12-17-25 - Rock Wars - Song Of The Year For 2025 - Mammoth, Nine Inch Nails Or Limp Bizkit

Summary

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Holmberg’s Morning Sickness – Rock Wars: Song of the Year for 2025

Podcast: Holmberg's Morning Sickness (98KUPD, Arizona)
Air date: December 17, 2025
Host and Crew: John Holmberg (Host), Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Episode Theme: Determining the Rock Wars “Song of the Year” for 2025 – Nominees: Mammoth WVH (“The Spell”), Nine Inch Nails (“As Alive as You Need Me To Be”), Limp Bizkit (“Making Love to Morgan Wallen”)

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Episode Overview

The final Rock Wars segment of 2025 takes center stage as John Holmberg and the crew debate their personal picks for the “Rock Song of the Year.” The hosts each champion their chosen tracks—ranging from established juggernauts Nine Inch Nails and Limp Bizkit to new-generation talent Mammoth WVH—before throwing the vote to their audience for the ultimate winner. The episode highlights camaraderie, playful jabs, passionate music commentary, and an enthusiastic listener response.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening the Segment: Remembering 2025 in Rock

[01:31-02:49]

• Holmberg reminisces about musical highlights from 2025, noting the halftime act at an Arizona Cardinals game as a standout moment, lamenting that “The Warning” didn’t have an album drop this year.
• The Rock Wars “Song of the Year” is explained as the annual tradition, with Holmberg noting this is the final Rock Wars of 2025.

2. Nominee Selections & Rationale

[02:49-05:41]

• John Holmberg: “Fake Lives” by The Messenger Birds
  • Holmberg admits this song is “totally under the radar” and expresses his love for it, despite it not getting radio play.
  • Quote [02:49]: “I just want to push them a little because it made me listen to all their other stuff. And it’s great. ... I owe it to the Grammys, of all things, because I just went through for rock performances and found that they’d won one.”
  • He ultimately reveals his official entry is “As Alive as You Need Me To Be” by Nine Inch Nails.
• Bret Vesely: “Making Love to Morgan Wallen” by Limp Bizkit
  • Bret calls it the year’s “comeback song” for the Biscuit—unexpected, quirky, and a grower.
  • Quote [03:36]: “Making love to Morgan Wallen. That’s the Biscuit.”
  • The team jokes about the song’s absurd premise and signature Limp Bizkit style.
• Brady Bogen: “The Spell” by Mammoth WVH
  • Brady tips his cap to Wolfgang Van Halen, noting the song’s nostalgic yet timeless sound.
  • Quote [04:23]: “Almost 80s... reminds me of 7 Mary 3, kind of Alter Bridge... it feels right in every era.”
• Holmberg advocates hard for Nine Inch Nails’ “As Alive as You Need Me to Be,” noting its resurgence and energy, calling it “the best [NIN song] since the first album.”
  • Quote [05:31]: “Head and shoulders above. I don’t want to call it a comeback, but it’s the best song they’ve had since the first album.”

3. Announcing the Voting Process

[05:57-06:58]

• Listeners are encouraged to vote via email, text, or call-in for their preferred song.
• Holmberg playfully raises the stakes:
  • Quote [05:57]: “Rock wars, the last one for all the marbles. We’ll put another thousand dollars on it for fun. All in.”

4. Tallying the Votes & Listener Reactions

[09:53-11:25]

• The crew is stunned by the highest vote count in Rock Wars history.
  • Bret: 26 votes
  • Brady: 14 votes
  • John: 14 votes
• They read colorful, spirited listener emails:
  • Some praise Limp Bizkit’s track as a “super creative” hit, while others throw support behind Mammoth WVH or Nine Inch Nails.
  • Quote [10:01] (Bret reading): “Brett’s killing it, but Brady is really tight. ... All amazing songs, but Biz Quick takes this one.”
  • Quote [10:41] (Holmberg clarifies): “Limp Bizkit. I’m stalling right now. Making Love to Morgan Wallen. That’s a Limp Bizkit song. We all loved it. It’s great.”
  • The team delights in Brett’s Italian heritage being the deciding factor for at least one voter.

5. Determining the Champion — The Big Reveal

[11:25-12:26]

• The vote comes down to a random draw when Brady and John tie; Bret’s lead is confirmed by the email votes ("number one").
• Cheerful jeers and classic banter ensue:
  • Quote [12:25] (Bret): “Suck it.”
  • Holmberg quips about career reevaluation: “I’m not sure I want to do this job anymore. Can you help me get a CDL?”

6. Celebrating the Winner & Reflecting on the Picks

• Bret Vesely is crowned Rock Wars Champion 2025 for his Limp Bizkit pick.
• Holmberg muses on the “impossible decision” this year, appreciating listener engagement and the spectrum of songs debated.
• A final reminder to check out The Messenger Birds for something off the beaten path.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Listener Involvement:
  Holmberg [09:53]: “This is the most involved the audience has ever been.”
• Brady on Mammoth’s Sound:
  Brady [04:23]: “It’s got a 2000s—almost 80s—kind of altar bridge... it kind of feels right in every era.”
• On Limp Bizkit’s Shock Factor:
  Holmberg [11:26]: “Had I told you back in January Limp Bizkit would put out the best rock song of the year, would you have said yeah, probably. That’d be an argument.”
• Bret’s Winning Speech:
  Bret [12:25]: “Suck it.”
• Holmberg’s Career Crisis:
  Holmberg [12:26]: “I’m not sure I want to do this job anymore. Can you help me get a CDL?”

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Key Timestamps

• 01:31 – Segment kickoff: 2025’s rock highlights, Cardinals mention
• 02:49 – Each host announces and discusses their Song of the Year pick
• 05:57 – Voting instructions for listeners
• 09:53 – Results: audience voting totals, listener emails read on air
• 10:41 – Deep dive into the history of each artist/song
• 11:25 – Announcement: Bret wins with Limp Bizkit’s “Making Love to Morgan Wallen”
• 12:25 – Bret’s victory speech (“Suck it”)
• 12:26–12:44 – Post-win banter and wrap-up

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Conclusion

The crew delivers a raucous, affectionate, and listener-driven finale to 2025’s Rock Wars. Limp Bizkit, rather improbably, takes top honors thanks to audience votes and Bret’s passionate defense. The episode is a testament to Holmberg’s Morning Sickness’s playful dynamic, deep-rooted love of rock, and the Arizona rock community’s vibrant participation—making for an energetic, memorable show that both celebrates and pokes fun at the quirks of rock fandom.

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Transcript

[A]

You're listening to the HMS podcast brought to you by MMP Guns.com, your most trusted online marketplace for firearms, ammunition and accessories. Hey, it's Brett Vesely and I'm here with Byron from MMP Guns. Look, Byron, I have a friend wanting to sell some guns he inherited. What's the best way for him to do that?

[B]

Brett, the last thing you want to do is sell the gun to someone who can't legally own one. Tell him not to put himself at risk and come into M and P Guns where he'll get a fair offer and he can rest easy knowing it's not getting into the wrong hands.

[A]

Okay, but what if he lives out of state?

[B]

Easy. Legalgunbuyer.com and he can do it.

[C]

Really?

[B]

That simple.

[A]

There you have it. MMP Guns or legalgunbuyer.com the safe and legal way to sell your firearms.

[C]

It's John Holberg here from the morning sickness and it's time to talk about TVs Doug Hopkins of My Home Group and doughopkins.com. have you ever thought to yourself, I'm going to sell my house? Of course you have. And one reason or another, you just didn't do it. Probably because it's a hassle when you try to make a real estate deal. What if I could say, you can sell that house the day after you say the words, I want to sell my house. Doug's been at this for over 25 years and that's why he's still on top of the Hill. TVs Doug Hopkins can handle everything. Won't move the price or you get $5,000. What do you start to process right now@doug hopkins.com or grab the phone and sing? Still streaming Homberg's morning sickness [e-mail] One of the highlights of 2025 was that band right there playing halftime at a Cardinals show I played or the Cardinals game they played at the halftime of the Jags game.

[A]

It's a highlight of the cardinal season.

[C]

Absolutely. I think you might be right. Best thing that happened out at that stadium. That was awesome. So the warning. I wish they had an album that popped this year. They did not. All right, let's do it. Rock Wars. Last one. And finally, it is the battle of annual music supremacy. Rock Wars. It's brought to you by our friends at Mo Money Pond. Shorter long term collateral loans from $10 to over 100,000American ones. Credit needed, top dollar paid. The entire process just taking several minutes. Way to go, guys. The last one really? Mo money. Pawn.com.

[A]

We should do this. Michael McDonald.

[C]

Yeah. No, we shouldn't. Yes, we not. Several minutes. See? All right, Next year, the quartet hasn't.

[A]

Been here in a while.

[C]

The whole process just taking. Several minutes. No, I'm not sure I like that. We'll. We'll rehearse it on the break and we'll get it better. We'll tighten that up. Song of the year is the last one we do every year, the song of 2025. The best rock song of 2025. And it's not necessarily Slim Pickens. And I'm going to go out knowing that nobody did it. But there's a band I love called Messenger Birds. Do you know them? Messenger.

[A]

Oh, you sent that to.

[C]

And I sent that to. And they had a song called Fake Lives this year that I absolutely loved. And it made them. And we never played it. They didn't get any push, any pop at all. And I really like somewhere between, like, Almost a Stone Temple Pilots, Lenny Kravitz and Roya. Highly suspect. They're a combo of a bunch of things. But that song called Fake Lives, and I just want to push them a little because it made me listen to all their other stuff. And it's great. Like, I've been all over this band since summer. Actually. I. I owe it to the Grammys, of all things, because I just went through for rock performances and found that they'd won one. So Messenger Birds I went with. But nobody knows it, so, you know, it's not really great. Brett, I'll start with you for your rock song of 2025.

[A]

I'm going with. Are you ready to. Yeah. Oh, okay. I'm going with the. The comeback song for the Biscuit.

[C]

No.

[A]

Making love to Morgan Walter.

[C]

With a cape at night.

[B]

And I'm.

[C]

That's the cool. I love the song and it grew on me. I didn't like it a ton. Thought it was fine, but. There you go. That's Morgan Wallen making love to Morgan Wallen. By the biz. Quick, Brady.

[D]

I'm gonna give my nod to Wolfie this year. Oh, with the spell.

[C]

Mammoth mammoth. Wolfgang Van Halen.

[A]

This the new one.

[C]

The one thing I do love about this song is I can't place it in a ton. It sounds almost 80s, and it reminds me of Free Mary 7. 7 Mary 3. 7 Mary 3. Kind of altar bridge.

[A]

Altar bridge.

[C]

It's got 2000s. It's got a. Which I think makes it just good. It kind of feels right in every era. We'll vibe on it, too.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Wes's thing on your deal has me again when he. When he hits that little thing in the back, it's great. Well, I'm going to win this. Those are great songs. I think it's a good one. But, I mean, there is. Yeah. As alive, as alive as you need me to be. The nine inch nail song to me, just head and shoulders above. I don't want to call it a comeback, but it's the best song they've had since the first album. I think anybody listen to anything else.

[A]

To let itself out.

[C]

As live as you need me to be. From the Eros track soundtrack, Nine inch Nails.

[A]

There's really no losers in this. I mean, as far as song choices, they're all.

[C]

Well, there is a loser.

[A]

You know what I'm saying?

[C]

They're all great songs. In your hats. There is a number 18, a number 17, a number 4, a number 1, and a number 5 for fun.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Just in case. Now, wait. We don't draw it yet. Oh, we're gonna have the vot for the song of the year now, do we? We're gonna let the people decide today. Okay, [e-mail] that's where you go with that. Will it be making love to Morgan Wallen, the 2025 song of the year? Will it be wolfie and mammoth with my daddy was great. That song was good. What was it called?

[D]

The spell.

[C]

The spell. And then my song, as alive as you need me to be. My Nine Inch Nails. You can vote at [e-mail] you can text your vote 97936. You can call us up and become the last caller. 585-9800. If we need you, we will go that direction. Rock wars, the last one for all the marbles. We'll put another thousand dollars on it for fun. All in. Yep. Brady said yes. He just answered this door. He's gonna help. A kid with a C needs a thousand bucks for a CDL license. We'll find out who the winner of rock wars is next. Mary effing holidays from the Big Red Radio 98 KUPD. It's John Holmberg here, and it's time to talk about TVs Doug Hopkins of my home group and doughopkins.com I got a call from Doug the other day thanking me for leading so many of you guys his direction. He told me a story of a listener who had been through quite an ordeal and had a house they absolutely had to sell to feel like they Were getting back to a normal place in life. You just never know when simple business transactions can actually change someone's life. So you want to deal with somebody great. TV's Doug Hopkins. That's your guy. So if you want to sell your house, start the process right now [e-mail] or grab that phone and sing Hopkins 1-800-channel now Holmberg's Morning Sickness. All right, off we go. Here we we are. It's 9:53, loaded up, ready to go for rock wars. And I do believe this is the highest vote total I've ever seen. You guys participated. The choices for song of the year. Brett chose. What was it making?

[A]

Morgan Wallen from Lip Biscuit.

[C]

Brady chose Mammoth.

[D]

The spell.

[C]

The spell. Ooh, the spell. And I chose Nine inch Nails. As alive as you want me to be. And on the emails, I've never said this before because this is the most involved the audience has ever been. Brett got 26 votes. Brady got 14 and I got 14. That's a lot. Normally I just go through and go to the first 10. They just kept rolling up. But they were great. We had a lot of people rolling in there. It says Brett has it this week. This one says my vote is for large Marge Bogan. Mammoth delivered another great album. The end and the spell were hit. Pop Pop could use an annual rock wars win. Take that moolah to start his over the top truck driving and arm wrestling business with curbiters. Cue that, Kenny Loggins. Meet me halfway. Happy holidays, fellas. From scoop sellers. Brady gives nickname. So he gave me that listen says I'm voting for you. John the ginzo had a good pick too. Unfortunately, ever since Wolfie Virtue signaled you on the show have been turned off by him. Better luck next year. Old Pop Pop, AKA the loneliest player in the world. This one says it's all a tie. These are good songs. Brett had a rough year. Brady had a rough year. But I'm gonna go with Brett simply on the Italian thing. Falcone. This one says I just listened to. Oh, wait, that's a different one. Happy holidays. Thanks for making my year better. I love you guys. Giving it to Bert Shimmery. My votes for Bert with Limp Bizkit. I find myself cranking up the radio every time it comes on. Thanks again for another amazing year, Chancellor Jew. Damn it, you guys rock. I just rolled right over it. There was a bunch of them. There's tons. Impossible decision. Amazing songs all in their own right. I love nine inch Nails, but in my eyes, Biz Quick takes this one honestly been a hit and miss on a lot of their music, but this one was super creative. Brett giving you the vote, but it's barely. Thank you. That's from our friend Brent Crandall, who helps us out a ton. Says John Brady. E wins because f the system, man. Happy holidays and thanks to laughs.

[D]

Pop.

[C]

Pop. Go get them. They just keep coming. All right, what do you have over on your board of on text.

[A]

Brett's killing it, but Brady is really tight.

[C]

Coming in time.

[A]

Really close.

[C]

Surprisingly, the Nine Inch Nail song. I thought that was 92.

[A]

Yeah, that was a slam dunk. All right, we hat in it.

[C]

We gotta pull the hat and see what this is gonna be. Well, no, let's. Let's just see. All right. If Brady Wednesday can reach in. If you win, it's over. All right. If I win, I have to. We're tied. So we'd have to draw.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

And whoever draws a higher number between us will be the champion. Shut her down.

[A]

Okay. I didn't know I was gonna have.

[C]

To write down the bretlin's emails. You got to write those emails. So once again, the choices are Limp Biscuit. I'm stalling right now. Making love to Morgan Wallen. That's a Limp Bizkit song. We all loved it. It's great. Fred Durst. Course. Morgan Wall. Wes is in the band Morgan Wall and not on the much of a reference to him. A great choice. Brady chose Wolfgang Van Halen. You may know that name from years and years of music. Back in 79, when Van Halen came out with Van Halen 1.

[A]

Of course, his dad and uncle are in that.

[C]

Father and his uncle Edward and Alex in that also. David Lee Roth was a member of the band. A Jew. And the other guy Michael. And then. And then I chose Nine Inch Nails. Are we good? Yeah. All right. We stretched Armstrong, baby. All right, John Gordon, pick a number between one and Richard. Five. Five. Number one. Number one it is. And number one is. I can't see it. Email the emails, which goes to Brett. Brett Vesley is this year's rock wars champion.

[A]

Appropriate.

[C]

We didn't have to reach into the hat. Brady trounced. I lost by two weeks. Brett is this year's champion. We'll have Dale send you some money in the app once he figures out a championship win. Making love to Morgan Wallen. O song is this year's song of the year. Had I told you back in January Limp Bizkit would put out the best rock song of the year, would you have said? Yeah. Probably that would have been an argument. I got a bunch of people emailing me about messenger birds. I'm not saying you have to like it. There's a lot of people who. That's cool. Check it out. Don't go crazy on me if you don't though is my point. Nothing worse than telling somebody I really like this and they come back, would you tell me all that crap paper?

[E]

I hated it.

[C]

All right, well, we have different opinions. Calm down. But I do like them. The messenger birds are cool. Very cool. All right, here it is. Your rock song of 2025. Brett, you're a champion. Nice job. Do you have any words?

[D]

Great win, Brett.

[C]

On the podium from the first place.

[A]

Suck it.

[C]

That's exactly what I expect. Brady, I'm not sure I want to do this job anymore. Can you help me get a CDL? It's 9:58, Arizona's powerful rock radio station. He said fully ere.

[E]

All right, HMS Podcast, time again to let you know where to go for some great comedy in the valley this week. All right, as you probably already know, we've got the big Holmberg After Dark show this Friday, December 12th. An amazing list of guests will be a part of it all. You're not going to want to miss this one, but you better get those tickets fast because this one sells out. Holmberg after dark Friday, December 12th at Stand Up Live. For the complete lineups and for tickets, go to standuplive.com desertridgeimprov.com and tempeimprov.com it's.

[D]

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