Music In My Shoes

Conversation with The Stifftones: Rock 'n' Rollin’ in a Hearse E133

A band that lives in a hearse sounds like a gimmick until you hear the reasons it happened and the work it takes to keep it going. We’re joined in the studio by Shaun and Rachel from The Stifftones, a DIY touring duo that turned a full reset into a full-time musical life, complete with two dogs, a rolling home, and a schedule built around small venues, open mics, and the people they meet along the way. We talk through the origin story, from an open mic to a relationship they describe as “best frenemies,” and how that honesty becomes a creative advantage. They break down the practical side of life on the road: dividing roles, handling tension in tight spaces, and learning how to keep moving when the vehicle that carries your entire world decides to quit on you. If you care about independent music, touring logistics, and the emotional reality behind “chasing the dream,” this conversation gets specific fast. We also dig into the album Existentialism on Main Street and how The Stifftones captured tracks across multiple locations and collaborators while staying true to their sound. Along the way we hear about mentors like Johnny Hickman of Cracker, connections to Camper Van Beethoven, the story behind their cover of “Father Winter,” and a wild REM thread that includes a Peter Buck jacket. Listen through to the end for a live performance of “These Times,” then subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push to go all in, and leave us a review. What part of their road life surprised you most? Learn Something New or Remember Something Old Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages Reach out to us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265604/fan_mail/new]

Billboard Hits of May 1981: All Those Years Ago E132

The fastest way to time-travel is to press play on a song you haven’t heard in years, then realize you still know every word. We pull up the Billboard Hot 100 from May 23, 1981 and take it for a spin, bouncing between classic rock, radio pop, and the kind of tracks that were simply unavoidable if you lived anywhere near a car stereo or a skating rink. Along the way, we dig into what’s actually happening inside these hits: Billy Squier’s “The Stroke” as a music business story, Santana’s “Winning” as a case of “this does not sound like Santana,” and the emotional weight of George Harrison’s “All Those Years Ago,” made even heavier by the Beatles connections around it. We also hit Tom Petty’s “The Waiting,” Hall and Oates’ “You Make My Dreams,” and the early MTV effect that turned songs into permanent memories, for better or worse. Then we get personal: a Jefferson Starship chorus becomes a full-on dinner-table bit, Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” comes with a wild songwriting backstory, and REO Speedwagon’s “Take It On The Run” gets a deep breakdown of why a vocal and a guitar solo can feel like one continuous emotional punch. We close out the chart with the weird brilliance of Stars on 45 and the long reign of Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes,” then jump to a modern live-music recap featuring Kevin Kinney, Peter Buck, and a surprise Mike Mills appearance, plus a quick Ramones spotlight and a final Van Halen 5150 tangent. If you love 1980s music, classic rock storytelling, and honest takes on music history, subscribe, and share this with a friend who lived through it. Learn Something New or Remember Something Old Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages Reach out to us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265604/fan_mail/new]

Top Gun 40th Anniversary, and Show Me the Way Till the End of the Day E131

Top Gun turns 40, and we can’t talk about it without talking about the soundtrack that still punches through your speakers. From the first seconds of Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” on the aircraft carrier, we trace how 80s movie music uses needle drops to build character, tension, romance, and pure momentum. We get into the details that make the Top Gun soundtrack legendary: the way the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” revives an older classic for a new generation, how Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” becomes a musical signature for Maverick and Charlie, and why “Great Balls of Fire” remains one of the most unforgettable bar-scene singalongs in film. We also swap quick takes on the movie itself, the sequel callbacks, and why sometimes the music ages even better than the action. Then we jump into our Music in My Shoes picks and stories, including a huge milestone for the show: listeners in 100 countries. Along the way we hit The Kinks, The Doors, Peter Frampton’s live-album magic, the Psychedelic Furs “Pretty in Pink” re-recording drama, Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love” and the power of MTV-era visuals, plus a billion-views moment for the Outfield’s “Your Love” and a spring break memory that drilled it into one of our brains forever. Wrap it up with No Doubt’s “Just a Girl” and the eternal question of what you love hearing versus what you’d actually put on your own playlist. If you like music history, Billboard chart trivia, and the stories behind the songs, subscribe, share this with a friend who wore out their Top Gun cassette, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. Learn Something New or Remember Something Old Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages Reach out to us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265604/fan_mail/new]

More In-Studio Chat with Laura Slade Wiggins, Jonathan Spencer, and Vaylor Trucks: Slightly Famous Somebodies E130

What happens when musicians stop trying to look cool and start trying to tell the truth? We continue our sit down with Slightly Famous Somebodies for a freewheeling ride through creativity, aging, and the weird influences that make a band sound like itself. The deeper we get, the clearer it becomes: authenticity is not a brand, it is a practice, and sometimes it shows up only after you have failed enough times to stop performing for approval. We trade left field favorites and guilty loves that somehow make perfect sense once you hear the why. Then we go full music history mode with jam band love and a personal Allman Brothers Band thread. You will hear the backstory of the Brothers and Sisters cover photo and the band’s origin story. We wrap with AthFest plans and making live shows feel rare and special. RootsRockRevival.com for tickets and details. Learn Something New or Remember Something Old Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages Reach out to us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265604/fan_mail/new]

Slightly Famous Somebodies: Laura Slade Wiggins, Jonathan Spencer, and Vaylor Trucks In-Studio Chat E129

We’re joined in the studio by Jonathan Spencer, Laura Slade Wiggins, and Vaylor Trucks from Slightly Famous Somebodies, and the story starts with a simple ask: record one Kevn Kinney song as part of a living tribute. That one track turns into more covers, then a hard pivot into original music, and suddenly the “project” becomes a real band with momentum, a core lineup, and a sound that can stretch from heartfelt rock to something delightfully unhinged. • Whether it's 'Shameless' or 'Pineapple Express' or guest appearances on multiple television shows or the son of an Allman Brother, it makes them all slightly famous • how the name Slightly Famous Somebodies is born from trying to pick the “worst” band name • why Just Pour hits so hard and how confidence changes after a song lives for a while • how Vaylor Trucks joins through a YouTube album-review series and a mutual friend connection • Pet Sounds vs London Calling and how background shapes what we hear • the band’s wide influence map from country and Athens rock to jazz fusion and avant-garde • AthFest, 40 Watt Club plans and what makes one-time lineups special • the best feeling in music: recommending something and watching it click for someone else Learn Something New or Remember Something Old Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages Reach out to us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265604/fan_mail/new]