The New Dad Rock

Steve Nelson & Keith Nottonson
  • 5.0 (43)
  • Music Commentary
  • Weekly

Two college radio DJs during the 90s, hosts Keith and Steve helped expose bands like Nirvana, Pavement and PJ Harvey. They went to shows, interviewed musicians and reviewed albums for various zines and papers. They worked security at concerts and once, even did load-in for Phish. Now they’re dads. Whether you want to explore lesser-known music or take a trip down memory lane, tune in to The New Dad Rock. Join hosts Keith and Steve as they navigate the ages together, sharing their love of music across various eras and genres. Always well intentioned, often well informed, seldom boring, The New Dad Rock will expand your mind. 

  1. 13h ago

    EP 117. Did You Vote?

    Did you vote today? And, more importantly, can a song actually change anything? On this episode of The New Dad Rock takes on the protest song: that curious musical form that has been trying to change the world, rally the troops, and occasionally get people to pay attention. From Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Ohio" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son," we look at songs that captured a moment in history—and wonder whether they ever changed anybody's mind. Then things get a little louder. Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica and Megadeth prove that political commentary isn't limited to folk singers with acoustic guitars. Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." reminds us that a great chorus can completely overwhelm a song's message, while The Clash, Dead Kennedys, Pavement and Rage Against the Machine offer rather different approaches to getting their point across. And naturally, Public Enemy gets a turn. But what actually makes a protest song effective? Does it persuade, provoke, unite people who already agree, or simply make a difficult situation feel a little less lonely? And if a song can be a protest against war, injustice or the government, what about a love song? Isn't that sometimes just a protest against somebody not loving you enough—or loving you too much? Along the way, we discuss Devo, Bono, Morrissey, N.W.A., and the possibility that pretty much every song is a complaint about something. So, can a song change the world? Maybe. But first, you might want to check your voter registration—and actually listen to the lyrics. Let us know what’s up. Support the show Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

    EP 117. Did You Vote?

  2. Oct 27

    EP 116. Are We Stuck in the Same Place?

    Olivia Tremor Control returns from the Great Beyond! Twenty-seven years. Two departed songwriters. One long-lost hard drive. And finally, a new Olivia Tremor Control album. On this episode of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith dive into the unlikely arrival of The Same Place, the first new album from the Elephant 6 psychedelic collective since Black Foliage in 1999. With founding songwriters Bill Doss and Will Cullen Hart both gone, how did their bandmates manage to complete a record that had been in the works for years? The answer involves forgotten recordings, multiple formats, decades-old sessions, and a musical community determined to finish what it started. But this isn't just a story about archival archaeology and unfinished business. Steve and Keith revisit the strange, wonderful world of Olivia Tremor Control: the irresistible pop melodies, sprawling sound collages, tape-loop experiments, and psychedelic excursions that made the band one of the most fascinating acts to emerge from the nineties indie underground. Along the way, they revisit the parallel paths of the Sunshine Fix and Circulatory System, consider the legacy of Elephant 6, and ask the big question: does The Same Place stand up as an album in its own right, or does its extraordinary backstory shape how we hear it? Can a record assembled across decades recapture the spirit of a band that no longer exists? And where does it belong alongside those first two remarkable albums? It's a story about friendship, experimentation, memory, and the strange afterlife of music. Some records take a little longer to find their way into the world. Let us know what’s up. Support the show Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

    EP 116. Are We Stuck in the Same Place?

  3. Oct 20

    EP 115. Do We Really Need Another Halloween Episode?

    What makes a song Halloween music? Is it ghosts, goblins, and things that go bump in the night—or is it the creeping suspicion that Tom Waits is building something in his basement? On this fifth Halloween outing, Steve and Keith go far beyond Monster Mash and Thriller to build the ultimate soundtrack to the gradual collapse of civilization, one record at a time. From Bauhaus, The Cure, and John Carpenter to King Gizzard, Phish, Hawkwind, Skinny Puppy, and the gloriously unhinged Igorrr, the guys explore the fine line between spooky atmosphere, psychedelic weirdness, industrial chaos, and music that might just clear the room. Along the way, they debate what belongs on a Halloween playlist, celebrate the art of the perfectly timed musical descent into madness, and reveal why a great party mix needs more than a few novelty hits. You need pacing, menace, a little theatrical nonsense—and an emergency escape route back to The Time Warp. So dim the lights, pour yourself something questionable, and join two dads with an unreasonable number of Halloween records as they venture from haunted glamour to musical sacrilege. Listen responsibly. If you hear Bauhaus coming from an empty room, don't investigate. Just add the song to your playlist. https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/the-new-dad-rock-suburban-halloween/pl.u-BNA6X9WtKKlvN https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/halloween/pl.u-BNA6L66uKKlvN Let us know what’s up. Support the show Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

    EP 115. Do We Really Need Another Halloween Episode?

  4. Jun 23

    EP 114. Are They Making a New Led Zeppelin Album?

    What if the next Led Zeppelin album isn't made by Led Zeppelin? This week, Steve and Keith tackle a question that sounds ridiculous today and inevitable tomorrow. From the first time Cleveland listeners heard Rush's "Working Man" and thought it was Led Zeppelin, to the rise of AI-generated music that can recreate almost any sound, we ask whether the world's most famous bands are ever really finished. Along the way we discover that Ed Sheeran is worth how much?!? Then we follow the money to answer a deceptively simple question: how do musicians actually make a living in 2026? Streaming royalties, touring, merch, VIP experiences, posters, limited-edition foil prints, and the strange economics of modern fandom all make an appearance. We revisit Radiohead's famous pay-what-you-want experiment and compare it to today's creator economy, where music itself sometimes feels like the least profitable part of being a musician. Plus: • Why a King Gizzard foil poster can cost more than a month of streaming revenue • The enduring magic of The Fillmore poster tradition • Whether legacy bands should keep making new music or simply tour the classics • King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard's seemingly impossible business model • Who actually gets paid when you press play Most importantly, Steve and Keith debate whether we're heading toward a future where every great band can release "new" albums forever. Maybe the question isn't whether there's going to be a new Led Zeppelin album. Maybe it's who gets to make it. Welcome to possibly our best episode yet. Let us know what’s up. Support the show Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

    EP 114. Are They Making a New Led Zeppelin Album?

  5. Jun 9

    EP 113. Am I My Own Favorite Artist?

    What happens when your favorite musician is... you?  This week on The New Dad Rock, Keith reveals a startling discovery: he's become the world's biggest fan of an artist who doesn't actually exist. Thanks to AI music generators, he's been creating songs tailored precisely to his own tastes—and then listening to them. A lot. Steve, naturally, finds this deeply troubling. The conversation begins with "The Ohio Afterglow Incident," where Steve's daughter mistakes one of Keith's AI-generated songs for Ed Sheeran, then mistakes a real artist for one of Keith's AI songs. Suddenly nobody knows which direction influence is flowing anymore. From there, Steve and Keith wrestle with increasingly uncomfortable questions: If someone made the perfect song just for you, would you ever need another artist? If discovery disappears, does music become less meaningful? Is curation more valuable than creation? And at what point does Keith have to start paying himself royalties? Along the way they explore the future of music, the Netflix-ification of culture, personalized nostalgia manufacturing, and whether infinite customization ultimately leaves us more isolated than connected. They also share the correct way to pronounce the band Hooveriii   For decades technology helped us find our tribe. AI might help us become a tribe of one. Plus: CocoRosie, Ed Sheeran, monthly listener counts of exactly one, and the debut of a brand-new genre: Self-Rock. Listen now before Keith releases another album and immediately becomes its biggest fan. Let us know what’s up. Support the show Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

    EP 113. Am I My Own Favorite Artist?

  6. May 26

    EP 112. How Old Is Too Old?

    On this episode of The New Dad Rock Podcast, we ask the question every aging music fan eventually faces: when is a band too old to keep going — and are we too old to care? Using the 2026 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a jumping-off point, we dig into the strange, emotional lifecycle of legacy artists, reunion tours, and rock immortality. From the long-overdue induction of Iron Maiden and New Order/Joy Division in the same Hall class, we unpack what “classic rock” even means anymore. We also talk retirement — or the apparent impossibility of it — through the lens of Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue and Slayer, while checking in on enduring cult heroes like Mercury Rev, Afghan Whigs, led by the intrepid Greg Dulli. Along the way, we revisit unforgettable tours from Pavement, and Modest Mouse, say goodbye to late-night TV as we know (featuring Tom Waits and David Byrne), and ask whether bands like LCD Soundsystem and Hawkwind have discovered the secret to aging gracefully — or just loudly. Let us know what’s up. Support the show Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

    EP 112. How Old Is Too Old?

  7. Feb 10

    EP 111. Is John Mayer Dead?

    Episode 111 finds Steve and Keith riding the chairlift straight into the soul of music discovery. Inspired by that eternal mountain question — what is the liftie listening to right now? — the dads talk skiing, snow culture, and the strange magic of hearing life-changing music while dangling above the trees. Along the way, they dig into a mix of new discoveries and familiar names seen from a fresh altitude: The Grateful Dead, John Mayer, Wet Leg, Lily Allen, Amaarae, ROSALÍA (LUX), Fomies, and Hooveriii. Some of it’s warm, some of it’s icy, some of it hits like fresh powder, and some of it feels like the weird playlist blasting from a shack at the top of the mountain. It’s a little less talk, a little more glide — music first, banter second — as The New Dad Rock continues its long, strange trip in episode 111. Strap in, lower the bar, and enjoy the ride. 🎿 Let us know what’s up. Support the show Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

    EP 111. Is John Mayer Dead?

  8. Jan 27

    EP 110. Are CDs Still A Thing?

    Steve goes up into the attic to sort through his CDs, what he finds will change the course of The New Dad Rock. Tune in to reminisce about spending $20 on imported CD singles that had two crappy songs on them. Settle the debate of whether Sugarbush is better than Killington. And most importantly...f**k ICE! Let us know what’s up. Support the show Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.

    EP 110. Are CDs Still A Thing?
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5
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

Two college radio DJs during the 90s, hosts Keith and Steve helped expose bands like Nirvana, Pavement and PJ Harvey. They went to shows, interviewed musicians and reviewed albums for various zines and papers. They worked security at concerts and once, even did load-in for Phish. Now they’re dads. Whether you want to explore lesser-known music or take a trip down memory lane, tune in to The New Dad Rock. Join hosts Keith and Steve as they navigate the ages together, sharing their love of music across various eras and genres. Always well intentioned, often well informed, seldom boring, The New Dad Rock will expand your mind. 

Information

  • Creator
    Steve Nelson & Keith Nottonson
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    127
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The New Dad Rock
  • Show Website
    The New Dad Rock