In the mid-nineties, it seemed to many of us that Luxury might be the band most likely to find real success in the wider alternative rock market. Their three-decade journey, however, has defied all expectations. From their early days of alt-punk abandon through a harrowing and deadly car crash and onto a very different path that found three of the members embracing Eastern Orthodoxy and eventually becoming priests, this is a story like none you have ever heard. Through all of the struggle and pain, Fathers Lee and Jamey Bozeman, (vocalist and guitarist,) Matt Hinton (auxiliary guitars,) Father Chris Foley (bass,) and Glenn Black (drums) have emerged as one of the most interesting and engaging alt-rock bands around. Their latest album, Like Unto Lambs came together over a span of five years and may be their best yet. 

While there has been no shortage of discussions and arguments over the old debate about Christians making music, versus making Christian music, the concept of priests making mainstream alternative rock presents a unique opportunity to reconsider the question about the spiritual and vocational nature of arts and artistry. How might being in a band have informed these pastors' work in the ministry? Might their work as priests inform their work as musicians? Is there a holy way to rock that doesn't involve "Christian Rock?" Join us as we talk with three priests and a sacred Appalachian music historian about their rock band, their brotherhood, their trauma, and a priestly perspective on art.

For full show notes, including a list of all of the songs on this episode and more, visit TrueTunes.com/luxury or CLICK HERE. 

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

This 45RPM episode features a look back at over 30 years of the music of a relatively obscure but critically acclaimed indie rock band, Luxury. We will go back to the beginning, when the band was known as The Shroud, playing with jangly punk abandon at their college in Toccoa, Georgia. We launched this podcast five years ago - when Luxury reconvened to record and release Trophies, their first new album in a decade. We've talked about that album since then several times (and you'll hear about it on the main show), but this flashback fills the rest of the story and sets the stage for the conversation about their latest album, Like Unto Lambs. (Patreon members can hear the whole show now.) 

For full show notes, song list, and links visit TrueTunes.com/Luxury45 or CLICK HERE. 

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

Randy Layton has been a tireless advocate of some of our favorite artists since the 1980s. He was also an early influence and encourager of all things True Tunes. His "Alternative Records" imprint helped to define the indie / DIY approach long before it was common, and his current campaign to reissue yet another incredible (and obscure) album by Robert Vaughn and The Shadows is one more example of his undying passion and love. Now, as Randy faces a devastating turn in the battle he has been waging with cancer, he is handing the reigns over to his son Matthias. On this episode, we hear from father and son, about this forty-year legacy, what it all meant, and where it goes when the road seems to end. 

For a full list of all of the music heard on this episode, and links to our previous conversations with Randy, visit the Show Notes page at TrueTunes.com/HelloMatthias. (Patreon members will receive an EXCLUSIVE download "Best Of Alternative Records Mix" courtesy of Randy Layton!) 

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

Dr. Leah Payne, author of the new book God Gave Rock and Roll To You, joins us to talk about the roots - and fruits - of the contemporary Christian music subculture. From the Pentecostal and Holiness movements of a century ago to the January 6th riots, Payne and host John J. Thompson wrangle with the odd and sometimes troubling history of the scene. You'll hear an amazing collection of historic and contemporary song clips along the way. Find the full show notes at TrueTunes.com/GodGaveRock.

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

Even with champions like Peter Gabriel, U2, Jim Kerr, and others singing their praises, and songs like “The Walls Came Down,” “I Still Believe” and “Let The Day Begin” scratching out a presence on college and alternative radio, The Call never lived up to the commercial potential their fans knew they deserved. And when frontman, vocalist, and primary songwriter Michael Been passed away in 2010 while on the road with his son Robert Levon Been’s band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, it became heartbreakingly clear that The Call was on 80s band we would not be hearing more music from.

Or would we?

Recently the band found several previously unreleased – and in some cases unfinished songs. The surviving members regathered, adding fresh tracks to fill in the empty spaces, and giving them an incredible polish. They then reached out to fans via a new Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds necessary to release this LOST TAPES project – a campaign that closes in late February 2024. When the band reached out to us, to see if we would like to talk about this incredible project, we jumped at the chance. So on this special episode we sit down with keyboardist Jim Goodwin to hear not only about The Lost Tapes, but about what it was like to write songs, record, and perform with the band back in the day.

Hopefully you heard our full-length special episode featuring a previously unheard 1994 interview with Been, rescued and restored from an ancient cassette tape. If not, please do. And if you have not backed the Kickstarter campaign, you can do that HERE. (We certainly hope you will.)

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with rapper, author, and activist PROPAGANDA! 

About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out. 

To hear the original show CLICK HERE. 

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Steve Hindalong, Derri Daugherty, and Dan Michaels of The Choir. Few bands embody the spirit of spiritual yearning, artistic exploration, emotional risk, and impressionistic ambiance as completely as this veteran crew. 

About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out. 

To hear the original show CLICK HERE. 

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Eric Marshall, who has been releasing some of our favorite alternative worship music for well over a decade under the moniker YOUNG OCEANS.

About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out. 

To hear the original show CLICK HERE. 

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Prog Rock legend Neal Morse (of Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, Flying Colours, and The Neal Morse Band.) Morse took us on a journey through the history of progressive rock and his own artistic and spiritual discoveries. 

About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out. 

To hear the original show CLICK HERE. 

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Pianist, songwriter, and filmmaker Phil Cook. Cook - who cut his teeth as a member of Bon Iver - has been releasing some incredible solo material lately AND has been chronicling some of the best North Carolina roots Gospel music through his label Spiritual Helpline. His film Stay Prayed Up knocked us out! 

About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out. 

To hear the original show CLICK HERE. 

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!