What's The Reason For This Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 49 - The Pickpockets - Salt Lake Grass Ain’t Just for Mormons Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

This ain’t your grandpa’s bluegrass episode (unless your grandpa drinks yerba maté and rips mandolin licks). In this full-throttle follow-up interview, The Pickpockets return to the dungeon to talk band origin stories, life on the road, awkward moments with confetti cannons, and how Salt Lake City became a surprisingly badass bluegrass hub.

🚐 Road trip chaos? Check. 🎻 Fiddle-to-violin confusion? Cleared up. 📀 New music? In the works. 🤘 Raccoon-based origin story? Absolutely.

From learning classical violin in Indiana to shredding mandolin in the Rockies, the band unpacks their wildly different musical roots and how bluegrass became their common ground. They dive into songwriting, gigging across Utah and Colorado, and the hilariously real-life evolution of their song "Sweet Dakota," inspired by West Dakota Rose (and a little drunken jam session magic).

🔥 Highlights include:

The Draper Speedball (a Utah-specific cocktail of yerba maté + Michelob Ultra)
How Jake’s electric/acoustic Franken-guitar was sacrificed for tone
Banter on Billy Strings, Tool, reggae-grass dreams, and Slipknot covers 🤘
Their gratitude to Top Hat Crew for capturing their live shows on archive.org

🎶 Whether you're a fan of traditional pickin’ or jammy twists, The Pickpockets show why they’re on the rise—and why Salt Lake just might be the next big thing in bluegrass.

👉 Follow the band on Instagram @ThePickpocketsBluegrass, check their live sets on archive.org, and catch ‘em on tour this summer from Tahoe to Crested Butte.

Cue the raccoons and roll the confetti—this is one for the books.

Whats The Reason For This Session 5 - The Pickpockets Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to the dungeon for another electric episode of What’s The Reason For This Session?, featuring a rowdy and rootsy live set from The Pickpockets, straight outta Salt Lake City (and maybe just barely released from the church 😏). With their foot-stomping fusion of bluegrass soul, jammed-out grooves, and heart-heavy harmonies, this Utah-based crew brings the heat with three standout performances and an interview that’ll leave you grinning.

🎧 Session Highlights:

🎤 “Sweet Dakota Rose” – A sun-soaked original inspired by West Dakota Rose, penned by mandolin player Dante and delivered with infectious energy.
🚂 “Railroad” – A groovy, rhythm-driven original exploring connection, travel, and the pulse of a shifting world.
🎸 “The Thrill Is Gone” – A staple cover the band makes their own, nodding to Garcia & Grisman’s take on the BB King classic—with a Pickpocket twist.

Meet Alec, Aidan, Dante, and Jake as they talk about how their cross-country backgrounds brought them together in Utah, their musical roots, and why they’re stoked to finally take their sound beyond the Beehive State.

💥 Catch the full set. Stick around for the stories. And remember: the thrill is definitely not gone.

Episode 48 - The Steppers - Basslines, Banter & Breakfast Showdowns with Old Ladies Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

🎻🔥 In this jam-packed What’s the Reason for This Session?, we dive headfirst into the high-energy, heart-on-the-sleeve world of The Steppers — a bluegrass-rooted, jam-driven band straight outta Oklahoma with a sound that hits like a freight train and lyrics that cut like a mandolin string. These boys came to the dungeon armed with stories, soul, and a damn good reason to stomp.

From Panic! at the Disco to parking lot gigs, The Steppers take us through their evolution as musicians, brothers, and creative misfits trying to carve out something real in a scene that's as chaotic as it is beautiful. 🎶

✨ Episode Highlights:

🪕 Mandolin Awakening – Theron didn’t even like music until he saw Arkansas live on his 21st birthday. Now? He’s a mandolin monster who learned by ear in just three years, fueled by Ethan Bush licks and sheer obsession.

🎸 From Schmucker’s Jam to Showdowns – The band started as a bunch of high school buds jamming in flower shops and garages. Today, they’re chasing stages across Colorado and eyeing Hillberry Fest with their homegrown sound.

🎤 “Ten Toes” & “Bag of Colors” – The band unpacks their latest single and a sneak peek at a still-unreleased track. Hear how they write, why lyrics matter, and how their songs balance raw storytelling with crowd-moving grooves.

📀 Album Building in Real Time – With nine tracks in the vault and more on the way, the boys talk about studio lessons, gear hacks (like mattress foam under a bass bridge), and what perfectionism really means when you’re DIY’ing the whole damn thing.

🎟️ Grassroots to Grindcore – From booking their own gigs and managing setlist databases to trying to keep up with social media and Soundboard fails, it’s the real behind-the-scenes of life as a jam band on the rise.

😂 Bonus Chaos – Covers of pop hits, geriatric trampoline jokes, fish lot footage, and the eternal debate: can you listen to Lizzo and still rip bluegrass? (Spoiler: yes.)

If you’ve ever fallen in love with the music before the name, this is your episode. These guys may be just getting started — but their sound is already seasoned, their hearts are fully in it, and their live shows? Absolute chaos in the best way. 💥

🎧 Listen now and follow them at ⁠thesteppersband.com ⁠ and @the.steppers.music — because their next gig might just be the one that blows your boots off. 👢

#WhatsTheReasonForThis #TheSteppers #TenToes #BagOfColors #BluegrassReborn #JamGrass #DIYMusicians #OklahomaMusic #LiveMusicMatters #MandolinMadness #BassWithFoam #YourLoveCoverHits #BandOnTheRise #HillberryBound #SongwritingStories #GrassrootsGrowth #PodcastVibes #BluegrassIsCool #SupportLocalMusic

What's The Reason For This Session 4 - The Steppers Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

🎙️ What’s the Reason for This Session 📍 Live from the Dungeon | Featuring The Steppers

We’re turning up the heat with a raw, high-energy session featuring The Steppers, all the way from Oklahoma. The band kicks things off with their latest single “Ten Toes”—out now on all streaming platforms—followed by a sneak peek at their unreleased track “Bag of Colors” off their upcoming album (release date TBD 👀).

Just when you think it couldn’t get better, they throw in a soulful, belted-out cover of “Your Love” that hits all the nostalgic chords and leaves the room buzzing. 🎸🔥

Expect gritty vocals, contagious chemistry, a little self-deprecating humor, and a whole lotta talent. Whether you're a longtime fan or a first-time listener, this session delivers the kind of unfiltered, late-night magic you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Tune in. Plug in. Get loud. #WhatsTheReasonForThis #LiveSession #TheSteppers #TenToes #BagOfColors #PodcastVibes

Episode 46 - Magoo - Breckenridge Brewery Live Interview Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

In this high-energy and heart-filled LIVE episode of What’s the Reason for This Podcast, we sit down with the full crew of Magoo—one of Colorado’s most exciting rising bluegrass-jam outfits. The boys share hilarious stories, wild origin tales, and honest reflections on their musical journey, from School of Rock performances in KISS 😜 makeup to shredding Telluride’s contest stage.

🎸 Courtlyn talks about swapping his electric guitar for flatpicking during the pandemic and shares his roots in the Texas band Podunk and eventual pivot to the Mandolin.

👋 Dylan reflects on his hand issues early on and what he did to overcome the injury and eventually switching to the Dobro.

🐸 Eric reveals the unexpected guitar skills that led to the birth of the current trio.

🧸 Denton enters the pod late, only to casually drop the story of getting mauled by a grizzly bear—and how it led to buying his first bass. (Yes, really.)

Together, they break down what it means to write music as a collective, how the band evolved with Denton’s addition, and what the future holds as they kick off their first national tour! 🚌🔥

Oh, and there's Slim Jim engagements, overdrive pedals, XXL shirt complaints, and a firm promise of a future bear-themed set. 🐻🎶

Tour stops, new music vibes, cover song chaos, and lots of laughs—this one’s packed.

🎵 Catch Magoo live and support the band as they climb faster than a mountain goat on Colombian nose candy!

Episode 45 - Hot Buttered Rum (Part 1) - Stories, Songs & Soul from the Road Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

🥁🎻 We’re in Louisville, CO with bluegrass trailblazers Hot Buttered Rum, straight outta California and into our hearts (and vintage stores). In this episode, Nat and Eric drop by the dungeon—err, green room—for a raw, hilarious, and heartfelt session featuring stripped-down songs and a full-circle journey from biodiesel buses to brand new studio albums.

🎶 In This Episode:

Live acoustic performances that’ll stop you in your scroll 🎵
That time they powered a cross-country tour on tempura oil 🍤🚌
Musical roots: from Strength in Numbers to Ghanaian drum circles
The evolution from string band purity to drum-driven dynamism 🪘
Their dream of a Nashville super session (someone call Jerry Douglas) ✨
A sneak peek at their new album dropping this November 🔥

📧 Plus, they share why their email newsletter might just be the last non-soul-sucking form of social media. (Facts.)

🗺️ Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering them for the first time, this one's got laughs, lore, and a reminder that music is movement—both literal and cultural.

🎧 Listen now and catch them back in Colorado this August for RAPIDGRASS in Idaho Springs!

👉 ⁠hotbutteredrum.net ⁠ 📨 Sign up for their newsletter — it’s old-school cool.

#HotButteredRum #BluegrassRevival #BiodieselBus #JamGrass #GhanaToNashville #AcousticSessions #WhatstheReasonforThis #PodcastLove #RabaGrass2025 #LiveMusicMatters #TempuraTourLife

Episode 44 - Ben Gallaher - Strings, Stomp, and Storytelling with Country’s Grittiest Guitar Slinger Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

🎸🔥 In this unforgettable episode of What’s the Reason for This?, we’re joined by Nashville’s own country guitar-slingin’ outlaw, Ben Gallaher—and let’s just say he came in stompin’. From soup cans and toy guitars in Pennsylvania to viral riffs and raw, gritty storytelling, Ben walks us through a career built on authenticity, calloused fingers, and the kind of passion you can feel through the strings. 🎶

✨ Episode Highlights:

🧒 Early Grit – From drumming on soup cans to mastering acoustic rhythm solos as a teenager, Ben shares how a loud kid with a love for 90s country found his way to Nashville at just 19.

🎸 The Riff Heard Round the World – The viral story behind Stomp, a riff he wrote 5 years prior that took off with 35M+ views, sparked a guitar giveaway, and became a breakout hit—proof that music doesn’t need words to hit the soul.

🎙️ True to the Tune – Why Ben left Sony Records to stay true to his sound, how he writes with feeling over theory, and what it really means to “serve the song.”

🏕️ Eagle Scout Energy – From outdoor adventures to emotional performances in max-security prisons, Ben talks about his moral compass, service mindset, and how the outdoors fuels his artistry.

🎶 The New EP ‘Bullet’ – Ben dives into the new tracks like “Bullet,” “Dirt Roads,” and “Mistakes,” showing off his blend of heartland rock, country grit, and emotional storytelling.

🎥 A Music Video That Hits Hard – Behind the scenes of the cinematic “Bullet” video (Bonnie & Clyde meets Romeo & Juliet), why it had to be intense, and how it took the story to another level.

If you’ve ever felt something deep just from a guitar riff, this episode’s for you. From writing by ear to redefining country music on his terms, Ben Gallaher is here to remind us—there are still a few cowboys left. 🤠

🎧 Listen now and catch him on tour soon — all dates at bengallaher.com 👢 And yes, you better believe we talk about boot stomping…

#WhatsTheReasonForThis #BenGallaher #CountryMusic #GuitarRiffs #Stomp #NewEP #Bullet #CountryRock #MusicWithSoul #AuthenticSound #MusiciansOnTheRise #GritAndGrace #EagleScoutVibes #PrisonConcerts #StillAFewCowboys #AcousticGuitar #SongwritingJourney #LiveMusicMatters #PodcastInterview #CountryLife #NashvilleBound

Episode 43 - Sicard Hollow - Bluegrass, Blunt Truths, and the Electric Bass Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

🎙️ In this jam-packed and gloriously unfiltered episode of What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi and Shay welcome the full force of Sicard Hollow into the dungeon for a rowdy ride through the band’s origin story, sonic evolution, and the occasional felonious Twiddle show ejection. 🚨🎻

🔥 If you’re not already familiar, pause this episode and go look them up. Then come back, because this one’s for the real ones—the weirdos, the wanderers, the slap-bass believers, and the bluegrass punks who feel the music in their bones.

✨ Episode Highlights:

🎸 From Rehab to Rippers – Alex opens up about getting sober, getting accepted to Belmont, and unknowingly stepping into the world of bluegrass (even though he couldn’t tell you what a G-run was back then).
🧦 Barefoot Beginnings – Will and Alex’s first jam session includes electric guitars, mismatched chords, and a gas station encounter involving a weed pen and mistaken identities.
🛠️ The Bass Player Lost His Thumb – Shout out to Chris Hancock, who quite literally gave a piece of himself to the music. Circular saw + bluegrass = a hell of a story.
🥁 The Electric Bass Rebirth – A busted upright during a set in Columbus led to a mid-song instrument swap and the birth of the electric Sicard Hollow sound we know and love.
🤘 From Kiss to Coheed – Each member walks us through their wild musical upbringings—from gospel and hair metal to butt rock and Dream Theater. Yes, really.
📀 The New EP Is Coming – After a year of delays, the boys are back in the studio with John Estes, tracking six new songs live with the raw energy that defines their sound.
🌲 High Up in a Tree & Other Tales – Songwriting moments born on couches, in golden-hour showers, and in the haze of post-7-Eleven cigarette-fueled epiphanies.

💬 The band reflects on their growth, perfectionism, and unapologetically weird path to bluegrass glory. If you’ve ever questioned whether you belonged in a genre, scene, or moment—this one’s for you.

💥 Final verdict: Sicard Hollow isn’t just bending genres—they’re breaking molds, melting faces, and slapping their way into a space all their own.

🎧 Hit play, light the sage, and let’s get high up in a tree. 🌿

#WhatsTheReasonForThis #SicardHollow #BluegrassRevolution #JamGrass #PunkGrass #SlapBassNation #NewGrass #FestivalVibes #LiveMusicMatters #IndependentMusic #MusicianStories #BehindTheBand #JamBandCommunity #AcousticAndElectric #PodcastLife #MusicDocumentaryStyle #SoberMusicians #HighUpInATree #GratefulDeadVibes #ModernBluegrass #EPComingSoon

What's The Reason For This Session - 1 - Sicard Hollow Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

🎙️ What's the Reason for This Session? – Live from the Dungeon with Sicard Hollow

In this raucous, smoke-laced session of What’s the Reason for This?, we kick things off with a high-energy, jammed-out performance straight from the underground—literally. Nashville’s psychedelic grass pioneers Sicard Hollow rolled through the dungeon to drop four soulful, weed-soaked, and emotionally charged tracks—and damn, it’s a ride. 🌲🔥

✨ Episode Highlights:

🎶 “High Up in a Tree” – A stoner’s daydream turned existential spiral, this unreleased tune from their upcoming EP is as much about tree climbing as it is about the highs (and paranoia) of youth.

💥 “Motivation” – A revival from their debut album Secret of the Breeze, this track is an anthem for those crawling through burnout, searching for fire, and praying for inspiration to hit harder than Jim Beam at 9AM.

💔 “Yours to Keep” – A raw and vulnerable love song about regret and redemption, revamped and resurrected from the band’s early days—guitar, car, and clothes included.

🐾 Final Jam: "The Pink Panther Theme" – Just when you think it’s over, Sicard Hollow closes the session with a sneaky, swagger-filled take on the Pink Panther theme, capped by Parrish slapping the absolute shit out of the bass like it owed him money.

🪕 From playful banter and blurry-eyed bass slaps to stories of songs once shelved and now reborn, this episode is a front-row seat to a band that refuses to stay quiet or still.

🎧 Press play. Roll one. Climb a tree. And don’t forget to bring your feelings.

#SicardHollow #PsychedelicGrass #LiveSession #WhatsTheReasonForThis #BluegrassJam #HighUpInATree #MotivationSong #YoursToKeep #PinkPantherTheme #BassSlapMadness #LiveFromTheDungeon #MusicPodcast #NashvilleSound

Episode 42 - Zeb & Kim Ross - More Than a Viral Moment: How the J Creek Cloggers Are Keeping Tradition Alive Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

🎙️ In this foot-stompin’, heart-warmin’ episode of What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi and Shay sit down with the sensational mother-son duo behind the viral dance team, the J Creek Cloggers — Kim and Zeb Ross. 👩‍👦💃🕺

From viral fame to Fortnite, CMAs to square dancing history, this one’s a journey through Appalachian rhythm, Southern hospitality, and the legacy of storytelling through dance. 🎶🏔️✨

✨ Episode Highlights:

🔥 The Viral Spark – Zeb’s performance at Darnell Farms lit up the internet, racking up over a billion views 🌍📲 thanks to a blue shirt, some serious footwork, and that legendary smile 😁👟

📜 Behind the Buck Dance – Kim drops knowledge on the deep cultural roots of clogging, flatfooting, and Appalachian tradition — passed down through generations with pride and purpose 🪕📚👢

🌟 From Barn Floors to the CMAs – From surprise red carpet moments with Luke Bryan to bustin’ moves with Peyton Manning, Zeb went from local legend to national spotlight 🚀🏆🎤

🎮 Fortnite Fame – Yup, that dance is officially in the game. No motion capture suit needed, just pure Zeb energy 💻🎮🕹️

🎬 Clogging With Cole Swindell – A secret music video, some unexpected line dancing, and Cole learning a few moves of his own 🤠🎥💃

🌍 Cultural Preservation in Motion – The J Creek Cloggers aren't just dancing — they’re preserving history, telling stories, and teaching the world one tap at a time 🌱🕰️📖

🍗 Family, Food, and Footwork – From three-footlong Subway subs to dancing with a glass of water on your head, it's all love, laughs, and legacy for Zeb and Kim 🥪🩰🤣

🇺🇸 Bonus History: Haywood County dancers performed at the White House in 1939 for FDR and the King & Queen of England — and the tradition is still alive today! 👑🏛️🕺

🎧 Whether you’re a lifelong flatfooter or someone whose only move is the “stand still and clap,” this episode is a celebration of rhythm, roots, and real joy 🎉👣💖

🩰 Follow the fun: 🌐 jcreekcloggers.com 📱 TikTok: @zebbysgothappyfeet 📸 IG/FB: @jcreekcloggers

#JCreekCloggers 👢 #ZebRoss 😄 #AppalachianDance 🏔️ #Clogging 💃 #Flatfooting 👣 #Bluegrass 🎻 #FolkDance 🕺 #TikTokFamous 📱 #SouthernTradition 🌾 #DanceHistory 📚 #FootworkFrenzy 🔥 #WhatstheReasonForThis 🎙️ #CulturalPreservation 🧬 #FortniteDance 🎮 #CMAs ⭐ #ZebbysGotHappyFeet 🐧

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