Before the algorithm told you what to like, you had to hunt for the good stuff. The Daves rewind to a time when musical discovery meant late-night radio signals, cryptic record store recommendations, and trusting your gut on a cool-looking album cover.

This week’s guest is Brandon Schmidt—yes, that Brandon Schmidt—who went from booking bands in college to shaping MTV’s digital future, discovering Interpol, and living the rock-and-roll manager life. These days, he owns Soma Sounds, a record store that keeps the spirit of music discovery alive.

🔥 What’s inside?

• The secret sauce behind finding the cool music before Spotify and TikTok did it for you
• Brandon’s behind-the-scenes tales from MTV’s golden era and how it shaped the music we love
• A wild story involving the Pixies, a legendary concert, and an unexpected visit from David Bowie 🤯
• How a single notebook changed the course of music history (and led to Interpol’s rise)
• What it’s really like to tour the world with a rising band—including near-disasters, VIP hangs, and picking the perfect opening act
• That time Brandon and Dave flat-out turned down Pearl Jam for $500—because, well, hindsight is 20/20

📻 Plus, the Daves weigh in on the eternal debate: Was discovering music better when you had to work for it?

🔎 Ready for deep cuts, lost gems, and some epic nostalgia? Hit play, and let’s go digging. 🎧

00:00 – Welcome to the Rabbit Hole 🌀 – Weather talk, island survival picks & musical lifelines
01:00 – Before the Algorithm: How We Found Music in the ‘80s 🎧 – From underground radio to record store deep dives
02:17 – Meet Brandon Schmidt: From College Concerts to Rock Stardom 🤘
08:10 – The Classical Kid Goes Alt – Brandon’s unexpected journey into alternative music
16:56 – That Time David Bowie Crashed a Pixies Gig 👀 – The Oberlin concert that became legend
25:33 – Inside the Record Store Scene – Where music discovery really happened
28:24 – Bringing MTV Online: The Birth of Digital Music Culture 💻
39:56 – The Notebook That Changed Everything 📓 – How a simple habit led to Interpol’s rise
41:05 – Interpol Hits It Big: What Stardom Looks Like Up Close
43:26 – Tour Life: Traffic Jams, Movie Stars & Rock-and-Roll Chaos 🎸
45:08 – Opening Acts 101: The Art of the Perfect Pairing – How headliners really pick their openers
52:04 – Guides, Gurus, & Tastemakers: Who Helped Us Find the Good Stuff?
01:01:13 – Music Discovery Then vs. Now: What’s Lost, What’s Gained? 🔄
01:06:23 – Final Thoughts & Parting Shots 🎤
01:11:00 – Wormholes: The Kiffness, Hawaiian Shirts, and Random Internet Joy