Roots Rednecks and Radicals

What can I say about Sarah Shook. She’s really one of a kind. A singer, songwriter, guitar player, activist, she really does it all. She has a knack for blending things that seem disparate and making it seem like a natural fit. Honky tonk and skateboarding. She’s on it. Raised in a religious fundamentalist home, but an advocate for the LGBTQ community? She’s on it. It’s really cool. I was super excited to see that she has a new album out and I jumped at the chance to have her on my show. We had a great conversation. I hope you dig it.

Wild Rivers is a Canadian three-piece band. Their thoughtful and introspective songs have insightful looks into the human condition. Their most recent record touches on coming of age themes and blend them with beautiful melodies and harmonies. The album was recorded during the pandemic and the band had to adapt to a new way of doing things. And the results are fantastic. I had a chance to chat with guitar player Khalid about the songs. I hope you dig it! 

This is the second volume of my series "5 Songs I'm Digging" where I explore recent releases from artists I think you should know about. This volume features music by Adia Victoria, Jackson+Sellers, TK and the Holy Know-Nothings, Jeremy Pinnell, and Darrin Bradbury. All good stuff. Check it out! 

Eddie Berman is a folk artist based in Portland Oregon. He’s collaborated with musicians like Laura Marlin, Tyler Childers, Passenger, and Lee Ann Womack. His unique style of cosmic-folk music leans heavily on philosophical themes. The music is introspective and somber, and the lyrics engage in fascinating themes like technology, family, and spirituality. We talked about his new album “Broken English” and what it was like to record in the middle of a pandemic. I hope ya dig it!

I had some thoughts on the situation that's happening. I wanted to share them with everyone. Hope it helps! 

Lost Dog Street band is a Dark Folk Trio. The group has been recording and touring for years now and have a number of releases under their belt. They have a stripped back acoustic vibe that was honed in by years of  busking and street performance. Benjamin Tod, the main songwriter and singer draws inspiration from old time Murder Ballads, a genre that is often looked over in American Roots music tradition. Their new album is an introspective, sparse, and sometimes dark album that is both haunting and beautiful. I had a chance to chat with Ben about the album. I hope ya dig it!

The Whitmore sisters are a duo made of Eleanor and Bonnie Whitmore, two sisters who have both made incredible careers for themselves in the music industry. Older sister Eleanor is half of the duo “The Mastersons” with her husband Chris. She’s also toured with Steve Earle for years, and worked with Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings on the recent album by Tanya Tucker “While I’m Living.” Bonnie is an accomplished musician herself living in Austin Texas, and has worked with artists like Hayes Carll, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Aaron Lee Tasjan to name a few. They recently teamed up to record an album together, and it sounds phenomenal. I had a chance to chat with them about the album, I hope ya dig it! 

Dial Back Sound is a recording studio and record label started by Drive By Truckers bass player Matt Patton. The studio is run by his partner Bronson Tew. The studio/label first showed up on my radar when Matt reached out about having one of his artists, Krista Shows, on my show for her new record.

I had a chance to chat with Matt and Bronson about the label and studio. I hope you dig it!

LP is a singer/songwriter and performer that has an incredibly unique sound and persona. Praised by publications like SPIN, Guitar World, and American Songwriter LP has made waves as a provocative force in the music world. I find it hard to pin down Their sound. In one sense it has electronic and EDM sensibilities. In other ways it fits well into guitar driven singer/songwriter territory. At the end of the day, I think it’s incredible music that is sonically compelling and intricately written. I had a chance to chat with LP about their new album, and some of the songs. I hope you dig it!

Hailing from Portland Oregon TK and the Holy Know Nothings are band you have to hear. They call their music “Psychedelic Doom Boogie which is the raddest description I’ve heard in a long time. They have a hefty honk-tonk vibe, but there are all sorts of influences in their music. Everything from Rock to Beat poetry. Taylor Kingman, the lead singer and songwriter not only puts together sonically interesting tunes, his lyrics are deep and insightful as well. Drawing on influences like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg the songs explore characters and situations that are intriguing and thought provoking. I had a chance to chat with them when they stopped by Lake Tahoe on tour with JJ Grey. I met up with them after sound check at the show and talked to lead singer Taylor, guitar player Jay Cobb Anderson, and bass player Lewi. We had a fun casual conversation about their most recent release, “The Incredible Heat Machine. I hope you dig it!