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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 front of a Boston crowd, they draft their picks for emo bands across the decades (yes, the ’90s get two picks), reveal emo origin stories, and get into the eternal question: which bands are actually emo? CREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuests: Patrick Flynn @patrickflynnx and Chris Ryan @chrisryan77Producer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more…

Bandsplain

by The Ringer · English · Music

Bandsplain is a show where host Yasi Salek invites experts to explain cult bands and iconic artists—and why people love them.

More from Bandsplain

  1. 12 Mar 2026 · 2 hr 20 min

    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 of punk energy and big feelings that made the band so influential, the sliding-door moments of what almost was, and the bands that emerged (and dominated) in the third wave of emo that the Get Up Kids helped create.Listen to the Get Up Kids playlist here.Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Arielle Gordon @reallygordonProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany…

  2. 5 Mar 2026 · 3 hr 3 min

    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 in 1981 with the birth of Los Angeles punk. They discuss the DIY filmmaking that matched the scene it immortalized, the bands and personalities whose legacies were defined on the screen, and the visual language that would influence and shape so much of culture, most evidently in '90s MTV. Next, Yasi is joined by the legend herself, Penelope Spheeris, for a wide-ranging talk about her iconic career, from the Los Angeles punk scene that…

  3. 26 Feb 2026 · 2 hr 44 min

    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 firsthand. They discuss the myth vs. the reality of Darby Crash, the DIY community that formed around the enigmatic singer, and how the Germs became one of the era’s most influential bands despite their short reign. Episode PlaylistListen to the Germs playlist here. CreditsHost: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Pleasant Gehman @princessofhollywoodProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin…

  4. 8 Oct 2026 · 2 hr 49 minNew

    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 landscape they emerged from. They discuss their international origins, the dogged Joy Division comparisons, and the pressure to follow up on an instant classic, as well as the steady and surprising arc of their career and output leading up to their latest album, this year’s 'This Mirror Weighs a Ton.' Episode Playlist Listen to the Interpol Playlist here Subscribe on YouTube CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guests: Sarah Lewitinn…

  5. 1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 40 min

    The Indie Sleaze Draft with Rob Mahoney and Sean Fennessey

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  6. 24 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 27 min

    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 define the electroclash era. They discuss the band’s early days on Sub Pop, the song taking shape in the hands of James Murphy and DFA, the band’s move to a major label, and the fallout that followed. Plus, a look back at Cinespace Tuesdays in Hollywood, DJing across the globe, and an important question: Why was will.i.am everywhere all the time? Subscribe on YouTube CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Jason Stewart @themjeans…

  7. 17 Sep 2026 · 3 hr 4 min

    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 of the 2000s. They discuss the term indie sleaze, debate whether the Yeah Yeah Yeahs deserve the crown as the era’s best band, break down why “Maps” remains an all-time classic, and explore the tensions that have shaped the band throughout its career. Plus, growing up in the spotlight, surviving the hype, and where the Yeah Yeah Yeahs fit in today’s music landscape. Episode PlaylistListen to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs Playlist here.…

  8. 10 Sep 2026 · 2 hr 21 min

    Best New U.K. Music with Shaad D’Souza, Plus An Interview with Mary in the Junkyard

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  9. 3 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 12 min

    Perfect Song: "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls With Whitmer Thomas

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  10. 20 Aug 2026 · 2 hr 9 min

    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 best venues for seeing a show. Plus: Learn whether 24 is too old. (Spoiler: It’s not.) Next, Iceage’s Elias Bender Ronnenfelt and Johan Suurballe Wieth join Yasi to discuss their new album, 'For Love of Grace & the Hereafter.' They talk about the Copenhagen music scene, the epiphany of direction, scoring films, and befriending crows. Check out Iceage’s ‘For Love of Grace & the Hereafter’ here Subscribe on YouTube CREDITS: Host: Yasi…

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