Jam Mechanics

Jam Mechanics
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  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Two bands who span the Atlantic, having a chat across the planet. Drafting jams from random challenges, fantastic banter while we're at it. So just relax and watch our antics; it's the pan-Atlantic Jam Mechanics Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt Johnston from The Narcissist Cookbook and Bug from Bug Hunter. Each week we'll take on songwriting challenges and present our finished "demo" after a few hour break.

  1. S4E9: Frankenstein Donor Register

    7H AGO

    S4E9: Frankenstein Donor Register

    Episode 9 won't disappoint you like a Big Boy Yoda. We talk brushes with fame and our biggest bombs before both writing bangers Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt (The Narcissist Cookbook) and Bug (Bug Hunter) where we are challenged to write a song demo from scratch every episode. If you'd like to download the demos we showed off, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pay-what-you-want to support us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and our brand-new discord is here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE BELOW -- --Bug's Song-- Title: Just Because Prompt Page: San Diego Comic-con --> San Diego Pride --> June Gloom Lyrics: There's no funeral, there's no wedding it's just a random weekend in February but the gang's all here and ready to hang out This ain't sick leave, this ain't work-from-home this is pure shit, uncut PTO 3 full days, no chores, no plans somehow The kids grew up and all moved out but everyone's back in town... Just Because! We put it on the Calendar Just Because! we liked the way it sounds and we're just some buds travellin to hang around Just Because... And just because is as good as any reason Because Just Because just makes it easy Just believe it does, Just Because It's not a diet, or a lifestyle its just a little unexpected but I thought I'd try it my friends are looking at me like they're shocked It's not a burger, it's not nuggies It's not either of the two foods you'd expect of me Its a brand new side of the menu that I've unlocked The kid's grown up his palette, I have just ordered a salad... Just Because! I'm monchin' on a salad here Just Because! I liked the way it sounds and we're Just some buds taken on the salad bar Just Because And just because is as good as any reason Because Just Because just makes it easy Just believe it does, Just Because I can tell ya something if ya say I never told ya The secret is the vinegar, your ears are baking soda I need to keep it quiet if you lean a little closer The only thing that's keepin ya from doin' what you're doin' is often not enough to stop ya if you wanna do it It doesn't take much to get the motivated movin' you may have thought you hit your limit but here's two words to fix it: Just Because! we're having such a better year Just Because! we liked the way it sounds and we're just some buds finding out the power of Just Because ---- Matt's Song ----- Title: Criss-Cross Applesauce Prompt Page: Rube Goldberg-> Boob McNutt -> Jester (via Buffoonish) Lyrics: you might be guided by the cards or the full moon's gravity pick a path by plotting stars or the patterns in the leaves add up numbers in the bible til you land on sum you like if you're really having trouble ask your friends for some advice feed a universe of data to a planet-sized machine maybe god will call back later within 7 working weeks baby throw yourself at anything at anyone at all to get the sense that this direction you are stumbling in's the one that leads you home but if the cards are shuffled badly and the moon pulls only tides and the leaves clump all together and the stars slip out of line and the bible's numbers add up to 42069 and your friends suggestions get you guessing they're out of their minds if the algorithm feeds you only ads and right wing news if god's call center's automated and no one puts you through baby throw yourself a party invite everyone you know sit beside them criss-cross applesauce, this chaos is the closest thing to home grab yourself a cushion make yourself as comfortable as the uncarpeted kitchen floor allows friends, i love you endlessly but you would never know cause I never say that sort of thing out loud above us see the sky fissures and rends itself apart while beneath us magma boils at the core and in between this room of us, the circle will break only once the last of us has fallen to the sword

    41 min
  2. S4E8: Denchawada

    FEB 9

    S4E8: Denchawada

    What up Girl! We both come back from our holiday break with EXCELLENT stories from home and no, we won't apologize. Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt (The Narcissist Cookbook) and Bug (Bug Hunter) where we are challenged to write a song demo from scratch every episode. If you'd like to download the demos we showed off, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pay-what-you-want to support us! Our Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Narcissist Cookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bug Hunter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and our brand-new discord is here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc! Please rate / review and share the show (and our music) with friends! -- SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE BELOW -- ----Bug's Song----- Title: Oops! Prompt Page: Robotic Surgery --> Waldo (short story) --> Rube Goldberg Lyrics: Oops, I'm sorry, my fault, my bad yikes, I screwed up, whoops, I flubbed that on your left, no right, frick! dammit I get those mixed up by habit Franz Ferdinand, shot in the head Basic ass duke reppin' simple cause and effect I'm like if Dr Frankenstein and Rueben Goldberg ever met killed by my creation but with 20 extra steps Oops, I'm sorry, my fault, my bad yikes, I screwed up, whoops, I flubbed that on your left, no right, frick! dammit I get those mixed up by habit Someday I'll get out of my way Someday I'll get out of my way Sometimes the glass is half full but it was empty when you left it sometimes your mom's boyfriend's dentures are at the bottom of your beverage and when a pessimist would spit it up and curse his rotten luck the desperate would suck it up and plug his nose and chug Oops, I'm sorry, my fault, my oops yikes, I oops up, whoops, I flubbed that on your left, oops right, frick! dammit I get those mixed up by habit Someday I'll get out of my way Someday I'll get out of my way Another Domino! fallin while you're walking away Another Domino! falls and you just call it a game Another Domino! Falls and it was never the same Another Domino! Falls And you're absolved of the blame Oops, I'm sorry, oops my oops my bad oops you, I screwed oops, whoops, I oops on your left oops, no oops, I... I get those mixed up! I said: Oops, I'm oops my fault my bad, my oops yikes screwed up oops I flubbed that on your oops, whoops oops, frick, dammit I get oops oops oops oops dammit Someday I'll get out of my way Someday I'll get out of my way Someday I'll get out of my own way (oops) ---- Matt's Song ----- Title: JMCC Prompt Page: Happy Days -> George Lucas -> San Diego Comic-con Lyrics: let's go to jam mechanic comic con let's go to jam mechanic comic con meet me in gary Indiana Bring the hydra and alpaca let's go to jam mechanic comic con it's where we belong You'll see cowboys and vampires Socialist mayors Board games, puppets and smoke detectors A liberal kitty and a family dog Getting their shit rocked by ichard noir AND IF YOU GET HUNGRY WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED An army of dead dads eating popcorn I think curdled milkteeth is what happened to john Cthulhu stuffing his mouth with some balls Shimmy to the left cause captain stanley's got a gun LET'S GO TO JAM MECHANIC COMIC CON ... AND AFTER DARKKKK Amelia earhart's doing white lines With a guy in the corner looks a little like a lion Agamemnon's laying pipe but he's just warming up Here's you at a party with my uncle in a headlock An angel and a devil are making out hard Odin's in the garbage patch getting pardoned Someone's fur prince got stuck in cement The angel and the devil are making out again LET'S GO TO JAM MECHANIC COMIC CON oh and wikipede is also here

    40 min
  3. S4E7: Chat... I Got Him

    JAN 26

    S4E7: Chat... I Got Him

    They Jam now? They Jam now! Listen to find out who gets got (Hint: It's not Jason). We talk Batman vs Darth Vader and confidently make up facts about robots Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt (The Narcissist Cookbook) and Bug (Bug Hunter) where we are challenged to write a song demo from scratch every episode. If you'd like to download the demos we showed off, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pay-what-you-want to support us! Our Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Narcissist Cookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bug Hunter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and our brand-new discord is here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc! Please rate / review and share the show (and our music) with friends! -- SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE BELOW -- ----Bug's Song----- Title: High Note Prompt Page: Anachronism -> Retcon -> Happy Days #Chuck Cunningham Syndrome Lyrics: Going out on a high note, callin' it quits don't wait for the moment we wish that we did they'll be sad that its over (but glad it exists) don't get caught hanging on when the alternative is Someone come get your boy wayne gretzky his grasp on fractions is at best a bit sketchy you miss 100% of the shots you don't take? Can I see your calculator, Wayne? if you don't shoot you can't miss, can't mess up let them think you're the best of what you've done not what you'll do when you've got nothing left to prove just quit while you're ahead [Chorus] Maybe we should've cut the mics at the first standing ovation should've packed away our picnics before the end of the parade cuz when you watch it peter out and now the band has long since passed the confetti on the ground begins to look a lot like trash if the magic's in the middle it means you went a bit too far lets go home at intermission, leave the people wanting more But will they notice you're missing? will they notice you're gone will they send out a search party or convince themselves you're not will they notice you're missing? will they notice you're gone? everyone reminisces whether you like it or not whether you're ready or not Going out on a high note, callin' it quits don't wait for the moment we wish that we did they'll be sad that its over (but glad it exists) don't get caught hanging on when the alternative is ---- Matt's Song ----- Title: Stones Prompt Page: Immunotherapy -> Organ Transplantation -> Robotic Surgery Lyrics: hey can you hear me I've been waiting for your call there is nothing on this rock and I am slowly breaking down I don't think you ever taught me how to fix these faulty things Now I am rusting I'm eroding I am code upon a screen Somewhere 40 million miles from here This planet, barren and lonely This body, weathered and dull This mission barely makes sense to me Guess I'll just check the manual These arms extending out forward Reaching for something unknown Waving up at a blue dot in the sky Hey guys am I ever coming home? hey is it okay if I miss you, I don't want you to feel like I'm a burden when I call you just to talk I am pulling at my wires trying to find what makes me tick figure I might plug the right thing into the right place by mistake And floating in the burnt red air Somewhere 40 million miles from here That planet, emerald and sapphire This body, shiny and new This mission finally over and I rest in the cold light of the moon These tracks extending out backward Show all the places I've gone But each hill's the same as the last one Hey guys am I ever coming home This planet, barren and lonely This body, weathered and dull This mission barely makes sense to me There must be something I'm missing One last unoverturned stone Hey guys am I ever coming home?

    42 min
  4. S4E6: From The Makers of Blooj

    JAN 12

    S4E6: From The Makers of Blooj

    The world will never be the same after this episode. We're here to talk shop and hawk sauce in the 6th episode of szn 4. Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt (The Narcissist Cookbook) and Bug (Bug Hunter) where we are challenged to write a song demo from scratch every episode. If you'd like to download the demos we showed off, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pay-what-you-want to support us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and our brand-new discord is here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc! -- SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE BELOW -- ----Bug's Song----- Title: Flattering! Prompt Page: Poison Ivy -> Allergy -> Immunotherapy Lyrics: I don't begrudge flat-earthers cuz I think that they're crazy or insane its just a pity for their party thats based purely on their laziness cause there's mountains of evidence that help make it clear that our planet's a shape and that shape is a sphere and I fear that insisting we've already won will prevent us from doing whats yet to be done cause I have a dream and I need you to get with it earth isn't flat and if you, too, are sick of it Join Us, Help Us, make coins and coasters jealous The earth isn't flat (yeah, you don't have to tell us) When there's no way, here's our will: we won't die on this hill We're not Flat Earthers... we're earth-flatteners we'll get much further than that tin foil hat of yours We work all day to achieve the great flattening a pancake shape is a bit more... Flattering! There's no subscription fees, neither monthly nor annual just one flat rate and we hand you the manual we'll start with the mountains 'cause how could we not when the low-hanging fruit is the highest of rocks once we're smooth as a cue ball we'll need to start kneeding then plan the next steps at the quarterly meeting cause I have a dream and now you're in the thick of it the earth isn't flat and we're all just plane sick of it [Chorus] We work all day to achieve the great flattening a pancake shape is a bit more... Flattering! and faith can move mountains but damn, when I'm done with 'em moles will look down on the ground that's become of them When you had a dream and no one understood it to get back at all who have told you you couldn't Join us, Help us, we employ the overzealous The earth isn't flat yet, and damn does that compel us head to china, grab your chisel and I will meet you in the middle we're not flat-earthers, we're earth flatteners... I have a dream, but whether its happening you all believed, and damn is it... Flattering! ---- Matt's Song ----- Title: Someone's Gonna Change The World Prompt Page: War on Terror -> Misnomer -> Anachronism Lyrics: open up the curtains let the darkness in the emperor expired in his bed and now the power vacuum that was left by him and filling in the air above our heads Gunships littering in the sky Fuel cells glittering like diamonds And all us ordinary folk Gathering below Oh oh oh And we've got fire in our eyes Up there someone's gonna change the world But the world down here's in short supply Who do you expect us to rise up against? The armies or the admirals or the gods? Might as well suggest we turn the river running through the town back on itself and flood the mountain tops Mainsails blocking out the moon Spent shells falling like a heavy rain And all us ordinary folk Gathering below Oh oh oh And we've got fire in our eyes Up there someone's gonna change the world But the world down here's in short supply At night I dream like everybody dreams I wake up I've forgotten what I've seen No matter who prevails up there above The meat down here still rots, and the air still tastes the same Tomorrow there'll be champagne for the rich But the only thing that trickles down is piss You could cut the head off every king The meat down here still rots, and the air still tastes the same [Chorus]

    38 min
  5. S4E5: It's Me, Diapers!

    12/29/2025

    S4E5: It's Me, Diapers!

    This is our most unhinged ep 5 yet. We talk superpowers, dark web librarians, and how to recognize when your favorite podcast is incapable of putting out a bad episode. Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt (The Narcissist Cookbook) and Bug (Bug Hunter) where we are challenged to write a song demo from scratch every episode. If you'd like to download the demos: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Narcissist Cookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bug Hunter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our Discord -- SPOILERS BELOW -- --Bug's Song-- Title: Richard Noir Prompt: Structural Integrity and Failure -> 9/11 -> The War on Terror Lyrics: The names ichard, like Richard with No R I was 2 minutes from flying the coop when some little bird wanders in out the rain looking for help She goes on and on about a strange man that's popped up in her families neighborhood she's clearly traveled a long ways for my help I can tell from her plumage she ain't from 'round here Whats a rural bird doing so far from home I ain't got time for bird-house calls I've never been an early bird but even I know that no good ever comes from staying out this late But then she drops the crucial detail that stops me in my tracks "he ain't moved in a week" hmm, that is interesting. Anyone who knows anything about man knows that they are fidgety and quick -- always on the move Maybe its time to see what happens when this unstoppable force meets an immovable object So me and the little bird fly back to her home in the sticks little farm just west of cityville and we set up an old-fashioned stake out And sure as sunshine, this ain't no wild goose chase Theres a man towering over the corn field Her first instinct is to bury her head in the dirt but I've crapped on enough statues to know that nothing was ever gonna get this beast to give chase That's a scare crow, ya scared crow. tell your scared folks to be scared no more this rare foe couldn't hurt a sparrow, ya know? With that I left her in the rain, another mystery solved She shouts after me: How can I ever repay you, Richard?? I say: It's Ichard, Noir! -- Matt's Song -- Title: Poison Ivy Prompt: Magia Naturalis -> Poison -> Poison Ivy Lyrics: So you're walking through the woods in the US of A Got your booty shorts on like you do every day You get your bare feet rocking, letting the dogs hang out You got your shirt off too cause it's 100 degrees Berry picking cause you got a hunger to feed this is what being free is all about You're kicking through the forest out on your own If you remember one thing then remember this poem If you see three leaves better let it be cause it's poison ivy So you're hiking through Australia to a beauty spot You ain't wearing nothing but your booty shorts Just you and the sand and the sun on the back of your neck When out of the corner of your eye You see a little windy c**t, a slithering guy You can cross his path or you can turn around and head back You're kicking through the outback out on your own If you remember one thing then remember this poem If the red touches yella, it'll kill a fella That's a fackin coral snake So you're picking through the wreckage of humanity's hubris You've found a stockpile of salt and canned food Filling your pockets as much as your booty shorts will allow Your saliva glands ache at the sight of this meal When up the back of your neck runs a shivering thrill There is something amiss, a presence malignant and foul So you're kicking through the deadzone out on your own If you remember one thing then remember this poem If it bleeds black flies, best cover your eyes If it smells like sulphur, don't let it touch ya If it burns with cold fire, free your heart from desire Those are lucifer's heralds Baby it's as easy as 1 2 3 My mnemonics got you jogging all your memories If you see three leaves better let it be cause it's poison ivy

    37 min
  6. S4E4: Back to the Dad-Well

    12/15/2025

    S4E4: Back to the Dad-Well

    In episode 4 we drop all kinds of ancient knowledge and talk about our least-favorite airport Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt (The Narcissist Cookbook) and Bug (Bug Hunter) where we are challenged to write a song demo from scratch every episode If you'd like to download the demos we showed off, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pay-what-you-want to support us! Our Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Narcissist Cookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bug Hunter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and our brand-new discord is here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE BELOW -- ----Bug's Song----- Title: How to Build a House Prompt Page: Deep Sea Exploration -> Quenching -> Magia Naturalis Lyrics: I'm at the grocery store thumpin' every watermelon in the bin Dunno what I'm listenin' for but I saw my father do it when I was a kid He never taught me his tricks so its been hard cause guess and check only goes so far And now I have a watermelon of my own So I'm gonna teach it everything I know Like how to build a house, how to tie your sneakers how to walk and talk, and when you gettem, how to brush your little teeth and when you're wrong, how to say you're sorry but this list is getting long so we can start it in the morning when you're old enough to know it, your dad'll show you how I'll teach you everything you need to know How to Build A House But I dunno how to build a house but I can teach ya when ya need to lean on people and just ask someone for help the best lesson, while you're malleable, is teaching you how valuable it is to say: "I don't have to do everything myself" Because the ancient books of wisdom we're full of men who didn't listen but they claimed to know how everything worked they'd say the roof bones connected to the wall bones connected to the floor bones connected to the Earth, and that's [Chorus] Cause you don't know shit kid! But I can help ya with it We should start with shapes and colors, how to recognize your mother but I'm waiting and impatient and I really wanna skip to How to Grow a Garden I got some seeds to get you started We can grow some watermelons, teach each other how to tell when they are ready or be patient when they're still a bit too hard, and I can't build a house, unless it is for birds But I can try to build a home and get you ready for the world And when you are, I hope you'll do it too Because you wanna be like me and that is something I would do When you're old enough to do it, you're gonna show 'em how Teach 'em what I did and didn't know How to Build a House ---- Matt's Song ----- Title: Four Stop Signs Prompt Page: Whippits -> Biomaterial -> Structural Integrity and Failure Lyrics: there's a tree growing out of the gutter in the house across from here there are cracks in the brick of the big smoke stacks at the ironworks museum there are bodies in this building's foundations, prophets sick with weather pains press your ear to the doors or the hardwood floors that swell up when it rains You are living in the arhythmical heart of the empire And it's four stop signs at each intersection And it's all uphill in every direction Hear the groaning of the city, count the rings around its eyes Find out how big animals like this can grow before they die Harvest ivy from the ceiling, drink the damp right off the wall Become a vessel for whatever's growing in the laundry pile Scrawl your debut novel longhand on the hulls of subway trains Serve single malts and double shots for half minimum wage Get married in the basement, get tetanus for the high Get sexy new infections just before they go worldwide You are living in the arrhythmical heart of the empire And it's four stop signs at each intersection And it's all uphill in every direction Kiss yourself goodnight and sneak out When you're fast asleep and don't come back Kiss yourself goodnight and sneak out

    38 min
  7. S4E3: An Urban Bird

    12/01/2025

    S4E3: An Urban Bird

    In Episode 3, we continue on our quest to finish the internet, 2 clicks at a time. We'll be radically honest here: you're going to love both of these songs Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt (The Narcissist Cookbook) and Bug (Bug Hunter) where we are challenged to write a song demo from scratch every episode. If you'd like to download the demos we showed off, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pay-what-you-want to support us! Our Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Narcissist Cookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bug Hunter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and our brand-new discord is here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc! -- SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE BELOW -- ----Bug's Song----- Title: Bottle Rocket Astronaut Prompt Page: 2 Fast, 2 Furious -> Nitrous oxide -> Whippits Lyrics: I am Burt (the Urban Bird), I've got one wing that doesn't work But I've built a bottle rocket that'll lift me off the earth shoot for the stars? that ain't me. I would settle for that tree be like everybody else who can get up there easily If you try to pin me down I will get up off the ground I am a bottle rocket astronaut and all I wants the same thing everybody's got already, make it look so easy I've been gracious, I've been patient natural selection never saw me comin', baby I am Burt (the urban bird), I've got one wing that doesn't work I've got whippets in my nest but if they ask, you never heard that wanna raid me? they can try -- here's a slice of pumpkin pie all the while I'm expanding to a full-fledged enterprise See that goldfish in the birdbath? you get 3 hints to guess who did that we put a turtle on a mailbox and hedgehog on a trashcan and we've got funding coming through and big announcements coming soon we pledge by 2026 we'll put a gopher on the roof [Chorus] I am a bottle rocket astronaut and all I wants the same thing everybody's got already, make it look so easy I've been gracious, I've been patient and we've got charlie darwin freakin rollin' in his grave, eeey! (Little critters in the sky) (Little critters where they don't belong) I am Burt (the urban bird), keep me down? it doesn't work. ---- Matt's Song ----- Title: A Mile and Change Prompt Page: Weather Pains -> NOAA -> Deep Sea Exploration Lyrics: tie a cannonball to a fishing line and toss it overboard let it sink right to the bottom boys and discover how deep it goes and you can swear to the stars with a hand on your heart to everybody when you get back home that you touched the bottom of the ocean floor I know you men, I know you well When I look at you, I see myself The coaxing waves, that beckon us in We'd travel to the ends of the earth just to swing our feet over the edge And when I sleep, I hear the call The howling void, beneath our hull Goes on forever, ha, that's so absurd and we'll know better, by the time the sun sets we'll know for sure tie a cannonball to a fishing line and toss it overboard let it sink right to the bottom boys and discover how deep it goes and you can swear to the stars with a hand on your heart to everybody when you get back home that you touched the bottom of the ocean floor We let it drop, for a mile and change We didn't talk, as the evening came And we only stopped cause the line ran tight Would have kept on going if we could but we got the sense we could have gone all night And as the morning sun bore down on us And the ocean yawned, indifferent It goes on forever, and I haven't slept Cause I dream of the beasts in the infinite deep and wake in a swear we tied a cannonball to a fishing line and tossed it overboard let it sink over a mile and and we discovered how deep this goes now we can swear to the stars with a hand on our heart to everybody when we get back home that there isn't any bottom of the ocean floor floooooooooooooooooooooooooooor

    37 min
  8. S4E2: Big Willy Energy

    11/17/2025

    S4E2: Big Willy Energy

    The Jam McAdemy is back in session and we continue our Jorney through Wikipedia. Our research for the songs in this episode is impeccable (trust the experts). Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt (The Narcissist Cookbook) and Bug (Bug Hunter) where we are challenged to write a song demo from scratch every episode. If you'd like to download the demos we showed off, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bandcamp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to pay-what-you-want to support us! Our Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Narcissist Cookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bug Hunter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and our brand-new discord is here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc! Please rate / review and share the show (and our music) with friends! -- SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE BELOW -- ----Bug's Song----- Title: The Expert Prompt Page: Optical Illusion -> Phantom Limb -> Weather Pains Lyrics: I'm coughin' out the ash and smoke to tell you that I told you so Vesuvius was bound to blow and I felt it in my joints and bones I felt it in my joints and bones They said "what makes you the expert?" is it luck or something else? Everybody gets hurt when they can't protect themselves I told you once, I told you twice i said you must take my advice what makes me the expert? I was right about the earthquakes, I was right about the floods I saw that ice berg coming but the captain didn't budge I had sensed the huge tsunami that would wipe us off the map The aches across my body, the alerts before collapse You're running out of time to listen ignoring signs and superstitions What makes you the expert? Is it luck or something else? Everybody gets hurt when they can't protect themselves I told you once, I told you twice i said you must take my advice what makes me the expert? I was right about the warning signs, the subtle ground that shifts The change in your direction, slow as continental drift So when you told me it was over The Red Cross was standing by We had tents and foods and doctors, not a single person died because when you are so prepared like me, the ground is always high Your heart is never broken and your feet are always dry Its not signs or superstition, sometimes its just repetition that makes you the expert, its not luck, its something else everybody gets hurt when they can't predict themselves I told you once, I told you twice i said you must take my advice what makes me the expert? I was right ---- Matt's Song ----- Title: Shut Up and Drive Prompt Page: 1984 -> Rat Torture -> 2 Fast, 2 Furious Lyrics: okay you guys have clearly got a history is it just me or are the windows in here getting kinda misty the vibes are not exactly off but they're not quite where i thought they'd be i've got a funny feeling there is something you're not telling me i don't want to assume, i wouldn't wanna pry and i don't wanna be the thing that comes between both of you guys i can leave, it seems to me there's still some meat left on these bones you can chew each other out all you like when you're alone shut up and drive you guys have got a lot to say but you don't wanna talk so guess you gotta play this game i won't survive another ride with you i think i'd rather die i mean it, man so pull up or shut up and drive okay, let's do a cold open and cut right to the chase i've seen a million married couples with less chemistry than this there are devils, demons, incubi whose blood don't run as hot all the great lovers of fiction, they would kill for what you've got but throw a punch and not a kiss, if that's what you have to do keep your passion under wraps and act like everything is cool keep pissing nitroglycerine, keep burning it for fuel keep getting in his face like that, i know you like the view

    38 min
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About

Two bands who span the Atlantic, having a chat across the planet. Drafting jams from random challenges, fantastic banter while we're at it. So just relax and watch our antics; it's the pan-Atlantic Jam Mechanics Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt Johnston from The Narcissist Cookbook and Bug from Bug Hunter. Each week we'll take on songwriting challenges and present our finished "demo" after a few hour break.

Information

  • Creator
    Jam Mechanics
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jam Mechanics
  • Show Website
    Jam Mechanics

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