Neon Boots: A 90s Country Music Podcast Neon Boots

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 country. 
Charles' pick: “Chasin' That Neon Rainbow" by Alan Jackson, 1990
Check out Charles' music and tour dates at https://charleslatham.com/

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 music and tour dates at https://www.katerhudy.com/

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 cheesiness, ridiculous Wikipedia descriptions, and the differing challenges between interpreting songs and writing them.

Libby’s pick: “I’m Over You” by Keith Whitley, 1990

Check out Mipso's music and tour dates at https://www.mipsomusic.com/ 

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's inner workings and we all speculate on how much streaming and social media can combat the anti-woman bias of country radio. We also get an update on Delta Rae's plans after splitting from their label, including the two albums they'll release after their record-setting Kickstarter campaign. 

Mike's pick: “Strawberry Wine” by Deana Carter, 1996

Check out Delta Rae at https://www.deltarae.com/, Baldman Percussion at https://www.baldmanpercussion.com/, and Drum Team Collective at https://www.drumteamcollective.com/.

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, which he still hasn’t finished.

Michaela’s pick: “No One Needs To Know” by Shania Twain, 1995

Check out Michaela Anne’s music and tour dates at https://www.michaelaanne.com/

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. Loudermilk absolute hell for the existence of "Indian Outlaw." And Rachel's dog Beau seems to know that Lee's an Auburn fan so she tries her best to make some noise and be as beloved as Bo Jackson.



Lee's pick: "Seminole Wind" by John Anderson, 1992

Check out Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires' music and tour dates at http://www.thegloryfires.com