Dive Bar Music Club

Kim Ware tours and writes music with her solo project, The Good Graces, and in a band, Y'All'Re. Ware shares how she's balancing her work with writing, recording, and weekend touring. Sloane Spencer rants about music promotion companies sending AI pitches, and the importance of building real life community in music. We laugh about music fandom, fangirl encounters with musical heroes, and the moments that remind us why we love making and sharing music. Whether you're an artist, a dedicated listener, or simply love a great conversation, this episode offers an honest, entertaining look at creativity, connection, and the joy of music.

Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Musicians and Venues Mentioned in this Episode

Venues

• Club 27 (Asheville)
• Common Market (Charlotte)
• Cobb Galleria
• Red Light Café (Atlanta)
• Snug Harbor (Charlotte)
• Star Bar (Atlanta)
• The EARL (Atlanta)

Musicians

• The Avett Brothers
• Chickens and Pigs
• David Childers
• Jeff Evans
• Jeff Evans Porkestra
• Jerry Kee
• Kathleen Edwards
• Kim Ware
• Lydia Loveless
• Robert Childers
• Scott Roberts
• Tracy Clark
• Y'all're
• Yo La Tengo
• Yum Yum Tree

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction to the Dive Bar Music Club Podcast
• 03:24 - Recording the New EP
• 11:21 - The Challenges of Independent Music Promotion
• 21:43 - The Vibrant Community of Music Scenes
• 30:01 - The Impact of Music: Personal Connections
• 35:39 - The Art of Expressing Appreciation
• 40:32 - Exploring Music Discovery in the Digital Age
• 48:25 - The Journey Through Music and Radio

The Regulars

• Kim Ware
• Sloane Spencer

Recommended If You Like

AI music promotion, Apple Music, Asheville music, Atlanta music scene, Bandcamp, Charlotte live music, Chapel Hill indie music, Common Market Charlotte, creative process, David Childers, DIY musicians, Dive Bar Music Club, EP recording, independent artists, independent music, indie music, live music, local music community, Lydia Loveless, music discovery, music podcast, music promotion, North Carolina music, podcast, record stores, singer-songwriter, Snug Harbor Charlotte, touring musicians, vinyl records, Y'All'Re, dive bar music club, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, indie music podcast, music community, live music experience, independent artists, music playlists, music industry insights, songwriting process, touring musicians, music recommendations, music festivals, local music scenes, vinyl records, bandcamp discoveries, music collaboration, songwriter interviews, music promotion, music and mental health

Recorded in the green room at the 40 Watt during AthFest, this episode of Dive Bar Music Club features members of Slightly Famous Somebodies and special guests sharing the albums, artists, and songs inspiring them right now. The conversation explores everything from Renaissance, Elf Power, PM Dawn, Nick Drake, and Mike Keneally to The Spinners, Frank Zappa, Sam Cooke, R.E.M., and The Allman Brothers Band, while diving into songwriting, rock operas, family musical legacies, podcasting, and Athens, Georgia's vibrant music community. If you love discovering overlooked artists, classic albums, progressive rock, soul, jazz, indie music, and behind-the-scenes festival conversations, this episode is packed with recommendations and stories for passionate music fans. True Athens fans know about JB, the Sausage Man with the Comeback Sauce.

Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Musicians Mentioned in this Episode

• Al Green
• Aretha Franklin
• Boney James
• Brian Culbertson
• Christian Cordes (filmmaker)
• Elf Power
• Flournoy Holmes (artist)
• Frank Zappa
• Jonathan Spencer
• Kevn Kinney/Drivin n Cryin
• Laura Wiggins
• Mike Keneally
• Nick Drake
• NRBQ (New Rhythm and Blues Quartet)
• Paul Taylor
• PM Dawn
• R.E.M.
• Renaissance
• Sam Cooke
• Slightly Famous Somebodies
• Soul Occasion
• Steve Vai
• Stevie Wonder
• The Allman Brothers Band
• The Spinners
• Vaylor Trucks

The Regulars

• Sloane Spencer

Chapters

• 00:06 - Introducing the Dive Bar Music Club Podcast
• 01:04 - Introduction to Slightly Famous Somebodies
• 05:23 - Vaylor Trucks' New Podcast Season
• 07:15 - Green Room Antics
• 09:42 - Introducing JB the Sausage Man with the Comeback Sauce and His Personalities
• 11:01 - Introducing the Slightly Famous Somebodies

Recommended If You Like

Dive Bar Music Club, music podcast, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, indie music scene, alt rock bands, music recommendations, cult bands, music playlists, album reviews, music discussions, live music events, 70s R&B, British prog rock, soundcheck stories, music nerd culture, Slightly Famous Somebodies, Athens music scene, singer-songwriter interviews, music obsession, Jonathan Spencer, Laura Slade Wiggins, Vaylor Trucks, Sloane Spencer, sausage man with the comeback sauce, 40 watt club, athens, georgia, athens ga, allman brothers, Dive Bar Music Club, Slightly Famous Somebodies, AFF Fest, 40 Watt Club, Athens Georgia music, backstage podcast, music discovery, indie music podcast, progressive rock, psychedelic music, Renaissance band, Elf Power, Kevn Kinney, PM Dawn, Nick Drake, Pink Moon, Mike Keneally, Frank Zappa, The Spinners, soul music, R&B music, jazz recommendations, Boney James, Paul Taylor, Brian Culbertson, R.E.M., NRBQ, The Allman Brothers Band, Butch Trucks, Steve Vai, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, songwriting, rock opera, album recommendations, music interviews, festival podcast, live music, record collecting, alternative music, classic rock

Kevn Kinney of Drivin n Cryin joins Sloane Spencer from the green room at the fabulous 40 Watt club in Athens, Georgia during AthFest 2026. Dive Bar Music Club owes some of its origins to previous conversations with Kevn, who always shares thoughtfully who he has been working with and loves in music. We chat about everything from Drivin n Cryin's latest record made especially for their long-time fans to the intriguing sounds of up-and-coming artists. Kevn shares how his new songs resonate with long-time fans and how the "living tribute" series of 100 of his songs reinterpreted by other musicians brings a refreshing diversity to his own music and find new meaning in them, especially when performed by women. So grab your favorite drink, kick back, and join us as we chat about songwriting, a bit of breaking news, and a few cheeky anecdotes that’ll have you laughing all the way to the last call.

We also caught up with Dash Rip Rock and Slightly Famous Somebodies (an Athens-Atlanta supergroup) at AthFest.

Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Musicians Featured in this Episode

• Drivin n Cryin
• Aaron Lee Tasjan
• Elizabeth Cook
• Ian Noe
• Todd Snider
• Sadler Vaden
• Anna Kramer
• David Ryan Harris
• Sixpence None the Richer (upcoming release!)
• Jonathan Spencer/Slightly Famous Somebodies

Musicians, Bands, and Related Topics

• Peter Buck
• Shooter Jennings
• Butch Walker
• Goody Mob
• Killer Mike
• Outkast

The Regulars

• Sloane Spencer

Chapters

• 00:08 - Introduction to the Dive Bar Music Club
• 01:05 - Dive Bar Music Club: Conversations with Musicians
• 05:32 - Exploring New Music and Cultural Connections
• 06:19 - The Importance of Disconnecting
• 10:18 - Exploring New Music and Collaborations
• 12:13 - The Dive Bar Music Club Podcast Wrap-Up

Recommended If You Like

Kevn Kinney, Drivin n Cryin, Dive Bar Music Club, Crushing Flowers, Kevn Kinney interview, Drivin N Cryin podcast, Atlanta music scene, songwriting, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Elizabeth Cook, Killer Mike, Sadler Vaden, Peter Buck, Todd Snider, David Ryan Harris, Sixpence None the Richer, indie rock, southern rock, Americana, alternative rock, music podcast, album interview, singer-songwriter, cover songs, new music recommendations, Atlanta musicians, music fans, music discovery, podcast interview, athfest, 40 watt club, Kevin Kinney, Driving and Crying, 90s alt rock, music podcast, emerging songwriters, music playlists, indie music scene, music recommendations, Atlanta music, music evolution, cult bands, songwriting insights, music interviews, new music releases, underground music, folk music

In this episode, Sloane catches up from the green room of the legendary Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA during AthFest, with Dash Rip Rock, who’s been hard at work on a collection of new songs that are already generating plenty of excitement, especially across Europe.

We dive into the story behind their latest album, A Song in Everyone, recorded at Bobby Matt Patton’s wonderfully eclectic studio in Mississippi, Dial Back Sound. It’s the kind of place that’s old, funky, and full of character, the perfect setting to capture the band’s unmistakable sound.

We reminisce about Sloane catching DRR back in the 688 days, talk about how the band has evolved over the years, and share a few laughs about life in the studio, including the occasional yacht rock soundtrack of Toto and Sting playing in the background while the creative magic happens.

So pour yourself a drink, settle in, and join us as we explore the stories behind the songs in another low-key, high-taste happy hour for music nerds.

Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Musicians Featured in this Episode

• Bobby Matt Patton
• Bill Davis (Dash Rip Rock founder)
• Butthole Surfers
• Dash Rip Rock
• Dexateens
• Drunken Prayer
• Eric "Roscoe" Ambel (referred to as "Roscoe" and "Eric Campbell/Amble" in the transcript; misspoken and corrected to be Eric Ambel)
• Lilly Hiatt

Musicians, Bands, Festivals, and Ships

• AthFest (festival)
• HeAthens Fest (festival)
• Dan Baird
• Dave Barbe
• Dial Back Sound (studio/label)
• Drive-By Truckers
• Fat Possum (studio referenced as the former Fat Possum studio)
• Georgia Theatre
• Henry Barbe
• Hurray for the Riff Raff
• Lance Bangs
• Led Zeppelin
• Mammoth Records
• Mary Lee Kortes
• Metroplex (Atlanta venue)
• Mitch Easter
• Mojo Nixon (referred to simply as "Mojo")
• Morgan (of Drunken Prayer; surname not stated)
• Rob Reiner
• Rolling Stones
• Shinyribs
• Spain (mentioned as a touring market, not a venue/person)
• Steely Dan
• Sting
• Sunny Sweeney
• Supersuckers
• The Deslondes
• The Nick (venue in Birmingham, AL)
• The Outlaw Country Cruise
• The Whole Truth and Nothing Butt: The Story of the Butthole Surfers (documentary)
• Tom Petty/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (referenced as "the Heartbreakers")
• Toto
• Warner Hodges
• 688 Club (referred to as "688" and "688 Presents")
• 688 Presents (record, concert promotion series)

The Regulars

• Sloane Spencer

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introducing Dash Rip Rock
• 01:22 - New Music
• 05:03 - Musical Connections and Band Origins
• 07:02 - The Impact of Music on Creativity
• 08:35 - European Audiences
• 11:27 - The Return to Familiar Stages

Recommended If You Like

Dive Bar Music Club, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, cult band favorites, music playlists, indie music culture, music nerds podcast, recording studio stories, Athens music scene, Dash Rip Rock, Drive By Truckers, European music audiences, zine making, metal music photography, folk music nostalgia, new album releases, music collaborations, yacht rock, Butthole Surfers, live music venues, Dash Rip Rock, Dash Rip Rock interview, A Song in Everyone, Bobby Matt Patten, Dial Back Sound, Drive-By Truckers, ATHFest, Athens music festival, Georgia Theatre, Southern rock, roots rock, Americana music, alt-country, cowpunk, rock and roll, Mississippi recording studio, Water Valley Mississippi, Dexateens, Drunken Prayer, Mitch Easter, Tom Petty, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Butthole Surfers, Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Toto, Sting, Warner Hodges, Dan Baird, Supersuckers, Lily Hiatt, Sunny Sweeney, Shinyribs, Hooray for the Riff Raff, Outlaw Country Cruise, Mammoth Records, 688 Club Atlanta, The Knick, independent rock music, new rock album, music podcast, artist interview, album recording, Southern music, Athens Georgia music scene, Europe tour, underground rock, cult rock band

This week's Dive Bar Music Club is a rabbit hole of garage rock side projects, forgotten lo-fi legends, Americana royalty, and gloriously oddball icons. The Regulars discuss everything from why some bands desperately need a new name to whether fans should let artists evolve, while swapping stories about tiny clubs, legendary live shows, and the strange magic of musicians who refuse to color inside the lines. Along the way, Swamp Dogg steals the conversation by being exactly as weird and wonderful as advertised, Tyler Childers sparks a thoughtful debate about artistic growth and rabid fanbases, and everyone accidentally proves that music nerds can spend ten minutes discussing an electronic duo's cassette track listing without a trace of irony, and somehow make it completely compelling.

Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Musicians Featured in this Episode

• Kacey Musgraves
• Andrew Sa
• David Rawlings/David Rawlings Machine/Dave Rawlings
• Gillian Welch
• Jack Logan
• Old 97s/Murray Hammond/Rhett Miller
• Styrofoam Winos
• Weird Nightmare
• Swamp Dogg
• Tyler Childers/The Food Stamps

Festivals

• AmericanaFest
• Atlanta Film Festival

Musicians & Bands & References

• Barry and Levon (The State sketch characters)
• Chris Stapleton
• Cindy Lauper
• Daniel Johnston
• Derek Trucks
• Dylan LeBlanc
• Florrie
• Gabe Lee
• Gary U.S. Bonds
• Iron & Wine
• Jason Isbell/Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
• Jenny Lewis
• Jesse Welles (Tyler Childers band member)
• John Prine
• Jon Spencer/Blues Explosion
• Johnny Blue Skies
• Johnny Paycheck
• King Margo
• Kraftwerk
• Lavender Country
• Lindsey Buckingham
• Metz
• Miranda Lambert
• MJ Lenderman
• New Order
• Neko Case
• Patrick Haggerty
• Peter Buck
• Ratboys
• R.E.M.
• Rick Rubin
• Rilo Kiley
• Ryan Davis
• Scott Baxendale
• Slobberbone
• Starfucker
• Sturgill Simpson
• Susan Tedeschi/Tedeschi Trucks Band
• The Pollies
• The Replacements
• Vic Chesnutt
• W8ing4UFOs
• Wednesday
• Yaz/Yazoo/Alison Moyet

Record Labels

• Capricorn Records
• Medium Cool Records
• New West Records
• Sub Pop Records
• Twin/Tone Records

Venues

• Blue Plate Special (WDVX performance series)
• Boyd's Jig & Reel
• Coca-Cola Amphitheater (Birmingham)
• Fantasyland Records (Atlanta)
• Pinhook (Durham)
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre
• The Basement (Nashville)
• WDVX Radio

The Regulars

• Nelson Gullett
• Charles Hale
• Amanda Miles
• Sloane Spencer

Chapters

• 00:17 - Introducing the Guests
• 02:36 - Exploring New Sounds: Weird Nightmare and Beyond
• 07:59 - The Rise of Jack Logan
• 18:44 - Traveling and Music Experiences
• 21:50 - New Discoveries in Music and Memory
• 28:42 - The Evolution of Tyler's Sound
• 38:10 - Exploring New Sounds in Country Music
• 44:21 - Reflections on Swamp Dog's Legacy
• 46:36 - Exploring New and Established Artists
• 52:51 - The Transition to New Music Discussions

Recommended If You Like

Dive Bar Music Club, music podcast, indie rock podcast, Americana podcast, alt-country podcast, roots music, new music discovery, music recommendations, playlist podcast, Tyler Childers, Kacey Musgraves, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Swamp Dogg, Old 97's, Jack Logan, Weird Nightmare, Styrofoam Winos, Andrew Sa, John Spencer, John Spencer Blues Explosion, Jenny Lewis, Rilo Kiley, Jason Isbell, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, REM, Peter Buck, Peter Jesperson, The Replacements, Vic Chesnutt, Daniel Johnston, Iron & Wine, MJ Lenderman, Wednesday, Ratboys, Slobberbone, Sturgill Simpson, Johnny Blue Skies, Chris Stapleton, Lindsey Buckingham, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Patrick Haggerty, Lavender Country, Americana music, indie music, garage rock, power pop, lo-fi music, Southern rock, country music, record collecting, vinyl records, record stores, live music, concert reviews, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, AmericanaFest, WDVX, Sub Pop Records, New West Records, Twin/Tone Records, Medium Cool Records, dive bar music club, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, indie music podcast, music playlists, lo-fi music, garage rock, power pop, Weird Nightmare band, Jack Logan music, Americana music, country music, alternative country, record store culture, music discovery, passionate music discussions, underground music, music collaborations, concert experiences, music recommendations

Happy Pride! Sloane Spencer catches up with music journalist and Rainbow Rodeo founder Rachel Cholst during a period of both profound loss and exciting professional growth. Rachel reflects on the unexpected death of a longtime friend, sharing how music, ritual, and community have helped her navigate grief, while also discussing major milestones including Rainbow Rodeo’s subscriber drive, plans to revive its podcast, and the news that SiriusXM’s Country Pride channel will become a permanent offering, with Rachel continuing as one of its voices. Along the way, the conversation explores the role of music in memory and healing, highlights emerging and established artists from the queer, indie, and Americana worlds, and touches on Rachel’s ongoing creative projects, including a comic book series (Kickstarter!). The result is a thoughtful, heartfelt discussion about loss, resilience, artistic community, and the ways music helps us make sense of life’s highs and lows.

Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Musicians Featured This Episode

• Andrew Sa
• Micah Schnabel and Vanessa Jean Speckman
• North Ingalls
• VNV Nation

Musicians Mentioned in Our Conversation

• Aaron Lee Tasjan
• Call Me Rita
• Frank Turner
• Gorillaz
• HC McEntire
• Jeff Rosenstock
• Jason Molina
• Jimmy Eat World
• Johnson and Magnolia Electric Company
• KMFDM
• Kim Richey
• Lake Street Dive
• Lavender Country
• Mount Moriah
• Paisley Fields
• Patrick Haggerty
• Procol Harum
• Rammstein
• Ratboys
• Two Cow Garage

The Regulars

• Rachel Cholst
• Sloane Spencer

Chapters

• 00:04 - Dealing with Loss
• 03:43 - New Beginnings: The Rainbow Rodeo Fundraiser
• 15:00 - Navigating the Landscape of Country Music and Sirius XM
• 16:00 - The Influence of Holographic Performances
• 26:24 - Navigating Grief and Music
• 32:03 - Transition to New Music Discussions
• 35:53 - The Impact of Social Media on Music Connections
• 44:06 - Exploring Creative Passions

Recommended If You Like

podcast episode, music and grief, loss of a friend, songs about death, emotional music, coping with loss, music therapy, LGBTQ+ music, Rainbow Rodeo, indie music, country music, music recommendations, alt rock, mental health and music, professional growth in music, overcoming grief, personal stories in music, music playlists, artists to listen to, music community, Dive Bar Music Club podcast, Rachel Cholst, Rainbow Rodeo, queer country music, LGBTQ country artists, Country Pride SiriusXM, SiriusXM Country Pride, Pride Month music, independent music journalism, music podcast, Americana music, indie rock music, alternative country, queer musicians, Rainbow Rodeo magazine, music discovery, emerging artists, Andrew Sa, North Ingalls, Micah Schnabel, Vanessa Jean Speckman, Two Cow Garage, Lavender Country, Patrick Haggerty, Paisley Fields, Jeff Rosenstock, VNV Nation, Ratboys, Jason Molina, Johnson and Electric Company, grief and music, music and healing, friendship and loss, funeral songs, music memories, country music culture, independent artists, music reviews, no Depression magazine, queer country community, music journalism interview, underground music scene, DIY music culture, singer-songwriter podcast, Americana podcast, LGBTQ music media, indie music recommendations, Pride Month podcast, music fandom, artist interviews, music community, alternative music podcast

Today, Nelson Gullett and Sloane Spencer get into one of the best parts of being a music fan: the stories that songs create along the way. The tracks we love often become tied to specific moments, memories, and people, and that’s exactly where this conversation starts.

This episode moves between reconsidering nostalgia and new music discovery. We talk about the lasting emotional pull of music from The Jayhawks via Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman, while also shining a light on newer favorites from River Shook and Ismay. Along the way, our guests, a retired radio programmer and current radio host, bring plenty of insight, unexpected stories, and a few moments that might have you rethinking what makes a song stick with us.

Whether you’ve spent years exploring Americana, live for indie rock discoveries, or are simply looking for your next favorite artist, there’s something here for you. We’ll share the records we can’t stop playing, celebrate a few overlooked gems, and dig into why certain songs keep finding their way back into our lives. If Yaz, R.E.M., and American Aquarium are all in your rotation, this episode is for you.

Pour yourself a drink, settle in, and join us for a Pride Month conversation about music, memory, and the thrill of finding something you can’t wait to play again.

Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Focus Musicians for this Episode

• Blue Mountain
• Ismay (Avery Hillman)
• The Jayhawks
• River Shook
• Vandoliers
• Yaz/Yazoo

Musicians, Bands, TV, Events, Record Labels, etc Mentioned

• Aldous Harding
• Amethyst Kiah
• American Aquarium
• Andrew Sa
• The Americans
• Americana Awards
• AmericanaFest
• Blake Tallent
• Bloodkin
• Bloodshot Records
• Blue Highway
• Blue Rodeo
• Bob Dylan
• Bob Mould
• Cary Hudson
• Chuck Mead
• Dave Matthews Band
• Dolly Parton
• Dylan LeBlanc
• Edery Bazzini
• Fleetwood Mac
• Gillian Welch
• The Groove
• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
• Hymn for Her
• India Ramey
• Indigo Girls
• Iris DeMent
• Jason Narducy
• Jenni Rose
• John Stirratt
• Kathleen Edwards
• Kevin Gordon
• Laurie Stirratt
• Lucinda Williams
• Mandolin Orange/Watchhouse
• M.J. Lenderman
• Michael Shannon
• Mightmare
• Mike Mills
• Mike and the Moonpies/Silverada
• Mon Rovîa
• Nancies.org
• No Depression
• Olivia Wolf
• Otis Gibbs
• Peter Buck
• Phoebe Bridgers
• Radiohead
• Ralph Stanley
• Ratboys
• The Reckless Strangers
• R.E.M.
• Red and the Paper Flowers
• Sara Bareilles
• Sarah Shook and the Devil
• Sarah Shook and the Disarmers
• Scott Miller
• S.G. Goodman
• Sun Volt
• Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
• Trombone Shorty
• Tyler Childers
• U2
• Waxahatchee
• Webb Wilder
• WDVX
• Wilco
• WMOT
• Wyatt Ellis
• X
• XM Cross Country

Venues & Recurring Events Mentioned

• 40 Watt Club
• Blue Plate Special Performance Stage
• Blue Plate Special
• Record Store Day
• Summer Nights Concert Series
• Tennessee Shines
• Yee-Haw Brewing Co.

The Regulars in this Episode

• Nelson Gullett
• Sloane Spencer

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction to the Dive Bar Music Club Podcast
• 06:18 - The Jayhawks and Their Lasting Impact
• 19:16 - Discovering New Music: River Shook and Ismay
• 23:33 - The Influence of Music and Poetry on Songwriting
• 34:49 - Discovering New Music: The Journey of Vandoliers
• 45:50 - The Importance of Integrity in Music

Recommended If You Like

Dive Bar Music Club, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, touring songwriters, Americana music, live music shows, WDVX Radio, summer concert series, Webb Wilder, bluegrass artists, music playlists, eclectic music, indie music recommendations, music discovery, Nashville music scene, local music scene, new music releases, music nerds, music interviews, music festivals, Dive Bar Music Club podcast, Americana music podcast, indie rock podcast, alternative country music, alt-country bands, Americana artists, music discovery podcast, new music recommendations, Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, The Jayhawks, Rainy Day Music, Blue Mountain band, River Shook, Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, Ismay, Half Truth album, AmericanaFest, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, WDVX Radio, Blue Plate Special, Knoxville music scene, Webb Wilder, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Iris DeMent, Wilco, Son Volt, REM, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Jason Narducy, Michael Shannon REM tour, Athens Georgia music, 40 Watt Club, Bloodshot Records, Vandoliers, Jenny Rose, American Aquarium, Kathleen Edwards, Tyler Childers, SG Goodman, Mon Rovîa, Ratboys, Amethyst Kiah, Wyatt Ellis, Dylan LeBlanc, indie folk music, roots music, bluegrass artists, singer-songwriter podcast, live music stories, music nostalgia, record collecting, Record Store Day, vinyl culture, music fandom, concert memories, underground music, independent artists, Southern music, Nashville music scene, Asheville concerts, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, folk music discussion, country rock, roots rock, music interviews, emerging artists, favorite albums, music recommendations 2026, best Americana albums, indie music discovery, alternative music culture, music nerd podcast, low-key high-taste music podcast

This week on Dive Bar Music Club, we dive into the eclectic songs we've been listening to lately, and how we find new music. We're kicking it off with Kim Ware's recent tour and the joy of discovering music that truly resonates with us. Chad Cochran pulls back the curtain on album cover art and reminds us of his mental health series, I Didn't Want to Tell You, at Woodyfest and Nelsonville Music Festival. Charles Hale brings his distinct perspective as a record store owner to new music from old bands, and as we explore the fine line between artistic expression and marketability in album art. So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s explore what we've been spinning on our playlists!

Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Musicians & Bands Mentioned

• 6 String Drag (Rob Keller, Kenny Roby)
• Aldous Harding
• Mike D (Beastie Boys)
• Clydie King
• Jesca Hoop
• Lily Miller
• Mod Lang
• Rolling Stones
• Tiwayo
• (Above on this episode's playlists)
•
• Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief)
• Ben Nichols
• Big Star
• Big Thief
• Black Keys
• Black Pumas
• Braid
• Bob Dylan
• The Cars
• Damien Jurado
• De La Soul
• Detroit Cobras
• Fiona Apple
• J Phono 1
• Jerry Kee
• John Harrison
• Kathleen Edwards
• Iron & Wine
• Journey
• Leith Ross
• Leon Bridges
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Merry Clayton
• Metz
• Night Ranger
• Paul McCartney
• Phil Spector
• Pink Floyd
• Rainer Maria
• Ray Charles
• Sad Planets
• Sam Beam
• Scott Miller
• Steely Dan
• Superchunk
• Tom Waits
• V-Roys
• Weird Nightmare
• Woody Guthrie
• XTC
• Y'All'Re
• Yum Yum Tree

Events, Festivals, Media & Organizations

• Nelsonville Music Festival
• New Orleans Jazz Fest
• Record Store Day
• Saturday Night Live
• Theme Stock
• Woody Guthrie Folk Festival

Venues, Labels, Stores & Publications

• 40 Watt Club
• Blue Note Records
• Driver 8 Records (Sign up for the vinyl record club here.)
• Nine Bullets music blog
• Sub Pop

Places Mentioned

• Athens, GA
• Atlanta, GA
• Austin, TX
• Chapel Hill, NC
• Charlotte, NC
• Clemson, SC
• Columbus, OH
• Detroit, MI
• Fort Collins, CO
• New Orleans, LA
• Okemah, OK
• Paris, France
• Wilmington, NC

The Regulars in this Episode

• Chad Cochran
• Charles Hale
• Sloane Spencer
• Kim Ware

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction to the Dive Bar Music Club
• 04:19 - Exploring New Tunes and Tour Tales
• 10:48 - Navigating New Music Discovery
• 17:40 - Discovering New Music
• 23:46 - Exploring New Musical Influences
• 32:24 - Exploring New Music Discoveries
• 36:28 - The Discovery of Clyde King
• 42:54 - Album Art and Creative Processes
• 46:45 - The Art of Album Covers

Recommended If You Like

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From backstage conversations to festival magic, Sloane Spencer dives headfirst into Albino Skunk Music Festival, a music fan's family reunion. While this marks the final spring edition of the beloved festival, the fall music weekends continue. Celebrate reinvention, community, and the evolving sound of Americana and roots music.

This episode spotlights both legendary festival staples and exciting new voices, including breakout duo King Margo, who join Sloane backstage to talk about creative growth, finding their sound, and the thrill of releasing fresh music into the world. Then, singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan opens up about the highs surrounding his latest album and the personal challenges shaping his journey through grief and sobriety, offering equal parts wisdom, honesty, and heart.

Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and spend some time where the songs are loud, the stories run deep, and music feels like home.

Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Musicians, Bands, Venues, and Festivals Mentioned

• Aaron Lee Tasjan
• King Margo (Rachel Coats and Lucciana Costa)
• Albino Skunk Music Festival

• Americana Fest
• Buddy Miller
• Darrell Scott
• Dave Jacques
• Drivin N Cryin
• Gabe Lee
• Hayley Williams
• Jason Eady
• Jen Gunderman
• Jeff Sipe
• Jimmy Bowland
• John Fullbright
• John Prine
• Justin Amaral
• Kevn Kinney
• Kim Richey
• Larkin Poe
• Margaret Glaspy
• Max Abrams
• Procol Harum
• Roger Alan Nichols
• Sheryl Crow
• SiriusXM Outlaw Country
• Steve Dawson
• Sturgill Simpson
• Susan Werner
• The Mavericks
• The Wallflowers
• Todd Snider
• Tom Petty
• Van Darien
• Warren Zanes

Chapters

• 00:20 - Sloane Spencer: The Final Spring Edition of Skunk Fest
• 01:16 - King Margo: Exploring New Sounds
• 12:20 - Music and Inspiration: The Creative Process
• 19:53 - Aaron Lee Tasjan: Navigating Grief and Creativity
• 29:04 - The Journey of 'Science Friction'

Recommended If You Like

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Support to Tip Jar

Amanda Miles and Chad Cochran bring sonically disparate, but thematically similar, music to Dive Bar Music Club. We end up with some deep conversation about taking care of our mental health and how that impacts the music community. The playlist moves through love, loss, and nostalgia. Amanda shares her latest Jason Isbell obsession, Chad leans into indie rock and some 90s throwbacks, and together we talk about how music becomes a lifeline during tough times. Amanda shares a bit about her progressive blindness, how it impacts her when going to see bands and venues lack accessibility, and teases an upcoming feature regarding her diagnosis in Bodies of Opinion.

Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Bands and Musicians Featured in Episode 8

• Willow Avalon w/ Jason Isbell
• Ella Langley
• The Afghan Whigs
• Luke Combs w/ Alison Krauss
• Paul McCartney
• Arcwelder

Mental Health Resources

If you need immediate support, call or text 988 in the USA for connection to a trained volunteer who can help.

• NAMI
• Nuci's Space
• Your state occupational health or vocational rehabilitation office
• Music Health Alliance
• MusiCares
• Sims Foundation
• HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians)

The Regulars

• Chad Cochran
• Amanda Miles
• Sloane Spencer

Musicians, Venues, Events, and Themes Referenced in This Episode

• Alan Jackson
• Appalachian State University
• Athens
• Atlanta
• Bodies of Opinion
• Brian Lee Brown
• Birmingham
• Bowling Green
• Chicago
• Coca-Cola Amphitheater
• Dave Grohl
• David Byrne
• Faith Hill
• Garth Brooks
• Jack White
• Jim White
• Laughing Hyenas
• Live Nation
• Linda Ronstadt
• Luaka Bop
• Madison Square Garden
• Martina McBride
• Minneapolis
• Miranda Lambert
• National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)
• Nelsonville Music Festival
• New Disabled South
• Ohio
• Okemah
• Patrick Keeler
• Raconteurs
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre
• Reba McEntire
• Ringo Starr
• Ryman Auditorium
• Steve Albini
• Tabernacle
• Tedeschi Trucks Band
• Them Crooked Vultures
• Touch and Go Records
• Topher Brown
• Tyler Childers
• Vince Gill
• White Stripes
• Woody Guthrie Folk Festival
• Wynonna Judd

Recommended If You Like

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We’re big fans of public radio and festivals for music discovery. Charles Hale and Nelson Gullett had a small world radio-meets-real-life Big Ears connection. Public radio keeps new music alive and thriving, even as the federal government slashed budgets and extremist subcultures try to wield power over art.

Driver 8 Records gears up for Record Store Day and launches a vinyl record club. Sloane Spencer continues to float her musical loose associations, this time sharing, "If Randy Newman, Leon Russell, and Levon Helm hung out listening to the Beatles, this might be the song they wrote." So pour yourself something nice, slide into the booth, and get ready for a mix of good stories and the kind of musical rabbit holes you’ll be glad you fell into.

Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Bands Featured in Episode 7

• Flea
• Jesse Ed Davis
• Kathleen Edwards
• Kruangbin
• Leon Bridges
• The Montvales
• Neko Case
• Silver Skylarks
• Yagody

Support Your Local Public Radio Station

• WDVX
• KRFC

Record Store Day & Driver 8 Records' Record Club

• Driver 8 Records

The Regulars

• Nelson Gullett
• Charles Hale
• Sloane Spencer

Musicians, Festivals, Venues, and Events Mentioned in this Episode

• Albert King
• Amelia Day
• Anna Butters
• Angine de Poitrine
• Arlo Guthrie
• Barley's Knoxville
• Black Pumas
• Blind Boys of Alabama
• Bloodshot Bill
• Bob Dylan
• Brennan Wedl
• Bugs Bunny
• Butch Hancock
• Carolina Chocolate Drops
• Charles Mingus
• Charlie Snider
• Chris Stapleton
• Chris Thile
• Christopher Paul Stelling
• Colin Cripps
• Driver 8 Records
• Dr. John
• Duane Allman
• Grant Alden
• Grateful Dead
• Gwenifer Raymond
• Haley Heynderickx
• International Anthem
• Jason Isbell
• Jeff Parker
• Jimmy Dale Gilmore
• John Lennon
• Kaoru Watanabe
• Kasey Musgraves
• Katie Crutchfield
• Ken Pomeroy
• Leon Russell
• Levon Helm
• Lucinda Williams
• Market Square, Knoxville, TN
• Michael Stipe
• MJ Lenderman
• Nick Cave
• No Depression
• Nonesuch Records
• Peter Buck
• R.E.M.
• Randy Newman
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Richard Thompson
• Smoking Dave and the Primo Dopes
• Sturgill Simpson
• Taj Mahal
• The Beatles
• The SteelDrivers
• Todd Snider
• Tom Petty
• Thom Yorke
• Tortoise
• Big Ears Festival
• Thirty Tigers
• Tyler Childers
• Waxahatchee
• WDVX
• WREK
• KRFC
• Wu Fei

Recommended If You Like

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This week on Dive Bar Music Club, we roll straight into our ever-evolving music discovery, joined by: Caitlin Cary, Amanda Miles, Kim Ware, Sloane Spencer, and Rachel Cholst.

We kick things off with a surprise protest song from Caitlin, collaborating with Chris Stamey, on a track sharing the words on the Statue of Liberty. From there, the conversation opens up into a mixtape of current obsessions, weaving from the dreamy introspection of Leith Ross to the throwback swagger of T.I.

Along the way, there’s laughter, a little friendly debate about "super double deluxe" reissues (we're rolling our eyes at you, Taylor), and plenty of real talk about why music hits so deeply. So pour yourself something good, pull up a chair, and join us for a lively exchange of songs, stories, and the shared thrill of finding your next favorite song.

Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Bands Featured in Episode 6

• Courtney Barnett
• Duke Ellington
• Ida
• Will Johnson
• Johnny Blue Skies/Sturgill Simpson (vinyl/CD only)
• Jon Lindsay
• Kendra Morris
• Ratboys
• Leith Ross
• T.I.

The Regulars

• Caitlin Cary
• Rachel Cholst
• Amanda Miles
• Sloane Spencer
• Kim Ware

Musicians, Photographers, and Other Cool People and Places Mentioned

• Benji Hughes
• Boy Golden
• Brian Wright
• Chris Stamey
• Jason Isbell
• Jason Molina
• Kurt Vile
• Ludacris
• Magnolia Electric Company
• New Order
• North Carolina Music Love Army
• OutKast
• Pete Seeger
• Wren Carpenter
• Taylor Swift
• The Replacements
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Widespread Panic
• Yum Yum Tree

Recommended If You Like

dive bar music club, 90s alt rock, music podcast, emerging songwriters, cult band favorites, music playlists, protest music, singer-songwriter interviews, indie music recommendations, new music discovery, vinyl records, comfort music, live music discussions, music industry insights, alternative music culture, music nerds, music collaborations, music photography, zine culture, music trends

Summary

Grab a stool at the Dive Bar Music Club, where host Sloane Spencer and Regulars Charles Hale and Nelson Gullett share their low-key, high-taste music selections. This week’s happy hour for music nerds dives deep into the miracle of the Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy's Life's Rich Pageant R.E.M. tour, where even Bobcat Goldthwait's opening set brought joy, much to their surprise. Between Charles’s treasure trove of new vinyl finds, ranging from the haunting Magnolia and Johnson Electric Co. 7" to the garage-rock grit of the Flamin' Groovies, and Nelson’s essential preview of the Big Ears Festival featuring lap-style guitar creative Yasmin Williams, the episode is a masterclass in crate-digging. It’s a passionate, defense of the weird, the instrumental, and the feel-good oldies that make being a music obsessive worth the effort.

Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Bands Featured in Episode 5

• Angine de Poitrine
• Beulah
• The Cure
• Cure for Paranoia
• Flamin' Groovies
• Gwenifer Raymond
• Haley Heynderickx and Max Garcia Conover
• Magnolia & Johnson Electric Co.
• Yasmin Williams ft Dom Flemons

Venues and Festivals Mentioned

• The 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA
• Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, TN
• Bijou Theatre, Knoxville, TN
• Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN
• Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
• Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, TN

The Regulars

• Nelson Gullett
• Charles Hale
• Sloane Spencer

Musicians, Photographers, and Other Cool People and Places Mentioned

• Adam Smith
• Alvin Youngblood Hart
• American Aquarium
• Amethyst Kiah
• Apples in Stereo
• Arooj Aftab
• Backsliders
• Ben Nichols
• Beulah
• Billy Allen and the Pollies
• Blind Boys of Alabama
• The Carolina Chocolate Drops
• Charles Wesley Godwin
• Chocolate Genius
• Chris Porter
• Chris Thile
• Darrell Scott
• The Devil Makes Three
• The Glands
• MJ Lenderman
• Jason Molina
• Jason Narducy
• Jay Farrar
• Jim Dickinson
• Jim James
• John Zorn
• Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson)
• Ken Pomeroy
• Luther Dickinson
• Madison Cunningham
• Magnolia Electric Co.
• Marc Ribot
• Michael Shannon
• Molina and Johnson
• Nels Cline
• Neutral Milk Hotel
• New Multitudes
• Nirvana
• Patti Smith
• R.E.M.
• Reggie Watts
• Sam Amidon
• Scott Avett
• Sturgill Simpson
• Sun Ra Arkestra
• Sunny War
• Tatiana Hargreaves
• The 400 Unit
• Thurston Moore
• Waxahatchee
• The Westerlies
• Will Johnson
• William Tyler
• Wu Fei

Recommended If You Like

Dive Bar Music Club, music podcast, 90s alt rock, indie music recommendations, emerging songwriters, record store culture, festival music experiences, Sturgill Simpson new album, live music events, alternative music playlists, music nerd discussions, unique musical collaborations, Big Ears Festival, folk and Americana music, underground music scene, vinyl record collecting, local music highlights, new music discoveries, eclectic music tastes, passionate music discussions, R.E.M., Jason Narducy, Michael Shannon, Johnny Blue Skies

Summary

This week, Amanda Miles, Sloane Spencer, and Kim Ware settle in for a deeper conversation about the music getting us through the mess of current American politics. We start by talking about the long history of music and creativity in protest movements, sparked by Ann Powers’ article about where all the protest songs have gone lately, and whether they’ve actually disappeared or just taken new forms.

From there, we trade the songs currently living on repeat in our headphones. A theme quickly emerges: comfort. The kind of music that steadies you when everything feels beyond us. Think the emotional pull of Jason Isbell, the warm, lived-in sound of Waxahatchee, and the storytelling power that artists like Tyler Childers and Courtney Marie Andrews bring to the table.

Along the way we talk about that tricky balance in our listening habits right now, when you want music that lets you feel the anger, but also something that softens the edges of the day.

Pour yourself something good, settle in, and join us for a thoughtful, easy-going conversation full of sharp observations, a few laughs, and plenty of appreciation for the songs helping us cope, reset, and stay connected.

Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Bands Featured in Episode 4

• Courtney Marie Andrews
• Amanda Bergman
• Tyler Childers
• Jason Isbell
• Dina Ogon
• Waxahatchee

Venues and Festivals Mentioned

• Fest, Gainesville, FL
• Shoals Fest, Muscle Shoals, AL
• The Cave, Chapel Hill, NC
• Coca Cola Amphitheater, Birmingham, AL
• Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC
• Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
• Radio Room, Greenville, SC
• Red Rocks, Morrison, CO
• Tribbles, Piedmont, SC

The Regulars

• Amanda Miles
• Sloane Spencer
• Kim Ware

Musicians & More Also Mentioned in this Episode

• The Ann Powers article about protest music
• Healing Appalachia
• Amanda Shires
• Angel Olsen
• David Childers
• Dillon Fence
• Drive-By Truckers
• JPhono1
• Michael Cera Palin
• MJ Lenderman
• Martha Davis (The Motels)
• My Chemical Romance
• Rage Against the Machine
• Rickie Lee Jones
• StereoLab
• Tedeschi Trucks Band
• Tift Merritt

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, dive bar music club, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, indie americana music, protest music today, creativity in music, comfort music, vinyl records, music recommendations, Jason Isbell, Waxahachee, Tyler Childers, music playlists, live music experiences, female musicians, songwriting process, music festivals, music and mental health, southern roots music, music industry insights

Summary

It seems like it's a good time to play The Clash. Dive Bar Music Club is back and digging a little deeper this time. We’re diving into the crossroads of music and social awareness, sparked by the recent federal violence in Minneapolis. I’m Sloane Spencer, joined by Chad Cochran, the Nelson Gullett, and Charles Hale.

A couple of us are slightly under the weather this week, but we're psyched to chat about what we're listening to lately.

We’re still swapping our latest musical obsessions and what’s been living on our playlists, but today the conversation carries a little more weight. We’re talking about how music shows up when things get tense; how it pushes back, how it brings people together, and how artists turn frustration, grief, and defiance into something powerful and unifying. At the same time, we’re not forgetting what music also does best: giving us a breather, a release, a place to land when the world feels loud.

So settle in with us for thoughtful, unfiltered, interesting music conversation.

Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Bands Featured in Episode 3

• Iron Chic
• Amelia Day
• The Menzingers
• Mon Rovîa
• Off With Their Heads
• Karen E. Reynolds
• The Third Mind
• W8ing4UFOs

Venues and Festivals Mentioned

• Albino Skunk Music Festival, Greer, SC
• Barley's, Knoxville, TN
• Big Ears Festival, Knoxville, TN
• Blue Plate Special, WDVX, Knoxville, TN
• The Blue Room, Nashville, TN
• Bubbapalooza, Atlanta, GA
• First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
• Frank Brown Songwriting Festival
• Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN
• Little 5 Points Festival, Atlanta, GA
• Nelsonville Music Festival, Nelsonville, OH
• Star Bar, Atlanta, GA

The Regulars in Episode 3

• Chad Cochran
• Nelson Gullett
• Charles Hale
• Sloane Spencer

Musicians Also Mentioned

• 13th Floor Elevators
• Dave Alvin
• Bad Bunny
• Better Than Ezra
• Carsie Blanton
• The Blasters
• BoyGenius
• Billy Bragg
• Peter Buck
• Camper Van Beethoven
• Ashley Capps
• The Carter Family
• Counting Crows
• Chunklet (Henry Owings)
• The Clash
• Alice Coltrane
• Cracker
• JT Cure
• Arrested Development
• Lucy Dacus
• Deacon Lunchbox
• Drive-By Truckers
• Bob Dylan
• Grateful Dead
• Billie Eilish
• Billy Fields
• Follow for Now
• Will Fratesi
• Marvin Gaye
• The Jody Grind
• Kelly Hogan
• Japanese Breakfast
• Jimmy Eat World
• The Jompson Brothers
• The Knitters
• Victor Krummenacher
• Lake Street Dive
• MJ Lenderman
• Barrett Martin
• James McMurtry
• The Minus 5
• Nirvana
• Joy Oladokun
• J.S. Ondara
• Robert Plant
• Chuck Prophet
• Pylon(Randy Bewley, Vanessa Briscoe Hay)
• Pylon Reenactment Society
• Rage Against the Machine
• Redd and the Paper Flowers
• The Replacements
• Chappell Roan
• Pharoah Sanders
• Gregory Dean Smalley
• Smoke
• Bruce Springsteen
• Mavis Staples
• Chris Stapleton
• The Steeldrivers
• Taylor Swift
• Jesse Sykes
• Bill Taft (Chowder Shouters)
• Chris Thile
• Richard Thompson
• The Toadies
• Tuatara
• Molly Tuttle
• Waxahatchee
• Weezer
• Jesse Wells (the spectacular fiddler who plays with Tyler Childers)
• Olivia Wolfe

Summary

This week, we’re disappearing down some serious rabbit holes. From the casual Aussie swagger of Bel Air Lip Bombs to the psychedelic sway of Alex Chilton’s cover of “Rubber Room,” the episode is a love letter to overlooked tracks that quietly demand a place in your rotation. Charles Hale, Sloane Spencer, Rachel Cholst, and Kim Ware come together like a carefully sequenced mixtape, swapping stories about their latest musical fixations and music Venn diagrams that overlap way too much and not at all. Punk-leaning jazz that used to be in a duo with a noted blues musician, and a lot of tiny touchpoints connecting us to the music. So throw on your headphones, pour yourself a drink, and sink into the rich, unpredictable soundscape of the Dive Bar Music Club.

Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Bands Featured in Episode 2

• Alex Chilton (Big Star, The Box Tops)
• Audrey Hobert
• Becky Warren
• The Belair Lip Bombs
• Fust
• Gladie
• Johanna Rose
• Minus Five
• Valerie June

Venues Mentioned

• The 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA

The Regulars in Episode 2

• Rachel Cholst
• Charles Hale
• Sloane Spencer
• Kim Ware

Musicians Also Mentioned

• Augusta Koch (Cayetana, Gladie)
• The Baseball Project
• Buffalo Nichols
• Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys)
• Dolly Parton
• Emily Ray (Indigo Girls)
• Florry
• Geese
• Gracie Abrams
• Hurray for the Riff Raff
• Indigo Girls
• Jeff Rosenstock
• Louis Armstrong
• M. Ward
• Nickel and Rose
• Neko Case
• Peter Buck
• Porter Wagoner
• R.E.M.
• Replacements
• Scott McCaughey
• Self Esteem
• SG Goodman
• Steve Wynn
• Sun Volt
• Taylor Swift
• Young Fresh Fellows

Recommended If You Like

Dive Bar Music Club, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, indie rock playlists, music podcasts, female vocalists in rock, Australian indie bands, Bel Air Lip Bombs, Alex Chilton, Big Star, record collecting, Americana music, Southern indie rock, music industry discussions, Jeff Rosenstock, indie music scenes, underground music recommendations, vinyl records, music discovery, music and mental health,

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Automated Transcript

Speaker A

00:00:01.200 - 00:01:47.260

Welcome to the Dive Bar Music Club podcast, where the guest hosts drop in and out, but the opinions are always passionate and the playlists loud. It's like cheers if everyone at the bar had a strong take on 90s alt rock or a suspicious number of burned CDs.

Around our table, you'll find an emerging touring songwriter, a former cult band favorite whose work since then is even more interesting.

I a portrait photographer with a not so secret metal penchant, a record store owner who learned about Swifties the hard way, a retired folk singer who regrets nothing, and a zine maker with more cool music projects than we can count.

We're all just here to share what we're currently obsessed with and maybe convince someone that, yes, that weird Icelandic synth folk band is worth a listen. Okay, that last one's probably me, Sloane Spencer. It's Dive Bar Music Club. Low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds. Well, hey, y', all.

It's Sloan Spencer, and we are back with another episode of Dive Bar Music Club. This time diving into a few new friends. We've got Charles Hale joining us today, Rachel Colst and Kim Ware.

Hope you all had a chance to listen to those introductory bio episodes so you can get to know a little bit about them.

And if you haven't had a chance to listen to any of our prior episodes, every time we have a show, we like to start it off with everyone sharing one of the three things they've been listening to lately. Now, because I get to be the ringleader of all the episodes, I'm going to sit this one out and just kind of act as cat wrangler.

And I'm going to let our guests talk about the music that has been on their playlist lately. So let's dive in with a new friend, Kim Ware. Hey, Kim, what have you been listening to lately?

Speaker B

00:01:48.180 - 00:02:50.010

So I have been listening to a lot of, like 20, 25 releases, right? And around the end of the year, I was trying to catch up on things that I was not able to get to earlier in the year.

And Bel Air Lip Balms was one of them. I think I had seen the name come up from time to time. It stood out because I was like, what is this?

Because at first I thought it was like Chapstick lip balm, but it's not. It turns out it's like a skateboard or something is where they got their name. But, yeah, I love their album.

I had never heard of them until this year. They're from Australia. Their album is entitled Again and there's one track in particular, if you've got the time. It's the name of it.

This, like, just so freaking catchy. And, yeah, I just. I love them. It's just, like, really cool indie rock with female vocals, really neat guitar interplay stuff.

So that's one that I've been loving.

Speaker A

00:02:50.650 - 00:02:56.490

We'll kind of do a little roundtable. Rachel and Charles, have either of you heard of this band before? Bel Air Lip Balms?

Speaker C

00:02:56.970 - 00:03:08.650

Not at all. But once you said they were Australian, I was like, this makes sense.

There's just this sort of casualness that I feel like I've heard from other Australian bands. Not casual, but, like, effortlessness. Yeah.

Speaker D

00:03:09.610 - 00:03:27.110

I had not heard of them, but I did really enjoy that song, and I listened to the whole album, and I. I enjoyed the whole thing. I was surprised, but I'm also always happy when there's young people making rock music with instruments.

Speaker B

00:03:27.190 - 00:03:35.590

Yes, I know. That was one of the things when I first heard them, too. I was like, oh, these. These kids are pretty young. And, yeah, they're great.

Speaker A

00:03:36.310 - 00:03:46.250

I was not familiar with them at all. And I listened to the one song, and then I also went ahead and was like, wow, I'm checking out this whole entire record. So I. I'm super thrilled.

How did you know?

Speaker B

00:03:46.250 - 00:04:09.730

I don't. I really don't remember, honestly.

I think I had seen the name come up a couple of times, probably in, like, one of my streaming algorithms or something, I think on Tidal. Because I listened to Tidal a good bit, and I think it came up on that, and.

But it took me a while to actually, like, check it out, and then instantly I was like, oh, my God, this is like, my new favorite thing. Yeah.

Speaker A

00:04:10.450 - 00:04:11.570

Shout out to title.

Speaker B

00:04:11.570 - 00:04:11.970

Cool.

Speaker A

00:04:11.970 - 00:04:19.390

Rachel is our title expert helping us get our playlist over there. So that's pretty cool. Speaking of which, Rachel, what have you been listening to lately?

Speaker C

00:04:20.110 - 00:04:35.310

I wanted to dedicate my first song of the episode to Becky Warren, the writer of Dive Bar Sweetheart. It was just stuck in my head as soon as you invited me to be on the podcast alone. And it just seems like it's sort of the perfect theme song for us.

Speaker A

00:04:35.710 - 00:04:44.920

Well, you and I had a little chat about that, and I will admit to just shamelessly tagging Becky Warren in social media, who thought it was hilarious and reshared it.

Speaker C

00:04:46.360 - 00:06:08.890

Yeah, I did a little digging on her today, because I was thinking she hasn't put out new music since her last album, which was, I think, the very end of 2019, and it was called the six season. And then that ended up being very relevant to everybody else. But she's really cool, so if anyone out there hasn't listened to her music yet.

Her first couple albums were concept albums. The first about veterans, war surplus, and then the second one is about homeless people, specifically the stories of homeless people in Nashville.

And then she finally turned to writing about herself with the sixth season, and that was an album about depression. And all of a sudden, the medication she had been on just kind of stopped working.

And, you know, it's always such a roller coaster to have to, like, readjust your meds. And it's just like an amazing album. Just great sense of humor, as always.

And she hasn't put out an album since then, but according to her Instagram, she had, like, two posts on her official Instagram this year, and one of them was that she had started a sub stack like everybody else and that there's more music coming.

But I'm curious to read the substack because there is an entry there about how she's just continuing to live a life in music without being beholden to the album cycle. And I'm sure Kim has some thoughts on that, too.

Speaker B

00:06:08.890 - 00:06:33.010

Yeah, Yeah. I, like, I really appreciate that, and I think a lot of people are starting to do that as we get older, and it's harder and harder to.

I mean, so many reasons, right? It's harder and harder to make money on music. And, yeah, touring is also really tough.

And so I like when I see people that are just like, you know what? I'm going to do this, like, at my own pace. That makes sense for me and is healthy.

Speaker C

00:06:34.100 - 00:06:34.340

She.

Speaker D

00:06:34.980 - 00:07:00.180

She. Several years ago, she got in with the Indigo Girls, and she's been an opener on a bunch of Indigo Girls dates sort of all over the Southeast.

So I feel like she's been doing stuff, just not releasing records, but I. I feel like she's probably open for the Indigo girls 10 or 15 times since that last album came out.

Speaker B

00:07:01.210 - 00:07:13.770

Yeah, that's how I had heard of her, actually, through Indigo Girls, so that's cool. Yeah. And I. I was glad that you brought her song Rachel, because I actually. I was a fan of that sixth season. Is that what it's called?

Speaker C

00:07:14.330 - 00:07:20.250

Yeah. And Emily Girls was on there, too, as well as I think their longtime producer.

Speaker B

00:07:21.370 - 00:07:24.410

Very cool. Yeah, I like. I like her stuff a lot.

Speaker A

00:07:24.810 - 00:07:40.310

I love how this brings up so much great overlap for all of us in different areas of both our interest, but also just little tidbits that we can p. I had completely forgotten about the association with Indigo Girls. And now I'm like, how did I not know that? Charles, you've always got interesting things in your ears. What are you listening to lately?

Speaker D

00:07:40.790 - 00:09:41.150

So the thing I listed was an Alex Chilton song. Alex Chilton, being from Big Star, he put out a solo record in the 90s, and I just bought it in the last year or two called Feudalist Tarts.

And, you know, I don't digest an album sort of all at once and, and very thoroughly. So I probably had the record a few months before. I really picked up on a song on the B side called Rubber Room.

And it's a weird and strange, trippy song. And then I looked at the back of the album cover and saw that Porter Wagner wrote the song, which really confused me because this is a.

A psychedelic song about someone locked up in a padded room in a mental institution, which does not feel like the kind of thing that Porter Wagner would have ever written about. But sure enough, I. I went looking. I found the Porter Wagner version. And it's not as if Alex Chilton took a standard country song and made it trippy.

The Porter Wagner version is also weird and trippy. And I guess that he. His version came out in the 70s and he was trying to latch on to the counterculture. But the Alex Chilton version is great.

It's longer than the Porter Wagner version, so there's, you know, more guitar solos, more psychedelic effects. But I'm. I'm a huge Alex Chilton fan.

And just the thought that he hears this Porter Wagner song and decides, nope, I'm taking that into the studio and I'm going to make it even weirder, and puts it on a record just excites me no end.

Speaker A

00:09:41.790 - 00:10:30.950

This is fascinating to me. So I have no problem exposing my complete lack of knowledge when it comes to music.

So I was a big Replacements fan, and the first time I ever heard the name Alex Chilton was, of course, from their song Alex Chilton. And then that led me back in the day to go to the record store and ask some questions. And here's the weird part.

I knew the band the Box Tops, really, really well. I did not know Chilton by name, nor that he was the lead singer as a teenager, but I had never heard of Big Star at that point, not at all.

So I kind of worked backwards on all of that, of finding Chilton's name from the replacement song, going to the record store, learning about his at the time, solo work, and they assuming I knew Big Star when I did not. But me then being like, oh, yeah, I know all the Box Top stuff. So how on earth did you become a Chilton fan?

Speaker D

00:10:31.430 - 00:10:33.670

I'm a rock and roll kid from the South.

Speaker B

00:10:33.990 - 00:10:35.350

I mean, me too, though.

Speaker D

00:10:36.470 - 00:12:13.190

I know, but I came to it the same way you did, essentially that it starts with the...

Summary

Slide into the booth for a relaxed hang chatting about great music with Rachel Cholst, Charles Hale, and Sloane Spencer about what’s been on repeat lately, swapping thoughts on everything from the infectious indie rock of Weakened Friends to the timeless soul of Mavis Staples. Along the way, they shine a light on artists like SG Goodman, Florry, and Fust, talking about how these musicians tell powerful stories through their songs. They chat about live shows versus records, contrasting Billy Allen + The Pollies with Bass Battery. You’ll also hear some fun tales from the record store world, including a Taylor Swift listening party that turned into joyful chaos with kids, friendship bracelets, and plenty of laughs. Pour yourself a drink, get comfortable, and enjoy the kind of music chat that feels like catching up with friends, and hopefully inspires your next favorite listen. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Playlist

• Apple Music
• Tidal

Bands Featured in Episode 1

• Bass Battery
• Billy Allen + The Pollies
• Florry
• Fust
• SG Goodman
• Mavis Staples
• Weakened Friends
• (We never got around to chatting about Lene Lovich and Marah, also on our lists.)

Venues Mentioned

• 40 Watt, Athens, GA
• 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
• Bowery Ballroom, NYC
• Eddie's Attic, Decatur, GA
• The Fillmore East, NYC
• The Foundry, Athens, GA
• Newport Folk Fest, Newport, RI
• The RamKat, Winston-Salem, NC
• Sony Hall, NYC
• Standard Deluxe, Waverly, AL
• Sultan Room, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
• Turk's Inn, NYC

The Regulars in this Episode

• Rachel Cholst (Adobe & Teardrops, Rainbow Rodeo)
• Charles Hale (Driver 8 Records, Ajax Diner Book Club on KRFC)
• Sloane Spencer (Sleep with Rock Stars, Country Fried Rock, Momma Runs an Ultra)

Other Mentions

• Norwood Cheek
• Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee)
• Drive-By Truckers
• Mitch Easter
• Patty Griffin
• Buddy Guy
• Eddie Hinton
• Patterson Hood
• Janis Joplin
• Rob Ladd
• MJ Lenderman
• Let's Active
• Mandolin Orange
• Francie Medosch (Florry)
• Mipso
• Bonnie Raitt
• Nathaniel Rateliff
• Libby Rodenbough
• Dex Romweber Duo
• Dexter Romweber
• Sara Romweber
• The Staples Singers
• Taylor Swift
• Derek Trucks
• Jeff Tweedy
• Spencer Tweedy
• Townes Van Zandt
• Tom Waits
• Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange)
• Wednesday
• Gillian Welch

indie music podcast, music nerd podcast, underground music podcast, music roundtable podcast, best new indie bands, independent music podcast, music discovery podcast, alternative music podcast, podcast for music lovers, dive bar music podcast, low key music podcast, deep cut music discussion, music tastemakers podcast, music festival discoveries, music zine culture, DIY music scene, touring musician stories, hidden gem bands, vinyl collector podcast, music conversations podcast,

, Dive Bar Music Club, 90s alt rock, indie rock podcasts, emerging songwriters, music discovery, live music experiences, music recommendations, music playlists, underground music scene, cult bands, record store culture, music trends 2026, Southern rock, singer-songwriter community, acoustic performances, album reviews, music venues in New York, music collaborations, Mavis Staples, Florry band, venues

Automated Transcript

Speaker A

00:00:02.000 - 00:01:00.650

Welcome to the Dive Bar Music Club podcast, where the guest hosts drop in and out, but the opinions are always passionate in the playlists. Loud. It's like cheers if everyone at the bar had a strong take on 90s alt rock or a suspicious number of burned CDs.

Around our table, you'll find an emerging touring songwriter, a former cult band favorite whose work since then is even more interesting, a portrait photographer with a not so secret metal penchant, a record store owner who learned about Swifties the hard way, a retired folk singer who regrets nothing, and a zine maker with more cool music projects than we can count.

We're all just here to share what we're currently obsessed with and maybe convince someone that, yes, that weird Icelandic synth folk band is worth a listen. Okay, that last one's probably me, Sloane Spencer. It's Dive Bar Music Club. Low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds. Well, hey, y'.

Speaker B

00:01:00.650 - 00:01:00.770

All.

Speaker A

00:01:00.770 - 00:01:32.910

Thanks for sliding on in here with us at Dive Bar Music Club. I'm Sloane Spencer, and I am so excited to have gathered a couple of my friends to hang out with me as we roll right into January 2026.

I have Rachel Colst and Charles Hale joining me today.

If you've had a chance so far, hope you've listened to those bio episodes to find out what they are up to in the past and how they bring a lot of different to the world of music. They're joining us here in Dive Bar Music Club and I can't believe we're finally doing this. How are y' all doing? Rachel, what's up?

Speaker C

00:01:33.390 - 00:01:42.910

I'm great. I have a brand new refrigerator. Yeah, this is our third refrigerator in six years.

So we were very excited to stay in for New Year's Eve and cook a nice meal.

Speaker A

00:01:43.390 - 00:01:48.830

Listen, that is absolutely something that all of us have reached the point of life where that is point of celebration.

Speaker C

00:01:50.520 - 00:01:58.760

Yeah, there was a time when a week of takeout and Trader Joe's frozen food would have seemed awesome, but that time has passed for sure.

Speaker A

00:01:59.240 - 00:02:01.080

Charles, how about you? What have you been up to?

Speaker B

00:02:01.480 - 00:02:15.240

I've been dreaming of owning a refrigerator that makes ice on its own. It's one of my goals is to have one of those before I turn 50. So I've got about 18 months to get one of those.

Speaker A

00:02:15.950 - 00:02:23.310

I love this. So that's perfect for the little sounder that I use on all the little intros to this, which is the ice hitting the glass.

That might be our recurring theme.

Speaker B

00:02:24.910 - 00:02:25.390

Wheat.

Speaker A

00:02:25.710 - 00:02:44.140

The main question of Dive Bar Music Club is asking Folks, what are the three things they've been listening to lately? I kind of like the question because it's a little different than what are your top three picks?

Especially as we get into these conversations, you'll see it's a little different. What's on your mind these days? So, Rachel Coltst, what have you been listening to lately?

Speaker C

00:02:44.620 - 00:03:52.670

Yeah. So I picked out my three songs for today based on my cool venues I went to this year or back in 2025.

So first we'll start out with Weekend Friends Weightless. It's kind of more indie rock, little grunge, a little pop punk.

I went to go see them at a place in Bushwick, Brooklyn, called the Sultan Room, which I think I mentioned in my bio episode. It was my first time there, but the venue is a couple of years old.

These guys basically imported, like, a Midwestern supper club called the Turkish Inn out to Brooklyn, and then they attached a music venue to it that has just this really cool setup. Like, you walk in and the stage is sort of sunk in. So the stage is below you.

There's like an area right around the front of the stage if you're into, like, moshing or whatever. Sort of upper level with the bar. And it's just like, there's all good sight lines and the way they decorated it was really cool.

These, like, LED panels and kind of, like Moorish style. I don't know, lattice work. It's worth looking up a picture.

The venue itself, I think, has a lot of different types of music, but this was a rock show and it was super fun.

Speaker A

00:03:52.990 - 00:04:00.910

Oh, I think I found that band when I subscribed to your email list. And so that's how I found them. And they kind of give me a little bit, like, younger riot girl vibe.

Speaker C

00:04:01.790 - 00:04:15.770

Totally. I mean, they're millennials, so they. I think they definitely have incorporated that turn as a lot with 90s rock pop.

And on my podcast, we talked a little bit about country as well into their sound.

Speaker A

00:04:16.170 - 00:04:23.850

By the way, if y' all haven't had a chance, there is a whole conversation on Rachel's podcast with the Weekenders. What? Give us that link again.

Speaker C

00:04:24.650 - 00:04:40.700

Weekend Friends. It's the most recent episode of the Rainbow Rodeo podcast. Oh, no, you're fine.

And then one thing I am figuring out this new year is what I want to be doing with the podcast this coming year. So subscribe. It might take a little while for a new episode to show up, but I have some fun ideas.

Speaker A

00:04:41.100 - 00:04:43.980

Cool. I love that. So, Charles, what have you been listening to?

Speaker B

00:04:45.020 - 00:04:52.460

The Record that has sort of been most on my mind recently is the newest Mavis Staples Record.

Speaker A

00:04:53.020 - 00:04:53.580

Mm.

Speaker B

00:04:54.060 - 00:06:04.560

Sad and beautiful world. And she is, I think, 86 years old and made a beautiful record.

It really is good, and I don't want to be fatalistic, but it might be the last record she makes, and if it is, I feel like she made an A plus record. There's two songs that I'll point out briefly, and Mavis doesn't write songs, so two songs.

One is called Hard Times, which Gillian Welch wrote, which is a beautiful song. And then the album closes with a song called Everybody Needs Love, which was written by Eddie Hinton, who is a. An old Muscle Shoals session musician.

But the song Everybody Needs Love I know, and I think probably most people know it's because the Drive By Truckers recorded it a number of years ago. And Mavis does a beautiful version. The other thing that I love about this record is who all she has playing with her, because she could.

She could get anybody she wanted, really.

Speaker A

00:06:04.560 - 00:06:04.960

Right.

Speaker B

00:06:05.440 - 00:06:14.160

And Jeff Tweedy is around a little bit. Spencer Tweedy is around a little bit. But Katie Crutchfield is on the record from Wax.

Speaker C

00:06:14.320 - 00:06:15.120

I didn't know that.

Speaker B

00:06:15.200 - 00:06:45.590

Buddy Guy is on the record. Derek Trucks is on the record, MJ Linderman is on the record.

So Nathaniel Raitliff is on the record, Patterson Hood is on the record, and Bonnie Raitt is on the record. So there's all these young people that are making interesting, creative music right now, and she's having them in.

Part of that is because Brad Cook is the producer of the record. So it's such a beautiful record. I listened to it this morning.

Speaker A

00:06:46.070 - 00:06:49.910

I love it. And there's a fantastic Tom Waits cover with Chicago as well.

Speaker B

00:06:50.230 - 00:07:10.320

Yes. Chicago is the first song on the record, and it does feel like the outlier a little bit, because it's not sort of morose or reflective. It's.

It's more celebratory. But, yeah, she's doing Tom Waits, so how can we not like that?

Speaker A

00:07:11.360 - 00:07:29.100

For sure. Forgive me if I have told either of y' all this story before, and I don't know that I've ever...

Summary

Caitlin Cary joins us for a thoughtful and downright inspiring chat about her creative evolution, from the indie rock trenches to the calm, tactile world of fabric collage art, which she affectionately calls her “needle prints.” We dig into how this shift has opened up new ways for her to express herself, offering both artistic freedom and a healthy bit of distance from the grind of life on stage.

Caitlin also gets reflective about her roots in Raleigh, North Carolina, the places, people, and memories that shaped her, and how the city’s constant transformation nudged her to start preserving its essence through her artwork.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a conversation among musicians without a few good laughs: we revisit her whirlwind years as co-founder of Whiskeytown alongside Ryan Adams, swap stories about the unpredictable charm of dive-bar gigs and bartending shifts, and touch on what it means to keep creating, no matter the medium.

So, pour yourself something good, settle in, and join us as we explore the crossroads of music and visual art with Caitlin Cary. She’s full of sharp insight, warmth, and a few recommendations you won’t want to miss.

Bio

Chapters

• 00:15 - The Shift in Artistic Expression
• 02:55 - Transitioning from Art to Music
• 04:14 - The Journey into Music and Art
• 06:32 - Navigating the Craft Cocktail World
• 08:38 - The Excitement of Music Recommendations

Show Notes

In this episode of Dive Bar Music Club, we sit down with Caitlin Cary, a former touring musician turned visual artist, for a heartfelt conversation about her journey from the indie music scene to creating stunning fabric collage art, which she calls "needle prints."

Caitlin opens up about how she made the transition away from music and found solace in a new form of artistic expression. We explore the personal connection she has to her hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, and how the ever-changing landscape of the city inspired her to start documenting its most beloved landmarks through her art. Caitlin shares how this shift in focus has given her the creative distance she needed while still maintaining a fulfilling artistic career.

From her early days as a classically trained violinist to her unexpected entry into the world of indie rock with Whiskeytown, Caitlin's journey into music was as unpredictable as it was transformative. She reflects on the chaotic, yet rewarding years spent in the music industry, the quirks of dive bars, and what it means to live the life of a working musician.

We also talk about the humble, yet vital, venues that played a huge role in her life, both as a performer and a bartender, including Raleigh's own Humble Pie and The Pour House Music Hall.

And of course, we discuss Caitlin's recent achievements, including having her artwork featured in the North Carolina Museum of Art, a long-awaited dream come true.

Listen in for:

• Caitlin's transition from music to visual art
• The inspiration behind her "needle prints" and how they connect to her roots
• Stories from her time touring with Ryan Adams and bartending in dive bars
• The challenge of navigating the modern craft cocktail scene as a non-drinker
• Her thoughts on how music, art, and community intertwine

Where to Find Caitlin:

• Note: If you’re searching for her past music, be wary of some...colorful results when you Google "Tres Chicas."

Subscribe, Rate & Review:

If you’re loving the conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show. And as always, share your favorite episodes with friends who appreciate good music, good art, and great conversation.

Dive Bar Music Club is your low-key, high-taste happy hour for music nerds. See you next time!

Takeaways

• Caitlin Cary's transition from music to visual art highlights the dynamic nature of creativity; it's all about finding what resonates with your soul.
• The concept of needleprints serves as a fascinating analogy for the artistic process, marrying personal history with tangible expression in fabric.
• The Dive Bar Music Club fosters a unique community for indie music lovers, inviting deep discussions and connections over shared passions.
• Caitlin's experiences in venues like Poorhouse Music Hall illustrate the importance of local music scenes in shaping both artists and audiences alike.
• Ryan Adams' serendipitous invitation to Caitlin (who then co-founded Whiskeytown) underscores the unpredictable paths that often lead to fulfilling artistic careers in music.
• Caitlin's reflections on homesickness and change resonate deeply, reminding us that art often emerges from the need to document and preserve our personal histories.

Links

• https://caitlincary.com
• Get to know some of our other Regulars
•

Mentioned in This Episode

• Tres Chicas
• Humble Pie
• Pour House Music Hall
• NC State
• North Carolina Art Museum

indie music podcast, music nerd podcast, underground music podcast, music roundtable podcast, best new indie bands, independent music podcast, music discovery podcast, alternative music podcast, podcast for music lovers, dive bar music podcast, low key music podcast, deep cut music discussion, music tastemakers podcast, music festival discoveries, music zine culture, DIY music scene, touring musician stories, hidden gem bands, vinyl collector podcast, music conversations podcast,

, podcast about music, independent music discussion, visual artist interviews, Caitlin Cary podcast, creativity and music, fabric collage art, music industry insights, indie music scene, musicians transitioning to art, music venues Raleigh, Dive Bar Music Club, retired musicians, exploring creativity, art and music connection, music recommendations podcast, storytelling in music, fabric art techniques, crafting and music, touring musician experiences, music community discussions

Transcript

Speaker A

00:00:02.400 - 00:00:33.850

Well, mostly unenvious quitter. Of course. I haven't quit creativity, but I certainly have. For the most part, or at least for now, I've quit music.

I found an art form that is not made out of my body and out of my soul. Somehow, like there's this super comforting remove between what I am and what I make that is like, I'm so happy.

Speaker B

00:00:35.130 - 00:01:19.030

Welcome to Dive Bar Music Club, the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds. Each week we're joined by a rotating cast of regulars, people who live and breathe independent music.

This week, we're introducing you to Caitlin Carey, a happily retired touring musician and celebrated visual artist.

Carrie spent years in the trenches of the indie scene, and now she'll be bringing a lot of that real world music knowledge to our barstool roundtable. Part hang, part deep dive. It's Dive Bar Music Club.

Grab your drink, pull up a chair, and let's dive in with Caitlin Carey on this episode of Dive Bar Music Club. Caitlin, you've been doing some beautiful creative work lately that's kind of taken you away from music. What have you been up to?

Speaker A

00:01:19.580 - 00:01:47.840

Yeah. Thank you. For about the past decade, I've been making fabric collage. I made up a name for it because the words weren't really there.

But I call it needle print. And basically it's sort of a friend of quilting.

But I sew fabric onto canvas and I'm very feeling very lucky that I've been able to sort of make a big transition into different form of art that's also my living.

Speaker B

00:01:48.080 - 00:01:54.480

I think I first got to know that work. When you were doing some representations of historic buildings in North Carolina.

Speaker A

00:01:55.520 - 00:02:54.950

Yes.

It's funny, I do connect that to my music life, mostly in the sense that I think that I spent a lot of time being really homesick, and home is Raleigh, North Carolina, and it felt like every time I came home, some building that I loved had been torn down or something had changed. And I'm generally like a not into change person, but I.

It sort of made me feel this strong urge to start documenting the places that made my home feel like my home. And that sort of merged with this way of making art out of fabric that developed into a whole, you know, my whole thing for a number of years.

I've kind of decided I don't want to be the lady that makes landmarks forever. But I certainly enjoyed doing it. And it. I feel very lucky that I.

That it resonated for people and it gave me a foothold in a new, you know, in a whole new career.

Speaker B

00:02:55.670 - 00:02:59.670

So Caitlin Carey, how did you end up having a life in music?

Speaker A

00:03:01.110 - 00:04:38.990

Utterly by accident. I mean, I studied violin from a very young age. I started at 4 and was pretty serious until about 16 when I gave it up for.

I don't know what 16 year olds do, but at least for me it wasn't classical violin. And for a while I stopped and then picked it back up again in college. But through sort of beginning of a career in music was very accidental.

I was in graduate school at NC State and I don't even remember that I told anybody that I was a musician, but I guess I did.

And I got a phone call out of the blue from Ryan Adams saying that he was starting a band and he heard that I was a fiddle player and did I want to be in a band. And I don't even know also why I said yes to that because it was insane.

I was teaching and in a more or less serious academic path heading towards probably trying to become an author, but certainly trying to teach and be in academia. And instead I ran away with the circus, so to speak.

And it really was a circus that launched into a couple decades of, of making music as my livelihood and my life. If asked, I would refer to myself as a visual artist and my goal is to be in the art museum. Well, actually I've achieved that goal.

I got in the art in the real life North Carolina Art Muse just recently.

Speaker B

00:04:39.230 - 00:04:42.430

So congratulations. That is just spectacular.

Speaker A

00:04:42.510 - 00:04:51.710

Thank you. It really feels great. It's a tiny little piece in a, in a little group show. But hey, I didn't have to die to get in the art museum.

Speaker B

00:04:53.950 - 00:05:12.350

Obviously this podcast is dive bar music club and music venues are a huge part of what all of us love.

But have there been any small to medium places and spaces that have really spoken to you with music, whether performing or seeing or just being part of a community?

Speaker A

00:05:13.550 - 00:06:32.700

Oh absolutely. I could say name several in Raleigh and I've also worked in them a lot.

I worked at Humble Pie, which was a restaurant most of the time that turned into a show venue on the weekends where we, we would be washing the dishes and then move all the tables out of the way and set up the stage. And sometimes I would be the person that went out and played on that stage and sometimes we just got to see great shows.

And yeah, there's also the Poorhouse Music hall in Raleigh which is still going as one of our really great sort of mid size clubs. And I both Skillet and I, my husband Skillet and I have Bartended there.

It's been a while now, but that was a big part of our supplemental income when we were. When we were musicians touring. You know, you. You can hold down a job even when you're gone a lot if you're a decent bartender.

I really couldn't be a bartender now in most places because the world of, you know, the well a. I don't really drink. I don't drink anymore. But also the craft cocktail world has all that muddling of fresh herbs and.

Speaker B

00:06:32.700 - 00:06:45.420

Shit that developed after I stopped drinking. So, like, I have. I'm completely clueless when people talk about it. I'm like, I'm sorry. Last time I drank was like, bucket of beer era. So sorry.

Speaker A

00:06:45.900 - 00:06:46.620

Yeah, right.

Speaker B

00:06:48.140 - 00:06:50.380

Where would you like people to find you?

Speaker A

00:06:51.100 - 00:07:26.970

I'm easy to find on caitlincary.com. i was smart enough to get that a long time ago. So. Yeah. And it's full of my artwork and a little tiny blurb maybe about my music. I don't. It's funny.

You don't want to confuse the point. So to learn about my music, you might go to our friend Google, I guess.

Or better yet, go to one of the streaming platforms and go listen to some rather than read about the boring exploits of or what have you. If you look up my band, Trace Chicas, you're liable to get some dirty porn, so watch out.

Speaker B

00:07:27.530 - 00:07:31.290

Oh, I didn't know that. I'm very familiar with Trace Chicas, but not. Not that one.

Speaker A

00:07:32.250 - 00:07:35.450

There's. There are others, apparently, and they do naughty things.

Speaker B

00:07:35.850 - 00:07:40.730

Alrighty. Well, to each their own. One probably pays better than the other. And it's not the music.

Speaker A

00:07:40.810 - 00:07:42.570

That's right. Anyway.

Speaker B

00:07:42.650 - 00:08:01.660

Anyway, Caitlin Carey, I'm so excited that you're going to be part of what we're doing here with Dive Bar Music Club. And I'm looking forward to finding out what it is you are listening to these days.

You've always got a few little gems that you share that I'm like, oh, I should know that. Or I love that too. And I'm going to nerd out about it, but we very much appreciate you being part of it.

Speaker A

00:08:02.220 - 00:08:38.400

That's really cool. I'm excited. It's going to be great. Our music world is so fractalated, pixelated, exploded, that I always feel like I'm missing something wonderful.

So I really look forward to hearing other people's recommendations. That's going to be fantastic. And why they're passionate.

You know, I've always said, like, I don't watch sports, but if I'm with somebody that's really into the World Series, I'm going to sit next to them and, like, totally catch their vibe. You know, I'm looking forward to that part.

Speaker B

00:08:38.640 - 00:08:50.860

You know, I'm much more likely to listen to something when someone passionately loves it and maybe listen for things that I didn't give a chance to previously as well. So I'm as excited about this as everyone else. So thank you. Thank you. I sure appreciate, appreciate it.

Speaker A

00:08:50.860 - 00:08:52.140

Good to talk to you, Sloane.

Speaker B

00:08:53.500 - 00:09:10.940

That's last call at Dive Bar Music Club. If you like the hang, follow the show, leave a review, and tell your algorithm, gosh darn it, we're worth it.

Better yet, share your favorite episode with a friend who actually stayed for the whole set. See y' all next time for the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds.

Bio

Chad Cochran

Ohio based music and potrait photographer.

Chad's Website

Chad on YouTube

@cowtownchad on Instagram

Chad's Facebook page

Summary

Chad Cochran, better known as CowtownChad, takes us on a laid-back journey through the vibrant world of independent music in this episode of Dive Bar Music Club. We dive into his experiences as a live music and portrait photographer, where he seamlessly transitions between capturing electrifying live performances and intimate backstage moments. Chad's love for Americana music runs deep, and he shares tales from his time at iconic venues like the Ryman Auditorium and the Beachland Ballroom, where the magic of music truly comes alive. Throughout our chat, we explore the evolution of his artistic journey, from a punk rock kid to a sought-after photographer, and how those gritty dive bars laid the foundation for honing his craft. So, grab your favorite drink and join us for a candid conversation that’s sure to resonate with music lovers and aspiring artists alike!

Show Notes

Welcome back to another laid-back session of Dive Bar Music Club, the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds. This week, we’re pulling up a stool with someone who's seen it all from behind the lens: music photographer and filmmaker Chad Cochran, aka CowtownChad.

Here’s what went down:

• Meet Chad Cochran: portrait photographer, music video filmmaker, and the guy behind the camera at some of your favorite Americana shows.
• Chad’s journey from punk metal kid to the Americana scene (thanks to a cowboy hat and a certain host).
• He’s worked with big names and captured quiet moments, both live on stage and backstage at festivals.

This summer’s lineup included:

• Nelsonville Music Festival
• Pickin’ in the Backwoods
• Healing Appalachia
• Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, where Chad was also a guest speaker on mental health in music.

Trivia Night:

• Fun fact: Chad didn’t pick up a camera until he was 40. Now at 53, he's built a career shooting festivals, portraits, and raw emotional moments in music.
• His first band? A “horrible” high school group called Stonehenge. But it laid the foundation for a creative path back to music decades later.
• Favorite venues? The iconic Ryman Auditorium tops the list, but the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland is where he honed his chops in tricky, low-light dives.
• Why small venues matter for music photographers: they’re gritty, they’re real, and they’re the perfect training ground before the big stages.

Where to find him online:

• Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and TikTok
• Username: @CowtownChad
• Yes, he's talking about music on TikTok (because his kids made him download it and a PR friend told him to find a niche).

Thanks again to Chad for joining our crew of rotating regulars, and yes, you’re definitely going to want to hear more from him in future episodes.

Last Call Reminder

Like the vibe? Follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend who stays till the very last note. See you next time at Dive Bar Music Club, where the love of music always takes center stage.

Links

• Chad Cochran
• Get to know the rest of the Regulars on Dive Bar Music Club
• You might also like Sloane Spencer's Gen X sleep podcast, Sleep with Rock Stars

Chapters

• 00:19 - Introducing Cowtown Chad
• 00:45 - Exploring the World of Music Photography
• 03:35 - Exploring Musical Venues
• 05:19 - The Journey of Cowtown Chad
• 06:14 - Introduction to Dive Bar Music Club

Takeaways

• Chad Cochran, aka Cowtown Chad, shares his journey from a rural landscape photographer to a sought-after music photographer, highlighting his passion for Americana music.
• The significance of small venues like Beachland Ballroom in honing photography skills is emphasized, showcasing their unique charm in the music scene.
• Our podcast revolves around true music fans and their stories, creating an intimate space for sharing the magic of live music experiences.
• Chad's eclectic background in various music genres, from punk to Americana, adds depth to his photography and feeds his creative spirit.
• The discussion touches on mental health in the music industry, showcasing a thoughtful approach to the challenges artists face in this field.
• Listeners are encouraged to engage with the show, emphasizing the community aspect of music appreciation and sharing favorite episodes with friends.

indie music podcast, music nerd podcast, underground music podcast, music roundtable podcast, best new indie bands, independent music podcast, music discovery podcast, alternative music podcast, podcast for music lovers, dive bar music podcast, low key music podcast, deep cut music discussion, music tastemakers podcast, music festival discoveries, music zine culture, DIY music scene, touring musician stories, hidden gem bands, vinyl collector podcast, music conversations podcast,

dive bar music club, independent music podcast, music photography, Chad Cochran, Cowtown Chad, live concert photography, music festivals, backstage portraits, Americana music, portrait photographer, music venues, Ryman auditorium, Beachland Ballroom, concert photography tips, music industry insights, mental health and music, music nerds, local music scenes, music podcast recommendations, low key happy hour

Mentioned in this Episode

• Dive Bar Music Club
• Uncle Tupelo
• Wilco
• Bottle Rockets
• Sun Volt
• Nelsonville Music Festival
• Picking in the Backwoods
• Healing Appalachia
• Woody Guthrie Folk Festival
• Ryman Auditorium
• Beachland Ballroom

Transcript

Speaker A

00:00:01.040 - 00:00:06.960

Hello, this is Chad Cochran, also known as Cowtown Chad. And this is Dive Bar Music Club.

Speaker B

00:00:08.000 - 00:00:49.930

Welcome to Dive Bar Music Club, the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds. Each week we're joined by a rotating cast of true music fans, people who live and breathe independent music.

I'll introduce you to one of our rotating cast of characters, portrait photographer and music video filmmaker Chad Cochran, who you probably know as Cowtown Chad. So grab a drink, pull up a stool, and join Chad Cochran on this week's session of Dive Bar Music Club.

We've been really grateful to get to chat with all the folks who are going to be part of our regulars here on Dive Bar Music Club, helping y' all get to know who they are. So, Chad Cochran, what exactly do you do in the world of music these days?

Speaker A

00:00:50.490 - 00:01:50.800

So I am a live music and portrait photographer. I do. I partner with a lot of music festivals where I do backstage portraits for them, but I also shoot live concerts.

So I will kind of like pop back and forth between doing backstage portraits and then go and do live music. But I'm also, over the last several years, have been known for doing a lot of portraits with musicians that many of us know.

I kind of grew up a, like, metalhead. I mean, really like a punk kid.

And I ended up, you know, actually, thanks to you, Sloan, working I took photos of somebody in a cowboy hat, and I suddenly became the person that takes pictures of people with cowboy hats. I have a long love of Americana music all the way back to, like, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Bottle Rockets, Sunbolt.

And now it is primarily where you see my photos. I have been very busy this summer doing music festival, both portraits and live music photography.

Speaker B

00:01:51.310 - 00:01:57.270

Very cool. Can you give us any little hints or tidbits of what you've been working on this summer?

Speaker A

00:01:57.270 - 00:02:17.790

I did backstage portraits at the Nelsonville Music Festival. I also did backstage portraits at Picking in the Backwoods.

And then I also attended Healing Appalachia that I've worked with the last couple years, as well as I was a guest speaker because I also have a mental health series at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Oklahoma.

Speaker B

00:02:18.260 - 00:02:35.220

I cannot wait till we all get a chance to talk a little bit more about some of your past projects and what you have coming up. This is going to be a real treat for our listeners here at Dive Bar Music Club.

Thanks so much for deciding to join us here with Dive Bar Music Club as one of our rotating cast characters. I'm jokingly calling the regulars. How did you end up in music.

Speaker A

00:02:36.020 - 00:03:21.440

You know, in high school, we had a really horrible band called Stonehenge. But that gave me the foundation to go to college. And when I was in college, I played in some, like, grungy pop punk bands and.

And then raised a family. And then as the kids became less dependent on me, I kind of, like, slid in the back door.

When at the time, I was a rural landscape photographer, and I had a musician reach out to me about doing some portraits. Not something I ever did, but the way that. That ended up working is it kind of got me back into the music industry.

You know, I'm one of those weird people that didn't. Didn't own a camera until I was 40. I'm 53 right now. And the last 10 years has been a wild ride.

Speaker B

00:03:22.720 - 00:03:49.530

Absolutely.

These are all the sort of teases of stories that I cannot wait for everybody to hear more about, because some of the real truth of what y' all have been doing is just head scratching. Fabulous. So fun, fun, fun. Thank you.

One of the things we've loved getting to chat about here on Dive Bar Music club is the places where we go to hear music that really have stuck out to us over the years. What are some kind of venues or spaces that have really helped make the music more magical for you?

Speaker A

00:03:49.770 - 00:05:01.670

I've been incredibly fortunate to shoot at some pretty cool places.

I think kind of the pinnacle for me, or like, the place I enjoy the most is the Ryman auditorium in Nashville, which is just a beautiful experience to see a place to see music. But I think the place that really, I kind of honed my skills living in the Cleveland area right now.

The Beechland Ballroom and Tavern has a, you know, a very long history of having some really cool shows there and breaking a lot of bands, you know, when they were small.

And as a music photographer, I think working in those low light, small venues and really kind of honing your skills there, once you get to a different level of concert photography and there is magical light as opposed to, you know, those. Those dark. Those dark, shady bars that we've all spent time in. I think that's. That's. It's your practice. Right?

Like, that's the place that you can kind of get started, start to develop those skills, and it really makes things considerably easier once you start to propel yourself further.

Speaker B

00:05:02.150 - 00:05:08.470

Absolutely. I. I love a magical little space like that. It's just. Will always be deeply in my heart.

Speaker A

00:05:10.040 - 00:05:10.440

Me too.

Speaker B

00:05:11.080 - 00:05:18.680

Fun times. Fun times. Beachland Ballroom. Fantastic place.

Y' all should definitely check it out if you're ever up in the Cleveland, Ohio area, where would you like people to find you?

Speaker A

00:05:19.080 - 00:05:44.740

I have taken this moniker online and I jokingly always say that it's like having a band that picks a really bad band name and then has a hit. That's essentially what I'm living with. So I online use the name Cowtown Chad, like the farm animal cow town and then my name Chad.

So Cowtown Chad, you can find me on Instagram, threads, Facebook and you also can find me on TikTok talking about music.

Speaker B

00:05:45.700 - 00:05:49.700

Ah, I am not a tiktoker. I will have to check that out. Fun to know.

Speaker A

00:05:50.020 - 00:06:07.780

Yeah, it's been, it's been a cool experience.

I downloaded it because my kids used it and then somebody that I worked with previously who did see some PR for me strongly suggested that I find a niche and dive into it. So talking about music is what I've chosen to do there.

Speaker B

00:06:08.620 - 00:06:22.060

This is a whole new world. I didn't even know. Fun. I will have to check this out a little more.

Well, Chad Cochran, AKA Cowtown Chad, we're so glad that you're going to be part of the regulars here on Dive Bar Music Club. Thank you.

Speaker A

00:06:22.380 - 00:06:24.299

Of course I'm excited and can't wait for more.

Speaker B

00:06:25.100 - 00:06:42.560

That's last call at Dive Bar Music Club. If you like the hang, follow the show, leave a review and tell your algorithm. Gosh darn it, we're worth it.

Better yet, share your favorite episode with a friend who actually stayed for the whole set. See y' all next time for the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds.

Join us as we dive deep into the eclectic world of independent music with the one and only Nelson Gullett from WDVX in Knoxville, Tennessee. We’re not just sipping drinks; we’re pouring over the rich tapestry of sounds that connect the past and present of roots music. Nelson shares his journey from college radio to crafting a show that showcases diverse voices and classic influences, all while keeping it fresh and engaging. We’ll explore the venues that shaped his musical palate and, trust me, you’ll want to hear about his first encounter with Kasey Chambers that sparked a love affair with Americana music. So grab your favorite drink, kick back, and let’s unravel the threads of music that define us in this laid-back, high-taste gathering of music aficionados.

Nelson Gullett

Nelson was born in the deep dark hills of Eastern Kentucky in a town called Paintsville... just a few miles away from Loretta Lynn's cabin on the hill. He initially cut his musical teeth on pop artists of the 80s. Somewhere along the way, though, his mother instilled a love for songwriters such as Paul Simon and Jim Croce while his dad exposed him to early rockabilly rebels and the pioneers of rock and roll. Nelson was eventually introduced to the band R.E.M., and their blend of southern folk/rock in high school. In college, it was the Dave Matthews Band’s brand of roots-based jams that provoked him to drive for hours just to get to the next show. In college, he became fully engrossed in Americana music and stated hosting Americana Crossroads on Morehead State Public Radio. Nelson moved to Knoxville and started working for WDVX in 2006, where he now serves as Development Director and host of the weekly Americana Pulse radio show.

Nelson's Website

Nelson on YouTube

Catch Our Other Network Podcasts

• Country Fried Rock -- the 2009-2020 archives resurrected, every Friday
• Sleep with Rock Stars -- the Gen X sleep podcast, every other Tuesday
• Toss a few in our Tip Jar

indie music podcast, music nerd podcast, underground music podcast, music roundtable podcast, best new indie bands, independent music podcast, music discovery podcast, alternative music podcast, podcast for music lovers, dive bar music podcast, low key music podcast, deep cut music discussion, music tastemakers podcast, music festival discoveries, music zine culture, DIY music scene, touring musician stories, hidden gem bands, vinyl collector podcast, music conversations podcast,

Dive Bar Music Club, independent music podcast, Nelson Gullett interview, Americana music, WDVX Knoxville, community radio, music knowledge, music trends, roots music, music recommendations, live music venues, music history, music exploration, music fandom, music appreciation, folk music, bluegrass music, music festivals, supporting local radio, music culture

Chapters

• 00:12 - Introducing the Cast of Characters
• 01:37 - Nelson's Musical Journey
• 03:12 - The Awakening of a Music Enthusiast
• 04:23 - Musical Memories of a Small Town
• 07:27 - Supporting the Arts: How to Help WDVX
• 08:00 - Fall Fund Drive Announcement

Takeaways

• The Dive Bar Music Club is all about chilled vibes and deep music discussions, making it a special hangout for music enthusiasts.
• Nelson Gullett's extensive experience in independent radio truly enriches the conversations around music's evolution and its diverse influences.
• Understanding how past music influences the present is key; it's all about connecting the dots through genres and artists.
• The significance of venues in shaping music memories cannot be overstated; they serve as cultural touchstones in our musical journeys.
• Supporting community radio like WDVX is crucial, especially during tough times for arts nonprofits; every small donation counts.
• The podcast encourages listeners to engage with music, whether through live shows or online platforms, to keep the spirit of independent music alive.

Mentioned in this Episode

• WDVX
• Morehead State University
• NPR
• Mountain Stage
• Beale Street Caravan
• Kasey Chambers
• Buddy Miller
• Graham Parsons
• Emmylou Harris
• Lucinda Williams
• Rodney Crowell
• Dar Williams
• James McMurtry
• Wilco
• Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
• Greg Brown
• Webb Wilder
• Junior Brown
• Clack Mountain String Band
• Tyler Childers
• Chris Stapleton
• Iron and Wine
• BlueSky
• Threads
• YouTube

Transcript

Speaker A

00:00:00.640 - 00:00:47.780

Welcome to Dive Bar Music Club, the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds. Each week we're joined by a rotating cast of true music fans, people who live and breathe independent music.

This week, I'll introduce you to one of our rotating cast of characters, veteran community radio host Nelson Gullett, currently with WDVX in Knoxville, Tennessee. He spent years in the trenches of independent radio and now bringing an incredible depth of real world music knowledge to our roundtable.

We're not about trends, we're about taste. Part hang, part deep dive, part time machine.

Grab your drink and pull up a stool and let's join Nelson Gullett for this week's session, a Dive Bar Music club. Hey, Nelson, thanks so much for joining us here with Dive Bar Music Club. So what have you been up to lately in the world of music?

Speaker B

00:00:48.340 - 00:01:15.280

What I try to do on my show is play a bunch of new music, highlight some diverse voices, and go back into the classics so we can connect and see how the music of the past is informing the present. Because that's a lot of what current roots music is.

There's so much to draw from, so many influences from the past and so many people out there blending all of that in interesting ways. And that's what I try to highlight on my show every week.

Speaker A

00:01:15.760 - 00:01:29.020

I think that's what makes your show so special. And I'm so glad that you've decided to be part of this adventure where we're figuring it out as we go. With Dive Bar Music Club.

You'll bring a lot of experience and knowledge to the conversations for a really broad range of music, which is important.

Speaker B

00:01:29.820 - 00:01:34.940

Yeah. Well, thank you for inviting me. I'm excited to be a part of whatever this is going to be.

Speaker A

00:01:35.260 - 00:01:44.220

Who knows yet? This will be fun. Nelson, we've known each other for a pretty long time, but I don't actually know how you ended up this deep in the world of music.

Speaker B

00:01:44.540 - 00:03:25.560

Well, it kind of started. I went to college. I was at Morehead State University.

I was undeclared into my junior year and finally just I gave up and started working at the college radio station. Right. I was doing the news internship, NPR newscast, working in the sports department, graduated, went to work in the world of commercial radio.

I was a news director at a commercial station in eastern Kentucky. And I got so bored with that that I went back to grad school.

And the music director there at Morehead State Public Radio knew I was a fan of, offered me an Americana shift. They had just started doing an Americana show four nights A week. And I didn't know what that was. He tried to explain it to me.

There was a lot of talk about country music, and I didn't want any part of it. This was the early 2000s. I thought country music was all Garth Brooks and Billy Ray Cyrus, and I. I turned him down.

So his response was to stick me on a Friday night board op shift from 8 to midnight. And he made me listen to the Mountain Stage in E Town and Beale Street Caravan every week for a semester.

I heard Casey Chambers one night on a Friday night. I was in his office Monday morning saying, who is this person? What can you tell me about it? He gave me the Barricades and Brick Walls album.

From that record, I discovered Buddy Miller and Graham Parsons and Emmylou Harris and Lucinda. A few months later, I'm seeing Casey Chambers live on the Mountain stage. And that same show had Rodney Crowell and Dar Williams and James McMurtry.

And I just. I kept jumping deeper and deeper, connecting the dots. Ended up just kind of hooked.

Speaker A

00:03:26.360 - 00:03:30.200

This is fantastic. And I did not know that origin story.

Speaker B

00:03:31.000 - 00:04:04.030

You know, it took a while. There was a period where I was, you know, in the local record shop once a week.

I bought the entire Uncle Tupelo discography in one go and just dove into it A few weeks later. It was all of Wilco up to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. You know, just little by little, I would take records home off the shelf every week.

And one weekend it's all Greg Brown. The next weekend it was all, you know, Webb Wilder or Junior Brown. And it just. It got into my bones.

Speaker A

00:04:04.910 - 00:04:21.450

This is fabulous. I love this, and I love the breadth of it, especially because I know what you're into nowadays as well.

And so you really have incredibly deep knowledge of music. And you do a really good job of explaining that to people.

And that's one of the reasons that I was like, yes, Nelson's going to be part of Dive Bar Music Club. This is great.

Speaker B

00:04:21.450 - 00:04:22.170

Well, thank you.

Speaker A

00:04:22.570 - 00:04:30.810

Absolutely.

I know we all don't get out to see as much live music as we would want, but do you have any favorite venues over the years that you've enjoyed seeing music?

Speaker B

00:04:31.210 - 00:05:55.480

You know, again, I grew up in a small town. There was no live music unless, like, Lee Greenwood came to the high school gym during the fall festival. Like, that was.

That was the only thing we kind of had. Growing up. When I got to doing the Americana work at my college station, there was a joint in Lexington, Kentucky, called the Dame.

And it was just right there in the middle of Downtown Lexington. We had an underwriting agreement with them where we would promote their shows and pretty much any show I wanted to.

I had a pair of tickets I could drive.

It was about an hour to Lexington from where I was and I would go see Nico Case and Scott Miller and Alejandro Escovedo and Old Crow Medicine show over the Rhine. They all played this joint, Iron and Wine I saw there. So it was about an hour away.

I didn't get there like every weekend or whatever, but, you know, every couple of months or so I would just take off after an air shift and drive up to Lexington and see what I could see. Morehead didn't really have anything at the time. It was still a dry city. So there. There was no. A few festivals here and there.

I would go see the Clack Mountain String Band, which was Jesse Wells, who now plays with Tyler Childer. Sometimes Chris Stapleton would sit in with them. But that was. That was. That was pretty much all we had back there.

So you had to travel to Lexington or I would go to Charleston to see the mountain stage. But that was. That was. That was pretty much it.

Speaker A

00:05:56.920 - 00:06:18.100

That was it. Anyway, good times. Good times. Yeah. It's funny how like venues can bring up such spec memories of like time, place, music, all of that sort of stuff.

I'm sure we'll be talking a lot more about that as we all get to know one another through the course of Dive bar Music club. One of the things I want to be sure people get a chance to do is share where they want to be found online.

Speaker B

00:06:18.980 - 00:07:11.370

My primary presence right now is Blue Sky, I guess@nelsonwdbx. I'm also on Instagram, which that posts to to threads as well. Though I'm not super active over there, those are probably the best places to find me.

Also wdvx.com My show is on Wednesday nights from 7 to 10:30 Eastern Time. I'll pop up occasionally in some other places, but we are 24 7. Americana music, folk blues, bluegrass, whatever we can throw in.

We have specialty shows that are all bluegrass. We've got an all blue show. We have, you know, different things at different times. We do live music six days a week.

Every Monday through Saturday at noon, there's a live show called the Blue Plate Special. You can stream all of that@wdvx.com and find some of those live videos through our YouTube channel too.

Speaker A

00:07:11.930 - 00:07:31.290

WDVX is really special, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, but obviously through the joy of the Internet, one of the upsides is being able to hear such eclectic and really thoughtful programming. We know that we are dealing with difficult times with arts nonprofits specifically right now.

How can people who find WDVX help you all out these days?

Speaker B

00:07:31.610 - 00:08:32.690

Well, they can go to our website, wdvx.com there's a support page where you can make a one time donation. You can become a sustaining member of the radio station as well, where you can do $5 a month, $10 a month, that sort of thing.

We have an online shop as well through the website or you know, even something as simple as watching those YouTube videos, sharing, liking, subscribing that, you know, helps us out in the, the algorithm and boost that funding a little bit. But we're about to kick off a fall fund drive in November.

We just had an emergency kind of recovery fund drive in August where we raised over a hundred thousand dollars in a month to replace most of what we lost through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for this year. That's, that's money that we lose every year going forward. So we're working on ways to cover that too.

But yeah, the best thing to do is just to go to the website, wdvx.comsupport that'll take you straight to a donation portal.

Speaker A

00:08:32.930 - 00:08:58.650

Perfect. And I hope that folks do stop in and check that out because of course we want everyone to continue helping support.

The arts and the music are an important part of everybody's life. And that's why we're all here to hang out with Dive Bar Music Club.

Speaking of which, it is important that y' all stop by, subscribe in, whatever your favorite podcast app is. Give those thumbs up likes, ratings, reviews, all the good stuff. You don't want any nice to say, feel free to step aside.

Nelson Gullett, thanks so much for being part of what we're going to be doing here with Dive Bar Music Club.

Speaker B

00:08:59.130 - 00:09:01.850

Yeah, thank you, Sloan. I'm, I'm excited to see where this goes.

Speaker A

00:09:02.810 - 00:09:20.230

That's last call at Dive Bar Music Club. If you like the hang, follow the show, leave a review and tell your algorithm, gosh darn it, we're worth it.

Better yet, share your favorite episode with a friend who actually stayed for the whole set. See y' all next time for the low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds.