Dive Bar Music Club

This week's Dive Bar Music Club is a rabbit hole of garage rock side projects, forgotten lo-fi legends, Americana royalty, and gloriously oddball icons. The Regulars discuss everything from why some bands desperately need a new name to whether fans should let artists evolve, while swapping stories about tiny clubs, legendary live shows, and the strange magic of musicians who refuse to color inside...

Happy Pride! Sloane Spencer catches up with music journalist and Rainbow Rodeo founder Rachel Cholst during a period of both profound loss and exciting professional growth. Rachel reflects on the unexpected death of a longtime friend, sharing how music, ritual, and community have helped her navigate grief, while also discussing major milestones including Rainbow Rodeo’s subscriber drive , plans to...

Today, Nelson Gullett and Sloane Spencer get into one of the best parts of being a music fan: the stories that songs create along the way. The tracks we love often become tied to specific moments, memories, and people, and that’s exactly where this conversation starts. This episode moves between reconsidering nostalgia and new music discovery. We talk about the lasting emotional pull of music from...

This week on Dive Bar Music Club , we dive into the eclectic songs we've been listening to lately, and how we find new music. We're kicking it off with Kim Ware 's recent tour and the joy of discovering music that truly resonates with us. Chad Cochran pulls back the curtain on album cover art and reminds us of his mental health series, I Didn't Want to Tell You , at Woodyfest and Nelsonville Music...

From backstage conversations to festival magic, Sloane Spencer dives headfirst into Albino Skunk Music Festival, a music fan's family reunion. While this marks the final spring edition of the beloved festival, the fall music weekends continue. Celebrate reinvention, community, and the evolving sound of Americana and roots music. This episode spotlights both legendary festival staples and exciting...

Amanda Miles and Chad Cochran bring sonically disparate, but thematically similar, music to Dive Bar Music Club. We end up with some deep conversation about taking care of our mental health and how that impacts the music community. The playlist moves through love, loss, and nostalgia. Amanda shares her latest Jason Isbell obsession, Chad leans into indie rock and some 90s throwbacks, and together...

We’re big fans of public radio and festivals for music discovery. Charles Hale and Nelson Gullett had a small world radio-meets-real-life Big Ears connection. Public radio keeps new music alive and thriving, even as the federal government slashed budgets and extremist subcultures try to wield power over art. Driver 8 Records gears up for Record Store Day and launches a vinyl record club. Sloane Sp...

This week on Dive Bar Music Club , we roll straight into our ever-evolving music discovery, joined by: Caitlin Cary, Amanda Miles, Kim Ware, Sloane Spencer, and Rachel Cholst. We kick things off with a surprise protest song from Caitlin, collaborating with Chris Stamey, on a track sharing the words on the Statue of Liberty. From there, the conversation opens up into a mixtape of current obsessions...

Summary Grab a stool at the Dive Bar Music Club , where host Sloane Spencer and Regulars Charles Hale and Nelson Gullett share their low-key, high-taste music selections. This week’s happy hour for music nerds dives deep into the miracle of the Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy's Life's Rich Pageant R.E.M. tour, where even Bobcat Goldthwait's opening set brought joy, much to their surprise. Betwee...

Summary This week, Amanda Miles, Sloane Spencer, and Kim Ware settle in for a deeper conversation about the music getting us through the mess of current American politics. We start by talking about the long history of music and creativity in protest movements, sparked by Ann Powers’ article about where all the protest songs have gone lately, and whether they’ve actually disappeared or just taken n...

Summary It seems like it's a good time to play The Clash. Dive Bar Music Club is back and digging a little deeper this time. We’re diving into the crossroads of music and social awareness, sparked by the recent federal violence in Minneapolis. I’m Sloane Spencer, joined by Chad Cochran, the Nelson Gullett, and Charles Hale. A couple of us are slightly under the weather this week, but we're psyched...

Summary This week, we’re disappearing down some serious rabbit holes. From the casual Aussie swagger of Bel Air Lip Bombs to the psychedelic sway of Alex Chilton ’s cover of “Rubber Room,” the episode is a love letter to overlooked tracks that quietly demand a place in your rotation. Charles Hale, Sloane Spencer, Rachel Cholst, and Kim Ware come together like a carefully sequenced mixtape, swappin...

Summary Slide into the booth for a relaxed hang chatting about great music with Rachel Cholst , Charles Hale , and Sloane Spencer about what’s been on repeat lately, swapping thoughts on everything from the infectious indie rock of Weakened Friends to the timeless soul of Mavis Staples . Along the way, they shine a light on artists like SG Goodman, Florry, and Fust , talking about how these musici...

Summary Caitlin Cary joins us for a thoughtful and downright inspiring chat about her creative evolution, from the indie rock trenches to the calm, tactile world of fabric collage art, which she affectionately calls her “needle prints.” We dig into how this shift has opened up new ways for her to express herself, offering both artistic freedom and a healthy bit of distance from the grind of life o...

Bio Chad Cochran Ohio based music and potrait photographer. Chad's Website Chad on YouTube @cowtownchad on Instagram Chad's Facebook page Summary Chad Cochran, better known as CowtownChad, takes us on a laid-back journey through the vibrant world of independent music in this episode of Dive Bar Music Club. We dive into his experiences as a live music and portrait photographer, where he seamlessly...

Join us as we dive deep into the eclectic world of independent music with the one and only Nelson Gullett from WDVX in Knoxville, Tennessee. We’re not just sipping drinks; we’re pouring over the rich tapestry of sounds that connect the past and present of roots music. Nelson shares his journey from college radio to crafting a show that showcases diverse voices and classic influences, all while kee...

Summary We're diving deep into the world of independent music with Fort Collins, Colorado's very own Charles Hale , the mastermind behind Driver 8 Records and Ajax Diner Book Club . Charles is not just your average record store owner; he's a long-time community radio host and a passionate music advocate who believes that it’s all about taste, not trends. In our chat, we explore his journey from a...

Summary Amanda Miles joins us for a spirited chat about the magic of music and the venues that bring it to life. We're diving deep into the heart of what makes places like the Tabernacle in Atlanta and the Ryman in Nashville such special spots for music lovers. It's not just about the shows; it’s about the stories, the experiences, and that electric feeling when your favorite artist hits the stage...

Summary This week at the Dive Bar Music Club , we meet one of the Regulars , the incredible Rachel Cholst , who’s here to take us on a deep dive into the colorful world of queer country and Americana. Get ready for some surprising insights and music recommendations, including jazz for non-historians. As we sip on our metaphorical cocktails and kick back, Rachel Cholst helps us explore the magic of...

Summary Grab a drink and slide into the booth because we're diving deep with Kim Ware , the talented songwriter behind The Good Graces and drummer for the punk band Y'All'Re . This week, we’re peeling back the layers on her musical journey that started with school band and a love for drums, turning into a vibrant career filled with songwriting and live performances across the Carolinas. Kim shares...

Summary Grab your favorite drink and settle in, because we’re diving deep with Sloane Spencer , the mastermind behind Dive Bar Music Club . This week, Sloane shares her journey through the indie music scene, from her days as a radio host to her latest venture, Sleep with Rock Stars , a chill podcast that aims to lull you to sleep with the soothing sounds of music history. We chat about the evoluti...

Summary Welcome to the Dive Bar Music Club , where we’re all about vibing with our favorite tunes and diving into the deep cuts that make our playlists louder than a karaoke night gone right. This episode is all about celebrating the indie music scene. No pretentiousness here, just genuine passion for the sounds we love. Our rotating crew of music aficionados pulls up a barstool to share what’s cu...

Hey, welcome to the Dive Bar Music Club. We’re all about good tunes, better stories, and maybe a cheap drink or coffee while we’re at it. Each month, we’ll dive headfirst into the indie music world with a crew that knows their stuff: a venue owner, a touring songwriter, a zine editor, or a radio host who’s seen (and heard) it all. We’re swapping stories about the hidden gems buried at the bottom o...