My Weekly Mixtape: Music Discovery & Nostalgia

<p>Discover <strong>your next favorite band</strong> on this week’s episode as I’m joined by <strong>Patreon Mixtaper Chad Lamasa</strong> to shine a light on <strong>10 underrated artists</strong> who deserve way more <strong>attention</strong>. We’re digging into the kind of bands you <strong>stumble across</strong> and<strong> immediately start telling friends about </strong>— the ones<strong> flying just under the mainstream radar </strong>but making music that <strong>resonates</strong> as much, if not <strong>more</strong>, than artists that are already <strong>household names</strong>. </p><p>Together, we discuss <strong>what makes these groups underrated</strong>, <strong>why they should already be on your radar</strong>, and how <strong>word of mouth</strong> still plays a<strong> huge role</strong> in <strong>discovering great new music</strong>.</p><p>If you’re <strong>searching for emerging artists</strong> and <strong>bandsbefore everyone else catches on</strong>, and <strong>don’t want to rely on a streaming algorithm</strong>, this episode is <strong>built for you</strong>.</p><p></p><p>🎙️ <strong>LEARN MORE</strong></p><p>🎵 <strong>Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠</a></p><p>💬 <strong>Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠">https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>Connect on Social:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠</a></p><p>📧 <strong>Email the Show / Contact:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠</a></p>

<p>What's your goto post-black album <strong>Metallica</strong> track? Fans love to debate the band’s evolution, but one thing’s for sure: the post–Black Album era is packed with <strong>powerful</strong>, <strong>creative</strong>, and <strong>unfairly overlooked</strong> tunes.</p><p>In this week’s episode, <strong>Zack Derby</strong> of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://theneatcast.buzzsprout.com/"><strong>The Neatcast</strong></a> joins me to <strong>dig deep into Metallica’s modern catalog</strong>—everything from the <strong>Load era</strong> through today—to spotlight <strong>10 tracks</strong> that prove the band <strong>never stopped pushing forward</strong>.</p><p><strong>No covers</strong>. <strong>No live versions of old favorites</strong>. Just a curated set of original Metallica songs that highlight the <strong>riffs</strong>,<strong> grooves</strong>, <strong>songwriting</strong>, <strong>experimentation</strong>, and <strong>heavy energy</strong> that defined the band long after their <strong>classic thrash years</strong>.</p><p>If you've ever heard someone say “Metallica hasn’t had a good song since the thrash era,” <strong>this mix is here to challenge that myth</strong>—<strong>10 times over</strong>. Tune in and explore the evolution of <strong>Metallica beyond the Black Album</strong>, one track at a time.</p><p></p><p>🎙️ <strong>LEARN MORE</strong></p><p>🎵 <strong>Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠</a></p><p>💬 <strong>Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠">https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>Connect on Social:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠</a></p><p>📧 <strong>Email the Show / Contact:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠</a></p>

<p>This week, I’m joined by<strong> Dryden Mitchell </strong>of <strong>Alien Ant Farm </strong>to trace the band’s journey: from the early <strong>$100 EP</strong> and <strong>Love Songs</strong> recordings—when tracks like<strong> “S.S. Recognize”</strong> and <strong>“Wishing”</strong> were still finding their final form—to the tongue-in-cheek <strong>Greatest Hits</strong> release that arrived before the band had even broken nationally.</p><p>From there, we dig into the era that launched the band worldwide: <strong>ANThology</strong>, which celebrates its <strong>25th anniversary</strong> in 2026. Dryden reflects on the explosion of the band’s cover of “<strong>Smooth Criminal”</strong> (originally by <strong>Michael Jackson</strong>), the momentum behind songs like<strong> “Movies”</strong> &amp; <strong>“Attitude,” </strong>and how hidden tracks like <strong>“Orange Appeal” </strong>managed to survive the jump from <strong>Cassette &amp; CD era hidden-track Easter eggs</strong> to <strong>modern streaming</strong>.</p><p>Along the way we talk about what it was like working with <strong>Dean DeLeo</strong> and <strong>Robert DeLeo</strong> of <strong>Stone Temple Pilots</strong> on <strong>TruANT</strong>, and dig into some deeper catalog moments: from the cult-favorite <strong>3rd Draft</strong> tour CD release that became <strong>Up In the Attic</strong>, to the band’s evolving approach to album titles, long gaps between releases, and how those breaks shaped later records like <strong>Always &amp; Forever</strong> and <strong>Mantras</strong>.</p><p>And of course, we talk about what’s happening <strong>now</strong>: the upcoming <strong>ANThology</strong> anniversary vinyl release and the brand-new single <strong>“Reasons,”</strong> written by <strong>Rome Ramirez </strong>of <strong>Sublime with Rome</strong>—plus <strong>what fans can expect from the band’s next chapter</strong>.</p><p>If you’ve been spinning <strong>Alien Ant Farm</strong> since the<strong> early-2000s radio days</strong>—or you’re <strong>just discovering the band</strong>—this one goes deep into the <strong>catalog</strong>, the <strong>stories</strong>, and the <strong>moments</strong> that shaped the band <strong>over the last 30 years</strong>!</p><p> </p><p>🎙️ <strong>LEARN MORE</strong></p><p>🎵 <strong>Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠</a></p><p>💬 <strong>Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠">https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>Connect on Social:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠</a></p><p>📧 <strong>Email the Show / Contact:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠</a></p>

<p>There are certain artists who become part of the soundtrack to your life — and if you’re lucky, sometimes you get to sit down with the people responsible for it. This week, I’m joined by the man who has been keeping the beat behind “<strong>Weird Al” Yankovic</strong> for more than four decades: drummer <strong>Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz</strong>.</p><p>From a chance meeting through the legendary <strong>Dr. Demento</strong> show and playing drums on an accordion case during the early recording of <strong>“Another One Rides The Bus,”</strong> to the moment<strong> MTV </strong>helped launch Weird Al into the pop culture stratosphere, Bermuda <strong>shares stories from inside one of the most unique careers in music</strong>.</p><p>We dive into <strong>the evolution of Weird Al’s sound </strong>— including the shift from the <strong>raw production </strong>of the <strong>self-titled debut album</strong> to the <strong>hyper-accurate musical recreations </strong>heard on <strong>In 3D</strong> and beyond. Bermuda also breaks down <strong>how the band studies and reconstructs an artist’s style </strong>for <strong>spot-on parodies </strong>and <strong>style pastiches</strong>, including the <strong>Devo-inspired “Dare To Be Stupid.”</strong></p><p>Along the way, we talk about collaborations with the artists themselves — like the <strong>Dire Straits connection</strong> behind the <strong>“Money For Nothing / Beverly Hillbillies” </strong>parody from <strong>UHF</strong>, as well as working with <strong>Taylor Hanson</strong>, <strong>Dwezil Zappa</strong> and <strong>Ray Manzarek</strong> of <strong>The Doors</strong>, the<strong> musical puzzle </strong>of <strong>assembling</strong> Weird Al’s legendary <strong>polka medleys</strong>, and the full story behind the<strong> fan-favorite epic</strong> <strong>“Albuquerque.”</strong></p><p>Digging deeper, Bermuda reflects on the <strong>hardest drum sound he’s ever had to recreate </strong>for a song, whether a <strong>Weird Al Super Bowl Halftime Show</strong> has ever been discussed <strong>beyond social media</strong>, and his thoughts on if <strong><em>Mandatory Fun</em></strong> is truly Al’s last full-length studio album. We also touch on the case for <strong>Weird Al’s induction</strong> into the <strong>Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame</strong>, among many other topics! </p><p>If you’ve ever <strong>laughed</strong>, <strong>sang along</strong>, or wondered how Weird Al’s band makes those parodies <strong>sound <em>so</em> perfectly authentic</strong> — this <strong>deep dive</strong> into <strong>four decades of musical comedy brilliance</strong> pulls back the curtain.</p><p>Photo Credit: Kamal Asar</p><p></p><p>🎙️ <strong>LEARN MORE</strong></p><p>🎵 <strong>Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠</a></p><p>💬 <strong>Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠">https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>Connect on Social:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠</a></p><p>📧 <strong>Email the Show / Contact:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠</a></p>

<p>This week, I’m joined by <strong>American Idol Top 20 contestant </strong>and <strong>New Jersey artist Jake Thistle</strong> to talk about his experience performing on one of <strong>television’s biggest music stages</strong>.</p><p>Jake shares what it’s really like behind the scenes of <strong>American Idol</strong> — from the <strong>strategy behind song choices</strong> (including his audition take on <strong>Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home”</strong>) to the <strong>pressure</strong> of performing <strong>original music</strong> in front of the judges and a national audience, as he did with his song <strong>“Sleep On Me.”</strong></p><p>We also dive into his roots in the <strong>New Jersey music scene</strong>, the <strong>artists who helped shape his sound</strong> — including <strong>Tom Petty</strong> and <strong>John Hiatt</strong> — and the moment he realized <strong>music was his path in life</strong>.</p><p>Along the way, we preview his latest single <strong>“Alone, Together,”</strong> and Jake shares <strong>three songs he thinks deserve a spot on your musical radar.</strong></p><p>Whether you’re already <strong>a fan of Jake’s music</strong>, an <strong>American Idol</strong> <strong>faithful</strong>, or simply curious about <strong>the reality behind televised music competitions</strong>, this conversation offers <strong>a candid look at the journey behind the music</strong>.</p><p></p><p>🎙️ <strong>LEARN MORE</strong></p><p>🎵 <strong>Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠</a></p><p>💬 <strong>Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠">https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠</a></p><p>🌐 <strong>Connect on Social:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠</a></p><p>📧 <strong>Email the Show / Contact:</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact">⁠ </a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠">https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠</a></p>