34 Comments

Will we ever get "Free Speech in Philly, Volume 2"? Been looking forward to it....if it exists!

Expand full comment

The lost episode.....again

Expand full comment

“The Lost Episode III: Revenge of the Fifth”

Expand full comment

Followed by "raiders of the lost episode"

Expand full comment

Like the Beach Boys’ Smile, it is perfect because it exists only in our imagination. In mine, it’s a half hour of Kmele trying to get young people to say the n-word.

Expand full comment

The first thought that went through my head? "Ok what did Michael say now"?

The second thought that went though my head? "Ok how many time did Kmele say it"?

Expand full comment

I heard some of Trump's comments at that UAW rally on the news this morning. Gotta be honest, he sounded just a tad deranged. I am starting to think he might not make the best president.

Expand full comment
Oct 4, 2023·edited Oct 4, 2023

You have a future as a political prognosticator! Instead of the "Young and the Restless" we have the "Old and the Senseless" as candidates.

Expand full comment

My first mention! Thanks!

Expand full comment

Thank you Mr Walsh!

Expand full comment

First track that came up on that playlist was Townes’ otherworldly “our mother the mountain.” I’m SOLD Matt Walsh!!!

Also I mostly want to hear a playlist about how all of these gloomy, country fried tunes ultimately blossomed to become the Gun Club.

Expand full comment

The Gun Club is a pretty deep reference. Well played sir

Expand full comment

A few weeks ago, someone left a comment about Welch's prediction of Elizabeth Warren winning the presidency in 2021. I have found that clip (or at least one of them.) Slip to around 51:30. Bonus: prediction that Samantha Power will be the next Secretary of State. [both of these predictions are clearly jokes.]

https://wethefifth.substack.com/p/153-moderate-chic-nyts-kavanaugh-bd4#details

Expand full comment
author

Oh, I clearly thought SamPow would be SoS.

Expand full comment

That’s a great playlist. And I say that, not having listened to it yet, but because i see a bunch of my faves on there. Heavy doses of Gram, Stones, Zimmerman, Merle and Townes. Good stuff.

Quick story- I’d been listening to countryish music for years before I fully ‘got it’. That particular moment happened while driving in a light snow in rural Colorado listening to Gram Parsons. Something about desolate (especially western) landscapes that really allow the depth of American country music to be felt. (For anyone who says Gram isn’t real country- sure-lyrically it can be pretty weird....but all the elements are there- pedal steel, fiddles, Emmylou)

After that, any drive to the desert or the mountains meant I’d be listening to....at that time ...mostly Merle, George Jones and Buck Owens. Honestly- all that stuff holds up.

Expand full comment

Why does Ken Layne bring the phrase "shallow grave" to my mind?

Expand full comment
author

It's a mystery.

https://youtu.be/TKDm_R5EX4U

Expand full comment
founding

No congratulations to the Astros for winning the AL west in game 162, despite another team in the division having two of the greatest baseball talents of our time on the roster?

Expand full comment

I’m gonna come to texas and sucker punch you 😘

Expand full comment
founding

I shouldn't gloat. I know it's unbecoming. I really thought the Astros would be like the Yankees right now.

Expand full comment

Good playlist, Matt, although it could use more Linda Ronstadt. Because every occasion would benefit from more Linda Ronstadt. Also, take a look at Cracker's 2014 double album, Berkeley to Bakersfield, which for me is one of the last decade's best contributions to Californiana. So many good tracks, but the version of "Almond Grove" they performed for a Gondola Session in Aspen is a great introduction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y40dlwIUN7Q

Expand full comment

I enjoy this podcast because I value multiple perspectives. However, I am disappointed that Matt was on Megyn Kelly’s podcast expressing his concern about Biden’s use of the word ‘boy’ when the GOP’s leader was just gagged and their Speaker was voted out for the first time in history. I agree that Biden’s ‘boy’ issues is bad optics and he should do better at avoiding it, but on the scale of importance, this is near the bottom. If that’s all you’ve got on Biden, well, that’s just sad and very poor journalism. Yes, he’s old, but Biden’s most recent speech in Arizona honoring John McCain was one for the ages. He made his GOP opponents look like the clusterf**k of traitorous assclowns that they are. Do better, Matt.

Expand full comment
author

Jeff, the subject of that segment was Joe Biden, not GOP congressional dysfunction (the latter topic of which I have written hundreds of thousands of words on, as recently as today). I was a guest on the show, not the host. Constant whatabouting makes for bad (and unrepeated) guesting. If you think that's "all" I've "got on Biden," I recommend reading my Reason archive ... or listening to The Fifth Column podcast.

Expand full comment
author

Matt, thanks very much for the personal reply. That doesn't happen much on the interweb and I really appreciate it. Still, it's weird, I could have sworn that specific Megyn Kelly podcast was about many different things and you were there for the whole show. Maybe it wasn't about the s**tshow that's happening in the House, but my point was that there were many other things you and Megyn could have been discussing which were far more important than Biden's age or his use of the word 'boy'. I don't see this as whataboutism, but maybe I'm wrong. I am an avid listener of the Fifth Column podcast, you guys never fail to entertain, and I know you have many things to say and have said about the subjects I referenced, but I didn't hear any of it on her show. Just sayin'. Still, no need to beat a dead horse, I get your point, and thanks again for the reply.

Expand full comment

Get Sarah to come on the pod.

Expand full comment

Welch and Isgur. I’ve been wanting this combo for a long time!

Expand full comment

That's a decent playlist you put together, Matt. Except it tilts too far in the southern California direction. How about a little more Midwestern/Appalachian love? Thinking of my southern Ohio home boys, for instance. Pure Prairie League. Or just a bit farther west, some Uncle Tupelo/Son Volt/Wilco.

Expand full comment
author

Pure Prairie League is a good call, assuming (as is usually safe) that there's either DNA or direct conscious inspiration going back to Dylan/Band. The other bands, who I adore, fall outside this very strict 1966-1976 chronology.

Expand full comment

Some Doug Sahm, maybe?

Expand full comment

“Slightly” tardy? Good info at any time nonetheless. Spotify playlist queued up to sample! Keep on truckin’!

Expand full comment

Great song. I’m convinced music will only get better when musicians begin once again looking like Waylon here and Joe Cocker circa 1969

Expand full comment