Dive Bar Music Club

Albino Skunk Music Festival with King Margo and Aaron Lee Tasjan

From backstage conversations to festival magic, Sloane Spencer dives headfirst into Albino Skunk Music Festival, a music fan's family reunion. While this marks the final spring edition of the beloved festival, the fall music weekends continue. Celebrate reinvention, community, and the evolving sound of Americana and roots music. This episode spotlights both legendary festival staples and exciting new voices, including breakout duo King Margo, who join Sloane backstage to talk about creative growth, finding their sound, and the thrill of releasing fresh music into the world. Then, singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan opens up about the highs surrounding his latest album and the personal challenges shaping his journey through grief and sobriety, offering equal parts wisdom, honesty, and heart. Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and spend some time where the songs are loud, the stories run deep, and music feels like home. Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists * Apple Music [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/dive-bar-music-club-episode-9/pl.u-gxblNo7u35lq2o] * Tidal [https://tidal.com/playlist/4deb9970-9f1c-45cb-81be-1f30f0a46035] Musicians, Bands, Venues, and Festivals Mentioned * Aaron Lee Tasjan [https://www.aaronleetasjan.com/] * King Margo [https://www.kingmargo.com/] (Rachel Coats and Lucciana Costa) * Albino Skunk Music Festival [https://albinoskunk.com/] * Americana Fest * Buddy Miller * Darrell Scott * Dave Jacques * Drivin N Cryin * Gabe Lee * Hayley Williams * Jason Eady * Jen Gunderman * Jeff Sipe * Jimmy Bowland * John Fullbright * John Prine * Justin Amaral * Kevn Kinney * Kim Richey * Larkin Poe * Margaret Glaspy * Max Abrams * Procol Harum * Roger Alan Nichols * Sheryl Crow * SiriusXM Outlaw Country * Steve Dawson * Sturgill Simpson * Susan Werner * The Mavericks * The Wallflowers * Todd Snider * Tom Petty * Van Darien * Warren Zanes Chapters * 00:20 - Sloane Spencer: The Final Spring Edition of Skunk Fest * 01:16 - King Margo: Exploring New Sounds * 12:20 - Music and Inspiration: The Creative Process * 19:53 - Aaron Lee Tasjan: Navigating Grief and Creativity * 29:04 - The Journey of 'Science Friction' Recommended If You Like Albino Skunk Music Festival, Dive Bar Music Club podcast, Sloane Spencer, King Margo, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Americana music podcast, roots music festival, bluegrass music festival, indie music podcast, South Carolina music festival, live music interviews, backstage artist interview, Americana artists, folk music podcast, Red Dirt music, Texas country music, Jason Eady, Gabe Lee, Darrell Scott, Jeff Sipe, Nashville musicians, independent music artists, women in Americana music, King Margo new music, Waters Rise album, Game Over single, Tinfoil Profiteers, Roger Alan Nichols, Larkin Poe producer, music discovery podcast, singer songwriter interview, Aaron Lee Tasjan Get Over It Underdog, Science Friction song, SiriusXM Outlaw Country, independent musicians, touring musicians, music festival culture, live music community, East Nashville music scene, Americana Fest, music merch culture, indie record release, podcast for music nerds, low key high taste happy hour, festival backstage conversations, roots rock artists, folk Americana scene, Southern music podcast, emerging Americana artists, music storytelling podcast, dive bar music club, music festival, Albino Skunk Music Fest, South Carolina music festivals, Darrell Scott, King Margot, Jason Eady, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Americana music, music discovery, indie music, music interviews, festival experiences, songwriting process, artist collaborations, music promotion, live music, female musicians, music production, pre-order album Support to Tip Jar [https://divebarmusicclub.com/tip-jar]

Sad Songs Happy Hour, That Bar Is in Hell, Mental Health, and Disabled Joy

Amanda Miles and Chad Cochran bring sonically disparate, but thematically similar, music to Dive Bar Music Club. We end up with some deep conversation about taking care of our mental health and how that impacts the music community. The playlist moves through love, loss, and nostalgia. Amanda shares her latest Jason Isbell obsession, Chad leans into indie rock and some 90s throwbacks, and together we talk about how music becomes a lifeline during tough times. Amanda shares a bit about her progressive blindness, how it impacts her when going to see bands and venues lack accessibility, and teases an upcoming feature regarding her diagnosis in Bodies of Opinion. Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists * Apple Music [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/dive-bar-music-club-episode-8/pl.u-jV895XDFldB5Py] * Tidal [https://tidal.com/playlist/ff17c719-0726-4622-96ef-a129ae0578fb] Bands and Musicians Featured in Episode 8 * Willow Avalon [https://www.willowavalonmusic.com/] w/ Jason Isbell [https://www.jasonisbell.com/] * Ella Langley [https://www.ellalangley.com/] * The Afghan Whigs [https://theafghanwhigs.com/] * Luke Combs [https://twia.lukecombs.com/] w/ Alison Krauss [https://alisonkrauss.com/] * Paul McCartney [https://www.paulmccartney.com/] * Arcwelder [https://www.arcwelderband.com/] Mental Health Resources If you need immediate support, call or text 988 in the USA for connection to a trained volunteer who can help. * NAMI [https://www.nami.org/] * Nuci's Space [nuci.org] * Your state occupational health or vocational rehabilitation office * Music Health Alliance [https://www.musichealthalliance.com/] * MusiCares [MusiCares.org] * Sims Foundation [https://simsfoundation.org/] * HAAM [https://www.myhaam.org/] (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians) The Regulars * Chad Cochran [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/dive-bar-music-club-chad-cochran-cowtownchad] * Amanda Miles [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/dive-bar-music-club-amanda-miles] * Sloane Spencer [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/dive-bar-music-club-sloane-spencer] Musicians, Venues, Events, and Themes Referenced in This Episode * Alan Jackson * Appalachian State University * Athens * Atlanta * Bodies of Opinion * Brian Lee Brown * Birmingham * Bowling Green * Chicago * Coca-Cola Amphitheater * Dave Grohl * David Byrne * Faith Hill * Garth Brooks * Jack White * Jim White * Laughing Hyenas * Live Nation * Linda Ronstadt * Luaka Bop * Madison Square Garden * Martina McBride * Minneapolis * Miranda Lambert * National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) * Nelsonville Music Festival * New Disabled South * Ohio * Okemah * Patrick Keeler * Raconteurs * Red Rocks Amphitheatre * Reba McEntire * Ringo Starr * Ryman Auditorium * Steve Albini * Tabernacle * Tedeschi Trucks Band * Them Crooked Vultures * Touch and Go Records * Topher Brown * Tyler Childers * Vince Gill * White Stripes * Woody Guthrie Folk Festival * Wynonna Judd Recommended If You Like dive bar music club, music podcast, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, Jason Isbell, Luke Combs, Alison Krauss, Ella Langley, mental health and music, concert photography, music festivals, country music scene, music recommendations, indie music, music accessibility, songwriter interviews, music playlists, music discussions, Americana music, music industry insights, Dive Bar Music Club podcast, music podcast 2026, indie music discussion, 90s alt rock nostalgia, indie rock playlist, Americana music podcast, country music deep dive, Jason Isbell fans, Willow Avalon Cardinal Sin, Luke Combs Alison Krauss duet, Ella Langley cover songs, Toby Keith cover reinterpretation, music and mental health, music as therapy, emotional connection to music, nostalgic music themes, love and loss songs, sad music playlist, songwriting and storytelling, emerging artists 2025, indie folk and synth folk, Icelandic folk music, live music culture, concert photography, music festivals 2026, backstage photography, touring musicians life, TikTok music discovery, viral music trends, album recommendations podcast, Paul McCartney new music, Afghan Whigs comeback, Arc Welder band, college rock revival, 90s music revival, alternative rock discussion, music community podcast, disabled joy and music, accessibility in live music venues, mental health in music industry, musicians mental health advocacy, music and identity, podcast music recommendations, discovering new artists, genre-blending playlists, music nerd culture

Record Store Day, Public Radio, and Music Loose Associations

We’re big fans of public radio and festivals for music discovery. Charles Hale and Nelson Gullett had a small world radio-meets-real-life Big Ears connection. Public radio keeps new music alive and thriving, even as the federal government slashed budgets and extremist subcultures try to wield power over art. Driver 8 Records gears up for Record Store Day and launches a vinyl record club. Sloane Spencer continues to float her musical loose associations, this time sharing, "If Randy Newman, Leon Russell, and Levon Helm hung out listening to the Beatles, this might be the song they wrote." So pour yourself something nice, slide into the booth, and get ready for a mix of good stories and the kind of musical rabbit holes you’ll be glad you fell into. Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists * Apple Music [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/dive-bar-music-club-episode-7/pl.u-jV8957LuldB5Py] * Tidal [https://tidal.com/playlist/4ecaedec-8b7f-4d29-9160-54ef8e748a00] Bands Featured in Episode 7 * Flea [https://www.flea333.com/] * Jesse Ed Davis [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Ed_Davis] * Kathleen Edwards [https://www.kathleenedwards.com/] * Kruangbin [https://khruangbin.bandcamp.com/] * Leon Bridges [https://khruangbin.bandcamp.com/album/texas-sun] * The Montvales [https://www.themontvales.com/] * Neko Case [https://nekocase.com/] * Silver Skylarks [https://eastwoodmusicgroup.bandcamp.com/album/silver-skylarks-the-number-one-set-and-sound] * Yagody [https://yagody.org/en/#intro] Support Your Local Public Radio Station * WDVX [https://wdvx.com/support/] * KRFC [https://www.krfcfm.org/] Record Store Day [https://recordstoreday.com/] & Driver 8 Records' Record Club * Driver 8 Records [https://driver8records.com/product/the-record-club-from-driver-8-records/] The Regulars * Nelson Gullett [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/dive-bar-music-club-nelson-gullet-wdvx] * Charles Hale [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/charles-hale-driver-8-records-krfc-radio-fort-collins] * Sloane Spencer [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/dive-bar-music-club-sloane-spencer] Musicians, Festivals, Venues, and Events Mentioned in this Episode * Albert King * Amelia Day * Anna Butters * Angine de Poitrine * Arlo Guthrie * Barley's Knoxville * Black Pumas * Blind Boys of Alabama * Bloodshot Bill * Bob Dylan * Brennan Wedl * Bugs Bunny * Butch Hancock * Carolina Chocolate Drops * Charles Mingus * Charlie Snider * Chris Stapleton * Chris Thile * Christopher Paul Stelling * Colin Cripps * Driver 8 Records * Dr. John * Duane Allman * Grant Alden * Grateful Dead * Gwenifer Raymond * Haley Heynderickx * International Anthem * Jason Isbell * Jeff Parker * Jimmy Dale Gilmore * John Lennon * Kaoru Watanabe * Kasey Musgraves * Katie Crutchfield * Ken Pomeroy * Leon Russell * Levon Helm * Lucinda Williams * Market Square, Knoxville, TN * Michael Stipe * MJ Lenderman * Nick Cave * No Depression * Nonesuch Records * Peter Buck * R.E.M. * Randy Newman * Red Hot Chili Peppers * Richard Thompson * Smoking Dave and the Primo Dopes * Sturgill Simpson * Taj Mahal * The Beatles * The SteelDrivers * Todd Snider * Tom Petty * Thom Yorke * Tortoise * Big Ears Festival * Thirty Tigers * Tyler Childers * Waxahatchee * WDVX * WREK * KRFC * Wu Fei Recommended If You Like dive bar music club podcast, music discovery podcast, public radio music, indie music podcast, alternative rock discussion, 90s alt rock fans, eclectic music playlist, underground music scene, college radio influence, music nerd community, songwriter interviews podcast, record store culture, vinyl collecting community, record store day events, independent record stores, emerging artists spotlight, live music festivals USA, Big Ears Festival Knoxville, Americana music scene, folk and bluegrass artists, experimental music performances, Ukrainian folk band modern, jazz fusion discussion, Flea trumpet album, avant garde jazz artists, Kathleen Edwards music, Americana singer songwriter, Waxahatchee influence, indie folk duos, music recommendations podcast, album deep dives, music storytelling songs, public radio funding importance, listener supported radio, music community building, local music scenes USA, Texas indie soul music, Khruangbin style vibes, Leon Bridges collaboration, new music discovery 2026, public radio music discovery, Dive Bar Music Club, 90s alt rock, Knoxville music festival, Big Ears Festival, emerging touring songwriters, eclectic music, music playlists, public radio funding, local music scene, music obsession, record store culture, independent radio stations, music community, music recommendations, exploration of new music, artist interviews, vinyl records, music nerds, music events

Protest Folk to Trap Beats to Bedroom Pop and WTF Taylor?

This week on Dive Bar Music Club, we roll straight into our ever-evolving music discovery, joined by: Caitlin Cary, Amanda Miles, Kim Ware, Sloane Spencer, and Rachel Cholst. We kick things off with a surprise protest song from Caitlin, collaborating with Chris Stamey, on a track sharing the words on the Statue of Liberty. From there, the conversation opens up into a mixtape of current obsessions, weaving from the dreamy introspection of Leith Ross to the throwback swagger of T.I. Along the way, there’s laughter, a little friendly debate about "super double deluxe" reissues (we're rolling our eyes at you, Taylor), and plenty of real talk about why music hits so deeply. So pour yourself something good, pull up a chair, and join us for a lively exchange of songs, stories, and the shared thrill of finding your next favorite song. Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists * Apple Music [https://music.apple.com/us/library/playlist/p.DV7rlzpu3RBZ9a] * Tidal [https://tidal.com/playlist/69f1a0db-5db0-4258-be0c-dce14c4df5d2] Bands Featured in Episode 6 * Courtney Barnett [https://www.courtneybarnett.com.au/] * Duke Ellington [https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/jazz-appreciation-month-duke-ellington] * Ida [https://talesofbraveida.com/] * Will Johnson [https://will-johnson.com/] * Johnny Blue Skies/Sturgill Simpson [https://sturgillsimpson.com/] (vinyl/CD only) * Jon Lindsay [https://www.jonlindsaymusic.com/] * Kendra Morris [https://www.kendramorrismusic.com/] * Ratboys [https://www.ratboysband.com/] * Leith Ross [https://leithross.com/] * T.I. [https://www.officialti.com/] The Regulars * Caitlin Cary [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/caitlin-cary-raleigh-whiskeytown] * Rachel Cholst [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/regulars-rachel-cholst-adobe-teardops-rainbow-rodeo] * Amanda Miles [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/dive-bar-music-club-amanda-miles] * Sloane Spencer [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/dive-bar-music-club-sloane-spencer] * Kim Ware [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/dive-bar-music-club-kim-ware] Musicians, Photographers, and Other Cool People and Places Mentioned * Benji Hughes [https://benjihughesmusic.com/] * Boy Golden [https://www.boygolden.ca/] * Brian Wright [https://brianwright.bandcamp.com/] * Chris Stamey [https://www.chrisstamey.com/] * Jason Isbell [https://www.jasonisbell.com/] * Jason Molina [https://jasonmolina.com/] * Kurt Vile [https://www.kurtvile.com/] * Ludacris [https://theludacrisfoundation.org/] * Magnolia Electric Company [https://songsohia.bandcamp.com/album/magnolia-electric-co-deluxe-edition] * New Order [https://www.neworder.com/] * North Carolina Music Love Army [https://ncmusiclovearmy.bandcamp.com/] * OutKast [https://outkast.com/] * Pete Seeger [https://peteseeger.org/] * Wren Carpenter [https://wrencarpenter.bandcamp.com/album/charmed-im-sure] * Taylor Swift [https://www.taylorswift.com/] * The Replacements [https://thereplacementsofficial.com/] * Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers [https://www.tompetty.com/] * Widespread Panic [https://widespreadpanic.com/] * Yum Yum Tree [https://theyumyumtree.org/] Recommended If You Like dive bar music club, 90s alt rock, music podcast, emerging songwriters, cult band favorites, music playlists, protest music, singer-songwriter interviews, indie music recommendations, new music discovery, vinyl records, comfort music, live music discussions, music industry insights, alternative music culture, music nerds, music collaborations, music photography, zine culture, music trends

Welcome to the Amen Corner, R.E.M. Megafans, and Are Microtonal Instrumentals Even Better with a Gummy?

Summary Grab a stool at the Dive Bar Music Club, where host Sloane Spencer and Regulars Charles Hale and Nelson Gullett share their low-key, high-taste music selections. This week’s happy hour for music nerds dives deep into the miracle of the Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy's Life's Rich Pageant R.E.M. tour, where even Bobcat Goldthwait's opening set brought joy, much to their surprise. Between Charles’s treasure trove of new vinyl finds, ranging from the haunting Magnolia and Johnson Electric Co. 7" to the garage-rock grit of the Flamin' Groovies, and Nelson’s essential preview of the Big Ears Festival featuring lap-style guitar creative Yasmin Williams, the episode is a masterclass in crate-digging. It’s a passionate, defense of the weird, the instrumental, and the feel-good oldies that make being a music obsessive worth the effort. Catch Our Tastemaker Playlists 1. Apple Music [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/dive-bar-music-club-episode-5/pl.u-NpXmBDpsNmyDJ3] 2. Tidal [https://tidal.com/playlist/469bf1a3-16c6-4409-a580-e3a1ba7277e4] Bands Featured in Episode 5 1. Angine de Poitrine [https://anginedepoitrine.com/boutique] 2. Beulah [http://www.beulahmania.com/] 3. The Cure [https://www.thecure.com/] 4. Cure for Paranoia [https://cureforparanoia.com/] 5. Flamin' Groovies [https://flamingroovies.bandcamp.com/music] 6. Gwenifer Raymond [https://gweniferraymond.com/] 7. Haley Heynderickx [https://www.heynderickx.com/] and Max Garcia Conover [https://www.maxgarciaconover.com/] 8. Magnolia & Johnson Electric Co. [https://magnoliajohnsonelectricco.bandcamp.com/album/magnolia-johnson-electric-co] 9. Yasmin Williams [https://www.yasminwilliamsmusic.com/] ft Dom Flemons [https://www.theamericansongster.com/] Venues and Festivals Mentioned 1. The 40 Watt Club [https://www.40watt.com/], Athens, GA 2. Big Ears Festival [https://bigearsfestival.org/], Knoxville, TN 3. Bijou Theatre [https://knoxbijou.org/], Knoxville, TN 4. Bonnaroo [https://www.bonnaroo.com/], Manchester, TN 5. Cat’s Cradle [https://catscradle.com/], Carrboro, NC 6. Tennessee Theatre [https://www.tennesseetheatre.com/], Knoxville, TN The Regulars 1. Nelson Gullett [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/dive-bar-music-club-nelson-gullet-wdvx] 2. Charles Hale [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/charles-hale-driver-8-records-krfc-radio-fort-collins] 3. Sloane Spencer [https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/dive-bar-music-club-sloane-spencer] Musicians, Photographers, and Other Cool People and Places Mentioned 1. Adam Smith 2. Alvin Youngblood Hart 3. American Aquarium 4. Amethyst Kiah 5. Apples in Stereo 6. Arooj Aftab 7. Backsliders 8. Ben Nichols 9. Beulah 10. Billy Allen and the Pollies 11. Blind Boys of Alabama 12. The Carolina Chocolate Drops 13. Charles Wesley Godwin 14. Chocolate Genius 15. Chris Porter 16. Chris Thile 17. Darrell Scott 18. The Devil Makes Three 19. The Glands 20. MJ Lenderman 21. Jason Molina 22. Jason Narducy 23. Jay Farrar 24. Jim Dickinson 25. Jim James 26. John Zorn 27. Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson) 28. Ken Pomeroy 29. Luther Dickinson 30. Madison Cunningham 31. Magnolia Electric Co. 32. Marc Ribot 33. Michael Shannon 34. Molina and Johnson 35. Nels Cline 36. Neutral Milk Hotel 37. New Multitudes 38. Nirvana 39. Patti Smith 40. R.E.M. 41. Reggie Watts 42. Sam Amidon 43. Scott Avett 44. Sturgill Simpson 45. Sun Ra Arkestra 46. Sunny War 47. Tatiana Hargreaves 48. The 400 Unit 49. Thurston Moore 50. Waxahatchee 51. The Westerlies 52. Will Johnson 53. William Tyler 54. Wu Fei Recommended If You Like Dive Bar Music Club, music podcast, 90s alt rock, indie music recommendations, emerging songwriters, record store culture, festival music experiences, Sturgill Simpson new album, live music events, alternative music playlists, music nerd discussions, unique musical collaborations, Big Ears Festival, folk and Americana music, underground music scene, vinyl record collecting, local music highlights, new music discoveries, eclectic music tastes, passionate music discussions, R.E.M., Jason Narducy, Michael Shannon, Johnny Blue Skies