Thanks For Giving A Damn

Rod talks about growing up in Maine, his childhood garage band with Slaid Cleaves, moving to Colorado, learning about songwriting with Steven Allen Davis, moving to Nashville, Guido’s Pizza, Nashville’s songwriting community in the 1990s, hanging at Jack’s Guitar Bar, driving Alison Krauss’ merch truck, road stories, the strange day to day world of a traveling musician, putting his posters on top of mine, etc.

Darden talks about touring with Emmylou Harris and Stevie Nicks, tells a great Tammy Wynette story, growing up in Brenham, Texas, teaching creativity in schools, songwriting with soldiers, appearing on the Tonight Show, becoming Artist In Residence at Oklahoma State University, etc.

Tim talks about growing up near Terre Haute, Indiana, playing in barns, Bloomington, Indiana in the 1970’s, joining the Gizmos, befriending Dow Jones And The Industrials, opening for the Ramones, relocating to New York in 1980, working on Wall Street, meeting Rank And File, John Prine recording one of his songs, moving to Nashville and signing to Sire Records, playing on Lower Broadway, Lucinda Williams, meeting Elizabeth Cook, road stories, train wrecking in front of John Prine, etc.

Matthew talks about meeting beautiful women in Ohio gas stations, getting shaken down by cops on tour, growing up in Chester, Pennsylvania, moving to Nashville, the need to become a hunter/gatherer while on tour, the greatness of Lucinda Williams, convincing ourselves why a gig might turn bad, Matthew’s Tom Petty theory, etc.

Cory talks about growing up in Mississippi, Graceland Too, the Style Station outside of Waco, working at record stores, Lucero stories, Elvis’ karate dojo, Andy Kaufman and Memphis Wrestling, bartending at the Peabody Hotel, a great Prince story, his breakdancing prowess, stage fire in Pittsburgh, bleeding on young girls, etc.

The writer of Wild Thing talks about Chet Atkins wanting to hear his songs, writing Wild Thing, 1650 and the Brill Building, Carol King stories, meeting Jimi Hendrix, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, becoming a professional gambler and getting banned from casinos, helping James Taylor get started, writing Angel Of The Morning, etc.

Todd talks about tripping on mushrooms and ecstasy, Chris Robinson’s drug of choice, his new book, recording with the Turbo Fruits, joining a band called The Hard Working Americans, sending mix tapes to Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jerry Jeff Walker stories, John Prine stories, meeting Chuck Berry, making a movie with Elizabeth Cook, advice to young people, making a live record with Jack Ingram and Kent Finlay, starting an East Nashville themed radio station, Guy Clark and John Prine critiquing his songs, etc.

Tommy talks about the Beatles torturing women with death rays, growing up in rural Kentucky, getting beat up in school, listening to 8-track tapes while riding in an AMC Gremlin, hanging out at record stores, The White Squirrel Capitol Of The World, a rough night in Indianapolis, creative people and their insecurities, moving to Nashville, his nervous breakdown, meeting Johnny Cash, Waylon, Jerry Jeff Walker, meeting Tiny Tim at the circus, playing bass for Todd Snider, etc.

Dustin talks about growing up in an creative family, starting a neighborhood band as a child with Carry Ann Hearts, Cory Younts and Justin Townes Earle,  working at the Bluebird Cafe, seeing John Prine at the baseball game, the day Garth Brooks stopped by the house, joining a punk rock band on the Warped Tour, teaching wounded soldiers to write songs, sharing music with his father, etc.

The Bloodshot Records co-owner talks about seeing the Dead Kennedys play Jim Jones’ church, converting an abandoned firehouse into a rehearsal space, the birth of Bloodshot, Jon Langford stories, Ryan Adams stories, musicians without health insurance, being invited to the White House, 20 years of putting out records, etc.