The Load Out Music Podcast

Experimentation sparks creativity. When Colorado-based country music band The Barlow buckled down to write and record the new album High Spirits—the band's follow-up to 2022's New Year, Old Me—there were no constraints, no boundaries, and freedom to explore and create songs that endeavor to connect with people in a meaningful way. "We tossed the rule book out on this record," according to Shea Boynton, The Barlow's lead vocalist and guitarist. "Our goal was to create great songs, regardless of genre. This time around, we made a point to be more open to different sounds and approaches." Boynton—who joined us for the latest episode of The Load Out Music Podcast—leads the hard touring Red Dirt country act which has spent time on the road with Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Whitey Morgan, and The Steel Woods. His bandmates include Ben Richter on drums, Jason Berner on bass, and Brad Johnson on guitar, with an assist from Craig Bennington on pedal steel and banjo and Andy Schneider on keyboards. Boynton gets raw and real in our conversation, not mincing words about the industry and life in today's music industry.

Whether you know his music or not, Sam Morrow is one of the truly great, under-appreciated southern rock artists making music today.  That's why the likes of Blackberry Smoke, Whitey Morgan and others have called upon him and his immensely talented band to tour with them, and why once people witness Morrow's talents live -- they are generally hooked for good. We welcome Sam back to the show to talk about the multitude of changes in his life over the past two year: His move from LA to Nashville, getting married, his new band, and of couse, his immaculate new hair. Enjoy a great conversationw with a terrific artist -- the great Sam Morrow. 

Some know our latest guest on the Load Out music podcast—the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tony Kamel, from his days fronting the acclaimed bluegrass outfit Wood & Wire, while some might be familiar with his solo work, including the hit song "Amen." But on his latest studio album, We're All Gonna Live (2025), Kamel captures a no frills live-to-tape energy, perfectly complimenting the weighty but optimistic subjects encompassed in his character-based songs. When he was fronting Wood & Wire, Kamel garnered praise throughout the music world for his unique approach to performing, writing and recording—which ultimately led to a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Record in 2018. His debut solo record Back Down Home (2021) then saw him team up with legendary songwriter Bruce Robison and his analog based production company, The Next Waltz. That album held a #1 spot on the Alt-Country Radio chart and was on the Americana Charts for several weeks. Produced jointly by Kamel and Robison, the new We're All Gonna Live is Kamel's third record for the label Blue Corn Music and we're thrilled to welcome him to the Load Out, serving as further proof that Kamel finds a way to sync up with anyone he's in the room with, or in our case, on Zoom. Enjoy a great new episode of The Load Out music podcast with Tony Kamel!

Talk about a good year. St. Louis singer-songwriter Mattie Schell has certainly had one, touring with the Allman-Betts band, playing at Merlefest, signing with Nashville-based Compass Records and releasing a promising new album. At times evoking memories of the late Janis Joplin—particularly live—she's forging ahead in new directions. In April, she dropped her first solo album—the rollicking Everything Means Nothing—for Compass, which also has artists including Leftover Salmon, Alison Brown, A.J. Croce, Colin Hay, Molly Tuttle, Kelly Hunt, Robbie Fulks and others. So yeah, it's been a good year for Mattie Schell, and we're thrilled to welcome her to the Load Out music podcast. 

Success in popular music—yesterday and today—is often defined by a simple word: Perseverance. Indeed, it's an endurance game steeped in paying dues, playing shows in front of minimal crowds over and again, gradually building a name and a sound, and finding an audience. Most successful musicians are lifers, and perhaps no one exemplifies that quite like John Corabi. He's fronted or played in bands ranging from SCREAM to The Union, Mötley Crüe, Ratt, and of course, one of his most enduring and successful projects—the critically acclaimed supergroup, The Dead Daisies.   In 2022, Corabi released his autobiography "Horseshoes & Hand Grenades," and he is finalizing a solo album for release. In the meantime, at the end of May 2025, The Dead Daisies dropped a terrific new album Lookin' for Trouble—an homage to some of the greatest blues artists with versions of songs including "Black Betty," "Little Red Rooster," "The Thrill is Gone," "Sweet Home Chicago" and more.  So strap in for a great conversation with the ultimate music road warrior, the great John Corabi, on the latest episode of The Load Out Music Podcast!

Throughout his career in rock 'n' roll, the great Jon Foreman of the band Switchfoot has soared to immense heights. A few years back he joined us to talk about his career and today he returns to discuss an exciting new project he's embarked on with Blues legend Buddy Guy. Produced by Tom Hambridge—Buddy's longtime collaborator and acclaimed Blues music producer—the new single "Last Man Standing" from Switchfoot and Guy is a smokin' rocker that brings Jon back full circle as Buddy has long-been a major influence. The track marks a return to heavier guitar sounds for Switchfoot, something they've leaned away from in recent years; and explores themes of resilience, survival, and generational legacy, told through two distinct voices. Switchfoot is currently working on a new record, inspired, in part, by the energy and tone of this single. We welcome Jon back to the show! 

They say that true country music is dead these days. Well, that is with the exception of a select few artists, old souls, who remain dedicated to the craft. Anna Wescoat is one of those artists and her first studio album, WORLD FAMOUS, is a testament to that spirit. With a style reminiscent of country greats like Patsy Cline and George Jones, Wescoat bean playing piano and singing with her family at a very young age, and that grew into a career after she studied music in college, where she learned to play more than 20 instruments. A natural born storyteller, she brings her multi-instrumentalist skills forward in her live performances where Wescoat plays up to eight instruments at a time with her ability to use live looping technology, she has truly found her niche in the world of solo performing. We welcome her to the Load Out Music Podcast! 

Today we diverge from The Load's Out's typical menu of Americana and roots fare into something much more complex.     The band 2Lot is not your typical collection of musicians. Indeed, creating its own unique brand of electronic jam music—fusing electronic elements with inspiration from classic jam bands, hip hop, soul, funk, jazz and rock—2Lot teems with intellectual prowess. After all, the band's name comes from the second law of thermodynamics, as its goal is to resist entropy, or a lack of order or predictability, gradually declining into disorder.   Led by a beacon of U.S. industry, unlike many bands, 2Lot's primary goal focuses on activating and inspiring people while driving social change. The band seeks to highlight causes it believes in such as overcoming addiction—something near and dear to our host's heart—helping kids overcome barriers and discovering gifts, and addressing shortfalls criminal justice.   We welcome in Chase Koch and Robert Trusko of 2Lot for a fascinating conversation on the Load Out Music Podcast. 

There has never been more high-quality music being made than there is today. However, unless you're looking for sugar-coated, synth-driven pop sounds—the discovery of that music is often left to the mercy of streaming algorithms. Take, for example, punk-infused Americana (think The Clash meets Loretta Lynn). There's a torrent of it, particularly a number of very good female artists such as past-guest Sarah Borges, Lydia Loveless, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Jamie Wyatt and others.  Arguably at the head of the line is our latest guest on The Load Out Music Podcast: the truly wonderful and talented Lilly Hyatt.  The daughter of the legendary Americana artist John Hiatt, Lilly Hiatt first earned buzz with a pair of early solo records. Then came her 2017 breakout album Trinity Lane, which was produced by Michael Trent of Shovels & Rope. It's a gritty collection of heartfelt yet rollicking rockers, including the title track, "The Night David Bowie Died" and "All Kinds of People," among others. Hiatt's newest album, Forever, sees her stylistically return to Trinity Lane, as we discussed. Written and recorded in her home near Nashville, Forever is a stellar collection of vulnerable songs that grapple with growth and change, escape and anxiety, self-loathing and self-love. She cut the record with her husband, Coley Hinson, who produced and played most of the instruments throughout. The result is a raw, unvarnished collection that toes the line between guitar-driven, alt-rock muscle and singer-songwriter sensitivity.

Some modern bands—ones like Jack White, Larkin Poe, Greta Van Fleet and Marcus King among others—they are beginning to standout for their exceptional musical talents while still holding onto what has become somewhat of a lost art form.  "It's not uncommon that young people are making music that nods to the past," according to the lead guitarist of one of those bands, Tyler Armstrong of The Band Feel, during the first episode of Season 6 of The Load Out Music Podcast.  Only about two years old, The Band Feel evolved out of the now-defunct Alton, Illinois-based band known as Nick Bifano and the Innocents. It has quickly become a dynamic quartet, driven by the partnership of Armstrong and lead vocalist Garrett Barcus. Rounded out by drummer T.J. Steinwart and Kadin Rea on bass guitar, the band has quickly become known for its sizzling performances that pay homage to the classic rock era while adding a modern twist. Most comparisons place the The Band Feel somewhere between Led Zeppelin and The Black Crowes, and indeed, watching Armstrong and Barcus on stage is reminiscent of the chemistry once displayed by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.   The Band Feel had what Armstrong calls its "coming out party" just after Covid, releasing an EP that was produced by the five-time Grammy-nominated and ASCAP award winning producer, Paul Moak, at The Smokestack in Nashville. The quartet hit the road in support of Dirty Honey last Fall on the "Can't Find The Breaks" tour, playing more 30 markets in theatres across the US.    So with the newness of success, Armstrong—who is remarkably quiet and unassuming—is taking it day-by-day, just trying to focus on building a stronger brotherhood with his bandmates.  "We're still pretty new to this thing," he said with great humility. "I think we view ourselves as special but it's always interesting hearing it. The only expectation in this world is to treat someone as good as you can. It goes deeper than my service level statement. With the band the only expectation is that you treat those of us in the band the best you can." Special indeed. Welcome to Episode 1 of Season 6 of The Load Out Music Podcast with Tyler Armstrong of The Band Feel. You should be hearing a lot about the band in the coming years.

Jovin Webb was first introduced to America through American Idol in 2020, but the Louisiana-native is much more than a reality show contestant. His gritty vocals and dynamic style promise to make him one of the world's most exciting new blues and roots artists.  His recent debut release album Drifter is a stunning 12-track collection that blends blues, soul, and Southern rock, showcasing his raw, powerful vocals and deeply personal storytelling.  As Lionel Richie put it during his time on American Idol, "This is what barbecue sauce sounds like." Get to know Jovin Webb in our latest episode—and final one of 2024—of the Load Out Music Podcast!

Dan Auerbach, the Black Keys frontman, had always been a big fan of the late Tony Joe White. The singer-songwriter—some knew him as "The Swamp Fox" had an unmistakably swampy baritone and down-home style. He was best known, of course, for songs like "Poke Salad Annie" and "Rainy Night in Georgia." Over his career, White's songs were recorded by the likes of Elvis Presley, Waylon Jennings, Ray Charles and Tina Turner, among others. In 2018, White passed away after suffering a heart attack in Tennessee. Afterward, his son and manager Jody White unearthed boxes of reel-to-reel tapes filled with hundreds of demos that no one had ever heard. It was a treasure trove of classic Tony Joe White material just sitting in storage. So Jody sent an email to Auerbach with one of the tracks, as for years the two had spoken about a collaboration.   What has come of that has been a terrific collection of new Tony Joe White music with more to come and Jody White recently joined us on the Load Out Music Podcast to talk about his father, the legacy of the Swamp Fox, and what's coming next.

Andrew Browning, a gritty, California-born singer-songwriter whose new album Love is a Beautiful Thing (out 11/22) digs deep into the messy, raw truths of love and human connection. This is a record that stands out for its emotional honesty and layered narratives. The singer-songwriter delves into the complexities of love with a sound that is distinctly Californian—dark, irreverent, and pulsing with raw rock energy. The title track captures the dualities of passion and heartache, offering a personal reckoning, while songs like "Rock n Roll Cocaine" and "Dirty Girl" channel the gritty, rebellious spirit of California's rock scene. Tracks like "San Fernando" and "Rose Avenue and Main Street" paint vivid, evocative pictures of life in the Golden State. This album embraces the imperfections of love—its highs, lows, and everything in between—brought to life with massive production, powerful vocals, and big rock endings that showcase both Browning's roots and his narrative depth. We cover it all on the latest Load Out music podcast!

Whether on behalf of Dodge trucks, on the show "Animal Kingdom," on behalf of Monster Energy, ESPN, in the video game Cyberpunk 2077, or just on the radio—you've probably heard The Cold Stares.   For the past decade, The Cold Stares have toured the world relentlessly as a duo, blowing away audiences across the US and Europe with a fierce, blistering live show that belied their bare bones, guitar-and-drums setup. Now, the band is embracing a whole new kind of chemistry as they launch their next chapter, adding a third member and channeling the classic power trio sound they grew up on with their explosive new album. We recently sat down with the band's ridiculously talented frontman, founder, lead singer and guitarist Chris Tapp about the band's newest album THE SOUTHERN that's pretty great.

Best known for the 2004 hit "Life Less Ordinary," the indie rock band Carbon Leaf has been at it since the early 1990s. That's when they got their start in Richmond, Virginia, alongside the likes of the Dave Matthews Band, Cracker, GWAR, Fighting Gravity, the Pat McGee Band, and more. The band just released its much-anticipated new album, "Time is the Playground," Carbon Leaf's first full-length record in a decade. The album blends nostalgic storytelling with nuanced, folk-infused indie rock, and is a brilliant rumination on time, love and personal growth that features both rediscovered musical fragments and brand new material. We recently caught up with Carbon Leaf founder Barry Privett on The Load Out music podcast to discuss all that is Carbon Leaf.

If you are a musician and have a stamp of approval from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, and blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa—odds are good things are coming your way. Thus is the case of our latest guest on the Load Out Music Podcast: British-born blues rocker Joanne Shaw Taylor, who released her latest album, Heavy Soul, this past June. Taylor's new record, Heavy Soul, dropped June 7, through Joe Bonamassa's Journeyman Records. It was produced by Kevin Shirley who is known for his work with the Black Crowes, Journey, and Aerosmith. The album infuses Taylor's blues origins, blending contemporary soul-pop with traditional blues; and its title track delves into emotional struggles with powerful lyrics and stirring melodies.  Ultimately, Taylor's focused on trying to ensure her sound is fresh album-after album while still maintaining her unique signature style. "When I look back on my catalogue of work, hopefully when I'm 170-years-old," she noted with a laugh. "I want every album to be different…I want them all to sound like the same artist. Does it sound like me? I'm not going to put out a rockabilly album. And also, how do I keep it fresh for myself?" Enjoy a terrific chat with the amazingly talented Joanne Shaw Taylor on the latest episode of The Load Out Music Podcast.

Welcome back to the Load Out Music Podcast where we most recently caught up with a much-heralded Americana band from my home state of Virginia. They are widely known for their annual Red Wings Roots Music Festival in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in the western part of the state and have an ambitious new album out entitled SIDEWAYS. They are The Steel Wheels and we learned they are NOT named after the Rolling Stones album of the same name. We welcomed in Trent Wagler of the band to talk all things Steel Wheels. Enjoy!

We pick up on episode 11 of season 5 of the Load Out Music Podcast with a unique episode when we welcome in Jake Neuman of Jake Neuman and the Jaybirds, along with producer and former guest Greg Griffith. Greg not only produced the new record by the Jaybirds -- "Little Bitty Town" -- but he also produced the new album by my own band, Atomic Junction. All in the last month or so. So the three of us discuss both albums and the experiences in producing them. 

Jason Bonham's name is synonymous with rock royalty. It started, of course, with his father—the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, who is considered one of the most transformative rock drummers in rock 'n' roll history. But Jason is no lesser emulation of his father. He's a Grammy winner who has carved a different, yet highly influential path for himself, playing legendary shows with the living members of Zeppelin, touring with Sammy Hagar, leading his own band—Bonham—and playing with Foreigner and UFO among others. He has a smoking hot new album on which he yet again distinguishes his playing—just out with the super group Black Country Communion (BCC). He helped found BCC in 2010 with blues-rock icon Joe Bonamassa, the legendary Glen Hughes and Derek Sherinan, and the band's exceptional music continues to shine some 14 years later. We speak to Jason on the latest episode of The Load Out Music Podcast and discuss his remarkable career and life—especially his turn in the legendary Steel Dragon next to Mark Wahlberg—and everything in between.

He may not be the tallest musician going, but John Oates casts a immensely large shadow in music. One part of the most successful duo in music history—Daryl Hall & John Oates—he co-wrote a number of the band's legendary catalogue including "Sara Smile," "She's Gone," "Out of Touch," "You Make My Dreams," "I Can't Go for That," "Maneater" and more. In 2014, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2014, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But at 76, Oates is taking stock in his life, reflecting on the love he shares with his wife and their son, with his father who is 100, and those who are truly important to him.   "I wanted to make sure that things were clean and tight as I move forward in my life," Oates said on the most recent episode of The Load Out Music Podcast. Without question, he's moving on—leaving his immensely successful business and artistic partnership with Hall behind, working to sell his stake in the duo's catalogue, touring with a new band and performing songs that have deeper meaning in his life. Oates is simply going forward and disconnecting from things that have held him up. He lays it all on the table in a great conversation on the Load Out. Enjoy!