No Simple Road

This week on No Simple Road, we're bringing together two passionate champions of music, community, and culture for a conversation that celebrates everything we love about the grassroots scene. Joining Aaron, Mel, and Apple are Brick Lohr, promoter and visionary behind the beloved Ramble Festival, and Kris Howland of Heady Wax Fiends, one of the most respected vinyl-loving communities in the jam ba...

This week on No Simple Road, Aaron, Mel, and Apple welcome guitarist, songwriter, and sonic explorer Tom Hamilton of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) for a deep dive into his haunting and beautifully personal new album, I Am Your Vampire. Known for his fearless improvisation and emotionally charged playing in the jam band world, Tom joins us to talk about stepping into a more intimate and vulnerable...

This week on No Simple Road, Aaron, Mel, and Apple gather around the virtual campfire joined by Venue Llama/Fire on the Mountain owner Jordan Busch to unpack one of the most talked-about live music experiences in recent memory — Phish at Sphere in Las Vegas. From the moment the lights dropped inside the revolutionary immersive venue known as the Sphere, it was clear this wasn’t just another run of...

This week on No Simple Road, Aaron, Mel, and Apple sit down with Murph & Primo, the independent promoters behind the 2nd Annual Warlock Koolaid Campout — a grassroots music festival built by and for the Deadhead community in Oregon and beyond. From humble beginnings to a growing gathering of like-minded souls, Murph and Primo share the story of how Warlock Koolaid Campout came to life — fueled by...

This week on No Simple Road, Aaron, Mel, and Apple welcome John Tyson and James McPhillips of Denver’s own Orca the Band — a group that’s carving out their own lane in the modern jam and indie landscape with what they call an “Adventure Band” spirit. From the jump, this conversation dives into the origin story of Orca the Band — how the project came together, the chemistry that sparked between mem...

This week on No Simple Road, Aaron, Mel, and Apple welcome singer-songwriter Ric Robertson for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation about place, purpose, creativity, and the beautiful ways life and art intertwine. Ric joins us from his home in rural New York — a space that has organically evolved into something far more than a residence. Part sanctuary, part community hub, part intimate...

This week on No Simple Road, Aaron, Mel, and Apple welcome Matthew McDonald, keyboardist of Perpetual Groove, for a deep and thoughtful conversation that celebrates 25 years of music, community, and the ever-evolving journey of creativity. Matthew takes us behind the scenes of Perpetual Groove’s 25th anniversary, reflecting on the band’s origins in the Southeast jam scene, the relationships that h...

This week on No Simple Road, Aaron, Mel, and Apple sit down with the our Brother and the endlessly creative Chris “Hollywood” English, a multi-genre musician known for lighting up stages with bands like Grateful Shred, the high-octane bluegrass of Dirty Blanket, Cuppa Soup and a host of other musical collaborations that keep the modern jam and roots scenes buzzing. Chris joins us for a deep dive i...

This week on No Simple Road, we welcome the vibrant souls behind Mojo Fest 2026 — the members of Bodhi Mojo — for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like sitting around a late-night campfire with family. Aaron, Mel, and Apple dive deep with the band about how a dream, a community, and a whole lot of heart turned into one of the most exciting grassroots gatherings in Oregon....

This week on No Simple Road, we saddle up for a deep, honest ride with Andy Thomas — a songwriter cut from the cloth of hard roads, real stories, and the kind of truth you can’t fake. Andy joins Aaron, Mel, and Apple for a conversation that moves far beyond the surface, exploring the grit, grace, and lived experience behind the music. We dig into Andy’s journey blue collar to the stage — where ind...

This week on No Simple Road, we sit down with Tyler Ramsey and Carl Broemel to talk about their stunning new collaborative album, Celestun. Known for their deeply expressive songwriting and textured guitar work, Tyler (formerly of Band of Horses) and Carl (of My Morning Jacket) join Aaron, Mel, and Apple for a conversation that drifts beautifully between craft, connection, and creative trust. We d...

This week on No Simple Road, we drop into Bend, Oregon to hang with Spencer and Scottie of Spencer Marlyn Band, a rising force in the Central Oregon music scene and a perfect example of what happens when community, creativity, and live music all grow together. We sit down in the studio with Spencer and Scottie to talk about the band’s origin story, the evolution of their sound, and the joys and ch...

This week on No Simple Road, we head north of the border to connect with Dylan Stone and Jesse Cobb from The Unfaithful Servants, the genre-bending roots outfit straight out of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Blending folk, bluegrass, old-time, and a healthy dose of irreverent spirit, this band brings a sound that’s as playful as it is deeply rooted. Aaron, Mel, and Apple sit down with the cre...

This week on No Simple Road, we sit down with a true living legend — Jorma Kaukonen. Guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, Jorma joins Aaron, Mel, and Apple for a deep, thoughtful conversation that traces a lifetime devoted to music, meaning, and staying true to the song. We talk about the early days of acoustic blues, the electric explosion of San Francisc...

This week on No Simple Road, we’re stepping straight into the heart of Pacific Northwest bluegrass culture with the amazing organizers of the Newgrass Festival in Newberg, Oregon, joined by our dear friends Christian DeBenedetti and Rachel Bonnett of Newgrass Fest as well as Joe Suskind and Crystal Lariza of the band Never Come Down! If you’ve ever wondered how a festival becomes a living, breathi...

This week the No Simple Road Family welcomes the incredible Natalie Brooke — keyboard wizard, powerhouse vocalist, bandleader, and radiant force in the jam / funk / fusion universe! Natalie joins Aaron, Mel, and Apple to talk about her journey through music, creativity, self-discovery, and what it means to show up fully as yourself both on and off the stage. We get into the early sparks that ignit...

Get ready, family — this week on No Simple Road, we’re hanging with the one and only Larry Keel, a bluegrass legend, master picker, and true steward of the jamgrass spirit! Aaron, Mel, and Apple welcome Larry into the circle for a real, heart-forward conversation that goes way beyond the usual talk of tours and records. We dive deep into the magic of community and connection that lives inside the...

Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between! This week's rewind takes us into a discussion around how healing can show up at the oddest of times and our willingness to take the medicine we are served. This is old school NSR at its best... Aaron, Mel, and Apple workin...

This week on No Simple Road, we sit down with Brad Zerman, founder of Seven Point Cannabis, to explore how cannabis, music, and culture intersect to create something bigger than business. Brad shares his journey of opening and running dispensaries across Illinois and beyond, and how his latest project in Danville, Illinois with Seven Point is redefining what a cannabis experience can be. Imagine a...

This week on No Simple Road, we welcome guitarist and composer Ben Garnett to dive into the stories, sounds, and inspirations behind his brand-new album, Kites Keep. Ben takes us on a journey through the making of Kites Keep, exploring how his love of film and visual storytelling shapes his approach to composition and improvisation. We discuss the interplay between music and cinema, the way sound...

Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between! This week's rewind has us in the studio (without Mel) with our special guests Kris and Chelsea Howland! Kris is the man at the helm of Heady Wax Fiends. We talk about the state of the union in the scene today, what Kris' o...

On this episode of No Simple Road, we sit down with Trish Imbrogno, aka Trish Plays Bass! From her early days training in classical music to diving headfirst into bluegrass, Trish shares the story of how music has shaped her path. We talk about the shift from structured classical training to the freedom of improvisation, the energy of the bluegrass scene, and what it means to be part of a thriving...

Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between! This week's rewind has it all! We're talking about the upcoming Billy Strings shows here in Eugene this weekend which leads to a discussion around the genius surrounding the center of that particular whirlwind. Blending ge...

Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between! This week's rewind has all three of us back in the studio catching y'all up with Mel and Apple and diggin into some theories and thoughts on EMF smog, sunlight exposure, mitochondria, cold water therapy, small town people,...

Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between! This week's rewind is a throwback to the very first episode of NSR. Aaron is here, solo, sharing what had been going on with him lately. Going through a re-examination of choices made, finding the strength to see the good,...