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 …

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 appr…

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 fro…

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 lo…

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. M…

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 …

Durham’s Rissi Palmer, who became the first African-American woman to reach the country charts in 20 years upon release of her self-titled debut, joins us to discuss her life as a closeted country fan. Although she grew up listening to Kenny Rogers and Trisha Yearwood, Rissi opted instead to blast the Rush Hour soundtrack in the parking lot of her …

John Howie Jr. of The Rosewood Bluff and Two Dollar Pistols takes us through his life in country music, from watching Roger Miller as The Rooster in Disney’s Robin Hood to his acceptance of Johnny Cash while living with punks in Europe. Then John delivers some harsh truths about 90s country - there’s no love lost for Garth Brooks and his impact on …

Scott Phillips, a singer-songwriter from Raleigh bands Goner, Gnoer and The Monologue Bombs, joins us for this episode. We learn that Lilly's in Raleigh is good for more than just pizza, it’s where Scott got a significant education in music. He explains how his road to country goes through John Denver and finds common ground between Richard Buckner…

Bombadil drummer and Durham producer James Phillips challenges our qualifications to host this podcast since he has formal education in country music. We discuss potentially problematic phrases found in David Lee Murphy's breakthrough single, wonder why a Bible is needed on a date, and figure out who to blame for that snare sound. We also discover …

Museum Mouth bassist Kory Urban plays in a punk band but he's learned a lot by listening to country music, from song structures to first realizing that he wanted a girlfriend. After Kory discusses how his wife measures up to the character from "Daddy's Money" (he's not a gold digger - she's got her own money!), we talk about tropes and misogyny in …

Triangle musician and producer Saman Khoujinian fronts T. Gold, plays guitar and synth in No One Mind, and has helped make records or played with the likes of Dad & Dad, Virgins Family Band, The Dead Tongues, Humanize, Chris Frisina, and Matt Phillips. Between breaking down Sting's only country hit and the bizarre music video that accompanies it, S…

We're fixing to start a new season with even more guests! Before we do that, Rachel & Spencer recap season one, talk about some upcoming guests and a few changes to the format, and catch y'all up on what we've been up to over the summer. This is also our first episode where both of us are drinking, so we understand if you don't make it all the way …

Comedian Britt Spruill of Eyes Up Here joins us this episode. It’s probably not a surprise that we end up talking about Jeff Foxworthy along with Kacey Musgraves and “Old Town Road” (again). But our lengthy discussions of RuPaul’s Drag Race, boy bands, and school dances are probably unexpected! So grab your cowboy hat from Gucci and get ready to li…

Dylan Earl cut his teeth on 90s country while riding around in his mom’s van. Now he’s all grown up with a van of his own, touring non-stop and and still jamming to 90s country. On this episode, we spend arguably too much time talking about line dancing and Sting, but wash it all down with a Hamm’s tallboy. Spencer's pick: My Next Broken Heart by B…

Danny Johnson, a talented multi-instrumentalist who plays with several Triangle bands including Jack the Radio and New Reveille, keeps his lawyer on speed dial for this episode. He and Spencer discuss their alternative identities as school teachers and come up with a genius invention (two words: biscuit. koozie.). Then, Rachel shares dating advice …

Singer-songwriter Thomas Strayhorn joins us this episode to learn a lot about livin’ and a little ‘bout Alan Jackson. We marvel at Alan Jackson’s ability to water ski and savor our own grape snow cones from Durham joint Pelican’s Snoballs. In spite of Thomas picking the cheery “I Feel Alright” by Steve Earle, we discover through a discussion about …

Loamlands leader Kym Register stops by and discovers just how many hypothetical Neon Boots events we have planned for The Pinhook, the Durham bar where they are the head honcho, before we try to decipher what the hell is going on in 90s music videos. Then we discuss the process of coming out (as gay or vegetarian) in the 90s country scene along wit…

Prolific Triangle songwriter and powerhouse vocalist Reese McHenry has never been to Myrtle Beach but we let her on the show anyway. Kiefer Sutherland and Michael Jordan somehow steer our discussion from Patty Loveless to Reese's yet-to-be-recorded rock opera about the Michael Peterson case. We also ponder all the ways that Sharon Stone is wrong ab…

Durham singer-songwriter and Hard Tuck member Chessa Rich makes her podcast debut and explains why she shouldn't be on Neon Boots. Before Rachel calls her out for not knowing Travis Tritt, we discuss the country tendencies of The Eagles and the lighthearted pop leanings of our #1 mullet man, Joe Diffie. We bask in the glow of Dolly Parton's genius …

There are some things that we will never not talk about. Those include mullets, baseball, Myrtle Beach and Reba McEntire’s “Fancy,” which all get shout outs in this episode with singer-songwriter Lydia Loveless and magic man Michael Casey. In spite of these tangents, we come away with important life lessons learned from all of our song picks: Hal K…

Mipso and Hard Tuck singer/guitarist Joseph Terrell joins us with his mustache and tales of how he became a pickup man. We move from Brad Paisley and Disney's Robin Hood (trust us, they're related) to Keith Whitley and the first hints of Lil Nas X's fame (OK, those aren't very related). We leave with some reflections on Dwight Yoakam's many artisti…

Twangy Chapel Hill duo Blue Cactus joins us this episode before going into studio to record their next album. We start on Reba and end on Carson Daly before moving on to Spencer’s sneaky motivations for choosing Brooks & Dunn and Rachel bragging about being one degree from Kevin Bacon. But we leave with a few unanswered questions...is Neon Moon abo…

Veteran arts administrator Aaron Greenwald joins us this week and shares a behind-the-scenes look at Nashville in the late 90s and the art of making music videos. We talk about sweater vests without undershirts, Rachel’s not-so-secret love of demolition derbies, and Sammy Kershaw’s PG13 nickname. It’s sexier than Kenny’s tractor, y’all. Song #1: It…

Who wants to go to Dollywood?! Durham musician and proud mullet man Alex Bingham has offered to be our tour guide for the Great Smoky Mountains’ greatest attraction. We take some wild rides with misheard Dixie Chicks lyrics, spreadsheets about drinking songs, and toxic masculinity that results in violence against jukeboxes. Alex’s Pick: Fancy by Re…

After a surprise cameo from Rachel's dog, Beau, Durham singer-songwriter Skylar Gudasz joins us to talk about sleepovers soundtracked by 90s country and make road trip plans to Dollywood. Between our ramblings about Chicken Soup for the Soul books and speculating on the future of viral yodeling star Mason Ramsey, we discuss Diamond Rio's accented v…

Durham musician Phil Cook, a Wisconsin native who has embraced the warm weather and culture of the Carolinas, joins us this week to talk about cheese (both culinary and musical) and the distinct differences between black gospel groups and Presbyterian choirs. Phil also shares great stories of witnessing performances of Randy Travis songs both bring…

Anita & Sandra (She & Her's hosts with the most and OUR friends) teach Rachel & Spencer a little about professional podcasting and Shania Twain. This entire episode is devoted to our country queen of the great white north! We discuss songs from Shania's first three albums and her place as a feminist icon (and anti-capitalist icon?) in country music…

Durham singer-songwriter Al Riggs joins us this week and takes us on unexpected tangents about Jimmy Buffett and the best worst vacation spot—Myrtle Beach. We answer the tough questions like “Who is Joe Diffie?” and “Have you ever been to Cook Out?” And somehow Metallica and KISS get a mention. We’re not sure what kind of podcast we are anymore. Sp…

Allison Hussey, music writer and (former) music editor of our local alt-weekly newspaper Indy Week, joins Rachel and Spencer this week. After we all beg for biscuit sponsorships, blank checks, and Dolly to become our fairy godmother, we get down to business. Rachel proves how little she knows about Seminole and drag history (a crossover that could …

"Laugh at my trauma, please." Comedian Erin Terry joins us this week! Erin is the brains and beauty behind Eyes Up Here, a stand-up comedy cartel featuring NC-based Lady Comics. She sips on margaritas (hear the ice clink in the glass around 11:02) and reminiscences about painful teen years. Spencer overshares regarding body hair and Rachel forces e…

Grant Emerson of Durham band Delta Rae joins Rachel and Spencer this week. Things get as spicy as a Bojangles Cajun Filet when we discuss our first concerts, meeting music celebrities, and Weekend at Bernie's. Thanks to Durham's Carolina Theatre for hosting us! Rachel's pick: Callin' Baton Rouge by Garth Brooks, 1993 Grant's pick: Midnight in Montg…

This week, Spencer and Rachel welcome our first special guest, BJ Barham! BJ is a NC-native who grew up on 90s Country and is the lead singer of the band American Aquarium. We talk BJ's songwriting influences, the important and undeniable link between country music and NASCAR, and Southern gothic murder ballads. This episode is full of some real 't…

On this inaugural episode of Neon Boots recorded Veteran's Day weekend, Rachel and Spencer discuss the origin of their love for 90s Country and why they decided to spend their free time creating a podcast devoted to the topic. They also ruminate on Billy Ray Cyrus's flowing locks and tight tight jeans. Rachel's pick: Romeo by Dolly Parton (featurin…