E322 - Sgt. Splendor's Eric McFadden & Kate Vargas - Top 5 Songs This Messed-Up World Needs Right Now

E322 - Sgt. Splendor's Eric McFadden & Kate Vargas - Top 5 Songs This Messed-Up World Needs Right Now

Author: O3L Media March 24, 2026 Duration: 1:38:38
What the world needs now...is O3L, sweet O3L! The lads are joined by guitarist/vocalist duo Eric McFadden and Kate Vargas — collectively known as Sgt. Splendor — to count down the top five songs this messed-up world needs right now. The conversation explores how music can heal, empower, and unite in difficult times. Guest Bios: Eric McFadden — A spellbinding guitarist with a catalog stretching back to the mid-'80s punk band Angry Babies. He's played with George Clinton & P-Funk All Stars, Eric Burdon & The Animals, Jackson Browne, Joe Strummer, Anders Osborne, Fishbone's Angelo Moore, among many others. Kate believes that Eric is one of the greatest guitarists of all time...and who are we to disagree? Kate Vargas — A singer-songwriter with five acclaimed solo albums, including Golden Hour in the House of Lugosi (2025). Known for her gritty voice and evocative storytelling. Eric believes that Kate belongs in an elite group of songwriters that include Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and Leonard Cohen...and who are we to disagree? About Sgt. Splendor: Eric and Kate met at Pat McDonald's (of Timbuk 3 fame) Steel Bridge Song Fest at the Holiday Music Motel in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Their collaboration blends hard rock, riff blues, junkyard folk, desert psychedelia, alternative funk, and carnival-esque vibes. Their third album, Isotopia, is out now on Mother West. Other Topics Discussed: The Soil Dove immersive circus/dinner show featuring Joan Baez Eric's personal encounters with Joe Strummer The origin story of Sgt. Splendor at Steel Bridge Song Fest The making of Isotopia Their cover of Harvey Danger's "Flagpole Sitta" Uh...Lou Bega. Music Featured: Sergeant Splendor — "Brave, Rough, and Ready to Go" Sergeant Splendor — "Play On" Connect: sgtsplendor.com facebook.com/onlythreelads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the sonic landscape of the '70s, '80s, and '90s with Only Three Lads-Classic Alternative Music Podcast. Hosted by Uncle Gregg and Brett Vargo, this podcast is a weekly conversation with a rotating cast of "Third Lads" who share their deep knowledge and personal passion for the era's defining sounds. Each episode feels like hanging out with friends who can't wait to tell you about a forgotten B-side or argue the merits of a classic album. You'll hear curated Top Five lists, behind-the-scenes stories, and spirited discussions that span the entire alternative spectrum-from the raw energy of punk and the shimmering hooks of power pop to the dense atmospheres of shoegaze and the gritty rebellion of grunge. The show thrives on discovery, whether revisiting a new wave classic or unpacking a Britpop phenomenon. More than just a retrospective, this podcast captures the ongoing conversation and community around the music. It’s a space for both lifelong fans and curious newcomers to find common ground in a shared love for the artists and anthems that built a genre. Tune in for the insightful, often humorous, and always genuine chat that makes this podcast a destination for anyone who believes great music never gets old.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast
Podcast Episodes
E330 - The Melody Chamber - Top 5 Songs About Trains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:51
Choo-chooooo! All abooooooooard! This train may not run on time, but it does run off the rails...and fast. This week, the Lads complete their "Metal MAY-hem" trifecta by covering the heaviest metal of 'em all: trains. Jo…
E329 - Ben Vaughn - Songs About Cars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:49
O3L's Metal MAY-hem continues, but this week we're talking about a different kind of heavy metal: the kind you drive. From “Rocket 88” to “Little Red Corvette”, the automobile has long been a popular subject in song, rep…
E328 - Buried Beneath Me - Top 5 Metal Albums for Alt-Rock Fans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:09:31
It's Metal MAY-hem over here at O3L! This week, we're talking about some of the metal albums that we would recommend to alt-rock fans, whether it be the thundering classics whose influence crossed stylistic boundaries or…
E326 - The SALT Collective's Stéphane Schück - Top 5 Do's & Don'ts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:57
DON'T you forget about us. DO listen to this week's O3L! That's right...we're covering songs with "do" or "don't" in the title. Our Third Lad is French songwriter/guitarist Stéphane Schück from The Salt Collective, the u…
E325 - Robert Deeble - Top 5 Songs About or Inspired by Literature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:32
Hope you like curling up with a good podcast, because this week we're all about books...well, specifically, songs that are about or inspired by literature. How high brow of us! Our Third Lad for this discussion is "liter…