Episode Details

Welcome to the rock history class you actually want to take! In this electrifying 59th installment, Mike and Michael dive into a powerhouse celebration of virtuosity, soulful hard-rock grooves, and timeless '80s arena pop. We jump-start the episode with The Art of Discovery, highlighting three groundbreaking independent acts carving out brilliant spaces in the underground scene:

• Black Heart Society – “Threshold”
• Novara Nyx – “Without Ever Waking”
• Omnivide – “Arise” (from the “Arise” EP)

From there, we brace ourselves for our main feature: an extensive, track-by-track dissection of The Winery Dogs’ self-titled 2013 debut album. Mike opens up about why this "supergroup done right" serves as literal comfort food for his soul, breaking down the unmatched chemistry between three absolute master musicians. Together, we analyze how Billy Sheehan’s mind-bending four-string bass wizardry anchors the low end without ever cluttering the mix, how Mike Portnoy trades prog-metal epicness for pure '70s pocket, soul, and thunderous fills, and how Richie Kotzen acts as the ultimate secret weapon, delivering fingerstyle shredding alongside Chris Cornell-esque vocal power. From the explosive opening drive of “Elevate” and the infectious funk swagger of “Desire” to the tear-jerking emotional weight of "You Saved Me," the gospel-infused soul of "Regret," and the sludgy prog-metal journey of "Time Machine," we celebrate a lightning-in-a-bottle record that stands as a modern hard rock classic.

Finally, we pivot to Michael’s Journey to explore the timeless, soaring magic of Steve Perry's 1984 solo debut smash, "Oh Sherrie." We dive into the song’s late-night studio origins, celebrate the iconic synth intro and Perry's unbelievable acapella entrance, and reflect on the anthemic hooks, lush backing choir, and unmatched vocal range that made this track an immortal staple of '80s pop-rock history. Press play and join the journey through rhythm, movement, and rock history!

(00:00:00) - Intro/What Have You Been Listening to this Week?

(00:05:37) - The Art of Discovery

(00:06:02) - Black Heart Society "Threshold"

(00:11:17) - Novara Nyx "Without Ever Waking"

(00:15:53) - Omnivide "Arise"

(00:25:34) - Main Topic: Breaking Down The Winery Dogs' 2013 debut, "The Winery Dogs"

(01:13:14) - Question for the Audience

(01:13:28) - Can't Wait

(01:15:04) - Michael's Journey: Discussing Steve Perry's "Oh Sherrie"

(01:19:55) - On the Next Episode

(01:20:13) - Contact Info/Outro

OTHER BAND MENTIONS:

• Caspian, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, Iapetus, Buckethead, Threshold, Frontierer, Polyphia, Spike and the Gimme Gimme’s, Enslaved, Northlane, Queens Of The Stone Age, Eidola, Trivium, Alcest, Parkway Drive

CONNECT WITH & SUPPORT US

• Connect With Us & Follow the Show
• Leave a 5-star review on Apple/Spotify!
• Want to be featured on The Art of Discovery? Send us a message!

Recorded on 10/18/2026