In the late 90s, a new genre of music rose from the ashes of grunge. Labeled nu-metal, it was different from anything anyone had heard - it had loud, aggressive guitars, funky and jazzy beats and samples, electronic backgrounds, and hip hop vocals that evoked similar angst to punk and grunge. To the chagrin of many metal purists, it was often lumped within their diverse genre - but we know the MTV-fueled fanbase went wider than that. And thus - the basis of our nostalgia as we close out a year that felt oddly reminiscent of that chaotic, “I don’t know what to call it” energy.

This week, I’m joined by Eric and his lifelong best friend Josh to discuss what we remembered and loved about this controversial genre. So slip on that Adidas tracksuit and let’s get rollin’.

Music video referenced in the episode: Mudvayne, “Dig, 1997 (youtube.com/watch?v=YIqbdnaPcT8)

Sources

• 28 Nu Metal Era Bands You Probably Forgot All About, NME, September 2013 - https://www.nme.com/photos/28-nu-metal-era-bands-you-probably-forgot-all-about-1425509

• The 21 Greatest Nu-Metal Albums of All Time - Ranked, by Kerrang.com, June 2020

• https://www.kerrang.com/features/the-21-greatest-nu-metal-albums-of-all-time-definitively-ranked/
  

For 51 days in 1993, the FBI and ATF were in an increasingly tense standoff with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, an extreme far-right religious sect, outside of Waco, Texas. After a search and arrest warrant led to a gunfight leaving 10 dead, negotiators and tactical teams squared off about how to get the Branch Davidians out safely for nearly two months.

Ultimately, the Waco siege culminated in tragedy, reframing how America looks at paramilitary responses from the government and reinforcing the distrust of government in far-right groups, and we are still dealing with both of these realities almost 30 years later.

This week, we are covering the siege at Waco.

CW: Cults, physical and sexual abuse, violence, suicide, death, drugs, gun violence.

SOURCES

https://www.history.com/topics/1990s/waco-siege

https://www.vox.com/2016/1/5/10714746/waco-ruby-ridge-oregon

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/flashback-waco-cult-showdown-ends-in-disaster-124074/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/survivors-1993-waco-siege-describe-happened-fire-ended/story?id=52034435

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-waco-review-20180124-story.html

HAPPY PRIDE! If there’s anyone that embodies the principles of Pride, it’s RuPaul, America’s most famous and commercially successful drag queen. She burst on the scene in the 90s in New York City, catapulting the community into the spotlight and making drag a more mainstream lifestyle. From her talk show to her MAC cosmetics campaign, RuPaul has ALWAYS been unapologetically herself, authentic in her self-expression and striving to make the world a better place through loving yourself first so you can love others second. Did we mention she’s our de-facto spiritual teacher?

This week, my dear friend Derric (@derricdalton) from the 3am Mystery Club Podcast (@3amclubpod) is with me to discuss a person we truly look up to and aim to embody every single day - the one and only magical RuPaul Charles.

SOURCES

https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/26129/1/this-unearthed-vid-shows-rupaul-at-his-90s-best

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/drag-explosion-fabulousness-defiance-90s-drag-n1252395

https://screenrant.com/rupaul-drag-race-talk-show-1996-michelle-visage/

http://www.newnownext.com/linda-simpson-the-drag-explosion-book-rupaul/12/2020/

https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/51358/1/watch-rupaul-drag-race-christmas-holiday-special-1997-cult-tv-youtube

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8488631/rupaul-drag-race-guest-judges-nirvana-jimmy-kimmel-live-video

https://www.thethings.com/things-you-didnt-know-about-rupaul/

https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/3/6/17085244/rupaul-trans-women-drag-queens-interview-controversy

https://www.mic.com/articles/44947/how-rupaul-became-a-leading-icon-in-the-gay-community#.mjWQkaIfc

https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/33452/1/why-rupaul-was-a-cultural-icon-long-before-drag-race