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The Vinyl Guide

If you like records, just starting a collection or are an uber-nerd with a house-full of vinyl, this is the podcast for you. Nate Goyer is The Vinyl Guide and discusses all things music and record-related. Nate is a 40+ year vinyl collector, owns some of the most highly desired titles and enjoys them thoroughly. The Vinyl Guide is his journey through the history of music to speak with the artists and technicians who made music history and get the stories behind the records.

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  2. Ep539: Dr Strange Records' Summer Bash Festival

Ep539: Dr Strange Records' Summer Bash Festival

Mar 18, 2026

Dr. Strange Records' Bill Plaster talks Summer Bash and the chaos of booking a festival, punk history, record collecting, Live Strange, and how punk rock can genuinely change lives.

Get Summer Bash tix here  |  Follow Dr Strange for Live Strange here

Topics Include:

  • Bill Plaster of Dr. Strange Records joins to discuss the upcoming Summer Bash.
  • Punk Rock Bowling's cancellation — visa bans, politics, venue loss — created the opportunity.
  • Bill connected with Gallo, who runs the Fox Theater and the Cathedral in Pomona.
  • The Cathedral: a stunning, refurbished 1921 four-story YMCA venue hosting the event.
  • A massive two-day lineup — 30-plus bands across punk, hardcore, and old-school SoCal.
  • Notable acts include the Effigies, Channel 3, the Skulls, featuring Kevin from Green Day.
  • Every band asked said yes — Bill takes no money, purely doing it for the community.
  • Dealing with booking agents was the biggest headache of organising the festival.
  • Planning started in November; Bill hopes Summer Bash becomes an annual event.
  • The Punk in the Park cancellations discussed — Bill argues protest with your vote, not boycotts.
  • Bill credits Rod for building Dr. Strange's social media profile and making the festival possible.
  • Bill's mentorship philosophy: punk rock can genuinely change lives for the better.
  • The Dr. Strange "family" ethos — making fun of people with love, never punching down.
  • Bill's book discussed — early punk discoveries via Damned, Buzzcocks, and XTC seven-inches.
  • The brutal gang violence at early 80s LA/SoCal punk shows — constantly watching your back.
  • A close call at Spanky's: the guy next to Bill got stabbed during a Guttermouth gig.
  • Biggest missed show regret: skipped Oingo Boingo due to peer pressure from girls in line.
  • Never saw Black Flag — their reputation for brutality genuinely scared him off.
  • Eight years of mail order before opening the store; Voodoo Glow Skulls his biggest-selling record.
  • Live Strange runs Wednesdays and Fridays — the cowbell is Bill's money-back guarantee.

High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide