Maker's Mic Podcast

Our guest this episode is Central-California based Americana singer-songwriter and U.S. Navy Veteran, Doc Oliver. His story is one of honor, redemption, and hope. Working as a battlefield medic with multiple tours in Afghanistan, Oliver earned the nickname “Doc” stitching up wounded soldiers and civilians alike. He was honorably discharged, suffering from PTSD after being ambushed and injured by the Taliban, losing three of his best friends in the event. He now lives in Central California with his wife and three children, working as an armed guard at a nuclear power plant. Oliver struggles emotionally reliving some of his experiences as he arms himself for his job which, ultimately, led him to turn to music. “My songs are strictly an outlet...I didn’t like individual or group therapy, everyone’s different, but I have this ability to play guitar and write and that’s helped me process some heavy things and try to heal.” Oliver first met Lloyd Baggs at a concert in California where they spoke about music and his military background. After exchanging contact information Lloyd recounts, “Doc sent me a link to a few of his songs the next day, but there was no way I was prepared for what I was about to hear. Within minutes I knew that I was personally going to do everything I could to help him bring his beautifully raw, poignant songs to a much wider audience. We soon arranged for Doc to come to Nashville where we put together a band and produced an EP and a few videos for him with our Handcrafted Video crew.”

Recorded live at the Music City Center in Nashville, this episode of the Maker’s Mic podcast follows hosts Mike Luckett and Mike Newsom as they interview John Oates, accomplished solo artist and one half of the best-selling duo of all time, Hall & Oates. Over the course of an hour, Oates discusses his songwriting process as well as different aspects of engineering, producing, his experiences with co-writing, his love of Mississippi John Hurt and more.

Our guest this episode is Gordon Kennedy. The son of legendary producer, songwriter, and guitar player Jerry Kennedy, Gordon has carved out a place of his own in the world of music. He has written songs and played guitar with the likes of Peter Frampton, Garth Brooks, Ricky Skaggs, Reba McEntire, Bonnie Raitt, Tim McGraw, Wynonna, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, and many more. In 1996 he won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year for co-writing the Eric Clapton hit “Change the World".

Our guest this episode is the legendary Texas Troubadour, Robert Earl Keen. It’s impossible to sum up such a long-standing career. Robert has released close to twenty albums in his three decades as a singer and songwriter. He’s toured with Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt. His songs have been covered by George Strait, Joe Ely, and The Dixie Chicks to name a few. With a career like that, you know he has some great stories to tell.

Our guest this episode is Nashville-based singer songwriter, Erin Rae. Erin just released her most personally introspective album to date, “Putting On Airs”. This is also her first album with her newest record label, Single Lock Records - the Florence, Alabama-based label started by John Paul White, Will Trapp, and Ben Tanner.

Our guest this episode is Patrick Sweany. Patrick is keeping the blues alive and real by carrying on the styles of the musicians that came before him, like Hound Dog Taylor, Furry Lewis, and the like. He also spent some time jamming alongside a young Dan Auerbach. Patrick’s new album titled, “Ancient Noise” was produced and engineered by Matt Ross-Spang at legendary Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

John Oates is probably best known as half of the legendary pop/rock group, Hall and Oates. He’s a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, A Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee, and he was invited to play at The White House for former President Barack Obama. But there’s another side, musically, to John. His latest album, “Arkansas” pays tribute to the musicians that have greatly influenced him throughout his life, including Mississippi John Hurt and several other American Roots musicians.

Today’s guest, who we had the pleasure of recording at the 2015 Americana Music Festival, is Chance McCoy of Old Crow Medicine Show. He’s played guitar and fiddle with the Crows for the past 5 years, and now he’s ready to release his own music to the world. Listen in as we talk about life in Appalachia before Old Crow, and the road that led him to Nashville.

Our guest this episode is Justin Weaver. Justin has made quite a career as a sideman, playing guitar for such acts as Joe Nichols, Wynona Judd, and most recently, The Dixie Chicks. Listen up as we talk about everything from sharing the stage with Beyoncé, to flexing his chops at the Nashville dive bars.

Our guest this episode is Joe Pisapia. Joe is a songwriter, producer, engineer, multi-instumentalist, and a kind, loving soul. His new album, “Connection” is due out this winter. Hear how he found the inspiration for this album by traveling on trains through the European countryside. Be sure to visit joepisapia.net to find out more.

Our guest this episode is Kentucky native, Tyler Childers. We caught up with Tyler on the final night of a three-night run of shows at The Burl in Lexington, Kentucky. While the hometown crowd was eagerly awaiting his performance, we sat down with Tyler and discussed large scale, Kentucky bred criminal activity, and agate hunting. Be sure to check out his latest album Purgatory, produced by fellow Kentuckian, Sturgill Simpson.

Our guest this episode is Florence Alabama native, John Paul White. Hear how he's keeping the historic Muscle Shoals sound alive and well, and find out what brought him out of obscurity after his departure from the Grammy Award winning band, The Civil Wars. Join us as we discuss songwriting, touring, and the struggles and rewards of co-owning a record label, Single Lock Records.

Our guest this episode is a cat lover, a wrestling fan, and one hell of a singer/songwriter! Joshua Hedley has spent the past several years paying his dues and playing classic country tunes at Nashville’s best honky-tonk, Robert’s Western World. He recently sat down with Jack White and signed a deal, making him the newest member of White’s Third Man Records.

If you’re a guitar lover and you happen to find yourself near Cedaredge, Colorado, be sure to pop into Starr’s Guitars. This boutique guitar store is owned and operated by our guest this episode, David Starr. David has an affinity for fine guitars and he most certainly knows his gear! He’s also a singer/songwriter whose most recent album, “The Head and Heart” was produced and arranged by John Oates.

On this episode of Maker’s Mic, we sit down with Nashville based photographer David McClister. “What’s a photographer doing on a music based podcast?”, you might ask. David has been behind the lens for Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Merle Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Kacey Musgraves, Kendrick Lamar, Kings of Leon, The Alabama Shakes, Leon Bridges, The Avett Brothers, Ryan Adams…and the list goes on. Listen up as we discuss the role of photography in the modern music biz, and what it’s like to capture iconic images of musical legends. But don’t just take our word for it, see for yourself by visiting David’s website at davidmcclister.com. 

Bob Minner grew up in small town Missouri playing banjo and guitar with Bluegrass Gospel groups. Today you’ll find him playing acoustic guitar on a much larger stage for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Find out how Bob became Tim’s go-to acoustic guitar guy, and listen as he describes the hard work and dedication it takes to stay on top of his game. Bob also talks about his love for Collings Guitars and the sad recent loss of their creator, Bill Collings.

On this episode of Maker’s Mic, we talk to Nashville-based singer-songwriter, Charlie Worsham. Listen up as we go all the way back to Charlie’s childhood. We discuss watching his dad’s band dismantle an Episcopal Church to put on a rock show, his more formative years after graduating from Berklee and moving to Nashville, and suffering the most difficult break up of his life. We add all that up to get to where he is now, touring with some of country music’s biggest acts and celebrating the release of his second full-length studio album, “Beginning of Things”.

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter, Sam Outlaw joins us this week to discuss his honestly introspective new album, Tenderheart. We also dive into the beauty of California’s Central Coast, dodge some insect attacks, and discuss the hardships of touring with a family at home. This interview coincides with his LR Baggs Handcrafted video session, which can be seen on the LR Baggs YouTube channel, or at lrbaggs.com.