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Four Strings and the Truth

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by Sandy Smallens

5.0(22 reviews)
21 episodes
Updated Weekly
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35

Podcast Authority

Beta
PoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
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Quality33
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement96
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Podcast Overview

"Four Strings and the Truth: The Bassists Who Changed Music" features intimate conversations with players who have changed the course of the music that came after them, and continue to do so. We'll uncover their four-string mindset - their influences, approach, artistic practice, and how they go about practicing, playing, composing songs, being in a band and living their lives. Host Sandy Smallens, an indie- and major label-recording artist and bassist of 40-plus years, shines a light on the sometimes unsung (or at least under-sung) heroes who continue to redefine the bass's role in contemporary music, channeling his experience as a music writer and founder of Spotify's original content department. Check out the official pod playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NJT1Dpc6eGi09uJOuQWKs?si=4d76eeff2b5c4615. Theme music: "TRIBES" by Surface Wound. To purchase that track, check out: https://surfacewound.bandcamp.com. Yell at me here: fourstringspod@gmail.com "Four Strings and the Truth" is an Audiation Original production.

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

2/27/2024

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35

Podcast Authority

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Pod Engine
Quality33
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YouTube0
Engagement96
Learn more
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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for His Band is Better Than Your Band with Damien Sayell (Mclusky, The St. Pierre Snake Invasion)

May 7, 2026

His Band is Better Than Your Band with Damien Sayell (Mclusky, The St. Pierre Snake Invasion)

<p dir="ltr">Coming to you live and direct from the posh green room of Brooklyn club Warsaw, we sit down with gentle giant/Mclusky bassist and singer Damien Sayell, who's been in the band more than a decade now and is finally feeling like a full-fledged member. Find out how hearing the band's 2002 classic, "Mclusky Do Dallas," changed his life at the tender age of 18; what it's been like participating in the glow up of one of noise/punk's most essential power trios; and how one of the band's best new songs was composed by his three-year-old son, Magnus. </p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://mcluskymclusky.bandcamp.com/">Mclusky on Bandcamp</a> (https://mcluskymclusky.bandcamp.com/)</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://tspsi.bandcamp.com/">The St. Pierre Snake Invasion on Bandcamp</a> (https://tspsi.bandcamp.com/)</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.instagram.com/damiencsayell/">Damien's photo-rich Instagram account</a> (<a href= "https://www.instagram.com/damiencsayell/">https://www.instagram.com/damiencsayell/</a>)</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVx2zasNnTj/">Magnus's moment of genius</a> (<a href= "https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVx2zasNnTj/">https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVx2zasNnTj/</a>)</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNf3ls53rM0">An explosive live-in-the-studio set from FRET12</a> (<a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNf3ls53rM0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNf3ls53rM0</a>)</p> <p><a href="https://ipecac.com/tours/">Upcoming tour dates around the world</a> (<a href= "https://ipecac.com/tours/">https://ipecac.com/tours/</a>) - scroll to "Mclusky"</p>

Episode thumbnail for Feeling Minnesota Nice with Greg Norton (Hüsker Dü, Ultrabomb, Buddies)

August 11, 2025

Feeling Minnesota Nice with Greg Norton (Hüsker Dü, Ultrabomb, Buddies)

<div>We continue to tick off the bucket list, player by player. In the wake of a trip to Minneapolis for the Caterwaul Festival, we chat with Minnesota's favorite son, Greg Norton - who filled his time in-between Hüskers tours as a chef, eventually opening an eponymous restaurant. After going 14 years without touching a bass, and surviving a health scare, Greg is back in the driver's seat: he's got his rejiggered super-trio UltraBomb; a Greg Norton + Buddies tour in which fellow travelers can jump on stage and sing the Hüskers song of their choice; and the debut of his very own signature bass!</div> <div> </div> <div>We also announce the winner of our IdiotBox Effects Blower Box Deluxe pedal - tune in to find out if you're gonna be bathing your tone in distortion.</div> <div> </div> <div>Hüsker Dü on <a href="https://huskerdu.bandcamp.com/music" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://huskerdu.bandcamp.com/music&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw2JMfHsCbRLPjF6zDCFne2_"> Bandcamp</a> (<a href="https://huskerdu.bandcamp.com/music" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://huskerdu.bandcamp.com/music&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw2JMfHsCbRLPjF6zDCFne2_">https://huskerdu.<wbr />bandcamp.com/music</a>) and <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/artist/16bN8mhtDFdegWbg0z3s10?si=4Aycdgk-QamjQk43e_fdxg" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/artist/16bN8mhtDFdegWbg0z3s10?si%3D4Aycdgk-QamjQk43e_fdxg&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw14C8eyd_WPmpF5PZJB920R"> Spotify</a> (<a href= "https://open.spotify.com/artist/16bN8mhtDFdegWbg0z3s10?si=4Aycdgk-QamjQk43e_fdxg" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/artist/16bN8mhtDFdegWbg0z3s10?si%3D4Aycdgk-QamjQk43e_fdxg&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw14C8eyd_WPmpF5PZJB920R">https://open.spotify.<wbr />com/artist/<wbr />16bN8mhtDFdegWbg0z3s10?si=<wbr />4Aycdgk-QamjQk43e_fdxg</a>) </div> <div> </div> <div>UltraBomb on <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/ultrabombmusic/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/ultrabombmusic/&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw1Q_l0vTHUnRaXVvYcTH8sl"> Facebook</a> (<a href= "https://www.facebook.com/ultrabombmusic/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/ultrabombmusic/&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw1Q_l0vTHUnRaXVvYcTH8sl">https://www.<wbr />facebook.com/ultrabombmusic/</a>), <a href="https://ultrabomb.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a> (<a href= "https://ultrabomb.bandcamp.com/">https://ultrabomb.bandcamp.com/</a>) and <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/artist/4u2NU0NKwALURZY2qvtYQb?si=_JkfJPB2RAKRD1yT7DmauA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/artist/4u2NU0NKwALURZY2qvtYQb?si%3D_JkfJPB2RAKRD1yT7DmauA&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw3tqn7xmOuQRleeQnnZJ1fF"> Spotify</a> (<a href= "https://open.spotify.com/artist/4u2NU0NKwALURZY2qvtYQb?si=_JkfJPB2RAKRD1yT7DmauA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/artist/4u2NU0NKwALURZY2qvtYQb?si%3D_JkfJPB2RAKRD1yT7DmauA&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw3tqn7xmOuQRleeQnnZJ1fF">https://open.spotify.<wbr />com/artist/<wbr />4u2NU0NKwALURZY2qvtYQb?si=_<wbr />JkfJPB2RAKRD1yT7DmauA</a>)</div> <div> </div> <div><a href= "https://www.songkick.com/artists/2924031-greg-norton/calendar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.songkick.com/artists/2924031-greg-norton/calendar&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw2q-SsZfgTgmLZ-0An-fl-0"> Greg Norton Tour info</a> (https://www.songkick.com/artists/2924031-greg-norton/calendar)</div> <div> </div> <div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CphIHzsxduY" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DCphIHzsxduY&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw31S2Cz28bXaGLLe5tfYhyw"> Hüsker Dü Live in London 1985</a> (includes a great version of "Diane") (<a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CphIHzsxduY" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DCphIHzsxduY&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw31S2Cz28bXaGLLe5tfYhyw">https://www.youtube.<wbr />com/watch?v=CphIHzsxduY</a>)</div> <div> </div> <div><a href= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXttjijPvr-QXDwevC5Iqdg" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXttjijPvr-QXDwevC5Iqdg&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw2yI3fu_BD-quwafQnZGuH1"> UltraBomb's YouTube Channel</a> (<a href= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXttjijPvr-QXDwevC5Iqdg" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXttjijPvr-QXDwevC5Iqdg&source=gmail&ust=1754849002730000&usg=AOvVaw2yI3fu_BD-quwafQnZGuH1">https://www.youtube.<wbr />com/channel/UCXttjijPvr-<wbr />QXDwevC5Iqdg</a>)</div> <div> </div> <div><a href="https://www.caterwaul.org/">Caterwaul Festival in Minneapolis (go next year!)</a> (https://www.caterwaul.org/)</div>

Episode thumbnail for Certain Fate Foretold with Clint Conley (Mission of Burma, consonant)

July 17, 2025

Certain Fate Foretold with Clint Conley (Mission of Burma, consonant)

<p dir="ltr">Not exactly nine lives, but the quintessentially Boston band Mission of Burma has had at least two: their initial 1979-1983 foray, which yielded such classics as “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver,” “Academy Fight Song” and “That’s When I Escaped My Certain Fate”; and an unlikely reunion in the early 2000s, yielding some equally influential albums as well as as a definitive bio-pic, “Not a Photograph: The Mission of Burma Story” in 2006. Through it all, bassist, vocalist and songwriter Clint Conley has persisted, holding the same media gig for over 35 years (!) and raising a family in the wooded environs outside of Boston. Tune in to hear how this sage bassist and song architect found his sound, and continues to hew to the minimalist stylings of spindly bass lines in outings with the Chris Brokaw Rock Band, among others.</p> <p dir="ltr">ALSO! You have until 7/31/25 to enter to win a “like new” (seriously, I played it once) IdiotBox Effects Blower Box Deluxe pedal (video review <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt6URsuLhD4">here</a> <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt6URsuLhD4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt6URsuLhD4</a>). This is an amazing, bass-specific distortion pedal, with clean signal blend and a low-pass filter - so it will stick out nicely in live settings. It will arrive in its original box with 3M Dual Lock strips on the back, so it's ready for your pedal board. </p> <p dir="ltr">To enter the contest, please send a screenshot of you recommending one episode of this podcast - your favorite interview - in a publicly viewable place - it can be Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or any social media outlet. Send the screenshot to: <a href= "mailto:fourstringspod@gmail.com">fourstringspod@gmail.com</a>, and we’ll pick one winner at random on 7/31/25. Please note that previous winners of one of our contests are not eligible for this one.</p> <p dir="ltr">We thank the entrants so far - who hail from around the globe - and encourage you to shoot your shot as well.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://missionofburmamusic.bandcamp.com/music">Mission of Burma on Bandcamp</a> (https://missionofburmamusic.bandcamp.com/music)</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://open.spotify.com/artist/5UMQV83wwZCCvRSQCVjZw6?si=1eSFR-5UQRqhuLz14sDIsQ"> Mission of Burma on Spotify</a> (<a href= "https://open.spotify.com/artist/5UMQV83wwZCCvRSQCVjZw6?si=1eSFR-5UQRqhuLz14sDIsQ">https://open.spotify.com/artist/5UMQV83wwZCCvRSQCVjZw6?si=1eSFR-5UQRqhuLz14sDIsQ</a>)</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://open.spotify.com/artist/07xPqvLLSdQTw0Go6sJdk8?si=Su_5kyY0Q0-uRy-cKUqp6Q"> consonant on Spotify</a> (<a href= "https://open.spotify.com/artist/07xPqvLLSdQTw0Go6sJdk8?si=Su_5kyY0Q0-uRy-cKUqp6Q">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07xPqvLLSdQTw0Go6sJdk8?si=Su_5kyY0Q0-uRy-cKUqp6Q</a>)</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14bGcdg2eQo">“Not a Photograph: The Mission of Burma Story”</a> (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14bGcdg2eQo)</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.wcvb.com/chronicle">“Chronicle” on WCVB-TV in Boston</a> (<a href= "https://www.wcvb.com/chronicle">https://www.wcvb.com/chronicle</a>)</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHko_-sGj-Y">“Academy Fight Song” by ‘Mission of Brokaw’ (featuring Peter Prescott and Chris Brokaw)</a> (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHko_-sGj-Y)</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiMc7RftWa0">Mission of Burma live at the Williamsburg Waterfront in 2009 with Clint, Peter and Roger all </a><a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiMc7RftWa0">wearing sunglasses at some point</a> (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiMc7RftWa0)</p>

21 total episodes available

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What is Four Strings and the Truth?

"Four Strings and the Truth: The Bassists Who Changed Music" features intimate conversations with players who have changed the course of the music that came after them, and continue to do so. We'll uncover their four-string mindset - their influences, approach, artistic practice, and how they go about practicing, playing, composing songs, being in a band and living their lives.

Host Sandy Smallens, an indie- and major label-recording artist and bassist of 40-plus years, shines a light on the sometimes unsung (or at least under-sung) heroes who continue to redefine the bass's role in contemporary music, channeling his experience as a music writer and founder of Spotify's original content department.

Check out the official pod playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NJT1Dpc6eGi09uJOuQWKs?si=4d76eeff2b5c4615.

Theme music: "TRIBES" by Surface Wound. To purchase that track, check out: https://surfacewound.bandcamp.com.

Yell at me here: fourstringspod@gmail.com

"Four Strings and the Truth" is an Audiation Original production.

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates weekly.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.

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