Jennifer and I crack open the new #FreshCuts posted on Saturday, June 22, and believe it is the strongest group we’ve had yet. On a 44-minute silly-sophical discussion, we uncover a theme of self-acceptance in this week’s songs. And we ponder 2 very different versions of the same song (twice!), how the ‘90s has turned retro cool, if in fact Brad sucks, and when does alternative become more of the same? You can hear all 24 songs in #FreshCuts Vol. 15 here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhGwwDGyNc-_ELY8NOMG1X9FimYygch8b&si=aMM19JfLIstIsXP1. And you can hear 22 of them on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5SQYvkgJdoQukpjPlqykVq?si=A0BhBVqqRtCQgb10adfQqw&pi=u-SRHrz98lQfGQ

We debate which songs deserve the last 3 spots in our Sweet 16 hip-hop songs of all time. But first, our Grand Poobah Bryan Mosby of the Shadow Council, exerts his tiebreaker powers and picks the 3 matchups for Thursday’s 3rd Chance polls. Plus, a Google dive on Lil’ Troy uncovers a shocking change in employment - from a baller to a hauler?Find out.

No joke. This is the greatest hip-hop conversation I’ve ever witnessed. And that’s because of the minds of Travis Boots and Bryan Mosby. I’m just glad I was a part of it. We discuss the exits of Run-DMC and 2Pac from the tournament and get into an illuminating discussion on 3rd round hip-hop songs. The best of which I’ve ever heard.

Last Friday, June 7, Jeremy Cook, Nathan Ferrell, and I experienced one of the best and most immersive concert experiences I’ve ever seen. And that was Night 1 of the Shawnee Cave Revival outside Murphysboro, Illinois. Greensky Bluegrass, The Red Clay Strays, and Paul Thorn put on memorable shows. But the venue itself was just as much the star. Buried below a cave bluff is an amphitheater of natural beauty and supreme hospitality. You’ll hear about our experiences there and urge you to go to Shawnee Cave Amphitheater when you get the chance. This episode also features the following live performances from that night: 1 song from Paul Thorn: I Don’t Like Half The Folks I Love, 2 songs from The Red Clay Strays: Stone’s Throw and No One Else Like Me, and 3 songs from Greensky Bluegrass: Delta 88, Room Without A Roof, and the Grateful Dead classic Eyes Of The World. Immerse yourself. And enjoy.

Our 1st published episode has full versions of each song discussed rather than the intended 30-second clips. This episode fixes that. In Episode 1, I discuss how Live Wire tries to achieve growth through music; discuss newly discovered #FreshCuts from Annie Bosko & Dwight Yoakam, Booker T. Jones & Yim Yames, Blitzen Trapper, and Pavid Vermin; and Bryan Mosby and I debate some of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time 2 songs at a time while also questioning 2Pac’s authenticity. And there’s some awkward test recordings at the start of the episode with my wife, Jennifer, to add to the ridiculousness.