choices.

As the Punks grew up and learned to play their instruments, the music changed and became more sophisticated.  At the same time executives in the music business wanted to shy away from the the rawness and violence Punk Rock projected so Punk Rock was repackaged and marketed as many new forms of music; Post Punk, The New Romantics, Synth Pop, and most notable New Wave!

New Wave was a combination of the youthful rebellion of Punk, the technology of progressive rock, and rhythms and soul of R&B.  Early on the British were best examples of this new genre.  Spurred on by MTV British bands flooded the us airwaves and charts dominating Rock n Roll throughout the 1980's.

On this episode Mike and Louis discuss the music of their teenage years growing up in rural NH in the 1980's. 

We hated the term then and it is basically meaningless now, but what was called Grunge in the late 1980's to about 1992 changed Rock n Roll forever.  Louis and Mike discuss the music of their angry young manhood and they try to defend and define a musical movement that exploded while it was exploited by the music industry and Madison Avenue.  

Neil Young is an original rebel.  A direct descendent of the founders of Rock & Roll, he helped to create multiple sub-genres while only adhering to his vision as an artist.  Neil Young is difficult, angry, and not trying to please his fans, and that is what makes him great.  Louis and Mike discuss their favorites songs, Neil's career, and their own lives and opinions.  

No one has impacted American music, literature, and culture more than Bob Dylan.  In fact you could probably argue that he has impacted popular culture around the world on the level of Shakespeare or Beethoven.  On our third episode Louis and Mike discuss their perspective of Bob Dylan through their 5 favorite songs.