web02.fireside.fm Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:13:46 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) https://forsongs.fireside.fm/tags/newepisode Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500 This podcast is for those who love music but can't write a tune to save their lives. We talk with singer/songwriters of all stripes, professional touring musicians to those who can't quite catch a break. Maybe you'll hear something you'll like. Maybe not. But you will come away with a greater appreciation for the gift of songwriting, and how hard it really is. Now sponsored by @thepugdc! en-us episodic A podcast for and about songs and songwriting Rob Thormeyer This podcast is for those who love music but can't write a tune to save their lives. We talk with singer/songwriters of all stripes, professional touring musicians to those who can't quite catch a break. Maybe you'll hear something you'll like. Maybe not. But you will come away with a greater appreciation for the gift of songwriting, and how hard it really is. Now sponsored by @thepugdc! yes songwriting, punk rock, guitar, music, folk, rock, singer/songwriter, podcast, songwriters Rob Thormeyer robthormeyer@yahoo.com https://forsongs.fireside.fm/80 8372289d-0d9a-4b2c-8722-46ba4bc5c15d Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rob Thormeyer 80 A Fourth Conversation with Dom Flemons full Rob Thormeyer There are folk records, and then there is the Carolina Chocolate Drops' debut album Genuine Negro Jig. Released in 2010, Genuine Negro Jig not only blew peoples’ minds, it also laid waste one of the oldest myths in music—that bluegrass and folk were largely played and created by white musicians. In this episode, multi-instrumentalist and Carolina Chocolate Drops founding member Dom Flemons discusses the album’s its 15-year anniversary and its new, double album reissue, complete with bonus tracks and so much more. So sit back, buckle up, and welcome Dom Flemons back to For Songs. 48:29 no There are folk records, and then there is the Carolina Chocolate Drops’ debut album Genuine Negro Jig. Released in 2010, Genuine Negro Jig not only blew peoples’ minds, it also laid waste one of the oldest myths in music—that bluegrass and folk were largely played and created by white musicians. In this episode, multi-instrumentalist and Carolina Chocolate Drops founding member Dom Flemons brings us back to the band’s formative years and the making of its Grammy winning debut album. Celebrating its 15-year anniversary, Genuine Negro Jig is being reissued with bonus tracks and so much more. And in an era where facts and history are being weaponized, Dom talks about the importance of correcting myths and falsehoods, one listener at a time. Making his fourth appearance on the show, Dom dishes on the band’s formation, the reissue, and so much more. So sit back, buckle up, and welcome Dom Flemons back to For Songs. Carolina Chocolate Drops, Genuine Negro Jig, Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens, Justin Robinson, CCD, Chocolate Drops, North Carolina, folk music, banjo, black string band There are folk records, and then there is the Carolina Chocolate Drops’ debut album Genuine Negro Jig. Released in 2010, Genuine Negro Jig not only blew peoples’ minds, it also laid waste one of the oldest myths in music—that bluegrass and folk were largely played and created by white musicians. In this episode, multi-instrumentalist and Carolina Chocolate Drops founding member Dom Flemons brings us back to the band’s formative years and the making of its Grammy winning debut album. Celebrating its 15-year anniversary, Genuine Negro Jig is being reissued with bonus tracks and so much more. And in an era where facts and history are being weaponized, Dom talks about the importance of correcting myths and falsehoods, one listener at a time. Making his fourth appearance on the show, Dom dishes on the band’s formation, the reissue, and so much more. So sit back, buckle up, and welcome Dom Flemons back to For Songs.

]]> There are folk records, and then there is the Carolina Chocolate Drops’ debut album Genuine Negro Jig. Released in 2010, Genuine Negro Jig not only blew peoples’ minds, it also laid waste one of the oldest myths in music—that bluegrass and folk were largely played and created by white musicians. In this episode, multi-instrumentalist and Carolina Chocolate Drops founding member Dom Flemons brings us back to the band’s formative years and the making of its Grammy winning debut album. Celebrating its 15-year anniversary, Genuine Negro Jig is being reissued with bonus tracks and so much more. And in an era where facts and history are being weaponized, Dom talks about the importance of correcting myths and falsehoods, one listener at a time. Making his fourth appearance on the show, Dom dishes on the band’s formation, the reissue, and so much more. So sit back, buckle up, and welcome Dom Flemons back to For Songs.

]]> https://forsongs.fireside.fm/79 46947c6b-ffb8-40e2-a3e4-af03d53b99e0 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rob Thormeyer 79 A Conversation with Corey Ledet full Rob Thormeyer Louisiana-based Zydeco master Corey Ledet’s newest album Live in Alaska is everything a live album should be--it makes you wish you were there. Ledet joins For Songs to talk about the album, how it all came together, his amazing band, and how he started down the Zydeco road. We also chat about Ledet’s efforts to preserve the Louisiana Creole language in song. So sit back—or better yet get ready to jump up and down—as Corey Ledet joins the show. 39:02 yes Live albums can be a tough lot. Too much crowd noise can block out the best parts of your favorite songs. A rough mix can dilute the sound. Slick production can make it seem like the crowd isn’t even there. On so on and so forth. But when you get it right, you’ll never put it down. As is the case with Zydeco master Corey Ledet’s newest album, Live in Alaska. Released in December 2025, Live in Alaska is everything a live album should be—it makes you wish you were there. In this episode, Louisiana-based, Houston native Ledet talks about the album, his amazing band, and how he started down the Zydeco road. We also spend a good deal of time on Ledet’s efforts to preserve the Louisiana Creole language in song. So sit back—or better yet get ready to jump up and down—as Corey Ledet joins the show. Corey Ledet, black magic, new music, zydeco, creole, live album, new episode, accordion, Alaska Live albums can be a tough lot. Too much crowd noise can block out the best parts of your favorite songs. A rough mix can dilute the sound. Slick production can make it seem like the crowd isn’t even there. On so on and so forth. But when you get it right, you’ll never put it down. As is the case with Zydeco master Corey Ledet’s newest album, Live in Alaska. Released in December 2025, Live in Alaska is everything a live album should be—it makes you wish you were there. In this episode, Louisiana-based, Houston native Ledet talks about the album, his amazing band, and how he started down the Zydeco road. We also spend a good deal of time on Ledet’s efforts to preserve the Louisiana Creole language in song. So sit back—or better yet get ready to jump up and down—as Corey Ledet joins the show.

]]> Live albums can be a tough lot. Too much crowd noise can block out the best parts of your favorite songs. A rough mix can dilute the sound. Slick production can make it seem like the crowd isn’t even there. On so on and so forth. But when you get it right, you’ll never put it down. As is the case with Zydeco master Corey Ledet’s newest album, Live in Alaska. Released in December 2025, Live in Alaska is everything a live album should be—it makes you wish you were there. In this episode, Louisiana-based, Houston native Ledet talks about the album, his amazing band, and how he started down the Zydeco road. We also spend a good deal of time on Ledet’s efforts to preserve the Louisiana Creole language in song. So sit back—or better yet get ready to jump up and down—as Corey Ledet joins the show.

]]> https://forsongs.fireside.fm/65 9f8e0f7e-2e9b-4d36-b012-b41cb6245309 Sun, 28 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0500 Rob Thormeyer 65 For Songs Singles! I Can't Seem to Drink Her Off My Mind, Ian Jones full 1 Rob Thormeyer If there’s been one constant chronicled on this podcast, it’s that no one knows the future of the music industry. my next guest, Seattle-based singer/songwriter Ian Jones, is doing all he can to crack the code. Ian is making his third appearance on this show, this time to discuss his latest single, I Can’t Seem to Drink Her Off My Mind. a fantastic, booze-soaked lament that will keep your toes tapping and eyes watering. So sit back and listen in as Ian gives a frank assessment of the industry and how the song came together. 24:05 yes If there’s been one constant chronicled on this podcast, it’s that no one knows the future of the music industry. Hell, no one even knows what the next few days are going to be like in the industry. Certainly my next guest, Seattle-based singer/songwriter Ian Jones, is doing all he can to crack the code. Ian is making his third appearance on this show, this time to discuss his latest single, I Can’t Seem to Drink Her Off My Mind (https://open.spotify.com/album/3zkzAlf7arCVfra5MqU5h3?si=_-rhySY6ROm3fdLB9KeIsg). The song is a throwback to Merle Haggard, David Allen Coe, Buck Owens—a true drown-in-your-beer country tune that sounds like it was recorded in Bakersfield 50 or 60 years ago. Interesting, Ian is taking a kitchen-sink approach to marketing the song, as the album it will eventually be on is still being record. Not only that, he released a live version of the song before anyone’s heard the studio version. Will it work? Who knows! And that’s the point—there’s no blueprint, so why the hell not? It’s a fantastic, booze soaked lament that will keep your toes tapping and eyes watering. So sit back and listen in as Ian gives a frank assessment of the industry and how the song came together. Ian Jones, country, country music, indie folk, indie rock, Merle Haggard, music industry If there’s been one constant chronicled on this podcast, it’s that no one knows the future of the music industry. Hell, no one even knows what the next few days are going to be like in the industry. Certainly my next guest, Seattle-based singer/songwriter Ian Jones, is doing all he can to crack the code. Ian is making his third appearance on this show, this time to discuss his latest single, I Can’t Seem to Drink Her Off My Mind. The song is a throwback to Merle Haggard, David Allen Coe, Buck Owens—a true drown-in-your-beer country tune that sounds like it was recorded in Bakersfield 50 or 60 years ago. Interesting, Ian is taking a kitchen-sink approach to marketing the song, as the album it will eventually be on is still being record. Not only that, he released a live version of the song before anyone’s heard the studio version. Will it work? Who knows! And that’s the point—there’s no blueprint, so why the hell not? It’s a fantastic, booze soaked lament that will keep your toes tapping and eyes watering. So sit back and listen in as Ian gives a frank assessment of the industry and how the song came together.

]]> If there’s been one constant chronicled on this podcast, it’s that no one knows the future of the music industry. Hell, no one even knows what the next few days are going to be like in the industry. Certainly my next guest, Seattle-based singer/songwriter Ian Jones, is doing all he can to crack the code. Ian is making his third appearance on this show, this time to discuss his latest single, I Can’t Seem to Drink Her Off My Mind. The song is a throwback to Merle Haggard, David Allen Coe, Buck Owens—a true drown-in-your-beer country tune that sounds like it was recorded in Bakersfield 50 or 60 years ago. Interesting, Ian is taking a kitchen-sink approach to marketing the song, as the album it will eventually be on is still being record. Not only that, he released a live version of the song before anyone’s heard the studio version. Will it work? Who knows! And that’s the point—there’s no blueprint, so why the hell not? It’s a fantastic, booze soaked lament that will keep your toes tapping and eyes watering. So sit back and listen in as Ian gives a frank assessment of the industry and how the song came together.

]]> https://forsongs.fireside.fm/60 e9f8cdfe-d777-412b-aea6-4d17b1b4c038 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0400 Rob Thormeyer 60 A Third Conversation with Louis Michot full 1 Rob Thormeyer Sometimes life comes full circle. In this episode of For Songs, I welcome back Louisiana-based singer/songwriter Louis Michot of the traditional Cajun band the Lost Bayou Ramblers. Louis first appeared on the show in Fall 2020. In the three years since his first appearance, Louis wrote and released his first solo record, Reve du Troubadour, which is French for Troubadour’s Dream. Although the album is entirely sung in Cajun French, the songs span a much wider range, from dub to hip hop, to the Pogues, to classical music. Louis is as much of a historian as he is a musician, and some of his songs will make you uncomfortable. So sit back and gear up as Louis takes us through Reve du Troubadour. 40:00 yes Sometimes life comes full circle. In this episode of For Songs, I welcome back Louisiana-based singer/songwriter Louis Michot of the traditional Cajun band the Lost Bayou Ramblers. Louis first appeared on the show in Fall 2020, at the height of the pandemic. He didn’t know it at the time but he was in the midst of writing and recording his first solo album. Three years later, Louis has just released Reve du Troubadour, which is Cajun French for Troubadour’s Dream (https://www.louismichot.com/). In this episode, Louis discusses how those eerie first few months of the pandemic resulted in creative output that even surprised him. Although the album is entirely sung in Cajun French, the songs span a much wider range. You’ll hear Lee “Scratch” Perry. You’ll hear the Pogues, you’ll hear classical music. You’ll hear…well, you get the point. In addition the music, you’re also going to learn something. Louis is as much of a historian as he is a musician, and some of his songs will make you uncomfortable. Learning about the past can be difficult, but that’s the point. So sit back and listen as Louis takes us through Reve du Troubadour (https://louismichot.bandcamp.com/album/r-ve-du-troubadour). Cajun music, folk music, Pogues, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Louis Michot, fiddle, creole, Louisiana Sometimes life comes full circle. In this episode of For Songs, I welcome back Louisiana-based singer/songwriter Louis Michot of the traditional Cajun band the Lost Bayou Ramblers. Louis first appeared on the show in Fall 2020, at the height of the pandemic. He didn’t know it at the time but he was in the midst of writing and recording his first solo album. Three years later, Louis has just released Reve du Troubadour, which is Cajun French for Troubadour’s Dream. In this episode, Louis discusses how those eerie first few months of the pandemic resulted in creative output that even surprised him. Although the album is entirely sung in Cajun French, the songs span a much wider range. You’ll hear Lee “Scratch” Perry. You’ll hear the Pogues, you’ll hear classical music. You’ll hear…well, you get the point. In addition the music, you’re also going to learn something. Louis is as much of a historian as he is a musician, and some of his songs will make you uncomfortable. Learning about the past can be difficult, but that’s the point. So sit back and listen as Louis takes us through Reve du Troubadour.

]]> Sometimes life comes full circle. In this episode of For Songs, I welcome back Louisiana-based singer/songwriter Louis Michot of the traditional Cajun band the Lost Bayou Ramblers. Louis first appeared on the show in Fall 2020, at the height of the pandemic. He didn’t know it at the time but he was in the midst of writing and recording his first solo album. Three years later, Louis has just released Reve du Troubadour, which is Cajun French for Troubadour’s Dream. In this episode, Louis discusses how those eerie first few months of the pandemic resulted in creative output that even surprised him. Although the album is entirely sung in Cajun French, the songs span a much wider range. You’ll hear Lee “Scratch” Perry. You’ll hear the Pogues, you’ll hear classical music. You’ll hear…well, you get the point. In addition the music, you’re also going to learn something. Louis is as much of a historian as he is a musician, and some of his songs will make you uncomfortable. Learning about the past can be difficult, but that’s the point. So sit back and listen as Louis takes us through Reve du Troubadour.

]]> https://forsongs.fireside.fm/39 6c8ef232-599d-4066-9058-b1f3503e8070 Sun, 26 Dec 2021 13:00:00 -0500 Rob Thormeyer 39 A Conversation with Nicole Atkins full 1 Rob Thormeyer It is Christmas time, and while this isn’t a Christmas episode per se, it is the gift that keeps on giving. If you’ve ever heard Nicole Atkins sing, you know there’s something eerie, calm, haunting yet beautiful about her voice. In this episode of For Songs, Nicole joins me from her home in Nashville, which was filled to the brim with her newest album Memphis Ice. Recorded in Memphis in one day, Memphis Ice is Nicole’s Judy Garland moment. She stripped down songs from her slick, enchanting 2020 release Italian Ice and recreates them here, and the results are breathtaking. We talk about four songs—Promised Land, Domino, Mind Eraser, and Captain. Nicole discusses her songwriting process, how she was able to do more with less, and how her hometown still seeps into her music. Please welcome Nicole Atkins to For Songs. 41:55 yes It is Christmas time, and while this isn’t a Christmas episode per se, it is the gift that keeps on giving. If you’ve ever heard Nicole Atkins sing, you know there’s something eerie, calm, haunting yet beautiful about her voice. There’s a sense of mystery, a compelling sound that keeps you coming back for more. Perhaps this has something to do with where she’s from, a small town not far from the Jersey beaches, maybe 40 minutes south of New York City. If you’ve ever been to the Jersey shore, you know there’s something in the water. Something that lures you to the insanity of the boardwalk during the summer, but you also know there’s something more appealing about being there in the dead of winter, when no one else is around. You’ve got it to yourself. Listening to Nicole Atkins brings back those feelings—the beautiful calm of being somewhere on your own, almost all alone. In this episode of For Songs, Nicole joins me from her home in Nashville, which was filled to the brim with her newest album Memphis Ice. Recorded in Memphis in one day, Memphis Ice is Nicole’s Judy Garland moment. She stripped down songs from her slick, enchanting 2020 release Italian Ice and recreates them here, and the results are breathtaking. We talk about four songs—Promised Land, Domino, Mind Eraser, and Captain. Nicole discusses her songwriting process, how she was able to do more with less, and how her hometown still seeps into her music. Please welcome Nicole Atkins to For Songs. Nicole Atkins, Memphis Ice, Italian Ice, Indie Rock, Nashville, New Jersey, Jersey Shore It is Christmas time, and while this isn’t a Christmas episode per se, it is the gift that keeps on giving. If you’ve ever heard Nicole Atkins sing, you know there’s something eerie, calm, haunting yet beautiful about her voice. There’s a sense of mystery, a compelling sound that keeps you coming back for more. Perhaps this has something to do with where she’s from, a small town not far from the Jersey beaches, maybe 40 minutes south of New York City. If you’ve ever been to the Jersey shore, you know there’s something in the water. Something that lures you to the insanity of the boardwalk during the summer, but you also know there’s something more appealing about being there in the dead of winter, when no one else is around. You’ve got it to yourself. Listening to Nicole Atkins brings back those feelings—the beautiful calm of being somewhere on your own, almost all alone. In this episode of For Songs, Nicole joins me from her home in Nashville, which was filled to the brim with her newest album Memphis Ice. Recorded in Memphis in one day, Memphis Ice is Nicole’s Judy Garland moment. She stripped down songs from her slick, enchanting 2020 release Italian Ice and recreates them here, and the results are breathtaking. We talk about four songs—Promised Land, Domino, Mind Eraser, and Captain. Nicole discusses her songwriting process, how she was able to do more with less, and how her hometown still seeps into her music. Please welcome Nicole Atkins to For Songs.

]]> It is Christmas time, and while this isn’t a Christmas episode per se, it is the gift that keeps on giving. If you’ve ever heard Nicole Atkins sing, you know there’s something eerie, calm, haunting yet beautiful about her voice. There’s a sense of mystery, a compelling sound that keeps you coming back for more. Perhaps this has something to do with where she’s from, a small town not far from the Jersey beaches, maybe 40 minutes south of New York City. If you’ve ever been to the Jersey shore, you know there’s something in the water. Something that lures you to the insanity of the boardwalk during the summer, but you also know there’s something more appealing about being there in the dead of winter, when no one else is around. You’ve got it to yourself. Listening to Nicole Atkins brings back those feelings—the beautiful calm of being somewhere on your own, almost all alone. In this episode of For Songs, Nicole joins me from her home in Nashville, which was filled to the brim with her newest album Memphis Ice. Recorded in Memphis in one day, Memphis Ice is Nicole’s Judy Garland moment. She stripped down songs from her slick, enchanting 2020 release Italian Ice and recreates them here, and the results are breathtaking. We talk about four songs—Promised Land, Domino, Mind Eraser, and Captain. Nicole discusses her songwriting process, how she was able to do more with less, and how her hometown still seeps into her music. Please welcome Nicole Atkins to For Songs.

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