Category Archives: Podcast

Episode #56 featuring Sassparilla

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The good folks of Sassparilla: (front, l to r) Colin Macdonald, Kevin Blackwell, Naima, and Ross Macdonald (standing). Photo by Chad Lanning (www.chadlanningphoto.com)

Episode #56 with Sassparilla

Few Americana bands in our hometown of Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., inspire the kind of loyalty displayed here last weekend by the fans of Sassparilla, the beloved folk-punk combo that went from busking in the streets to packing the biggest rooms in town in a blurr-like, 10-year run.

Playing their first show in nine months, Sassparilla returned to action in front of a sold-out Doug Fir Lounge on Friday night, bringing their high-energy high-wire act to an adoring throng that has remained loyal to the band while they’ve been taking time off to figure their next big move.

That’s why we were thrilled that the good folks of Sassparilla, led by front man Kevin Blackwell, took the time to visit The Helm for an interview and performance as guests for Episode #56 of That Much Further West Podcast.

During the interview, Kevin spoke about his recent move from Portland to suburban Milwaukie, Wisconsin, and how life in the Midwest is treating him and his family well. He also reflected on the blessings of his Portland experience, especially the relationship the band has built with its fans and also its record label, Portland-based Fluff & Gravy Records.

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Sassparilla, sharing to good stuff in The Helm. Photo by Chad Lanning

Most of the band — including the father-son team of Ross Macdonald (harmonica) and Colin Macdonald (wash tub bass), and multi-instrumentalist and singer Naima — joined Kevin for the performance of two brand-new Sassparilla songs. Ace guitarist Jamie Stillwell supplemented the band with some world-class picking on her resonator guitar.

Inspired by the presence of Sassparilla, co-host Eric Kotila picked out some songs to share by bands he feels would fit well on a bill with Sassparilla, whose fast-paced style and acoustic leanings typify a kind of Americana we love and often share on the show. We also share a few songs by a pair of ladies emerging in the alt-country scene, Lera Lynn and Ashley Monroe, and co-host Mike Lee celebrated a fun rock show he recently attended by playing a song by The Eagles of Death Metal.

It’s all right here on Episode #56. So sit back, relax and prepare to do some toe-tapping with the fun-loving gang from Sassparilla. All you have to do is press play.

Here’s the songlist:

Anchor’s The Way, The Calamity Cubes
Long Way Home, Jayke Orvis
7 Devils, The Goddamn Gallows
Another Kind, McDougall
Mutiny (Live In The Helm), Sassparilla
Those Poor Darlings (Live In The Helm), Sassparilla
Rebel Flags, Ron Rogers & The Wailing Wind
Amexica, Trujillo
Jimmy Carter, Blue Mountain
Standing On The Moon, Lera Lynn
If The Devil Don’t Want Me, Ashley Monroe
So Easy, The Eagles of Death Metal
We’re Getting Closer To The Grave Each Day, Michael Dean Damron
Nobody Gives A Damn About Songs Anymore, John Moreland

Episode #55 featuring Stars of Cascadia

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Our three Stars of the game (l to r): John, Mandy and Scott from Stars of Cascadia. Photo by Anne Barrett

Episode #55 with Stars of Cascadia

Shifting winds brought smoke from the raging Western wildfires into the Portland area this past weekend, smuggering up the sky and blocking out our beautiful weekend stars. And while our thoughts are with the folks east of the Cascades adversely affected by the fires, we at least were able to enjoy a visit in The Helm from a few of the folks in Stars of Cascadia, a new alt-country band emerging on the Portland scene.

The Stars are led by an old friend of the podcast, Scott Jeffries, who first appeared on the show as a member of the psych-rock band Spirit Lake. He’s joined here by singer Mandy Allan and fiddle player John Nyen, who make up key elements of the full seven-piece outfit the Stars have evolved into.

During the interview, we learn how Mr. Jeffries left Spirit Lake to pursue his country muse. He formed Stars of Cascadia with a group of like-minded supporters of our local men’s professional soccer team, the Portland Timbers, and rounded out the lineup with all the necessary accouterments — telecaster, pedal steel, etc. — to bring their version of original twang to the masses.

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The Stars of Cascadia entertaining the nurses in The Helm.

Having played shows for more than a year now, Stars of Cascadia are picking up momentum and making big plans for recording and live playing. Here they share a couple of Scott’s original songs with Mandy and John playing prominent roles in the performance. Scott also talks about the influences that drove him toward country music, including his upbringing in California, a constant source of inspiration in his song-writing.

The interview evolves into a healthy debate about who was the best singer in The Band — Rick Danko, Levon Helm or Richard Manuel. Too bad none of these greats is alive to defend his particular legacy, though we came to the conclusion that as awe-inspiring as these singers were individually, they were all better when singing together and making those magical harmonies. Listening to the show, you’ll appreciate the harmonies laid down by Scott and Mandy, who produce a little magic of their own.

And while our hot, dry summer has brought dangerous conditions for wildfires, it also brought a wave of our favorite artists as their summer tours roared through the Pacific Northwest. On this episode we share a playlist full of music by some of the great bands and singers our hosts have had the pleasure of witnessing since the last time we gathered in The Helm, including Jason Isbell, American Aquarium, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit and Possessed By Paul James.

We also share some new music from artists D.L. Marble, Jonathan Tyler and a track from the new solo album by Slobberbone front man Brent Best. So there’s lots to dig into for Episode #55. Have at it!

Here’s the playlist:

Daddy Was A Liar, Brent Best
Heart On A Shelf, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit
Country Love Song, D. L. Marble
The Man I Am Today (Live In The Helm), Stars of Cascadia
Modjeska (Live In The Helm), Stars of Cascadia
Shoulda Known Better, Possessed By Paul James
Wolves, American Aquarium
This Is How We Do Things In The Country, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
Palmetto Rose, Jason Isbell
Run-Down Neighborhood, Lindi Ortega
Hold You Like A Harness, Hip Hatchet
Riverbottom, Jonathan Tyler

 

Episode #54 featuring Ray Vietti of The Harmed Brothers

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“No, ma’am, we’re musicians.” The Harmed Brothers (l to r): Alex Salcido and Ray Vietti. Photo by Christopher Sohler (www.christophersohler.com)

Episode #54 featuring Ray Vietti

The podcast crew survived another action-packed weekend at the Wildwood MusicFest & Campout here in beautiful Oregon, and upon returning to Portland the lads went right back to work in The Helm producing Episode #54.

Having hosted one half of The Harmed Brothers earlier in the year, we figured it was time to bring in the other half — singer-songwriter Ray Vietti. Known to his touring pals as “Donny Baseball,” Ray’s been spending much of the first half of 2015 in the Midwest, playing shows and traveling with fellow troubador Soda Gardocki.

On this episode, Ray tells us of his travels with Soda and his efforts to work on his performance skills without the help (or hindrance, as it were) of alcohol. The two spent significant time in Soda’s hometown of Chicago, playing Whiffle Ball and music with friends and cohorts.

Ray also talks about his early travels from his hometown in Missouri and the path that led him to “fall in love” with Portland and settle on the West Coast.

Now back from his early 2015 travels, Vietti has reunited with his Harmed Brothers partner, Alex Salcido. The pair are playing shows and building momentum for their next record, due out in early 2016 on Fluff & Gravy Records. They’re currently soliciting contributions to cover the cost of recording and producing the record through a crowd-funding campaign via Indiegogo. Check out the page here, and see the related video at the bottom of this post.

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Ray Vietti, kicking out the jams in The Helm.

Then, with Alex riding shotgun on banjo, Ray shares a couple of acoustic songs — one expected to be on the next record called “A Life In Progress,” and another called “Ode To Uncle Tupelo,” one of the first songs the two wrote together. Later, Alex grabs to the spotlight to sing on “Sail Away,” the Randy Newman classic. We capped the interview and performance with a couple of songs from the Harmed Brothers’ critically acclaimed record “Better Days.”

We also have some great music to share from some of our favorite country and Americana artists, including Elizabeth Cook, Adam Lee, Lilly Hiatt and Nikki Lane. Co-host Eric Kotila’s songlist contributions serve as a tribute Owen Mays, the great young songwriter who passed away recently.

So dial it up and make it happen. Here’s the playlist for Episode #54:

Sometimes It Takes Balls To Be A Woman, Elizabeth Cook
Drinking, Cheating, Loving and Leaving, Adam Lee and the Dead Horse Sound Company
Too Bad, Lilly Hiatt
A Life In Progress (Live In The Helm), The Harmed Brothers
Ode To Uncle Tupelo (Live In The Helm), The Harmed Brothers
Sail Away (Live In The Helm), The Harmed Brothers
Never Went Away, The Harmed Brothers
Love Song For The Assumed, The Harmed Brothers
Same God, The Calamity Cubes
Way To Go, Dogbite Harris
Crooked Smile, Jayke Orvis and the Broken Band
Don’t Ya Blame Me, James Hunnicutt
I Don’t Care Anymore, Owen Mays and the 80 Proof Boys
Another Dead Friend, Leroy Virgil
Myrna Lee, Blue Mountain
Lies, Nikki Lane
If You Think You’re Mine, James Sasser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3j9lyPJ1Hw

 

Episode #53 featuring Mike Coykendall

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The one and only Mike Coykendall. Photo by Chad Lanning (courtesy of Fluff & Gravy Records)

Episode #53 featuring Mike Coykendall

We’re gearing up big time this week for the upcoming Wildwood MusicFest & Campout here in beautiful Oregon, but we made time to gather with friends for another hot summertime episode in The Helm, this time featuring local musical treasure Mike Coykendall as our guest.

Mike has a fantastic new record coming out this week on Fluff & Gravy Records called “Half Past, Present Pending,” the follow up to his terrific release from a few years back, “Chasing Away The Dots.” He’ll be doing promotional shows all week locally, so if you’re in the Pacific Northwest and want to see a truly original performer, be sure catch one of these handful of gigs (click on our “Live Music Portland” tab for a listing of local shows).

On this episode, Mike tells us about his musical upbringing and the path that led him from America’s heartland to Portland via San Francisco, where he formed and made three great records with the band Old Joe Clarks in the 90s and early oughts. Mike also is a very-much-in-demand audio engineer and producer, having worked with the likes of M Ward and Richmond Fontaine, and has toured the world as a member of M Ward’s band and its popular spinoff, She & Him.

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Mike Coykendall, telling stories and sharing songs  in The Helm. Photo by Christopher Sohler

Mr. Coykendall also shares a couple of sweet live performances on his Baby Taylor acoustic, both songs from the new record. One is a cover of Syd Barrett’s “Late Night,” and the other an original tune called “You Don’t Have To Treat You That Way.”

We also play a couple of recordings from the new record, including “Spacebaker Blues,” a song quite reflective of what Mike’s “rig” shows sound like . . . one man singing, jamming fuzzed out guitar, playing drums with just his feet and occasionally twisting the knobs on an array of assorted electronics. His spin on Roger Miller’s “In The Summertime” illustrates his ability to take somebody else’s song and put his personal stamp on it.

This episode also has new music from some of our favorite artists and bands, including Aaron Lee Tasjan, Jason Isbell, Heartless Bastards and The Swearengens. Lots to chew on with this episode.

So dial it in and crank it up, folks! We’ll see you at Wildwood at the end of the week. Here’s the playlist:

American Tan, Aaron Lee Tasjan
Something More Than Free, Jason Isbell
Ode To Whiskey, Deception Past
Late Night (Live In The Helm), Mike Coykendall
You Don’t Have To Treat You That Way (Live In The Helm), Mike Coykendall
Spacebaker Blues, Mike Coykendall
In The Summertime, Mike Coykendall
Cigarettes, Matthew Lindley
Black Cloud, Heartless Bastards
Last Ride, C.W. Ayon
Stono River Blues, Shovels & Rope
Long Lonely Winter, The Swearengens
Cherokee, John Moreland
Nobody Asked To Be Born, Shane Sweeney
15 White Horses, HIllstomp
I Still Believe, Frank Turner

Episode #52 featuring Bad Assets

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The bad asses of Bad Assets (l to r): Ben Cosloy, Kevin Marcotte and Motor Jeffries. Photo by Christopher Sohler (www.christophersohler.com)

Episode #52 featuring Bad Assets

It was a helluva weekend for Bad Assets, Portland’s rollicking, fun-loving country heroes. A packed CD Release show at the World Famous Kenton Club on Friday . . . a headlining showcase performance at The Deer Lodge on Saturday . . . and it all started with a visit to The Helm for an interview and performance for Episode #52 of The Much Further West Podcast.

Bad Assets are celebrating the release of their fantastic new record, “Poncho,” which has been in the works for the last couple of years. The disc shows off the four-piece’s tremendously clever songwriting and terrific playing, making it an excellent followup to their previous CD, “I-84.”

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Motor, Kevin and Ben tearing it up in The Helm. Photo by Christopher Sohler

Three of the fellas — singer-guitarist Motor Jeffries, singer-bassist Kevin Marcotte and guitar-picker extraordinaire Ben Cosloy — joined us to talk about the making of the record, the songwriting process and the many and varied places from where they draw inspiration. Cold Duck was shared, whiskey was spilled and much beer consumed. Pretty much par for the course, though the cold duck was an unexpected wrinkle.

Big thanks to Bad Assets for sharing their wisdom (remember: Beauty’s in the eye of the Beerholder) and congrats on an excellent record. We were thrilled to have y’all on board.

We also have some terrific music to share from recently released records by Evan Phillips, John Moreland and Banditos, who were psyched to see and meet in just a few days at the Wildwood MusicFest & Campout in nearby Sheridan, Oregon, U.S.A. The two-day festival kicks off on July 17, and we’ll be there in full force gathering interviews and exclusive performances to share on later episodes.

But for now, kick back and enjoy this really fun installment with Bad Assets. Here’s the playlist:

Falling Down, Evan Phillips
American Flags In Black & White, John Moreland
Garden Party, Rick Nelson
Beerholder (Live In The Helm), Bad Assets
Empty Bottle (Live In The Helm), Bad Assets
Camarojuana, Bad Assets
Without Me, Bad Assets
Wants You Close, Hearts Of Oak
Aztlán, Trujillo
Still Sober (After All These Beers), Banditos
David, Cody Jinks
Winner’s Casino, Richmond Fontaine
Send It On Down, Lee Ann Womack
One Sip Of Water, Emily Herring
Waitin’ Round To Die, Whitey Morgan and the 78’s
Deadman’s Blues, Matt Woods

Episode #51 featuring Barna Howard

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Barna Howard, back to the garden. Portrait by Christopher Sohler (www.christophersohler.com)

Episode #51 featuring Barna Howard

We’ve been blessed in the first half of 2015 to have had a bevy of uber-talented folks as podcast guests in The Helm, and we’ve done it again for Episode #51 with Barna Howard, a world-class young folkie based right here in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

Barna has an excellent new record out that we’ve been playing on the show, and he just returned from a European tour in advance of its release. Now he’s gearing up for a local record-release show on July 1 at Mississippi Studios.

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Barna Howard with his trusty Martin, live in The Helm. Photo by Christopher Sohler

In our interview, we learn a bit about Barna’s upbringing in small-town Missouri and adventures in big cities such as Chicago and Boston that led him to settle out west. He also speaks of his musical influences — artists such as Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark — which make sense when you hear him perform live in The Helm. He shares a pair of tunes from the new record, the title track “Quite A Feelin’ ” and “Then And There.”

We added in a few more songs from Barna’s new record to help listeners get a feel for how strong it is. Be sure to go to www.barnahoward.com to learn more and to pick up a copy of “Quite A Feelin’.”

Our playlist for Episode #51 also features amazing new music from a bevy of talented artists with whom we are just becoming familiar, including Sam Outlaw, Some Train Yard, Sammy Brue and big batch from folks slated to play at next month’s Wildwood MusicFest and Campout, Oregon’s best little summer music festival.

We were sure to include a few songs from some our longtime favorites, including Whitey Morgan and The 78s, Denver and the lead track from the kickass new EP from The Swearengens, which starts off the show.

So have at it folks! Here’s the playlist:

American Woman (Take My Freedom Away), The Swearengens
Jesus Take The Wheel (And Drive Me To A Bar), Sam Outlaw
Distant Lands, Wild Rabbit
Quite A Feelin’ (Live In The Helm), Barna Howard
Then and There (Live In The Helm), Barna Howard
Notches On A Frame, Barna Howard
Indiana Rose, Barna Howard
Truckstop Amphetamines, J.P. Harris and the Tough Choices
If I Killed Her, Some Train Yard
It Ain’t Easy, Nathan Kalish
Rowdy Love, Denver
Waitin’ ‘Round To Die, Whitey Morgan and The 78s
Jealous, Sammy Brue
San Andreas’ Fault, The Earnest Lovers
Let The Waters Ride, The Holy Ghost Electric Show
Waiting For Some Drunk, Big Harp

Episode #50 — Secret Aardvark Takeover featuring Purusa

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HOT STUFF: Zach Hinkelman (left) and Kris Kirkman of Purusa. Photo by Christopher Sohler (www.christophersohler.com)

Episode #50 — Secret Aardvark Takeover

It was a hot time in the old Helm when we turned the keys to the podcast over to our friends and sponsors Stacy Moritz and Kip Lindig, the faces of Secret Aardvark Trading Company. They’re the folks who not only delight us and our podcast guests with their fabulous habanero sauce, but they’re dear friends from the local Portland music scene who carry on the professional legacy of our late, great friend Scott Moritz, aka Scotland Barr.

Before we lost Scotland to pancreatic cancer a few years back, he had established himself as one of the brightest lights and rising stars of Portland’s Americana as front man for his band, The Slow Drags. With his gravelly voice, acoustic guitar, stringy hair and striking 6-foot-5 frame, Scotland led from the front, directing the band on a steady rise from obscurity to local and regional fame on the strength of two terrific records and a heavy schedule of gigs.

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Scotland Barr

All the while, Scotland — a successful chef, restauranteur and saucier — was establishing Secret Aardvark Trading Co., an outfit delighting local foodies with its hot sauce and marinades. Like his band, Scotland’s sauce company was on the rise at the time of his cancer diagnosis.

Carrying on Scotland’s legacy — with both the sauce company and the music — has been no small task for Stacy (his widow) and his former bandmates, among them his close pal Zach Hinkelman, lead guitarist from the Slow Drags. Zach proved instrumental in helping his bandmates push through their grief to eventually finish the album (We Will Be Forgotten) they began before Scotland’s passing.

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Zach and Kris from Purusa, laying it down in The Helm. Photo by Christopher Sohler.

The Secret Aardvark crew invited Zach to the podcast to share old stories about his experiences with the Slow Drags and also to update us with what he’s been working on musically, specifically a return to his old band Purusa, which has a show coming up at the Aladdin Theater in Portland on July 11. Zach and his Purusa partner Kris Kirkman show off their terrific talents performing a couple of original songs acoustically.

While choosing the guest for the show, Stacy and Kip also picked songs for the podcast playlist, combining a healthy dose of Scotland Barr songs from all three albums with classic songs that fit the Secret Aardvark “hot” theme, as you can see from the list below. As the beer and whiskey continue to flow, things get a little emotional as we remember our dear departed pal Scott and the impact he left on all of us.

So settle in and come along for the ride, and pour yourself a puddle of Aardvark to help keep it hot. Here’s the playlist.

Burning House of Love, X
Fire, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Sun Years, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
Saving Grace, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
Always Cherry, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
Delta Dive, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
Green Grass (Live In The Helm), Purusa
Man Of The Year (Live In The Helm), Purusa
Ring Of Fire, Johnny Cash
Play With Fire, The Rolling Stones
Hot Child In The City, Nick Gilder
Juanita, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
Dirty Old Waltz, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
Come To Bed, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
If You Fall, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
Rock Solid, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
Right Where You’re Supposed To Be, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
Washing Over Me, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags
You’re Gonna Be All Right, Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags

Episode #49 featuring M. Lockwood Porter

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Neither the cosmos nor the wind, but a helluva a songwriter. M. Lockwood Porter in The Helm. Photo by Christopher Sohler (www.christophersohler.com)

Episode #49 with M. Lockwood Porter

The man whose music once brought a hush over The Helm paid a visit last week to our podcast home for an interview and performance. He didn’t know the backstory — how the first time we shared the song “Chris Bell” from his stunning record of last year “27” a quiet fell over the room as our hosts and friends listened intently to his arresting tribute to the late Big Star singer.

It’s one of several stories we share with M. Lockwood Porter better known to his friends as Max, when he stopped by just minutes before his show at the White Eagle Saloon in Portland. Getting to know Max better ourselves, we find out how this Yale-educated songsmith found his way from his hometown in the heart of the Bible Belt — Tulsa, Oklahoma — to his current hombase of the East Bay in Northern California.

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M. Lockwood Porter laying it down in The Helm. Photo by Christopher Sohler

Max speaks of his younger days playing in punk bands around Tulsa, how he first met fellow troubadour (and podcast favorite) John Moreland as teenagers and how he began to develop his own music voice from his extended studies of poetry and literature. He also speaks of how the title of his record came to him during the mastering process, when he realized that much of the lyrical content in the “27” record revolved around where he was in life around the time of his 27th birthday.

Of course, that 27th year took away several rock icons, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and less famously Chris Bell, the troubled Memphis rocker who died in a car crash at 27. Max’s song “Chris Bell” had alternative radio buzzing late last year, and he shares a live performance of it and a newer song, “Bright Star.”

We also have a batch of fantastic new songs on the playlist from some of our favorite artists, including Jason Isbell, Banditos, The Honeycutters, Michael Dean Damron and former podcast guests Ron Rogers & The Wailing Wind.

So set those phasers to stun and dial it in. It’s Episode #49 of That Much Further West Podcast. Here’s the playlist:

Chris Bell (Live In The Helm), M. Lockwood Porter
Bright Star (Live In The Helm), M. Lockwood Porter
Different Kind of Lonely, M. Lockwood Porter
Restless, M. Lockwood Porter
Couer d’Alene, M. Lockwood Porter
Let Me Know, Ron Rogers & The Wailing Wind
24 Frames, Jason Isbell
Golden Grease, Banditos
Whiskey And You, Chris Stapleton
Texas ’81, The Honeycutters
I Hope He Breaks Your Heart (Live ), American Aquarium
I Can’t Imagine, Shelby Lynne
20,000 Miles, Michael Dean Damron

 

Episode #48 featuring Alex Salcido of The Harmed Brothers

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The Harmed Brothers’ Alex Salcido bellied up to the bar at The Helm. Photo by Christopher Sohler (www.christophersohler.com)

Episode #48 with Alex Salcido

Armed with a beautiful voice and a wonderfully beat up acoustic, longtime podcast pal Alex Salcido of The Harmed Brothers stopped back in The Helm last week as the featured artist for Episode #48, and we’re sure glad he did.

Just a few weeks back, Alex could be heard backing up his pal Tom VandenAvond in a special podcast taping and house show in The Helm. Now cooling his heels in Portland while working on the next Harmed Brothers record, Alex has been playing a few shows here and there around town while prepping for a summer of fun and music with his Harmed Brothers partner Ray Vietti.

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Alex Salcido, laying it down in The Helm. Photo by Christopher Sohler

On this episode, Alex shares the stories of his musical journey from middle school up through the present, a long road with some interesting twists and turns along the way. The Harmed Brothers made quite a splash in 2013-14 with their terrific release “Better Days” on Fluff & Gravy Records, and we share a few of those songs on the show. But before then, Alex performs three fantastic newer tunes, including one he dedicates to his musical pal Drew Landry, currently on the mend from an auto accident. He sings, “Well be broke, but we’ll never be broken,” on the tune “Adopt A Highway.”

We also have some amazing new music to share, per usual. When he wasn’t spreading disinformation about NASCAR racing and Loudon Wainwright III, co-host Phil Favorite dug up brand-new, unreleased songs from The Earnest Lovers and Barna Howard as well as music from some killer Northwest bands he’s seen play live recently, including Evening Bell, The Ganges River Band and Jenny Don’t & The Spurs.

There’s also new music from John Moreland and Ryan Bingham as well as terrific cuts from podcasts favorites Caleb Caudle, Tim Barry, Cory Brannan and a closing track picked by co-host Mike Lee to shine the spotlight on the recent rioting in Baltimore.

So settle in for the ride and let Mr. Salcido’s voice carry you away. All you have to do is hit play. Here’s the playlist for Episode #48 of That Much Further West Podcast:

Dust Storm, Evening Bell
Eyes of Fire, The Ganges River Band
Angel of Sunrise, The Earnest Lovers
Indiana Rose, Barna Howard
Don’t Wanna Be Lonesome (Live in The Helm), Alex Salcido
Adopt A Highway (Live in The Helm), Alex Salcido
For Stephen Maddox (Live in The Helm), Alex Salcido
Ballad of Probably Not, The Harmed Brothers
When You See Me, The Harmed Brothers
Trade All The Lights (featuring Lydia Loveless), Caleb Caudle
Angelyne, Fernando
The James, Tim Barry
High On Tulsa Heat, John Moreland
Radio, Ryan Bingham
Trouble With The Law, Jenny Don’t & The Spurs
Downtown Girls, American Aquarium
Little Birds, Trujillo
Meantime Blues, Cory Branan
Hemingway’s Whiskey, Guy Clark
Streets of Baltimore, Gram Parsons

Episode #47 featuring Morgan Geer of Drunken Prayer

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The one and only Morgan Geer of Drunken Prayer re-visiting The Helm. Photo by Christopher Sohler (christophersohler.com)

Episode #47 with Morgan Geer

His home base these days is Asheville, N.C., USA, but the Pacific Northwest always keeps a light on for Morgan Geer of Drunken Prayer, our guest in The Helm for Episode #47. A longtime friend and favorite of the podcast, the Reverend Geer stopped by while doing a spate of shows — some solo, some with a filled out Drunken Prayer — in Oregon and Washington over the past few weeks.

In the course of our interview, Morgan talks about the different approaches he’s taken to the three Drunken Prayer records, the single he put out last year featuring songs by The Band and Willis Alan Ramsay, and the album he’s working on that will be coming out this summer on Fluff & Gravy Records. He also tells how he’ll be playing tour dates as a touring member of the seminal alt-country band Freakwater, which will be out supporting a new record on which Geer played guitar.

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Love Looks Like A Master — Morgan Geer, laying it down at The Helm in April 2015. Photo by Christopher Sohler

Morgan also shared a few solo versions of songs to expect on the coming Drunken Prayer album — “Love Looks Like A Master” and “Machines.” He said the new record won’t be as lo-fi as the previous Drunken Prayer record, House of Morgan, but not necessarily “just another Drunken Prayer record.”

He’ll be back in the Pacific Northwest this coming summer to play some shows in support of the new record, so we’re pretty sure we haven’t heard the last of Morgan Geer here at That Much Further West Podcast. And we made sure to play a few cuts from the previous records to help you get a feel for the wonderfully varied rock and soul Morgan cranks out under the Drunken Prayer flag.

We also play some great songs from some more of our favorite bands, including Big Shoals, The Calamity Cubes, The Bottle Rockets and a pair of tunes from the new record by John Moreland. Co-host Phil Favorite even risks his street cred by sharing a song by The Gin Blossoms. Call it a guilty pleasure.

So here’s the song list for Episode #47. Just press play and enjoy!

12 Steps, Big Shoals
Jumper Cables, Widower
Love Looks Like A Master (Live In The Helm), Drunken Prayer
Machines (Live in The Helm), Drunken Prayer
Take This Hammer, Drunken Prayer
The Missionfield, Drunken Prayer
Kite, The Calamity Cubes
Radar Gun, The Bottle Rockets
Cheatin’, The Gin Blossoms
Black River, W.C. Beck
Vanport 1948, Lewi Longmire
Mirror Behind The Man, Kate Mann
Hang Me In The Tulsa County Stars, John Moreland
Heart’s Too Heavy, John Moreland