Shows / Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Explore the rebellious counterculture, hidden histories, and unexpected connections bridging the worlds of alt-country, indie rock, and punk music. Hosted by Will Houk, Roots, Rednecks, and Radicals is a music history podcast dedicated to the artists who subvert traditional genres and challenge the status quo.
From deep dives into the working-class protest music of Woody Guthrie and Johnny Cash to the modern, trailblazing sounds of Orville Peck, Brandi Carlile, Charley Crockett, and Billy…
Episodes
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
IRON AND WINE, KATIE PRUITT (NOLAN TAYLOR), and MARGO CILKER are in the ROTATION!
This week I wanted to bring you some artists that are a little on the folk side of things. Iron and Wine (Sam Beam) Katie Pruitt, and Margo Cilker all have…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
WILLI CARLISLE has a new album out produced by TYLER CHILDERS!
I got to interview Willi Carlisle a few years back and I think he's a really important artist. Part Beat poet, part country musician, the stories he's telling…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
IAN NOE, COLBY T. HELMS and JOHN R. MILLER are in the ROTATION!
This week's rotation features three amazing singer songwriters. Ian Noe, Colby T. Helms, and John R. Miller all have new music out. Their songwriting is really…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
COLBY T. HELMS Has Made ONE FOR THE LOSERS
Colby T. Helms is a folk/bluegrass musician from Virginia. He's made a name for himself playing his songs on TikTok and Instagram and developed a following…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
RATBOYS TWIN TEMPLE and JAKE BLOUNT Are In The Rotation!
I have three incredible artists lined up for you this week. Ratboys have a new indie folk album out. Twin Temple brings us the sounds of Satanic Doo-Wop. And…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
CHARLIE PARR On His New Record ROOMING HOUSE
Charlie Parr is an American folk/blues musician that has been making socially conscious music for decades. Known for his cutting lyricism, he embodies a style…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
SHONEN KINFE Brings Their Style Of Japanese Punk To Reno.
I was asked recently to do a concert review for the Japanese Punk Band Shonen Knife. They got their start back in 1981 and have been playing their Ramones…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
BILLY STRINGS, RHIANNON GIDDENS, and WILLI CARLISLE are in The Rotation!
Billy Strings, Rhiannon Giddens, and Willi Carlisle all have new music out. Willi's new album was produced by Tyler Childers and I feel like you can really…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
KACEY MUSGRAVES & INTOCABLE Just Made Texas Music History!
Kacey Musgraves has released her first all Spanish song. She teamed up with the ultra-famous Mexican Tejano group Intocable for a new take on her song…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Philly Punk Band ERASER Is On The Show Talking About Their New Album OPERATOR!
Eraser is a punk band out of Philly. They just released a new album called Operator and I had a chance to chat with them about it at a show they played in…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Did TOM MORELLO Really Tell People To Not Vote?
Recently Tom Morello did an interview where he revealed he did not vote for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. This has sparked some controversy online about…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
BECK'S New Album RIDE LONESOME Is An Introspective Journey.
Beck is know for his hits like Loser and Devi'ls Haricut but many people don't realize he's always made folksy, singer-songwriter music. This new album has him…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Alex Orbison: Finishing a Lost Johnny Cash Song, Drumming for The Allman Betts Band, and His New Solo Album
What happens when you discover a hidden 1960s love poem written by Johnny Cash? You put it to music. In this episode, we sit down with veteran drummer and…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
ORVILLE PECK'S New Album Mule Is Some Of His Best Work.
Orville Peck has a new album out called Mule and it's really great. The sounds are sparse and contemplative. The songwriting ventures into territory he rarely…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
PHOEBE BRIDGERS May Have Written The Album Of The Year LOST WEEKEND.
I really love this album. The songwriting is amazing. The production is out of control. It's just an amazing record. This week we take a look at Lost Weekend…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
AARON LEE TASJAN'S New Album GET OVER IT UNDERDOG.
Aaron Lee Tasjan is an artist I have a great deal of respect for. His songwriting is inspired by artists like his mentor Todd Snider. It's a great blend of…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Nathan Evans Fox explores southern culture and history on his new album Heirloom.
Nathan Evans Fox is an artist I've really been enjoying recently. He has a great songwriting approach, and his lyrics are exploring areas often looked over by…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
RIP Dolly Parton!
Dolly was an absolute icon. Her music career spanned decades and she left us with a wealth of songs she wrote and will always be remembered for. Her legacy is…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
5 Songs I'm Diggin' for August 2026. Featuring Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, Nathan Evans Fox, Billy Strings and Margo Price w/Joan Baez.
I have five songs lined up for you that I'm really diggin' this month. We have everything from indie to bluegrass on this episode. As always, there is so much…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Brandi Carlile Unleashes A Cover of an Alanis Morissette Song At Newport Folk Festival
Brandi Carlile recently performed at the Newport Folk Festival. During her performance she unleashed a wild and powerful version of the song Uninvited by…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Kacey Musgraves Celebrates Mexican Music With Brothers Detained By ICE
Kacey Musgraves has always had a sense for social activism. Recently when she learned the story of brothers who were detained by ICE and also were Mariachi…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
5 Songs I'm Diggin' For May! Featuring Lucy Liyou, Snail Mail, Kacey Musgraves/Willie Nelson, Deer Tick, and Shooter Jennings/Willie Nelson.
Here's 5 more songs I think you'd enjoy that are out this month. Some of the best tracks I've been listening to. Lucy Liyou, Snail Mail, Kacey Musgraves, Deer…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
The Album That Set The Stage For Outlaw Country Turns 50 This Year!
Wanted! The Outlaws gave us a template for what Outlaw Country music should sound like. And it came out in an era of country music that gave us a ton of…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
5 Songs I'm Digging For April. Featuring Charley Crockett, Mitski, Iron & Wine, Ratboys, and India Ramey!
Lot's of good tunes out in the world right now. These are the songs I'm enjoying. Charley Crockett, Mitski, Iron & Wine, Ratboys, and India Ramey all have…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Gillian Welch's album "Revivial" Came Out 30 Years Ago This Month! Let's Take A Look At This Classic Album.
The bluegrass revival of the early 2000s has it's roots in music that was bubbling just under the surface years before. In the 90s there were artists laying…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Johnny Blue Skies (aka Sturgill Simpson) Has A New Album Out! And It's Weird As Hell!
Sturgill Simpson is one of my favorite artists of all time. He just does things the way he wants to do them. He's made Outlaw Country, Bluegrass, and Rock…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Charley Crockett's new album "Age of the Ram" is the end of his Sagebrush Trilogy.
I've been such a big fan of Charley Crockett for a long time now and I'm stoked to see him reach new levels in his career. He's super creative, and just a…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Folk/Blues Legend Charlie Parr Is On The Show!
Charlie Parr is a roots musician from Minnesota that has been making music for decades. Over the years he's really created his own style that is based in the…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Folk Duo The Lowest Pair Talk Are On The Show!
My hometown is getting a treat. Charlie Parr and The Lowest Pair are coming through to play a show. I had a chance to talk with this dynamic folk duo about…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
5 Songs I'm Digging For March! Featuring Jeff Tweedy, Jeremy Ivey (w/Margo Price), Courtney Barnett, Father John Misty, and the Milk Carton Kids.
I have five more songs for you lined up this month. As always I like to bring you what's good in the world of new music and I have a great line-up for ya! This…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Colter Wall Is Taking A Break From Music For The Time Being
Colter Wall announced on his Instagram recently he's taking a mental health break from music for the time being. There are few details surrounding this…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Folk The Man! John Henry
John Henry is an American folk hero. His mythology goes back to the 1800s and no one is quite sure what part of his story is real, or legend. Nevertheless his…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Country Music Grifters: Kid Rock
For some reason Country Music has become a space for people who want to run a grift and make a quick buck, and Kid Rock is one of the worst. He doesn't really…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Steve Earle's Guitar Town Turns 40 This Month. Let's Take A Look At This Classic Album!
Steve Earle is one of America's greatest living songwriters. His career spans decades, and he is widely respected as an incredible artist by so many musicians…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Celebrating Black History Month With The Carolina Chocolate Drops!
The Carolina Chocolate Drops (Rhiannon Giddens, Dom Flemons, and Justin Robinson) put out their album Genuine Negro Jig over 10 years ago. And it is still…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Remembering Bob Weir. The legendary guitar player of the Grateful Dead!
Bob Weir passed away just over a month ago. He was a giant in the world of American roots music. A founding member of the Grateful Dead, after Jerry Garcia's…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
5 Songs I'm Diggin' For February featuring: Lucinda Wiliams, Mitski, Ecca Vandal, Flea, and Kim Gordon
I've got 5 more songs for you that I'm diggin' this month! Lucinda Williams, Mitski, Ecca Vandal, Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Folk The Man! The Ghost of Tom Joad
This is the first episode in a series I plan on doing on protest music. Decades ago Woody Guthrie wrote a song that told the story of Tom Joad from Grapes of…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
5 Songs I'm Diggin' for January featuring Wednesday, Courtney Barnett, Clover Country, Colter Wall, and Brennan Leigh!
Lots of good music to go over with you this month. As always I try and keep you up to date on what's happening in the world of Indie/Alternative music. And I…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Sammy Brue on his touching album dedicated to the memory of Justin Townes Earle.
Justin Townes Earle passed away nearly six years ago. His death came as a shock to the roots music community. The son of Steve Earle was a bright shining star…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Hayley Heynderickx and Max Garcia Conover Are Making Music Like Woody Guthrie
These two folk artists have made an incredible piece of art. It came out at the end of last year, and it's been on repeat in my headphones for awhile now. I've…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
MJ Lenderman and Waxahatchie are artists to be listening to in 2026!
MJ Lenderman and Waxahatchie (Katie Crutchfiled) have both had an amazing last few years. They've worked with each other, and played in either Wednesday or…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Breaking down the best music of 2025!
I feel like this year gave us some incredible music from a variety of artists. I wanted to share with you some of the bands and songwriters that were on repeat…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas is a damn delight!
I have loved this movie since I was a little kid. It's campy, and honestly kinda bad but in the best way possible. The songs are fun, the puppets are bad, but…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
This Episode Goes To 11! Remembering Rob Reiner And His Classic Film This Is Spinal Tap!
Rob Reiner was an incredible director and genuinely hilarious. He passed away this week under really tragic circumstances. But the art he left us with will…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Amanda Shires dives deep into her divorce with Jason Isbell on her new album "Nobody's Girl."
I have been a fan of Amanda Shires and Jason Isbell for over a decade now. Like many others I was surprised to hear about their divorce. And it's never easy to…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Billy Strings Tiny Desk Concert!
I've been a big fan of Billy Strings for quite a while now. I've also always loved NPR's Tiny Desk Concert, and I was stoked to see that Billy was on the show…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Mexican folk musician Silvana Estrada is someone you need to be listening to!
Silvana Estrada is a Mexican folk musician with an incredible voice. I saw a video of her playing NPR's Tiny Desk Concert and it blew me away. This album is…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Brandi Carlile's new album "Returning to Myself" is Brandi at her best!
Brandi Carlile has been one of my favorite singers for some time now. Her voice is genuine and honest. I was a bit disappointed in her last couple of releases…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Twangly, Jangly, Honky-Tonking Alt Country!
I have another playlist for you! This one focuses on modern alt-country that has been making waves. In this episode we listen to Tyler Childers, Margo Price…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
In Memory of Todd Snider, The Interview We Did In 2020. RIP Todd!
Todd Snider was an open and free artist. He lived his life as a troubadour, a vagabond, and a real creative soul. It's impossible list all of the people he…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Indie Folk, But Not Like Stomp-Clap Indie Folk
I thought it would be fun to make a few playlists and share them with y'all! You can find it on Spotify, and it has a ton of new great music that I'm sure…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Singer Songwriter Max Gomez On His New Album Memory Mountain
I met Max Gomez at a show he played in my hometown. It was a solo acoustic show, and I was really blown away by his songs. They have a casual, and intimate…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art's New Record Label Features The Kasawambwe Brother of Malawi Africa.
The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass Moca) is starting a record label aimed at developing artists, focusing on creativity, and giving exposure to…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
I Am A Fall-Ass Hoe. And Do I Got A Playlist For You! Let's Celebrate Spooky Season With Some Great Music.
Man, I just love the Fall. The weather is changing. It's getting chilly outside. And best of all Halloween is on the way! I put together a playlist of music I…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Roots Rewind: Amanda Shires On Her Song The Problem, And Writing About Women's Reproductive Rights
In 2020 Amanda Shires released a song about the topic of abortion and women's reproductive rights. I had the chance to interview her about this song and it was…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
The West Texas Exiles Talk About Their New Album, The West, And How The Desert Impacts Their Songwriting.
The West Texas Exiles are a Texas based band that are making incredible music. They have a new album out, and on today's episode we talked about all kinds of…
- Roots Rednecks and Radicals
Roots Rewind: A Conversation With Amy Ray of Indigo Girls
There is a new documentary out now on the history of Lilith Fair. It is really good! It touched on so many topics that are relevant to the music industry…