We're joined by guitarist, music history expert, and surprise Kiwi, Matt Silcock (@Blastitude) for what is surely the most dizzying whirlwind of knowledge you'll step in all week. 

Picture this: your glitch-hop/hypnagogic-pop power trio ensemble is the talk of your mid-size town; having sold out of all 30 copies of your cassette-only EP and all but conquered the Missouri-Arkansas DIY touring circuit, you're now getting calls from record label A&R men. But which deal should you take?

Make an informed decision and listen in to consider the histories, ethos, and rosters of the following legendary record labels:

(1) Chess Records
(2) SST Records
(3) Flying Nun Records
(4) Drag City

Take a tour with us through a brief history of Chicago blues and R&B, American underground punk, New Zealand guitar-pop, Midwestern indie, and so much more in between. Featuring music from Fontella Bass, Ty Segall, Dinosaur Jr., and more. Find full songs and more through our Linktr.ee.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Listen to Matt's music (on the Saddle Creek label!) on Spotify with Opium Taylor and Lullaby for the Working Class; his most recent work is with the Crippled Masters.
• Check out his long-running zine/blog Blastitude, now in a new home on Substack, where you can subscribe to immerse yourself in even more of his monumental music knowledge.
• Rolling Stone interview with Greg Ginn.
• Spin article by Jon Dolan on SST and more, "The Revival of Indie" (2005)
• Greg Kot article about the 1993 Drag City Invitational: "BANDS CARVE OUT OWN TURF AT DRAG CITY"
• Don Howland's Spin feature on Drag City circa 1993