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
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
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