Welcome to the latest episode of the series Southern Songs and Stories, which recently made it into the top 10 best Americana podcasts on this list. Yay! It reminds me to ask you to give the podcast a top rating and where you can submit one, a review. That’s a huge part of making this series visible on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify and everywhere you follow podcasts. Really, it makes a huge difference, and only takes a minute or two. Thanks!

Another update: this week I will attend the fall Albino Skunk Music Festival, where I will record my first ever live podcast, in front of an audience. On stage Wednesday afternoon October 1, we will be recounting the history of the event, now in its fourth decade, with founder Glynn “Zig” Zeigler, along with other special guests. I would love to see you there!

Our time with Jeff Tweedy continues here, with an in depth conversation about his new triple solo album, Twilight Override. Not an overtly political songwriter, Tweedy nonetheless points to broad social issues in the overall themes of the album, and in one song in particular that he details in the interview, “Enough”. Jeff also talks about the makeup of The Tweedy Band, which features his sons and other, younger artists from his home town of Chicago, and how the group is especially well suited for multi part harmonies. We do not leave Wilco out of the conversation, either, and feature several new songs from his solo record along the way.

The Tweedy Band (photo: Rachel Bartz)

Songs heard in this episode:

“Betrayed” by Jeff Tweedy, from Twilight Override

“Stray Cats in Spain” by Jeff Tweedy, from Twilight Override, excerpt

“Twilight Override” by Jeff Tweedy, from Twilight Override, excerpt

“Jesus, Etc.” by Wilco, from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Thank you for stopping by! We hope you can help spread awareness of what we are doing. It is as easy as telling a friend and following this podcast on your platform of choice. You can find us on Apple here, Spotify here and YouTube here — hundreds more episodes await, filled with artists you may know by name, or musicians and bands that are ready to become your next favorites.

You can follow us on social media: @southstories on Instagram, at Southern Songs and Stories on Facebook, and now on Substack here, where you can read the scripts of these podcasts, and get updates on what we are doing and planning in our quest to explore and celebrate the unfolding history and culture of music rooted in the American South, and going beyond to the styles and artists that it inspired and informed. 

- Joe Kendrick