The Grammy-winning author and filmmaker’s landmark book, "[It Came from Memphis ](https://therobertgordon.com/books#/it-came-from-memphis-updated-and-revised)," has just been reissued in a 25th anniversary revised edition. The cultural collisions between bluesman Furry Lewis, producer Jim Dickinson, Alex Chilton, pro wrestling, photographer Bill Eggleston, fife & drum bands, the Panther Burns, integration, and other disparate elements form a compelling narrative of outsiders, misfits, and ro...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 133
The top-tier drummer’s stellar resume includes the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Warren Haynes, Ani DiFranco, Karl Denson, and John Scofield. Coming to the attention of producer Don Was, Terence played on the national Last Waltz tour with Robbie Robertson, as well as on all-star TV tributes to Willie Nelson and Elvis, and spent a week as guest drummer on Late Night with Seth Meyers. No matter how rarefied the atmosphere, he always retains his greasy New Orleans feel. Tonight he slides into the Trouble...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 132
The keyboard player and singer’s tenure with George Porter and Papa Grows Funk stemmed from his love of New Orleans R’n’B, particularly the triumvirate of Art Neville, Allen Toussaint, and Dr. John. His years on Bourbon Street taught him the value of a timeless song. He brings these twin imperatives to bear on his latest album, “Central City,” recorded with an all-star lineup and released this spring. His early reluctance to live streaming has morphed into a full embrace of the possibilities of ...
Nov 26, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 131
The guitarist and singer’s bands include the Tin Men, the Valparaiso Men’s Chorus, Kings of the Smalltime, and the Alex Band. One of New Orleans’ premier songwriters, he’s released two original solo albums, “Lucky One” and “Road Songs,” this year, in addition to “Into the Sky” with songwriter collective the Write Brothers. Recordings with his own Royal Fingerbowl, as well as projects like 007, the Tom Paines, Susan Cowsill, Luke Spurr Allen’s Happy Talk, Lynn Drury, and the Geraniums round out h...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 130
The Grammy-winning producer and musician’s credits include records with Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Iggy Pop, the Neville Brothers, and Chris Whitley. Throughout his long association with fellow Canadian producer Daniel Lanois at Kingsway Studio, and in his own Clouet St. and Kingston, NY studios, Malcolm has always pursued a taste-over-flash aesthetic with an affinity for handmade music. He also hosts the weekly radio program [“The Long Way Around”](https://radiokingston.org/en/broadcast/the-lon...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 129
The strip-mine crooner burst onto the scene with Tuscaloosa art agitators the Raudelunas Pataphysical Revue, fronting No Wave big band Ron ‘Pate & His Debonaires. Their live record and the subsequent studio albums, “From the One That Cut You” and “Car Radio Jerome,” established them as a mythic presence in the southern underground. Years out of sight and scarcity of the discs heightened the mystery surrounding the singer. Fred Lane’s reemergence after 35 years with the “Icepick to the Moon” ...
Nov 05, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 128
The renowned bassist, along with fellow Meters Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli, and Zigaboo Modeliste defined New Orleans funk and R’n’B from the late 1960s on. From the explosion of classics like "Cissy Strut" and "Hey Pocky A-Way" for Allen Toussaint’s label, to session work with Dr. John, LaBelle, Paul McCartney, and Robert Palmer, the Meters are the gold standard. George has gone on to work with a stellar list of artists including David Byrne, Tori Amos, and John Scofield, as well as all-star gr...
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 127
The co-founding drummer of Thelonious Monster discusses his history with the band beginning with the 80s post-punk Hollywood scene that included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane’s Addiction, and Manny Chevrolet’s Too Free Stooges. It’s a stroll down memory lane filled with pitfalls and highlights that ultimately leads to redemption. The Troubled Men remain unredeemed. Topics include the end of the Circle Bar, a rich history, a test result, a priest’s porn shoot, a glimmer of hope, a new venture, ...
Oct 22, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Season 1Ep. 126
His work with Galactic, Big Freedia, Trombone Shorty, the Revivalists, and the Klezmer All Stars should be enough to keep anyone busy. Along with his Galactic bandmates, the saxophone/harmonica player and producer is also an owner of the iconic New Orleans music mecca, Tipitina’s. Ben’s long history with many of his collaborators is a testament to his good character and ability to get along with others. Maybe some of that will rub off on the Troubled Men, but don’t count on it. Topics include Da...
Oct 08, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 125
The guitar wizard, satirist, and provocateur’s record titles like “Innuendo Out the Other” and “Hello Dali” give you an idea of his sense of humor. Collaborations like “Just Duet” with heavyweights Larry Coryell, Mike Stern, and Charlie Hunter demonstrate his place in the guitar virtuoso community. Phil traces his journey from studying with master teacher Hank Mackie to creating a custom guitar/harp inspired by 7-string guru Lenny Breau. Phil has always followed his own path in music. After his ...
Oct 01, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 124
She’s known as the mouthpiece for angular punk dance band Malevitus, and as MC Sweet Tea at the helm of her rap-burlesque troupe. Coming on like an unravelled Mrs. Robinson with a bone to pick, the performance artist has been covered by Queens of the Stone Age and played Mary Poppins for the spawn of the Hollywood elite. Tiana and Malevitus are releasing more videos from their recent record, with new music on the way, but she finds time to squeeze the Troubled Men onto her dance card. There’s no...
Sep 24, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 123
He was a member of Tin Machine with David Bowie as well as the drummer on classic recordings by Todd Rundgren and Iggy Pop, including the iconic “Lust for Life” which has become ubiquitous on film and TV. A child prodigy, Hunt was recording and performing professionally by age 11. With his older brother on bass, the teen band Tony and the Tigers had a hit record, and the Sales Brothers rhythm section went on to become rock legends. All this has led up to his latest solo release, ”Get Your Shit T...
Sep 17, 2020•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 122
The Milwaukee bandleader and recording artist has spent his life exploring the musical tributaries that flow through New Orleans. From the masking Indians to Snooks Eaglin and Earl King to modern African forms, all have informed his original music. With Paul’s bands, first the Milwaukeeans and now Tomorrow Sound, he brings joyous sincerity to every performance. From his time on the mic on his long-running radio show, he’s developed a golden vocal tone and a sense of when to stay out of the line ...
Sep 10, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 121
As an itinerant bluesman, the singer and harmonica ace sought out giants like James Cotton and Junior Wells to uncover the mysteries of the dark art. The former collegiate swimming star did stints in Colorado, Chicago, and Austin playing with the likes of John Lee Hooker and Ronnie Earl before landing in New Orleans as a seasoned songwriter and bandleader. Johnny has a dozen award-winning solo releases, as well as celebrated collaborations with Anders Osborne and John Fohl, and is a member of th...
Sep 03, 2020•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 120
The musician/journalist’s new book, “[Mind Over Matter: The Myths and Mysteries of Detroit’s Fortune Records](http://www.nortonrecords.com/kb-mind-over-matter-the-myths-mysteries-of-detroits-fortune-records-kicks-books-book-only-ships-sept-15/),” co-authored with the great Billy Miller of [Kicks](http://www.nortonrecords.com/kicks-books/?sort=alphaasc) magazine and [Norton Records](http://nortonrecords.com) fame, comes out September 15th. It covers the eclectic label and the entire Detroit under...
Aug 27, 2020•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 119
The designer behind [Gogo Jewelry](http://www.ilovegogojewelry.com) is a New Orleans character through and through. Many know her as an actress in the long-running stage production “And the Ball and All” with Becky Allen and Ricky Graham. From her post-Mercy Academy years as an artisan, to her time studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design, to the establishment of her own store and signature line of jewelry, Gogo has a passion for the craft that has always guided the way forward. Her di...
Aug 20, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 118
Growing up on the road with Spencer Bohren, his troubadour father, Andre saw the music game from the inside out. His early rock and roll affinity for drums and guitars led to playing with Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes and Rory Danger and the Danger Dangers. His classical piano mastery led to symphonic bookings and a drive to present the repertoire in the venues of the common man. As the producer for his father’s final collaboration with songwriting collective the Write Brothers, “Into the Sk...
Aug 13, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 117
The Austin-based singer/guitar player has worked with artists including Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, John Doe, and X, live and in the studio, written music for TV and film, and released over a dozen solo records. Film scores for Rob Zombie’s “The Devil’s Rejects” and “Halloween II” led to onscreen roles and writing/directing his own New Orleans-shot, post-Katrina feature, “Zombex,” starring Malcolm McDowell. Throw in his weekly Badass Country radio show on Gimmecountry.com, and y...
Aug 06, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 116
The drummer and co-founder of the legendary, multi-platinum selling band WAR has seen a lot of action in the last 50 years. With and without former Animals vocalist Eric Burdon, Harold and his compatriots conducted a chart-topping attack starting in L.A. and conquering the globe. The barrage of hits the unit created sounds as powerful today as ever. Harold always believed in his dreams and worked hard to achieve them. Listen in as he lives through the nightmare of the Troubled Men Podcast. Topic...
Jul 30, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 115
The producer, arranger, composer, and Piety St. Studio owner cut his teeth as a teenage songwriter signed to Elektra Records and an apprentice in the late 60s studios of NYC and L.A. Mark hung out with the Flying Burrito Brothers at the Whiskey and was seen as fresh meat at the Troubadour. Allen Ginsberg, REM, Marianne Faithfull, John Scofield, Sun Ra, and Hal Wilner are just a few of the projects he’s been a part of. The new Michot’s Melody Makers record, “Cosmic Cajuns From Saturn,” is the lat...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 114
The point man behind the Kingpin Pub and Midway Pizza, and bass player with $1000 Car, Mojo Nixon, and the Chris Lee Band spent his childhood bouncing from town to town with his parents on the pro-hockey circuit. Starting a new school on a day’s notice taught him to make fast friends. Growing up with hall-of-famers showed him what it took to be a champion. Tonight Steve accepts the challenge with the Troubled Men in their first in-person podcast since quarantine. Let’s hope his winning streak ho...
Jul 16, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Season 1Ep. 113
The accordionist and co-founder of the New Orleans Klezmer Allstars actually came to play the instrument and Yiddish music quite by accident. Glenn has played piano and organ with numerous rock acts including Anders Osborne, Susan Cowsill, and Lulu and the Broadsides and teaches Jewish music at Tulane University. Time spent playing klezmer music has also fostered a deepening spiritual life and religious practice. Listen in as his faith is put to the ultimate test with the Troubled Men. Topics in...
Jul 09, 2020•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 112
The cannabis entrepreneur behind [Velobar CBD](https://velobarcbd.com) and former TV and film producer grew up on a West Virginia commune as the Aquarian Age was waking up with a massive hangover from drugs and free love. His family’s escape to L.A. landed him in a rundown Venice apartment as a feral child attending University High with the upper crust on the brink of the punk explosion. Brant has been fending for himself since he’s 7 years old. After dealing with all those dirty hippies, the Tr...
Jul 02, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 111
The veteran guitar master has logged tours of duty with Dr John, Boz Skaggs, Maria Muldaur, and the legendary Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders, among others. As a rock and roll animal, Cranston dove into the New Orleans punk scene with his own outlandish offering, Sex Dog, and practiced tone science in the lab with Morgus the Magnificent before delving into the rockabilly world of Joe Clay. Tonight he takes his chances with the Troubled Men. Topics include Phase 2, infection spikes, a new nickn...
Jun 25, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 110
The piano player, guitarist, and composer has worked with everyone from Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy and Liquidrone to Hurray For The Riff Raff, the Special Men, and Langhorn Slim. A chance encounter and a fearless spirit has led to a busy career in film scoring and sound design. Casey’s humor and humility make him a sweetheart of a guy. His talent and work ethic make him someone you want to be around. Maybe some of that will rub off on the Troubled Men. Topics include bad soda, a return to the Ring Ro...
Jun 18, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 109
The singer and bandleader grew up playing in the Flying Neutrinos, the family band started by her father, Poppa Neutrino, that traveled the world by homemade rafts, trains and buses, and sheer determination. Documented in the film “Random Lunacy,” their unconventional lifestyle set the tone for Ingrid’s adventurous adulthood. After years as a solo artist and a stint fronting the Squirrel Nut Zippers, she comes clean about the ups and downs of her life as an entertainer in pursuit of the big time...
Jun 11, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 108
The retired Florida police chief spent decades on the beat before taking command of his local force. He saw the cocaine cowboys up close and personal, and witnessed the militarization of law enforcement resulting from the war on drugs. As a community gadfly, Mark now takes aim at the Daytona area powers that be, making friends and enemies along the way. The former officer shares his view from behind the badge to the latest horrific realities inflaming the Troubled Nation. Topics include a crime ...
Jun 04, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 107
The Memphis underground filmmaker, documentarian, comic book artist, and sculptor behind Guerrilla Monster Films is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his Cramps-endorsed noir classic, “Teenage Tupelo.” This semi-auto-bio-sexploitation-comedy-drama reimagining the director’s origin story is getting the royal treatment, with a new Blu-ray edition, a soundtrack LP, and a book about the movie and the makeshift creative community that came together to make it. Mike has an almost mystical connection...
May 28, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 106
The Antigravity Magazine editor-in-chief has a resume that includes tour managing Hooray For The Riff Raff and decades in the film biz, as well as masterminding the flagship alternative publication of the city. As a New Orleans native, Dan, along with his cat herd of writers, employs some tough love in an examination of sacred cows of local culture while he casts a hopeful gaze towards the horizon. He loves movie work, but the magazine is his passion. He writes because he has to. His appearance ...
May 21, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 105
The recording artist and producer has been in hand-to-hand combat in the musical trenches since the Paisley Underground days of Green On Red. Since then Chuck’s solo career has included over a dozen releases as well as collaborations with Alejandro Escovedo, Tony Visconti, Jim Dickinson, and Kelly Willis, among others. With a terrific new record, “The Land That Time Forgot,” slated for an August release, he peers into the abyss of the unknown unknown and studies the tea leaves for signs of life....
May 14, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 104
