Durham's Charles Latham joins us to talk about how he came to embrace country and his experiences covering Alan Jackson at a two-step brunch and Dolly Parton as The White Stripes. We discuss Alan's authenticity and his early attempts to sound maybe a little too much like Merle Haggard and George Jones, along with ridiculous redneck Christmas songs and the appropriate amount of pedal steel for a neo-traditionalist. Finally, we talk about Charles' turn from his anti-folk beginnings towards...

After months of talking up singer/songwriter Kate Rhudy, she finally joins us for an episode that doesn’t disappoint. We discuss country music duets and how Kate romanticized the idea of having a lover to duet with. She also shares stories of her brushes with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Alison Krauss while living in Nashville. Finally, we talk approaches to songwriting and Kate’s upcoming single release. Kate's pick: “It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, 1997  Check out Kate's...

Mipso’s Libby Rodenbough joins us this episode and admits that in the 90s, she was dazzled by the dance moves and sincerity of the Backstreet Boys (we all were -- it’s okay). Since then, she’s become a fan of Keith Whitley and songs in which the narrator fails at pretending to be fine. So obviously, we talk "I'm Over You" -- which Libby learned from 10 String Symphony and later covered with Hard Tuck. Between Spencer's country fan bonafides being called into question, we discuss bluegrass...

Delta Rae drummer Mike McKee enlightens us on the common ground between Weezer and The Dixie Chicks and shares his observation that songs in 6/8 teach us lessons. After we remember when 30 was old, Mike admits that he originally thought "Strawberry Wine" was written by a Triangle teenager who opened for his high school band. Rachel confesses her love for Boone's Farm (Blue Hawaiian or Melon Ball, please) while Spencer quotes from his Chicken Soup for the Soul book. Mike dishes on some of...

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Michaela Anne joins us to talk about her journey from rapper and jazz student to embracing country music despite the genre’s contentious definitions of authenticity. We all hop on a soapbox about the lack of “lady singers” on modern country radio (seriously, no Kacey?!?) and the trouble with music app algorithms. Michaela discusses the intersections between Shania Twain’s music and some of her own material while Spencer cites parts of Shania’s biography,...

Lee Bains III, who fronts politically-charged Alabama rockers Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, joins us while stopping through Durham for a barnburner of a show at our beloved Pinhook. We talk about the importance of place in songwriting, from Lee's own songs to his home state heroes Alabama and his pick for this episode, John Anderson's "Seminole Wind." We touch on some deep topics like capitalism, environmentalism, and representative voices in music then give Tim McGraw and J.D....

Durham’s Rissi Palmer, who became the first African-American woman to reach the country charts in 20 years upon release of her self-titled debut, joins us to discuss her life as a closeted country fan. Although she grew up listening to Kenny Rogers and Trisha Yearwood, Rissi opted instead to blast the Rush Hour soundtrack in the parking lot of her suburban St. Louis high school. She discusses her love for the Dixie Chicks, her experiences navigating Nashville as a woman of color, and how her...

John Howie Jr. of The Rosewood Bluff and Two Dollar Pistols takes us through his life in country music, from watching Roger Miller as The Rooster in Disney’s Robin Hood to his acceptance of Johnny Cash while living with punks in Europe. Then John delivers some harsh truths about 90s country - there’s no love lost for Garth Brooks and his impact on country music. Finally, we talk about "Old Town Road"...again. John's pick: "Burn One Down" by Clint Black, 1992 Check out John's tour dates...

Scott Phillips, a singer-songwriter from Raleigh bands Goner, Gnoer and The Monologue Bombs joins us for this episode. We learn that Lilly's in Raleigh is good for more than just pizza, it’s where Scott got a significant education in music. He explains how his road to country goes through John Denver and finds common ground between Richard Buckner and The Promise Ring. We plug the Indiegogo fundraiser for the next Monologue Bombs album and Scott plugs a future episode about Chris Gaines....

Bombadil drummer and Durham producer James Phillips challenges our qualifications to host this podcast since he has formal education in country music. We discuss potentially problematic phrases found in David Lee Murphy's breakthrough single, wonder why a Bible is needed on a date, and figure out who to blame for that snare sound. We also discover Rachel's rapper name, learn which 90s country star is big in Fiji, and plan our own awards show. James' pick: Dust On The Bottle by David Lee...

Museum Mouth bassist Kory Urban plays in a punk band but he's learned a lot by listening to country music, from song structures to first realizing that he wanted a girlfriend. After Kory discusses how his wife measures up to the character from "Daddy's Money" (he's not a gold digger - she's got her own money!), we talk about tropes and misogyny in country music and some of our picks for this year's Hopscotch Music Festival, which features a bill curated by Museum Mouth. Kory's pick: "Daddy's...

Triangle musician and producer Saman Khoujinian fronts T. Gold, plays guitar and synth in No One Mind, and has helped make records or played with the likes of Dad & Dad, Virgins Family Band, The Dead Tongues, Humanize, Chris Frisina, and Matt Phillips. Between breaking down Sting's only country hit and the bizarre music video that accompanies it, Saman discusses discovering country music while touring with Mandolin Orange and the influence (or lack thereof) it has had on his own music....

We're fixing to start a new season with even more guests! Before we do that, Rachel & Spencer recap season one, talk about some upcoming guests and a few changes to the format, and catch y'all up on what we've been up to over the summer. This is also our first episode where both of us are drinking, so we understand if you don't make it all the way through. Our pick: Little Bitty by Alan Jackson, 1996

Comedian Britt Spruill of Eyes Up Here joins us this episode. It’s probably not a surprise that we end up talking about Jeff Foxworthy along with Kacey Musgraves and “Old Town Road” (again). But our lengthy discussions of RuPaul’s Drag Race, boy bands, and school dances are probably unexpected! So grab your cowboy hat from Gucci and get ready to lip sync for. your. life!   Britt's pick: No One Else On Earth by Wynonna, 1992 Spencer's pick: I Can Love You Like That by John Michael...

Dylan Earl cut his teeth on 90s country while riding around in his mom’s van. Now he’s all grown up with a van of his own, touring non-stop and and still jamming to 90s country. On this episode, we spend arguably too much time talking about line dancing and Sting, but wash it all down with a Hamm’s tallboy. Spencer's pick: My Next Broken Heart by Brooks & Dunn, 1991 Dylan's pick: Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus, 1992 Rachel's pick: Passionate Kisses by Mary Chapin Carpenter,...

Danny Johnson, a talented multi-instrumentalist who plays with several Triangle bands including Jack the Radio and New Reveille, keeps his lawyer on speed dial for this episode. He and Spencer discuss their alternative identities as school teachers and come up with a genius invention (two words: biscuit. koozie.). Then, Rachel shares dating advice inspired by Sammy Kershaw lyrics and fashion advice inspired by Canadians. Be sure to listen til the very end for a special message recorded for...

Singer-songwriter Thomas Strayhorn joins us this episode to learn a lot about livin’ and a little ‘bout Alan Jackson. We marvel at Alan Jackson’s ability to water ski and savor our own grape snow cones from Durham joint Pelican’s Snoballs. In spite of Thomas picking the cheery “I Feel Alright” by Steve Earle, we discover through a discussion about the Dixie Chicks that he’s actually really into sad and sappy tunes, just like Spencer. To wrap up the episode, Spencer teaches us something about...

Loamlands leader Kym Register stops by and discovers just how many hypothetical Neon Boots events we have planned for The Pinhook, the Durham bar where they are the head honcho, before we try to decipher what the hell is going on in 90s music videos. Then we discuss the process of coming out (as gay or vegetarian) in the 90s country scene along with identity politics and the importance of the queer country label. Rachel's pick: Goodbye Says It All by BlackHawk, 1993 Spencer's pick: Single...

Prolific Triangle songwriter and powerhouse vocalist Reese McHenry has never been to Myrtle Beach but we let her on the show anyway. Kiefer Sutherland and Michael Jordan somehow steer our discussion from Patty Loveless to Reese's yet-to-be-recorded rock opera about the Michael Peterson case. We also ponder all the ways that Sharon Stone is wrong about Dwight Yoakam and whether George Strait sang the most boring breakup song of all-time.  Spencer's pick: Blame It On Your Heart by Patty...

Durham singer-songwriter and Hard Tuck member Chessa Rich makes her podcast debut and explains why she shouldn't be on Neon Boots. Before Rachel calls her out for not knowing Travis Tritt, we discuss the country tendencies of The Eagles and the lighthearted pop leanings of our #1 mullet man, Joe Diffie. We bask in the glow of Dolly Parton's genius and talk about Alabama's beginnings in Myrtle Beach, exploring how their songwriting relates to today's world. This episode features a cameo from...

There are some things that we will never not talk about. Those include mullets, baseball, Myrtle Beach and Reba McEntire’s “Fancy,” which all get shout outs in this episode with singer-songwriter Lydia Loveless and magic man Michael Casey. In spite of these tangents, we come away with important life lessons learned from all of our song picks: Hal Ketchum teaches us about parenting a heartbreaker, Toby Keith shows us how to stalk your ex, and Garth Brooks provides tips on partying low while...

Mipso and Hard Tuck singer/guitarist Joseph Terrell joins us with his mustache and tales of how he became a pickup man. We move from Brad Paisley and Disney's Robin Hood (trust us, they're related) to Keith Whitley and the first hints of Lil Nas X's fame (OK, those aren't very related). We leave with some reflections on Dwight Yoakam's many artistic assets and The Beach Boys' disappointing Stars and Stripes album.  Joseph's pick: Me Neither by Brad Paisley, 1999 Spencer's pick: Charlotte's...

Twangy Chapel Hill duo Blue Cactus joins us this episode before going into studio to record their next album. We start on Reba and end on Carson Daly before moving on to Spencer’s sneaky motivations for choosing Brooks & Dunn and Rachel bragging about being one degree from Kevin Bacon. But we leave with a few unanswered questions...is Neon Moon about a guy in a strip club? And which is the better sport: NASCAR or Swamp Buggy races? Steph’s pick: Is There Life Out There by Reba McEntire,...

Veteran arts administrator Aaron Greenwald joins us this week and shares a behind-the-scenes look at Nashville in the late 90s and the art of making music videos. We talk about sweater vests without undershirts, Rachel’s not-so-secret love of demolition derbies, and Sammy Kershaw’s PG13 nickname. It’s sexier than Kenny’s tractor, y’all.  Song #1: It Ain’t Easy Being Me by Chris Knight, 1998 Song #2: She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy by Kenny Chesney, 1999 Song #3: This Kiss by Faith Hill,...