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”)

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.

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.

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?”

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

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.