---
title: "Put To Wax with Harry Katz (Harry Katz and the Pistachios, Big Top Pistachioland)"

description: "Harry Katz and the Pistachios have one foot in the future, one in the vinyl warmth of the past. Harry isn’t just an artist, he’s an evangelist, spreading the good word of music long forgotten. He’s dusting off records, usually the little ones (called 78s or 45s), and spinning DJ sets or narratives on Instagram. His comment sections are little libraries, with fans sharing anecdotes and connections, turning his insights into community."

status: complete

date: 2026-05-19

kind: guest

guestSlugs:
  - harry-katz

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Put-To-Wax-with-Harry-Katz-Harry-Katz-and-the-Pistachios--Big-Top-Pistachioland-e3jhikt"

lmwUrl: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eGRZGEsjo4"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/put-to-wax-with-harry-katz-harry-katz-and-the/id1567355195?i=1000768521549&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/1LfSFpjEUFQDWnMtA1BDdh"
youtubeUrl: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96O8pGIMeZg"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Bass"
  - "The internet"
  - "The significance of 45s in music history"
  - "Creating community through music and social media"
  - "DJing with authenticity"
  - "The challenges of modern recording technology"
  - "Balancing performance and personal expression"

hostNote: |
  **Harry Katz** came up as a punk bassist and ended up deep in vinyl: specifically 45s, where "you can kind of learn the story of every song" through the width and depth of knowledge embedded in each release. That's the thread that runs through this conversation: how serious record collecting reshapes how you hear music, and what it means to become an evangelist for it.
  
  Katz DJs with authenticity, builds community around music history and ska and record collecting on Instagram (his comment sections are little libraries), and fronts Harry Katz and the Pistachios. We talk through the 45 as a format, what changes when you approach live performance as someone who's spent years with the recordings, and how building community around forgotten music becomes its own creative practice.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Katz's journey into music"
    startSec: 118
    note: "Harry reminisces about his early days as a punk bassist transitioning into a musician and DJ who explores historical records."
  - label: "Understanding the 45 format"
    startSec: 295
    note: "Harry explains the 45 format and its significance in the world of music, contrasting it with larger vinyl records."
  - label: "The importance of live performance"
    startSec: 452
    note: "Harry discusses the adrenaline and spontaneity of live DJing, likening it to the energy of performing in a band."
  - label: "Community and music history"
    startSec: 614
    note: "Harry emphasizes how building community around music history can connect people across generations."
  - label: "Defining personal identity as a singer"
    startSec: 1896
    note: "Harry reflects on his relationship with his voice as a punk singer and what that means for his identity."
  - label: "Emotional connection through music"
    startSec: 3333
    note: "Harry passionately articulates the emotional power of music as a communal experience."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "I'm from New York and I played in bands out there and I was in garage rock bands... I wasn't able to be a bass player anymore because my band was gone and we were literally just busking."
    startSec: 119
    reviewed: true
  - text: "I love the 45s is that you know, you can kind of learn the story of every song... sometimes I find like the width and depth of the knowledge every track of a jazz record that's very intimidating."
    startSec: 294
    reviewed: true
  - text: "You know, it's easy you don't have to find the spot in right... I played about a hundred records that night."
    startSec: 448
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Building community around music history, around record collecting, around the genres of ska... that's everyone's common ground."
    startSec: 610
    reviewed: true
  - text: "It's a different kind of decision making... having to make the choice in the moment is so satisfying."
    startSec: 1185
    reviewed: true
  - text: "The emotion is so overwhelming... creating these emotions is just the coolest, being able to create an environment that makes that happen."
    startSec: 3337
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What is Harry Katz's musical journey?"
    answer: "Harry Katz started as a punk bassist in New York, transitioning to a vinyl enthusiast and DJ, advocating for the music of the past while creating community through his band, Harry Katz and the Pistachios."
  - question: "Why are 45s significant in music?"
    answer: "Harry discusses the charm of 45s as single records that encapsulate the essence of a song's narrative, serving as a gateway to understanding music history."
  - question: "How does Harry Katz build community around music?"
    answer: "Through engaging with audiences on social media and bringing people together via music history and live performances, Harry cultivates meaningful connections with listeners."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---