E252 - John Andrew Fredrick (the black watch) - Top 5 Cult Bands

"It's astonishing that a group as dedicated to quality and craft as California's Black Watch could go for...decades with a cult following the size of a kitchen sponge." So begins Michael Toland's entry of the black watch in the Trouser Press Record Guide. But what exactly is a cult band? It's something that we seek to define - with fifteen prime examples, natch - during O3L's Season 6 premiere! Joining us is the black watch's singer/songwriter/guitarist/prolific genius himself, John Andrew Fredrick! It should be noted that Toland follows up the kitchen sponge comment with "...the band's body of work is remarkably consistent, worth searching out by more than just epicures of obscurity." He's right, y'know. John Andrew Frederick has two dozen albums of stellar indie pop to his name since 1988, including a pair of fantastic records in 2024 - The Morning Papers Have Given Us the Vapours and Weird Rooms. You can find those and more at https://theblackwatch.bandcamp.com. What's it like to be a cult hero? What's the most "cultish" thing black watch fans have done? What beloved cult band can John not get behind? Did the lads give John some ideas for his upcoming double album? So whaddya say? Join the "Mark E. Smiths of podcasting" for an episode stuffed to the gills with epicures of obscurity, brilliant failures, and horrible pleasures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices