Tune Tag #134 with Matt Madurski, Pt. 3: Green Day, Eboni Fondren, Nirvana, Jo Dee Messina, Dexter & The Moonrocks, Hole, Just Jack

Nice to welcome back old friend, Matt, back to the Tag! As you can see by the names above, we're all over the proverbial map, 🎶-wise! Does anyone see a "Will & Grace" reference? Dig in!👂🎵

Matt! Brad! It’s Showtime!……Hey! HEY!

Welcome back, Matt Madurski, master of the Chart Chat ‘Stack!

For the past three years, I’ve been up to all kinds of musical shenanigans on Substack, operating a little newsletter called Chart Chat! As the name implies, I like to spark conversations related to music and its placement on the myriad industry charts used to track song and album sales and popularity.

While I’ve focused on the Billboard magazine “Modern Rock Tracks” chart, I like to dive through different leaderboards across pop and alternative music, and sprinkle in anecdotes about my life.

In my spare time, I like to devise fun ways to take games like “Tune Tag” to the next level, and I think I pulled off a good one this time! Read on to find out!

At the beginning of last year, Matt and I played Tune Tag #74, his 2nd:

Tune Tag #74 with Matt Madurski of "Chart Chat," Pt. 2: Lou Reed, Blackstreet, Gotye, Perry Como, Far East Movement, Sting, AWA

Last week, we were charmed by the Tune Tag mastery of The Radio Room’s Joi:

Tune Tag #133 with Joi of The Radio Room: Flamingos, Anna Calvi, Twilight Gallery, Lee Ritenour, Tin Machine, Florence + The Machine, Backstreet Boys

Next week, join us for the debut Tune Tag with Alex O'Brien of Vinyl Hour!

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Matt’s song #1 sent to Brad: Dexter and the Moonrocks, “Sad In Carolina,” 2024

Matt’s rationale: When Dexter and the Moonrocks hit #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay (formerly Modern Rock Tracks) chart in December 2024, I noted at the time that it would take me another seven years to talk about them in a full article on my newsletter.

Brad was hopeful that I would put together something sooner, and I still might, but at least for now I wanted to acknowledge that this song, “Sad In Carolina,” was one of the sparks that got me back into modern music, an area I’d temporarily abandoned over the past few years for myriad reasons.

West Texans, Dexter and the Moonrocks clearly give off a modern vibe, but the DNA of this song is pure ‘90s and ‘00s alternative rock, and it speaks to me both as a present-day classic and as a throwback to my teenage years!

Click here for a 10-minute interview (on YouTube) with Dexter and the Moonrocks from Austin’s ACL Fest 2024.

Brad’s song #1 sent to Matt: Jo Dee Messina, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” 1995

Matt’s response: I pored over this one for a good long time, and I have to admit that I can’t seem to find a connection other than the titles. Jo Dee Messina’s ‘90s country charmer was a Top 10 country hit in 1996 and is fine, even though it’s not my personal cup of tea.

Unlike Dexter and the Moonrocks, who seem to be stuck in Carolina, Jo Dee Messina at least offers a hopeful glimpse of a future with someone, but leaving their destination up to a coin flip. Hopefully she doesn’t choose Carolina, given all the sadness Dexter and his Moonrocks feel there.

Brad’s rationale: Well, I guess if you’re “sad in Carolina,” you’re hoping your coin-flip turns up tails on this 1996 Jo Dee Messina debut single, written by Tim Nichols and Mark D. Sanders.

Matt’s song #2: Green Day, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” 2004