Troubled Men Podcast

The Lost Bayou Ramblers frontman discusses a batch of new releases on his Nouveau Electric Records label. These include “Les String Noise” (with cellist Leyla McCalla and violin duo Pauline Kim and Conrad Harris) and “L.E.S. Douze Vol. 2” recorded during his residency at minimalist composer John Zorn’s The Stone concert series, as well as the trippy, ambient steel guitar record “Droste” by Lost Ba...

The legendary conga player was featured on classic recordings by Professor Longhair, the Meters, Dr. John, John Mooney, and Allen Toussaint, as well as foundational works by the Wild Magnolias and soul queen Irma Thomas, just to name a few. His eight years on the road with Fess prepared him for almost anything. Tonight he schools the Troubled Men. Topics include a cocktail party, a recap, a charac...

In the third and final installment, the stellar lineup of guests, bassist/singer DC Harbold (Clockwork Elvis, More Fun Comics), podcaster Ian Wadley (Diabolus in Podcastica), guitarist/architect Jeff Treffinger (Geraniums, Tribe Nunzio), singer Glyn Styler (Lydia Lunch, Panther Burns), and guitarist/producer Dave Catching (Eagles of Death Metal, Queens of the Stone Age), weighs in from Safe Houses...

The cavalcade of superstars continues as pop icon Susan Cowsill (the Cowsills, Continental Drifters) hoodoo bluesman Papa Mali (Killer Bees, 7 Walkers), Soviet madman Yegor Romantsov (Debauche), singer/health advocate Kimberly Kaye (Loose Cattle, Chronically Chill), and singer/songwriter Luke Spurr Allen (Happy Talk) toe the Party Line with the Troubled Men. They draw the curtains, dim the lights,...

After the 100th Episode Party gets scuttled by public health concerns and the stay-at-home order, the Troubled Men pivot to a series of 3-way calls to catch up with previous guests. In the first installment, Squirrel Nut Zippers founder Jimbo Mathus, composer/guitarist Jonathan Freilich, bassist/saloon owner Dave Clements, master drummer Johnny Vidacovich, and Tony Award-winning actor/musician Mic...

In the wake of the emerging pandemic, the Troubled Men convene from their respective safe houses on a party line with Dick Deluxe, the Zelig of rock and roll, to discuss the new paradigm, possible ways forward, and the loss of Kenny Rodgers. Social distancing may be new to most people, but it’s old hat to Manny Chevrolet. Topics include a prediction come true, a job opening, reduced resources, new...

The A-list drummer has played and recorded with everyone from Willie Nelson, Gatemouth Brown, and Alison Krauss to Derek Trucks, Charlie Hunter, and Bobby Rush. Doug’s background as the son of a Lafayette session bass player and mentee of blues/zydeco master Lil’ Buck Sinegal fostered his roots inclinations, while mind-blowing exposure to jazz masters such as Johnny Vidacovich and Ricky Sebastian...

The photographer and film editor has been a girl about town since she was a high school student on the nightclub scene. She has worked on such modern classics as “Bayou Maharajah” and “William Eggleston in the Real World.” Aimée now runs the Embassy, a nonprofit recording studio and fashion school in the 9th Ward. With a prominent street named after her Spanish converso ancestor, she’s New Orleans...

With the Klezmer All Stars, the Naked Orchestra, and his work in numerous side projects, you’d think the guitarist/composer would have a full plate. Jonathan’s appetite for adventurous music has also driven him into writing operatic works and creating sound design for film. He’s seemingly undaunted by a challenge, so let’s see how he meets the test of the Ring Room. Topics include a Mardi Gras wra...

He's hosted WWOZ’s “New Orleans Music Show” and the nationally syndicated “9-Volt Heart” radio program and is a sound recordist for film and an award-winning documentarian. George’s training in cultural anthropology and cinematography led him to teaching positions at Tulane, UNO, and NOCCA. He’s got a bright future ahead of him, but first he’s got to make it out of the Ring Room. Topics include Fa...

He’s been playing music professionally since he and his brother Charlie were 8- and 10-year-olds sharing stages with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Doug Sahm, and the cream of the Austin music scene. Will spent his teen years making records, touring the world, and hanging out with a who’s who of rock royalty from New York to L.A. The singer/songwriter/guitarist is all grown up with a terrific new record back...

He’s written books on New Orleans icon Ernie K-Doe and the Zydeco culture of south Louisiana. He spearheaded the career revival of the Hackberry Ramblers, producing and playing drums with the Cajun band for eighteen years culminating in their Grammy nomination after 70 years together. Ben is attracted to offbeat characters and cultural ephemera, so of course he winds up in the Ring Room with the T...

The guitarist has been a star on the blues scene in Norway for decades, having played on over 70 records with top musicians at home and abroad. Arne’s also an avid fan of New Orleans music and the Troubled Men Podcast. As he completes his first solo record with some Crescent City luminaries, we take the opportunity to haul him into the Ring Room to spar for a few rounds. Topics include a shameful...

The slide guitar master spent his teenage years studying and playing Delta blues with the great Son House, one of the foundational practitioners who was an early influence on the legendary Robert Johnson. John’s got a hellhound on his trail—just be careful not to look the beast in the eyes. Topics include a new semester, political drama, haircare tips, police contact, a mentor, a Rochester relocat...

The puppeteer and recording artist is one half of the genre-defying duo Quintron and Miss Pussycat, called the weirdest band in the world by the great John Waters. Miss P has presented original puppet shows from art museums to rock clubs around the world. Tonight she pulls the strings on the Troubled Men and makes them dance. Topics include a celebrity death, a playoff loss, exercise, a previous g...

From the guitar player’s many years with Dr. John, Anders Osborne, and Johnny Sansone, and his recording work with Klaus Voormann and Rickie Lee Jones, to sessions for film and TV and his own solo records, John is known as someone who goes all out for the music. He’s come a long way from the prairies of Montana to the balmy environs of New Orleans. It’s all seemingly led him to this moment in the...

The singer/songwriter began as a child preacher and revival soloist in the Baptist church of Ringgold, Louisiana. Jerry’s love of music outlasted his faith and led to his tenure in Los Angeles with the Walking Wounded during the 1980s post-punk roots explosion. Eight records and a PhD in literature later, he returned to New Orleans to indoctrinate a new generation of impressionable youth. The Trou...

The Pogues cofounding tin whistle player discusses the legendary Anglo-Irish folk punk band’s formation and long career as well as his residence in New Orleans and collaborations with the Lost Bayou Ramblers. With Spider’s background, it’s no surprise he fits right in with the Troubled Men. Topics include infrastructure failure, a misunderstanding, gender-reveal disasters, The Joker, garbage popco...

The Asylum Chorus singer and Pat O’s dueling pianist is also a public policy maven steering the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans in their advocacy work. One of the 2015 City Business Women of the Year, Hannah previously worked in nonprofit home construction following her graduation from Barnard College. If you want to get something done, ask a busy person. Hannah is definitely busy, but...

The singer from Russian Mafia band Debauche started as a punk rocker in Soviet-era Ukraine. He plays traditional songs of the GULAG and street criminal anthems with a spirit and energy transcending the language barrier to distill the essence of the humanity behind them. Russians are known for their ability to endure hardship. See how Yegor handles the onslaught from the Troubled Men. Topics includ...

The Radiators bassist’s long career began with piano prince James Booker, followed by the great Professor Longhair, with some Bay-area blues giants in between. After 40 years together the Rads continue to sell out annual reunion shows attended by their legion of fans from across the country and beyond. The success of the N.O. Suspects is a testament to his professional drive, while his survival of...

The Loose Cattle singer, actor, multiple organ failure survivor, health coach, nutritionist, writer, Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and Hottest Hell Tours operator has a lot on her plate. After spending close to a year unable to consume food by mouth, she’s got quite an appetite for life. Now she spends her time helping others navigate their own challenges. Let’s see what she can do for the Troubled Men....

The singer, guitarist, and Fulbright Fellow has had an affinity for Brazilian music and culture since his early days as an anthropology student. He spent years studying in Brazil before returning to New Orleans, then moving to New York to synthesize his personal expression of these influences and pass them on to his students in the public schools. Now he’s back in town and in the Ring Room to talk...

The drummer and teacher is a paragon of groove, melodicism, and taste. He speaks the language of the heart and plays from the same place. Johnny’s played with everyone from Chet Baker to Professor Longhair. He’s a national treasure. Now he steps into the Ring Room, and we listen. Topics include tenant troubles, a New Orleans childhood, St. Aloysius High School, the Best Life Pharmacy Restaurant, J...

The reclusive singer has maintained a mystery about him in spite of his prolific recorded output of over fifty albums of original material. He enters the Ring Room as we pull back the veil to reveal the thoughtful and humane soul behind it all. A religious ritual comes up, and it gets a bit graphic. Topics include the return to the Ring Room, a protest, malfeasance, a tender memory, early influenc...