Travis Boots, Nathan Ferrell, Bryan Mosby, and Steve Strait join Burke Wasson to discuss our Songs of the Week and so much more. We discuss Mike McCready being restrained in Pearl Jam in the '90s, engage in some quality Grateful Dead talk, Nate and Burke discuss our favorite late night unwinding albums and the roles in Crosby Stills & Nash, Mosby gives Burke crap for liking one of our Stray Cuts, and Travis and Burke paint a vivid picture of how much we love Stone Temple Pilots' "Crackerman" and Sponge's "Plowed". Dig it.

Mad Season - Wake Up (1995) 

Led Zeppelin - Tea For One (1976) 

Florence + The Machine - Free (2022) 

Wu-Tang Clan - Mandingo (2025) 

The Rolling Stones - Dead Flowers (1971) 

Marcus King - Lie Lie Lie (2022) 

Sponge - Plowed (1994) 

Van Morrison & The Chieftains - Star of the County Down (1988) 

John Prine - In a Town This Size (feat. Dolores Keane) (1999) 

Valerie June - Joy, Joy! (2025) 

Du Blonde - Coffee Machine (2019) 

Brad Paisley & Dawes - Raining Inside (2025) 

The Grateful Dead - Dire Wolf (Live) (1981) 

The Grass Is Dead - Brown Eyed Women (2004) 

Chet Faker - Gold (2014) 

Woods - Where Do You Go When You Dream? (2020) 

Teen Mortgage - Party (2025) 

The Hold Steady - Constructive Summer (2008) 

Rainbow - Stargazer (1976) 

Built To Spill - Goin’ Against Your Mind (2006)

Interpol - Specialist (2002) 

Wye Oak - The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs (2018) 

Coheed and Cambria - Goodbye, Sunshine (2025) 

Stray Cuts

Gangstagrass - Obligatory Braggadocio (2024) 

L.A. WITCH - 777 (2025)

Lost Dog Street Band - Lazy Moonshiner (2019)

Mark Curry - Sorry About the Weather (1992)

Check out the #FreshCuts Vol. 53 playlist at the links to the following apps:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1i7S1JQMFcoU2XeM8IXfU5?si=yIqsK3LzSdKeDO552kL7Uw&pi=vcDIyIH_RNi8j

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/freshcuts-vol-53/pl.u-zPyL84vF4vV7q

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/7e11cf8bc1334430bb3553e64fd153e7sune?ref=dm_sh_7JtKf04bJ8Pm4Pc1gzbqoTDvP

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhGwwDGyNc-_gIbOb68td7Pj8Sfs4PGHA&si=UemaW4MB1yc6RDVa

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps:

PayPal at [email protected]

Venmo at @Burke-Wasson

CashApp at $BurkeWasson

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and helps cover monthly operating fees. 

This is a sound experience with songs and discussion. You'll dig it. Every week, we pick songs most of us haven't heard. Out of a record 49 submissions, we have our Songs of the Week with the most votes. Burke Wasson has plenty to talk about with Travis Boots, Wellington Davis, and Nathan Ferrell, who ends the episode sharing his experience as a clown at Long John Silver's in 1998. Dig it. Find The Midlife Critics on Facebook private groups. Chances are I'll let you in.

#FRESHCUTS VOL. 52 SONGS OF THE WEEK

Led Zeppelin - In The Light (1975) 

Aimee Mann - Save Me (1999) 

Treaty Oak Revival - Bad State Of Mind (2025) 

Thin Lizzy - Borderline (1976)

The Shins - So Says I (2003) 

Metallica - My Friend Of Misery (1991)

Beck - Black Tambourine (2005) 

Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi - Black (feat. Norah Jones) (2011) 

Apathy - Don’t Give Up The Ship (2014)

 Whiskeytown - Jacksonville Skyline (2001)

Arctic Monkeys - Mardy Bum (2006) 

Jason Isbell - Eileen (2025) 

David Grisman - Sawing On The Strings (1976) 

The Weather Station - Neon Signs (2025) 

Sharon Van Etten - Live Forever (2025) 

Vulfpeck - In Real Life (2025) 

The Devil Makes Three - Ghosts Are Weak (2024)

Butterfly Boucher - Life Is Short (Birthday Version) (2014)

Sleeper’s Bell - Room (2025) 

The Ocean - Mesopelagic: Into The Uncanny (2013) 

The Cure - I’m Cold (1986) 

T-Pain - Tennessee Whiskey (Live) (2023) 

Jesse Welles - Fear Is The Mind Killer (2025) 

Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke - Back In The Game (2025) 

Patterson Hood - Pinocchio (2025) 

STRAY CUTS 

The Aquabats - CD Repo Man (1995) 

Arlo McKinley - Bag Of Pills (2020)

Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy, Jr. (2005)

Save the #FreshCuts Vol. 52 playlist at the links on the following apps:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1V45UecmbbcqP4GFTtgOzF?si=aK4BERhOT6SqK_V45RqahA&pi=t4MJIhGmT4KIO

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/freshcuts-vol-52/pl.u-yZyV86Xu6JLG1

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/ad02c9cd794443c4a3f700a405882053sune?ref=dm_sh_MOQdHCZnBkrJJ1eWfRtJhGr6o

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhGwwDGyNc-89JbEc1HOLVlFzguD5fMyr&si=U0iJYWg_AsGPpgBl

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And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps:

PayPal at [email protected]

Venmo at @Burke-Wasson

CashApp at $BurkeWasson

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and helps cover monthly operating fees. ☮️

In time for the Facebook group's polls for Saturday, March 8th, Travis Boots, Nathan Ferrell, and Burke Wasson discuss butt rock. Is there anything more you need? We also get into new nicknames for Kiss and Scott Stapp. And Nate takes this episode to 11, literally.

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps:

PayPal at [email protected]

Venmo at @Burke-Wasson

CashApp at $BurkeWasson

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and helps cover monthly operating fees. ☮️

Every week, people in The Midlife Critics pick 1 or 2 songs that most of us haven't heard. We vote and then award our top half as our Songs Of The Week. It's a great way to turn ourselves onto music new to us, both from this year and decades ago. Nathan Ferrell and Wellington Davis jump in and out of this episode with Burke Wasson to discuss our Songs Of The Week. You'll also hear clips of those songs, some occasionally heady banter, and Nathan's dead-ringer impression of Andy Rooney. If you want in on the voting and picking songs, search on Facebook under Private groups for The Midlife Critics . Chances are you’ll get in.

#FreshCuts Vol. 51 Songs Of The Week:

1. ​ New York Dolls - Temptation To Exist (2009) (Grant Wasson)
2. ​ Nathaniel Rateliff & Gregory Alan Isakov - Flowers (2025) (Wes Dorris)
3. ​ Roberta Flack - Compared To What (1968) (Wellington Davis)
4. ​ Samantha Fish - Sweet Southern Sounds (2025) (Burke Wasson)
5. ​ Greensky Bluegrass - Money For Nothing (2020) (YouTube only) (Jeremy Cook): https://youtu.be/eh8z0ci6C2s?si=RdOrAHYdT_jPPba5
6. ​ Queens Of The Stone Age - I Appear Missing (2013) (Claire Estelle Knight)
7. ​ The Dead Milkmen - Grandpa’s Not A Racist (He Just Voted For One) (2023) (Brandon Simmons)
8. ​ The Roots - Don’t Say Nuthin’ (2004) (Steve Strait)
9. ​ Chalk Dinosaur - Stuck In Between (2023) (Jason Robey)
10. ​ Eddie Vedder - Goodbye (2011) (Neil Carr)

To play these songs and see the rest of our Songs Of The Week for Vol. 51, listen on each of the apps at the links below:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7uExszFZufOoYBinugahJG?si=X4ocJ4RGRZacEbp6aIi9Wg&pi=AN7PPgZnTnqjn

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/freshcuts-vol-51/pl.u-XkD0ABEUWxM9y

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/550b69511f444f798fee0605534080b6sune?ref=dm_sh_agR33liASszxueLLOgYw0hFJV

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhGwwDGyNc-9Gg6aU-VNZRAxeqpLaYHjK&si=0m5cDUBPChCSV4xC

I’m supporting this fundraiser for Wes Dorris on GoFundMe. If you can, please consider supporting by donating or sharing the link. Every bit of support makes a huge difference.

https://gofund.me/1fff2165

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps:

PayPal at [email protected]

Venmo at @Burke-Wasson

CashApp at $BurkeWasson

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and helps cover monthly operating fees. ☮️

Originally from Baltimore, previously serving in the Coast Guard, and now living in Harrisburg, Illinois, Doug Blimline is a traveled man with a knack for crunchy guitar riffs. HIs 2021 song “[Do I Have] Bad Intentions” recalls the bare-knuckle riffs of AC/DC. Doug talks with Burke Wasson about his path, the music industry and social media in general, how depressed he is to follow the news, and his time making songs. Doug was even kind enough to share practice versions of two original songs: “I Hate Mondays” and “I’m Tired”. You can follow Doug Blimline on Instagram and YouTube. And you can hear his music on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps:

PayPal at [email protected]

Venmo at @Burke-Wasson

CashApp at $BurkeWasson

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and helps cover monthly operating fees. ☮️

From Harrisburg, Illinois, Franko Teston is an up and coming craftsman of hooky alternative rock melodies, first with the band Mayfall and now solo alongside friends and bandmates Jake Evans, Garrett Phillips, and Cash Thomas. Franko’s songs are packed with emotion, and his melodies are both fresh and retro at once, owing as much to modern rock as grunge influences. Franko talks here with Burke Wasson about his plans to release an album this year, preparing to move to Indianapolis, and the psychology of how introverts feel more comfortable performing than interacting socially. This is a deep, fun talk, and Franko is a very nice guy as well as a talented singer songwriter. Follow Franko Teston on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. And hear his music on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube. Franko will release his next single, “A Note From Mom & Dad”, this Friday, March 7, on those streaming platforms.

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps:

PayPal at [email protected]

Venmo at @Burke-Wasson

CashApp at $BurkeWasson

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and helps cover monthly operating fees. ☮️

From Carmi, Illinois, to Nashville, Tennessee, Lucas Wayne is making a name for himself in live shows with a breathtaking voice in the high range and a blistering band - The Cottonmouths. With Nate Graham, Tim Whiteford, and Max Senteney backing him, Lucas is carving a path for himself with sweet country songs of everything from Great Value Pizza to abandoned lamps, with plenty of heartbreak and revelry in between. Lucas talks here with Burke Wasson about his recent album, Wookin’ Overtime, family stories inspiring his songs, and the story of how The Cottonmouths recruited him to be his band. Lucas will next play on Friday, March 14, from 8 to 11 p.m. at PK’s in Carbondale, Illinois. Keep up with Lucas on his Web site at https://lucaswaynemusic.com/, on Facebook ,and on TikTok at LucasWayneMusic.

You can hear Lucas's music on the following apps at these links:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3OzCTfuA45Ue8DHlesBapq?si=yqAxbltBTCO6l7vi35trJg

Apple Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3OzCTfuA45Ue8DHlesBapq?si=yqAxbltBTCO6l7vi35trJg

Amazon Music: https://amazon.com/music/player/artists/B001481WXG/lucas-wayne?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_y0rDMiJfrzTNXAolLrAjG6Km4

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LucasWayne

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps:

PayPal at [email protected]

Venmo at @Burke-Wasson

CashApp at $BurkeWasson

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and helps cover monthly operating fees. ☮️

For the first in our ongoing Local Artist Showcase episodes, we have southern Illinois folk singer-songwriter Jonah McGuire. Jonah talks with Burke Wasson about the Harrisburg school band program leading him to develop his songs, which he is also kind enough to pick apart in a very engaging talk. At 21 years old, Jonah is just getting started. His latest EP, Honey I Don’t Love You, can be heard on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, and other streaming platforms. Jonah is scheduled to play next on Friday, March 14, at The Little Nashville Cafe in Marion, Illinois. For all things Jonah, follow him @jonahmcguire on Instagram and @jonahmcguire on YouTube.

You can hear Jonah’s music on the following apps at these links:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2m0PWoxHpOYO8cL3NyK0DS?si=GKTcUWXOT-yD9WjbQnqjwA

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jonah-mcguire/1769808126

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0DBQ2ZMWK?ref=dm_sh_G3OEBXWdvk01EpPuKSF03XqYM

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps:

PayPal at [email protected]

Venmo at @Burke-Wasson

CashApp at $BurkeWasson

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and helps cover monthly operating fees. ☮️

The Midlife Critics' newly elected Grand Poobah Jennifer Bowles Hutchinson joins Burke to discuss her new role in the Facebook group and dive into our top 30 Short Ones (our favorite songs under 2 minutes). And Nathan Ferrell continues his streak of podcast episodes, diving into our new category of polls in the Facebook group - butt rock. What is butt rock? Listen and find out. And Nathan and Burke debate whether Guns N' Roses is butt rock at the end of the episode.

0:00:00 - 0:05:05: Intro

0:05:06 - 0:24:14: Jennifer Bowles Hutchinson and I talk about her new role as Grand Poobah of The Midlife Critics.

0:24:15 - 0:25:39: Short Ones Intro

0:25:39 - 0:58:44: Jennifer Bowles Hutchinson and I talk our top 30 2-minutes-or-less songs

0:58:44 - 1:00:31: Butt Rock Intro

1:00:32 - 1:44:37: Nathan Ferrell and I talk butt rock.

1:44:38 - 1:45:56: Closing

You can hear our Short Ones playlist on the following apps:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Vad8ZYnqcbGn7P0OYrL6W?si=HLOoeJnsQ3etPtJcHPLAow&pi=GpQ4h59WSWeT0

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/short-ones/pl.u-06oxez3TyNk0Z

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/9342bfb5174540fcaff8c5f5ebaed37asune?ref=dm_sh_6UTrAX3t2cBR4p7JPs2lkgBNd

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhGwwDGyNc-801yhHBsNTaQRQDYAzdq2-&si=6locn9huWBhIRWnh

You can hear our Butt Rock playlist of nominees on the following apps:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Ou9oGxnLgVJszI0Yx4bH0?si=HhEbOK4BQTelFD-e5WF5XQ&pi=td8hKDDxS0q1x

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/butt-rock/pl.u-yZyV833u6JLG1

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/06b58bfd4e0a49a08c7408076f3c8dafsune?ref=dm_sh_tTNagyA5A0nYNznn21VyOC3VF

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate to keep it going through the following apps:

PayPal at [email protected]

Venmo at @Burke-Wasson

CashApp at $BurkeWasson

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and helps cover monthly operating fees. ☮️

SEASON 3 EPISODE 7: The O.G. (Show Notes Below)

00:00:00: Intro (Burke Wasson)

00:07:22: #FreshCuts Vol. 49 Songs Of The Week (with Nathan Ferrell, Wellington Davis, and Bryan Mosby)

01:24:02: Stray Cuts (with Nathan Ferrell)

01:33:21: #FreshFlicks with Nathan Ferrell (Psycho Goreman, Sweet Darling, Body Double, Heretic)

02:04:31: #FreshFlicks with Steve Strait (The Substance, Sound Of Metal, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Sweet Darling, Heretic)

#FreshCuts Vol. 49 Songs Of The Week

De La Soul - Say No Go [House Of Love Mix] (1989) (2025) 

My Morning Jacket - Squid Ink (2025)

Sturgill Simpson - Sing Along (2019) 

Ty Segall - Every 1’s A Winner (2017) 

Sierra Ferrell - Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down (2025) 

Bob Dylan - It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) (1965) 

Vincent Neil Emerson - Co’dine (2023) 

The Nude Party - Chevrolet Van (2018)

David Lynch - True Love’s Flame (2020) 

Marlowe (L’Orange & Solemn Brigham) - Future Power Sources (feat. DJ Trackstar) (2020) 

Puscifer - Potions (Deliverance Mix) (2009) 

Lucy Dacus - Ankles (2025) 

Ashe & FINNEAS - Till Forever Falls Apart (2021) 

S.G. Goodman - Lungs (2021) 

The Cardigans - Paralyzed (1998) 

Neil Young - Let’s Impeach The President (2006) 

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Shifting Sands (1967)

Lucius - Old Tape (feat. Adam Granduciel) (2023) 

Amythyst Kiah - I Will Not Go Down (feat. Billy Strings) (2024) 

Peter Bjorn and John - The Chills (2006) 

STRAY CUTS

The Baseball Project - Disco Demolition (2023) 

The Easthills - Mothers & Fools (feat. Doug Gillard) (2016) 

Lucero - Tears Don’t Matter Much (Live From Atlanta) (2014)

Listen to #FreshCuts Vol. 49 on:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06Yg0WAkmU1N8gyWdyIMnq?si=wEVOyOu0QVOwnjLbJXzWkg

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/freshcuts-vol-49/pl.u-MDAWYlGFXv1ok

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/fa9f3fb0b01c4d878e3ff9aea3490d39sune?ref=dm_sh_aveZeg0mWXNQFwYLfRlgU0qqO

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhGwwDGyNc-_6_E9ubImEublucJx5e8Zn&si=P9-CIjv8OTg-W7Pm

Apple Podcasts link to this podcast episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-midlife-critics-podcast/id1751814582?i=1000694585592

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps:

PayPal at [email protected]

Venmo at @Burke-Wasson

CashApp at $BurkeWasson

Thank you for your support. It means a lot and helps cover monthly operating fees. ☮️