XTC live at Emerald City with sound engineer Gary Bradshaw

XTC live at Emerald City with sound engineer Gary Bradshaw

In a Record Store Day exclusive, XTC are releasing Live Boots, a double-LP recording of their gig at Emerald City, New Jersey, on 17 April 1981 – exactly 45 years ago. Sitting behind the sound desk for that gig was Gary Bradshaw, this month’s guest on What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast. In a revealing interview, Gary talks about graduating from guitar tech to sound engineer and onwards to some of the biggest bands in the world, including Alison Moyet, George Michael, Pink Floyd, ELO and Take That. He also talks about jumping aboard the Police’s tour bus, the shock of seeing Andy Partridge collapse on stage and why he still rates XTC as among the finest bands there ever was. Record Store Day, 18 April 2026 [https://www.recordstoreday.co.uk/record/recYMeurmqO44r7hR] Music from Allan Knox and The Kettle Zone [https://soundcloud.com/the-kettle-zone] What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com [http://www.xtclimelight.com]    If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher [https://www.patreon.com/markfisher]   Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.   What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by the online record shop, Burning Shed, which is the only place to get official XTC merchandise. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ [https://www.patreon.com/markfisher]

XTC and dub with Mark Thomas, Paul Myers and Tom Morley

Fireball XL5, All Along the Watchtower, Cut It Out, Go+, Take Away/The Lure of Salvage, Living Through Another Cuba…   There are more – and they’re all examples of XTC’s early experiments with dub. In this special two-hour edition of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we are exploding together as we go on a deep dive into XTC’s fascinating adventures in sound.   Sharing their love of dub are Tom Morley, the original drummer of Scritti Politti, stand-up comedian Mark Thomas, and songwriter and broadcaster Paul Myers, plus dedicated XTC fans Jeff Farris and Kevin Chanel.   Mark Thomas: https://markthomasinfo.co.uk/ [https://markthomasinfo.co.uk/]   Paul Myers: https://pulmyears.substack.com/ [https://pulmyears.substack.com/]   Jeff Farris: https://soundcloud.com/jefffarris [https://soundcloud.com/jefffarris]   Kevin Chanel and Groove Records: https://groovesrecords.com/ [https://groovesrecords.com/] Tom Morley: https://tommorley.com/about/ [https://tommorley.com/about/]   What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com [http://www.xtclimelight.com]    If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher [https://www.patreon.com/markfisher]   Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same. What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by the online record shop, Burning Shed [https://burningshed.com/], the only place to get official XTC merchandise.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ [https://www.patreon.com/markfisher]

XTC live with Tom Morley (Scritti Politti) and Kathleen Hiraga

The first episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast of 2026 includes not one but two interviews.   The first is with photographer Kathleen Hiraga, who took pictures of XTC at Hurrah! in New York City on 16 January 1980 – a gig that wound its way onto The Rhythm bootleg album. On her website [https://www.kathleenhiragaphotography.com/], she is selling copies of her favourite images.   The second is with Tom Morley, the original drummer of Scritti Politti, who, along with his bandmates, Green Gartside and Nial Jinks, was a regular at XTC’s gigs at the Rochester Castle in London in 1977, even before they were signed.   What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed [https://burningshed.com/], the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.   Music courtesy of Jean-Paul Vest and Last Charge of the Light Horse [https://lastcharge.com/]   Kathleen Hiraga [https://www.kathleenhiragaphotography.com/]   Tom Morley [https://tommorley.com/]   What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com [http://www.xtclimelight.com]   If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher [https://www.patreon.com/markfisher]   Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ [https://www.patreon.com/markfisher]

XTC's Wasp Star at 25

Twenty-five years after its release, Wasp Star remains XTC’s final statement. So how does the album stand up? Is it underrated? Is it neglected? Is it eclipsed by Apple Venus? And is it in need of some more love?   In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we head to the west of Scotland where Glasgow-based XTC fans Stephen Hope, Lorraine Lee, Alison Eales and David McGuinness show their love for a fascinating album.   What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed [https://burningshed.com/], the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.   Music courtesy of Daryl Bean [https://darylbean.bandcamp.com] – with a very special guest guitarist…   What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com [http://www.xtclimelight.com]   If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher [https://www.patreon.com/markfisher]   Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ [https://www.patreon.com/markfisher]

XTC and the Dukes of Stratosphear with Ian Gregory, aka EIEI Owen

In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast we return to the 2025 XTC Fan Festival to hear Ian Gregory who, under the pseudonym of EIEI Owen, was the drummer in XTC’s psychedelic alter ego the Dukes of Stratosphear. He is also the brother of Dave Gregory.   What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed [https://burningshed.com/], the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.   Music courtesy of Jack Calvesbert and Spider Noises  [https://spidernoises.bandcamp.com/]   What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com [http://www.xtclimelight.com]   If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher [https://www.patreon.com/markfisher]   Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same. Picture courtesy of Tim Bourne ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ [https://www.patreon.com/markfisher]