Streamlined lists, and three of the most passionate rock fans on the planet came together last night for the relaunch of the new LeBrain Train! The topic was Top Five Album Openers, and the guests were Uncle Meat and Harrison the Mad Metal Man! We call it “Cinco De List-O” and although the lists were shorter, we made sure we didn’t skimp on the analysis and appreciation.
Every one of the songs listed tonight deserve some time in your ears. You can read the lists below, or have some real fun and watch the show!
Big thanks to my two co-hosts tonight, for what I think was a pretty damn good re-launch. Let’s pour on the steam and this train a-rollin’ again.
Note: Apologies to Max the Axe for playing the wrong version of “Pygmy Blowdart” at the top of the show. I loaded the early cut into Streamyard.
The LeBrain Train: 2000 Words or More with Mike Ladano
Episode α – Cinco De List-O – Top Five Album Opening Tracks
Welcome back to the show, everyone! Break time has been fruitful, and working closely with the Meat Man, we’ve decided to set aside the Nigel Tufnel Top Ten for now. In the effort of revamping and streamlining the show, as painful as it is, we have to let go the lists of 11 for the time being. It was our gimmick, a gift from Uncle Meat, and it worked brilliantly. We did some amazing list shows over the last 18 months and we have the graphs to prove it. But I need the episodes to run under three hours if I’m to come back to do this again.
Tonight is a trial run. We’re going to try lists of five instead. (This is something Martin Popoff suggested to us a year ago.) Tee Bone calls it “Cinco De List-D” and that’s just too good to pass up so we’re going with it. Harrison and Uncle Meat will be on hand to discuss our Top Five Album Opening Tracks. What a great subject for “opening” this new era of the LeBrain Train.
Now that the new Max the Axe EP, Oktoberfest Cheer, has been released, I am happy to present to you their new never-before-heard original “Pygmy Blowdart”. Lead singer Eric Litwiller stressed to me (more than once) “I did not write the lyrics”.
Video footage was taken the last weekend of August, but held on to until I could use some fresh new Max music. Check out “Pygmy Blowdart” and let Max and Meat know what you think of this new tune in the comments below!
Pandemics suck, but last year Max the Axe began working on a remedy. Three new songs — one cover, two originals — and a new EP called Oktoberfest Cheer! With this year’s Bavarian festival just around the corner, Max is ready to rock your beerhallen. It’s the second release with the same lineup: Mike Koutis (Max the Axe) – lead guitar, Eric Litwiller (Uncle Meat) – lead vocals, Mike Mitchell – lead bass and Dr. Dave Haslam — lead drums. It’s a much more punk rock affair than the last album Status Electric. Perhaps it’s even a concept record about intoxication!
Opening with the original “Pygmy Blow Dart”, Max sounds like Queens of the Stone Age jonesing for a smoke. Litwiller is in full Homme mode with the groove of the Axe behind him. “I think I’m going downtown, looking for some dope.” Ah, the quaint pre-legalization setting! By the end, the band is in a singalong, looking for some smoke. “Round and round, and round and round…” Hey guys…check the local dispensary! There’s one on every corner now. Great bass solo in the middle, right before Max rips on the six string. Fans of the last album will love it.
The Black Flag cover “Thirsty and Miserable” is outstanding, full-on punkfied Max. Definitely some influence from Lemmy’s version of “Thirsty and Miserable” too. This track kicks and Litwiller sounds legit. They could play it two or three times in a row and you wouldn’t get bored.
Finally the punk-inflected EP ends with the title track “Oktoberfest Cheer!”, a song destined to be a seasonal hit. Feather in cap, beer on tap…October is here so raise up that beer! You can picture the festhallen going mad for this October anthem. This is the clear hit, frantic and haggard as it may be. Adorned with festive accordion, it’s punk rock unlike any other. You can play it year after year…or in August. Don’t crush my smokes, don’t spill my beer!
The great thing about this EP is that it’s under 10 minutes in true punk fashion and perfect for repeat plays.
The weekly LeBrain Train has come to an end after 18 solid months. I’ve done what I wanted to do — keep you entertained and connected during this pandemic. I’ve not missed a week, but my fuel tanks need refilling and now’s the time to take a break. But not to fear — as we announced, there is an alternative.
Darr Erickson said, “What about re-running classic episodes instead of going live?” So that’s what we’re doing! Special and well regarded past episodes will be repeated on Friday nights at the regular time and regular place. The shows aren’t necessarily easy to find so we’ll do the searching for you, and play the best of the best one more time.
Next week tune in for the ZZ Top Deep Cuts episode, which made many lists tonight.
Oh right, the lists! Joined by Harrison the Mad Metal Man, we listed the Nigel Tufnel Top Ten episodes of all time. Lists submitted by:
Special Sausagefest 20 highlights & video from Uncle Meat (0:31:15)
Lego LeBrain Train diorama & Easter Eggs with Harrison (1:01:30)
Not one but two new LeBrain train intros, adding new faces
Watch the video to learn who’s who in this Lego diorama by Harrison!
Discussion in the comments was lively and made me wonder if more people are still home on a Friday night than I assumed. I hope you enjoy next week’s repeat of the ZZ Top episode. With Dusty’s recent passing, it will be interesting in retrospect.
And we’ll be back with Superdekes on September 24 to talk to Storm Force one more time. Our first interview was Storm Force so it’s full circle. Stay tuned for plenty more list and theme shows. The ideas flowed in the comments section so there is no shortage of potential themes!
Ahoy, movie fans! When we are fortunate enough to get Geoff Stephen to graph our lists as they happen, it adds an element of excitement. We see certain picks take early leads, only for some to be wiped out when the big guns come out at the end. In terms of graphing and trends, the Spielberg film lists were the most thrilling yet.
We also had bonus lists from Rob McKinnon and Sarca Sim.
On a personal note this was one of the most fun shows yet. Erik was a fantastic addition to the panel with his encyclopedic knowledge of cinema. And most of us will be back next week when we tackle Top Animated Films, a topic suggested in the comments by Harrison the Mad Metal Man.
Another trip around the sun is always worth a celebration, and tonight we celebrated several birthdays! Most notable those of Harrison and LeBrain. As I say “happy birthday, to the Mad Metal Man”, I also thank Tee Bone for his two new music videos! Tonight we premiered his latest hit “Fuck Pants”, and “HBD to the Mad Metal Man”. Above and beyond the call of duty my friend! Both songs were played multiple times during the show, so you can be sure not to miss them!
Party goers that were in for the long haul included:
We also had special surprise drop-in guests: Scott Peddle, Michael Morwood, T-Rev, John Snow, and Brent Jensen himself! Since the theme of tonight’s lists was “songs that make our skin vibrate”, we had to have Brent on, who contributed his own cool list.
Also thank you to Geoff Stephen, Deke, Kevin & Sarah, and Mike Slayen, who would have been on tonight if there were able. And a huge thanks to Chris Thuss, who tabulated the panel’s picks at bottom. Thanks buddy!
A great time was had by all, thank you for watching. See you next week for Polychuck!
The LeBrain Train: 2000 Words or More with Mike and Harrison
Episode 76 – “Music That Makes Your Skin Vibrate” Birthday Party Extravaganza
Both Harrison and LeBrain have chosen to celebrate their birthdays tonight, with the online party to end all online parties. Because of this special occasion, we’re going with a Nigel Tufnel Top Ten theme of Harrison’s design this time. In an effort to be inclusive, he picked a broad topic that anyone can contribute a list for: music that makes our skin vibrate! That phrase was originally coined by author and friend of the show, Brent Jensen. And we couldn’t do a show about music that makes our skin vibrate without him. Fortunately, Brent was available and he will be dropping in tonight!
It will be a fully packed, fully caffeinated show, and therefore tonight’s format will be a little looser than the usual. Although we will be going in our usual rounds, we will also pause when surprise guests drop in to wish us happy birthday. I expect this one to be a long, lively and dynamic show, with surprises. Including two brand new songs by Tee Bone himself! I can tell you right now that at least one of them is bound to be a hit.
Additionally I look forward to a visit from Brent and whoever else can make it! While we’re at it, let’s wish Aaron and Sarca happy birthdays as they are both celebrating this week as well! (Unfortunately Aaron is too busy partying in real life to make it tonight, but we wish him happy birthday just the same!
A huuuge thanks to Tee Bone for the music videos we are going to premiere tonight. These are songs he wrote specifically for this show. Videos he curated for your own entertainment. Music that will hopefully make your skin vibrate.
Dave Lizmi was a no-show, but that can’t stop the LeBrain Train from rolling.
We’re good at improvising, so tonight’s show was a discussion of favourite concert memories and rock star encounters. Encounters such as: Rush, Kim Mitchell, Cyndi Lauper and more. Have you heard the story of Lauper asking T-Rev for directions in Sarnia? Or Uncle Meat blowing pot smoke in Geddy Lee’s face? You will after watching this!
Thank you T-Rev for your understanding, and thanks to Uncle Meat for pinch-hitting at the last minute. Apologies to you for the change of plan. I talked to Dave a few days ago, and he was good to go. I don’t know what happened. But we rocked it anyway!
Also — a couple of minor announcements were made, although as we’ve seen, anything can change. Let us know what you think.
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