Adobe And Teardrops Podcast

This week, I review some of my favorite anti-racist country songs -- and what anti-racism even means. And yes, it's meant to be this short! Read the transcript here. Links from the episode: The Spotify playlist this episode is based on My article in The Boot about the ACM Awards Redlining in Country Music: Representation in the Country Music Industry (2000 - 2020) 2016 interview w/ M Lockwood Porter Country Music Against White Supremacy and the #ChangeCountry Pledge Donate to the Color My Country Grant Tracks played: M. Lockwood Porter -- “Charleston” (How to Dream Again) Karen and the Sorrows -- “The Price of the Ticket” (The Narrow Place) Jason Isbell -- “White Man’s World” (The Nashville Sound) The Skipperdees -- “Sins of the Father” (The SkipperdeEP) Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires -- “Whitewash” (Live at the Nick) Amy Ray -- “Didn’t Know a Damn Thing” (Holler) Next week’s topic: Contemporary Classics -- brand new music with a vintage feel Podcast intro by Alma Contra, music from Two Cow Garage

This week's episode is the LAST episode in this format, where I spin some new tunes that I like. Moving forward, each episode will revolve around a certain theme! Album of the Week: Doc Feldman -- A Healthy Dose of Anxiety The first half of the album is a healthy dose of some anti-anxiety; this album is a bit of a left turn for Doc, veering away from heartland rock and ploughing full-speed ahead into 70s-style Southern rock, like we heard on “Let Me Love You.” But Doc doesn’t make things simple. Even with that easy ridin’ music, these lyrics are gorgeous and thoughtful. Meanwhile, “Heavy Edges,” where the album gets its title from, is an almost chamber pop jeremiad about living in late-stage capitalism: one that would do Two Cow Garage proud. This is on my album of the year list to revisit in December.   Sarah Jarosz -- “Johnny” (World On the Ground) (1:57) Doc Feldman -- “Let Me Love You” (A Healthy Dose of Anxiety)(5:57) Two Cow Garage -- “Death of the Self-Preservation Society” (Death of the Self-Preservat

Read the episode transcript here! Rachel has some big personal news, which should explain why this episode is late! Plus, the best in Americana and queer punk. Album of the Week: Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band -- Dance Songs For Hard Times Anyone familiar with their work knows that the Big Damn Band does nothing but dance songs, but this time around the trio is playing with as much urgency as fun. Regardless of the events of 2020, there's always hard times for people somewhere, and there've been plenty of hard times since 2016. The reverend and his revelers take the blues to an elemental level, one where venting about difficulties takes as much pride of place as having fun. Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band -- “Ways and Means” (Dance Songs for Hard Times) (3:01) DL Rossi -- “Whiskey” (Lonesome Kind) (6:39) Under the Rocks -- “Palm of Your Hand” (Single) (10:17) Veronique Medrano -- “Wasted Days” (Single) (16:49)  Brightwire -- “Tears Through the Sunshine” (20:41)  Edwin -- “Face in Chrome” (West) (23:53) Land

In this episode, there are two Rachels, three Zachs, and three songs by country artists who eschew Nashville. Rachel Hurley is my co-pilot on this one! Rachel is the headmistress of Sweetheart PR and co-hosts the Music Rookie podcast. She talks about her impressive journey through the music industry before we gush about the music we love this week. Read a transcript of this week’s episode on Adobe & Teardrops! Zack Joseph -- “Keeping Me Sane” (Keeping Me Sane)(8:10) Zach Schmidt -- “I Can’t Dance” (Raise a Banner) (12:26) Zachary Lucky -- “No Shame in Working Hard” (Midwestern) (15:46) Twinnie -- “Chasing” (Single) (19:42) Sir Canyon -- “Drift on Down” (Single) (36:45) Van Plating -- “The Way Down” (Single) (30:38) Podcast intro by Alma Contra, music from Two Cow Garage’s “Stars & Gutters” Send me music via SubmitHub! Send me money via Ko-fi or Patreon. Find Rachel and her comic via https://linktr.ee/rachel.cholst

Hi, everyone! Welcome to Episode 166! My brain is in vacation mode. I stayed in a ridiculous mcmansion. In this episode, we get into some brand new music, some crate-digging, and an interview with Mackenzie Shivers! Dallas Moore -- “Blue Jean Jesus” (The Rain) (2:21) I Can Lick Any Son Of a Bitch in the House -- “It Don’t Get Much Better Than This” (Mayberry) (5:56) The Roseline -- “Seven Hundred Second Chances” (Single) (8:45) The Blips -- “Gold Rush” (The Blips) (13:03) The District Attorneys -- “Boomtown” (Slowburner) (16:16) The Pollies -- “You Want It” (Transmissions) (19:23) June Star -- “Seven Pieces” (Single) (23:06)  Ryan Barry Quintet -- “Desert Son” (Moonlight) (26:45) Jeremy Parsons -- “Something Other Than You Are” (Things to Come) (30:24) Interview w/ Mackenzie Shivers (34:40) Podcast intro by Alma Contra, music from Two Cow Garage’s “Stars & Gutters” Send me music via SubmitHub! Send me money via Ko-fi or Patreon. Find Rachel and her comic via https://linktr.ee/rachel.cholst

It’s episode 165 of Adobe & Teardrops! Thanks for sticking with me!   Well, everything is coming up Rachel this week. I’ve been on spring break. I joined a fantasy baseball league. I joined a queer softball league. Opening day is in less than an hour as I record this. We might be moving into a 2-bedroom apartment in the same building. Oh yeah -- things are good. Also, an interview with Hey, King!   Album of the Week: Hope Dunbar -- Sweetheartland   Hope Dunbar’s Sweetheartland. This is the kind of music I’ve been looking for since I started Adobe & Teardrops. Dunbar has an awesome heartland rock sound while staying true to herself, something that, frankly, I haven’t seen many women who go for that sound really succeed at. She’s a great storyteller, which we’ll hear on “What Were You Thinking,” and can really pull out the stops with “Evacuate,” which Patreon subscribers will hear. Elizabeth King -- “Living in the Last Days” (Living in the Last Days) (2:46) Cristina Vane -- “Blueberry Hill

Hey, y’all! Welcome to episode 164 of Adobe & Teardrops! From now on, you can read the a transcript of the podcast on Adobe & Teardrops.    My computer decided to pick a fight with me, so this one is super late and I won’t be doing an extended cut for Patreon subscribers cuz I just want to get this done. Sorry about that.   Album of the Week   Miko Marks’ Our Country is truly a testament to what country music can sound like when we expand our definitions of it. Spoiler alert: it’s so much better. This album came to Marks in a dream several years after she gave up on Nashville when it pushed her out. You can read my interview with her by clicking on the link in the show notes or in the transcript. Our Country is a tour de force of classic country, soul, and their meeting place. We’ll begin with the first track off the album, “Ancestors.”   (1:15) Karen and the Sorrows -- “Walk Through the Desert” (The Narrow Place) (6:05) Sunny War -- “Like Nina” (Simple Syrup) (10:34) Esther Rose -- “Keeps Me Running”

For a complete transcript of this episode, click here! New website, who dis? Adobe & Teardrops condemns the violence against AAPI women this past week. I played a set of AAPI Americana artists in solidarity, and to remind us that this impacts the Americana world as well. Album of the Week: Melissa Carper -- Daddy's Country Gold I also wrote this up in No Depression. I can’t say enough that Melissa Carper is so freakin smart. Daddy’s Country Gold is vintage-style excellence, but it also subverts classic country music and insist on adding a queer presence there. As we’ll see on “Makin’ Memories,” a lot of this album is about questioning the past, and what really happened, and maybe seeing new things in it that we didn’t before. Gabe Lee -- “Ol’ Smokey (Reimagined)” (Single) (2:49) Mercy Bell -- “Black Dress” (All Good Cowboys) (6:40) Amina Shareef Ali -- “Farewell to My Man” (In the Dark (Awake of Course)) (11:26) Morgan Wade -- “Other Side” (16:26) (Reckless) Rob Leines -- “Saturday Night” (19:3

 I won the Self-Made Indie Podcaster Award for Best Female Host and Best Music Podcast! Thank you so much!!! I was super busy this week what with applying to grad school and learning how to be a social animal again! This week has some awesome music, so let’s get into it!   Album of the Week: Semler -- Preacher’s Kid   I don’t have Grace Baldridge’s experience of growing up queer and Evangelical, but you don’t need to be Christian to have shame around being queer. Before I get into the album, I do want to point out that Baldridge pulled a Lil Nas X and listed this album under Christian music -- after all, it is about their experience with the religion. And it’s music. And it has since shot up to #1 of the Apple Music Christian charts. Maybe it’s Baldridge’s gravelly voice; maybe it’s the way they expertly intertwine their experiences of pain, humor, awkwardness, and empowerment. Whatever your background, this is an album that gently reminds you of the queer shame you felt going up, that maybe you still h

Arr, matey! Sling some skilly’n’duff and grab a tankard of October Ale, because this episode features a sea shanty by Brian Jacques, the author of my beloved Redwall books. Which, by the way, Rosa and I are going to make a podcast about it.   Also, some of the best new Americana out this week!   Album of the Week: Charles Ellsworth -- Honeysuckle Summer     Ellsworth’s music has always had an excellent Americana sensibility, but in the past it has ranged from humorous to straight-ahead spleen. On Honeysuckle Summer, he cuts to his own core with some of the most honest and personal songs I’ve heard from him, with beautiful storytelling that really did make my heart ache.“Blood in the Halls” is easily one of the best songs about gun control I’ve heard while making this blog. The Liverpool Fisherman -- “Yate’s White’s Blues” (Swallow the Anchor) Kaiti Jones -- “Gettin’ Around To It” (Tossed) Charles Ellsworth -- “Gripping Onto Water” (Honeysuckle Summer) The Prairie S

Better late than never!!! Hey! Vote for me in the Self Made Indie Podcast Awards for Best Music Podcast, Best Female Host, and Best Patreon here! Voting ends on 2/28!   Album of the Week: Ben Trickey -- We Are Not Lucky We Are Blessed   Ben Trickey’s newest album, We Are Not Lucky We Are Blessed, is his finest effort to date. It’s making me do things I haven’t for a long time: feel things, for example. But, most importantly, it made me feel sad when it ended because I wanted more. Trickey sings and writes with a prophetic voice reminiscent of Bill Mallonee of the Vigilantes of Love. While I feature some of the quieter songs on the podcast, Trickey can fill a stadium with his artful soundscapes, the soundtrack to despair, dread, and, in spite of it all, hope.   Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Mando Saenz -- “The Leaving Side” (All My Shame) Olivia Ellen Lloyd

I made some found poems out of the song titles! Hope you enjoy! Album of the Week: Casper Allen -- The Magnolia Sessions Casper Allen's got the perfect singing voice -- and his writing and playing aren't too far behind. This live recording, including some older songs and new songs that are being prepped for his solo debut, finds Allen at his rawest and most relaxed. We can hear him chatting with his girlfriend and the folks from Anti-Corporate Records who were manning the recording. In fact, it's this session that inspired the series. I interviewed Aaron Lee Tasjan for Country Queer Spotlight! Listen here or subscribe on your podcast app!   Vote for me for the Self-Made Independent Podcasters Award!   Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Spencer Burton -- “Further” (Coyote) Katarina Pejak -- “Silver Little River"(Roads That Cross) Brooke Brown -- “I Don’t Chase

It's the February 12th episode of this here thing, but we're not gonna do Valentine's Day. Bleh.   Speaking of "bleh," why are people listing Morgan Wallen as a musical influence after this past week? You don't realize what that says about you? Or maybe you do... Also, Bella is a cuddle pirate.   Album of the Week: The Barlow -- The Horseshoe Lounge   This album is perfect. I know that's not an exciting thing for a music writer to say but, really, I wouldn't change a note on here. The Barlow have pitch-perfect lyrics: stories of ordinary people that are so carefully told, and with so much empathy, that you will Feel Things. But the band also kicks in with just the perfect mix of distortion and steel guitars to make it feel like a party, or that you're hanging out at the eponymous Horseshoe Lounge. Goodness knows, we all need things to help us feel like we're having a night out with our favorite local band, and The Horseshoe Lounge takes me there.   Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episod

 Rachel is snow-blind and annoyed! So only one thing is new. But also, there’s lots of jazz, country, and rock in this week’s episode -- just a fun smorgasbord of everything! Album of the Week: Mary Halvorson -- Code Girl   I don’t know enough about jazz to say anything educated about this album. But from the perspective of someone who’s into guitar-based music, Halvorson is incredible. She can shred as hard as any hair metal band, but chooses her moments of maximalism carefully. Code Girl is a brief visit into a universe with epic vistas and narrow windows. And if you’ve been listening to rock’n’roll for any period of time, you’ll appreciate a jazz take on the old “I’m sick of touring” song.   While you’re here, check out this list of Caribbean country music from Holler.   Huge thanks to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Explore sponsorship opportunities and start monetizing your podcast by signing up here: https://podcorn.com/podcasters/ Sarah King -- “War Pigs

As always, this episode is PACKED with country, punk, blues, pretty much anything you want. Bella co-hosts, plus we get an interview with the delightful Bronte Fall!   Album of the Week: Pony Bradshaw -- Calico Jim   This album is rife with intensely passionate songwriting and a true sense of place. On Calico Jim, Pony Bradshaw explores the underbelly of Appalachia -- and a path for the future. These are punk rock lyrics with traditional backing, a potent combination in Bradshaw’s hands -- add in the emotional conviction in his performance and you’ve got an electric combination. I’ve added this song to my 2021 Album of the Year list as one I’ll return to next winter.   This week’s episode is sponsored by the Choose Your Struggle podcast. Listen to real-life people share their struggles with addiction and mental health and #EndTheStigma today. Tucker Riggleman & the Cheap Dates -- “Curtain” (Alive and Dying Fast) King Commoner -- “Everyone That I Know” (Love Travels Light) Bubblewands -- “As

Mostly mellow vibes this week and a quick correction: I did, in fact, play King of the Tramps’ latest album on Episode 89 of Adobe & Teardrops, way back when.   Mike Meehan and The Lucky Ones -- “Cross to Bear” (Freaks and Wonders) King of the Tramps -- “Death’s Door” (Wicked Mountain) Brightwire -- “Cracked Edges” (Cracked, Flawed, and Frayed) Bailey Bigger -- “A Lot Like I Do” (Let’s Call it Love) Jim Knable & The Randy Bandits-- “(I’m Not a) Bad Guy” (Blue Reunion) Anna May -- “Careless” (Kites) Greg Wheeler -- “Highway USA” (Rhythm of the Road) Deadass Dobro -- “Shameful Blake” (Single) Roundeye -- “Catatonic (I’m Not a Communist)” (Culture Shock Treatment) sock jock -- “know” (Single) Rat Tally -- “Shrug” (Single) Uncle Ben’s Remedy -- “Name On My Shirt” (Easy Way to Here) James Stephen -- “I Missed That Train” (Single) Podcast intro by Alma Contra, music from Two Cow Garage’s “Stars & Gutters”   Send me music via SubmitHub! Send me money via Ko-fi or Patreon.

 This week’s episode is sponsored by the Choose Your Struggle podcast. Listen to real-life people share their struggles with addiction and mental health and #EndTheStigma today. Otherwise, not a whole lot going on -- just the usual blend of Americana, country, punk and funk!   Album of the Week: Uncle Ben’s Remedy -- Easy Way to Here       If you’re looking for some of that rough-and-tumble country punk that’s so hard to find these days, check out Easy Way to Here. There’s nothing but great songs and boot-stomping here. Uncle Ben’s Remedy can part as hard as anybody, but when they want to slow things down and delve into the small tragedies of every day people, they do a fantastic job there, too. The album came out in December, but it’s good a way to start the year as any. Cristina Vane -- “Half Moon Baby” (Magnolia Sessions) Uncle Ben’s Remedy -- “Drink to Remember” (Easy Way to Here) Alison Self -- “Whiskey Drunk” (Single) Moon Mouth -- “Ghost” (Single) Jason Anderson -- “Omaha” (What I

New year, new intro! This week is a fun grab-bag of singles and deep cuts from albums I enjoyed in 2020.   In case you missed it, you can listen to my interview with Mike West on Into the Van! Two Cow Garage -- “History Now” (Brand New Flag) Dan Whitaker -- “Movin’ On With You” (Movin’ On With You) Oklahoma Uprising -- “Karma” (High Sign) Jeremy Parsons -- “Things to Come” (Things to Come) Donal Hinley -- “Couldn’t Breath” (Diary of a Snowflake) Strays Don’t Sleep -- “Hope is a Love Song” (A Short Film For a Long Story EP) Andrew Leahey & the Homestead -- “Until There’s Nothing But Air” (Single) The Freight -- “Fish & a Bike” (Single) Tibe d’Oro -- “x + x” (x+x = 1) Jackie Venson -- “Go My Way” (Vintage Machines) Mic Harrison and the High Score -- “Bright Spot” (Bright Spot) Snack Cat -- “Breaking Point” (Single) Robert Connely Farr -- “If It Was Up To Me” (Country Supper) Slim Hanson and the Poor Choices -- “I Can Hear You Cryin’” (Bustin’ Broncs and Honky Tonks) A

Here it is -- my top 10 of 2020! There are probably a lot of people you’d expect me to have in my top 20, like John Moreland and American Aquarium. While those artists made huge strides in pushing their own boundaries, they just didn’t make as much of an emotional impact on me as the albums featured here. For me, top albums need to both push boundaries AND make me FEEL SOMETHING. These are the 20 albums this year that made my heart skip a beat. Kory Quinn -- “On the Borderline” (Home of the Brave) Maya de Vitry -- “Bread for the Circus” (How to Break a Fall) Ben de la Cour -- “In God We Trust...All Others Pay Cash” (Shadowland) Juni Ata -- “I’ll Try Anything Twice” (Saudade) Nana Grizol -- “Plantation Country” (South Somewhere Else) Fern Maddie -- “Of Song and Bone” (North Branch River) Angelica Garcia -- “Jicama” (Cha Cha Palace) Jake Blount -- “The Angels Done Bowed Down” (Spider Tales) Stephanie Lambring -- “Daddy’s Disappointment” (Autonomy) Shameika Stepney -- “Shameika Said (feat

There are probably a lot of people you’d expect me to have in my top 20, like John Moreland and American Aquarium. While those artists made huge strides in pushing their own boundaries, they just didn’t make as much of an emotional impact on me as the albums featured here. For me, top albums need to both push boundaries AND make me FEEL SOMETHING. These are the 20 albums this year that made my heart skip a beat. We’ll listen to #20 - 11 this week, and then count down to the new year next week.   Ashley McBryde -- “Velvet Red” (Never Will) Possessed By Paul James -- “Be At Rest” (As We Go Wandering) Brian Johannesen -- “Tired (Last Time I Saw Her)” (Holster Your Silver) Little Big Town -- “The Daughters” (Nightfall) Lilly Hiatt -- “Little Believer” (Walking Proof) Paisley Fields -- “You Me and the Country” (Electric Park Ballroom) Samantha Crain -- “Holding to the Edge of Night” (A Small Death) SG Goodman --  “Space and Time” (Old Time Feeling) Austin Lucas -- “Drive” (Alive in the Hot Zone!) Becky Warren --