Welcome back to the Load Out Music Podcast where we most recently caught up with a much-heralded Americana band from my home state of Virginia. They are widely known for their annual Red Wings Roots Music Festival in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in the western part of the state and have an ambitious new album out entitled SIDEWAYS. They are The …

We pick up on episode 11 of season 5 of the Load Out Music Podcast with a unique episode when we welcome in Jake Neuman of Jake Neuman and the Jaybirds, along with producer and former guest Greg Griffith. Greg not only produced the new record by the Jaybirds -- "Little Bitty Town" -- but he also produced the new album by my own band, Atomic Junctio…

Jason Bonham’s name is synonymous with rock royalty. It started, of course, with his father—the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, who is considered one of the most transformative rock drummers in rock ‘n’ roll history. But Jason is no lesser emulation of his father. He’s a Grammy winner who has carved a different, yet highly influential path f…

He may not be the tallest musician going, but John Oates casts a immensely large shadow in music. One part of the most successful duo in music history—Daryl Hall & John Oates—he co-wrote a number of the band’s legendary catalogue including "Sara Smile," "She’s Gone,” "Out of Touch,” "You Make My Dreams,” "I Can’t Go for That," "Maneater” and more. …

Coreen Sheehan knows how to sing. It’s how she’s toured all over the world fronting powerhouse rock ‘n’ roll bands and why Sheehan’s been employed by Grammy winners and helped countless singers prepare to compete in both U.S. and international versions of shows like NBC’s The Voice and American Idol. In fact, the vocal technique curricula she devel…

Acclaimed international jazz artist Jose James has a composure about him that one might compare to James Bond. The Minneapolis native claims he was one of the least talented artists in his music circles growing up, yet he ultimately attended The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. His first album, The Dreamer, debuted in 2008. Since then, h…

Earnestness. Authenticity. These are the things Nashville-based guitarist Tobin Dale relates to when he considers his chosen craft as a guitarist and playing the music he loves. A true student of rock‘n’roll guitar, Dale has been at it since discovering the Beatles and subsequently picking up the guitar around age 12, growing up in Orlando. In musi…

Like any other art form, rap music or hip-hop has a defined, ever-evolving legacy. There are names etched in the walls of the greats industry founders ranging from Curtis Blow to Grandmaster Flash, LL Cool J to Run DMC, the Beastie Boys, Will Smith, Doug E. Fresh, the Fat Boys and Queen Latifah. As the genre evolved, rap developed more of an edge, …

Some guests need no introduction, especially when they've been a founding member of one of the most lendary rock bands in history, Traffic. But if you need more, Dave Mason has it. He's penned well over 100 songs, has three gold records, worked with the late Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartnery, George Harrison, Eric, Clapton, Rita Coo…

You might recognize Caleb Lee Hutchinson from his short stint on NBC's The Voice, on American Idol, country music radio or your favorite streaming platform. But after dropping an EP and a few popular singles, as well as working with some renowned producers, he emerges with his first full-length album, Southern Galactic, and it's certainly not your …

Despite a rather decorated, 20-year history that includes accolades any band would relish, the GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum band NEEDTOBREATHE isn't satisfied. Indeed, the band came into their latest studio album feeling there was much to prove despite living in rare air in the modern genre landscape--having placed five Number One albums all ac…

If there’s anything to be learned from the monumental successes of Beyonce and Taylor Swift, it’s that music artists can do more than simply record and perform music. Certainly, each has established themselves as exceptional artists. But they have also cultivated remarkably strong seemingly interpersonal bonds with their fans ranging from Beyonce’s…

Singer-songwriter Susan Gibson was born in Minnesota but spent most of her formative years in Amarillo, Texas. Growing up, she and her family would often drive between Amarillo and Missoula, Montana, where she drew comfort and inspiration from the wide open spaces along their route. Ultimately, Gibson took to music and the continuum of movement thr…

Singer-songwriters Diane Gentile and Alejandro Escovedo seemingly could not be more different. Gentile grew up as one of eight siblings in Flushing, Queens, and every morsel of her oozes New York City in a manner that evokes memories of the famed all-female band The Runaways. While Gentile cut her teeth in the music business as a club booker in the…

Over the four seasons of The Load Out music podcast, we’ve had a variety of artists on the show that have ranged from Rock-and-Roll Hall-of-Fame inductees like John Oates, Steve Cropper and Chris Hillman; to Grammy winners, alt-country stars, longtime record executives and noted rap producers. On the latest episode, we welcome an up-and-coming band…

Let’s start here. Cody Canada—our latest guest on The Load Out Music Podcast—is many things but he is most certainly not some radio DJ in Canada, in the event you were curious. No, he’s a pioneering figure in red dirt music and one of the more respected musicians in songwriting circles today. But many casual music fans might be unfamiliar with his …

Singer-songwriter Joshua Radin didn’t think he was going to be a musician. Certainly, he loved art and studied drawing and painting at Northwestern. But after college he worked as a teacher, screenwriter and other odd jobs. In his late 20s, Radin’s father bought him a guitar and things slowly came together. In 2004, actor Zach Braff—a friend since …

When he was 12, Joe Bonamassa started his career in blues-rock by opening for the legendary B.B. King. Somehow, things only got better for his career from there. Bonamassa has since been nominated for three Grammy Awards, had the number one position on the Billboard Music Blues Charts 26 times and been noted as one of the pre-eminent modern day blu…

The 1990s saw a host of new rock ‘n’ roll and adult-oriented roots come to the forefront on the American music scene. There was an understated, long-haired kid from Georgia in the mix with bands like the Black Crowes, Wilco, Sheryl Crow and the Counting Crows. His name was Shawn Mullins and his brooding, lyrically-thoughtful style stood out, harken…

In 1994, I moved to New Orleans, where I lived until 1998. I loved my time there and still love the city today. Life in NOLA is hard to explain to those who’ve never been, or maybe only spent time partying in the French Quarter. It’s unique in so many ways, and as my children grew up, we tried to expose them to it as often as we could. Unlike most …

If someone introduced themselves by saying they’d worked with historic music artists such as Neil Young, Robert Plant, the Allman Brothers—you probably think one of two things: Either this person’s “completely full of shit” or “holy shit!” And in welcoming the relatively anonymous Tom Lipsky to the latest episode of The Load Out Music Podcast, we’l…

What do you get when you cross the movie Sister Act 2 and Saddam Hussein? But of course, the Americana band The War and Treaty, led by the married couple, Tanya and Michael Trotter. Tanya (formerly Blount) began building a music and entertainment career at 16, appearing in the 1993 Whoopi Goldberg sequel and then releasing a debut album, Natural Th…

If you are a regular listener of this podcast, you have probably realized that we haven't dropped a new episode for a few weeks. That is because the team behind Beyond Black History Month is moving on. The good news: If you haven't listened to every episode - you can binge now! Thank you so much for supporting our work. To hear what's next, connect…

In the fall of 2005, four musicians—Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist, Brian Keen and Colin Brooks—all had residencies at Momo’s, the since-shuttered music club on West 6th Street in Austin, Texas. Ultimately, the four songwriters found themselves jamming each week, sharing a bill in what was lightly called “The Good Time Supper Club” on the Momo’s stage. It b…

We’re back to kickoff Season 4 of The Load Out Music Podcast with Southern California-based up-and-comers Robert Jon & The Wreck, speaking with the band’s understated founder and frontman, Robert Jon Burrison. The Wreck, which has been together since 2011, has a tremendous new record out called “One of a Kind.” It’s the first of a series of singles…

In the final episode on the birth of hip-hop, we look at the songs and events from the 80's that continue to impact hip-hop today. We also explore how early award shows refused to acknowledge hip-hop music and the protest that followed. Guests: Big Tigger Darryl McDaniels Ed Lover Grand Wizzard Theodore Rahiem Rich Nice The Last Poets Credits: Jill…

The Sugarhill Gang was the first hip-hop group to record a song and the first hip-hop group or artist to make it onto the Billboard charts. That's why their 1979 single "Rapper's Delight" remains one of the most influential hip-hop songs today. This week, we bring the full and candid conversation with group member Master Gee. Guests: Master Gee Cre…

We continue our story on the birth of hip-hop. In this episode we look at the graffiti and b-boy and b-girl culture We also explore the 1979 song “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugar Hill Gang, which was the first recorded hip-hop song. We dig into how the group formed, the song’s lasting impact, and the controversy behind some of its lyrics. Guests: Da…

2023 is the 50th anniversary of hip hop. All year, we are dropping episodes in a special series that digs into one of the most popular forms of music. We’re kicking off the season with a look at the birth of hip hop. In this episode, we look at the connection between protest poetry and hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc’s iconic 1973 party, and all the external…

We are kicking off season two by digging into the recent study that linked hair relaxers to ovarian cancer. Turns out, relaxers aren't the only hair products that could be harmful. In this episode, we speak with beauty influencer and venture capitalist Blake Newby and sociologist and natural hair care expert Dr. Taura Taylor. We explore the reasons…

Beyond Black History Month is returning on January 24th.By Audacy

We wrap up what has been a stellar Season 3 with the founding drummer of one of the world's most renowned bands: Ryan Dusick of Maroon 5. In the 1990s, when Dusick and his buddies including some guy named Adam Levine, dreamt of making it big in music---they never imagined Maroon 5 would emerge as one of the biggest bands on the planet. But it happe…

Host Femi Redwood and the Beyond Black History Month team are going on a holiday break! We are working on amazing episodes and will be back in January. Until then - there are lots of past shows you can listen to. In this episode, we recap what you may have missed this season. Go back and take a listen. See you in 2023!…

Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter, Black social media users have seen an increase of racist and hateful trolling. This has caused some notable Black users to leave the platform. But what happens if there is a mass exodus? In this episode, we dig into why Black Twitter is so important to the culture and connections of Black folks. We speak with schol…

If you’re one of those people who says you like “all kinds of music,” then Drew McManus and his band SatSang just might be for you. The entirety of SatSang’s catalogue spans comparisons to Ben Harper, G-Love and Special Sauce and Jason Mraz among others. However, the band’s new record “Flowers from the Fray” includes performances and arrangements t…

The comic book and fantasy space may seem very different from hip-hop culture, but according to Run DMC’s Daryl McDaniels, the two are very similar. In this episode, we speak with both Daryl and Hilton George, the founder of Blerdcon. While Daryl explores the similarities between the two mediums, Hilton walks us through the challenges surrounding i…

On this episode of Beyond Black History Month, we’re turning our attention towards the whiskey industry. Of the 2,000 distilleries in America only 1% are owned by Black entrepreneurs. Listen as host Femi Redwood explores why Black business owners are still struggling to get their feet in the door despite the drink owing its success to a single ensl…

Trauma from natural disasters impacts Black communities in ways many of us never thought about it. In addition to causing PTSD, a recent study found that hurricanes are linked to a 33% increase of deaths long after the storm has passed. This comes as climate change disproportionately impacts Black communities. In this episode, we speak to residents…

In 1963, Duane Abbajay—the 15th child of Syrian immigrants—took over ownership of a bar in Toledo, Ohio. And with the backing of the Detroit mafia, he would make it one of the legendary homes of music—first for rock artists like Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Chubby Checker and others in the 1960s; and then for a who’s who of country music legends i…

Art and cryptocurrency are two areas that have been historically dominated by white men, but that’s changing. NFTS, a.k.a non-fungible tokens, are helping Black folks sell, buy, and share artwork. In this episode, we hear why Black artists, like Nick Davis, prefer using NFTs as a medium for their artwork. Rapper and entrepreneur Ja Rule breaks down…

There's a shortage of Black sperm donors and this especially hurts Black lesbian and queer couples. Black sperm makes up between 3% and 5% of what’s available at cryobanks. This comes as the majority of cryobank customers are lesbian or queer. This shortage causes some people to look for sperm elsewhere, including Facebook. In this episode, we lear…

HBO’s House of the Dragon is getting praised for its diverse cast. But it’s also facing criticism for that same reason. Some viewers are upset the Game of Thrones spinoff casted Black actors to play characters who were once described as pale. In this episode, we speak with actor Steve Toussaint. He’s faced racist trolling for his role as Corlys Vel…

In this episode, we talk to journalist Soledad O'Brien about how she's pushing journalists to tell inclusive stories. From calling out reporters providing problematic coverage, while simultaneously encouraging news consumers to think about how a story is framed, the Afro-Latina news anchor, CEO, and executive producer is demystifying media. We also…

Jam band culture is a thing unto itself that drives passions that are perhaps hotter than any other music fandom. And the the list of legendary jam bands is well known: the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, Phish, Widespread Panic and more. One of the great American jam bands is moe. out of Buffalo which as been praised for its musicality and app…

The water emergency in Jackson, Mississippi is reminiscent of Flint, Michigan. The emergencies were caused by different failures - but the core issue is the same: the disinvestment of the majority Black city with similar poverty rates. In this episode we learn about water challenges in Jackson going back years. We talk to families to find out how t…

Welcome back to another episode of the Load Out Music Podcast. We’re thrilled about our guest this week, Steve Forbert, whose first four albums charted on the Billboard 200, and in, 1979 he had a huge hit with “Romeo’s Tune.” A native of Meridian, Mississippi, his 2004 record “Any Old Time” was nominated for a Grammy award for best traditional folk…

This year, there has been a 56% increase in petitions asking for union representation across the nation. You've seen the news. Employees at companies such as Amazon and Starbucks are making headlines because they demand better working conditions. If successful, Black employees stand to benefit the most. Research shows that Black union members have …

Nearly one third of all Americans have a side hustle. But data shows Black communities are more likely to have a side hustle when compared to other races. Considering the pay gap, side jobs are a way for some families to increase their incomes. But after the pandemic caused many people to reevaluate their lives, many began working towards making th…

There are currently no federal holidays named after - or even dedicated to women. But one local activist aims to change that. Jeannine Cook is the shopkeeper at both Harriet and Ida’s bookshops, located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. If the names of those stores don’t make it inherently obvious, she looks up to the female faces of the…

Gun violence is a massive problem in American communities. And after decades of failed policies, some community members are taking matters in their own hands and working as violence interrupters. In this episode of Beyond Black History Month, we meet members of Save Our Streets, or SOS. We find out how some of the same people who once caused neighb…