The Rhythm Section: A Memphis Music Podcast

Darrin Brady on Ken Houston Duo Gigs, No Hit Wonders Return & Memphis Music Stories TRS interviews guitarist/singer Darrin Brady shares his current work with Ken Houston as an acoustic duo (started around COVID), playing venues like Huey’s, Knuckleheads, Villa Casorotti, and Delta Blues Winery, averaging heavy gig counts and varied setlists with audience interaction. He recounts joining Ken’s...

Heath & AJ Live in Studio: Acoustic Country Covers, Weekly Neil’s Residency + Memphis Music Talk The Rhythm Section Pod welcomes acoustic duo Heath & AJ (Brandon Heathand Brandi Jaco). AJ, newly relocated Arkansas singer and retired law enforcement lieutenant/criminal investigator, and Heath, a longtime Memphis-area working musician, share how they met, started dating, and formed the duo,...

Derrick and Jeff share a serious update: Derrick shares his story behind being diagnosed with prostate cancer back in May, which will put the show on another hiatus after two remaining episodes (June 16 and June 23). Derrick explains his history of prostatitis and family risk, a PSA spike, biopsy and cystoscopy results, and a PET scan showing no spread; doctors believe it was caught early. He chos...

Patrick O’Daniel Talks Heartless, Magnum Dopus, Memphis Music, and Writing ‘Crusaders, Gangsters and Whiskey The podcast welcomes Memphis bassist and author Patrick O’Daniel. They talk about Patrick’s recent gigs, including Italian Fest with Heartless and a rain-soaked show at Ghost River. Patrick explains Heartless set choices, their “Ladies of the ’80s” breakout, and the advantage of two female...

Mike Stoker on Memphis Jones, Stoker Stringed Instrument Repair & Memphis Music History Derrick and Jeff interview Memphis-born bass player and stringed instrument repairman Mike Stoker of Stoker Stringed Instrument Repair. They discuss how Derrick previously brought basses to him through REvolve Music (owned by Jeff Albert), the kind of repair and wiring work he does, and how he grew his busi...

On this in-studio episode of The Rhythm Section, Derrick and Jeff welcome Traci and Andy McCullough of Roxi Love to talk about their return to pushing original music, social media clips, and a recent video release for their song Lullaby. They discuss Roxi Love’s long-running marriage and music career, budgeting and surviving COVID, and how Southland Casino’s roster system works across stages like...

The Rhythm Section Pod welcomes guest Nick Strong, a dedicated supporter of the local music community and aspiring vocalist. Nick shares how childhood influences like Huey Lewis, Bon Jovi, Poison, and Def Leppard shaped his dream to sing, and how he gained confidence by posting home singing videos and being invited onstage with bands including Formerly Known As, Gen X, Six Feet Thunder, Full Metal...

Derrick and Jeff interview Memphis drummer Ken Artison, who works as a family engagement liaison at Power Center Academy Elementary School in Hickory Hill and plays drums for Elevation Memphis: A Tina Turner Tribute Experience and Just Liyah & Maxwell: A 90s tribute to Aaliyah and Maxwell. Ken shares how Stax Music Academy trained him in production, theory, and performance through a school-yea...

Derrick and Jeff welcome Brad Webb, Tony Adams, and Dan Cochran to talk about decades of Memphis-area recording and gigging, including sessions with Blind Mississippi Morris, Fred Sanders, and others. Brad describes building a barn studio in 1987, working with analog tape and early mic-mixing techniques, and running hundreds of blues jams at venues like Rum Boogie, Stage Stop, and Rock House Live....

Derrick and Jeff welcomes Steve Owens for a special in-studio discussion combining band date announcements, and an open discussion about the local music scene. The conversation covers double-booking problems, sound support, fair pay, covers/tipping, table reservations, and the shared responsibility of bands and venues to promote shows. Steve highlights Hadley’s Monday-night fundraisers benefiting...

On this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, Derrick and Jeff sit down with Lonnie Hammer—singer and principal songwriter for Hammer Down Hard—for a deep dive into his musical journey. Lonnie shares stories from his days behind the kit with bands like Bullet Theory, Chosen, Jack Russell, and Black Oak Arkansas, offering a behind-the-scenes look at life as a working musician. He also talks about...

On The Rhythm Section Sports podcast, the Derrick and Jeff welcome Memphis musician Zack Horvath, a Patriots fan and multi-instrumentalist who recently filled in on bass with Music Box and discusses singing while playing bass. Zack talks about simplifying his solo acoustic looping setup, preferences for smaller drum kits, and his shift from fronting bands to working as a hired-gun/session player,...

On The Rhythm Section Memphis Music Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff interview Memphis-born musician Rice Drewry about his band the Rice Drewry Collective and their mix of classic rock with some originals, plus his trio Three Degrees with Donna Wolf and Donna Handsome. They discuss seeing RDC at Nashoba, the band lineup (including Dunk Carter, Dave Botkin, Tony Rapp, and Ron Richards), and RDC winn...

In this episode, Derrick and Jeff interviews drummer Mark Sansom of the cover band Souled Out, starting with stories about Mark’s son Gunner Sansom, a Jerry Lee Lewis–style pianist and singer who taught himself keys and surprised Mark with deep-cut song choices. Mark discusses Souled Out’s lineup, busy private-event schedule, and public gigs at places like Dan McGuinness, Lafayette’s, and Knuckleh...

Derrick and Jeff invite the band Standard Issue—Mark Vines, Dennis Rosti, Tory Jay, and Jesse—to discuss the group’s formation, members’ backgrounds, and plans for the future. They explain how Dennis and Jesse began jamming after meeting through FAA work, how Tory joined, and how Mark came aboard after the original bassist Brandon left. The band teases the possibility of adding Johnny Lamb on keys...

Derrick and Jeff welcome Donnie Wayne Smith to The Rhythm Section Podcast, sharing how he started guitar at age six, was inspired by early concerts and albums like Ratt’s “1984” and Ozzy’s “Bark at the Moon,” and played Memphis-area rooms including the Stage Stop, where he recalls Nita’s guidance and classic club moments. Donnie discusses his COVID-era YouTube series “Separate Studios Together,” e...

On the Rhythm Section podcast, Derrick and Jeff chat with Memphis guitarist and longtime instructor Rick Forbes about his background as an army brat who settled in Memphis in 1976, switching from saxophone to guitar after classic rock concerts, and joining bands soon after arriving. Forbes discusses how radio, FM album cuts, and modern streaming changed music discovery, and how he teaches students...

Kevin & Bethany Paige Return: Launching Saddle Up Memphis + Recapping the “All About Love” Show Derrick and Jeff welcome back Kevin and Bethany Paige for their second appearance and talk about upcoming and recent projects. The main focus is the debut of Saddle Up Memphis, an ’80s/’90s (with a few exceptions) “diva country” band featuring Bethany Paige on lead vocals. They share details for the...

In this episode, we catch up with the members of Fevertree - Tim Dills, John Paterson, Mike Bertoldo, and Rocco Wallz - for a hilarious and fun-filled Zoom call. The band members reminisce about their past shows, recent activities, and even share some wild and embarrassing stories. From discussing their haircuts and hunting adventures to Rocco's infamous pranks and gadgets, this episode provides a...

On this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, Derrick and Jeff kick off the new year with an update on what the 2026 season has in store. The guys share news about the show’s move to a Zoom-based format for the foreseeable future, along with a few format changes designed to keep things fresh. While the look may be different, the heart of the podcast remains the same—great conversations and the po...

In this packed episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off by recapping their Friday night hang at Nashoba’s, where they caught a killer set from their friends in Land/Divided. Derrick also gives a big shout-out to Matt and Jennifer at Supernova Music for coming through in the clutch with some much-needed gear support. The featured interview spotlights Scott Sudbu...

For the feature interview Derrick and Jeff sit down with Ric Chetter and Monica Summerfield from Radio Memphis to dive into the origins of the station and its mission to support local, original music. Ric shares his history at Rock 103, while Monica reflects on Memphis’ thriving independent film scene back in the day. They also reveal the story of how they met, Monica’s first introduction to radio...

In this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off by teasing some exciting new content coming to the show through the holidays — and what listeners can expect during the off-season from the traditional interview format. Then, the guys welcome Doug McMinn, a lifelong Memphis drummer known for his work with Roxy Love, The Deb Jam Band, and Southbound, just to name...

Greg shares his journey through the music industry with Black Oak Arkansas, overcoming personal struggles, working at School of Rock and his current work with FreeWorld. Apple - https://bit.ly/3rqqZLP Spotify - https://bit.ly/3EJOGBO YouTube - https://bit.ly/3UgqsY2   TIP BUCKET If you find it in your heart to donate to the cause and help fuel the podcast you can do so through our new Venmo and Ca...

In this jam-packed episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off by spotlighting the incredible AI handiwork of Shawn Few and Josh Haynes, reacting to and breaking down their creative video projects with plenty of laughs and insight. For the feature interview, the guys welcome all four members of the rising Memphis-based band Land/Divided — Jacob Turner, Jillian Aco...