Suitcase Sessions

In this episode, we are diving deep into the raw, hypnotic, and unvarnished world of RL Burnside
—the legendary master of North Mississippi Hill Country Blues. Far different from traditional delta blues, Burnside's signature style relies on driving rhythms, electric guitar grooves, and an unrelenting tempo that sounds just as revolutionary today as it did decades ago.

We trace his incredible journey from a hard-working sharecropper to an international indie-blues icon, exploring how his raw, loop-like guitar styles reshaped modern blues and influenced genres from alternative rock to hip-hop.

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin

Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 2 performed by Dean Dostal

In this episode, I take a closer look at the life and music of Mississippi Fred Mcdowell.  For decades he was a farmer 1st and a musician 2nd however, his music inspired the likes of everyone from Bonnie Raitt to the Rolling Stones.  Take a few minutes and enjoy this episode.  Make sure to Subscrive and give us a follow if you enjoy the podcast and videos!

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin

Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 2 performed by Dean Dostal

In this episode I discuss my favorite cigar box to build with and why.  I provide a history of the character and the cigar brand as well.  In my opinion it is a box made for an acoustic build that you and everyone around the campfire can hear.    Let me know your thoughts on the box itself, if you've built with it and your thoughts and especially let me know what you think of the short format.

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin

Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 2 performed by Dean Dostal

In this interview, I sit down with Devin C Williams.  Devin is a musician you will want to listen to and follow for both his prowess on the guitar and the message he delivers in each lyric.    He currently resides in Illinois but can be found performing all over the United States and most recently Europe.  To check out where you can find him performing next, follow him via his Facebook page at 

https://www.facebook.com/devin.williams.391048.

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin

Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 2 performed by Dean Dostal

In this episode, I had an opportunity to sit down with Karl-Heinz Lau.  Karl lives in Alma, Michigan and has one of the most artistic and creative minds in the CBG builders community that I've come across.  Operating under the Pigasus label, Karl prefers to build six-string guitars that are exacting in their specs but each a work of art.  His work can be found via his Facebook page and he is a member of multiple Cigar Box Guitar builder and player groups.  There you can also find him playing those instruments as he performs covers spanning a wide variety of artists and musical genres.  

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin

Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 2 performed by Dean Dostal

In this episode, I had the privelage of interviewing Jack Bensema from Manhattan, Illinois while at the US 10 Cigar Box Guitar Festival.  Jack is an excellent builder and his cigar box guitar vending booths is one of the best setups around that I've seen.  He builds under the Scrapgrinder Guitars label and his work can be found via his Facebook page.  His work can be found at various festivals throughout the greater Chicago region.  If you are in the area - look him up!  

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin

Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 2 performed by Dean Dostal

In this episode, I had the privelage of interviewing Preston Laisure while at the US 10 Cigar Box Guitar Festival.  Preston is a member of the CBG Minded Michigan'ders and we had a great conversation on our shared love of building and playing Cigar Box Guitars.

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin

Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 2 performed by Dean Dostal

Season 2 Opener with Dean Dostal who is putting on the US 10 Cigar Box Guitar Festival.  In this episode we discuss all the specifics to include the venue, activities, food trucks and sponsors along with the Charity that will be supported by the revenue that will be generated by the event.

Location: Custer, Michigan on 

Date: 19 July 2025.  

Time: Noon - 9pm

Cost: FREE

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music by Dean Dostal

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin

Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 2 performed by Dean Dostal

In this episode I invited my best friend and wife of over 42 years to give us her unique perspective on a variety of topics to include: Antiquing, Dumpster Diving, Visits To My Shop, The People in the Cigar Box Guitar Community, Her Favorite Builds, Post Surgery Purchases (and my no longer being able to use the phone to make them while still under anesthesia), and finally, her advice to Builders and their Spouses.

Chris's laughter and views are infectious.  It is a fun one and we always laugh when we talk so, brace yourself!

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin

Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 2 performed by Dean Dostal

In this episode I was able to sit down with Anthony Walker of Southpaw Cigarbox Guitars.  Anthony lives in Blythewood, South Carolina and has a long history in Local, State and Federal Law Enforcement.  He is a prolific builder of high quality, hand crafted Cigar Box Guitars and aside from being a regular vendor at the Soda City Market in Columbia, South Carolina he is also a supporter of school band programs within the state.  In that capacity Anthony has partnered with MGB Guitars and and provided over 130 Cigar Box Ukuleles so that kids in his state have an opportunity to play an instrument.

You can find more of Anthony's builds and information on his Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/southpawcigarboxguitars

Watch the epidsodes on my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BobBowman962/videos

Cover Art by Alice Saurber: Alice Design Studio - 513-907-9878
Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 1 performed by Russ Wellington and Cody Goggin

Cigar Box Guitar Music for Season 2 performed by Dean Dostal