The Rugged Revival Network
Ramblin' & Gamblin' with The Slim Chance Cowboy
From steel-toe boots to steel guitars. Hosted by Brad Jackson, Ramblin' & Gamblin' dives into the heart of country music history, vintage western culture, and the voices keeping it alive. Whether it's interviews, deep dives into classic records, or dusty finds from the collection, Brad's got a keen ear, a sharp eye, and an unapologetic passion for the real stuff. Raised on the job site, fuelled by vinyl and worn denim — Brad's not here for trends, he's here for timeless.
Your Host
Brad Jackson aka. The Slim Chance Cowboy
Brad Jackson is a blue-collar music obsessive with a deep reverence for country music's roots and the culture that surrounds it. Maryland-raised and built by hard work, Brad brings a working man's perspective to everything he covers — no pretension, no trend-chasing, just an authentic love for the music and the stories behind it. He's the kind of guy who'll spend a weekend digging through record crates and come back with something nobody else found.
Episodes (8)
Chasen Wayne
Addiction, Fatherhood & a Life Built Around Music | Chasen Wayne
Chasen Wayne’s route into music has been anything but conventional. Raised around rodeo cowboys and blue-collar workers, Wayne spent years working with his hands while finding whatever time he could to write songs, play guitar and build a life in music. What followed has been a journey through hard work, addiction, sobriety, marriage, fatherhood and an unwavering commitment to his craft. In this deeply candid conversation with Slim Chance Cowboy, Chasen opens up about the experiences behind his music, the reality of making earlier records while heavily drinking and using drugs, his decision to get sober, and the family that now means more to him than any stage or record ever could. We also dig into his evolution as a songwriter, his work as a talent buyer at the Sagebrush, the sacrifices that come with touring as a father, and the story behind Chasen Wayne & The Honky Tonk Machine’s latest record, The Diamond Saloon. This is more than a conversation about country music. It’s an honest look at the life behind the songs... the mistakes, the work, the people worth changing for, and what it means to keep pursuing something after more than a decade of trying to get it right. Chapters 00:00 Introducing Chasen Wayne 00:36 Rodeo Roots & a Blue-Collar Upbringing 03:59 Austin, Plumbing & Learning the Craft 07:39 Injury, Addiction & a Turning Point at the Sagebrush 10:48 From King Cowboy to The Diamond Saloon 12:43 Writing His Life Into the Songs 14:02 Getting Sober & Looking Back at the Early Records 14:57 Strange Places & Moving Beyond Traditional Country 17:57 The Story Behind “Honeymoon” & Corpus Christi 20:36 Addiction, Sobriety & Choosing His Family 21:47 Work Ethic, Fatherhood & the Cost of Touring 25:15 Finding His Own Sound & Why He Keeps Going 28:57 What’s Next for Chasen Wayne Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Sean Burns
Keeping Lost Country Music Alive | Sean Burns
Country music has always had its stars. But just beneath the surface is another history - regional singers, forgotten 45s, small-town dance halls, independent labels, and working musicians whose records never traveled much farther than their own backyard. Sean Burns has spent years digging into that history. In this conversation, Burns joins Slim Chance Cowboy to talk about his new album, "Better Off in Time and Other Songs for the Dance Floor", and the country shuffle, fiddle, steel guitar, and dance-hall traditions that shaped it. He also traces his fascination with lost Canadian country music, from hunting down obscure records and the musicians who made them to shining a light on an era when local country scenes flourished across Canada. Burns has been called a preservationist. He’s happy to accept the title. “Someone’s gotta do it.” This is a conversation about making country music with an attention to detail, preserving the records that history left behind, and keeping the flame burning for the people who were once simply playing country music in the bars. Chapters 00:00 Sean Burns & the New Lost Country Album 01:48 Building a Different Kind of Country Record 04:40 “Better Off in Time” & the Stories Behind the Songs 08:30 Capturing the Sound of Classic Country Records 12:58 Preserving Canada’s Lost Country Music 19:00 The Greatest Catalogs & Musicians in Country History 26:27 Merch, Touring & What’s Next for Sean Burns 32:42 Unfiltered Country Music Opinions & Closing Thoughts Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Meg and the Wheelers
Chicago’s Honky Tonk Revival | Meg and the Wheelers Podcast
The Rugged Revival — independent Country, Americana & Roots music. Live sessions, artist interviews and real music discovery."Meg and the Wheelers are a Country Western band from Chicago, Illinois. Their sharp-witted lyrics, solid harmonies, classic steel guitar twang, and enthusiasm for drinking the pain away will make you want to boot-scoot your regrets out all over the dance floor"More independent Country, Americana and Roots music conversations on The Rugged Revival.Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music!Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628Follow The Rugged Revival:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevivalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679Website: www.theruggedrevival.comEmail: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Eric Grate
Eric Grate - The Notorious Adams Boys | True Story of a 1960s Touring Band | Rugged Revival
Discover the untold true story behind The Notorious Adams Boys, a remarkable new book exploring life on the road as a major touring band in 1960s and 1970s America. In this episode, Slim sits down with the author to dive into the inspiration, the history, and the raw, “hardscrabble” storytelling style that brings this era to life.Born in Greenfield, Ohio, and shaped by a journey through the Marine Corps, the automotive industry, entrepreneurship, and small-town America, our guest didn’t begin writing seriously until his mid-fifties—proving it’s never too late to tell powerful stories. From running a successful café in Kentucky to publishing multiple books, his path is as compelling as the stories he writes.If you’re interested in music history, true stories, writing, or unconventional life paths, this episode delivers insight, grit, and inspiration.The Notorious Adams Boys — releasing April 2026
The Soda Crackers
The Soda Crackers - Talk Bakersfield Sound, B-Sides & Classic Country | Rugged Revival
With a goal to bring back the “classics,” The Soda Crackers – a five-piece band whose average age barely cracks the 30-something barrier – are in full swing. Make that – full Bakersfield Sound with a nice helping of Western Swing thrown in as a side dish of sorts. The Soda Crackers celebrate the unsung heroes of the Bakersfield Sound, the B-side hits that never get played, and the showmanship plus the instrumentation that all the greats brought to the smoky ol’ beer joints & dance halls from years gone by.
Rebecca Porter
Rebecca Porter - From Guam to Rising Appalachian Honky Tonk Star | Rugged Revival
Born in Guam and raised in the Shenandoah Valley, Rebecca Porter blends soulful melodies and fearless lyrics with her honey-smooth voice to create her own brand of Appalachian honky tonk. Her 2023 EP, "Queen of the Local", earned national acclaim and led to recognition in Rissi Palmer's Color Me Country Class of 2024, features on Ed Helms' Good Country and a debut on NPR's Mountain Stage. Known for electrifying live performances, Porter captivates audiences with her emotional intensity and grit. With her highly anticipated debut album, "Roll With the Punches", set for release in August 2025 (announcing April 25), Porter's personal and raw storytelling continues to push boundaries, projecting a cinematic soundscape that balances traditional country’s rugged spirit with an unapologetic journey of perseverance.
Emily Love
Emily Love - 90's Country inspired band from Portland, Oregon | Rugged Revival
Emily Love and her band, The Highliners, are based in Portland Oregon. Fuelled by a love of 90's country since before it was cool, the songs are high energy and unapologetically twangy without taking themselves too seriously.
Olivia Ellen Lloyd
Olivia Ellen Lloyd - Country, Folk and Indie Rock Artist | Rugged Revival
Olivia Ellen Lloyd crafts straightforward songs where no word is wasted and every emotion is well-earned.Heavily influenced by country, folk, and indie rock, Lloyd’s sound combines the rooted sounds of her traditional Appalachian upbringing with the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants nature of her current life. She is inspired by the rich sounds of New York City, the peaceful quiet of her small hometown, and everything in between. www.olivialloydmusic.com