Troubled Men Podcast

The guitarist with the legendary Continental Drifters and Lulu and the Broadsides landed in NYC in '76, becoming a roadie for the Cramps and living with band members Bryan Gregory and Nick Knox. By the '80s he was playing guitar with iconoclastic vocal stylist Klaus Nomi and touring internationally with Lydia Lunch. His tenure with the Dream Syndicate's Steve Wynn brought him to L.A., where he fel...

Founding Red Rockers' bassist and NY Dolls manager Darren Hill returns with Oley Sassone, the SexDog guitarist and director of the Rockers' MTV debut, "China." While the hit video elevated the band to new career heights, touring with U2 and other top groups, it was also the pivotal achievement for Oley, propelling him to a career in L.A., where he rubbed elbows with James Cameron, Steven Soderberg...

The Grammy Award-winning drummer, engineer, and producer playing with slide guitar phenom Sonny Landreth for the past 20 years was also with bayou superstar vocalist and accordion player Wayne Toups during the height of his '90s beefcake madness. Coming from a family counting more than 10 drummers among them, he learned his craft as a mere lad. Producing area talent at his Brignac Lane recording s...

The proprietor of Atchafalaya restaurant was also a founding partner in both Snake and Jake's Christmas Club Lounge and the beloved Circle Bar. While a career waiter at top New Orleans restaurants including Upperline, Bayona, and Gautreau's, he would open Snake's at midnight and tend bar for the late-night superstars including celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain until well after sunrise. His new "Rhyt...

The retired Florida police chief, community gadfly, and blogger with his own "Barker's View" is a longtime visitor and fan of New Orleans, having spent many a Mardi Gras ensconced with the barflies at the Circle Bar. As a private citizen, he's got opinions on everything, and is known to take exception with the local political establishment. Tonight he joins the Troubled Men in the flesh. Will it b...

They all said it wouldn’t last, but as usual, they were wrong. Episode 300 was a rousing success, with former guests and listeners from the Troubled Nation showing up for a night of fellowship at Snake and Jake’s. With a cavalcade of stars — musicians, artists, writers, and misfits — the Troubled Men convene to do what they do. If you’re not Troubled, you’re not paying attention. And if you can’t...

The singer, guitarist, and songwriter was a close associate of John Cale, providing the haunting vocals on “Only Time Will Tell” and touring with his group for several years. A Lower East Side luminary, she was the talent booker at Max’s Kansas City and door person at CBGB, palled around with Eno and Tom Verlaine, and toured Europe with Television. Deerfrance joins René in the Feral Zone with her...

The award-winning songwriter, singer, and guitar player now fronting his own Rolling Road Show was also a founding member of Cowboy Mouth, the Backbeats, and the Write Brothers. With over 20 solo releases and “Nine Lives: A Musical History of New Orleans” in his catalogue, he’s seen the music biz from every angle. Having recovered from debilitating health issues, Paul takes his life in his hands a...

The performance artist and singer fronting art punk dance band Malevitus and burlesque/hip hop act MC Sweet Tea returns to talk about new recordings, shooting videos, and the inclusion of her underground classic “Properfukt” on the Amy Schumer TV show ”Life and Beth.” Tiana is also known as the Mary Poppins of punk rock, and tonight, as always, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Topic...

The drummer and singer’s career has included stints with R.L. Burnside, Link Wray, Sparklehorse, Epic Soundtracks, Untamed Youth, and so many more. He’s been in Rock’n’roll College forever and remembers most of it. Tonight Clarke joins the Troubled Men to review the highs and lows of a life on the road. Never leave the van. Topics include Vietnam vets, the stranger, a survey, RFK Jr., service dogs...

The multi-Grammy-winning violinist, singer, and songwriter and his band BeauSoleil have been at the forefront of Cajun and Zydeco music for 50 years. Collaborations with Keith Richards, Richard Thompson, and Mary Chapin Carpenter and their numerous appearances on Prairie Home Companion have been icing on the cake. Tonight Michael joins René in the Feral Zone to illuminate the meaning behind it all...

The singer, guitarist, and songwriter with Morning 40 Federation and Rough Seven is also the owner of BJ’s Lounge and cohost of the “Obligations At the Lounge” podcast. Scully spent years as a middle school history teacher and authored the children’s book, “T-Roy’s Pirogue.” Tonight he joins the Troubled Men where his love of dive bar culture and experience handling unruly children pays off. Topic...

The piano player, drummer, and vocalist with Mem Shannon, Vince Vance and the Valiants, and Dr. Sick is also an ace audio engineer and sound mixer with his own Uptown Audio Productions. With years running sound for the cream of Louisiana musical artists, he learned from the masters the fine art of leading a band and putting on a show. Rob has always beaten his own path through life. Tonight he joi...

The singer, guitarist, and songwriter with the Hellcats, Tav Falco’s Panther Burns, and the Kropotkins was steeped in the Memphis underground of Tav and Alex Chilton and nourished on a diet of canned tuna on toast, menthol cigarettes, and primordial blues. She emerged fully formed as Lorette Velvette, ready to take the world by storm. After a retreat to country life to raise a family, she resurfac...

The award-winning journalist, author, and TV host has covered music, entertainment, and more for the Times-Picayune, the Advocate, and Offbeat magazine for decades. His book, “Groove Interrupted,” explored the post-Katrina musical landscape, and his “Let’s Talk” weekly TV show features local and national personalities. Keith has conducted hundreds of interviews, but tonight the Troubled Men turn t...

The Troubled Men convene at Snake and Jake’s in the final hours of campaign season as the polls close and the first vote counts roll in. Joined by Clempire Czar Dave Clements and resident philosopher, bartender, and former Goldman Sachs analyst Juan Parke, they hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and resolve that however it turns out, the struggle will continue. Topics include a dictator shi...

The poet, lyricist, and longtime Chuck Prophet songwriting partner grew up in Sinatra-era Palm Springs and was miraculously healed of a mystery ailment by a meeting with Elvis. He later spent time as a comedy writer in L.A. alongside legends including Andy Kaufman and Robin Williams. With the release of Chuck’s new “Wake the Dead” cumbia record cowritten with Kurt, he joins the Troubled Men in an...

The multi-Grammy-nominated Lafayette singer, accordion player, guitarist, and songwriter hit the international festival circuit as a 13-year-old prodigy, having already spent years recording and playing roadhouse dances alongside cajun and zydeco masters including Lil’ Buck Senegal and Buckwheat Zydeco. He continues to electrify audiences with his Hub City All Stars featuring longtime songwriting...

The Grammy-winning drummer, Single Lock Records label owner (Jon Cleary, Loose Cattle, Blind Boys of Alabama, Cedric Burnside), and artist manager left Tuscaloosa to put down roots in the fertile loam of legendary Muscle Shoals. A decade on, he has relocated to New Orleans as he launches his one-stop music company, Well Kept Secret. Reed’s got a lot of irons in the fire. Tonight he joins the Troub...

The acclaimed violinist, singer, producer, composer, and musical saw master with Jimbo Mathus’ Squirrel Nut Zippers, the Late Greats, and Career Suicide spent years with the Asylum Street Spankers and various circus sideshows and burlesque troupes honing his punk-jazz-vaudeville aesthetic. The product of his musician father’s amateur genetic engineering project, he’s found a natural home in the su...

The musician, producer, and author of the new Continental Drifters bio, “White Noise and Lightning” started corresponding with band members Susan Cowsill, Russ Broussard, Peter Holsapple, and Vicki Peterson when he was 13 years old. Leading his own art rock band A Fragile Tomorrow with his fellow triplets, he forged a familial bond with the Drifters, including extended visits with band members, ev...

The founding bass player, vocalist, and songwriter with hard rock veterans Suplecs (with Durel Yates and Andrew Preen) has also toured internationally as the bassist with heavy music heavyweights EYEHATEGOD. As proprietor of the Portside Lounge, he operated the premier tiki bar and Mardi Gras Indian headquarters in New Orleans. Decades working in the movie biz filled his free time. With this kind...

The Latin, soul, and jazz singer with Muévelo, Kumasi Afrobeat, and now Los Tremolo Kings journeyed from her Cuban parents’ D.C. home to New Orleans after a chance karaoke encounter launched her professional career. Guest co-host Jeff Treffinger (Tribe Nunzio, the Geraniums, Strawberry) joins René and Margie in the Feral Zone to trace her path back to the music of her roots. Topics include a music...

The enigmatic singer and guitarist behind Big Ass Mustache and Strawberry Presents and drummer for Dolly Dillon with Jeri Cain Rossi has always possessed a quiet intensity on stage. Starting out playing on the streets of the French Quarter, he now fronts the reformed STRAWBERRY with Jeff Treffinger of the Geraniums and Tribe Nunzio on guitar. Tonight they join René in the Feral Zone to reminisce a...

The renowned dramatic soprano diva has spent decades performing at the highest levels of the opera world. Having studied at voice at NOCCA, she now teaches at Haute Ecole de Musique in Switzerland as a Professor of Voice and at studios around the globe. After a career soaring to the heights of European culture, Jeanne-Michèle returns to her old stomping grounds to join the Troubled Men as they plu...