The harmonica master and singer with Canned Heat and Poncho Sanchez grew up in the musical hotbed of Downey, California, with Phil and Dave Alvin. Influenced early on by the Louis Jordan records of his trumpet-playing mother, he caught the blues bug hearing artists like the Paul Butterfield Band, Sonny Terry, and Brownie McGhee at the Ash Grove and the Golden Bear in L.A. Comfortable in a variety of musical settings, tonight Dale tests his tolerance level in a session with the Troubled Men.

Topics include baths vs. showers, the impending 200th episode, a borrowed book, Michael Tisserand, a student worker, a Bob Dylan show, tainted cupcakes, sailing from Pongo-Pongo, Bud Ferillo, the Coach House, the Vietnam draft, evading the FBI, going country, Lon Price, Duke Burrell, a Jazz Fest gig, moving to New Orleans, meeting Fito De La Parra, Larry Taylor, a music cruise, psychedelics, and much more.

Intro music: Styler/Coman

Break music: “You’re The One” by The Little Elmore Reed Blues Band featuring Dale Spalding

Outro music: “Early In The Mornin’” from “Latin Spirits” by Poncho Sanchez

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The legendary Muffs bass player, along with singer/guitarist Kim Shattuck and drummer Roy McDonald, blasted out their infectious, melodic brand of punk rock from 1990 until Kim’s passing in 2019. Cresting at the top of the Indie rock wave, they counted the Ramones, Elvis Costello, and Ronnie Spector among their fans and picked up a platinum record for their hit recording of “Kids In America.” With the reissue of 2004’s “Really Really Happy” along with Kim’s demos for that record soon to be released, Ronnie finds kindred spirits in the Troubled Men as they gather for a meeting of the minds.

Topics include a camera ticket, the Iguanas/Kevin Gordon tour, a middle seat, RIP Kevin O’Day, 911 calls, dropping the masks, a record store, meeting Alex Chilton, the Pandoras in Houston, moving to L.A., starting a new band, the Coconut Teaser, a punk rock teacher, backup dancers, the ’90s sound, Green Day, Korla Pandit, the Plaster Casters, a new release, Kim’s legacy, Willie Aron, Susan Cowsill, rock’n’roll college, a New Orleans connection, “Pam and Tommy,” Tony Rugolo, guest relapses, and much more.

Intro music: Styler/Coman

Break music: “Sad Tomorrow” from “Blonder And Blonder” by the Muffs

Outro music: “Weird Boy Next Door” from “Whoop Dee Doo” by the Muffs

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A Grammy-winning veteran of Dr. John, Papa Grows Funk, the Nightcrawlers, and Galactic, the saxophone, clarinet, and flute player is a devotee of the New Orleans R&B and jazz canon. Now, as a college instructor, he passes this knowledge on to impressionable young minds. With his first record as a bandleader soon to be released, Jason jumps into the fray with the Troubled Men to recall career highs and lows, while remembering some of the giants who have come before.

Topics include the Lenten season, a parade encounter, mistaken identities, Mardi Gras, a senior discount, a group costume, Chris Champagne, Michael Deas, the Ideal Market, a tragic fatality, gospel grandparents, a Disney World gig, a drum major, grad school, moving to New Orleans, Mem Shannon, the blues circuit, June Yamagishi, road food, a new sponsor, a teaching position, Eric Traub, Jerry Jumonville, The Band, Lee Allen, Maceo Parker, a James Brown gig, Sam Butera, jazz education, young musicians, Clint Black, baritone sax, the clarinet, Jon Culbreth, Ian Bowman, becoming a Simpsons character, “Glory Road,” Tony Clifton, Chris Owens, and much more.

Intro music: Styler/Coman

Break music: “Red Spark” from “Needle in the Groove” by Papa Grows Funk

Outro music: “Glass House” from “Atmosphere” by the New Orleans Nightcrawlers

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The rockabilly and roots guitarist, singer, and bandleader of the Hitmen, O.L.D., and the Blue Vipers has been an intergral part of the New Orleans scene since his arrival in the early ’80s. He’s worked with greats like Alex Chilton, Wayne Bennett, Joe Clay, George the Max, and Dave Turgeon. Tonight Johnny J. Beninati goes on the record with fellow travelers the Troubled Men to illuminate the dark recesses of the rock’n’roll landscape.

Topics include a new Troubled Home, Aquarius, the Linda Lindas, self-policing, a horse lover returns, road hazards, curling, Babe Ruth, a first meeting, a working stiff, Bobby Brennan, Ed Sullivan, a contest, hotdog water soup, Jack Clement, Chuck Gwartney, Lalo Schifrin, Murphy “Fluffy” Hines, an Elvis impersonator, a street fight, Dale Hawkins, Radio Shack, Nicky Sanzenbach, Sex Dog, Scott Goudeau, and much more.

Intro music: Styler/Coman

Break Music: “16 Chicks” from “Louisiana Rockabilly” by Johnny J. and the Hitmen

Outro music: “Might As Well Admit It” from “Nuclear Hayride” by Johnny J. and the Hitmen and “4-Legged Lover” from “Nashville Never” by O.L.D.

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The record producer and recording engineer had spent years working with bands including the Pixies, Frank Black, and the Breeders before taking over the fabled Studio In The Country and returning it to its former glory. The recent release of the Geraniums’ “Hope Is Not For The Weak” represents the final 10 years of material recorded with him there at the mixing board. Always unflappable, Ben joins the Troubled Men in the hornets’ nest of Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge for a good going over.

Topics include the Clempire, last week’s episode, kids in wells, a Dave Clements cameo, a health kick, Mardi Gras, a Krewe Du Vieux party, a milk miracle, the Iguanas at Chickie Wah Wah, a remote recording, cutting cable, switching insurance, a Jesuit education, the Plaza in Lake Forest, school showers, a teenage band, Scott Durbin, engineer training, Chris Finney, Mike Napolitano, Kingsway Studio, Trina Shoemaker, Karen Brady, O’Henry Studios, Sound City, tour fatigue, moving to the Truck Farm, Kim Deal’s house, working with the Breeders, Debbie Farmer, an echo chamber, a good vibe, Dash Rip Rock, professionals, amateurs, a session band, Stan Ridgway, Daemon Shea, the last Circle Bar gig, One South Lark, All Girl Band, and much more.

Intro music: Styler/Coman

Break music: “This Is About This” by The Geraniums

Outro music: “St. Claude Avenue” from “Hope Is Not For The Weak” by The Geraniums

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The iconoclastic screenwriter, essayist, and former Siberia Bar owner recently self-cancelled from social media after her commentaries drew the ire of the online mob. She now unleashes her polemics in Quillette Magazine and on the Substack platform. This Joan Didion acolyte is no shrinking violet. Tonight Meghann comes on like a runaway train, and the Troubled Men hang on for dear life as it nearly teeters off the tracks.

Topics include the Elysian Bar, the Diewater, Yoko Ono, make ‘em ups, “Glengarry Glen Ross,” Al Pacino prank calls, Super Bowl traditions, Dick Butkus, Raider Nation, sports betting, violent crime, psychologists, a Sacramento childhood, Salinas land barons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jim Jones, miscegenation, millennialism, Judaism, Jane Goodall and David Graybeard fan fiction, victimhood, UC Santa Cruz, finding New Orleans, an outlaw boyfriend, “Panic In Needle Park,” “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” the Silent Generation, the “Karen” phenomenon, “Fun Home,” and much more.

Intro music: Styler/Coman

Break music: “When I Sing About You” from “Total Death Benefit” by The Happy Talk Band

Outro music: “Best Interest At Heart” from “Hope Is Not For The Weak” by The Geraniums

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The innovative multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer with the Royal Roses, the Monocle, the Panorama Jazz Band, and the Klezmer All Stars turns up to discuss her many projects, as well as her rural, hippie childhood and eventual escape to New Orleans. Her lightness of spirit is a breath of fresh air. Aurora had lots of interdisciplinary training at Oberlin College and Paris' Jacques LeCoq School of Physical Theatre, but tonight it’s the Troubled Men who are made to heel.

Topics include favorite podcasts, Caesar, the lifting malaise, shoes, little people, Marty and Elayne at the Dresden Room, a diaper scammer revisited, a beach shack, a mountain hut, herbal medicine, sniffing glue, school band, a custom degree, musique concrete, soccer, train hopping, Baltimore, grad school, Chiquita Magic, first gigs, punk, the Pixies, becoming a bandleader, Downbeat magazine, a coffee shop mural, Rory Danger, festival dates, doing less, and much more.

Intro music: Styler/Coman

Break and Outro music: "Trash Compact" from “Easy Listening for Lunatics" and "Whistleblower" by Aurora Nealand

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The Tony Award-winning actor and musician returns to discuss his latest role on HBO’s new “Gilded Age” period drama and his band Loose Cattle’s recent “Heavy Lifting” album. Guitarist and composer Jonathan Freilich joins the proceedings to add his two cents. Everyone’s been through a lot in the last few years, and Michael is no exception. Tonight he enters the Feral Zone as we search for the first glimmer of dawn.

Topics include a return guest, continuing education, Neil Young and Crazy Horse at the Barn, minimalism, Phil Spector’s maximalism, lockdown recordings and video production, new songs, Kimberly Kaye, Will Sexton, emotionalism, artistic ownership, session work, Mark Bingham, Peter Stampfel, dreams coming true, “The War of Art,” process, gigs, “The Drowning Pool,” West Virginia, academic parents, rural progressives, Exeter Academy, Lilli Lewis, Yale, a pivotal time period, health protocols, “The Plot Against America,” “Station Eleven,” turning the tables, a good cop/bad cop proposal, and much more.

Intro music: “The Trucker Takes A Wife” by Styler/Coman

Break and Outro music: “Sidewalk Chicken” and “Get Downtown” from “Heavy Lifting” by Loose Cattle

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The guitarist and songwriter for the Geraniums and Tribe Nunzio and co-owner of the Mermaid Lounge has just released “Hope Is Not For The Weak,” a double album of Geraniums recordings the Bukowski-meets-the-Velvet-Underground outfit collected from years of sessions at the famed Studio in the Country. He discusses the band’s long history, as well as the recent passing of singer and lyricist Brendan Gallagher and drummer Daemon Shea. These songs have always felt like a drunken prayer to God. Tonight Jeff joins the Troubled Men as they all count their blessings.

Topics include post-holiday malaise, Mardi Gras season, home testing, a terminal strategy, a bottle of vodka, Yoko Ono, a Betty White parade, Greg Ensslen, Vernon Rome, Holden Miller, the Economy Cafe, Melinda Pendleton, George the Max, Clint Montz, Mermaid Recording, Glyn Styler, Malcolm Burn, Bogdanovich films, a date with Tatum O’Neal, “Paper Moon,” Cybill Shepherd, smoking, “This Is About This,” a Circle Bar residency, Peter Holsapple, Alex McMurray, Goat, Ben Mumphrey, an Irish gift for melody, show tunes, a terminal diagnosis, a coma, a changed man, Tom Marron, Gerald McCollum, concepts of time, the N.O. Musicians Clinic, and much more.

Intro music: Styler/Coman

Break, Outro, and additional music: “Can I Come Home,” “Pale As Jane,” “It’s Love,” “Retreat Of The Light Horse Brigade,” “Factory For Stars,” and “I’m Here To Stay” from “Hope Is Not For The Weak” by the Geraniums

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The Dream Syndicate and Continental Drifters (Susan Cowsill, Vicki Peterson, Peter Holsapple) bassist, vocalist, and songwriter covered a lot of territory from L.A.’s Paisley Underground to the New Orleans-based indie-rock supergroup. Tonight Mark reaches out from his post-Katrina Las Vegas Safe House, where he places his bet and takes his chances with the Troubled Men.

Topics include postponed tour dates, a recording session with Goat, fear, risk, Mardi Gras, Ronnie Spector R.I.P., a new Geraniums record, a haircut, a Cowsill party, the slums of Beverly Hills, early bands, influences, a rehearsal studio, Steve Wynn, Karl Precoda, touring with R.E.M., the Music Machine, the Talpa Restaurant, a Carlo Nuccio apartment, the Drifters formation, the Hollywood rock scene, a Too Free Stooges show, the trip from L.A. to N.O. and back, salvaged tapes, a flooded bass, Phil Lynott’s bass, meeting Led Zeppelin, a Mick Jagger party, Kyle Melancon, the desert, a torso, Punk Rock Bowling, and much more.

Intro music: Styler/Coman

Break music: “Dusting Off The Rust” from “The Universe Inside” by the Dream Syndicate

Outro music: “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be” from “Better Day” by the Continental Drifters

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