The Grammy-nominated drummer and bandleader of Cha Wa first encountered the rhythms of the Mardi Gras Indians during a lesson with Idris Muhammad while studying at Berklee. After a move to New Orleans and years spent playing with the Wild Magnolias and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, he decided to strike out on his own. With Cha Wa's new record "Rise Up" coming out, Joe enters the Feral Zone with René and guest cohost Jeff Treffinger to recount his odyssey. Topics include an open permit, a parking lot...
Aug 21, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 23
The award-winning jewelry and metalwork designer whose work is currently on view at Sullivan Gallery has also exhibited at RHINO Gallery, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. A perennial favorite at the N.O. Jazz Fest Contemporary Craft Village, she has exhibited her work there since the late '80s. Having recently completed a pilgrimage in Spain on the Camino de Santiago, tonight Margo forgoes the solitude for a dive bar dust up with the Troubled Men. Topics include T...
Aug 14, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 320
The singer, songwriter, and guitarist of Human Drama started with the Models in the early '80s New Orleans punk scene before relocating the group to L.A., changing the name, and signing a record deal with RCA. Dissatisfaction with major label politics led to a move to Triple X Records and string a of successful releases and videos, cultivating a large fanbase in Mexico along the way. Now back in the New Orleans area and reconnecting with all the old punks, Johnny meets with the Troubled Men just...
Aug 07, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 319
The two-time Grammy Award-winning guitarist, songwriter and singer with the Lost Bayou Ramblers and Louis Michot's Swamp Magic is also a founding member of the dreamy pop outfit Brass Bed and their lo-fi offshoot Carbon Poppies. The first album "Droste" from his solo ambient pedal steel guitar project Weeks Island was recently reissued on vinyl by LCD Soundsystem's DFA label, while Brass Bed just released the beautiful single, "Ready To Run." Idle hands being the devil's playthings, Jonny usuall...
Jul 31, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 318
The fine art model and George Dureau muse known as Kathy B is also Kitty Baudoin and Fraulein Frances, singer with the Sleazeball Orchestra and Funhouse. Her time in the Tenderloin of late 80s San Francisco, as chronicled in Joe Westmoreland's book "Tramps Like Us," added musical performance art to the mix. With the recent publication of some iconic photographs of her in the new "George Valentine Dureau" art book, memories were jogged and personae were connected. Tonight Kathy/Kitty joins the Tr...
Jul 24, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 317
The guitar player, songwriter, and singer with Big In The 90s, the Walrus, and the Breton Sound also spent years playing with the hard-touring Cowboy Mouth. With his popular "Ranking The Beatles" podcast, he hosts fellow fanatics as they indulge their obsession with the group and its catalogue. Tonight Jonathan sits in with the Troubled Men and finds out what a hard day's night is really about. Topics include a press release, Frank Scurlock, an Uber ride, political forums, campaigning, the Diddy...
Jul 18, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 316
The Junior League songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist mastermind has also played and recorded with the Minus 5 with Scott McCaughy and REM's Peter Buck. A Beatles devotee since he heard "I Want To Hold Your Hand" on oldies radio at the age of 4, he's channeled his power-pop influences including Big Star, the Monkees, Bowie, Badfinger, and the Kinks into over a dozen excellent records. Tonight Joe joins the Troubled Men as they reflect on the chaos and ennui of the 1970s Me Decade. Key ...
Jul 10, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 315
The indie filmmaker, photographer, firefighter, and former teacher went from USC film school in South Central L.A. to the war zone of a New Orleans-area high school classroom. His latest film “The Great Davini” stars Snake and Jake’s beloved owner Dave Clements in the title role. Jason’s service as a first responder in the Katrina aftermath tested his mettle in ways most never encounter. A world traveler, he’s has been to Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan, but tonight he really takes his life in his...
Jul 03, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 314
The guitar player, singer, and songwriter has released over a dozen records under his own name and as leader of the Brides of Jesus and the Restless Natives. Stints playing with Anders Osborne, the Wild Magnolias, and his Iko Allstars, in addition to tour managing the Neville Brothers, the Funky Meters, and George Porter and the Running Pardners, have put him in the thick of the New Orleans funk mix. Tonight Billy chances a return to Snake and Jake's with the Troubled Men to conjure the ghosts o...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 313
The singer, bandleader, and accordion and harmonica player for Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots was previously an NFL football player and a U.S. park ranger. International tours with Paul Simon, Sting, and his own band have carried him far from his upbringing in rural Arkansas. Sunpie's childhood experience handling poisonous vipers in the backwoods serves him well as he sits down with the Troubled Men at Snake & Jake's. Topics include the Big Island festival, a volcanic eruption, Tony To...
Jun 19, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 312
The award-winning radio documentarian, musicologist, and long-running WWOZ DJ showcases his deep knowledge of music every Tuesday at 10pm with his Freaknology Lunatique radio show. By day David is the music curator for the Louisiana State Museum and curator of the New Orleans Jazz Museum, producing exhibitions and live programming and caretaking their 71,000-piece collection. His reign as emcee for the alternative Chaz Fest demonstrates his love for weirdos and misfits. He should feel right at h...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 311
The Folk/Trip Hop songwriter, singer, and guitarist left the Stella Adler Conservatory, recorded an independent record, and got signed to Atlantic. Disillusioned with the major label experience, he fell in with Nels Cline and the NYC Downtown scene, recording music outside the dying corporate music machine. Tonight, on a break from house concert tours, Dustan drops in for an intimate evening with the Troubled Men. He can't get more outside the system than that. Topics include a jailbreak, Sherif...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 310
The Grammy Award-winning trombone player and bandleader of the Tropicales, his 1960s-styled Caribbean lounge group, has been a mainstay of the Trad Jazz and Frenchmen St scenes since his arrival in town almost two decades ago. A chance encounter with mastermind Jimbo Mathis led to years touring and recording with the Squirrel Nut Zippers. With the Tropicales’ schedule heating up, Charlie drops by to cool his heels with the Troubled Men. Topics include the end of the school year, a new pope, junk...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 309
The songwriter, singer, and guitar player has been making records as a solo artist and with his band Varnaline for over two decades. His collaborations with Son Volt’s Jay Farrar include the “New Multitudes” project with Jim James of My Morning Jacket which paired unused Woody Guthrie lyrics with new music. With a show of his oil paintings currently running at Nola ’Nacular gallery and a summer tour with fellow troubadour Steve Earle coming up, Anders takes a detour into the Christmas Club for a...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 308
The award-winning reporter, music critic, playwright, and author of the excellent book "Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival" has written for many top news outlets and publications, the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, ABC News, Downbeat, and Mojo among them. The Chicago native who now splits his time between there and New Orleans has also written a number of Offbeat cover stories, including the Irma Thomas feature for the rece...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 307
The singer and musician with Les Cenelles Creole Ensemble, early music group Musica da Camera, and rock band Shot Down in Equador Jr. has recently completed the "Musique(s)!” project (w/ Louis Michot, Leyla McCalla, Sweet Crude, and Sunpie Barnes) for the American Folklife Center resulting in an album, book, film, and exhibition documenting French and Creole music in Louisiana. An antique bookbinder by trade and an esoterica fan by inclination, Joe has a deep appreciation for history and connect...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 306
The guitarist with the legendary Continental Drifters and Lulu and the Broadsides landed in NYC in '76, becoming a roadie for the Cramps and living with band members Bryan Gregory and Nick Knox. By the '80s he was playing guitar with iconoclastic vocal stylist Klaus Nomi and touring internationally with Lydia Lunch. His tenure with the Dream Syndicate's Steve Wynn brought him to L.A., where he fell in with the early Drifters at Raji's. An international man of mystery since his childhood in Hong ...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 305
Founding Red Rockers' bassist and NY Dolls manager Darren Hill returns with Oley Sassone, the SexDog guitarist and director of the Rockers' MTV debut, "China." While the hit video elevated the band to new career heights, touring with U2 and other top groups, it was also the pivotal achievement for Oley, propelling him to a career in L.A., where he rubbed elbows with James Cameron, Steven Soderbergh, and Marvel creator Stan Lee. Oley went on to direct over 100 music videos as well as numerous TV ...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 304
The Grammy Award-winning drummer, engineer, and producer playing with slide guitar phenom Sonny Landreth for the past 20 years was also with bayou superstar vocalist and accordion player Wayne Toups during the height of his '90s beefcake madness. Coming from a family counting more than 10 drummers among them, he learned his craft as a mere lad. Producing area talent at his Brignac Lane recording studio in Gonzales occupies any free time he has between live shows. Tonight Brian comes up out of th...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 303
The proprietor of Atchafalaya restaurant was also a founding partner in both Snake and Jake's Christmas Club Lounge and the beloved Circle Bar. While a career waiter at top New Orleans restaurants including Upperline, Bayona, and Gautreau's, he would open Snake's at midnight and tend bar for the late-night superstars including celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain until well after sunrise. His new "Rhythm Kitchen" TV series for PBS explores the intersection of fine dining and music with live performan...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 302
The retired Florida police chief, community gadfly, and blogger with his own "Barker's View" is a longtime visitor and fan of New Orleans, having spent many a Mardi Gras ensconced with the barflies at the Circle Bar. As a private citizen, he's got opinions on everything, and is known to take exception with the local political establishment. Tonight he joins the Troubled Men in the flesh. Will it be a ride-along or a drive-by? Tune in and find out. It could go either way. Topics include a body, C...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 301
They all said it wouldn’t last, but as usual, they were wrong. Episode 300 was a rousing success, with former guests and listeners from the Troubled Nation showing up for a night of fellowship at Snake and Jake’s. With a cavalcade of stars — musicians, artists, writers, and misfits — the Troubled Men convene to do what they do. If you’re not Troubled, you’re not paying attention. And if you can’t laugh at your problems, they can. Trouble Never Ends! Topics include the LA fires, guinea pigs, the ...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 300
The singer, guitarist, and songwriter was a close associate of John Cale, providing the haunting vocals on “Only Time Will Tell” and touring with his group for several years. A Lower East Side luminary, she was the talent booker at Max’s Kansas City and door person at CBGB, palled around with Eno and Tom Verlaine, and toured Europe with Television. Deerfrance joins René in the Feral Zone with her bassist and Tav Falco’s Panther Burns alum Kai Eric to discuss the glory days of NYC punk, their new...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 22
The award-winning songwriter, singer, and guitar player now fronting his own Rolling Road Show was also a founding member of Cowboy Mouth, the Backbeats, and the Write Brothers. With over 20 solo releases and “Nine Lives: A Musical History of New Orleans” in his catalogue, he’s seen the music biz from every angle. Having recovered from debilitating health issues, Paul takes his life in his hands as he joins the Troubled Men to chat it up about the highs and lows of a lifetime on the stage. Topic...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 299
The performance artist and singer fronting art punk dance band Malevitus and burlesque/hip hop act MC Sweet Tea returns to talk about new recordings, shooting videos, and the inclusion of her underground classic “Properfukt” on the Amy Schumer TV show ”Life and Beth.” Tiana is also known as the Mary Poppins of punk rock, and tonight, as always, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Topics include Christmas, Boxing Day, a surprise attack, the Anarchist Cookbook, baking, bar dogs, a Chan...
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 298
The drummer and singer’s career has included stints with R.L. Burnside, Link Wray, Sparklehorse, Epic Soundtracks, Untamed Youth, and so many more. He’s been in Rock’n’roll College forever and remembers most of it. Tonight Clarke joins the Troubled Men to review the highs and lows of a life on the road. Never leave the van. Topics include Vietnam vets, the stranger, a survey, RFK Jr., service dogs, a cat toilet, “Joker: Folie a Deux,” a Maxwell’s gig, an assassination, a drone invasion, insuranc...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 297
The multi-Grammy-winning violinist, singer, and songwriter and his band BeauSoleil have been at the forefront of Cajun and Zydeco music for 50 years. Collaborations with Keith Richards, Richard Thompson, and Mary Chapin Carpenter and their numerous appearances on Prairie Home Companion have been icing on the cake. Tonight Michael joins René in the Feral Zone to illuminate the meaning behind it all. Topics include a St. Louis Cathedral gig, the Franklin restaurant, a waitress bit, the Iguanas at ...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 21
The singer, guitarist, and songwriter with Morning 40 Federation and Rough Seven is also the owner of BJ’s Lounge and cohost of the “Obligations At the Lounge” podcast. Scully spent years as a middle school history teacher and authored the children’s book, “T-Roy’s Pirogue.” Tonight he joins the Troubled Men where his love of dive bar culture and experience handling unruly children pays off. Topics include a sweet spot, a Thanksgiving recap, a big dog, an Advent calendar, an old flame, UCLA, a B...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 296
The piano player, drummer, and vocalist with Mem Shannon, Vince Vance and the Valiants, and Dr. Sick is also an ace audio engineer and sound mixer with his own Uptown Audio Productions. With years running sound for the cream of Louisiana musical artists, he learned from the masters the fine art of leading a band and putting on a show. Rob has always beaten his own path through life. Tonight he joins the Troubled Men, whose path has deserved a good beating for some time now. Topics include Thanks...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 295
The singer, guitarist, and songwriter with the Hellcats, Tav Falco’s Panther Burns, and the Kropotkins was steeped in the Memphis underground of Tav and Alex Chilton and nourished on a diet of canned tuna on toast, menthol cigarettes, and primordial blues. She emerged fully formed as Lorette Velvette, ready to take the world by storm. After a retreat to country life to raise a family, she resurfaced with a new band and a reignited sense of urgency. On a recent swing through town, Lorette entered...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 20
