Disco Teepee Podcast

Thirty years after This Fire first introduced the world to songs like “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” and “I Don’t Want to Wait,” Paula Cole is taking the album back on the road. The This Fire: 30 tour comes to Charleston Music Hall on Friday, November 13, 2026, and I had the chance to sit down with Paula to talk about the album, the music that shaped her, and what happens when a song takes on a life of its own.

Paula has always thought about her records as complete works, not just collections of individual songs. When she performs This Fire now, she’s playing it in sequence from beginning to end, something she says feels like taking the audience on a ride. We talk about the importance of sequencing and how the songs, sounds, and production choices work together to create that journey.

Paula also shares some of the artists who shaped her approach to making music, including Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel and XTC. Kate Bush in particular was an important example for Paula of what was possible when a woman took control of the creative and production process and followed her own musical instincts.

Dolly Parton also comes up in our conversation, including her songs “Just Because I’m a Woman” and “The Bargain Store,” which Paula sees as powerful examples of women telling their own stories. Paula also shares a wonderful story about spending an unexpected day in the studio with Dolly while waiting for an engineer to repair some equipment. They spent the day talking, sharing stories, and getting to know each other. Paula still considers that time with one of her heroes a gift.

Paula’s Sonic Memoir: Demos 1989–1998 offers another look at the music that came before the finished records. The collection features 63 pre-digital recordings, including early versions of “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” and “I Don’t Want to Wait,” along with deep cuts and demos that many fans have never heard. There’s no autotune and no polished distance from the process. Instead, you get to hear Paula working through ideas, developing songs and finding her way toward the artist she would become. As Paula describes it, Sonic Memoir is a love letter to her fans.

Perhaps the biggest theme running through our conversation is what happens when music leaves the person who created it and becomes part of someone else’s life. Paula has heard from fans who found comfort, strength, and even a new sense of themselves through her music. She has also watched those songs move from one generation to another. That’s the magic of music. You can write a song in one moment of your life and never know where it will eventually land. Thirty years later, This Fire is still finding people.

Paula Cole’s This Fire: 30 tour comes to Charleston Music Hall on Friday, November 13, 2026, bringing the album that helped define her career back to the stage in its entirety. For Charleston music fans, it’s also a pretty special full-circle moment for me. In 2021, I emceed a Lilith Fair tribute at Charleston Music Hall where local musicians celebrated the music of that era, including Nora Roy performing “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” Five years later, Paula Cole herself will take that same stage.

Get tickets to see Paula Cole in Charleston

Hear Carrie Rapaport and Khadejhia Kassenbrock of Babes Against the Machine discuss Rage Against the Machine, musicianship, live music, and more.

Kevn Kinney has spent nearly 40 years carving out a place in American rock music, and my latest conversation with him proves there is still plenty left to say. Ahead of Drivin’ N’ Cryin’s upcoming show at The Windjammer on Saturday, June 6th, Kinney joined me on the Disco Teepee Radio Show on Ohm Radio to discuss the band’s new album Crushing Flowers, songwriting, Charleston memories, and what keeps the band moving forward after nearly four decades.

Throughout the interview, Kinney reflects on the emotional core of Crushing Flowers, describing the record as something intentionally made “for the DNC fans.” The album blends the many sides of Drivin’ N’ Cryin’, from folk storytelling and punk energy to Southern rock, humor, vulnerability, and loud guitars, into what Kinney himself compares to a mixtape. He also opens up about the influence of artists like R.E.M., the importance of honesty in songwriting, and the idea that music can act as both a lifeline and a form of perseverance.

The conversation also dives into the band’s long-standing connection to Charleston, with Kinney sharing stories about The Windjammer, local radio culture, and the community that has supported Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ through the years. Fans will also hear Kinney discuss performance anxiety, aging as an artist, and his mantra of approaching every show like it could be the first or the last.

Listen to the full interview below, and catch Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ live at The Windjammer on Saturday, June 6th.

Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ Link Up: Website | Youtube | Instagram | Purchase Concert Tickets

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Kevin Martin ahead of Candlebox’s March 8th performance at Charleston Music Hall. What followed was an honest and wide ranging conversation about legacy, identity, and what comes next.

Martin confirmed a long standing rumor about the band’s 1998 show at the Music Farm in Charleston, where the energy of the night literally blew out the PA system. Nearly three decades later, he still calls Charleston his favorite city in the United States, praising local crowds as real music lovers and saying he has never had a bad show here.

The interview also explores Candlebox’s creative evolution and the band’s next chapter. Kevin and original guitarist Peter Klett are currently working on eight new songs for a project with the working title Misunderstood. While no new material is ready to debut live just yet, the pair are excited about tapping into something they have not explored together in over fifteen years.

Martin reflects on his lifelong calling to music, saying, “Life is written down for you before you start it.” Inspired early on by Andrew Wood and Ian Astbury, and raised in a home filled with jazz and gospel, he always knew he wanted to be an artist. Even after more than thirty years, he still considers himself a reluctant lead singer and says his earliest work remains a true reflection of who he’s always been.

The conversation also dives into the future of rock and alternative music. Martin shares concerns about cookie cutter trends and the growing influence of AI, emphasizing the importance of originality and encouraging young artists to revisit the music that first inspired them.

Listen to the full interview with Kevin Martin below and catch Candlebox live at Charleston Music Hall on March 8.

Candlebox Link Up: Youtube| Instagram | Purchase Concert Tickets

Pop-punk and emo never really die — they just evolve. Charleston’s own Jerkweed is proof of that, reviving the anthems and attitude of the early 2000s with heart, humor, and power chords you can feel in your chest.

Formed in the uncertainty of 2020, Matt and Dylan reconnected around a bonfire, a few Taking Back Sunday tracks, and a shared desire to play loud, straightforward music again. What started as a nostalgic side project soon grew into a larger movement, filling venues and drawing listeners back to the songs that defined their youth.

“We’re not trying to take ourselves too seriously,” Matt says. “It’s about having fun and bringing people together through music we love.”

That energy will take center stage at Music Farm on December 6th for Jerk De Soleil: An Emo Spectacular — a full sensory show featuring circus acts, aerial performances, and even a DJ set from Chris Kamrada of Dashboard Confessional. Think Warped Tour meets Cirque du Soleil, with a wink.

In a city overflowing with cover bands, Jerkweed stands out by embracing DIY spirit and self-aware humor. They’re not just playing the hits — they’re curating experiences, building community, and reminding everyone why screaming along to Blink-182 still feels so good.

Jerkweed Link Up: Youtube| Instagram | Purchase Concert Tickets

In an era where the music industry is shaped by algorithms and fleeting trends, Fitz and the Tantrums have managed something rare: staying power. Nearly two decades in, the band continues to evolve, fueled by a relentless work ethic and a passion for feel-good grooves. Ahead of their upcoming tour, frontman Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick opened up about creative reinvention, the band’s enduring chemistry, and the soul-stirring power of their live shows.

If you’ve never felt the dancefloor-burning joy of a Fitz and the Tantrums performance, now’s your moment. Their spring tour brings them to Charleston’s The Refinery on Friday, May 9, promising fans a high-energy set and a band firing on all cylinders. Whether you’re a day-one follower or just discovering their sound, expect a night of unapologetic fun, infectious rhythm, and pure musical uplift.

Fitz and the Tantrums Link Up: Website| Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Purchase Concert Tickets

Lzzy Hale isn’t just leading one of rock’s biggest bands—she’s fully embracing her journey, vulnerabilities, and strength as she steps into her 40s. In my recent conversation with her, she opened up about everything from the weight women carry from a young age to how she’s learned to embrace her authentic self, thanks to the unwavering support of her fans. She redefined hope—not as a meek little girl, but as “gravel and grit in her teeth, holding her battle axe,” ready to face the world.

And if you think that’s poetic, you’re not wrong—Lzzy revealed she’s completed her first book of poetry, a collection of 100 poems spanning from her childhood to her 40s. She calls them “skeleton songs,” the raw and unfiltered foundation of her creative soul, where no one tells her what to do.

Listen to our full conversation below –

Lzzy Hale Link Up: Website| Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

BERTHA: Grateful Drag is a Grateful Dead tribute band with a twist—performing in drag to spread joy, inclusion, and resist Tennessee’s drag ban. Celebrating the femme and queer side of the Deadhead scene, they’re a band for all. Catch them on Saturday, October 19th at Charleston Pour House. A portion of proceeds supports local nonprofit We Are Family. Tickets are still available.

Bertha Grateful Drag Link Up: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | We Are Family

I’m ecstatic to share my latest interview with the singer, songwriter, Caitlin Krisko. I first heard her music on TikTok and knew that I needed to hear her live. I had the opportunity this past November when she and her band, The Broadcast, played the Charleston Pour House. I was blown away by her musical prowess and stage charisma—a true goddess of sound and spectacle.

In our chat, we talk about her early musical influences, what has shaped her dynamic stage presence, and how witnessing artists on stage in an authentic state can be one of the most beautiful things to experience. I have to say that it was such a treat being able to connect with Caitlin and learn more about her as an artist, but also, as a person. If you want to learn more about her and her upcoming Charleston Pour House show, you can find all the details on her instagram. But most importantly, make sure to snag your tickets to her show on May 23rd at the Charleston Pour House.

Caitlin Krisko Link Up: Instagram | Youtube | Website
Songs Mentioned in Episode: Chuck Mangoine, “Feels So Good” | Breastfist | Chappell Roan