In this episode of Billboard's Behind the Setlist podcast we talk to Devon Allman and Duane Betts of the Allman Betts Band. That was Devon Allman in the show opener talking about how many of the people who attend their concerts also saw them when they were young and on the road with the Allman Brothers. Devon is the son of Gregg Alman and Duane is the son of Dickie Betts, and in our conversation both talked about the joy and responsibility of carrying on the legacy of their fathers music.

The Allman Betts Band has released two albums of rootsy Southern rock, Down to the River from 2019 and Bless Your Heart from 2020. Their live shows are a mix of Allman Betts songs with some Allman Brothers covers. Concertgoers are likely to hear older Allman Brothers tunes such as “Blue Sky” and “Ramblin’ Man” as well as songs from the ‘90s like “Nobody Knows,” and they explain why in our conversation. 

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In this episode we talk to Adam Duritz, singer for the long-running, much celebrated band Counting Crows, about everything from his love of the band Big Star to doing podcasts rather than traditional interviews to promote new albums and tours.

Counting Crows are best known for the songs “Mr Jones”  from their 1993 debut August and Everything After and “A Long December” from the follow-up, 1996’s Recovering the Satellites. Their latest, the excellent Butter Miracle, the Complete Sweets! was released in May, which lead up to a 2025 tour that started June 10 and extends to Nov. 1, taking the band through theaters and amphitheaters in the U.S. and Canada before heading off to Europe for about a month and a half. 

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Lyle Lovett joined Billboard's Behind the Setlist podcast to discuss his love for live performances, the amazing musicians who join him on stage, and his career spanning over 45 years. He shared his early days at Texas A&M, where he booked acts and played covers, and his transition to performing original songs. Lyle also talked about the importance of audience connection and how his approach to storytelling was influenced by artists such as Michael Martin Murphy and John Denver.

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band are currently on tour in the U.S. through August 7. Lyle and his Acoustic Group will perform in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Scotland in late August.

Episode summary:

[2:54] Lovett reflects on his early college days at Texas A&M, specifically starting to play music in 1976 and his involvement with the basement coffee house, a small, student-organized live music venue that spurred his introduction into programming and performing shows.
[6:00] Lovett explains his first gig outside college—a summer 1976 steak and seafood restaurant performance in Houston—and how he began by playing songs from Texas singer-songwriters like Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt, which taught him the principles of songwriting.
[11:19] Discussion about playing covers versus originals, with Lovett sharing the transition from focusing on audience-friendly covers in restaurants and bars to venues like Anderson Fair Retail Restaurant in Houston, which encouraged original music and helped grow his songwriting skills and confidence.
[13:37] Lyle explains what he learned performing during his early years, particularly how to endure as a live artist: handling distractions, accepting audience reactions, and growing through moments where people came specifically to hear him rather than just attending for the venue.
[15:32] The evolution of storytelling and humor in Lyle’s performances, inspired by watching other singer-songwriters like Michael Murphy and John Denver, and how Lyle incorporates personal connections and humor into his live shows.
[18:49] Discussion of audience interactions, including an anecdote where Lovett introduces his band members on stage, blending humor and intimacy to create an engaging experience. He emphasizes the importance of making the audience feel connected to everyone on stage.
[26:10] Lyle talks about breaking genre expectations early in his career, navigating challenges with radio stations categorizing his music and credits MCA Nashville for their support and belief in his diverse sound.
[29:48] Insights into Lyle's passion for music education, including his experiences speaking with and mentoring young music students. He emphasizes the importance of loving music for its essence and staying grounded despite the challenges of being a professional musician.
[32:03] Lyle touches on scheduling large band tours around summer breaks and how he integrates musicians with academic careers, like professors in his horn section, into his performances.
[34:35] Lyle shares how he balances playing live, managing tour schedules, and prioritizing time with his children, frequently flying home on tour days off to be present for school events and family activities.
[38:05] Reflections on how having both an acoustic group and a large band allows him to play in various markets, driven primarily by economic considerations and creative flexibility in his tour planning.
[42:20] Final thoughts on the economics and logistics of setting up a tour, explaining how these practical concerns shape his choices while keeping the performances creatively fulfilling.

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In this episode we talk to Buzz Osborne, the singer and guitarist for legendary rock band Melvins. Before the Pacific Northwest became known for grunge, Melvins, a notable influence on Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, were making sludgy, heavy rock music in Washington State. 

After grunge broke in the early ‘90s, the band was signed to Atlantic Records for two albums, Stone Witch from ’94 and Stag from ’96. Otherwise, Melvins have recorded for indie labels such as Amphetamine Reptile Records and their home for over two decades, Ipecac Recordings. Melvins’ latest album, Tarantula Heart, was released by Ipecac in 2024. 

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In this episode we talk to Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston. Call them easy listening or a bar band from California, but what matters is The Doobie Brothers have been making music for over 50 years and are back with a new album, Walk This Road, out June 6 on Rhino Records.

For Walk This Road, Michael McDonald joins Patrick, Tom and John McFee. Michael was absent on the band’s 2022 album, Liberté, and is back with his fair share of songs on Walk This Road. The title track features the one and only Mavis Staples, and we got the story behind that collaboration in the interview. 

Links:

The Doobie Brothers home page

The Doobie Brothers tour dates

Jay Gilbert @ Label Logic

Glenn Peoples @ Billboard

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For a period of time in the late '80s and early '90s, Richard Marx was everywhere. The hitmaker achieved a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with "Hold Onto the Nights." “Endless Summer Nights” went to No. 2 while both “Don’t Mean Nothing” and “Should’ve Known Better” went to No. 3. His album Repeat Offender went to No. 1 in 1989. Richard has had an immensely successful career as a songwriter-producer and helped craft hits for such artists as Keith Urban, NSYNC, Barbra Streisand and Daughtry. His new single is “Forget About the World.”

Links:

Richard Marx home page

Richard Marx tour dates

Jay Gilbert @ Label Logic

Glenn Peoples @ Billboard

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In this episode we talk to Larkin Poe, a duo of sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell. Fifteen years into their careers as Larkin Poe, Rebecca and Megan have built a catalog of blues and Southern rock-influenced music and a dedicated following. The duo’s 2022 album, Blood Harmony, won a 2024 Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Their latest album, Bloom, is another soulful, occasionally bombastic journey through American roots music.

Links:

Larkin Poe home page

Larkin Poe tour dates

Jay Gilbert @ Label Logic

Glenn Peoples @ Billboard

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Billboard's Behind the Setlist talks to Thurston Moore, co-founder of Sonic Youth, about his body of work as a solo artist and collaborator; his latest album, Flow Critical Lucidity; the likelihood of a Sonic Youth reunion; his musical education witnessing New York’s vibrant music scene in the late ‘70s; and his memoir, Sonic Life, that was released in 2023. 

Links:

Thurston Moore home page

Jay Gilbert @ Label Logic

Glenn Peoples @ Billboard

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Behind the Setlist chats with synth-pop pioneer Howard Jones, best known for his hits in the ‘80s such as “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Life in One Day” and “What Is Love?” His 1985 album Dream Into Action reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and hit No. 2 on the U.K. album chart. Howard has remained incredibly busy over his career, releasing 15 studio albums, the most recent being Dialogue in 2022. Next up is Piano Composed, out May 23, in which he returns to his classical music roots.

Links:

Howard Jones home page

Jay Gilbert @ Label Logic

Glenn Peoples @ Billboard

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In this episode we talk to Kevin Mercer, otherwise known as Posdnuos, or Pos, from the hip hop group De La Soul. The group continues touring and making music after more than three decades, and they have continued after the death of David Jolicoeur, known as Trugoy the Dove, in 2023. De La Soul’s 1989 debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, was a breakthrough at the time and stands today as a hip hop classic for its positivity, intelligence and sample-heavy production that borrowed from Hall & Oates, Steely Dan, Bo Diddly and the Steve Miller Band. 

The conversation centered around the group's Jan. 17, 2025 concert at Lincoln Center in Manhattan but also touched on the group's longevity, connecting with younger generations, continuing after Trugoy's death, musical influences and the recent slew of De La Soul reissues.

Links:

De La Soul home page

De La Soul tour dates

Jay Gilbert @ Label Logic

Glenn Peoples @ Billboard

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