Roots Rednecks and Radicals

This week's rotation features three amazing singer songwriters. Ian Noe, Colby T. Helms, and John R. Miller all have new music out. Their songwriting is really stellar and I am really enjoying the music they are putting out in the world. It's a bit folk, a bit country, and kinda bluegrass as well. I love it, I hope you dig it too! 

Colby T. Helms is a folk/bluegrass musician from Virginia. He's made a name for himself playing his songs on TikTok and Instagram and developed a following. He's a young guy, but his sound is rooted in the deep music culture of his region. I had him on the show to talk about his new album One For The Loser. I hope you dig it! 

I have three incredible artists lined up for you this week. Ratboys have a new indie folk album out. Twin Temple brings us the sounds of Satanic Doo-Wop. And Jake Blount has a stringband album that is stellar. I hope you dig it! 

Charlie Parr is an American folk/blues musician that has been making socially conscious music for decades. Known for his cutting lyricism, he embodies a style of folk that is not seen very often anymore. His style is rooted in the blues, but he's developed a sound all his own. His new album Rooming House is a brilliant look at the working class in America. He's on the show this week to talk about his new album. 

I was asked recently to do a concert review for the Japanese Punk Band Shonen Knife. They got their start back in 1981 and have been playing their Ramones infused punk rock for decades. In the early 1990s Kurt Cobain and Nirvana asked them to tour with the band, and that gave them some great exposure. I recently saw them with Men at Work and Toad the Wet Sprocket in Reno NV and it was a great show. I hope you dig this! 

Billy Strings, Rhiannon Giddens, and Willi Carlisle all have new music out. Willi's new album was produced by Tyler Childers and I feel like you can really hear the influence on this track. Billy Strings continues to kill it with his blend of bluegrass and psychedelic rock. Rhiannon Giddens just never seems to miss. Her new track is beautiful and haunting as usual. This week they are all in The Rotation! 

Kacey Musgraves has released her first all Spanish song. She teamed up with the ultra-famous Mexican Tejano group Intocable for a new take on her song Uncertain TX. She recently had them on stage to perform the song live. It's a great blend of Country music and Mexican culture and I am here for it! 

Eraser is a punk band out of Philly. They just released a new album called Operator and I had a chance to chat with them about it at a show they played in Reno. They were at the Holland Project and we got a chance to talk before the show. Shout out to the openers that night, Rotten Heights, and Rotary Club. Also big thanks to the Holland Project for having me. I hope you dig the episode! 

Recently Tom Morello did an interview where he revealed he did not vote for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. This has sparked some controversy online about voting and what we should be doing in the age of Trump. I think his views are much more nuanced than people are giving him credit for and we should be talking about that. 

Beck is know for his hits like Loser and Devi'ls Haricut but many people don't realize he's always made folksy, singer-songwriter music. This new album has him exploring those roots on a deep and introspective journey. It's equal parts folk, and country. I really love this album. I hope you dig it!