I WAS IN THAT BAND!

Jimmy McDonough joins Grady Sandlin on this episode of I WAS IN THAT BAND! for a sprawling conversation about music obsession, biography writing, bootlegs, producers, record collectors, and the emotional toll of telling someone else's story honestly.

Best known for acclaimed books on Gary Stewart, Neil Young, Tammy Wynette, Al Green, and Russ Meyer, Jimmy reflects on the overwhelming response to I Am From The Honky Tonks and the nearly 40-year journey that brought the Gary Stewart story to life. The two dive deep into Gary's unreleased recordings, the mystery and romance of bootleg culture, and the idea that unofficial tapes often reveal the real heart of an artist's story.

Jimmy also shares stories about Neil Young, David Briggs, Willie Mitchell, the Hi Records rhythm section, and the producers and sidemen who quietly shaped some of the greatest records ever made. Along the way, the conversation explores the disappearing art of long-form biography, the struggle to preserve music history in a disposable digital culture, and why Jimmy still feels compelled to chase unfinished stories — including a long-discussed Jack Nitzsche project.

A funny, emotional, and deeply insightful conversation between two lifelong music obsessives about records, memory, mythology, and the people behind the music.

This week Grady visits remotely with longtime friend Nathan Brown — better known to many as Browningham — originally from Fort Worth, Texas.

Nathan talks about his musical beginnings, the creation and evolution of Browningham, and the years he spent taking his unique DIY project on the road before eventually settling back down in Fort Worth. Along the way, the conversation dives into music culture, touring life, and Nathan's famously passionate — and occasionally unpopular — opinions about music.

More than anything, this episode feels like an honest catch-up between old friends who've spent decades around the North Texas music scene.

This also marks the first remote interview ever featured on I WAS IN THAT BAND!

This week on I Was In That Band, I sit down with North Texas mainstay Reggie Rueffer — a true musician's musician whose career runs deeper and more varied than most folks realize.

Reggie first made his mark with the band Spot, whose hit song broke nationally. From there, he stepped onto even bigger stages, including a standout run playing fiddle for country legend Charley Pride.

Reggie shares stories from the road, lessons learned from playing with a Hall of Famer, and how he's navigated a career as a multi-instrumentalist across genres.

These days, you'll still find him in the mix around DFW — playing bass, fiddle, and singing in a variety of projects.

This week on I Was In That Band, we sit down with Texas bassist Aden Bubeck — a player whose resume stretches from North Texas dancehalls all the way to the biggest stages in the world.

Aden is a standout member of Raised Right Men and a University of North Texas jazz studies graduate whose career has taken him to the highest levels of the business. He's toured, recorded, and appeared on major broadcasts with Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and Keith Urban, with credits spanning award shows, late-night TV, and international stages. A music director, producer, and Fort Worth Music Hall of Fame inductee, Aden is known for his deep pocket, great instincts, and serious tone.

In this episode, we talk about the road from UNT to arena stages, what it takes to be a first-call bass player in Nashville and beyond, and how to balance high-level touring gigs with staying rooted in the Texas music community. We also get into mentorship, musical discipline, and the art of supporting a song without ever getting in the way.

This week on I WAS IN THAT BAND, I sit down with Eric Pulido — known for his work with Midlake, as well as his solo project EB The Younger and the creative collective Banquet.

We talk about what it really means to stay creative over the long haul — building community, collaborating with friends, and continuing to push forward even when the path isn't clear. Eric also shares insight into his work offstage with Norman Roscoe, his Denton-based screen printing shop that's become a hub for local artists and ideas.

It's a conversation about longevity, independence, and doing the work because you believe in it — not because it's easy.

This week on I WAS IN THAT BAND, we sit down with Noel Haggard for an honest and deeply personal conversation about legacy, identity, and growing up in one of country music's most iconic families.

Noel shares what it was really like being raised by and around legends — and how much of his upbringing actually came from his paternal grandmother, who played a central role in shaping his life.

We talk about the weight and honor of carrying on his father's legacy, and the challenge of carving out your own voice when the world already thinks it knows who you are.

This week on I Was In That Band, host Grady Sandlin sits down with Fort Worth troubadour Keegan McInroe.

Keegan has built a life on the road, traveling across the United States and Europe sharing his songs with audiences far and wide. In this episode, we talk about how he first got into music, what sparked his love of the open road, and how a life spent traveling continues to shape his songwriting.

Keegan writes with the eye of a storyteller — finding beauty, humor, and meaning in the heartbreaks and unexpected moments that come with a wandering musician's life. It's a conversation about chasing songs, following inspiration wherever it leads, and the kind of experiences that only come from miles on the highway.

This week on I Was In That Band, Grady sits down with Will Kapanos — best known for his work with early-2000s Denton favorites, Jet Screamer.

Having known each other for years through the Denton music community, Grady and Will revisit their shared history, including their first impressions of one another and the scene that shaped them both. What follows is a deep dive into Will's musical development — the influences, risks, and creative drive that helped Jet Screamer gain real notoriety during the height of the indie rock boom.

Will reflects on the band's rise, their experience touring the UK, and what it was like when long-held ambitions began turning into tangible opportunities. The conversation also explores the projects that followed, the evolution of his creative life, and the lessons that only time, distance, and experience can bring.

This week on I Was in That Band, I'm joined by Scott Danbom — longtime member of Centro-matic and South San Gabriel, current bandmate of Alejandro Escovedo, and the creative force behind his solo project Static Diary.

Scott and I dig deep into the art of listening, adapting on the fly, and finding your voice inside someone else's music. We talk about tone, texture, instincts, and the subtle skills that separate good players from truly great sidemen.

In my opinion, Scott is one of the best in the business — a musician who always serves the song while bringing something unique to every stage and studio he steps into. In this conversation, we unpack how he developed that mindset, the experiences that shaped him, and what it really takes to build a lasting life in music.

In this episode of I Was In That Band, host Grady Sandlin sits down with singer-songwriter Glen Mitchell.

Originally from London, England, Glen's love for country music led him across the Atlantic to Nashville, where he built a career working as a "ringer" for major touring acts. After years in Music City, he recently relocated to North Texas, continuing to carve out his own path as an independent artist.

Glen shares the story of how he discovered country music, what inspired his move to Nashville, and why he ultimately chose North Texas as his new home base. He also talks about stepping out on his own, developing his sound, and forming a powerful songwriting and performing partnership with his wife through their project The Royal South.