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On Episode 92, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Caleb Caudle. Caudle released the sultry Southern country groover album, Better Hurry Up, earlier this year. At 11 songs long, Caudle balances introspective storytelling that feels comfortable and well lived in with a back porch familiarity and a roots rocking edge that welcomes toe-tapping rhythms. Caudle offers a look at rose-colored nostalgia with the likes of the thrilling "Monte Carlo," the sweltering bounce of "Let's Get," and the gorgeously elegant sendoff on the closing "Bigger Oceans." Recorded at The Cash Cabin, Johnny Cash's Cabin-turned-studio, Caudle's songs find a Southern Gothic warmth with earthy tones, textured harmonies, and Caudle's own velvety vocals.

This episode's presenting partner is Smith Iron & Design and Wicker's Mesquite Smoked Jalapeno Jelly.

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On Episode 091, I'm joined by country songwriter Kathryn Legendre. Last year, Kathryn released the excellent EP, Making It Up. It was a blend of old-school honky-tonk ethos and the modern neo-traditional songs of the '90s. Throughout the five songs, she blended a familiar warmth found on old country albums that embraced pedal steel and smokey dive bar banter with clever storytelling and memorable choruses. Now, she's following up Making It Up with a two-song single, "One Long Sad Song" and "Waiting in Line." Again, Kathryn's natural country roots fill out the two-song punch and capture a restlessness and down and out sadness.

This episode's presenting partner is  The Blue Light Live and Wicker's Mesquite Smoked Jalapeno Jelly.

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On Episode 90, I'm joined by journalist Christian Wallace, an associate editor at Texas Monthly, where he has delivered some of the best in-depth reporting and robust storytelling of recent memory. Namely, his nuanced storytelling of the Permian Basin oilfield in both the written word and most recently, the breakout podcast series, Boomtown.

As a true West Texas native (a son of Andrews, Texas), Wallace and I discuss Far West Texas adventures, appreciation, and concerns that come with tourism, the oil industry, as well as the cliched stereotypes that are often associated with the various regions of West Texas.

Wallace, along with some of Texas Monthly's best minds, recently ranked, discussed, and wrote about the Willie Nelson discography--all 143 albums by the legendary Texan. We discuss that list, the creation & process, as well as a handful of superlatives for standouts.

Lastly, we turn our attention to songwriter artist Terry Allen--specifically, his 1975 full-length debut album, Juarez. 

For more information on Boomtown, click here. Check out Willie Nelson's Catalog Rankings here.

This episode's presenting partner is  The Blue Light Live and Smith Iron & Design.

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On Episode 89, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Gabe Lee. In 2019, Lee made quite the statement with the ever-impressive debut of farmland, a 10-song collection of sparsely arranged and primarily acoustic introspective storytellers and wallflower commentary. Lee didn't waste any time between his debut and follow-up, Honky Tonk Hell. Released in early March, Honky Tonk Hell is a natural progressive step in Lee's career as an artist. It finds his songs fully fleshed out as full-band anthems, rocking ramblers, and barroom hustlers. Still, Lee and company preserve the proper space and attention around Lee's strength as a lyricist and storyteller. Lee naturally weaves intimate experiences and thoughts with timeless expressions and newly-minted phrases.

Lee and I talk about the making of farmland & Honky Tonk Hell, growing up in Nashville, his songwriting process, and how he's utilized his time during this quarantine.

This episode's presenting partner is  The Blue Light Live and Smith Iron & Design.

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On Episode 88, I'm joined by Reckless Kelly lead vocalist and chief lyricist Willy Braun. This year, the pioneering Americana Country outfit is doing a first with the release of American Jackpot / American Girls, two 10-song full-length albums released the same day. Much as the titles allude, the 20 songs of American Jackpot and American Girls give Braun and company ample of space to explore a multitude of American themes without ever settling in on a "Rah Rah Rah" tired trope. Rather, songs seek out the true essence of the American Spirit with songs about Jackie Robinson, Tom Petty, grandfathers, Grand Canyon mule rules, Western exploration, rural living, a necessary reminder that we're a country of immigrants, the search for a sense of belonging, and that longing for home. 

Over the course of this hour, Braun and I talk at length about the recording of their latest album (due out Friday, May 22), songwriting, the effects of the Coronavirus on touring bands (and festival curators), playing drums, and working with the likes of fellow Idaho native Jeff Crosby, Jamie Lin Wilson, Jack Ingram, and Bruce Robison (and various multiple collaborators during The Next Waltz sessions).

This episode's presenting partner is Smith Iron & Design and Wicker's Mesquite Smoked Jalapeno Jelly.

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On Episode 87, I am joined by rising country singer-songwriter Charlie Marie. Charlie really began turning heads last Spring when she released Charlie Marie, an incredibly strong and sharp five-song EP that displayed her knack for writing clever hooks and a highly emotive classic country croon. Songs such as "Rodeo" and "Shot in the Dark" had a vintage neon glow while EP standout "Countryside" felt like a breath of necessary fresh air way out on the outskirts of town. She bookended the EP with "Rhinestones" and "Playboy," two efforts that displayed a sharp wit. She weaves in and out of highly emotional moments where she's highly confident or incredibly vulnerable and exposed. Charlie Marie is as strong a collection of songs released in recent memory.

This episode's presenting partner is  The Blue Light Live and Wicker's Mesquite Smoked Jalapeno Jelly.

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On Episode 086, I'm joined by Texas songwriter Zach Nytomt. This too was an interview conversation held pre-quarantine. Matter of fact, as I was heading to Nytomt and company's soundcheck at Blue Light, it was announced that SXSW was being canceled. It felt surreal and an extremely foreign idea to all of us--and still does.

Regardless, Zach Nytomt is yet another rising singer-songwriter coming out of the state of Texas. Last year, he released New York to Montana, an extremely strong and diverse sophomore full-length. A play off Nytomt's last name, New York to Montana (ahem, NY to MT) is ample space for Nytomt to roam, both sonically and conceptually. With Timothy Allen (formerly of Shane Smith & The Saints and currently of Brother Band) at the producing helm, Nytomt and Allen go off in dynamic directions on the album--everything from the sugary space pop of "Interstellar" and country-blues rambler "Robert Jenkins" to the road-weary escape of "Seven Day Bender" and the redemptive soul of "Troubadour."

This episode's presenting partner is  The Blue Light Live and Smith Iron & Design.

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On Episode 085, I'm joined by rising Texas songwriter Jarrod Morris. I caught up with Jarrod in early March at The Blue Light before Quarantine 2020 came our way. Jarrod released his promising debut album West of East a year ago this past March. Produced by Texas legend Lloyd Maines, West of East sprawls with bluegrass-tinged numbers like the infectious "Red Bandana," the soaring picturesque soundscapes of "Panoramic View," and the bustling dive-bar hustler "Coyote."

This episode's presenting partner is  The Blue Light Live.

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Episode 84 is another "old & unreleased" interview episode. This time around, it's one I did with Rod Melancon this past summer (2019). I'd stopped by his Austin apartment to talk about Pinkville, his excellent 2019 album, Southern Gothic literature, and really dived into our film and TV series obsessions. Melancon is as well-versed as they come in both modern pop culture and classic southern Americana. Being the son of Louisiana and a teacher, Melancon is a student of storytelling and mood. Melancon is great at combining a narrative and the art of language. They're mood and backdrop setters. Pinkville (and his previous works) is full of classic American stories about high school dropouts, country & rock superstars, military veterans suffering from PTSD, and brazen bank robbers.

This episode's presenting partner is  The Blue Light Live, Smith Iron & Design, and Wicker's Mesquite Smoked Jalapeno Jelly.

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On episode 83, I'm joined by songwriter Jesse Daniel. Daniel just released his second album, the rollicking honky-tonk homage album Rollin' On. A California son, the influence is all over Daniel's songwriting and sound. There's a definite Bakersfield Sound influence on these highway songs, honky-tonk bar vignettes, and lonesome country breakup ballads. Here, Daniel and I discuss releasing an album in the midst of a pandemic, recording Rollin' On, the writing of the album and where many of those songs originated, songwriting on and about the life on the open road, growing up in rural California, and the revival of old school country sounds.

This episode's presenting partner is  The Blue Light Live, Smith Iron & Design, and Wicker's Mesquite Smoked Jalapeno Jelly.

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