Episode #59 — Seasonal Fall Favorites | That Much Further West Podcast

Holding down The Helm: Co-hosts Eric, Phil and Mike of That Much Further West Podcast. Photo by Anne Marie

A last-minute cancellation left us without a guest for Episode #59 of That Much Further West Podcast, but our fearless co-hosts figured, ‘What the hell? Let’s plow forward anyway.” So with a bare-bones crew on hand, they convened at The Helm to share some tunes from some of their favorite fall releases and promote the slew of shows on tap in Portland over the next few weeks, several involving the best and brightest from the world of alt-country.

Ironically, as the lads were taping this show, alt-country darling Chris Stapleton was cleaning up at the very mainstream Country Music Awards and making a big splash on the nationally televised awards show. The next morning his awards show performance, with pop superstar Justin Timberlake riding shotgun, was the talk of the internet.

The boys at work, with Sadie the dog on the run. Photo by Anne Marie

Mr. Stapleton had already won over the podcast crew with his earnest, whiskey-soaked approach, soon to be on display at his show this coming Thursday at the Wonder Ballroom in our homebase of Portland, Oregon, USA. We kick off the podcast with a song from him and soon follow up with one from Sturgill Simpson, whose show at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland this coming Saturday has been sold out for months.

We also feature a live song from Lucero, our much-talked-about podcast namesakes who are on their way back to Portland for a show at the Crystal on the 18th. And we revisit a couple of albums that we’ve been spinning constantly during the fall —Aaron Lee Tasjan’s “In The Blazes” LP and Bottle Rockets’ “South Broadway Athletic Club,” released a few weeks back on Bloodshot Records.

Whispering Philly — oddly sober and somber — gets demonstrative during the show. Photo by Anne Marie

On a more somber note, co-host Phil Favorite shares a song and a few memories of his recently passed friend Brian Berg, the brains and brawn behind the great Portland band 44 Long. Brian left us for good a few weeks back and the city’s music scene has been in mourning ever since. With tributes from throughout the community pouring in, we’d be remiss to not share a few stories one of Brian’s many awesome songs, in this case “God Loves A Fool” from 44 Long’s iconic debut, Collect Them All.

So have at it folks . . . like a punch to the face, it’s quick, powerful and to the point. And the music is well worth your time on a cool November day. Here’s the playlist:

Might As Well Get Stoned, Chris Stapleton
Beyond The Moon, Old Man Markley
God Loves A Fool, 44 Long
Long White Line, Sturgill Simpson
Really Wanna See You, Lydia Loveless
Lucinda’s Room, Aaron Lee Tasjan
A Dangerous Thing, Lucero
Portland, Drag The River
Picture In My Mind, Freakwater
The Champagne of Tears, Drunken Prayer
Snake Farm, Ray Wylie Hubbard
Monday (Every Time I Turn Around), Bottle Rockets