On Episode 227, I'm joined by esteemed journalist and writer Josh Crutchmer (Rolling Stone, New York Times, etc.). During this sit down in Okemah, OK during this summer's Woodyfest, we talk to Crutchmer about The Turnpike Troubadours, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Wyatt Flores, writing books--his latest being Never Say Never--and the current climate of Americana, Red Dirt, & Country music. 

Our presenting partner on this episode of New Slang is OG Lone Star, your go-to spot for both new and vintage Lone Star gear. Officially licensed and Texas based. 

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On Episode 226, I'm joined by a trio of up and coming Texas songwriters--Ashton Naylor, Cameron Allbright, and Hank Weaver. The three have been making waves down around San Marcos the past couple of years, having ushered in a new class of Texas artists from the hotspot. During this episode, we talk about Songwriter Nights across the state, the latest and upcoming projects, and what it's like to be a new artist in 2025. 

Our presenting partner on this episode of New Slang is OG Lone Star, your go-to spot for both new and vintage Lone Star gear. Officially licensed and Texas based. 

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On Episode 225, I'm joined by Texas songwriter Hayes Carll. We talk about his upcoming album, We're Only Human (out August 8), collaborating with The Band of Heathens, songwriting, finding the middle ground, and how folks like Ray Wylie Hubbard (who briefly cameos) influenced and inspired Carll's generation of songwriters. 

Our presenting partner on this episode of New Slang is OG Lone Star, your go-to spot for both new and vintage Lone Star gear. Officially licensed and Texas based. 

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Welcome back to New Slang. On Episode 224, I'm joined by Alabama country duo, Muscadine Bloodline. We recorded this interview a few weeks back with Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton when Muscadine Bloodline headlined CottonFest out at Cook's Garage in Lubbock, Texas. On this episode, we talk about their latest albums, The Coastal Plain and ...And What Was Left Behind, diving into their spin on Southern gothic storytelling, maturation as songwriters, building canon & lore, songwriting in Nashville, and collecting idioms.

Our presenting partner on this episode of New Slang is OG Lone Star, your go-to spot for both new and vintage Lone Star gear. Officially licensed and Texas based. 

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Welcome back to New Slang. On Episode 223, I'm joined by Texas singer-songwriter Randy Rogers. We recorded this episode a few weeks back out at Cook's Garage during this year's CottonFest. On this episode, we talk about the 20th anniversary of their breakout album Rollercoaster, working with the likes of Radney Foster & Sean McConnell, what makes him gravitate towards an outside song cut, the meteoric rise of Parker McCollum (an often collaborator), and what's around the corner release wise for Rogers. 

Our presenting partner on this episode of New Slang is OG Lone Star, your go-to spot for both new and vintage Lone Star gear. Officially licensed and Texas based. 

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On Episode 11, we're joined by our first present-day and new artist, BJ Barham, the lead vocalist and chief lyricist of American Aquarium. The North Carolina-based Barham and AA released a surprise album today--the aptly titled Slappers, Bangers & Certified Twangers, Vol. 1--the band's ninth full-length studio album and first covers record. As you expect the 10 songs found on Slappers are an ode and tribute to the music, songwriting, and artists of the early '90s.

During this episode, we talk about the early inspiration behind the project, the blue-collar anthems and earnest storytelling of the '90s collection, how '70s & '80s rock songwriting influenced country music, early memories of listening to the radio in rural North Carolina, and why & how bands and artists like Sawyer Brown, Sammy Kershaw, and Patty Loveless wound up seeping into the American Aquarium sound.

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On this week's episode of The Neon Eon, we're joined by Marty Raybon of the legendary country band Shenandoah. During this one, we talk about their early Muscle Shoals roots, signing onto a label, touring with the likes of Randy Travis, having to essentially start their career over mid-career, smash ballads like "Moon Over Georgia," the legacy of "Two Dozen Roses," and their latest album, Every Road.

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On this week's episode of The Neon Eon, we're joined by country icon Tracy Lawrence. During this one, we talk about music videos for songs such as "Texas Tornado" and "As Any Fool Can See," find the right outside cuts, the process of cultivating a sound for an album, having an identifiable sound being a calling card, and how he's progressed as a songwriter over the years.

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This week on The Neon Eon, I'm joined by country music superstar Sara Evans. We talk about breaking into the industry and forming her sound, embracing her Missouri roots and singing songs about small-town life, writing and/or recording massive hits like "Suds in the Bucket," "Born to Fly," and "A Real Fine Place to Start," why country music thrived when unique and distinct accents and voices were supported on radio,  album deep cuts, and why she felt it was essential to record songs like Lori McKenna's "Bible Song" early in her career.

Like and Follow The Neon Eon on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Patreon. Check out The Neon Eon Overall Playlist here and The Neon Eon: The Songwriters Playlist here. Subscribe to New Slang here.

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This week on The Neon Eon, Larry Stewart of Restless Heart stops by to talk about the band's '80s roots, their quick rise in country music, Restless Heart's longevity and consistency all these years later, their string of #1 hits, why radio helped make them successful, being country's soft rock band, and Larry's underrated '93 solo album Down the Road.  

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Welcome back to The Neon Eon. We kick off February being joined by singer-songwriter Terry McBride. McBride began making a name for himself as a bass player playing for the likes of Dale McBride (his father), Delbert McClinton, Rosie Flores, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and others down in his native Texas before bursting onto the scene as the lead vocalist and chief lyricist of the trio McBride & The Ride. Later, he'd be recognized as a hit songwriter for the likes of Brooks & Dunn and Reba McEntire. During this conversation, we talk about those early Texas roots, establishing McBride & The Ride, hanging out with Guy Clark, recording the breakout album Sacred Ground, hitting it off with Ronnie Dunn, writing "If You See Him/If You See Her," and making his way back to recording albums once more.

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Welcome back to The Neon Eon. On Episode 004, we're joined by Porter Howell of Little Texas. Howell was one of the founding members of the '90s country outfit starting out as the outfit's lead guitarist and one of their chief songwriters. During this episode, we talk about moving from Texas to Nashville, attending Belmont University during the '80s, how their label pushed them to write early on, the band's dynamics and chemistry as performers & songwriters, and some of the stories behind some of their biggest hits like "What Might Have Been," "God Bless Texas," and "Some Guys Have All the Fun."

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Welcome back to The Neon Eon. On Episode 003, we're joined by singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters. During this episode, we talk about her journey as a songwriter in Nashville during the era, finding her voice as a storyteller, why she wrote at her best solo, some of the stories behind some of her biggest hits like "Independence Day" and "Let That Pony Run," and recording her debut album, the 1996 gem The Secret of Life.

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Welcome to The Neon Eon. For Episode 002, we're joined by of the era's greatest, the legendary Pam Tillis. During this episode, we hear some of the stories behind some of Pam's biggest hits like "Let That Pony Run," "Spilled Perfume," and "Where Have All The Good Ones Gone," writing songs with the likes of Dean Dillon, being a young staff writer during the late '80s, and regional (and more diverse) radio markets.

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Welcome to Episode 1 of The Neon Eon. We kick off the podcast being joined by country music star Clay Walker. During this episode, we talk about Walker's early roots and rise out of the blossoming Beaumont/East Texas scene in the late '80s, signing on to Giant Records, being a young writer, finding his lane, and hear some of the stories behind some of Walker's biggest hits such as "Live Until I Die," "Dreaming with My Eyes Wide Open," "This Woman and This Man," "Live, Laugh, Love," and "The Chain of Love."

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On Episode 212, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Caleb Lee Hutchinson. This past Friday, Hutchinson released the cosmic-swept space country album Southern Galactic. With anthemic barnburners like the tone-setting "Silverado" and honky-tonk juke joints like "At Least I'm Drunk" and "Good at Being Bad," Hutchinson captures adventurous sonic punches while delivering familiar country themes. Still, heartbreak, lonesomeness, and existential dread do the heaviest lifting on Southern Galactic. As a songwriter, Hutchinson continues to take giant strides as a storyteller and embraces those deep, dark, and often difficult moments on songs like "I Miss You," "Quarter Life Crisis," "Used Too," and "She Didn't Drink with Me." It's in those moments where everything comes together--Hutchinson's brooding baritone matches the heartbreak and unsureness of his lyrics while the vast chasm of deep space rumbles through with Western tinges and '80s synth. 

During this episode, we talk about Hutchinson working with producer Titanic Sinclair, exploring the studio space, existential dread, our first pickup trucks, and the songwriting of Southern Galactic. 


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On Episode 211, I'm joined by Texas singer-songwriter Dallas Burrow. This past summer, Burrow released his latest full-length, the country and folk rambler Blood Brothers. With fellow Texan songwriter/producer Jonathan Tyler at the producing helm, Burrow continues establishing himself as a vivid storyteller with a knack for delivering a compelling, hearty punch. "Motel 6" is a road-weary charmer that'll fill your coffee cup for the drive back home. Songs like the wistful "Starry Eyes," haunting honky tonking "Out My Window," and the sad country waltzer "A Lot of It Was" showcase Burrow's (and Tyler's) dynamics as storyteller and bandleader. Still, the crisp title track "Blood Brothers," a certified Texas epic built on lore, adventure, heritage, and everlasting oaths, is perhaps Burrow's greatest moment.

During this episode, we talk about writing "Blood Brothers," covering Townes Van Zandt, working with Jonathan Tyler, and becoming buddies with the likes of Texas legend Willis Alan Ramsey.

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Theme music is "Turnpike" and "Yard Sale" by Silent Partner.

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New Slang returns with Episode 210, where I'm joined by singer-songwriter Cleto Cordero of Flatland Cavalry. During this conversation, we talk about Flatland's latest EP, Songs To Keep You Warm, working with the great Bruce Robison on projects, finding your true self in songwriting, Far West Texas inspirations, the new Panhandlers EP, West Texas Is The Best Texas, and Flatland's sonic journey over the past few short years.

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On Episode 209, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Thomas Csorba. During this conversation, we talk about growing up in Houston, discovering Texas songwriters, recording with Beau Bedford & The Texas Gentlemen, writing during the Pandemic, how songwriting has evolved and changed over the past few years, Randy Newman songs, and what he has planned going forward in 2022.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 208, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Grady Spencer, who in January released Wait, his fourth full-length with his band Grady Spencer & The Work and sixth overall. During this interview, we talk about writing Wait, the sonic palette that was influenced by the mood and feel of the past few years, the significance of songs like "Therapy's Good," touring the country, growing up in West Texas, why Matchbox Twenty still holds up, and putting his own spin on '90s Country.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 207, I'm joined by singer-songwriter William Beckmann. During this conversation, we talk about his Del Rio roots, border radio influences, splitting time between Texas and Tennessee, finding his voice as a writer, navigating co-writes with songwriting heroes, sage advice from Radney Foster, and what new music he has on the horizon.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 206, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Kolton Moore. During this one, we talk about his hiatus, coming back to songwriting, being a reenergized artist with a cult-like following, working with the likes of Ace Crayton of Thieving Birds, and what he has on the horizon in 2022.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 205, I'm joined by rising country singer-songwriter Caleb Lee Hutchinson. Back in September, Hutchinson released the wonderful EP Slot Machine Syndrome. During this episode, we talk about writing and recording the songs of Slot Machine, working with the likes of Brent Cobb (who produced the effort), navigating Nashville songwriting rooms, falling in love with narrative country music, and how he's found himself carving a spot in Texas playing shows with folks like Vincent Neil Emerson.

 This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 204, I'm joined by David Beck, bassist and chief songwriter of David Beck's Tejano Weekend. During this conversation, we talk about their latest album, the aptly titled Volume 2, writing Tejano songs in English, diving into a Mexican music culture that's loved in Texas, but often overlooked, collaborating with legends, and trading Billy Joe Shaver stories.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 203, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Evan Bartels, who released his latest full-length album, Lonesome this past September 17. Dark and rich, Lonesome dives deep into the raw emotional intensity of the human condition. During this conversation, we talk about writing Lonesome, recording with producer Ryan Hewitt, the redemptive streak within Lonesome's darkness, growing up in Nebraska, and why we return to our favorite albums time and again.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 202, I'm joined by Montana singer-songwriter Sean Devine. Devine released the excellent Here For It All in early September after recording the album with Josh Thompson and Cody Jinks's backing back down at Sonic Ranch. During this conversation, we talk about recording the album, exchanging Dropbox folders with Thompson, writing storytellers like "Clay Bluffs," coming down to Texas, his Montana home, and what continues to drive him to tell stories worth telling.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 201, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Suzanne Santo, who last month (August 27) released the dark and mesmerizing album Yard Sale. During this episode, we talk about the emotional depth and weight within Yard Sale, touring with Hozier, writing on the road, mental health, and our favorite TV series of recent memory.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 200, I'm joined by Sam Anderson and David Matsler of Fort Worth rock band Quaker City Night Hawks. During this one, we talk about early roots, discovering music in the late '90s, collaborating with Mike and The Moonpies, and how the pandemic has had them reaccess their approach to songwriting, releasing albums, and tour schedules.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 199, I'm joined by Louisiana singer-songwriter Rod Gator, who is releasing his latest album, the radiant For Louisiana, this Friday, September 17. During this conversation, we talk about his Louisiana roots, writing about natural disasters & conflict, hear stories about near-death experiences, recording and collaborating with Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas and Will Walden, and dive into more film and TV talk about Michael Mann, True Detective, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 198, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Luke Dick. During this conversation, we talk about the intersection of art & commerce, releasing music in 2021, writing & collaborating with the likes of Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, & Natalie Hemby, navigating the Nashville songwriting world, and his latest single, the excellent "Some Things Change."

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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Episode 197 is Part 2 of a two-parter recorded down in Marathon, Texas at the Marathon Songwriters Festival. This Part is conversations about West Texas and songs with Josh Grider and Kelley Mickwee. Part 1 was with Courtney Patton, Walt Wilkins, and Drew Kennedy.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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Episode 196 is Part 1 of a two-parter recorded down in Marathon, Texas at the Marathon Songwriters Festival. This Part is conversations about West Texas and songs with Courtney Patton, Walt Wilkins, and Drew Kennedy. Part 2 with Josh Grider, Kelley Mickwee, and Bobby Hamrick comes out later this week.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 195, I'm joined by Drew Nix and Andrew Bishop of The Red Clay Strays. During this one, we talk about the collaborative writing process, how they navigated a difficult year of staying afloat during 2020, what their record plans are going forward, and hear a few stories about the road, breaking down, and the interesting characters they meet along the way.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 194, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Mercy Bell, who released Golden Child, her latest EP, this past August 6. During this conversation, we talk about some of the characters, themes, & late night qualities within Golden Child, how short story fiction has influenced her writing, growing up in California and Massachusetts, her love for '90s country music, and how she wrote the anthemic "All Good Cowboys."

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 193, I'm joined by country artist Hannah Dasher. In early July, Dasher released her infectious and charming debut The Half Record.  We talk about her debut, navigating the songwriting world of Nashville, finding her voice as an artist, hear some stories behind the songs, and her hit TikTok cooking show Stand By Your Pan.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 192, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Garrett T. Capps, who at the week's end (Friday, August 20), is releasing the honky-tonk homage album,  I Love San Antone via Vinyl Ranch. During this one, we talk about recording the album during the pandemic at his San Antonio venue The Lonesome Rose, recording another album out at Sonic Ranch, writing about San Antonio, Corpus Christi tacos, and why recording Jethro Tull was on his to-do list.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 191, I'm joined by country songwriter Elijah Ocean. Today--Friday, August 13--Ocean released his latest album, Born Blue, a collection of neo-traditional-inspired country songs that highlight the dim lights of late nights and early mornings. During this one, Ocean and I talk about writing the likes of "Thirty-Five" and "The Ice Machine," recording during the quarantine, Las Vegas shows, and our favorite '90s country artists.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 190, I'm joined by Mike Harmeier of Mike and The Moonpies and album producer Adam Odor. The Moonpies are releasing One To Grow On, their eighth studio effort, on August 10. During this episode, we talk about the central characters and themes of One To Grow On, how songwriting and storytelling have evolved and shifted over the years for Harmeier, the natural songwriting rapport between Harmeier, Odor, & The Moonpies, and the challenges--both good and bad--of the past year and album.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 189, I'm joined by rising country songwriter Erik Shicotte. Shicotte released Miss'ry Pacific, his strong debut EP this past July.  During this episode, we talk about the songs and blue-collar nature of Miss'ry Pacific, traveling the US, writing in motel rooms, the emotional weight of Johnny Cash & Patsy Cline, and the peculiar process of remote recording.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol, The Blue Light Live, and Charlie Stout Photography.

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On Episode 188, I'm joined by rising country songwriter Jesse Daniel, who at week's end (July 30), will release Beyond These Walls, his third full-length album. During this one, we talk about further developing as a storyteller with songs like "Clayton Was a Cowboy," expanding his sonic palette with the embrace of Mexican-influenced music, passing time as a fisherman during 2020, how his long-time sobriety helped him tackle the lockdown's restless weeks, and easing back into touring came naturally.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 187, I'm joined by songwriters Jonathan Tyler and Joshua Ray Walker. The pair of Texas songwriters were playing a show at The Blue Light Live in Lubbock last week so we sat down for a conversation after soundcheck. During this one, we talk about upcoming projects, navigating the pandemic and quarantine, writing practices, and venturing into Nashville for collaborations and co-writes.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 186, I'm joined by Texas songwriter Dallas Burrow, who at the end of the week (July 23), will be releasing his excellent sophomore album, Dallas Burrow. During this conversation, we talk about the songs and themes that make up the self-titled, working with Bruce Robison (who produced the effort), the influence and impact of his artist father, Texas songwriters, and how relationships and family are wells in which he continously returns to time and again.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 185, I'm joined by rising singer-songwriter Zoe Cummins. This Friday (July 16), she'll be releasing her soaring and soulful debut self-titled EP. During this one, we talk about growing up in rural Oklahoma, moving to Nashville, hustling and navigating songwriting circles, rounds,  and open mics, and hear some of the stories behind the songs.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 184, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Butch Hancock of The Flatlanders. During this conversation, we talk about Hancock's West Texas Waltzes & Dust-Blown Tractor Tunes, driving tractors and working on cotton farms around Lubbock, discipline & dedication within songwriting, the diverse Flatlanders song catalog, the impact & evolution of the radio, and The Flatlanders' latest album, Treasure of Love (July 09). 

Note: This is the first in a three-part installment of interviews with Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock of The Flatlanders.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 183, I'm joined by Joe Ely, the acclaimed singer-songwriter and member of the legendary Lubbock band The Flatlanders. During this conversation, we talk about The Flatlanders' newest album, Treasure of Love (July 9), lost band names, other Ely supergroups, albums like Panhandle Rambler & Hi-Res, the collaboration musical Chippy, playing with Bobby Keys, and hear a few Stubb's stories. 

Note: This is the first in a three-part installment of interviews with Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock of The Flatlanders.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 182, I'm joined by acclaimed Lubbock singer-songwriter Jimmie Dale Gilmore of The Flatlanders. This Friday, July 09, The Panhandle trio is releasing their newest full-length album, Treasure of Love.  During this conversation, we talk about recording Treasure of Love, growing up in Lubbock, the importance of radio, hearing Terry Allen for the first time, collaborating with Dave Alvin, the genius of Lloyd Maines, and the enduring impact of The Flatlanders.

Note: This is the first in a three-part installment of interviews with Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock of The Flatlanders.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 181, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Billy Law. Law--who also plays bass for Dallas garage country-punk outfit Ottoman Turks--releases his debut solo album Alone Somewhere on State Fair Records on August 20. In addition, his latest single "I Don't Care If She Ever Comes Home" is out this coming Friday, July 2. During this episode, we talk about the thematic & conceptual elements of Alone Somewhere, recording albums during the past year, playing with Ottoman Turks, growing up in Dallas, and some of our favorite television shows of the 2000s.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 180, I'm joined by Jonathan Clay of Jamestown Revival. During this episode, we talk about their latest EP, Fireside With Louis L'Amour - A Collection of Songs Inspired by Tales From the American West, character development, story arcs, continually progressing as a band & songwriters, working with Josh Block & Robert Ellis, and what's next for the Americana outfit.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 179, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Ryan Culwell. During this conversation, we talk about the Perryton, Texas native's Panhandle roots, developing a sound, style, & feel for his albums Flatlands & The Last American,  living in Nashville, recording the Nine Inch Nails song "Head Like a Hole" with Aubrie Sellers, and what's coming next for the Texas songwriter.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 178, I'm joined by rising singer-songwriter Braxton Keith. Last Fall, the West Texan released his debut EP Neon Dreams. During this one, we talk about that EP, his plans for 2021, writing with Charlie Stout, his West Texas epic "Cold Hard Steel and Sand," and launching a career in the midst of a pandemic.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 177, I'm joined by Oklahoma songwriter RC Edwards. We talk about RC's new band--RC & The Ambers--their forthcoming debut album Big Country, Bryant "Big Country" Reeves, Turnpike Troubadours shows, and hear a few old songwriting stories.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 176, I'm joined by rising singer-songwriter Zach Bryan. During this conversation, we talk about songs, carving out time for songwriting, those early raw recordings that started out in part as a necessity to be heard but quickly became a signature for his earnest songs, dealing with imposter syndrome, performing at The Grand Ole Opry in April, recording with Dave Cobb in Studio A, evolving as a songwriter, storyteller, and guitarist, Oklahoma roots, and what's around the corner album wise.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 175, I talk with lead vocalist Corey Baum of Austin country outfit Croy & The Boys. Baum and company released Of Course They Do, their latest EP, last month where they blend punk ethos with a lonesome country delivery and warm accents of pedal steel. During this one, we talk about the Quarantine recordings of Of Course They Do, Baum's Midwestern roots, move to Austin, becoming engulfed in Austin's organic country swell, and pull back the curtain on some of the industry's quirks and concerns.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 174, I'm joined by Texas songwriter Summer Dean, who announced her forthcoming album, Bad Romantic, is set for release on August 27. In addition, she shared the first single, a lonesome country aching duet with Colter Wall called "You're Lucky She's Lonely." During this conversation, Dean and I talk about co-writing with Wall, collaborating with contemporaries like Brennen Leigh and Simon Flory, the influences behind Bad Romantic, songwriting, and Dust Bowl inspirations.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 173, we're joined by West Virginia singer-songwriter John R. Miller. This week, Miller announced that his forthcoming album, Depreciated, will be out July 16 via Rounder Records. In conjunction with the announcement, he released the stirring and rich Appalachia epic "Shenandoah Shakedown." During this one, we talk about recording Depreciated in Nashville, writing about his native West Virginian roots, and how the past year provided him with the time to find more discipline in his craft.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 172, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Miko Marks. Marks released Our Country, her first full-length album in over a decade, in late March of this year. During this conversation, we talk about her "return" to country music, how Our Country was recorded and came to be during the midst of 2020's quarantine, the difficult and necessary conversations found within the album, and the shifting landscape within country and Americana music.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 171, I'm joined by rock and roller Rob Leines. Back in March, Leines released the southern rock stomper and blue-collar roots album Blood Sweat and Beers. During this episode, we talk about the writing, recording, and experiences of Blood Sweat and Beers, growing up in the South, living in LA, working as a welder, the stress of quarantine life on art, and the parallels between blue-collar work and being a seasoned, touring musician. 

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery and The Blue Light Live.

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On Episode 170, I'm joined by singer-songwriter, album producer, and artist Jon Randall. During this episode, we talk about Randall's upcoming solo album--his first in 15 years, The Marfa Tapes--the collaborative album with Jack Ingram and Miranda Lambert, what drew him to the Far West Texas town, songwriting, working with the likes of Dierks Bentley, Parker McCollum, and the aforementioned Ingram and Lambert, and writing songs with Guy Clark.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery, The Blue Light Live, and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 169, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Joe Pug, who released The Diving Sun, his latest full-length, this past Friday. Pug is also the host of The Working Songwriter, a podcast where he speaks with other songwriters and musicians about their craft and songwriting in general. During this episode, we talk about the evolution and writing of The Diving Sun, creating during the past year, NFTs, Clubhouse, songwriters like Joe Ely, and developing The Working Songwriter over the past few years.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery, The Blue Light Live, and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 168, I'm joined by rising Texas singer-songwriter Mason Lively. At the end of the week (March 19), he's releasing his sophomore album, the rich and robust Mason Lively. During this one, we talk about working with Wade Bowen and Justin Pollard (who co-produced the effort), writing songs in Nashville, maturing and taking notes from established writers, recording Mason Lively, his first concert experiences, and some of our favorite country bands from the '90s and early '00s.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery, The Blue Light Live, and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 167, I'm joined by Ricky Young of Americana rock band The Wild Feathers, who in late November, released Medium Rarities, a collection of covers, b-sides, and new songs from the band's first decade. During this one, Young and I talk about the makeup of Medium Rarities and how it's a nice reflection of what the band's first decade sounds like, how they've embraced newer territory with each studio album, co-writing and creating this past year, working on new material, and how cabin retreats have often been the catalyst for the outfit's creativity each album go-around.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery, The Blue Light Live, and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 166, I'm joined by Texas Gulf & Western singer-songwriter Charley Crockett. On this one, we talk about his latest album, the honky-tonk classic, 10 For Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand, which was released this past Friday (February 26). During this interview, Crockett talks about the late great Texas honky tonker James Hand, and why it was paramount that he cut an album of Hand-written tunes. We also touch on his previous album Welcome to Hard Times, embracing the Western landscape and western balladry on the loose conceptual 2020 release. 

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery, The Blue Light Live, and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 165, I'm joined by Nathan Mongol Wells and Joshua Ray Walker of country garage rock outfit Ottoman Turks. The Dallas-based country punkers are releasing their sophomore album, the aptly titled Ottoman Turks II, this Friday, March 05. On their latest, they continue exploring the intersection at which honky-tonk country and dive bar punk collide. Songs like "35 to Life" are uniquely Texan as they explore the vengeful JFK plot with darkened overtones and piercing guitar riffs. Other songs like "Travelin' Blues" and "Rootless Tree" see them offer twangy lonesome train beats while standout "Conspiracy Freak" finds the four-piece capture the panic and anxiety of a certain slice of American life. 

On this one, we talk about truck stops, gas stations, some behind the scenes details of their stellar music videos "35 to Life" and "Wound Up," creating during this past year, the highs and lows of Kings of Leon, our favorite conspiracy theories, our favorite cheap beers, and their latest full-length Ottoman Turks II. 

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by WYLD Gallery, The Blue Light Live, and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 164, I'm joined by Linda Jean Stokley and Montana Hobbs of The Local Honeys. Earlier this month, the Kentucky old-time duo released a pair of new songs--"Dying to Make a Living" and "Octavia Triangle"--that are drenched in history and lore while maintaining a level of relevancy for these modern times. There's a timelessness that resonates throughout the tragic, heartbreaking stories. During this interview, we talk about the stories behind the songs, why they're drawn to those songs, the cultural exchange of traditional songs, and what's to come for the two songwriters going forward album-wise.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 163, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Simon Flory. The Fort Worth-based Flory is releasing his latest album, Haul These Blues Away. Built around Flory's gift for country narrative, short story character sketches, and Flory's rural vernacular, Haul These Blues Away is an unassuming charmer--unassuming only because Flory's more interested in harkening back to those old school country stories and ramblers and less so in the idea of that brand as a form of nostalgia. Songs like "If My Mule Had Wings," "Have Your Adventure," and "Learning How to Talk" are unpretentious, earnest, and welcoming in nature while "The More You Talk (The Less I Hear)" is a standout favorite for the early year. 

During this one, we talk about traveling the US as a touring musician, being "stuck" at home this past year, how the music industry has changed and shifted these past 12 months, and writing and recording Haul These Blues Away.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 162, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson. Wilson is releasing Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' this Friday, February 19. During this episode, we talk about recording this album with Jay Joyce, writing with the likes of Luke Dick and Lori McKenna, finding her voice as an artist and songwriter while continually growing as a storyteller and co-writer, the stories behind songs like "Sunday Best" and "Things A Man Oughta Know," and the process of shaping the feel and mood as well as the overarching themes of Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 161, I'm joined by Soul Country singer-songwriter Tiera. The young country riser is releasing her debut EP in mid-March and stops by to talk about readying the project, finding her voice as a storyteller, vocalist, and artist, collaborating in Nashville, songwriting on Zoom, Taylor Swift, the current times in country music, and how country legends like Shania Twain and contemporaries like Carly Pearce and Kelsea Ballerini.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 160, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Jillette Johnson. At week's end (Friday, Feb. 12), Johnson will be releasing her forthcoming album, the gleaming It's a Beautiful Day & I Love You. On this new album, Johnson works in a bright and sunny sonic palette into the mix. While she never ventures too far from her piano-laden work, punches of sharp guitar, light '70s pop-inspired harmonies, and upbeat melodies find the now Nashville-based Johnson delivering some of her best, most comfortable work. While she still delves into serious subjects about anxiety, self-destructiveness, pain, and struggle throughout, Johnson's gratitude and acceptance shine brighter offering a resonating message. 

On this one, we talk about the writing and recording of It's a Beautiful Day & I Love You, the songwriting process in general, mood boards, Air Force Ones, moving to Nashville, and more.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 159, I drive up to Turkey, Texas, and record a super-casual and relaxed conversation with Lubbock songwriters Brandon Adams, Daniel Markham, Dave Martinez, and Charlie Stout.

During this conversation, we hear road stories, bad gigs, poor paying jobs, Lubbock music and landmarks, West Texas, and forming a band.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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We kicked off the month of February being joined by singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan. Tasjan is releasing his excellent new album Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! this coming Friday (February 5). The East Nashville songwriter continues to explore the cosmic folk and space rock realms on the self-titled collection with songs like the infectious glam-pop anthem "Up All Night," the Elliott Smith channeling "Another Lonely Day," the swaggering shimmer of "Don't Overthink It," and the Beatlesque closer "Got What I Wanted."

During this conversation, we talk about the writing of Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!, the creative process, the constant evolution of music and art, living in East Nashville, and missing the good, the bad, (and sometimes the ugly) of live music.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 157, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Ben Nichols of the Memphis alt-country outfit Lucero. Lucero is releasing their latest efforts, the atmospheric adventure When You Found Me, this Friday, January 29.  It marks as the band's 10th studio album and finds Nichols and company further expanding their sonic and storytelling legs. Songs like "Coffin Nails" is one of Nichols' finest moments as he details the complex relationships between fathers & sons and the things we pass on from one generation to the next. The radiating "Have You Lost Your Way" and the piano-laden "When You Found Me" are perfect bookends that play off one another while the piercing "Outrun the Moon," rollicking "Back in Ohio," and "A City on Fire" are rich vignettes drenched in Southern Gothic tones and mood.

During this one, we talk about the rich storytelling and writing of When You Found Me, some inspirations behind the songs, recording the album during a pandemic, the various challenges, being a Memphis band with strong ties and identity, and some of our favorite Southern writers and TV shows.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 156, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Pony Bradshaw to discuss the writing, storytelling, and mythos of his new album, Calico Jim, which is due out Friday, January 29. Bradshaw's Calico Jim taps into the Northwest corner of Georgia--Bradshaw's rural Dade County--for intricate and detailed storytelling that feels familiar, yet just left of center enough that keep you off balance and engaged. The Southern Gothic-tinged narratives of down-trodden poor folks, drug smugglers, charismatic hillbillies, cops on the take, and the like all lay a claim to rural southern Appalachia. That's in part due to their storied histories feeling as old as the mountains themselves. 

During this conversation, Bradshaw and I discuss the rich storytelling of Calico Jim, recording the album in Little Rock, Ark. back in August, some of his favorite novelists, and regionalism in song and culture.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 155, I'm joined by Mason Server, the lead vocalist and chief lyricist of Mason & The Gin Line. Server and company released Caprock Composition, a five-song collection with West Texas & Panhandle touchpoints and is a throwback to the energy and feel of Texas country and songwriting of the late '90s and early '00s. At times, Caprock can feel like it was unearthed from a recently opened time capsule buried deep in the red dirt canyons or rolling plains of the Panhandle. There's an unpretentious nature to Server's storytelling that's earthy and earnest. The hardened grit of "Pipeliner" feels like a lost Charlie Robison storyteller while the haunting desert trekking "Ghosts" and "House of Gold & Diamonds" find Server offering something that's both familiar (there's a definite mid-'90s Pat Green tone to Server's delivery) and yet, is still left of center that feels new and different.

During this conversation, Server and I talk about those Lubbock and West Texas roots, plucking lines and dialogue from everyday life for songs, the hardened, real, and honest characters of Caprock Composition, how art imitates life & vice versa (Server is a shop foreman and welder), how Caprock Composition came to be, how Mason & The Gin Line have been able to make the best use of 2020, and how they're approaching music on their terms, and playing with "house money."

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 154, I am joined by Andrew Leahey. Leahey is a singer-songwriter--frontman of the open road highway rock band Andrew Leahey & The Homestead--lead guitarist for country artist Elizabeth Cook (among others), and a writer and music journalist. That's all helped Leahey become one of the most well-balanced and nuanced thinkers and writers in the "Americana" world. In many respects, having a variety of roles has made Leahey more informed when approaching the others. In other words, his songwriting has made him a better, more understanding journalist, and how being a journalist has made him a better writer in general. 

During this conversation, we discuss these various roles and them all in order, how he's blended his love for power-pop and the anthemic nature of Heartland Rock, how he's embraced the virtual show in 2020, and why playing upwards of 300 covers this past year has made him a better guitarist and solo artist, playing with Elizabeth Cook and recording her latest album, the excellent 2020 effort Aftermath, and how he approaches music journalism.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 153, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Ross Cooper. The Nashville by way of Lubbock songwriter is readying his latest batch of songs, the introspective Chasing Old Highs. Much like his breakout album, 2018's I Rode the Wild Horses, Cooper's tunes come with a worn-in and a weathered grit and seasoned moxie. And as a veteran songwriter and an ex-rodeo cowboy, he blends authenticity and genuineness with the best of them. This go-around, Cooper further ventures into uncharted pastures with a more daring sonic palette that goes further into garage-rock flare, way out Western openness, and just the right amount of pop-sense that swirls amongst the West Texas dust, dirt, and dry land.

During this conversation, we talk about the songs and themes of Chasing Old Highs, how Cooper's songwriting has changed over the year, tips & tricks, and some of our favorite indie-rock bands of the early and mid-2000s.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 152, I am joined by Oklahoma songwriter and musician John Calvin Abney. Abney's long been one of Oklahoma's best for his contributions as a solo artist and a side musician working with the likes of John Moreland, Samantha Crain, and several others. His latest album, November's Familiar Ground, finds the Oklahoman delivering some of his finest work to date. It was recorded remotely with friend and fellow songwriter, the aforementioned Moreland this past Spring and early Summer. Much like recent efforts, Coyote and Safe Passage, Familiar Ground has a wonderfully rich and dreamy soundscape that's as calm and soothing as it is robust with country field folk fragrances.

During this conversation, Abney and I talk about the writing and recording of Familiar Ground after a lengthy Moreland tour was canceled in March (for Moreland's LP5), working remotely, filling time in 2020, producing a new album for fellow Oklahoma songwriter Bryon White (The Damn Quails), the survival of the music industry, our favorite video game and film scores, and (re)discovering the great soft/indie/art rock albums of the late '70s and early 80s.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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We kick off 2021 and Episode 151 with singer-songwriter Molly Parden. Parden released her latest EP, the stunningly sublime Rosemary, this past Fall. Throughout the six-songs, she pairs her velvety vocals with a dreamy soundscape that's just right for her intimate and richly detailed folk songs. Standouts like the introspective "Kitchen Table" find Parden chronicling her day as she begins to fully recognize, rationalize, and break down a recent breakup. She pulls you in near to those ordinary routines and addresses the void that's now a part of her present and how she'll eventually be fine. Through that routine, there's fine detail, complexity, and a rush of varying emotions.

During this episode, we talk about releasing Rosemary, recording, songwriting, space, r&b albums, and much more.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On the final episode of the year, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Bella White. White released her debut album, the excellent and endearing Just Like Leaving this past September and is not only one of the best debuts of recent memory, Just Like Leaving is one of 2020's best moments overall. Even though she's a newcomer, White delivers like a seasoned artist on the bluegrass and Appalachian-tinged collection. There's a crisp warmth to the album that pairs nicely with White's crystalline vocals and songs about longing and leaving. Songs like "Just Like Leaving" feel as though she's on the cusp of teardrops as she attempts to rationalize the situation. She leaves you just as gutted on songs like the aching "The Hand of Your Raising," the warbling redemption of "Now She Knows What it Feels Like," or on the double-fiddled and yearning "Just Unwanted."

On this one, we talk about White's Canadian roots, recording & writing Just Like Leaving, various writing techniques, moving to Boston and Nashville, the distinctions between bluegrass and old-time and country and western, and much more.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 149, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Kree Harrison. Harrison released the wonderful Chosen Family Tree, her latest full-length album, this past August. Harrison seamlessly blends classic country, smart pop hooks, and a hearty southern soulfulness on Family Tree. Right from the opening notes of the first song, the crystalline "Nothing in This World," it's a remindful nod to those iconic country sounds of the past--straight from the George Jones or Tammy Wynette playbook. Standouts like the gorgeous warm sway of "That's How Hearts Get Broken," the toe-tapping pop punch of "I Love the Lie," or the dark swagger of "Get Away with Anything" show Harrison's stellar ability to morph into various states, moods, and tones as effortlessly as anyone.

During this one, we talk about recording Chosen Family Tree at Echo Mountain in Ashville, North Carolina, collecting and writing songs, country, soul, swamp-pop, Texas roots, navigating Nashville, and how one releases an album during 2020.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 148, I'm joined by Southern Indiana singer-songwriter Nick Dittmeier. I was joined by Dittmeier a little before Christmas for a conversation about his Indiana meets Western Kentucky roots and how those blue-collar characters have long been a touchstone in his storytelling and songs. In the past few years, Dittmeier has released the alt-country rocking All Damn Day of 2018, the strong, introspective four-song  EP Companion, and the intimate live EP Alive from a Barbershop in Southern Indiana.

During this one, we talk about his songwriting catalog, creating during 2020, writing on the road and focusing on projects, Southern Indiana, Heartland vs Appalachia, college sports, Indiana coaching legend (and one time Texas Tech coach) Bob Knight, and what he has planned for 2021.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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Welcome to the first ever 2020 Album Draft. On this episode, I am joined by Grady Smith and Garrett McKie & Mike Hart of The Hippies & Cowboys Podcast to discuss some of our favorite albums, EPs, and artists of the year. This Album Draft is 10 Rounds long and each draft must fill out 10 specific categories for their roster.

Categories: Chart Topper, Duo/Band, Collab, Living Legend, Debut, Small Following, EP Picker, Amerikinda, Wild Card, and Social Media Personality.

Check out Grady Smith's YouTube Channel here and The Hippies & Cowboys Podcast here.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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Today's episode with Kentucky's Adam Chaffins. Chaffins released an excellent album called Some Things Won't Last last February. Chaffins' soulful vocals and bass-playing style (he's an accomplished bass player as well with plenty of work on some of your favorites in recent memory) are really the heart and soul of the album. There's a boldness to both--it's often a loose, simple sway that's organic and warm. Songs like "Further Away" and his take on the country classic "I'm Over You," are vibrant, yet gentle while "Doorway" and "I Might Be Wrong" lean further into infectious, crisp indie rock moods. All the while, there's an innate haunting nature to Chaffins' Some Things Won't Last. 

On this one, we talk about recording Some Things Won't Last over a handful of years, creating those specific moods and bridging them over various sessions, his Kentucky homeland, recording on various albums with some of Nashville's finest, his latest single, the excellent "Now I Don't Know," and staying busy and creative during 2020.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 145, I'm joined by Texas outfit The Wilder Blue--Zane Williams, Paul Eason, Lyndon Hughes, Andy Rogers, and Sean Rodriguez. On this one, I'm joined by the entire band for a conversation about their debut album and the origins of the band. Originally dubbed Hill Country, they released their self-titled debut back in the Spring. They've gone through a name change, now going with The Wilder Blue--a phrase plucked from the standout song "Dixie Darlin'." At any rate, they still implement those initial elements that drew them to the Hill Country name in the first place. It's all framed around rich storytelling, bluegrass and campfire folk instrumentation, and robust and blossoming harmonies. Those harmonies take hold from the jump due to their organic, natural demeanor. Songs like the aforementioned "Dixie Darlin'," "Palomino Gold," and "The Eagle" are pure toe-tapping ear candy that you can't shake loose. But make no mistake, Hill Country isn't top-heavy. They spread their wings and venture off in different directions on the likes of standouts "Adios," "Hey Susanna," and the chantworthy singalong "Company Man." 

During this interview, we talk about the deep and rich harmony elements, the storytelling nature of their character vignettes, utilizing audibly pleasing phrases, the formation of the band, getting praise from the likes of Luke Combs, and dive into some conversation about the role of the songwriter and storyteller.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 144, I'm joined by country singer-songwriter Randall King, who at the end of the week (Friday, Dec 11), will be releasing Leanna. The four-song EP is named after King's late sister who unexpectedly passed away earlier this year. It's as heartfelt and endearing a tribute you'd expect from King. On songs like "Takin' It As It Comes" and "Around Forever," King offers nuggets of wisdom, valuable perspective, and some life lessons he's learned over the past few years from friends and family--namely, his sister. "Takin' It As It Comes" sees King draw back the curtain on depression and OCD. He's honest and real about those personal struggles while offering determination, patience, and perseverance. On the standout "Hey Moon," King delivers perhaps his greatest song to date with a storyteller ballad about single parenting, distance, and splitting time. 

During this one, we talk about the writing and stories behind the songs from Leanna, the guidance and encouragement Randall received from his older sister, writing over in Nashville, late nights in Lubbock, those Panhandle roots, and some 806 Songwriter Retreat stories.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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We're kicking off the month of December being joined by singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon. The Kentucky songwriter released They'll Never Keep Us Down, a seven-song collection of covers just two weeks ago. With songs such as Kris Kristofferson's "The Law is for Protection of the People," Bob Dylan's "With God on Our Side," and the Hazel Dickens title track, Waldon offers songs that are just as emotionally charged as they are statements about humanity, equality, and freedom. She shines brightest on the likes of the anti-war and pro-veteran storyteller "Sam Stone," written by mentor and friend, the late John Prine, and delivers one of the year's most poignant moments. Another stellar standout is the Nina Simone standard "Mississippi Goddam" where she's joined by fellow country artists Adia Victoria and Kyshona Armstrong. 

During this interview, we talk about They'll Never Keep Us Down, the last year--both on a macro and micro level--Waldon's Kentucky home and roots, songwriting and storytelling, country music dialogues and conversations, and much more.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 142, I'm joined by country singer-songwriter Shelby Lee Lowe. About a month back, Lowe released Something in Me, a strong three-song EP that embraces Lowe's country croon, warbling pedal steel, and the gentle lean of neo-traditional sonic sways. Lowe's brand of heartache storytelling falls right in line as well. Much of 2020 has seen the Tennessee songwriter continually lean in and explore those down-home roots.

During this interview, we talk about those Tennessee roots, the pressures--both good and bad--of Nashville, writing with friends and contemporaries, taking advantage of short-burst recording sessions, Zoom writing, being out on the road and abruptly ending a tour in March due to COVID-19, and why he's so glad Derrick Henry is on the Tennessee Titans.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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Episode 141 is with The Panhandlers--the West Texas collaboration between songwriters Josh Abbott, William Clark Green, John Baumann, and Cleto Cordero of Flatland Cavalry--who released their debut self-titled last Spring. As their namesake alludes, these songs are about the Panhandle of Texas and the greater West Texas area in general. As sons of The Panhandle and Far West Texas, their solo catalogs have often echoed the howling winds that drive Heaven and earth across the South Plains, the unrelenting sun that dries out cattle pastures and iron orchards of the rugged oil fields, and most importantly, the resilient folks who claim the Land of Big Sky home. The quartet understands them more than most due to their time working and living in the Hub City of Lubbock for long stretches of time. With The Panhandlers, they've written and recorded an album's worth of richly detailed vignettes and organic dust-blown ballads that celebrate their West Texas roots and heritage. 

During this interview, we talk about those West Texas roots, talk about the Blue Light songwriting culture, the works of Jerry Jeff Walker and Billy Joe Shaver, and hear a handful of stories about life in Lubbock.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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On Episode 140, I'm joined by Andrew Nelson, vocalist/guitarist of Great Peacock, and Sadler Vaden, singer-songwriter and guitarist of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit. This episode is more of a roundtable conversation where Nelson, Vaden, and I discuss Heartland Rock, Americana, genre labels as a whole, Spotify playlists, pushing artist narratives more than albums, and what all that has to do with being heard in 2020.

While we only touch briefly on the new albums by Great Peacock and Sadler Vaden, I'd be remiss to not mention them here. Listen to the excellent new albums Anybody out There? by Sadler Vaden and Forever Worse Better by Great Peacock.

This episode's presenting partner is Desert Door Texas Sotol. In addition, this episode is sponsored by The Blue Light Live and Hot Damn Coffee.

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