Episodes

  • The 68th Annual Grammy Awards Reaction Episode

    The 68th Annual Grammy Awards Reaction Episode
    Feb 2 2026
    Immediately following the Grammys on Sunday, February 1st, 2026, Chris and Matt recap the night and give their reactions on what was a big night for Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Olivia Dean, Lola Young, and many more. One Hit Thunder is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder ⁠Buy some Merch⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join our Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • The 1996 Albums Fantasy Auction Draft

    The 1996 Albums Fantasy Auction Draft
    Jan 28 2026
    The DREAM TEAM is back! One Hit Thunder hosts Chris Fafalios and Matt Kelly are joined once again by draft regulars Matthew Milligan and Tony Hartman, this time to each try to get the very best collection of records from the STACKED year of 1996. Each drafter starts with 100 theoretical dollars, and they’ll try to outbid each other on albums like Pinkerton, Evil Empire, Tidal, The Score, Odelay, and Bad Hair Day…all records so iconic that you don’t even need to say the name of the artist! Tune in to hear who walks away with the best batch. One Hit Thunder is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder⁠ ⁠Buy some Merch⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join our Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Chris DeMakes A Podcast: Tracy Bonham discusses her song “Mother Mother”

    Chris DeMakes A Podcast: Tracy Bonham discusses her song “Mother Mother”
    Jan 25 2026
    From Chris DeMakes A Podcast (originally released as Episode 265 on 7/7/25)... On this episode, Tracy Bonham sits in to break down her explosive 1996 single "Mother Mother." From her early days as a classical violinist to the raw vocal power that defined her biggest hit, Tracy shares how the song evolved both lyrically and emotionally. She opens up about the recording of her debut album, navigating sudden success in the '90s alt-rock scene, and even featuring her real-life mom in the song’s iconic video. It’s a candid look at the creative process behind a track that blended vulnerability with ferocity—and still resonates decades later. One Hit Thunder is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder⁠ ⁠Join our Patreon⁠ ⁠Buy some merch⁠ ⁠Follow us on IG⁠ ⁠Join our FB Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • “I Touch Myself” by Divinyls

    “I Touch Myself” by Divinyls
    Jan 21 2026
    Not to toot our own horn, but this is our 300th episode of One Hit Thunder, so we HAD to focus on a song about tooting your own horn. It’s unclear if anyone has ever actually referred to masturbating as “tooting their own horn”, but that’s not the point here. The point IS that in 1991, you could be riding in the car with your grandparents and hear “I Touch Myself”, an ode to self-pleasure from Australia’s Divinyls. In their home country, the Divinyls were a long-running and successful band, but it wasn’t until their collaboration with the writers of “Like a Virgin” that they crossed over to the US. So why didn’t the States continue to bust a nut over the band after this unforgettable hit? Tune in to find out. One Hit Thunder is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder Buy some Merch⁠ ⁠Join our Patreon⁠ ⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠ ⁠Follow us on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • Chris DeMakes A Podcast: Fred LeBlanc discusses Cowboy Mouth’s “Jenny Says”

    Chris DeMakes A Podcast: Fred LeBlanc discusses Cowboy Mouth’s “Jenny Says”
    Jan 18 2026
    From Chris DeMakes A Podcast (originally released as Episode 266 on 7/14/25)... In this episode, Chris is joined by Fred LeBlanc, the high-energy frontman and drummer of Cowboy Mouth, to break down the story behind their signature song “Jenny Says.” Originally written during Fred’s stint in Dash Rip Rock, the song went through several incarnations before becoming a crowd-commanding anthem and a staple of Cowboy Mouth’s famously explosive live shows. Fred shares how the track evolved over time, why emotional honesty matters more than perfection, and how a great hook can outlast just about anything. From vocal delivery to production decisions, this conversation offers a raw, insightful look at a song that’s connected with fans for decades—and proves that sometimes shouting “let it go, let it go, let it go” is exactly what we all need. One Hit Thunder is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder⁠ ⁠Join our Patreon⁠ ⁠Buy some merch⁠ ⁠Follow us on IG⁠ ⁠Join our FB Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • Our Sixth Year Countdown

    Our Sixth Year Countdown
    Jan 14 2026
    2025 is in the books, and now it’s time to RANK the last 50 songs that were featured on the show. This time, Chris and Matt are joined by CLASSIC One Hit Thunder guests Matt DiStefano, Johnny Yetsconish, and Jim Logrando to put the songs in order from worst to best. What will come out on top? Tune in to find out! One Hit Thunder is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder Buy some Merch⁠ ⁠Join our Patreon⁠ ⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠ ⁠Follow us on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Chris DeMakes A Podcast: Ian Dench discusses EMF's "Unbelievable"

    Chris DeMakes A Podcast: Ian Dench discusses EMF's "Unbelievable"
    Jan 11 2026
    From Chris DeMakes A Podcast (originally released as Episode 262 on 6/9/25)... In this episode, Ian Dench of EMF joins the show to discuss the writing and recording of the band’s explosive 1991 hit, “Unbelievable.” From its instantly recognizable hook to its genre-blending sound, the song became a cultural phenomenon and an enduring stadium anthem. Ian offers a look behind the curtain at the song’s construction, including its layered instrumentation, unique pre-chorus, and the clever use of samples—most notably the shout of “Oh!” lifted from Andrew Dice Clay’s stand-up album. He also recounts how a chance encounter with Rick Rubin at a New York restaurant led to Rubin casually granting sample clearance with the words, “Fax my office in the morning.” The conversation explores the emotional and musical influences that shaped the track, the challenges of creating in the analog era, and how personal experiences and playful experimentation helped fuel the song’s unforgettable energy. One Hit Thunder is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder⁠ ⁠Join our Patreon⁠ ⁠Buy some merch⁠ ⁠Follow us on IG⁠ ⁠Join our FB Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • “I Melt With You” by Modern English

    “I Melt With You” by Modern English
    Jan 7 2026
    Modern English’s “I Melt With You” is one of those songs everyone knows, but most people don’t realize how much is packed into its seemingly happy 80s charm. On the surface, it’s a catchy love song, but listen closer and you catch hints of nuclear anxiety and darker undertones that make it surprisingly layered. In this week’s episode, we explore how a band blending punk and new wave turned a modest chart hit into a timeless anthem that still shows up in movies and commercials decades later. Modern English faced breakups, reunions, and changing music trends, yet the song’s combination of pop hooks and emotional depth has kept it alive. Tune in as we dive into all things Modern English, a band that realized the power of a great hum solo in a song. Buy some Merch Join our Patreon Join our Facebook Group Follow us on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 mins