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Thanks For Giving A Damn — Personal Journals
Thanks For Giving A Damn

Creative people sharing informal conversations, tall tales and vague recollections from backstage and beyond.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 170: Hoosier National Sep 07, 2020

Otis shares stories and anecdotes about the songs and the making of his new album, Hoosier National.

Here’s the link to the pre-sale!

https://igg.me/at/OtisGibbs/x/17363880#/

Episode 169: Growing Up Around Bill Monroe Mar 20, 2020

David Grier shares his memories of Bill Monroe including a tour bus full of chickens, fist fights and a ton of great music.

Episode 168: Back Home Again In Indiana Mar 18, 2020
Otis talks abut his dream of starting an Alt Country Retirement Community and returning home.

Episode 167: When John Prine Drove Through Paradise Apr 30, 2019

Jim Rooney talks about riding with John Prine through Paradise, Kentucky in a red 1949 Ford.

Episode 166: Otis’ Graveyard Tour Mar 29, 2019

Otis talks about visiting the graves or William S. Burroughs, Bob Wills, Sam Kinisin, Gram Parsons, Mozart, Falco and more.

Episode 165: Jason Ringenberg Remembers Jack Emerson Feb 28, 2019

Jason talks about his old friend, Jack Emerson. Jack helped kickstart the careers of Jason and the Scorchers, the Georgia Satellites, John Hiatt, Webb Wilder, Sonny Landreth, Steve Forbert and many others.

Episode 164: Recording With Slim Pickens Jan 24, 2019

The Time Jumpers’, Andy Reiss has played on thousands of sessions. On this episode, he shares the story of his first session in Nashville with the great, Slim Pickens.

Episode 163: Picking With Clarence White Aug 24, 2018

David Grier is a 3 time IBMA Guitar Player Of The Year and he talks about how the great, Clarence White befriended him when he was a kid.

Episode 162: Norwegian Black Metal Aug 23, 2018

Pytten shares stories from the early days of Black Metal in Bergen, Norway.

Episode 161: Ebbets Field In Denver, Colorado Aug 16, 2018

Kenny Vaughan talks about Denver in the 60’s and 70s and the iconic music venue, Ebbets Field.

Episode 160: Tragedy At The Indiana State Fair Feb 28, 2018

Indianapolis Star journalist, Dave Lindquist talks about witnessing a tragic stage collapse at a Sugarland concert in Indianapolis.

Episode 159: Working For The Highwaymen Feb 26, 2018

Reggie Young talks about touring and recording with Johnny, Waylon, Willie and Kris: The Highwaymen.

Episode 158: The Art Of Sgt. Pepper’s Dec 06, 2017

Bill DeMain Is the co-author of Sgt. Pepper at 50. Bill shares some wonderful stories about the making of the most recognizable album artwork of all time.

Episode 157: When Ray Wylie Hubbard Met Joe Walsh Nov 27, 2017

Ray Wylie Hubbard talks about the time Ringo Starr played Snake Farm to Joe Walsh and the friendship that followed.

Episode 156: A Painting From John Mellencamp Oct 10, 2017

Dean Metcalf talks about the painting John Mellencamp gave to the Bob and Tom Show and the strange story surrounding it.

Episode 155: The Legend Of Rocky Hill Sep 05, 2017

John Lomax tells the story of a Texas guitar legend who blew every opportunity and burned every bridge.

Episode 154: The Houston Folklore Society Aug 14, 2017

John Lomax II talks about how his father influenced Guy Clark, Lightnin Hopkins, Townes Van Zandt, Mance Lipscomp, and a lot of other young artists in Houston.

Episode 153: Reggie Young’s Memories Of Recording With Elvis Jul 24, 2017

Reggie Young talks a bout playing guitar on Elvis Presley’s legendary recordings at American Sound Studios in Memphis. These sessions produced Suspicious Minds, In The Ghetto, Kentucky Rain and other all time Elvis classics.

Episode 152: George Harrison’s Gift To Badfinger Jul 19, 2017

Chris McKinney tells the story of how one guitar helped define the sound of The Beatles and Badfinger. Chris is the curator of the Jim Irsay Guitar Collection.

Episode 151: REM Invades West Virginia Jul 06, 2017

Larry Groce talks about the time the biggest band in the world came to Charleston, West Virginia to play Mountain Stage.

Episode 150: Otis’ State Of The Union Address Jun 21, 2017

Otis talks about the history of the show and his plans moving forward.

Episode 149: Jason Molina Stories May 12, 2017

Ben Swanson is part owner of Secretly Group (Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar). Listen in as he shares stories about his friend, Jason Molina.

Episode 148: Ray Wylie Hubbard’s Life Well Lived Apr 12, 2017

Ray Wylie Hubbard shares stories about whore dog gigs, unscrupulous promoters, Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King and a ton more.

Episode 147: Slaid Cleaves And The Importance Of Mentors Apr 01, 2017

Slaid Cleaves pays tribute to Don Walser, Fred Eaglesmith, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Gurf Morlix for taking the time to teach him a few lessons along the way.

Episode 146: Johnny Cash’s First Interview Mar 25, 2017

Aaron Allan talks about being the first person to interview Johnny Cash while working as a disc jockey in San Antonio in the 1950s.

Episode 145: Bill Monroe At The Station Inn Mar 07, 2017

Mike Bub shares stories about Bill Monroe hanging and playing at Nashville’s Bluegrass Mecca, The Station Inn.

Episode 144: Guy Clark’s Favorite T-Shirt Jan 27, 2017

Shawn Camp shares stories about his friendship with the great Guy Clark.

Episode 143: Kenny Vaughan Remembers Merle Haggard Jan 17, 2017

Kenny Vaughan shares stories about being around one of the all time great artists, Merle Haggard.

Episode 142: Mount Renraw Jan 13, 2017

Otis tell stories and shares a preview of his new album, Mount Renraw.

Episode 141: He Stopped Loving Her Today Dec 29, 2016

Legendary recording engineer, Lou Bradley talks about recording George Jones’ all time classic, He Stopped Loving Her Today.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 140: Behind Closed Doors Dec 06, 2016

Legendary engineer, Lou Bradley shares memories of recording Charlie Rich’s classic album, Behind Closed Doors. Lou shares stories about Charlie Rich, Billy Sherrill, Pig Robbins and everyone else involved in making this all time classic album.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 139: The Train Carrying Jimmie Rodgers Home Nov 05, 2016

Barry Mazor tells the story of Jimmie Rodgers’ final days, his heroic final recording session and his last train ride.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 138: Billy Bragg Tells The Story Of Skiffle Oct 05, 2016

Billy Bragg explains how Skiffle made the British Invasion possible.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 137: The Innovations Of Ralph Peer Sep 02, 2016

Barry Mazor is the author of Ralph Peer And The Making Of Popular Roots Music and he’s sharing stories about how Ralph Peer changed the music business.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 136: Jimmy Martin Stories Aug 24, 2016

Mike Bub shares stories about hanging with The King Of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 135: Working For Bill Monroe Aug 08, 2016

Mike Bub shares a lot of great stories about playing gigs with The Father Of Bluegrass Music, Bill Monroe.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 134: Dylan Goes Electric Jul 08, 2016

Elijah Wald talks about Bob Dylan’s infamous electrified performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 133: Dave Van Ronk Stories Jun 16, 2016

Elijah Wald shares a ton of great stories about Dave Van Ronk.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 132: King Of Record Collectors May 10, 2016

Joe Bussard’s collection of old 78s is believed to be the best in the world. Joe shares stories of how he found these records while going door to door in rural Appalachia in the1950s and beyond.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 131: This Land Is Your Land May 03, 2016

Otis talks about the events that lead to Woody Guthrie writing his iconic classic, This Land Is Your Land.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 130: The Replacements In Nashville Apr 04, 2016

Bob Mehr, author of Trouble Boys: The True Story Of The Replacements, shares stories about The Replacements’ ill fated and sometimes disastrous gigs in Nashville.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 129: Doug Sahm Stories Feb 25, 2016

Pete Finney talks about the wonderfully strange and disorganized time he spent playing pedal steel with the great Doug Sahm.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 128: Dylan, Cash and The Nashville Cats Feb 06, 2016

Pete Finney is the co-curator of the Dylan, Cash and The Nashville Cats exhibit at The Country Music Hall Of Fame and he shares a ton of great stories about Dylan’s friendship with Cash and how it changed how we think of Nashville.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 127: Strange Fruit Jan 21, 2016

Otis talks about Billy Holiday’s version of Strange Fruit and the 1930 lynching in Marion, Indiana that inspired it.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 126: Edward Abbey Stories Jan 05, 2016

Ken Sanders talks about his friendship with Edward Abbey and shares stories about Abbey’s friendship with Robert Crumb.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 125: Utah Phillips Stories Dec 16, 2015

Duncan Phillips talks about his father, Utah Phillips and shares stories about the legendary folk singer, joining the Army, fighting in the Korean War, writing Rock Salt And Nails, Rosalie Sorrels, Dylan, Johnny Cash stories, Ammon Hennacy, riding trains, running for the senate, Steve Martin stories, the Chicago folk scene, Steve Goodman, John Prine, Kate Wolf stories, Loafers Glory, Tom Waits stories, inspiring Lonesome Dove, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 124: Joe Hill Dec 01, 2015

Jeremy Harmon of the Salt Lake Tribune talks about the life, death and legacy of iconic folk singer, Joe Hill.

http://otisgibbs.com/1178/ Nov 17, 2015

Musicians, journalists and historians sharing memories, backstage stories and history lessons. There’s no music, just lighthearted storytelling. Subscribe on iTunes for new episodes as soon as they’re available.

Listen via iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/thanks-for-giving-a-damn/id568743610

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 123: Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs Oct 30, 2015

Gurf Morlix talks about Marty Robbins’ classic album, Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 122: Moving To Nashville Oct 14, 2015

Otis tells the personal, painful and hilarious story of when he and Amy left their home Indiana and moved to Nashville.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 121: Jerry Reed Stories Sep 30, 2015

John Knowles shares stories about his friendship with Jerry Reed.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 120: Chet Atkins Stories Sep 09, 2015

John Knowles shares stories about his friendship with Chet Atkins. John shares everything from recording techniques to personal stories about Chet’s interactions with Roger Miller, George Martin, Jerry Reed, Charlie Pride, Waylon Jennings, Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Owen Bradley, Harlan Howard, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 119: Working For Bocephus Aug 27, 2015

Paul Griffith tells the strange story about the time he spent playing drums for Hank Williams Jr.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 118: When Elvis Met Nixon Aug 14, 2015

We talk about the strange and wonderful day when Elvis Presley showed up unannounced at the White House with a pistol and demanded to see President Nixon.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 117: Peter Case (Part 2) Jul 29, 2015

Peter talks about Rodney Crowell’s Volkswagen, seeing Van Halen at the Whiskey in 1977, Tom Petty at the Whiskey, touring with the Ramones on the Rocket To Russia tour, Ramones stories, DIY touring before punk rock hit, Rodney Bingenheimer stories, John Prine stories, Jim Rooney, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 116: Peter Case Jul 15, 2015

Peter talks about pro wrestling in Buffalo, meeting Townes Van Zandt, Gurf Morlix stories, Martin Scorsese stories, singing on the streets, watching Dave Van Ronk play in the snow, busking with Allen Ginsberg, Bob Kaufman stories, Lawrence Ferlinghetti stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 115: Allen Ginsberg Stories Jun 23, 2015

Ben Schafer talks about working for Allen Ginsberg, Ginsberg’s day to day life, seeing Jurassic Park with Gregory Corso, Ginsberg’s photography, fan mail, Richard Hell, Allen’s apartment and personal library, Bob Dylan, haters and stalkers, talking about Kerouac, publicizing the Beat Generation, Lou Reed, Ginsberg’s funeral, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 114: Jerry Lawson Jun 09, 2015

Jerry talks about Jimmy Reed playing his uncle’s juke joint in Florida, seeing Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson at the Apollo Theater, playing private parties for the Kennedys, touring with Frank Zappa, touring with Liza Minnelli, Muddy Waters stories, meeting Jim Brown in a dark alley, Stevie Wonder stories, BB King stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 113: Harlan Howard Stories May 27, 2015

Melanie Howard talks about Harlan living with Buck Owens, writing Tiger By The Tail, Pick Me Up On Your Way Down, hanging out at Tootsie’s with Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Roger Miller, Bobby Bare and Tom T. Hall, bowling with Hawkshaw Hawkins, guitar pulls, Patsy recording Crazy and I Fall To Pieces on the same session, drinking vodka with Lefty Frizzell, Waylon stories, fishing with Hank Jr., Johnny Cash, Mel Tillis, Little Jimmy Dickens, Porter Wagoner, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 112: Wrong-Eyed Jesus May 05, 2015

Jim talks about the Blue People of Kentucky, Wrong-Eyed Jesus, David Byrne’s handshake, arcs of redemption, decorating a motor home with spanish moss, Pentecostal churches, making a film for the BBC, Harry Crews, David Johansen, The Handsome Family, Mike “The California Hippie” Boyette, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 111: Don Schlitz (Part 2) Apr 14, 2015

Don talks about having Vince Gill as a wingman, meeting his wife at a baseball game, inventing the “songwriters in the round”, hearing his song on The Muppet Show, songwriting advice, writing On The Other Hand with Paul Overstreet, Randy Travis stories, meeting Roy Rogers, Kenny Rogers stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 110: Blind Willie Johnson Apr 01, 2015

We talk about Blind Willie Johnson and music’s ability to live on and sometimes even transcend time and circumstances.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 109: Ryan Bingham Mar 18, 2015

Ryan talks about ranching in New Mexico, bull riding, broken bones, Red Stegall, working in a wild west show in Paris, Willie Nelson stories, Poodie Locke stories, touring in an old truck, broke down near the Grand Canyon, horses, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 108: Jim White Mar 03, 2015

Jim shares a very strange story of music, mental illness, David Byrne, obsession, religion, record companies and redemption, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 107: Dale Watson (Part 2) Feb 18, 2015

Dale talks about Ray Price’s tour bus, opening acts, Jerry Lee Lewis stories, Palomino Club stories, playing in the house band at the Palomino, living in Gloria Swanson’s old apartment in Hollywood, Sunset Strip in the 80s, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 106: Dale Watson Feb 04, 2015

Dale talks about hanging with Earl Campbell at Gilley’s, honky tonk fights in Texas, Gilley’s stories, George Jones stories, smoking with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash stories, the first time he walked into the Continental Club, Chicken Shit Bingo, Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 105: Wabash Cannonball Jan 21, 2015

Wabash Cannonball went from being a song sung by hobos in the late 1800s to selling 10,000,000 copies worldwide and is now a staple in the american songbook. Otis shares stories about the songs’ journey.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 104: Jimi Hendrix’s Nashville Jan 06, 2015

Jay McDowell is the Multimedia/Assistant Museum Exhibit Curator at the Musician’s Hall Of Fame And Museum and he’s sharing stories about Jimi Hendrix’s early days in Nashville. Stories about the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, meeting Billy Cox, moving to Indianapolis and then Nashville, playing the Chitlin’ Circuit, The Del Morocco Club and the Jefferson Street scene, Jimi’s pet monkey, Jimi’s first recording session, getting arrested for sitting at a “white only” lunch counter, Jimi’s first Stratocaster, leaving Nashville, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 103: Don Schlitz Dec 22, 2014

The man who wrote The Gambler, Forever And Ever, Amen and a ton of other great songs talks about coming to Nashville on a Greyhound bus with $80 and a guitar in hopes of making a go of it.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 102: Stringbean’s Last Song Dec 08, 2014

Peter Cooper tells the story of Stringbean and Estelle Akeman’s tragic deaths.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 101: Webb Wilder Nov 25, 2014

Webb talks about seeing The Faces live in 1971, Ian McLagan stories, seeing Mott The Hoople live in 1970, being broke down in Slidell, Louisiana, Jerry Lee Lewis stories, Ritchie Blackmore’s 200 watt Marshall, Nick Lowe stories, playing Farm Aid, the Nashville rock community in the 1980s, Dan Penn stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 100: Otis Gibbs Oct 23, 2014

Otis talks about sleeping in haunted hotels, hoping to see a ghost, Ian Hunter tour stories, Joe Elliot, Martin Chambers, poker games, parlay cards and gentlemanly wagers, his first UK gig, opening for Guy Clark, the history of this show and the plans moving forward. etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 99: Paul McCartney In Nashville Oct 14, 2014

Bill DeMain talks about Wings’ six week stay in Nashville in 1974, Buddy Killen stories, staying at “Junior’s Farm”, Curly Putnam stories, McCartney at The Grand Ole Opry, hanging with Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner backstage at the Opry, McCartney playing with Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed, recording Junior’s Farm at the Sound Shop, Jimmy McCulloch stories, Paul and Linda’s love of The Loveless Cafe, Paul and Linda going to the drive-in theater, hanging in Printer’s Alley, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 98: Roger Alan Wade Oct 07, 2014

Roger talks about Eastern Tennessee pro wrestling memories, the true madness of Knoxville, seeing Waylon Jennings with the Crickets, meeting Waylon at a party for Johnny Cash, how to get a good seat on a Greyhound, crashing at Johnny Cash’s house, Guy Clark stories, Hank Williams Jr. stories, Willie Nelson jogging through Chattanooga, Johnny Knoxville stories, Billy Joe Shaver stories, etc

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 97: Kevin Russell (Part 2) Sep 30, 2014

The Gourds and Shinyribs front man talks about being broke down in Arkansas, Scott Norwood’s missed kick, the greatness of Ted Hawkins, South Austin in the early 90s, opening day at Jovita’s, the South Austin Housing boom, the Hipster Gentrification Army, buying guns in on South Congress, light night AM radio in Texas, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 96: Kevin Russell Sep 23, 2014

Kevin talks about hanging out with pro wrestlers in a Shreveport strip joint, biker bars, the Bristol Sessions, seeing Son House in Shreveport, inflicting himself on the audience, Austin Outhouse stories, Ray Wylie Hubbard stories, Jon Dee Graham stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 95: Bob Dylan’s Nashville Recordings Sep 16, 2014

Jay McDowell is the Multimedia/Assistant Museum Exhibit Curator at the Musician’s Hall Of Fame And Museum and he’s sharing stories about Bob Dylan and the musicians who played on his Nashville sessions. He shares stories about Charlie McCoy, Hargus “Pig” Robbins, Kenny Buttrey, Charlie Daniels, Pete Drake, Joe South, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 94: Mac Wiseman (Part 2) Sep 09, 2014

Mac talks about recording at Castle Studio in Nashville, breakfast with Merle Haggard, watching Joe Louis matches with Hank Garland, Grady Martin stories, Mississippi John Hurt stories, Johnny Cash opening for Mac on Cash’s first tour, recording a duet with Johnny Cash, picking parties at Cash’s house, playing Las Vegas in the 60s, Maybelle Carter stories, walking on the beach with Maybelle Carter and Harlan Howard, working with A.P Carter in Bristol in 1947, Dean Martin stories, Nipsey Russell, John Prine stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 93: Mac Wiseman (Part 1) Sep 02, 2014

Mac talks about growing up during the Great Depression, meeting Flatt and Scruggs and joining the Foggy Mountain Boys, meeting Bill Monroe and joining his band, playing with Molly O’Day, Bill Monroe’s traveling baseball team, watching Hank Williams do five encores at his first Opry appearance, watching Hank write I’m So Lonesome I could Cry, Bob Hope refusing to play after Hank, Hank fishing with the Governor of Louisiana, Miss Audrey’s parties, Hank shooting his pistol in the house, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 92: Todd Snider (Part 2) Aug 27, 2014

Todd talks about meeting Skip Litz, stealing a Christmas tree from Kroger, getting arrested in Greencastle, Indiana, a rough encounter with Hunter S. Thompson, meeting Brian Henneman, Bottle Rockets stories, The Monsters Of Tube Socks Tour, his love of Dan Baird and Warner Hodges, playing golf with Chuck Mead and Phil Kaufman, back problems, lawn mowers, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 91: Chuck Mead (Part 3) Aug 18, 2014

Chuck talks about meeting Buck Owens and Roy Clark, crazy Buck Owens stories, touring with George Jones, singing on stage with George Jones, George Jones stories, Johnny Cash train stories, touring with Loretta Lynn, singing on stage with Loretta Lynn, visiting the Charles Shulz Museum, the first time he played the Grand Ole Opry, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 90: Special Edition Aug 05, 2014

This is a special episode where Otis tells stories and previews songs from his new album, Souvenirs Of A Misspent Youth.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 89: John Strohm (Part 2) Jul 30, 2014

John talks about the Blake Babies eating at Denny’s with Henry Rollins, listening to Rollin’s record collection, Firehose road stories, Mike Watt’s rules for how a band should conduct themselves, Mike Watt’s love of Madonna, Lemonheads road stories, Hole stories, Courtney Love stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 88: Scott H. Biram Jul 16, 2014

Scott talks about seeing Doc Watson at The Armadillo World Headquarters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Leadbelly, Hasil Adkins stories, Hank 3 stories, obnoxious audience members, VAN-dalism, getting naked and singing gospel songs, surviving a head on collision with an 18 wheeler, gardening, chickens, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 87: Cheetah Chrome (Part 2) Jul 09, 2014

Cheetah talks about what it’s like to live with Johnny Thunders, John Belushi stories, hanging with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Ian Hunter stories, moving to Nashville, Plowboy Records, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 86: Cheetah Chrome (Part 1) Jul 01, 2014

Cheetah talks about recording the Rocket From The Tombs tapes in a haunted rehearsal space, the night The Dead Boys met The Ramones, Stiv Bators mooning The Ramones, the first time he walked into CBGBs, The Dead Boys’ first CBGBs gig, The Dead Boys road stories, bad record deals, the greatness of The Dictators, death threats at a gig in Detroit, Stiv Bators memories, learning about Stiv’s passing, etc.

Episode 85: The Howlin’ Brothers Jun 24, 2014

Ian Craft of The Howlin’ Brothers talks about playing folk music in Ithaca, New York, moving to Nashville, playing on lower Broadway, road life, Brendan Benson stories, eating chicken with Warren Haynes, Sun Studio stories, playing The Ryman Auditorium, playing The Winnipeg Folk Festival, meeting Dr. John, losing a transmission outside of Los Angeles, fishing with Otis, etc.

Episode 84: W.S. Holland (Part 2) Jun 17, 2014

W.S. talks about touring with Johnny Cash in a 1948 Cadillac, the difficulties of touring in the 1950s and 60s, playing Folsom Prison and San Quentin, the first time he heard Boy Named Sue, recording Ring Of Fire, Luther Perkins stories, the Dylan/Cash Sessions, visiting Johnny Cash for the last time, learning that Johnny Cash passed away, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 83: W.S. Holland (Part 1) Jun 10, 2014

W.S. talks about joining Carl Perkins’ band, Sun Studio stories, recording Blue Suede Shoes and Matchbox, being there for the Million Dollar Quartet session, Jack Clement stories, Jerry Lee Lewis stories, joining Johnny Cash’s band, Kris Kristofferson stories, Willie Nelson stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 82: Amy LaVere Jun 03, 2014

Amy talks about an imperfect corporate gig on a riverboat, working at Sun Studios and giving tours to Questlove and Bill Murray, playing on Lower Broadway in Nashville in the 90s, playing Wanda Jackson in Walk The Line, auditioning for Black Snake Moan, Seasick Steve stories, running away from home as a teenager, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 81: Managing Townes Van Zandt May 27, 2014

John Lomax III talks about meeting Townes Van Zandt for the first time, becoming Townes’ manager, reading fan’s letters to Townes, filming Heartworn Highways, Uncle Seymour, Townes partying with Gram Parsons in Houston, Townes sitting in with The Allman Brothers, Townes’ love of Lightnin’ Hopkins, Townes’ artistic drive, the last time he saw Townes, Attending Townes’ funeral, etc

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 80: John Lomax III (Part 1) May 20, 2014

John talks about his grandfather documenting cowboy songs in the late 1800s, Carl Sandburg, Studs Terkel, John Sr. and Alan Lomax recording Lead Belly in Angola Prison, discovering folk singers in churches and prisons, finding Muddy Waters at Stovall Plantation, Honeyboy Edwards, Ironhead Baker, making recordings on horseback, traveling in a Model A Ford, Lightnin’ Hopkins Stories, Mance Lipscomb stories, Les Blank films, his family’s legacy, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 79: J.D. Wilkes May 14, 2014

The Legendary Shack Shakers’ and Dirt Daubers’ frontman talks about growing up in Kentucky, witnessing an exorcism, the collective effervescence, Barn Dances And Jamborees Across Kentucky, hoop snakes and wampus cats, representing Paducah in a cultural exchange with Dublin, early days of the Legendary Shack Shakers, Lower Broadway history, road life, comic books, painting sideshow banners, thoughts on art, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 78: Chuck Mead (Part 2) Apr 29, 2014

Chuck talks about visiting the Bigfoot Museum, Roswell, dropping acid and seeing a UFO,
misbehaving in hotel rooms with Levon Helm, bumming smokes from Keith Richards, acquiring Dee Dee Ramone’s bass, playing with Don Helms, Hank Williams stories, Quonset Hut history, Owen Bradley and Harold Bradley, Grand Ole Opry TV Shows, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 77: Big Sandy Apr 22, 2014

Big Sandy talks about growing up in Orange County, Lowrider culture, seeing Ray Charles live, being inspired by James Intveld, seeing Jerry Lee Lewis at The Palomino Club, Palomino stories, meeting Porter Wagoner, playing the Grand Ole Opry, Sleepy LaBeef stories, playing the Conan O’Brien Show, high security prison gigs, albino skunks, long drives, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 76: Wayne Kramer (Part 2) Apr 15, 2014

Wayne talks about playing with Johnny Thunders, Johnny Thunders stories, dealing with addiction, working with GG Allin, GG Allin stories, the power of youth, getting busted, prison life, his prison band, Red Rodney, Billy Bragg stories, The Clash, Jail Guitar Doors, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 75: Wayne Kramer (Part 1) Apr 08, 2014

Wayne talks about his red, white and blue Stratocaster, Iggy Pop Stories, Stooges stories, MC5 guitar amp preferences, the MC5 van, being harassed by Detroit police, the Bell Isle Love In Riot, playing the 1968 Democratic National Convention, 1960s stage volumes, Dick The Bruiser, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 74: Sid Griffin Apr 01, 2014

Sid talks about sneaking into bars in Louisville, shaking hands with Bill Monroe, discovering The Sex Pistols, driving across the country to L.A., Rodney Bingenheimer stories, Ireland’s love of Country Music, touring behind the Iron Curtain with Billy Bragg, writing liner notes for reissues of classic records, writing for the BBC, reporting Johnny Cash’s death for BBC Television, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 73: Hayes Carll (Part 3) Mar 25, 2014

Hayes talks about playing basketball with Bruce Robison, losing teeth in a softball game, seeing the Rolling Stones in a 400 seat club, Mick Jagger throwing water on him, the greatness of Adam Carroll, singing “Paradise” with John Prine, the Old Quarter, Townes Van Zandt, pickup basketball war stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 72: Hayes Carll (Part 2) Mar 18, 2014

Hayes talks about his sports prognostication skills, making sports bets with fans, Bob Schneider stories, behaving badly at The Saxon Pub, playing smaller venues, Todd Snider’s dog lamp, Todd Snider stories, false rumors of a Wyoming mental institution, being detained at the Canadian border, a $500 orange, dealing with anxiety attacks, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 71: John Moreland Mar 10, 2014

John talks about his first Reds game, Joe Nuxhall’s day job, Oklahoma pride, Hardcore and DIY, dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, learning that Rachel Maddow is a fan, Lucero stories, Austin Lucas stories, Boys II Men, bad gig stories, sharing a gig with midget wrestlers, The Precious Moments Patriots, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 70: Jason Ringenberg (Part 2) Mar 04, 2014

Jason And The Scorchers’ frontman talks about eating barbecue with Bob Dylan, touring with Dylan, Perry Baggs stories, being heckled by Survivor fans, playing Conan O’Brien’s show, touring on British trains, avoiding The Tube at all cost, the birth of Farmer Jason, performing for children, making a Christmas record, his farm, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 69: Jason RIngenberg (Part 1) Feb 25, 2014

Jason And The Scorchers’ frontman talks about growing up on a hog farm in Illinois, castrating hogs, George “Scrap Iron” Gadaski, Jerry Lee Lewis’ hatred for The Crusher, moving to Nashville, Cantrell’s, Jack Emerson stories, the birth of Jason And The Scorchers, opening for Carl Perkins, REM stories, meeting Johnny Cash, Replacements stories, Richard Hell and Lou Reed showing up at gigs, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 68: Mando Saenz Feb 19, 2014

Mando talks about growing up in a military family, the Houston Astrodome, Dome Foam, Otis’ disdain for the Cubs, Hayes Carll stories, Robert Earl Keen stories, dipping Copenhagen, Kim Richey stories, Stoney LaRue stories, co-writing in Nashville, Black Sabbath’s new country record, bad gig stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 67: Robbie Fulks Feb 11, 2014

Robbie talks about growing up in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, going to Bluegrass festivals as a kid, Bill Monroe vs Bobby Knight, Chicago’s Country music history, WLS National Barn Dance, Old Town School Of Folk Music, Nashville in the 1990’s, Tim Carroll, BR5-49, Buck Owens, George Jones, Lloyd Green stories, JP Morgan stories, thoughts on money, his Hideout residency, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 66: Amy Lashley Jan 29, 2014

Amy talks about growing up in Russellville, Indiana, being painfully shy as a kid, playing sports, her first concert, singing in bands in college, meeting Otis at a Bob Dylan concert, attending her first wrestling match, road stories, Colorado migraines, being mistaken for junkies in Kansas, making records, writing children’s books, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 65: Jon Byrd Jan 22, 2014

Jon talks about growing up in near Harper Lee, Johnny Shines and Bear Bryant in rural Alabama, moving to Nashville, not quite meeting Albert Lee, Hank Williams stories, Jerry Reed stories, Harlan Howard’s house, hanging with Tom T. Hall, selling a drum set to John Prine, thoughts on Texans, Buck Jones stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 64: Brian Henneman (Part 3) Jan 14, 2014

Brian talks about making demos with Uncle Tupelo and how those demos lead to a record deal, how the Bottle Rockets were formed, signing a major label deal, meeting Eric Ambel, recording The Brooklyn Side, recording while drunk, being temporarily treated like a rock star, playing The Conan O’Brien Show, getting makeup done with Max Weinberg, hearing Radar Gun on the radio for the first time, having the most requested song on Dallas’ biggest rock station, the night Anthrax, Dimebag Darrell and Ugly Kid Joe opened for the Bottle Rockets, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 63: Brian Henneman (Part 2) Jan 07, 2014

Brian talks about seeing Sir Douglas Quintet with Jay Farrar and Mark Ortman, meeting Doug Sahm, Doug Sahm stories, the history of Coffee Creek, Uncle Tupelo’s final gig, Jeff Tweedy/Jay Farrar stories, Cheap Trick reaching out to The Bottle Rockets, befriending Bun E. Carlos, The Alt-Country Cruise , etc.

Episode 63: Brian Henneman (Part 2) Jan 07, 2014

Brian talks about seeing Sir Douglas Quintet with Jay Farrar and Mark Ortman, meeting Doug Sahm, Doug Sahm stories, the history of Coffee Creek, Uncle Tupelo’s final gig, Jeff Tweedy/Jay Farrar stories, Cheap Trick reaching out to The Bottle Rockets, befriending Bun E. Carlos, The Alt-Country Cruise , etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 62: Jon Langford Dec 18, 2013

Jon talks about growing up in Wales, Joe Strummer working as a gravedigger in Newport, opening for The Clash in Leicester, Joe Strummer stories, The Mekons, the miners’ strike, Billy Bragg stories, his paintings, meeting Johnny Cash four times, Johnny Cash stories, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 61: Otis Saves Christmas Dec 10, 2013

Ray Wylie Hubbard, Gretchen Peters, Jon Dee Graham, Kim Richey, Chuck Mead and Phil Kaufman share their favorite Christmas memories. Otis tells a few Christmas stories of his own and plays a recording he made ten years earlier of him driving two drunk friends home from the bar on Christmas Eve. It’s a Christmas miracle!

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 60: David Bazan Dec 03, 2013

David talks about growing up in a musical family, Christian Thrash Metal, Damien Jurado stories, Vic Chesnutt stories, Will Johnson, Mark Eitzel, road stories, cooking meals in the van, getting hit by a drunk driver in Chicago, hitting a deer and totaling the van, playing gigs in living rooms, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 59: Paul Kelly Nov 26, 2013

Paul talks about growing up in Adelaide, Australia, Louis Armstrong, discovering The Stanley Brothers, trading cassettes and mix tapes, road stories, bad gigs, Kasey Chambers stories, Tim O’Brien, touring with Crowded House, Neil Finn stories, Steve Earle stories, his first trip to Nashville, thoughts on songwriting, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 58: Joe Pug Nov 19, 2013

Joe talks about studying playwriting in college, his favorite teacher, Fugazi, succeeding on your own terms, moving to Chicago, Steve Earle stories, Rhett Miller, Josh Ritter stories, searching for grapefruit juice in Cleveland, bad gig stories, drinking whiskey with Hayes Carll on a ranch in Colorado, getting punched in the face by a cowgirl, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 57: David Olney Nov 12, 2013

David talks about Killer Kowalski’s claw hold, opening for Townes Van Zandt in 1973, his friendship with Townes, watching Guy Clark play pool, Guy Clark stories, forming The X-Rays, stepping in dog shit on stage, playing Austin City Limits, meeting Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Emmylou Harris stories, Linda Ronstadt, Daniel Lanois, Wrecking Ball, Sergio Webb, bad gig stories, touring with Melissa Etheridge, life outside of the mainstream, audience honesty, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 56: Will Johnson Nov 05, 2013

The Centro-matic frontman talks about growing up in a military town, playing in people’s living rooms, hitting a deer and totaling the van, David Bazan, Quiet Riot vs Peter Gabriel, Jason Molina Stories, Vic Chesnutt stories, Bridge School Benefit, having dinner at Neil Young’s house, having Sheryl Crow as a babysitter, his love of baseball, his paintings, Slurpee tantrums, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 55: The Greencards Oct 22, 2013

Carol and Kym talk about Bluegrass in Australia, Vince Gill stories, Sam Bush stories, Rodney Crowell stories, Benny Hill, a lesson in Australian slang, playing an outdoor gig in a sand storm, Bob Dylan stories, Willie Nelson stories, living in Austin and Nashville, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 54: Amy Speace Oct 15, 2013

Amy talks about moving around at a young age, studying performing arts, The National Shakespeare Conservatory, actors vs musicians, early gigs, road stories, Judy Collins stories, Ian Hunter stories, moving to East Nashville, hosting weekly song swaps, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 53: Grant Showbiz (Part 2) Oct 10, 2013

Grant talks about meeting Billy Bragg, The Frank Chickens, Billy Bragg opening for the Smiths, early road stories with Billy, Weddings Parties Australia, “going nude” at a party with Billy Bragg, producing Mermaid Avenue, Wilco stories, tensions during the Mermaid Avenue sessions, the genius of Jay Bennett, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 52: Grant Showbiz (Part 1) Oct 01, 2013

Grant talks about working with The Smiths, meeting The Smiths at their fifth gig, Johnny Marr stories, Morrissey stories, The Smiths breaking up in his studio, the London squat scene, Frestonia, working with Gong, touring with Here & Now, playing naked at Stonehenge, producing The Fall, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 51: Warner E. Hodges Sep 25, 2013

Jason and the Scorchers’ guitarist talks about growing up on an Army base in Germany, his musical parents, seeing Merle Haggard as a kid, moving to Nashville in 1973, playing in his parent’s band, seeing The Ramones and The Police at the Exit In, his first guitar, touring with Bob Dylan, meeting Jason Ringenberg, opening for Carl Perkins, witnessing Jerry Lee Lewis play to 1,500 punk rock kids on a flatbed trailer, Jason And The Scorchers road stories, touring with Stevie Ray Vaughn, being booed by Survivor fans, meeting Dan Baird, Todd Snider stories, playing with Iggy Pop, playing 200 shows with REM, road life, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 50: Otis Gibbs Sep 18, 2013

Otis talks about playing a biker gang’s clubhouse in Illinois, growing up in Wanamaker, the art of avoiding time share meetings, meeting Ernie Ladd, being banned from local wrestling matches at a diesel garage, living on $300 a month, living with 10 people in a 2 bedroom apartment, almost shaking hands with Johnny Cash, terrible interview stories, reasons for deciding to do this show, thoughts on 50 episodes, music industry people discovering this show, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 49: Delbert McClinton (Part 2) Sep 10, 2013

Delbert talks about being attacked by teenage girls in England, meeting the Beatles at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, John Lennon taking him to beatnik clubs in London, teaching John Lennon some harmonica licks, touring in a WW2 British ambulance, moving to LA in 1971, Emmylou Harris recording Two More Bottle’s Of Wine, getting signed to Atlantic Records, the Blues Brothers recording his song, John Belushi stories, playing on Saturday Night Live, IRS problems, moving to Nashville, thoughts on making records, traveling to China and Peru, finally getting to visit Machu Picchu, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 48: Delbert McClinton (Part 1) Sep 03, 2013

Delbert talks about seeing Bob Wills in a Lubbock dance hall, Buddy Holly, his first guitar, winning a local talent show as a kid, opening for Jerry Lee Lewis in 1957 at the Dallas Sportatorium, seeing Gorgeous George wrestle, the neon jackass marquee at Jack’s Place in Mansfield, Texas, working with Joe Turner, Jimmy Reed, Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin’ Hopkins, O. C. Smith, playing juke joints in the 1960s, touring with 6 people and equipment in a station wagon, mud suckers, playing clubs with dirt floors with no electricity, befriending local gangsters in Fort Worth, bank robbing pills, juke joint horror stories, Freddy king sitting in with the band at Mother Blues in Dallas, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 47: Austin Lucas Aug 27, 2013

Austin talks about sword fighting trees, growing up in Southern Indiana, dealing with social anxiety, Lotus Dickey memories, Chuck Ragan stories, The Revival Tour, singing Get Up Kid songs with Frank Turner and Matt Pryor, Glossary stories, drinking all of Europe’s booze, picking up Cory Branan at the airport, playing Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour, leaving Bloomington, Indiana and moving to Nashville, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 46: Peter Cooper Aug 21, 2013

Peter talks about growing up in South Carolina and Northern Virginia, his love of baseball, his first visit to Nashville, getting a job at the Tennessean and relocating to East Nashville, Duane Jarvis stories , David Olney stories, Todd Snider stories, the birth of the Fuzz-Tone guitar pedal, Woodland Studios and Will The Circle Be Unbroken, the greatness of Lloyd Green, working with Tom T. Hall, writing George Jones’ and “Cowboy” Jack Clements’ obituaries, interviewing Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson stories, getting yelled at by Toby Keith, playing on the front porches of East Nashville, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 45: Tim Easton Aug 13, 2013

Tim talks about opening for Townes Van Zandt, growing up in Ohio and Japan, busking in Europe, hitchhiking through Ireland, rough gigs, fishing for salmon in Alaska, combat fishing, getting arrested in Lexington, Jay bennett stories, moving from Joshua Tree to East Nashville, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 44: Tim O’Brien (Part 2) Aug 06, 2013

Tim O’Brien talks about meeting Doc Watson, Jimmy Martin stories, Ralph Stanley, old school bandleader rules, playing in multiple bands on the same festival, meeting Darrell Scott and becoming friends and collaborators, hanging out in John Prine’s man cave, working as Mark Knopfler’s sideman, enjoying the coffee shops of Amsterdam, Bluegrass counter culture, Bill Monroe and the birth of Bluegrass festivals, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 43: Tim O’Brien (Part 1) Jul 30, 2013

Tim talks about meeting Bill Monroe and Kenny Baker, growing up in Wheeling, West Virginia, seeing Merle Haggard play fiddle, singing with his sister, attending a Beatles concert in Pittsburgh in 1965, moving to Colorado, 1970’s Colorado music scene, the birth of Hot Rize, Red Knuckles And The Trailblazers, the evils of electric instruments, touring in a 1969 Cadillac Sedan DeVille, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 42: Thomm Jutz Jul 23, 2013

Thomm talks about growing up in a village in the Black Forest of Germany, being inspired to start playing guitar after seeing Bobby Bare on TV, hanging out on a Canadian military base in Germany, playing with an Elvis impersonator, getting shaken down by Swiss border police with Richard Dobson, moving to Nashville, touring with David Olney, Steve Young, Mary Gauthier and Nanci Griffith, road stories, seeing Bobby Bare at the Bluebird, The 1861 Project, becoming an American citizen, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 41: Ramsay Midwood Jul 16, 2013

Ramsay talks about buying a church van, being mistaken for jewel thieves in Oklahoma, growing up in Virginia, sitting on Mississippi John Hurt’s knee as a child, living in Chicago, his acting career, appearing on Matlock, living in Venice Beach, his first gig, playing for A&R people, a very strange gig in Knoxville, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 40: Rod Picott Jul 09, 2013

Rod talks about growing up in Maine, his childhood garage band with Slaid Cleaves, moving to Colorado, learning about songwriting with Steven Allen Davis, moving to Nashville, Guido’s Pizza, Nashville’s songwriting community in the 1990s, hanging at Jack’s Guitar Bar, driving Alison Krauss’ merch truck, road stories, the strange day to day world of a traveling musician, putting his posters on top of mine, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 39: Darden Smith Jul 02, 2013

Darden talks about touring with Emmylou Harris and Stevie Nicks, tells a great Tammy Wynette story, growing up in Brenham, Texas, teaching creativity in schools, songwriting with soldiers, appearing on the Tonight Show, becoming Artist In Residence at Oklahoma State University, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 38: Tim Carroll Jun 25, 2013

Tim talks about growing up near Terre Haute, Indiana, playing in barns, Bloomington, Indiana in the 1970’s, joining the Gizmos, befriending Dow Jones And The Industrials, opening for the Ramones, relocating to New York in 1980, working on Wall Street, meeting Rank And File, John Prine recording one of his songs, moving to Nashville and signing to Sire Records, playing on Lower Broadway, Lucinda Williams, meeting Elizabeth Cook, road stories, train wrecking in front of John Prine, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 37: Matthew Ryan Jun 18, 2013

Matthew talks about meeting beautiful women in Ohio gas stations, getting shaken down by cops on tour, growing up in Chester, Pennsylvania, moving to Nashville, the need to become a hunter/gatherer while on tour, the greatness of Lucinda Williams, convincing ourselves why a gig might turn bad, Matthew’s Tom Petty theory, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 36: Cory Branan Jun 11, 2013

Cory talks about growing up in Mississippi, Graceland Too, the Style Station outside of Waco, working at record stores, Lucero stories, Elvis’ karate dojo, Andy Kaufman and Memphis Wrestling, bartending at the Peabody Hotel, a great Prince story, his breakdancing prowess, stage fire in Pittsburgh, bleeding on young girls, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 35: Chip Taylor Jun 05, 2013

The writer of Wild Thing talks about Chet Atkins wanting to hear his songs, writing Wild Thing, 1650 and the Brill Building, Carol King stories, meeting Jimi Hendrix, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, becoming a professional gambler and getting banned from casinos, helping James Taylor get started, writing Angel Of The Morning, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 34: Todd Snider May 29, 2013

Todd talks about tripping on mushrooms and ecstasy, Chris Robinson’s drug of choice, his new book, recording with the Turbo Fruits, joining a band called The Hard Working Americans, sending mix tapes to Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jerry Jeff Walker stories, John Prine stories, meeting Chuck Berry, making a movie with Elizabeth Cook, advice to young people, making a live record with Jack Ingram and Kent Finlay, starting an East Nashville themed radio station, Guy Clark and John Prine critiquing his songs, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 33: Tommy Womack May 21, 2013

Tommy talks about the Beatles torturing women with death rays, growing up in rural Kentucky, getting beat up in school, listening to 8-track tapes while riding in an AMC Gremlin, hanging out at record stores, The White Squirrel Capitol Of The World, a rough night in Indianapolis, creative people and their insecurities, moving to Nashville, his nervous breakdown, meeting Johnny Cash, Waylon, Jerry Jeff Walker, meeting Tiny Tim at the circus, playing bass for Todd Snider, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 32: Dustin Welch May 15, 2013

Dustin talks about growing up in an creative family, starting a neighborhood band as a child with Carry Ann Hearts, Cory Younts and Justin Townes Earle, working at the Bluebird Cafe, seeing John Prine at the baseball game, the day Garth Brooks stopped by the house, joining a punk rock band on the Warped Tour, teaching wounded soldiers to write songs, sharing music with his father, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 31: Nan Warshaw May 07, 2013

The Bloodshot Records co-owner talks about seeing the Dead Kennedys play Jim Jones’ church, converting an abandoned firehouse into a rehearsal space, the birth of Bloodshot, Jon Langford stories, Ryan Adams stories, musicians without health insurance, being invited to the White House, 20 years of putting out records, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 30: Billy Bragg (Part 2) Apr 30, 2013

Billy talks about visiting a creation museum in Kentucky, American truck stops, Baconalia, maple bacon milkshakes, the Cern Abyss Giant, the Long Man Of Wilmington, making his own pop charts as a kid, his friendship with Ian McLagan, seeing the Jam in pubs, falling in love with the Clash, visiting prisons with Wayne Kramer, Jail Guitar Doors, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 29: Billy Bragg (Part 1) Apr 23, 2013

Billy Bragg talks about having the chance to meet Bob Dylan and watching football instead, hanging with Chrissie Hynde, the genius of Jay Bennett, Wilco meeting Cheap Trick, the Basement Tapes, Mermaid Avenue, Otis’ first taste of Marmite, fulfilling Abbie Hoffman’s last prank, eating Joe Hill’s ashes, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 28: Chris Shiflett Apr 17, 2013

The Foo Fighters guitarist talks about seeing Kiss without their makeup as a kid, playing his high school talent show, working at Fat Wreck Chords, auditioning for the Foo Fighters, eating curry with Brian May, playing with Kris Kristofferson, backing up Mick Jagger on Saturday Night Live, Rick Springfield, learning Lindsey Buckingham guitar parts, visiting prisons with Billy Bragg, Wayne Kramer and Mick Jones, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 27: Susan Cowsill Apr 10, 2013

Susan talks about sitting on Johnny Cash’s knee, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, singing a duet with Dean Martin, shoplifting with Marcia Brady, hanging with Charles Nelson Reilly and Michael Landon, doing milk commercials, Carl Reiner and Hair, life after Hurricane Katrina, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 26: Gurf Morlix Apr 03, 2013

Gurf talks about borrowing blues records from a 12 year old Peter Case, Bobo Brazil, Larry McMurty’s bookstore, staying in a haunted hotel with Sam Baker, working with Lucinda Williams, his cabin in the Canadian wilderness, prison chain gang records and Ray Wylie Hubbard, seeing Blaze Foley play a gig in a disco, Blaze’s funeral, Townes Van Zandt singing in cajun gibberish, Townes wailing on a pawn shop saxophone, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 25: Martie Maguire Mar 26, 2013

The Dixie Chicks and Court Yard Hounds co-founder talks about Ryan Adams’ collection of vintage pinball machines, backstage wrestling matches and kick wars, visiting the White House, Bill Clinton’s frog bong, playing Bluegrass festivals as a kid, meeting Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, being encouraged by Emmylou Harris, touring in a pink R.V. and dodging tornadoes, her love of Austin, learning to run sound onstage, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 24: Mojo Nixon Mar 20, 2013

Mojo talks about Haystacks Calhoun, Foghorn Leghorn figurines, being too high to watch pro wrestling, the secret wisdom of Jim Dickinson, Memphis, touring with The Pogues, Jello Biafra and art school chord changes, jumping on stage with Bruce Springsteen, meeting Joe Strummer, Eric “Roscoe” Ambel on mushrooms, Don Henley getting Replacements level drunk, working for MTV, The Pleasure Barons, his career in radio, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 23: Lydia Loveless Mar 13, 2013

Lydia talks about broken tire chains on Wolf Creek Pass, being stranded at Denver airport, aerophobia, smuggling bacon paste, Sweden’s amazing gas station food, mooning the hometown crowd, van life, White Galloway cattle, teenage punk rock gigs, broke down in Texas, facing anxiety, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 22: Kevin Gordon Mar 06, 2013

Kevin talks about fuel tank roulette, a stolen Chevy Suburban, Clarence Gatemouth Brown’s love of buttermilk, attending the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, playing with Bo Ramsey, old school bandleaders, East Nashville in 1995, Keith Richards recording one of his songs, his collection of Contemporary Folk Art/Outsider Art/Art Brut, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 21: John Strohm Feb 26, 2013

John talks about seeing the Zero Boys as a kid, opening an all ages venue, joining The Lemonheads, Evan Dando stealing a bull’s head, Blake Babies, becoming an entertainment attorney, representing Bon Iver, Alabama Shakes, The Civil Wars, artists being accessible to fans, seeing George Jones just outside of Gnaw Bone, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 20: Marshall Crenshaw Feb 20, 2013

Marshall talks about growing up in Detroit, seeing MC5 and Jimi Hendrix at Cobo Hall, joining Bealemania, hanging with Keith Richards, drinking ginger beer with Rick Danko, Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble, acting in La Bamba and Peggy Sue Got Married, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, getting a guitar lesson from Paul Burlison, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 19: Dan Baird Feb 12, 2013

Dan talks about rock cruises, Ian McLagan, Steve Marriott’s 1957 Fender Esquire, Swiss border nightmares, blue lightning, Goody’s Headache Powder, when Alison Prestwood met Carol Kaye, the 435th best guitar player in Nashville, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 18: Brian Henneman Feb 05, 2013

The Bottle Rockets’ singer talks about his first guitar, meeting Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar as kids, Chicken Truck, being an Uncle Tupelo roadie, recording A.M., the first time Wilco heard Trace, the Coug, touring with John Fogerty, disaster gig with Todd Snider, meeting Chuck Berry, Festus Chainsaw Massacre, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 17: Adam Carroll Jan 29, 2013

Adam talks about touring with Robert Earle Keen, cedar choppers and hilljacks, electronic cigarettes, goosing, growing up in Tyler Texas, his grandpa playing with Gene Krupa, John Prine, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 16: Bob Olhsson Jan 23, 2013

Motown’s head engineer talks about Marvin Gaye and recording “What’s Going On,” Stevie Wonder’s unrivaled work ethic, Benny Benjamin, James Jamerson, a very young Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, David Ruffin, the wisdom of Berry Gordy, working on Martin Luther King’s albums, Smokey Robinson playing house concerts at a young age, etc.

Click to listen in iTunes! — Episode 15: Tim Jones Jan 15, 2013

The Truth And Salvage Company singer tells us about playing Harry Dean Stanton’s 85th birthday party, fishing in Levon Helm’s lake, getting cussed at by Garth Hudson, Hotel Cafe history, meeting Otis for the first time, Rodney Dangerfield, Ron Jeremy’s harmonica skills, etc.

Thanks — Episode 14: Sam Baker Jan 09, 2013

Sam chats about UK roundabouts, growing up on a ranch in Itasca, Texas, Lightnin’ Hopkins, the day Willie Nelson drove through town, Bob Harris, his first European tour, overcoming stage fright, surviving a terrorist bombing in Peru, etc.

Thanks — Episode 13: Jimmy LaFave Jan 01, 2013

Jimmy tells us about Roller Derby, seeing Johnny Cash play live in the 1960s, Woody Guthrie Fest, Red Dirt Music, Oklahoma music history, Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, Music Road Records, etc.

Thanks — Episode 12: Richard Dobson Dec 26, 2012

Richard tells us about growing marijuana in Switzerland, fishing the Rhine, living with Rodney Crowell, Townes Van Zandt’s funeral, filming Heartworn Highways, Guy Clark, David Allan Coe, Blaze Foley, etc.

Click for iTunes — Episode 11: Slaid Cleaves Dec 18, 2012

Slaid talks about being a human guinea pig in pharmaceutical studies, old Dodge vans, driving ice cream trucks, busking in Ireland, the Pavarotti of the Plains, Wimberly, Texas, etc.

Thanks — Episode 10: Hayes Carll Dec 11, 2012

Hayes talks about bingo parlors, crayon autographs, competing in drag shows, Croatian handball, Wrecks Bell, lion tamers, writing with Guy Clark, etc.

Thanks — Episode 9: Mary Gauthier Dec 04, 2012

Mary talks about resisting technology, industry pitfalls, Chet Atkins quotes, Boy George recording her song, folk rehab, Hobo Kings, Norwegian prison gigs, etc.

Thanks — Episode 8: Chuck Mead Nov 28, 2012

Chuck talks about guitar shaped swimming pools, his first baseball game, meeting Tom Waits in a Kansas grocery, seeing Naked Lunch with William S. Burroughs and David Cronenberg, early East Nashville, vintage scooters etc.

Thanks — Episode 7: Ian Hunter Nov 21, 2012

Ian talks about sneaking into Graceland to meet Elvis, seeing Buddy Holly live, refusing to meet Jerry Lee Lewis, getting arrested in Indianapolis, swimming with Mick Ronson, seeing Pelé make two banana kicks etc.

Episode 6: Kim Richey Nov 13, 2012

Kim chats with Otis about tap dancing for Todd Snider, Swiss cowboy gigs, rehabbing raptors and convicts, vinyl records etc.

Episode 5: Jon Dee Graham Nov 07, 2012

Jon Dee chats with Otis about scar parties, attending cock fights and Lucha Libre in Mexico, opening for The Clash etc.

Episode 4: Phil Kaufman (Part 2) Oct 31, 2012

Phil chats with Otis about producing Charles Manson’s album, working for Frank Zappa, escaping from a Swedish prison, etc.

Episode 3: Phil Kaufman (Part 1) Oct 24, 2012

The legendary road manager chats with Otis about working for The Rolling Stones and goes into detail about stealing and burning the body of Gram Parsons.

Episode 2: Gretchen Peters Oct 17, 2012

Gretchen chats with Otis about Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday, growing up in New York and Boulder, seeing the Grateful Dead as a kid, moving to Nashville, Chinook winds etc.

Thanks — Episode 1: Ray Wylie Hubbard Oct 05, 2012

Ray Wylie Hubbard chats with Otis about hanging out with pro wrestling royalty in the 1970’s, seeing Lightnin’ Hopkins, vintage guitars, circus graveyards, etc.

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