artist interview
Every episode of The Rugged Revival featuring artist interview — conversations with independent country, Americana, and roots artists.
Sean Rodriguez
Sean Rodriguez: Bass, Style & Life on the Road with The Wilder Blue
From sandy hot dogs on the Texas coast to a life spent holding down the low end on stages across the country, Sean Rodriguez has taken the long road to The Wilder Blue. Raised between Corpus Christi and College Station, Sean started out on trumpet before an early obsession with bootleg ’60s and ’70s concert footage on the newly launched YouTube drew his ear towards the bass. What followed was an education built through big-band jazz, funk, country and years on the road — touring the South with New Orleans indie-rock band Hazy Ray, playing blues in Houston, moving to Austin, and eventually spending almost eight years on the road with Bri Bagwell before becoming part of The Wilder Blue. In this episode of The Honky Tonk Hair Machine, Sean talks about the craft behind playing bass, singing harmonies and putting on a show at the same time; why The Wilder Blue runs its live set “like clockwork”; and the musical journey that shaped the player he is today. Then there’s the style. Sean digs into his love of colour, ’70s shirts, giant lapels, floral pearl snaps, Wrangler Ranchers and vintage Austin finds, a look influenced less by the modern Western revival than by old photographs of his great-grandfather. Music, clothes, hair and a life on the road with Sean Rodriguez of The Wilder Blue. Find Sean on Instagram: @MrFretless The Wilder Blue: TheWilderBlue.com Chapters 0:00 Intro — Sean Rodriguez of The Wilder Blue 00:24 Growing Up Between Corpus Christi & College Station 01:41 His First Instrument: Trumpet 04:43 Discovering the Bass Through Early YouTube 06:13 High School Bands, Van Halen & Rush 07:43 Becoming a Road Musician — Jazz, Funk, Blues & Country 11:26 Playing Bass, Singing Harmonies & Performing Live 13:43 Developing His Personal Style 16:24 Vintage Finds, Wrangler Ranchers & ’70s Inspiration 20:31 Hair, Moustache Wax & Life on the Road 23:38 Where to Find Sean & The Wilder Blue 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
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
Lance Roark
Wrong Notes, Pearl Snaps & Life on the Road: Lance Roark
Lance Roark has spent years figuring out what makes a song work - sometimes by writing bad ones, sometimes by rewriting other people’s, and eventually by learning when to stop chasing perfection altogether. In this episode, Lance talks growing up in Oklahoma, learning guitar alongside his dad, finding his voice as a songwriter and why, these days, the feeling matters more than hitting every note right. There’s also life on the road, forgotten lyrics, wrong harmonicas, Pearl Snaps, canned salmon and the realities that sit behind the songs. An honest, funny conversation with an artist who’s learned to trust his instincts - onstage, on the page and everywhere in between. Chapters 00:00 Oklahoma Roots & Learning Guitar with Dad 01:23 Writing Bad Songs & Finding His Own Style 03:35 Letting Go of Perfection on Stage 07:18 Pearl Snaps, Levi’s & the Lance Roark Look 09:17 Road Essentials, Wrong Harmonicas & Canned Salmon 11:16 Europe, New Music & What’s Coming Next 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
Jonathan Pennington
“Music Became My Therapy” | Jonathan Pennington of Moonlight Mile
Jonathan Pennington of Moonlight Mile joins Camden for an open conversation about music, faith, loss, family, and finding his true voice as a songwriter later in life. From his roots in church music to the experiences that shaped Moonlight Mile, Jonathan shares the highs, the hard moments, and why music ultimately became a form of therapy. A candid conversation about finding out who you really are, and having the courage to make music that reflects it. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:12 Learning Guitar & ’90s Musical Influences 05:42 From Church Music to Finding His Own Voice 13:14 The Reality of Playing Live with Moonlight Mile 16:41 Touring, Family Life & Life on the Road 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
Pat Reedy
Pat Reedy on Busking, Nashville & Building a Country Music Career
Pat Reedy joins Camden to discuss leaving construction behind for country music, busking in New Orleans, life in Nashville, ...
Bar Jay Bar
Wyoming Country & Western Revival | Bar Jay Bar Podcast
The Rugged Revival — independent Country, Americana & Roots music. Live sessions, artist interviews and real music discovery.Bar Jay Bar joins Camden for a conversation about modern Country & Western music, Americana storytelling, independent touring, songwriting, cowboy culture and building authentic roots music outside the mainstream industry.Based between Wyoming and the American West, Bar Jay Bar blends classic Country & Western influences with modern Americana and folk songwriting, creating music that feels both timeless and deeply personal.If you enjoy artists like Colter Wall, Charles Wesley Godwin, Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell and modern western Americana, this episode is for you.Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music!Follow 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
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
Shane Kelley
Shane Kelley - Powerful Blues Soul Inspired by Gregg Allman & Howlin’ Wolf | Rugged Revival
hane Kelley emerges from a small town just south of the Florida–Georgia line with a voice that carries the grit, soul, and raw power of classic blues. Drawing inspiration from legends like Gregg Allman and Howlin’ Wolf, his sound blends deep-rooted blues with rich storytelling and an unmistakable emotional edge.His debut album, Misery Like A Wheel, is a haunting and heartfelt introduction. The record weaves together traditional southern elements—banjo, mandolin, and fiddle—with dark, soulful melodies that feel both timeless and fresh. Every track reflects a journey shaped by struggle, resilience, and authenticity.Growing up surrounded by the strong musical traditions of the South, Kelley channels real-life experiences into songs that hit hard and stay with you. Misery Like A Wheel isn’t just an album—it’s a statement from an artist unafraid to be vulnerable and honest.If you’re a fan of raw blues, southern soul, and music that tells a story, this is one to turn up and feel.
Daniel Young
Daniel Young - Indie Folk Americana | Another Golden Hour | Rugged Revival
The Rugged Revival — independent Country, Americana & Roots music. Live sessions, artist interviews and real music discovery. Daniel Young is the kind of artist who doesn’t just make music—he lives inside it. A singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, sound engineer, and producer from Salt Lake City, Daniel has spent over two decades honing a craft that runs as deep as the mountains he grew up on. That sense of elevation—of something vast, fleeting, and quietly powerful—echoes through every note he creates. His latest project, Another Golden Hour, captures that rare, glowing moment just before the light fades—when everything feels suspended between what is and what’s about to disappear. These songs were born in the open air of a side patio, shaped in a basement studio, and now return to the world carrying that same warmth, weight, and wonder. Recorded over just two days at Orchard Studios with minimal overdubs, the album reunites Daniel with the Rambling Roses—the same group behind 2024’s Leave It Out to Dry. Together, they create something remarkable: a sound that feels immediate yet timeless, raw yet carefully held together. Each track reflects a different thread of Daniel’s world: • “Baby, Baby Blue” pays tribute to the late KSOP (AM 1370), a pillar of country music history • “Holdin’ Up” wrestles with the quiet weight of modern struggles • “Fires Shall Be Ceased” and “Ways to Communicate” channel the enduring spirit of protest and folk tradition • The title track, “Another Golden Hour,” distills it all into something fluid, shimmering, and deeply human This is music about fleeting light, about holding on, about letting go—and about finding hope anyway. Another day. Another golden hour. Listen now and experience it for yourself. #folksong #countrysongs #americanamusic 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
Andy Thomas
Andy Thomas - Fiery Southern Rock & Roll | High Octane Country Blues | Rugged Revival
Andy Thomas has worked his way up the ranks as an electrifying guitarist across the United States and abroad, whether it’s fronting his own wild-n-out project The Trongone Band or being the six-string rocket fuel for the melodic muscle car that is acclaimed Americana act Yarn. Produced by fellow Virginia native and longtime friend Dave Schools, the legendary bassist for Widespread Panic, and captured at the renowned Spacebomb Studios, Thomas' debut album, “Highway Junkie,” connects the dots of Thomas’ troubled past and hard-fought strength of self in the present — this juncture of fiery southern rock & roll and high-octane country blues.
Walker Tex
Walker Tex - Alt-Country from Glasgow | Modern Country with a Classic Soul | Rugged Revival
Walker Tex and Wilson Lyons are an alt-country duo with a deep connection to storytelling and a modern twist on traditional country music. Hailing from Glasgow, Walker’s love for country blossomed during his time living in Northern Ireland, where he met Northern Irish-born Wilson Lyons as young lads. The two began playing together early on, bonding over their shared passion for music.With Walker’s rich vocals and Wilson’s intricate guitar work, their sound blends nostalgia with a fresh edge. They're joined by drummer, backing vocalist, and producer , who runs Ear Bonez Studios in Athens, Georgia, and shapes their distinctive sound. Together, they create songs that resonate with authenticity, drawing listeners into their unique blend of alt-country.
Canción Franklin
Canción Franklin - Singer-Songwriter from Tuscon, Arizona | Rugged Revival
In this interview Camden speaks with Canción Franklin, an American roots musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Tucson, Arizona, whose authentic sound draws on deep grooves of Americana, country, blues, soul and rock ’n’ roll. From discovering the blues as a teenager to tirelessly honing his craft in dive bars and on the road, Canción’s music is defined by heartfelt lyrics, raw guitar work and a commitment to honesty and emotional expression. His performances - whether solo, with a band, or as a hired gun - are marked by a vulnerable presence and a powerful connection with audiences. Canción’s songs explore resilience, life’s hardships and the beauty found in perseverance, making him a compelling voice in modern roots music.
Steve Burner
Steve Burner - Outlaw Country, Waylon Jennings & the 1970s Sound | Rugged Revival
Steve Burner plays country music rooted in the raw spirit of the 1970s Outlaw movement. His sound draws on the grit of Waylon Jennings and Townes Van Zandt, while tipping its hat to modern torchbearers like Colter Wall, Charley Crockett and Orville Peck. After stints as the bassist of the Hard Rock outfit Travelin Jack and as frontman of Silvershark, Burner now steps into the spotlight on his own terms - bringing a fresh, uncompromising voice to Europe’s roots scene.
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.
Justin Trawick
Justin Trawick - DC based band leader, podcaster, and founder of "We Are the 9" | Rugged Revival
Justin Trawick has been performing in the Washington DC area and along the East Coast since 2006, citing musical influences like Bob Schneider, The Tallest Man on Earth, G. Love, Old Crow Medicine Show, and David Gray. In June of 2015, Trawick released his first single, “Goodbye”, under the band name “Justin Trawick and the Common Good”; written about the search for direction and belonging in a world that constantly feels one step ahead of you. Trawick has performed for TedxEast in NYC at the City Winery, TedxPennsylvaniaAvenue in DC at the Newseum, and has opened for over 30 national acts including Suzanne Vega, Wyclef Jean, Brett Dennen, Blues Traveler, Enter The Haggis, Bob Schneider, and Edwin McCain, and shared bills with Dr. Dogg and The Avett Brothers. Justin is the Founder of the nationally touring show “The 9 Songwriter Series” and co-founder of “The Circus Life Podcast.”
Evan Golden Hopper
Evan Golden Hopper - From Bluegrass Roots to Punk Rebellion | Rugged Revival
From bluegrass porches to punk basements, Evan Golden Hopper has lived a wild musical evolution.In this episode, Camden dives into Evan’s early influences, from his grandparents’ old‑time picking sessions to recording his first DIY punk demos on a Yamaha analog deck. They talk about creative honesty, finding identity through sound, and how artists like Townes Van Zandt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Sierra Ferrell still shape his songwriting today.Evan also teases new music from his project Quell, with a brand‑new single dropping around Thanksgiving - plus insight into what it means to stay real in a world full of noise.
Slim Chance Cowboy
Slim Chance Cowboy - The Sharpest Dressed Men In The West | Rugged Revival
Camden meets up with Rugged Revival's new kid on the block - Slim Chance Cowboy - to talk fashion... mainly.
Aaron McDonnell
Aaron McDonnell - Texas Alt-Country Star with a Timeless Sound | Instagram LIVE | Rugged Revival
Aaron McDonnell is one of Texas’ most exciting alt-country artists. With multiple Top 40 hits, over 1,000 live shows, and his acclaimed LP "Too Many Days Like Saturday Night", Aaron has carved out a reputation for blending classic country roots with moody, timeless influences reminiscent of Dwight Yoakam and Chris Isaak.
Dakota Saylor
Dakota Saylor - Live at The Burl | Rugged Revival
At the legendary Burl in Lexington, KY, five incredible artists stepped onto the stage for the "For The Love of Appalachia" showcase - each competing for a life-changing opportunity: a fully-funded UK tour. In this interview, Rugged Revival's Kenzie Traylor sits down with Dakota Saylor to talk music, dreams, and what is means to represent Kentucky's thriving independent scene. This is just the beginning - we'll be sharing interviews with all five artists from this unforgettable night. Hit subscribe and join us in celebrating the voices that keep independent music alive! #kentuckymusic #independentmusic #countrymusic #appalachianmusic
Jenni Rose
Jenni Rose - From Texas Band Vandoliers
The collection of songs on Vandoliers’ fifth album, Life Behind Bars, offers a window into frontwoman Jenni Rose's journey through addiction and gender dysphoria — a journey that has culminated in her decision to come out as a trans woman while working in the macho worlds of Texas country and punk rock. Ten years into their career, the band’s latest work is as upbeat and sing-along ready as ever, but with a little more stripped-down and intimate feel than their typical fare, in addition to being lyrically more substantive and, at times, more politically pointed. Bars is fearless and fun, a bold entry in a musical space that is still too often hidebound by tradition.www.theruggedrevival.comwww.vigilantehaircare.com#texasmusicscene #countryrock #punk #cowpunk
Bedford Band
Bedford Band - Kentucky Rockers on New Album & Touring Stories
Bedford has released four singles this year from their upcoming album, which is set to drop in late summer 2025. Stream "Sign" now! Though they hail from the rolling hills of Kentucky, they have performed on stages all over the Southeast and Midwest. From New Orleans to Nashville and everywhere in between, you won't want to miss these fellas when they're melting your local stomping grounds!
Jesse Williams
Jesse Williams – Blues & Soul Music From North Georgia
Singer/songwriter/guitarist, Jesse Williams, is a mountain mama with roots grounded in Blues & Soul. Hailing from North Georgia with the deep belief that it’s best savored when simmered. Her melody medicine is an invitation of sultry vocals and earthy lyrics that explore Life's many winding paths. These serenades are supported with guitar grooves and rhythms that play off the feeling of the Music. Capturing and offering the raw essence of Spirit as it moves listeners within. Jesse's works include her 2020 debut EP, “Off the Vine". Which was recorded in 2019 at InCrowd Recordings in Atlanta, GA. In 2024 she released another EP, “Take My Place”. Recorded in 2018 at The Vault in Marietta, GA. Outside of her EP's, Jesse Williams is featured on other songs and projects. She makes two appearances on the album. Belting on a cover of Renee Geyer’s, , as well as co-writing and singing on . Recently, she joined creative forces with on his melancholic tune, . Her latest accomplishment is winning the Eddie's Attic 55th Bi-Annual Songwriter Shootout in November 2024. Joining the list of winners that include Jennifer Nettles & Cory Jones, John Mayer & Clay Cook, Tyler Childers, and more. She is currently working on recording her first full-length album, “Keep Steady”. More home-grown medicine coming in June 2025.
Kindred Valley
Kindred Valley – Indie Folk from West Virginia
Indie folk band Kindred Valley started when three friends with a passion for music met at Marshall University in 2020. Initially under the name Back Row Baptists, Blake Lacy, Noah Freeman and Brett McCoy met in Huntington, West Virginia, and began writing and recording music together. The band released its first singles as a trio but found its footing in 2021 with three new members - Husband and Wife Rachael and Jadon Hayes and Kaden Salmons. After releasing their self-titled debut album at the end of 2022 the band took to traveling and playing shows as often as they could manage. More time together meant new ideas and songs shared amongst each other - many of which felt like expansions on the ideas of their self-titled release. As the band continued to refine and develop their live show, each song took on a new sound more closely resembling a more experienced and practiced Kindred Valley. Though it took time to decide how to properly share these songs with the world, the band agreed that the sooner it was able to, the better. Recorded between Noah’s unfinished - and now finished - basement as well as the Hayes’ home studio, the project showcases a dynamically contrasting collection of songs that not only displays the growth of the band up to now, but also points towards potential creative directions of future works as well.
Leon Majcen
Leon Majcen – Florida Folk-Country from Bosnian Roots
Leon Majcen is a musician whose story is one of resilience and determination. He grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the son of Bosnian war refugees who had fled the country in search of a better life for their children. From a young age, Leon was drawn to the power of storytelling through music, particularly the work of artists like Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, Bob Dylan and Guy Clark. Leon began playing in local bars while still in high school, honing his craft and building a loyal following. After high school, he decided to pursue his passion for music in New York City, while attending college at New York University and playing shows around town. After a while, Leon came to the realisation that the hustle and bustle of the city wasn't where his heart was at and returned home to take a job at a commercial fishing dock while planning his next move to Nashville. Since arriving in music city, Leon has continued to develop his unique blend of Folk, Country and Americana, drawing on his experiences and love of the outdoors to craft songs that are honest and powerful.
Eli Cain
Eli Cain – Georgia Americana from Housepainter to Artist
Eli Cain is a talented singer-songwriter from Watkinsville, Georgia. His journey from housepainter to a rising star in the music industry is awe inspiring. Come and join Eli and The Rugged Revival for a captivating conversation! #musicpodcast #musicinterview #countrymusicartists #americana
Anna Scott
Anna Scott – Nashville Country with Rock & Blues Edge
Anna Scott uniquely incorporates glitz and power into country music. She grew up with a hard work ethic in her hometown of Cleveland Ohio, where she fell in love with music of many genres, and played any venue that would let her sing. She blends elements of rock and blues and is comparable to Kassi Ashton, Jo Dee Messina and Ashley McBryde. She has been able to perform alongside the likes of Russell Dickerson and Carrie Underwood as a background vocalist. As a recent alumnus of Belmont University, Anna continues to release music and play multiple shows to hone in her craft and blossom into the artist she is today. #countrymusic #nashville #countryartist #musicpodcast