Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves

The Untold Story of Blonde Redhead’s Explosive Beginnings

Conflict and creativity. Connection and chaos. Love and hate. These all defined Blonde Redhead in their early days, and the themes continue to drive them after more than three decades. This is the story of how three foreigners on the streets of New York City to create one of the most fascinating bands in modern alternative and indie rock. This is the story behind Blonde Redhead's debut self-titled album.
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How Going Solo Changed Everything for M83

Before the Dawn Heals Us by M83 was a big departure from the band's first two records. We know M83 as a synth-heavy electronic pop outfit centered around Anthony Gonzalez, made famous the world over by the GRAMMY nominated 2011 hit "Midnight City," but back in 2004 they were more known for electronic-based shoegaze. The departure of Nicholas Fromageau changed everything. This is the story of how M83's "Before The Dawn heals Us" was made.
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David Bowie's GREATEST Embarrassment

How and why did David Bowie, one of the most iconic musicians of all time, create such an embarrassing song? And why does it keep rearing its head? This is the story of Bowie's 1967 single "The Laughing Gnome," how it returned with a vengeance in 1973, and how it caused mischief in 1990.
This episode contains a clip called "Requiem for a Laughing Gnome" which was recorded for Comic Relief in 1999. For the full effect of the clip, including humorous textual commentary from the original video, you can see it on the video version of the episode.
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David Bowie and the Story of 'Andy Warhol'

On David Bowie's "Hunky Dory" is a track titled "Andy Warhol" which Bowie wrote about the pop art icon, whom he admired. But what did Warhol think of it? Not much... so goes this week's episode of Poetic Wax. Today, host Andy Fenstermaker pulls out his copy of the album, dives into the lead up to "Hunky Dory," the history of the song, and the time he went to The Factory and played it for the artist himself.
This episode is pulled from before I had a fancier microphone and before I officially launched this series as a podcast, back when Poetic Wax was just an occasional series on my YouTube Channel.
But, as my next episode calls out this one, I figured I should post it here for reference. Stay tuned as I dig into David Bowie's Greatest Embarrassment in the next episode of Poetic Wax...
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When Modest Mouse Built Nothing Out of Something

Before Modest Mouse achieved critical acclaim with their 2004 album "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" on Epic Records, the band had become indie rock darlings of the Pacific Northwest. In 2000, they’d give us their major label debut, "The Moon And Antarctica," but before that came an indie culmination of creativity — a compilation on their soon-to-be former label Up Records, released in January of 2000 and dubbed "Building Nothing Out Of Something." This is the story of their transformation and the compilation that sealed their indie years as they looked forward to major label success.
Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves is a weekly podcast, YouTube Series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
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The Story of the Failed Television & Brian Eno Sessions

In December of 1974, an Island Records A&R exec out of London put together a demo session for punk pioneers Television. They were joined in the studio by Brian Eno, formerly of Roxy Music, who had gone solo that same year. With hopes of a promising endeavor to pitch the band to label heads, the sessions instead were a complete failure with the band and Eno leaving frustrated. This is the story of those fateful demo sessions, the stakes on the table for both Television and Eno, and why they went so catastrophically wrong.
CLARIFICATION: The original video version implied David Bowie tapped Eno to produce his Berlin trilogy. These albums were produced by Tony Visconti. Eno is credited to some extent with arrangement and accompanied Bowie and Visconti in the studio.
Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves is a weekly podcast, YouTube Series hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
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The 10 BEST Indie Rock Albums of 2024

These are my picks for the 10 best albums of 2024, mostly spanning the indie rock genre. What's missing, and what's not worthy? Visit my channel on YouTube and share your thoughts!
Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves is a weekly podcast, YouTube series, and Substack blog hosted by Andy Fenstermaker. 
Get the video version on my YouTube Channel.
Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter.
Subscribe to my Substack.

The Tormented Soul of Jason Molina: The Story of ‘The Lioness’

In January of 2000, Songs: Ohia, the project of Jason Molina, released The Lioness. Ripe with metaphor and deeply personal lyrics, this album is among the many pillars of Molina's vast career. This is the story of that album, the songs within, and the hint of Jason Molina's tragic fate 13 years later.
Poetic Wax: Music History Hidden in the Grooves is a weekly podcast, YouTube series, and Substack blog hosted by Andy Fenstermaker. 
Get the video version on my YouTube Channel.
Join the Poetic Wax Podcast newsletter.