12-03-25 - Choosing The Winner Of This Year's Playdio Competition

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Arizona
Episode: 12-03-25 - Choosing The Winner Of This Year's Playdio Competition
Date: December 3, 2025

In this lively and irreverent episode, John Holmberg and the crew—Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo—recap Arizona’s Playdio local band competition's climactic finale. They dissect each band’s live performance, recount memorable moments from the event, and ultimately vote to select this year’s Playdio champion, who will be given the coveted job of writing the show’s 2026 theme song. Expect honest critiques, inside jokes, and plenty of banter celebrating Arizona’s vibrant (if sometimes overlooked) local music scene.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Controversial Song Lyrics & Ozzy Osbourne (“Mr. Tinkertrain”)

• The episode kicks off with a candid and comedic breakdown of Ozzy Osbourne's Mr. Tinkertrain lyrics, where the hosts joke (and cringe) about the song being sung from the perspective of a child molester.
• John reflects: "I never paid attention to Tinkertrain that closely...Until just now, I didn't realize he's singing from the point of view of the rapist. He's playing the part of the...He's not singing about Mr. Tinkertrain. He is Mr. Tinkertrain." (01:20)
• They extrapolate how odd and provocative Ozzy’s artistic choices were, playfully riffing on the band’s supposed internal discussions.

---

2. Lighthearted Anecdotes & Audience Interactions

• Shout-out to recurring audience members, specifically Rochelle and Craig, with John hilariously recounting being mistaken for Craig’s son due to their similar ages and gray hair.
• "If you're ever confused for my father, it's not ‘cause I look so good,” John jokes, “maybe think about dying your hair." (04:38)
• Brady adds comic relief by sharing what Rochelle said to him: "If he asks me if I'm his mother, I'm throwing blows." (04:47)

---

3. Playdio 2025 Finalist Recap & Critique

General Impressions

• The group reflects on the live Playdio event, agreeing all bands were solid but none “blew them away” compared to past years.
• “Nobody took over the room last night. Let’s just say that.” (06:01)
• Noted the volume and quality of the bands were higher than previous years.

The Bands

a. Graves of the Monuments

• Described as the heaviest and “most aggressively loud.”
• Memorable Moment: Speculation about the thundering bass, "It sounded like a weapon. He was breaking strings…He's a Native American. They have those." (07:00)

b. Thomas James Band

• Praised for professionalism in setup and energetic performance.
• Noted for adapting to the generic drum kit and setting the standard for the night.
• "They put it out there and they're great. That was fun. If you see Thomas James Band is playing, it's worth it." (08:15)
• Compared to The Struts, called a great bar band, and forecast as “worth going out to see.”

c. The Mess I Made

• Drama around firing the guitarist; new guy with only three practices.
• “Their new guitar player kind of stole the show…He was fun.” (09:33)
• Delivered “Bleed Out” live for the third time ever—pulled it off.

d. Without Fear

• Led by KUPD’s own John Gordon; they impressed with harmonies—never easy live.
• "They knocked the harmonies out live, which is never, never easy to do in a bar." (10:30)

e. DJ Bathsheba

• "Studio queen" put on stage solo with tracks; room rooted for her but performance fell flat compared to studio magic.
• “She just did not want to do it...She's a studio queen. She's not ready to be up on stage yet.” (11:23)

---

4. Voting & Winner Announcement

• Each host writes down their pick:
• "Will it be the Thomas James Band? Will it be Without Fear? Graves of the Monuments? The Mess I Made? Or DJ Bathsheba?" (12:14)
• Votes are counted Survivor-style by Toledo.

Vote Results:

• Thomas James Band wins with the majority of votes
• Without Fear receives one vote
• Quote: "The winner of this year's Playdio is the Thomas James Band. Stone Cold Killer was the song, and it was good." (13:19)

Aftermath:

• The hosts praise all finalists and discuss the changing local scene.
• "Local music is still alive. I'm not sure where. I don't know where you go to hear it anymore...you'll find bands like this." (13:59)

---

5. Live Performance: Thomas James Band – “Stone Cold Killer”

• Listeners are treated to the winning song, with Brady belting out lyrics in classic bar-band style (14:14–16:51).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ozzy's “Mr. Tinkertrain”:

  • "How you doing tonight? I never realized that until I'm listening to it. I'm like, wait, you keep saying 'I'." – John Holmberg (01:20)
  • "That's why they call me Mr...I don't like that song anymore. I don't know if it's aged poorly or I've aged better." – John (03:59)

• On Band Performances:

  • "All of them were very good...But nobody made me go, 'oh my God.'” – John (05:52)
  • "They sound like the Struts a little bit...something happening in seven or eight different directions. I like Thomas James Band a lot." – John (08:17)
  • “Their new guitar player stole the show… He was fun to watch." – John (09:33)
  • “She’s a studio queen. She’s not ready to be up on stage yet.” – John (11:23)

• On Local Scene:

  • "Local music is still alive. I'm not sure where...but you got to search it out and you find bands like this." – John (13:59)

• On Voting:

  • "Survivor is Thomas James Band, Thomas James Band...One more vote for the Thomas James Band and they win Playdio." – John (12:52)
  • "Congratulations, Thomas James Band, you’re the champs. And to all the others that entered: your losers, Arizona's most powerful, powerful rock radio station." – Eddie (18:36)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |:-------------:|----------------------------------------------------------| | 01:20 | Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mr. Tinkertrain" breakdown | | 05:02 | Recap of Playdio Night & intro to finalists | | 06:01 | General critique: solid year but no “blow you away” star | | 07:00 | Graves of the Monuments discussion | | 08:15 | Thomas James Band performance review | | 09:33 | The Mess I Made’s new guitarist; live vs studio | | 10:30 | Without Fear’s harmonies praised | | 11:23 | DJ Bathsheba’s live struggle | | 12:14 | Hosts deliberate and vote on Playdio winner | | 13:19 | Thomas James Band declared winner | | 14:14–16:51 | Thomas James Band plays “Stone Cold Killer” | | 17:04 | Wrap-up, what’s next for the winners | | 18:01 | Suggestion to compile all former HMS theme songs |

---

Conclusion

Tone & Takeaway:
The episode is a witty, candid, and affectionate celebration of Arizona’s bar-band ecosystem. The hosts both support and roast the local artists, offering sincere praise and good-natured sarcasm as they empower the winning band to create HMS’s next theme. If you care about local music or love unscripted, honest radio, this episode is a crash course in both—with the Thomas James Band’s “Stone Cold Killer” as the crown jewel of 2025’s Playdio.

Transcript

[Host]

You're listening to the HMS Podcast, brought to you by mmpguns.com, your most trusted online marketplace for firearms, ammunition and accessories.

[Hooters Advertiser]

It's the holidays and Hooters is serving up the cheer. Grab a friend and dive into the pick three. Just $10.99 per person minimum two people. You get one appetizer, two entrees and two drinks, all for just one festive price. And while you're there, snag the perfect stocking stuffer. The 2026 Hooters calendar packed with over $150 in coupons. Plus, when you buy $25 in Hooters, you'll get $5 in bonus bucks this season. Give the gift of wings. Give the gift of Hooters at Designer Shoe Warehouse. We believe that shoes are an important part of, well, everything.

[DSW Advertiser]

From first steps to first dates. From all nighters to all time personal bests.

[Hooters Advertiser]

From building pillow forts to building a.

[DSW Advertiser]

Life for all the big and small moments that make up your whole world.

[Hooters Advertiser]

DSW is there and.

[DSW Advertiser]

And we've got just the shoes. Find a shoe for every you from brands you love at brag worthy prices at your DSW store or dsw dot com.

[Host]

You thought that was funny?

[Wayfair Advertiser]

You were laughing like a hyena when he said it. What the hell is wrong with you?

[Host]

I never paid attention to Tinkertrain that closely. I like that song. I always have that. I always knew kind of a theme of it. I didn't until just now realize he's singing from the point of view of the rapist. He's playing the part of the. He's not singing about Mr. Tinkertrain. He is Mr. Tinkertrain. Somebody needs to put a Chris Hansen sample right in the middle of that song. How you doing tonight? I never realized that until I'm listening to it. I'm like, wait, you keep saying I.

The lyrics like I've come to a palace full of fantasy toys you've never seen Mad made in a bit obscene. Come along and play my game. It's from the point of view of the child molester. So I looked and I said, why did Ozzy write that song? Whose idea was it to have him sing it as the molester himself? At least Aqualung's about a guy that says Ozzy wrote the song as a warning for his own children against child molesters. So that's how we just have to.

[Band Member/Eddie]

Understand they wouldn't get it unless they heard their daddy as the molester. Right. Really registers.

[Host]

I don't think that was Necessary. All the other guys in the band are like, you sure you want to do this, Oz? Yeah, yeah.

[Band Member/Brady]

No.

[Band Member/Eddie]

I'll play the part of the child molester. And you guys do that. That's why you guys do the parts about announcing me.

[Host]

Almost introduce it a little.

[Band Member/Eddie]

Yeah, it's working.

[Band Member/Tripp]

A little bit of it.

[Band Member/Eddie]

That's why they call hair miss. It doesn't work unless I'm actually the rapist.

[Band Member/Tripp]

Not wrong.

[Host]

And Zach's like, you know what? He's right.

[Band Member/Eddie]

Well, let's try it one more time where I'm actually involved in it. I'm not enveloped in the character of child molester. I think it'll hit harder.

[Band Member/Tripp]

You wanna. His video idea was the video.

[Band Member/Eddie]

The video. Brady's right. We had the video idea.

[Band Member/Brady]

Where I was.

[Band Member/Eddie]

I was lurking for kids was standing Butchers. I've got candy.

Like Sweetie's little girl.

I only said no to that. People didn't like, see this.

[Band Member/Tripp]

MTV wouldn't play it.

[Band Member/Brady]

No.

[Band Member/Eddie]

I was the prince of darkness in ways you can't even imagine. I was like my Satan stuff nothing compared to this.

Kids have to come along and play my game. And then. And then I say in the song, and. And afterwards, you'll never be the same. Which is alluding to the. The loss of innocence that I'm stealing from the children.

[Band Member/Brady]

Hello, Phoenix.

[Host]

Jesus Christ. Is he singing? I think he's. I was out in the crowd and he made us say it. He made me sing it as the rapist.

That's why they call me mister.

I don't like that song anymore. I don't know if it's aged poorly or I've aged better. I don't know what just happened.

Anyway, I'd like to say thanks to Rochelle and Craig, our Gilbert pod people that come out to our events. And she came out again last night. And the reason I'm bringing it up is because Craig is three years older than me and someone said, is your dad with you? It's happening too much.

[Band Member/Tripp]

I heard it, overheard it.

[Host]

Yeah, you.

[Band Member/Tripp]

Because you had to. You had to. You did a Brady what's what.

[Host]

Because I didn't believe. I'm like. I thought Tripp was standing behind me because he was. He's also full silver. And now I turn, I see Craig and I'm like, oh, that's not my dad. Like we're the same age.

And again, if you're ever confused for my father, it's not cuz I look so good. Maybe think about dying your hair. Shine him in black for a Few days.

[Band Member/Tripp]

What you didn't hear was, Rochelle, lean into me and go, if he asks me if I'm his mother, I'm throwing blows.

[Host]

He didn't. He said, is your elderly aunt available? I said, no.

No. I would say, all right, let' we have not written down our sin. Let's just recap. Playdoh Last night we sat and did our Playdoh night with all the bands that were there, and they were all a lot of fun. Let's kick it off with the one Rest in peace to one Star Night who weren't there.

[Band Member/Brady]

And let me tell you a story. A man named Piss Ball pet his dick so Smiley pissed on his ball.

[Host]

They would have done very well last night. I think we all agree that as high as we were after last week's playing of all the songs and we ended up going, this is like the best year for it. I was. I was a bit, no offense to all the bands, let down that I wasn't blown away by anyone last night. All of them were very good.

[Band Member/Tripp]

Agreed.

[Host]

But nobody made me go, oh, my God. And that's happened in the past at the live show. Like, it's so much better live than it was. And what? Yeah, this year it was better through recordings.

[Band Member/Tripp]

Katie and the Hobbs last year.

[Host]

Katie and the Hobbs killed it last year. And even talked to the girl from Katie and the Hobbs last night afterwards. And she said, she goes, just didn't seem like anyone was, like, really having fun. They were just going up there and doing it. Maybe it was nerves, whatever. Everybody played a song, did a very good job, and then walked away like, I hope that was enough and let the room be bigger than them. Nobody took over the room last night. Let's just say that the closest one was the. The guy's Graves of the monuments. And they just came in and they were pretty aggressively loud.

They're definitely heavier alive. Are they heavier?

[Band Member/Brady]

Yeah.

[Host]

This is the Carpenters compared to what they do live.

And I gotta say, I like this better.

[Band Member/Tripp]

A lot of people are asking me, what was that?

[Band Member/Brady]

The.

[Band Member/Tripp]

The bass sound that was being made?

[Host]

I don't know.

[Band Member/Tripp]

It sounded like a weapon. He was breaking strings.

[Host]

I think it's his bow and arrow. And he just turned it. Well, look, he's a Native American. They have those. They were great. I really enjoyed them. That is a loud band. And that is a. I mean, aggressive style of music. We also. We kicked it off with the Thomas James Band, and they got extra points because they set up the stage for all the other bands being first and. And that, you know, it was the. The kit that they used for drums was the. The in house one, the Copper Blues one. So everybody had to play the same drum set. And those guys set it up. It was just laying on the ground. Thomas James been came in at the end. He said, hey, we really appreciated you doing this for us and. And allowing this to happen. He goes, we already wrote your theme song, by the way. Just we're gonna send it to you either way. Anyway, that's pretty awesome. They came out and did Stone Cold Killer and I thought they were great.

[Band Member/Brady]

Something I.

I'll give you some vibes I got a long time ago from a guy that was here before you. He said, you leave your heart on the side of the road and pick it up when you know you got to be so cold.

Kill. All right.

[Host]

Those guys were really good. Great song. Like that a lot. And just hearing it right there, another bit. They sound like the Struts a little bit too. That's got a little something happening in seven or eight different directions. I like Thomas James Band a lot. Made me want to go to bars where they play because they are a great bar band. So if you're going out and you want to have a Friday night with a bar band and you see Thomas James Band is playing, it's worth it because those guys put it out there and they're great. That was fun. The other one that they had was the Mess I Made. Now these guys fired their guitar player. Did we? Did. I asked why, but they didn't really give a good answer. Yeah, they didn't.

[Band Member/Tripp]

I didn't want to get into it.

[Host]

Yeah, well, it was like somebody's girlfriend wasn't involved. But you want. And we tried to get the soap opera, but they. They had a new guy there and it was the third time they'd ever played the song, even rehearsing. So they killed a song called Bleed out and they did a great job. They were really good for a group that just met one of their dud.

And I like them better live than I do this.

[Band Member/Brady]

Yeah.

[Host]

Their new guitar player kind of stole the show though, like, for them watching on stage. And that was one thing. Nobody really owned the stage. That guy was the closest one you're looking at going, man, I can't get enough of watching that. He was fun.

[Band Member/Eddie]

Morning sickness. The 98 KUPD, Holmberg's morning sickness, and.

[Host]

Then our own John Gordon's band. We didn't even know he was in this until we played the song. It's Called Without Fear. The song is called Gaslighter. And they knocked. They knocked it stiff. They played really well. And this is their submission. And they played this last night.

Cool song. And they knocked the harmonies out live, which is never, never easy to do in a bar. And they were. That was really good. So nice job by them as well. Without fear and then. Oh, the girl we forced to. To do this. I feel like we coerced DJ Bathsheba into doing something. She continually told me, I'm not a performer. I'm not a performer. Yeah. And then she went up, and she's like. She was shy and scared and uncomfortable. And I think the reason that it comes across as less than we wanted it was because the song she submitted, Fire and Freedom, is so big, and she's so big on it and live. She just did not want to do it.

[Band Member/Brady]

Burning deep in my soul can't change my reason I'm taking back control Every step I'm taking Lights up the sky I'm chasing yeah, I'm fire Freedom Ain't no turning down my sl.

[Host]

She's a studio queen. She's not ready to be up on stage yet. And she tried to tell us that, but she will be someday. She emailed me and said it was a pleasure to meet you guys. I love you already. Thanks so much for having me in the competition as a songwriter and studio performer. Nope, we didn't have you on as that. We had you on as all of it. And eventually she'll be all right. But her live performance last night, the whole room was, like, rooting for. Nobody was, like, booing or upset. She was just. She was up there by herself. She doesn't have a band, so she played the tracks, and the other bands were like, oh, I guess we're doing karaoke tonight. I'm like, give her a break. She'll be all right. But that. That Fire and Freedom song is something. So I think we should write down our. Our. Our wants. Will it be the Thomas James Band? Will it be Without Fear? Will it be Graves of the Monuments? Will it be the Mess I made or DJ Bathsheba? She's still in it if you guys want to throw it on there.

Grading the performances, I'd say no. 1 was a heavy A, but there was a couple solid Bs, and we're.

[Band Member/Tripp]

Just writing down number one, just whichever.

[Host]

One you want to write. The winner of the deal, there's four of us.

Give your answers to Toledo, and then we'll have this band.

Write our theme song.

[Band Member/Brady]

All right.

[Host]

I've given mine Toledo. There's four. This shouldn't take long. Calculate the answers. First vote on survivor is Thomas James Band. Thomas James Band. Second vote.

One vote for Thomas James.

[Band Member/Tripp]

Thomas James Band.

[Host]

Two votes for. One more vote for the Thomas James Band and they win pledio. $2,000 and they get to write. Okay.

[Band Member/Tripp]

Without fear.

[Host]

Without Fear is the one vote for Without Fear.

[Band Member/Tripp]

We could have a tie.

[Host]

Well, don't you vote? I did. Oh, you had two. Without Fears. Oh, Thomas Jones, you voted for the Thomas J. That's Brady's. I can tell by the handwriting.

[Band Member/Eddie]

That was mine, actually.

[Band Member/Brady]

Jesus.

[Host]

You. You know our handwriting. I'm sending you both to penmanship school. That a.

[Band Member/Tripp]

That's all he did was write tsb.

[Host]

That's smart. He's figured it out. I should have thought that he's figured it out with nicknames and abbreviations, and now he doesn't even write the word. All right, well, there you go. The winner of this year's Playdoh is the Thomas James Band. Stone Cold Killer was the song, and it was good.

[Band Member/Tripp]

They were prophetic, right? You said they already wrote it.

[Host]

They wrote this. They're done. They don't even have to go into a studio. They did it before. So let's hear our winner for this year, and congratulations. Thanks to everybody. This was by far the best as far as volume of good acts that we've had play this game with us. And local music is still alive. I'm not sure where. I don't know where you go to hear it anymore. I mean, you got the 44, and.

[Band Member/Tripp]

I even asked last night, like Kristen and I.

[Band Member/Brady]

She goes.

[Band Member/Tripp]

That varies.

[Host]

Blues bars, a few, but I mean, where's that? Thya has music on the weekends, too. Local legends has east side.

[Band Member/Brady]

Yeah.

[Host]

So you can go out there, too, and you'll find it, but you got to search it out and you find bands like this. Let's hear the Thomas James Band, our champions for 2025 at Stone Cold Killer.

[Band Member/Brady]

Sally sad sit on the side of the road didn't know where to begin Sorry that she ever let it get this far but we got to know if you're still in now are you still young?

God said Johnny's a staring through love her own friend left long ago.

Having the skills to impel is a will said something I think you should know I'll give you survives I got a long time ago from a guy that was here before you you say you leave your heart on the side of the road and pick it up when you and through you know you got to be strong cold then from the bottom time you do a stone cold killer ma.

It does in your veins you can justify the ends from the me make them see what you are.

Two in the front, one in the back Daddy said I get a week out casting all the money in the world wouldn't justify things going far so we'll give you some advice I got a long time ago what kind of is here before you be saying feel your heart on the side of the road and pick it up when you withdrew you know you got to be so cool dip on the p time you do a stone cold killing machine a thousand your veins you can justify the answer underneath they can see that you are.

I gave you some fast I got a long time ago oh my God I was here wait for you he said you leave your heart outside of the world back it up when you say that now you got to be sound cold you live for the part of times you do a stone going kill it all machine.

Your veins you can justify the.

[Host]

There you go. The Thomas James Band. They are this year's winners and I'm happy to have them. Nice job. Actually, when I wrote my vote down, thought I'd be the only one. I thought you guys were going to go with without fear or graves of the monuments.

No, I was close. Yeah, look, they were all pretty close. So there you go. Congratulations, Thomas James Banner. If Brady calls him the tjb.

Which is also I think a disorder with your jaw. I got the tjb.

But anyway, congratulations. Now we eagerly await next year's morning sickness theme song from our friends at the Thomas James Band. Very excited for you to send us your thing. And then every day that we are on live next year, the Thomas James Band will start the show and play every single day. So we'll get their name out there as much as they need it out there. So.

[Band Member/Tripp]

Oh, I was also asked by a few people last night to put a collection together of all of the theme songs. I'll do that. I'll put it on podcast.

[Host]

Let's step Brett, do it on one of those Saturday shows.

[Band Member/Tripp]

We can do that too.

[Host]

Yeah, kill some time on a Saturday morning just playing theme songs. What's work I gotta do? That's exactly right.

[Band Member/Tripp]

And there's a bunch I haven't heard.

[Host]

Yeah, that's true. Oh, that's true too. There's some I've forgotten. I don't think I've ever been like. That's awful. There's some I played around with, got a little bored with as the year went on.

[Band Member/Tripp]

When you added it, was it whistle? You added all the whistle.

[Host]

Well, they left me so much space to play and I just started to add. You know, Walker told me I have AIDS and all that. I was just putting drops in. Congratulations Thomas James Band, you're the champs. And to all the others that entered.

[Band Member/Eddie]

Your losers, Arizona's most powerful, powerful rock radio station.

[Vrbo Advertiser]

Vrbo. Last minute deals make chasing fresh mountain powder incredibly easy with thousands of homes close to the slopes, you can easily get epic pow freshies, first tracks and more. No need for months of planning. In fact, you can't even plan. Pow Pow is on its own schedule. Thankfully somewhere in the world it's always knowing. All you have to do is use the last last minute filter on the app to book a last minute deal. On a slope side private rental home book [e-mail].

[Wayfair Advertiser]

Huge news Wayfair shoppers there's still time to shop Wayfair's Cyber Week sale. Right now you can score up to 70% off everything home. Save on kitchen and dining, bedroom furniture and mattresses, seasonal decor, and way more. Plus with Wayfair's fast and easy shipping, everything home comes right to to your home just in time for the holidays. So don't wait. Save up to 70 off during Wayfair's Cyber Week sale now through December 7th at Wayfair.com Wayfair Every style, every home.