"God did not give me the gift of being a musician," Dexter and the Moonrocks drummer and social media savant Ryan Fox says. "God gave me the gift of marketing."

Fox might be selling himself a bit short. While it's true that Dexter and the Moonrocks have made waves over the past several years with a series of hilarious viral TikToks, the Abiliene, Texas-based musicians also built a devoted following through a clever blend of alternative rock and country music that they've dubbed "Western space grunge."

The band's newest EP, 'Happy to Be Here,' has racked up millions of streams thanks to catchy, bittersweet, rocking songs like "Sarahtonin" and "Ritalin," and the band is touring rigorously across the United States, packing 1,000 and 1,500-cap rooms and beyond.

Fox visited the 'Top of the Hill' podcast to detail Dexter and the Moonrocks' tireless work ethic, what country music means to them and how they've harnessed social media to yap their way to the top.

So you wanna be in a rock 'n' roll band? You should hear this testimony from the Dirty Nil frontman Luke Bentham first.

The Dundas, Ontario rockers released their fifth album 'The Lash' on Friday, July 25. It's another blistering collection of high-octane anthems inspired by the likes of the Who and the Stooges, full of arena rock histrionics and hardcore punk ferocity (with a few tender moments in between). It also marks the happiest chapter of the Dirty Nil's career to date.

Luke and I discuss the Catholic inspiration behind 'The Lash,' the exorbitant costs of running a radio campaign, the trials and tribulations that inspired much of their new album, and why the Dirty Nil are having the best time of their lives.

The members of Nashville-by-way-of-Orlando rock band Cinema Stereo have been playing together for years, and they had the luxury of toiling in private as they worked out the kinks in their sound. Now they're ready to bring their vibrant, modern-vintage rock 'n' roll to the masses.

Take it from me: My band, Ne’er-do-well, has shared the stage with Cinema Stereo twice in Austin, and both times they've won the crowd with their fiery twin-guitar leads, soaring hooks and infectious stage presence.

Singer/bassist Ian Rayha, guitarists Will Sawyer and Sebastian Borysek and drummer Luke Pate stopped by 'Top of the Hill' to discuss the new Cinema Stereo EP 'Can't Get Close Enough,' the grind of DIY touring, the small markers of success that motivate them along the way, and why at this point in their fairly young career, they've already come too far to give up.