Listen Now

Eric Davidson (New Bomb Turks, We Never Learn) reads his piece about his underappreciated hometown’s underappreciated rock n’ roll band Death of Samantha. Sign-up for our mailing list Follow Eric on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zachary on Twitter Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook

Michael & Zach welcome Vikram Murthi (AV Club, The Film Stage, Vulture) to discuss the use of music in Film & Television. They get into believeableteenage taste, soundtracks that introduced them to the greats and what cliches they would ban forever. They also chat about the alt choice for the infamous Say Anything scene as well as Westworld, Guaridnas of the Galaxy (Vol 1 &2),  Stranger Things, Juno and a capella groups doing Toto’s ‘Africa’. Follow Vikram on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zachary on Twitter Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook

Ryan Boyle shares his sadly unpublished liner notes for the work of a New Jersey couple that found their calling playing Hawaiian music and the breakthroughs they accomplished along the way. Check out the Gospel Hawaiianaires from Numerophon Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zachary on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Today we bring you our very first in-studio session, recorded way back in the halcyon days of June 2017. Michael and Zach welcome Tom Hawking (Flavorwire) to discuss the etiquette and practice of selecting music on a road trip. Follow Tom on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zachary on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Our own Zachary Lipez reads a piece about his renewed appreciation for Mike Ness and the SoCal greaser rock of Social Distortion. Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zachary on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

In one of our early test episodes, Michael & Zac are joined by writer and comedian Patrick Monahan to discuss everyone’s favorite terrible group activity– karaoke. Follow Patrick on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zac on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Ira Robbins (The Trouser Press, Newsday, Rolling Stone) reads a chapter from his book “Marc Bolan Killed in Crash”. Recorded live at Hi-Fi Bar in New York, NY on July 18, 2017 Follow Ira on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zac on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Michael & Zach are joined by Jay Green (Orchid, Panthers) to discuss all things Screamo, Skramz and everything in between. Follow Jay on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zac on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Mike Barthel (former critic now researcher at the Pew Reasearch Center) reads a personal piece in which his wife suddenly goes deaf and their journey of understanding how hearing works. Recorded live at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn, NY on March 8, 2018 Follow Mike on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zac on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter  

Michael & Zach are joined by SPIN staff writer Maggie Serota to discuss the contentious topic of Radiohead’s tremendous acclaim & appeal. They also play a few rounds of “Say Something Nice”. Follow Maggie on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zac on Twitter Get Zach’s new book 131 Different Things from Akashic Books Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Loren DiBlasi (Paste, MTV News, NPR) shares her piece on Household’s debut record ‘Items’ and women making art for women regardless of due recognition from a broader popular culture. Recorded live at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn, NY on June 14, 2018 Read Loren’s piece on NPR Music Follow Loren on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zac on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

From publications to venues, DIY culture is able to highlight and share voices that are unadulterated from the influence of corporate culture. Liz Pelly joins Michael & Zac to discuss the importance of artist-run outlets and the many challenges they face to stay afloat in a sea of big money and the appropriation of phrase ‘DIY’ itself. Much of the discussion surrounds beloved indie space Silent Barn which has most unfortunately closed since the recording. Ironically, this makes the conversation all the more salient and necessary. Follow Liz on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zac on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Tatiana Tenreyro (Bustle, Pop Crush, Billboard, Brooklyn Vegan) shares her piece about finding herself an outsider and the ascendent journey up the punk rock mountain where she discovered her acrimonious Latina kindred spirits and the artists that marked the upward trail. Recorded live at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn, NY on April 12, 2018 Read Tatiana’s piece on Impose Follow Tatiana on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zac on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

When the world seems to be falling apart all around us, what should our relationship with music be? Is it a trite distraction from the troubling and tangible issues of our day? Or does it act as a comforting salve, easing us through tumultuous times? Michael & Zac are joined by Suzy Exposito, Assistant Music Editor at Rolling Stone to discuss the emotional complexities of hitting play in today’s world. Follow Suzy on Twitter Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Zac on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Max Savage Levinson just moved to NYC and asks for some help from the audience to fill out an application for a new job prospect. Recorded at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn on July 7, 2018. Words & Guitars is hosted by Michael Tedder and Zachary Lipez Produced & Edited by Kent M. Wilhelm Follow Max on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Maggie Serota (Spin, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Village Voice) joins Michael and Zach for a discussion about music that we love that can now be seen as problematic. They discuss the moral quadries surrounding boycotting, financially supporting or simply listening to artists who have checked pasts. And, of course, Morrissey. Words & Guitars is hosted by Michael Tedder and Zachary Lipez Produced & Edited by Kent M. Wilhelm Follow Maggie on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Patrick Hosken (MTV, Stereogum, Billboard) reads his piece on his love for an iconic singer-songwriter and the fateful night they met. Recorded at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn on April 12, 2018. Words & Guitars is hosted by Michael Tedder and Zachary Lipez Produced & Edited by Kent M. Wilhelm Follow Patrick on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Caryn Rose shares her contribution to the book Woman Walk the Line: How the Women in Country Music Changed Our Lives, an essay about discovering Maybelle Carter and women making space for themselves in male dominated circles. Recorded at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn on December 12, 2017. Words & Guitars is hosted by Michael Tedder and Zachary Lipez Produced & Edited by Kent M. Wilhelm Purchase Woman Walk the Line: How the Women in Country Music Changed Our Lives Follow Caryn on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Meagan Fredette (Refinery 29, Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue) shares her piece about Emotion, Carly Rae Jepsen’s commercial flop/critical darling. She speaks about the gratifying dissnoance between its earnest outlook on love and her contemporary urban lifestyle as well as scoring an unexpectedly consequential day in her romantic life. Recorded at Hi-Fi Bar in New York City on July 18, 2017 Words & Guitars is hosted by Michael Tedder and Zachary Lipez Produced & Edited by Kent M. Wilhelm Follow Meagan on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter

Zac Lipez reads a piece on his chimera of a world in which grunge rock had never existed. Zac proposes a culture “where rock is not pronounced ‘rawk’ and where everybody without interruption or irony, does The Hump.” Recorded July 18, 2017 at Hi-Fi Bar in New York City. Words & Guitars is hosted by Michael Tedder and Zachary Lipez Produced & Edited by Kent M. Wilhelm Follow Zac on Twitter Like Words & Guitars on Facebook Follow Words & Guitars on Twitter