The New Dad Rock

Steve Nelson & Keith Nottonson
  • 5.0 (42)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
The New Dad Rock

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. EP 98. Montauk Mix and UFO Flix

    1D AGO

    EP 98. Montauk Mix and UFO Flix

    🎙️ Episode 98: Montauk Mix and UFO Flix Strap in for a cosmic ride back to the Summer of '98—when alternative rock was maturing, Montauk was still weird and wonderful, and UFOs might have been hovering just offshore. Steve and Keith dig through the musical treasures of 1998, spinning tracks from Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliott Smith, Mercury Rev, Beastie Boys, Sunny Day Real Estate, and more. It's the year of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, XO, Deserter’s Songs, and Hello Nasty—a golden moment whe...

    29 min
  2. EP 97. Desert Island Records

    APR 8

    EP 97. Desert Island Records

    🎙️ Episode 1997: Desert Island Classics – The Year That Was Everything What if you could only bring one year of music to your desert island? For The New Dad Rock, that year just might be 1997. In this special “Desert Island Classics” edition, Keith makes the case for a trio of albums that still echo through indie rock history: 🎸 Modest Mouse – The Lonesome Crowded West 🎸 Pavement – Brighten the Corners 🎸 Radiohead – OK Computer These three towering releases hel...

    29 min
  3. EP 96. The Opera House of Dad Rock: 1996 in Full Bloom

    MAR 25

    EP 96. The Opera House of Dad Rock: 1996 in Full Bloom

    1996 was a wild, weird, and wonderful year for music. Alternative rock was shifting in unexpected ways, techno was taking over clubs and airwaves, and Gen X was riding the high of a pre-Y2K world—blissfully unaware of what was to come. In this episode of The New Dad Rock, Steve & Keith take a joyride through the sonic landscape of ‘96, from scrappy indie rock to stadium-filling anthems to the rise of electronic music that made rock purists sweat. So what was in that five-disc CD changer b...

    31 min
  4. EP 95. Birth of An Alternative Nation

    MAR 11

    EP 95. Birth of An Alternative Nation

    Step into 1995—a time when five-disc CD changers ruled the bedroom, cassette Walkmans were essential for the commute, and a record player still held a place of honor in the living room. Not a single MP3 in sight. This was also the golden age of mixtapes, crafted with care and burned onto CDs, blending the past and future of rock into something unmistakably 1995. This episode of The New Dad Rock explores the birth of an alternative nation, when rock’s underground darlings started gaining mains...

    25 min
  5. EP 94. Did OJ Kill Kurt Cobain?

    FEB 25

    EP 94. Did OJ Kill Kurt Cobain?

    Tune in as The New Dad Rock breaks it all down—one track at a time. 1994 was a year of seismic shifts—both in music and in pop culture. Nirvana’s Unplugged set the tone for the band's tragic final chapter, while Woodstock ‘94 marked the peak (and beginning of the end) of the alternative rock explosion. Meanwhile, the slow-speed chase of O.J. Simpson had the world glued to their TVs, raising the question: What were you listening to that summer? Steve and Keith dive deep into the unforgettable ...

    29 min
  6. EP XM. Please Christmas Don't Be Late

    12/24/2024

    EP XM. Please Christmas Don't Be Late

    Oh, the nerve of the season, the audacious charade, Of this barber shop simulation where reality’s frayed! I plopped in a chair, unassuming and tame, In this den of shears and holiday fame. With old barbers tending, and old carols a-playing, The sort of tunes that leave your spirit decaying. Oh, the pomp and the fuss, the ho-ho-humbug so trite, In a soundtrack that’s anything but merry or bright. But then came the moment—oh, you wouldn't believe! A riff so electric, it made me perceive A frac...

    40 min
  7. EP 2024. The New Dad Rock Forever: A 2024 Mixtape

    12/10/2024

    EP 2024. The New Dad Rock Forever: A 2024 Mixtape

    EP 2024: The New Dad Rock Forever: A 2024 Mixtape In this milestone episode, Steve and Keith look back on their favorite music of 2024, celebrating the sounds that defined the year while pondering how their ever-evolving tastes reflect the state of New Dad Rock. From iconic returns to boundary-breaking debuts, this episode is a whirlwind tour through a wildly eclectic musical landscape. 🎵 Their Top 24 of 2024: The Cure - Songs of a Lost WorldThe Osees - SORCS 80The Hard Quartet (Debut A...

    34 min
  8. EP 93. I'm a Loser Baby, So Why Don't You Kill Me?

    11/26/2024

    EP 93. I'm a Loser Baby, So Why Don't You Kill Me?

    1993—The Year Dad Rock Cemented Its Legacy Steve and Keith crank up the time machine to 1993, revisiting the year where grunge, alt-rock, and indie collided in an explosion of creativity. From late-night dorm radio at WGSU to the first season of Beavis & Butthead, they uncover the cultural threads that tied their formative music experiences together. This episode is packed with tales of Chapel Hill bands like Superchunk and Archers of Loaf, discovering Quicksand’s Slip alongside Helmet an...

    28 min
See All (108)

5
out of 5
42 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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The New Dad Rock
  • Show Website
    The New Dad Rock

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