MODERN MUSICOLOGY

#145 - Reviewing the Billy Joel Doc

This week the Modern Musicologists are joined once again by our good buddy Matt Alschbach from the Rock and Metal Profs podcast, this time to talk about the brand new Billy Joel documentary, And So It Goes. Our conversation covers Billy's musical origins, his influence on the musical landscape, the new things we learned from this film, and we each talk about our favorite songs / albums / eras from Billy's career. If you haven't seen And So It Goes, you can catch it now on HBO Max. 
We'd love to hear your thoughts about the Billy Joel doc! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or just leave a comment on our socials or whatever podcast platform you're listening to us. 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

#144 - Remembering OZZY

This week the Modern Musicologists, joined by our very good friend Matt Alschbach, look back at the life, career, and legacy of OZZY OSBOURNE, who passed away on 22 July 2025. We each talk about how we first discovered Ozzy, some of our favorite eras / albums / songs, our reactions to his final concert just two weeks before he passed, and Matt tells us about seeing Ozzy live in the 80s. 
We'd love to hear your thoughts about Ozzy! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or just leave a comment on our socials or whatever podcast platform you're listening to us. 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

#143 - The Music of 1985 (Part 2)

Our wayback machine is broken, so we're still stuck in the year 1985! But it's okay, because there was some really great music in the second half of that year! We'll be talking about iconic albums by Kate Bush, REM, John Cougar Mellencamp, KISS, Dio, Big Audio Dynamite, The Firm, The Replacements, Iron Maiden, Simple Minds, Stevie Nicks, and many others! 
As always, you can follow along with our discussion by checking out our accompanying Spotify Playlist.
What's your favorite album released in the second half of 1985? Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or just leave a comment on our socials or whatever podcast platform you're listening to us. 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

#142 - The Music of 1985 (Part 1)

This week we turn our musical chronometer back 40 years to talk about the albums that were released in 1985! Because it was such a huge year, we're doing two shows, and in Part 1 we're tackling January - June. We share funny stories and fond memories relating to albums by Talking Heads, Dire Straits, Tears for Fears, Heart, the Hooters, Run-D.M.C., Megadeth, Marillion, the Smiths, and even Hoodoo Guru and Pseudo Echo (remember them??), plus many others. 
As always, we have a Spotify playlist to accompany this episode that you can access HERE. 
What's your favorite album released in the first half of 1985? Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or just leave a comment on our socials or whatever podcast platform you're listening to us. 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

#141 - 40 Years of LIVE AID

July 13 is the 40th Anniversary of LIVE AID, one of the greatest rock festivals of all time! We each share our memories of watching it live on the day, the excitement that surrounded the event, and some of the stories behind bands that didn't appear for various reasons. Each of us has picked our five favorite performances / bands / moments to talk about at length, and we mention some of the lowlights as well (and yes, there were a few). Some of the acts that get a mention are Duran Duran, Black Sabbath, Madonna, Run DMC, Elton John, the Who, Simple Minds, Judas Priest, Tom Petty, the Pretenders, and many others. And of course, it's virtually impossible to have any discussion about Live Aid without mentioning Queen, Bowie, and U2. Hope you'll join us for a fun discussion!
Do you have a special memory of Live Aid? WERE YOU THERE?? Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or just leave a comment on our socials or whatever podcast platform you're listening to us. 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

#140 - No Original Members?

In nearly every case when you see a classic band in concert now, it's not the original line-up. Does that dampen your experience? Many legacy bands currently on the road are down to only one original member--and a few have none. Is it still the band if no one who started that band or wrote the iconic music is involved? Is there a key member whose absence has too great an impact? Rob and Alan discuss those questions and more in this week's episode! We cite some big-name examples, like Rush, Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Yes, Kansas, Asia (who are back in the news with a new line-up and record label), The Beach Boys, and more.
First, though, we take a few moments to pay tribute to Brian Wilson, Sly Stone, and Douglas McCarthy (of Nitzer Ebb). And at the end, we talk about some of our favorite new releases in our Picks of the Week! 
Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or just leave a comment on our socials or whatever podcast platform you're listening to us. 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

#139 - Should Have Been Their Last Album?

We all can think of those artists or bands that we feel went just one album too far (and sometimes more!) and what might have been a great ending, capping off an iconic career, is undermined by a less-than-stellar follow-up. This week Anthony and Alan talk about some of the examples they came up with -- including Metallica, Weezer, Fleetwood Mac, Heart, Marillion, October Project, Asia, Judas Priest, Queen, Black Sabbath, and a whole lot more!
Then we do some #PicksOfTheWeek and talk about new releases from Marina, Bloodywood, Sparks, Styx, et al 
We really would love to hear from you! Do you have an example of an album that would have been an amazing career-capper for a particular band or artist but wasn't? Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or just leave a comment on our socials or whatever podcast platform you're listening to us. 
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

#138 - THE CLASH With Author IAIN KEY

This week Rob and Alan chat with author Iain Key about his new book All the Young Punks: A People's History of the Clash, an oral history of one of the most seminal bands in modern music. Iain is well-known to Louder Than War regulars as the presenter of his own Indie Brunch show on Louder Than War Radio, and in his first foray as a published author, he indulges his fascination with his favourite Punk icons to great effect. In our discussion, we talk about what made the Clash unique, why they connected with such a broad audience, their rise in popularity in America, and a whole lot more. 
The book is published by Spenwood Books. You can get more information and purchase your copy on All the Young Punks: A People's History of the Clash by visiting the publisher's website. 
Connect to Iain on:
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/iain.key.5 
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/iain.key/ 
X at https://x.com/iainkey 
 
Let us know if you enjoyed this episode! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment on our socials!
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

#137 - Ranking the Music of SNL Season 50

This week Alan unveils his ranking of the 15 best performances on the 50th Anniversary season of Saturday Night Live! It was a particularly good year for music, made even bigger by a special anniversary episode that included five musical performances in addition to the ones in the 20 regular season episodes. 
So who made the cut? You'll have to listen to find out! But here's a hint: the list features legends like Sir Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, and Stevie Nicks, as well as some newcomers like Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, and Mk.Gee!
Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and what you thought of SNL this year. Who were some of your favorite performers on the show this season? Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment on our socials!
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

#136 - Reviewing the 2025 ROCK HALL Inductees

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced the 2025 roster of inductees on April 27 at 8:30 pm during a live broadcast of American Idol. 15 minutes later, we recorded an episode analyzing the announcements! What you get in this episode is our immediate reaction in a raw, unrehearsed discussion. Rob and Alan are joined by our good buddy JM Tuffley (@tuffley or @jmtuffley) and we talk about the people who made it in this year, the ones who didn't make it in this year, the biggest surprises on the list, and more!
This year's list includes:
Performer Category:
Bad Company
Chubby Checker
Joe Cocker
Cyndi Lauper
Outkast
Soundgarden
The White Stripes
Musical Influence Award:
Salt-N-Pepa
Warren Zevon
Musical Excellence Award:
Thom Bell
Nicky Hopkins
Carol Kaye
Ahmet Ertegun Award:
Lenny Waronker

#135 - Filmmaker OLIVIA SERAFINI-SAULI

A year ago we interviewed filmmaker OLIVIA SERAFINI-SAULI on the completion of her film Endless Calls For Fame: The Story of the New Rising Sons. Since then, that film has found North American distribution and is now available on all major streaming platforms in a slightly reworked / updated format. We catch up with Olivia to learn about her journey over the past year -- clearing the rights to all the music, what went into getting the film picked up, putting together the gala screenings, and the joy of seeing her film on the big screen. It's a conversation you don't want to miss! Endless Calls For Fame is the story of a band from the New York 90s scene who got signed to a major label and were poised to be the next big thing, until ... it just didn't happen. It's an incredible story that music lovers will enjoy. 
Learn more about Olivia and Endless Calls For Fame at the Via73 Films website. Watch Endless Calls For Fame on AppleTV, Prime Video, Fandango At Home, and other streaming sources.
After our chat with Olivia, we share our memories of fallen Blondie drummer Clem Burke. Alan talks about the first time he heard Clem's playing, and Stephanie tells a great story about being in a band with him! 
Let us know if you enjoyed this episode and what you thought of the film! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave us a comment on our socials!
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

#134 - The Music of 1975

This week we set the controls of our Wayback Machine to the funky days of 1975 and celebrate the 50th anniversary of some iconic albums! It's a year of highs for a lot of bands we now think of as classic rock; it was a key year for funk and disco; the Philly Soul sound was very much in fashion; and it was a year of reinvention for some well-established acts. We talk about albums by Elton John, KISS, KC and the Sunshine Band, Queen, Parliament, Roxy Music, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, the Boss, and the weirdest album Lou Reed ever made. We even get a history lesson on the Third (THIRD!) Great Cod War! 
If you'd like to follow along with our discussion, we have a Spotify Playlist highlighting all the music that we talk about in the show!
Let us know your favorite artist, album or song from 1975, especially if it's one that we didn't cover. Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment on our socials wherever you see this episode posted!
#podcast #podcastersofinstagram #podcasting #podcastlife #podcaster #podcasters #podcasts #music #musicnerd #1975 #70smusic
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology 
Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ 
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology 
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw 
Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ 
Find more about us:
Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/