Americana Podcast

BE SURE TO LISTEN TO THE WALKING THE FLOOR PODCAST TO HEAR THE OTHER HALF OF THIS LIVE-RECORDED EVENT

Recorded life at AMERICANAFEST in Nashville, TN, host Robert Earl Keen speaks with Chris Shiflett. Some of you may recognize him as the guitarist of the famed rock-band the Foo Fighters while others (or both) might know him from his podcast Walking the Floor with Chris Shiflett.

Shiflett was podcasting before it was cool and has spoken with the likes of Merle Haggard, Yola, Tyler Childers and so many more. In addition to his work in music journalism and his career in the Foo Fighters, Shiflett released his 4th record "Hard Lessons" in 2019.

Shiflett's career and pursuits are a path that can be considered a great crash course in learning about music. His interviews are insightful and warm as he takes a casual yet curious approach with his guests. And his records merge his rock and roll musicianship with his affection for Bakersfield country. You can learn a lot whether you listening to one, the other or both.

Americana Podcast is proudly a part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network. Make sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for info on new episodes and peeks behind the scenes.

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On today's episode of Americana podcast: the 51st State - Kevin Russell. Also known as Shinyribs.

Kevin Russell, or as we've been calling him "the physical embodiment of sound"- was born in the late '60s in Beaumont, Texas. In his formative years, Russell's family relocated to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he was exposed to one of the richest hotbeds for roots-based music. At 17 he began to play in various bars and venues across the state and in the early 90's he relocated to Austin, TX. In 1994 he became a member of the cult-classic band "The Gourds" which lasted until 2013.

Since then Russell has been performing as Shinyribs - a musical hodgepodge of anything from gritty swamp rock, to smooth soul, to just flat-out groovy songs. Also the purveyor of one of the most fun and entertaining live shows, ever.

Russell's timeline exemplifies not only a part of where Americana music started "officially" but hopefully where it's going as well.

Shinyribs is also joining our host Robert Earl Keen, not only on the podcast but on Keen's annual Christmas tour this year!

Americana Podcast is proudly a part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network. Make sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for info on new episodes and peeks behind the scenes.

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Americana, for all intents and purposes, is roots-based music. Sounds, songs, and stories are as much a part of the region as they are apart of the artist. Although the Americana generally adopts regional sounds and sub-genres and provides a platform with a wider national and international reach, we have to wonder what we as listeners might be losing when not defining a song or a band by where it/they come from. Geographically where does Americana start and better yet... where does it end?

Cody Canada, formerly of "Cross Canadian Ragweed" and currently of his new band Cody Canada & The Departed"- is a poster-child for the sub-genre known as Red Dirt Country. A form of music developed between Oklahoma and Texas that generally mixes rock and roll-based sound with country-style songwriting. With a style of music that's pretty well-defined as such, does it count as Americana? On Americana Podcast: The 51st State, Canada discusses regionality, influences, and his newest work in music education on the first-ever live episode- recorded at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, TX.

Americana Podcast is proudly a part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network. Make sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for info on new episodes and peeks behind the scenes.

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In the summer of 2018, we said "We need to talk about Americana music". At the time it felt that there was an apparent disconnect in not only the discussion around the genre but in the would-be community as well. Industry workers and audiences were leading the conversation, but there appeared to be a disturbing absence of input from the most important individuals in American-roots-based music... The artists themselves.

On April 30th, 2019, after a year of writing, recording, and refining- Americana Podcast was released into the world. We have recorded in studios, green rooms, and in front of live audiences. We have stayed up into the wee hours of the morning researching, conducting interviews, and editing.. (so much editing..) and have dedicated ourselves to defining not only the genre but the experience fo Americana artists, with parameters set by the artists themselves.

On this one-year anniversary episode, Zach Chance and Jonathon Clay of Jamestown Revival are back...but on their recommendation, with a twist. Zach and John turn the tables and interview host and moderator of Americana Podcast, Robert Earl Keen. So join us from the BMI offices in Austin, TX as we celebrate our one-year anniversary episode and look to the future of Americana music.

Americana Podcast is proudly a part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network. Make sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for info on new episodes and peeks behind the scenes.

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https://tiptopjar.com/americanapodcast

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It’s a new year Americana Podcast listeners! And with a new year, means new discussions on what makes Americana... well Americana. When we look at this genre, we talk a lot its history and its future. And over time we’ve been able to piece together this ongoing timeline and certain elements that are key to its existence. Base influences in songwriting, certain instrumentation, and geography. If you’ve been a long-time listener, you know that many of our previous guests have attributed a great deal of their musical identity to where they learned music from.

This of course is a holdover from the new world mentality in the west, where many genres developed due to particularly regional and social integrations over extended periods of time. When looking at Americana we are specifically looking at the European folk trad to bluegrass, blues to rock, and then rock and bluegrass to country as we know it today. That’s a lot of words to basically say the place that you identify as home, has as significant of an effect on your musical education as who’s albums you choose to listen to growing up.

And Kentucky aside, some of the artists that know that best are from Texas and Oklahoma.

There’s a lot of opinions on the state of Red Dirt Music and Texas Country. Developing as sub genres in the late 80’s to early 00’s, this very regional brand of music came up in response to commercial country. And I’m not talking Florida Georgia Line commercial, I’m talking Tim McGraw commercial. Whom we love.

There’s a lot of ups and downs and opinions in the overall conversation but the general one is that Red Dirt and Texas Country became a space for outsiders beyond the Nashville standard. Piggybacking off of the outlaw movement and the historical legacies of artists, particularly Texas native Willie Nelson, these scenes were able to flourish in their respective regions and began to go a bit beyond. They were in a position to challenge the value of industry effect in radio versus organic growth in listenership. They developed loyal followings, local radio play.... The works. But due to a long series of unfortunate commercial circumstances, the scenes have presently been relegated very much south of the red river.

And I could go on about this, but fortunately on this episode you can hear it straight from the quarter horse’s mouth.

Americana Podcast speaks with the artists who possibly have the most pertinent opinions on the state of Red Dirt and Texas Country and their weight in the views of Americana music. On this episode we have musical and actual giant Ray Benson from Asleep at The Wheel. Defender of the Dance Hall Randy Rogers, Okie not from Muskogee Jason Boland of Jason Boland and the stragglers, young blood William Beckmann, whip smart Wade Bowan, and philanthropist at heart Josh Abbott. Saddle up and enjoy the show.

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