🎙️ First Hour Analysis 🎙️

Analysis of Matt & Bob Show 03-17-2023 Transcript (First Third)

Hot Dog Friday Show

• No, this is not a Hot Dog Friday show. Matt mentions it is Friday morning (01:37), but there is no mention of Hot Dog Friday traditions.

Food Items/Restaurants Talked About

• Bombars – outdoor store with gift card promotion (00:00)
• Jim’s – Kathy calling from there having chili and eggs and refried beans (23:12)
• Outback Steakhouse – celebrating 35th anniversary with throwback boomerang menu (37:47-40:40)
• Walkabout soup
• Aussie twisted ribs
• Wedge salad
• Towoomba Pasta
• Alice Springs Sirloin
• Sydney’s Sinful Sundae
• Cinnamon Oblivion
• Texas Roadhouse – Chuy’s favorite, mentions rolls with honey butter, blue cheese steak salad, chili (41:02)
• Saltgrass – frozen Jack and Coke slushie mentioned (40:13)
• Logan’s – steakhouse where you can throw peanut shells on floor (40:51)
• Texas Land and Cattle – mentioned (40:07)
• Ruth’s Chris – expensive steak chain (42:13)
• Sirloin Stockade – buffet steakhouse, “slightly better than Golden Corral” (42:25)
• Texas Chili Parlor – steak combo platter with chili, tamale, guacamole, beans and rice (43:43)
• Vista Brewing – Driftwood location having St. Patrick’s Day celebration (45:22)
• Jack and Ginger’s Irish Pub – Domain area, 7th annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration (45:53)
• Fado – mentioned as now closed (45:59)

News Stories Talked About

• Don Pryor retirement – KLBJ AM host retiring March 31st after 15 years (06:09)
• Time change – still affecting people’s schedules (04:05)
• South by Southwest – Matt mentions being “South by to death” (01:30)

Funny Moments or Memorable Quotes

• Matt calling in from his car while late, saying his duty is “to the show and to the listeners. So what if I have an accident?” (02:29)
• Discussion about needing tubes like bank drive-through tubes to travel across the city (02:58)
• Matt joking about not blaming his lateness on irresponsibility: “that would be the truth. And that’s that people don’t deserve the truth” (04:34)
• Bob discussing delay for muggers: “too bad there’s a delay, because a mugger really could have took advantage of that moment” (05:26)
• Chuy’s massive coughing fit prompting Matt to ask “You cough up any sea monkeys?” and offering “You want to take the day off?” (16:00-16:27)
• Discussion of The Whale movie with Chuy saying he saw himself in screen reflections (07:10)
• Listener thinking Chuy weighs 400-500 pounds (08:00)
• Matt’s distress about his kid winning a goldfish: “we don’t have just a goldfish. We have an aquarium with filters and lights” (09:47)
• Kathy’s deadpan delivery about goldfish getting huge: “Yeah, well, 12 is a little much, but you know, anyway” after Matt questions if she knows what 12 inches is (25:01)
• Beta fish discussion: “They sound like assholes. Why do they call them betas? Shouldn’t they be alphas?” (18:10)

Phone Callers

Kathy (22:02-27:00)

• Called from Jim’s restaurant having breakfast
• Discussed brine shrimp being fish food
• Explained beta fish only fight each other, not other fish
• Warned Matt his goldfish could grow over 12 inches
• Gave fish tank maintenance advice (never change more than half the water)
• Expressed hatred for goldfish being sold at fairs

Tesla Dan (27:20-28:32)

• Confirmed goldfish/carp/koi are all the same fish
• Mentioned koi can grow two feet long
• Sent Chuy a PDF for donation to Cheech Marin Center
• Asked Chuy to hand-deliver it in person during his trip

Bob’s Rock and Roll News Segment

Wolfgang Van Halen recently spoke out defending the Sammy Hagar era of Van Halen, saying it doesn’t get the respect it deserves. In a new interview about his involvement with Van Halen band reissues, including a new vinyl release “Live Right Here Right Now” for Record Store Day, Wolfgang explained that his uncle Alex Van Halen is the head decision-maker, and Wolfgang serves as what would have been his father Eddie’s vote on these matters. Wolfgang and Alex work as a team on these releases.

Wolfgang expressed frustration that the Van Hagar years don’t receive proper appreciation despite featuring amazing songs and brilliant guitar playing. He believes people don’t give this era a fair chance because they get caught up in the exhausting debate about which singer was better. Wolfgang encourages fans to simply give the Sammy Hagar-fronted Van Halen material a chance rather than engaging in comparison arguments.

The discussion highlights the ongoing division among Van Halen fans regarding the David Lee Roth versus Sammy Hagar eras. Wolfgang, as Eddie Van Halen’s son, has a unique perspective and is working to ensure all eras of the band’s history are properly represented and celebrated. His comments suggest a desire to move past the singer debates and focus on the quality of the music itself, regardless of who was fronting the band at the time.

Nickelback achieved a legal victory when a federal judge dismissed a copyright lawsuit on Thursday. Kirk Johnson had claimed the band’s 2006 hit “Rockstar” was copied from his own song also titled “Rock Star.” The judge ruled the two songs simply don’t share much overlap and stated plainly that they don’t sound alike. Where both songs evoke similar themes, the judge explained they are rendered dissimilar through what he called “the vivid detail of the original expression in Nickelback’s lyrics.” The dismissal represents a win for the band, though the hosts joked about why anyone would want to publicly claim they wrote a less popular version of a Nickelback song.

The Cure successfully convinced Ticketmaster to refund money to fans after tickets to their upcoming North American tour sold for exorbitant prices due to surge pricing and high fees. Fans who thought they would pay around $80 for tickets ended up paying $250-$300. While Ticketmaster agreed to provide refunds, they will only refund $10 per ticket—an amount the hosts noted won’t even buy a full drink at the venue. The Loft World Tour kicks off May 10th in New Orleans. This represents a small victory for artists pushing back against Ticketmaster’s pricing practices, though the refund amount is relatively minimal compared to the total overcharges.

Rolling Stone magazine named Black Sabbath’s self-titled song “Black Sabbath” as the number one heavy metal song of all time in their updated “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time” list. The magazine described the track as having “the feeling all metal bands have been chasing ever since,” positioning it as the foundational heavy metal song. The hosts discussed whether this was the right choice, with some uncertainty about whether this particular Black Sabbath track deserved the top spot, though they acknowledged the band’s importance to the genre’s development.

Drake announced he’s playing two Texas shows during 2023 on tour with 21 Savage, coming to Houston and Dallas with tickets going on sale the day of the broadcast. This news was delivered during the “Rock and Roll News Junior” segment aimed at younger listeners. The hosts encouraged kids to pressure their parents into buying tickets, making a joke about parents who couldn’t get Taylor Swift tickets and suggesting children should make their parents feel guilty by saying “if you love me, you’ll get me Drake and 21 Savage tickets.” The segment ended with the dark humor suggestion that if parents don’t provide tickets, it’s because they don’t love their children.

Bands Talked About During Bob’s Rock and Roll News

• Van Halen (with discussion of Sammy Hagar era vs. David Lee Roth era)
• Nickelback
• The Cure
• Black Sabbath
• Drake (with 21 Savage)

Summary of This Portion (Excluding Rock and Roll News)

The show opened with Matt Bearden calling in from his truck while driving to work late, having overslept after attending South by Southwest events and the KLBJ day party the previous day. He blamed the time change and the cold bedroom temperature for sleeping through his alarm. Bob Fonseca and Chuy held down the fort in-studio while Matt navigated through traffic, joking about his dedication to the show over safe driving and discussing futuristic tube transportation systems. The hosts wished their colleague Don Pryor a happy retirement from KLBJ AM, noting he’s one of the last people to actually retire from radio rather than being forced out.

A major portion of the show focused on Matt’s family accidentally winning a goldfish at the rodeo, which led to purchasing an entire aquarium setup with filters and lights. This spawned an extended discussion about low-maintenance pets for kids, including bearded dragons (living up to 15 years), rats (2-3 years), hermit crabs (surprisingly living up to 15 years), sea monkeys/brine shrimp (1 year), and beta fish. The conversation included fascinating details about brine shrimp’s ability to survive as dried cysts for years before hatching when exposed to water, and their 600,000-year presence in the Great Salt Lake. Two listeners called in with fish expertise: Kathy warned that Matt’s goldfish could grow over 12 inches and advised on proper tank maintenance, while Tesla Dan confirmed that goldfish, carp, and koi are essentially the same fish species.

The show also featured an extensive discussion about chain steakhouses, sparked by Outback Steakhouse’s 35th anniversary throwback menu being offered for one week. The menu includes items like Walkabout Soup, Aussie Twisted Ribs, Towoomba Pasta, and Alice Springs Sirloin. Chuy declared Texas Roadhouse his favorite chain steakhouse, particularly praising their rolls with honey butter and blue cheese steak salad. The hosts compared various chains including Saltgrass, Logan’s, Sirloin Stockade, and Ruth’s Chris, while also discussing local Austin spots like Texas Chili Parlor. The conversation revealed the irony that Outback Steakhouse has never been Australian and only recently opened its first location in Australia. The segment concluded with planning St. Patrick’s Day activities, including events at Vista Brewing and Jack and Ginger’s Irish Pub.

⏰ Second Hour Analysis ⏰

Matt & Bob Show Analysis – Second Third (March 17, 2023)

Food Items/Restaurants Talked About:

• Jack and Ginger’s, Rock Rose – St. Patrick’s Day celebration, $20 cover, $7 beers (46:27-47:18)
• Punch Bowl Social – 522 Congress Avenue, $7 beers mentioned (47:03-47:18)
• Cork and Barrel – East Palm Valley Boulevard, Round Rock, St. Patrick’s Day celebration for their second birthday (47:39-48:03)
• Beatty Riley’s – Mueller district, Matt’s wife goes there Fridays, mentioned full English breakfast and fish and chips (48:14-48:36)
• Cooper’s – Downtown location where KLBJ had a day party, barbecue mentioned (53:51-54:24)
• Chili dogs – Bob mentioned having four chili dogs for less than $10 (47:21)
• Cucumbers and pita – Matt described his “healthy lunch” as a salad wrapped in bread (54:24-54:34)
• Dead Rabbit Bar – Famous NYC bar opening location on Sixth Street in former Beatty Riley space, known for high-end cocktails and pre-prohibition drinks (48:49-50:20)
• Enfield Drug – Closing and selling off soda fountains and equipment (50:51-51:13)
• Vegan pesto – Made by caller David in Germany story (1:09:39-1:10:02)

News Stories Talked About:

• Street Takeovers Arrests – 24 total defendants arrested for street takeovers, seven takeovers occurred during one weekend from US 290 to Howard Lane; Police Chief Chacon announcement (51:17-53:36)
• Dead Rabbit Bar Expansion – NYC’s famous Dead Rabbit Bar taking over former Beatty Riley space on Sixth Street, part of expansion to New Orleans, Nashville, Boston, Chicago (48:49-50:20)
• Enfield Drug Closing – Starting today, selling off everything inside including soda fountains, countertops, cash registers, magazine racks, shelving units (50:51-51:13)
• South Carolina Comptroller Error – Richard Ekstrom made coding error in 2007 causing $3.5 billion accounting mistake, double counting money transferred to colleges/universities (1:23:13-1:24:40)
• Family Feud Murder Case – Timothy Blifnick, who appeared on Family Feud in 2020 and joked his biggest wedding mistake was “saying I do,” now charged with breaking into home of estranged wife Rebecca and fatally shooting her (1:26:40-1:27:35)

Predictions Made:

• Matt’s prediction about Bob on scooter – Suggested if Bob falls at 15 mph, “we’re gonna have to take him out back and just shoot him” (59:17)
• Chewy’s credit rating prediction – About South Carolina losing credit rating: “What’s the state need a credit rating for?” suggesting it won’t matter much (1:24:28)

Interesting Facts Shared:

• Dead Rabbit Bar – Often listed in top five bars in entire world, researches old pre-prohibition drinks, known for over-the-top service (48:49-49:23)
• Scooters – Can go 35 miles an hour; illegal to ride on sidewalks, must ride in bike lanes or car lanes (56:40-57:45)
• Street Takeovers – Most arrests since September 2020 when Austin police arrested 22 people and impounded 25 cars; most defendants arrested outside Austin as they had driven in (51:17-53:36)
• Timothy Blifnick’s Answer – His “said I do” answer was the number two answer on the Family Feud board (1:27:13)

Phone Callers This Portion:

• Lucas (1:01:15-1:03:00) – Suggested Matt ride a bicycle instead of scooter, offered Yellow Bike Project for $100-$200; Matt declined, Lucas also mentioned he has motorcycle and bicycle
• David (1:06:57-1:13:45) – Called from military stationed in Germany, told story about hosting D&D night, drank entire bottle of wine and fell asleep, weird guest showed up unannounced following weekend with girlfriend and giant dog, demanded dinner, didn’t like vegan pesto, girlfriend got drunk and threw up, guy spanked girlfriend in front of David
• Tim (1:13:47-1:16:45) – Computer repair person who drives around city; showed up at residence with open door, customer on toilet told him to “come in,” had full conversation while customer was on toilet about broken screen; machine was destroyed but customer didn’t want other parts fixed
• Pass Control Chris (1:16:47-1:18:38) – Pest control worker, went to four-story townhome for bugs in master closet, found wall-to-wall collection of adult toys organized by size and shape, saw briefcase with 16-18 inch items, glimpsed customer’s iPad with photos she was editing
• Brandy (1:19:12-1:22:18) – Went on first date in Key West, Florida; guy took her back to his house without mentioning he had a pig; giant potbelly pig came barreling out; guy explained he bought it as teacup pig to pick up girls; other red flags emerged once inside house; she didn’t hook up and never saw him again

Funny or Memorable Quotes:

• Matt on street takeovers: “Ladies and gentlemen, those people are in jail, and you can eat dinner with your family in the living room. I mean, in the dining room again, finally.” (52:26)
• Matt on street takeovers: “That’s the day Austin almost crumbled.” (52:07)
• Matt on scooters: “I think part of the joy of driving one is that you know that everybody is mad at you while you’re on it” (1:00:15)
• Matt on scooters: “The satisfaction of knowing that instantly everyone around you hates you is a very, it’s a freeing sensation” (1:02:38)
• Chewy proposing scooter takeover: “What if we stopped traffic all four ways and had a scooter takeover?” (1:02:48)
• Matt: “Stop us now coppers. A scooter takeover. That’s a loophole they can’t deal with.” (1:02:59)
• Chewy on Bob’s fall: “As a man, you don’t acknowledge it. I just saw him fall and then I kept looking over the other way.” (58:32)
• Chewy about weird D&D guy: “This weird dude with no social skills, he’s got a girlfriend and you don’t.” (1:09:30)
• Pass Control Chris: “Hey man, listen, you know, hey, my more than bug can get tethered, you know what I’m saying?” (1:18:46)
• Matt on South Carolina: “It’s just South Carolina, too. No one cares that no one cares.” (1:24:23)
• Matt to Brandy: “You’ve never been on a date with a girl who’s like, there’s tons of red flags here, but she’s super hot, so I think I’m going to overlook a lot of them.” (1:21:47)
• Chewy: “Men aren’t going to stop or choose to leave. We’ll leave in the morning.” (1:22:06)

Recurring Jokes or Gags:

• Matt’s scooter riding – Extended discussion about Matt riding scooters downtown, being proud of his skills, wanting to do obstacle course; Chewy and others mocking him for it (56:27-1:04:30)
• Bob’s coordination issues – Chewy claiming Bob has poor coordination, fell 8-10 years ago looking at UFO, shouldn’t ride scooter (58:26-59:17)
• Scooter takeover concept – Recurring bit about doing synchronized scooter takeover at Barton Springs and South Lamar with old synchronized swimming choreographers (1:02:48-1:04:30)
• Matt’s food choices – Discussion of Matt eating “healthy” cucumber lunch then immediately drinking and eating crap downtown (54:24-55:06)
• Professional radio problems – Opening of Mojo Nixon interview plagued by broken headphones and technical difficulties (1:28:37-1:29:35)

Five Paragraph Summary:

This portion of the Matt & Bob show aired on St. Patrick’s Day 2023 and featured extensive discussion of St. Patrick’s Day events around Austin. Matt ran through various celebration locations including Jack and Ginger’s at Rock Rose ($20 cover, $7 beers), Punch Bowl Social downtown, Cork and Barrel in Round Rock, and Beatty Riley’s in Mueller where his wife frequents. A major announcement came that New York’s famous Dead Rabbit Bar, often listed among the world’s top five bars, will be opening in the former Beatty Riley space on Sixth Street as part of a multi-city expansion. The hosts discussed how odd it seemed to put such a high-end establishment on Dirty Sixth, though they appreciated the “be the change” attitude.

The show covered several news stories, with the hosts taking a heavily sarcastic tone toward the street takeover arrests. Police announced that 24 people have been arrested for street takeovers that occurred across Austin from US 290 to Howard Lane, with DPS director Steve McCraw calling it a “significant threat to the public.” Matt and Chewy mocked the severity of the response, with Matt sarcastically announcing that citizens could “finally” eat dinner in their dining rooms again and walk their dogs since the “street takeover folk have been arrested.” They noted that most arrests were made outside Austin since participants had driven in from elsewhere. The hosts also mentioned Enfield Drug’s closing and liquidation sale starting that day.

A significant portion of the show was devoted to Matt defending his use of electric scooters downtown during South By Southwest. Despite mockery from Chewy and others, Matt described riding one from Cooper’s barbecue where the KLBJ day party was held, his skills navigating a zigzag wheelchair ramp, and how the scooters can reach 35 mph. He acknowledged that “part of the joy” is knowing everyone is mad at you, calling it “a freeing sensation.” The conversation evolved into an elaborate bit about organizing a “scooter takeover” with synchronized swimming choreography to mock the recent street takeover arrests. They debated whether Bob should participate given Chewy’s claims about Bob’s poor coordination from allegedly witnessing him fall while looking at a UFO 8-10 years ago.

The Question of the Day asked for the weirdest or most uncomfortable thing that happened at a stranger’s house, generating several memorable calls. David told a lengthy story about hosting an uninvited D&D player at his home in Germany who showed up with a girlfriend and giant dog, demanded dinner, rejected the vegan pesto, got his girlfriend drunk to the point of vomiting, and spanked her in front of David. Tim, a computer repair technician, described arriving at a home where the customer conducted their entire consultation while sitting on the toilet with the door open. Pass Control Chris shared finding a massive organized collection of adult toys while investigating a bug problem in a master bedroom closet. Brandy recounted a first date in Key West where a guy took her home without mentioning his giant potbelly pig that he’d originally bought as a “teacup pig to help pick up girls.”

The segment concluded with two odd news stories presented by Matt. First, he discussed South Carolina Comptroller Richard Ekstrom who made a coding error in 2007 that resulted in $3.5 billion being double-counted on state balance sheets, only discovered now with lawmakers calling for his resignation despite the error being 16 years old. Chewy questioned why the state even needs a credit rating. Second, Matt shared the disturbing case of Timothy Blifnick, who appeared on Family Feud in 2020 and joked that his biggest wedding mistake was “saying I do” – the clip resurfaced after he was charged with breaking into his estranged wife Rebecca’s home and fatally shooting her. The show ended with technical difficulties as they attempted to begin an interview with Mojo Nixon, struggling with broken headphones.

🕐 Third Hour Analysis 🕐

Analysis of Matt & Bob Show (03-17-2023) – Final Third

Food or restaurants talked about during this portion:

• 01:43:07 – Matt mentioned eating four chili dogs the previous night for dinner
• 01:51:00 – Cooper’s Barbecue mentioned as the location of the KLBJ Day Party
• 02:03:07 – Sam’s Barbecue mentioned as a Stevie Ray Vaughan-related location
• 02:09:00 – Taco Flats on Guadalupe mentioned as a historic venue from 1979

Guests on the show:

• 01:29:19 to 01:51:17 – Mojo Nixon (main guest interview and live performance)
• 01:58:38 to 02:04:11 – Ethan Azarian (phone call from former Orange Mothers member)
• 02:09:00 – Dusty (brief caller sharing memories of 1979 music scene)

Memorable moments during this portion:

• 01:47:51 to 01:50:14 – Mojo Nixon performed “I Hate Banks” live in-studio with acoustic guitar
• 01:38:01 – Chuy expressed wanting to go outside for the first time in forever after hearing Mojo
• 01:46:20 – Discussion about Mojo Nixon transitioning from denim to Hawaiian shirts as he got older and “fatter”
• 01:43:07 – Matt’s story about thinking his wife shrunk his shirt, but realizing he’d gained weight
• 01:39:17 – Mojo described a past show element involving an anatomically correct inflatable sheep and crowds chanting “Duck the sheep!”

Interesting facts shared during this portion:

• 01:33:19 – The Mojo Manifesto documentary was released on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17, 2023) after 12 years in production
• 01:34:50 – Mojo’s bass player started filming the documentary 12 years ago by showing up at Mojo’s house with a camera in a box
• 01:38:39 – Mojo’s day party “Mojo’s Mayhem” has been running since 1999 at Continental Club
• 01:40:05 – Mojo Nixon is 65 years old
• 01:40:51 – Mojo plays 47-minute sets, playing approximately 55 songs in that time
• 01:45:41 – Mojo has a radio show on Sirius XM Outlaw Country that airs every weekday
• 01:46:00 – Mojo’s father ran a radio station
• 01:46:00 – Elvis had “entertainer” listed on his passport
• 01:54:12 – Mojo Nixon was part of the original South by Southwest in the first or second year (late 1980s)
• 02:02:00 – Orange Mothers played regularly at Continental Club on Saturday nights in the late 90s/early 2000s
• 02:09:00 – The original South by Southwest in 1979 was at Taco Flats on Guadalupe, with cardboard-covered walls and a pot-belly stove

Summary

This final portion of the Matt & Bob show featured an extended interview and live performance with legendary psychobilly artist Mojo Nixon, promoting his documentary “The Mojo Manifesto” which was released that day on St. Patrick’s Day. The interview provided fascinating insight into Nixon’s philosophy as an entertainer who doesn’t take himself too seriously, his high-energy performance style, and his decades-long connection to Austin’s music scene. Nixon described himself as someone who has “two speeds: 180 miles an hour and asleep,” embodying a punk rock aesthetic applied to rockabilly music.

The highlight of the segment was Nixon’s live acoustic performance of “I Hate Banks,” a song he wrote in 1986 that he noted remains timely during current banking crises. The performance demonstrated his skill at audience engagement even in a radio studio setting, as he encouraged the hosts to chant along. Nixon also promoted his day party “Mojo’s Mayhem” at Continental Club, featuring multiple acts including John D. Graham, the Waco Brothers, and Polish Pete’s polka band performing on the street. He humorously mentioned that reports suggested he might stand naked on a balcony across the street as attendees arrived.

Following the Mojo Nixon interview, the show received a call from Ethan Azarian of the band Orange Mothers, who shared his experiences opening for Mojo Nixon and described him as genuinely humble and down-to-earth despite his wild stage persona. Azarian also discussed his current weekly singer-songwriter happy hour at Hole in the Wall on Wednesdays from 6-8:30pm, emphasizing the importance of supporting local live music. The conversation highlighted concerns about Austin losing touch with its musical heritage as the city grows and changes.

The hosts engaged in broader discussion about the evolution of South by Southwest from its humble beginnings as a $15 wristband event at seven clubs to its current massive scale. They emphasized the importance of discovering new music and supporting heritage venues like Continental Club, with Matt sharing a story about recently seeing Jimmy Vaughan perform. The conversation touched on how music consumption has changed from the CD era to streaming, and how that affects music discovery.

Throughout this segment, the show maintained its characteristic irreverent humor while genuinely celebrating Austin’s musical heritage and the spirit of artists like Mojo Nixon who embody the city’s creative energy. The hosts encouraged listeners to attend live shows, support local venues, and engage with the musical culture that makes Austin special, even as the city continues to grow and change. The segment ended with reminders about Steve Miller and Cheap Trick tickets going on sale and a final giveaway for Sherwood Forest Fair passes.