Shows / Bandsplain
Bandsplain
Bandsplain is a show where host Yasi Salek invites experts to explain cult bands and iconic artists—and why people love them.
Episodes
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INTERVIEW: J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.
This week Yasi is joined by the man, the myth, the legend: J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. They get into their shared love for Gilmore Girls, biking around the…
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The Best New Music of Summer 2026 With Patrik Sandberg. Plus, an Interview With Jennifer Herrema and Kurt Midness of Black Bananas.
Yasi is joined by returning guest and Bandsplain MVP Patrik Sandberg to share their favorite new releases of the summer and the upcoming new music they’re most…
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The Strokes With Amanda Dobbins and Chris Ryan
Chris Ryan and Amanda Dobbins join Yasi to revisit the Strokes and their influence on the guitar rock that followed in their wake. They discuss the band's…
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Interpol with Sarah Lewitinn
Sarah Lewitinn (music journalist, restaurateur, and the artist formerly known as Ultragrrrl) joins Yasi to revisit Interpol and the early 2000s New York…
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The Indie Sleaze Draft with Rob Mahoney and Sean Fennessey
It’s draft day, and Yasi is joined by Rob Mahoney and Sean Fennessey for a generational Indie Sleaze Draft. But first, what actually counts as indie sleaze?…
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Perfect Song: "House of Jealous Lovers" by The Rapture With Jason Stewart
Jason Stewart (How Long Gone) joins Yasi to talk about “House of Jealous Lovers,” the Rapture’s cowbell-powered anthem that fused punk and dance and helped…
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs with Jenny Eliscu
Journalist Jenny Eliscu joins Yasi to talk all things Yeah Yeah Yeahs, from their wild early days in New York to their place as one of the most important bands…
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Best New U.K. Music with Shaad D’Souza, Plus An Interview with Mary in the Junkyard
Music journalist and EIC of Shaad Magazine Shaad D’Souza joins Yasi to talk about the best new music coming out of the U.K. right now. They discuss how they…
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Perfect Song: "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls With Whitmer Thomas
Whitmer Thomas ('Terminal Crew of Dudes,' 'Weapons') joins Yasi to break down "Iris," the Goo Goo Dolls hit that became one of the defining songs of the late…
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Solo Mailbag with Yasi. Plus, an interview with Elias Bender Rønnenfelt and Johan Suurballe of Iceage.
It's time for a loaded mailbag, and Yasi is handling this one solo. She’s tackling questions on skin-care routines, the importance of physical media, and the…
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The Music Biopic Hall of Fame With Sean Fennessey
Sean Fennessey joins Yasi to build the Music Biopic Hall of Fame, from the 1940s to today. Along the way, they consider what makes a great music biopic, why…
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SOUNDTRACK: ‘Times Square’ with Patrik Sandberg
Yasi is joined by returning guest Patrik Sandberg to revisit the soundtrack to 1980 cult film ‘Times Square.’ They cover the scrapped love story between its…
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SOUNDTRACK: ‘Pretty in Pink’ With Rob Harvilla
Rob Harvilla joins Yasi to revisit the music of the John Hughes coming-of-age classic ‘Pretty in Pink.’ They discuss the film’s defining mix of new wave and…
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SOUNDTRACK: 'Working Girl' With Amanda Dobbins
Amanda Dobbins joins Yasi to take on the Oscar-, Grammy-, and Golden Globe-winning soundtrack to 'Working Girl.' They trace Carly Simon’s path to penning “Let…
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SOUNDTRACK: 'Dirty Dancing' With Joanna Robinson
Joanna Robinson joins Yasi to break down one of the defining soundtracks of the ’80s: 'Dirty Dancing.' They get into the real-life tension between Jennifer…
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MADONNA: 'Confessions II' with Patrik Sandberg
Madonna Month icon Patrik Sandberg is back to help Yasi break down 'Confessions II,' Madonna’s return to the dance floor. They break down the album’s callbacks…
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The Best New Music of Spring 2026 With Bre Morell. Plus, An Interview With Domenic Palermo of Nothing.
Yasi and returning guest Bre Morell discuss their favorite new albums that came out this spring. Plus, the new singles from their most anticipated albums of…
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SOUNDTRACK: 'Purple Rain' With Anthony Anzaldo
Yasi is joined by musician and producer Anthony Anzaldo (Ceremony, Anthony Family) to unpack 'Purple Rain,' the soundtrack that took Prince from rising pop…
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Madonna Mailbag With Fattaneh Salek and Patrik Sandberg
Madonna Month (OK, six weeks) is coming to a close, and it’s going out with a bang! First, Yasi is joined by the original Madonna influence, her mom, Fattaneh…
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Madonna: The Movies With Amanda Dobbins and Sean Fennessey
Yasi is joined by Amanda Dobbins and Sean Fennessey of The Big Picture to reconsider Madonna’s life on film, including her breakout role in Desperately Seeking…
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Madonna: Part 4 With Caryn Ganz
Yasi is joined by journalist and critic Caryn Ganz as the Madonna series enters the modern era. They discuss the glittering revival of 'Confessions on a Dance…
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Madonna: Part 3 With Paul Hamann
Yasi is joined by creative director Paul Hamann as they continue the Bandsplain Madonna deep dive. They discuss Madonna’s celebrated acting role in Evita and…
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Madonna: Part 2 with Patrik Sandberg
Yasi is joined by writer and Bandsplain MVP Patrik Sandberg for Part 2 of the Madonna epic. This chapter follows Madonna from 'Like a Prayer' through 'Bedtime…
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Madonna: Part 1 With Mel Ottenberg
Yasi kicks off Bandsplain’s multipart Madonna epic with returning guest and fashion icon Mel Ottenberg. They discuss Madonna’s childhood and upbringing in…
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Life Without Buildings with Blondshell
Recorded live at the Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Yasi is joined by Sabrina Teitelbaum (a.k.a. Blondshell) to dig into Life Without Buildings, the Scottish…
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PERFECT SONG: ‘Boys On the Radio’ with Patrik Sandberg, Plus An Interview With Hole Bassist and Author Melissa Auf der Maur
Yasi is joined by writer Patrik Sandberg to break down one of Hole’s (many) perfect songs “Boys on the Radio.” They talk Courtney Love’s evolution, her…
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The Runaways With Patty Schemel
Yasi is joined by legendary drummer Patty Schemel (Hole) to tell the story of The Runaways, the all-girl teenage band that changed the course of history. They…
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Our Favorite Music of 2026 So Far, With Chris Ryan. Plus, an Interview With Angel Du$t’s Justice Tripp.
Yasi is joined by Chris Ryan for a quick trip into the mailbag before they each reveal their favorite new music from the first three months of 2026. Next, Yasi…
Bandsplain80s Soundtrack Hall of Fame with Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan
Yasi is joined by Chris Ryan and Sean Fennessey to discuss what music best represents the 1980s and build the Bandsplain ‘80s Movie Soundtrack Hall of Fame…
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The Get Up Kids with Arielle Gordon
Yasi is joined by music writer Arielle Gordon to tell the story of the Get Up Kids, the Kansas City emo band that transformed the genre. They get into the mix…
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MOVIE NIGHT: ‘The Decline of Western Civilization’ with Alex Ross Perry, Plus An Interview With Director Penelope Spheeris
Yasi and filmmaker Alex Ross Perry (Pavements, Videoheaven) revisit The Decline of Western Civilization films, Penelope Spheeris’s seminal trilogy that began…
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The Germs With Pleasant Gehman
Yasi is joined by artist, author, and musician Pleasant Gehman to discuss the Germs and the chaotic birth of the Los Angeles punk scene, which she witnessed…
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EMO DRAFT with Patrick Flynn and Chris Ryan
A Bandsplain Emo Draft recorded live at Something In The Way Festival with Patrick Flynn (Have Heart, Fiddlehead, How Much Art) and The Ringer’s Chris Ryan. In…
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Valentine’s Day Mailbag With Amanda Dobbins, Plus an Interview With Joyce Manor’s Barry Johnson
It’s a special Valentine’s Day mailbag, and The Big Picture’s Amanda Dobbins is here to help Yasi solve all your life problems. Should you avoid your ex at…
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American Football with Rob Mahoney
Yasi is joined by Ringer renaissance man Rob Mahoney to tell the unlikely story of American Football, whose widespread recognition grew in the decade following…
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The Music of Skateboard Videos with Jerry Hsu
Yasi is joined by skater, photographer, and Sci-Fi Fantasy proprietor Jerry Hsu to break down how music has shaped skate videos, from their DIY, skit-filled…
BandsplainPortishead with Rob Fitzpatrick
Yasi and writer Rob Fitzpatrick head back to Bristol to tell the story of Portishead. They discuss the band’s unique and highly detail-oriented approach to…
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Our Most Anticipated Albums of 2026 with Shaad D’Souza, Plus An Interview with Real Lies’ Kevin Lee Kharas
Yasi kicks off 2026 with music and culture critic Shaad D’Souza to talk through their most anticipated albums of the year. Find out what’s coming, what they’re…
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HOLIDAY SONG DRAFT with Amanda Dobbins and Rob Mahoney
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Bandsplain has a very special gift for you. Rob Mahoney and Amanda Dobbins join Yasi to draft the dream holiday…
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Best Albums of the Year With Chris Ryan
That’s (almost) a wrap on 2025, so you know what time it is. Yasi catches up with Chris Ryan to talk about the albums that defined their 2025. No rankings, no…
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Jeff Buckley With Sean Fennessey
Yasi is joined by The Big Picture’s Sean Fennessey to dive into the brief, brilliant career of Jeff Buckley. They cover his rise on New York’s café stages and…
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MOVIE NIGHT: 'Dig!' with Joe Coscarelli
This week on Bandsplain, Yasi and New York Times culture reporter Joe Coscarelli revisit Dig!, Ondi Timoner’s influential 2004 cult documentary that…
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Massive Attack with Bre Morell
On this week’s episode of Bandsplain, Bre Morell of Crushed joins Yasi to talk about reluctant genre inventing geniuses Massive Attack. We talk through the…
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Mailbag with Rob Harvilla, Plus An Interview with Militarie Gun’s Ian Shelton
It’s mailbag time, and once again Rob Harvilla is here to help Yasi answer your most pressing questions. Is 31 too old to go to shows? What would you recommend…
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Jimmy Eat World with Chris Ryan
Chris Ryan is back to help tell the Jimmy Eat World story. CR and Yasi talk about the power of the split seven inch, Clarity vs Bleed American, and the…
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BOOK CLUB: Evan Dando’s Memoir plus the new Lemonheads album with Producer Dylan
Evan Dando is back with a long-awaited memoir and a brand-new Lemonheads album, and there’s only one guest who could do them both justice: the artist formerly…
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Alanis Morissette with Alicia Bognanno
With her 1996 best-selling album Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette bet on herself, turned pain into pop poetry, and gave an entire generation a new…
BandsplainHair Metal Hall of Fame with Molly Lambert
In today’s episode we’re heading back to the Sunset Strip — a leather clad world of teased hair, tight pants, and pure chaos. Guest Molly Lambert helps us…
BandsplainMötley Crüe with Mel Ottenberg
We love Mötley Crüe. Mötley Crüe loves partying (so so much). In this episode you’ll hear how Nikki, Tommy, Vince, and Mick put on their make-up and pioneered…
BandsplainRemembering Ozzy Osbourne, with Kory Grow and Rob Harvilla
Rob Harvilla and Rolling Stone senior writer Kory Grow join Yasi to discuss Ozzy Osbourne’s bodies of work with Black Sabbath as well as solo, his incredible…
BandsplainMOVIE NIGHT: ‘Pavements’ With Hua Hsu, Plus an Interview With Director Alex Ross Perry
Yasi chats with New Yorker staff writer, Pulitzer prize–winning author, and known Pavement aficionado Hua Hsu about the 2025 film 'Pavements.' Is it a…
BandsplainElastica with Miranda Sawyer
Boots on the ground from Notting Hill, Yasi unpacks the inimitable Elastica with music journalist Miranda Sawyer. Thanks to their angular, concise music…
BandsplainThe Jesus and Mary Chain with Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite
This week, Yasi is joined by Scottish musician and Mogwai frontman Stuart Braithwaite to talk about one of the coolest and most influential bands of all time -…
BandsplainPerfect Song: ‘The Man Don’t Give a F*ck’ by Super Furry Animals with Chloë Walsh
Giving new meaning to “this song f*cks,” Super Furry Animals’ 1996 single “The Man Don’t Give a Fuck” is a psychedelic protest anthem built on a looped Steely…
BandsplainPulp: Part 2 (1994 to Forever?) with Siân Pattenden
So you wanna live like the Common People do? It’s time for part two of the Pulp story in which Yasi and music journalist and Pulpologist Siân Pattenden start…
BandsplainPulp: Part 1 (1978! through 1994) with Siân Pattenden
In today’s episode, we trace Pulp's story, starting from high school talent show stars up through the moment they become Britpop major players. Yasi is joined…
BandsplainPrimal Scream with Chris Ryan
Today we’re talking about a band who managed to change their sound every single album while still staying absolutely, totally, and utterly themselves: Primal…
BandsplainPerfect Song: Radiohead’s ‘Let Down’ with Cole Cuchna
We all know the vibe of Radiohead’s iconic 1997 album OK Computer: paranoia, anxiety, isolation. There are several bangers scattered throughout, like Karma…
BandsplainSuede: Part 2 with Miranda Sawyer
In the last episode, we were Introducing the Band and exploring the question: did Suede kickstart Britpop? This episode, Yasi keeps making her case alongside…
BandsplainDid Suede Start Britpop? Part 1 with Miranda Sawyer
This season, we’ve covered two of the biggest bands in Britpop, but did Oasis and Blur actually kickstart the genre? With the release of their first two…