🎙️ Songs That Don’t Suck – First-Time Feels & Frustrating Fees
Welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck, the podcast where your host Mark Bradbourne sifts through the sonic sludge so you don’t have to 🎧. This week’s episode is equal parts musical love letter and industry rage-fest. Before we dive into the latest tracks that deserve your eardrums, Mark reflects on listener responses to the question: “What song would you want to hear again for the first time?” Then he pivots hard into a rant about the US government’s move to jack up artist visa fees by 250% (spoiler: he’s not thrilled 😤).
🎶 Songs We’d Rewind Time For
Last episode’s listener challenge? Name a song you’d love to hear again for the very first time. The answers were as varied as they were emotional:
- Andy (UK): The entire Dark Side of the Moon – rule breaker? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely 🌑🪐
- Anna: Under Pressure – Queen + Bowie? Instant chills every time.
- Christina: Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand – yes, we’re all ancient now.
- Kirk (Canada): Iron Maiden’s Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner – double cassette nostalgia for the win.
- Harry (Australia): Comfortably Numb – yet another Floyd gem.
- Michael: Angel of the Morning (Merrilee Rush version) – the one from Deadpool.
- Alex (New Zealand): Hi Ren by Ren – a hauntingly beautiful mental health monologue you need to hear.
🇺🇸 The Visa Fee Debacle: “F*ck You Very Much”
Now for the not-so-melodic part of this episode: the US has jacked up artist visa fees from \$460 to over \$1,600 per person. That’s right, even indie bands now need to fork over thousands just to play a few gigs stateside.
Here’s what you need to know:
- 💸 A 4-member band now pays \$6,600+ just for entry.
- ⚠️ Add staff, merch crew, or expedited fees? Now you’re looking at \$10k+.
- ❌ No refunds if your visa is denied.
- 🎭 Impact? Fewer international acts, higher ticket prices, and struggling independent venues.
And for comparison:
🇨🇦 Canada charges American acts nothing. That’s right. Zero. Zilch.
Mark’s advice? Call your representatives, sign petitions, and fight the bureaucratic machine trying to kill live music culture.
🎧 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck
🎵 1. The Road – Droz and the Drift
📍 Charleston, SC
➡️ Oasis vibes from South Carolina? Yep.
Think lush reverb, acoustic grooves, and just enough fuzzy distortion to make it dreamy without going shoegaze.
“It’s got that ‘headphones in, world off’ feel. Like Oasis, but with Southern charm.”
🧟♂️ 2. Zombieland – Jake Bugg
🎸 British skiffle revival meets Bangles-esque guitar licks.
Lyrically on-point, with an addictive chorus and emotional punch. A coming-of-age anthem for adults who never stopped feeling stuck.
⚡ 3. Electric Love – Velvet Wasted
🇦🇹 Austrian rock bringing Arctic Monkeys energy.
If you’re into Dirty Honey, or love the swagger of “Do I Wanna Know,” this is your jam. Pure grit and groove.
👻 4. She Plays the Theramen – Balancing Act
🌀 Quirky, catchy, and oddly danceable.
Pronounced “theramine” (rhyming with Halloween 😄), this track finally caught Mark at the right moment—confirmed by his daughter’s spontaneous car-dancing approval.
“It’s a vibe. And sometimes, that’s all you need.” – Jillian (the youngest)
🔊 …and I quote…
❝This song dances between music and spoken word—absolutely brilliant. It’s not rap, not rock. It’s Ren.❞
— Mark Bradbourne on Hi Ren
