Illinois Drifter Podcast

Justin Conn
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Music Commentary

Illinois Drifter is my way of celebrating music — live shows, new records, old records, books, documentaries ... everything that makes you feel something. illinoisdrifter.substack.com

  1. 3h ago

    Illinois Drifter Podcast: State of Amorica's Shawn Hillman on the Southern Hospitality Tour

    No. 1 concert buddy Shawn Hillman joined me to recap a road trip to Cincinnati for The Black Crowes’ Southern Hospitality Tour, featuring Whiskey Myers and Southall at Riverbend Music Center. The conversation covers the venue, the crowd, first impressions of Whiskey Myers, and what may have been one of the strongest Black Crowes performances either has seen since the band’s reunion. Along the way, we discuss setlists, band chemistry, the impact of new members like bassist Mark “Muddy” Dutton, and why this current era of the Crowes feels different — all you have to do is hear them on “Thorn’s Progress” to know it’s true. Remember to reach out if you’re going to be at either the Indianapolis or St. Louis shows. I’d love to see you! ⏱ Episode Timeline 00:22 – Intro: Shawn returns and the concert buddy rankings 01:08 – Black Crowes history, show count and Southern Hospitality Tour overview 02:42 – First impressions of Riverbend Music Center 04:10 – Comparing Riverbend to Tinley Park, Maryland Heights and Ravinia 06:06 – Amphitheater design, parking and summer show realities 08:18 – Lawn tickets, empty seats and overzealous security guards 10:43 – Finding a viewing spot on the lawn 11:15 – Crowd makeup: Black Crowes fans vs Whiskey Myers fans 13:06 – Missing opener Southall and first impressions 13:35 – Whiskey Myers: Shawn's first experience with the band 16:13 – Justin's take on Whiskey Myers and their audience appeal 18:20 – Turning attention to The Black Crowes 18:43 – Why this may be the best Crowes show since the reunion 20:00 – Chris and Rich's current chemistry and comfort level 22:40 – New blood in the band and Muddy Dutton's impact 24:18 – The "Thorn in My Pride" / "Thorn's Progress" jam discussion 27:18 – Setlist thoughts and balancing old vs new material 29:24 – Looking ahead to Indianapolis and St. Louis shows 31:19 – Why it's a fun time to be a Crowes fan 32:26 – Final thoughts on Whiskey Myers 33:27 – Shawn plugs State of Amorica 33:48 – Ridiculous Rock Record Reviews discussion 34:49 – Outro ✅ Check out 👉If you’re not familiar with the State of Amorica Podcast, check out why I love it so much and then go listen to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-amorica-a-black-crowes-podcast/id1463302176 👉The Ridiculous Rock Record Reviews Podcast is a must for music lovers. Check out the episodes I’ve appeared on (Johnny Blue Skies, Passage du Desir; Larkin Poe, Bloom; Mofro, Lochloosa), and a back library that will keep you busy for months: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ridiculous-rock-record-reviews/id1266169765 🎵 Music Credit Thank you to Nomad Planets for use of their song “We Can Settle This at Sunrise” as the show theme. You can purchase their album Outside Abiquiu here: https://nomadplanets.bandcamp.com/album/outside-abiquiu Thanks for reading Illinois Drifter! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit illinoisdrifter.substack.com

    38 min

  2. May 23

    Illinois Drifter Podcast: Getting to know Eric Saylors from The Steepwater Band

    Steepwater Band guitarist Eric Saylors joined the Illinois Drifter Podcast for a conversation about his musical roots, years on the road and finding a long-term home in one of the Midwest’s great blues-rock bands. From growing up in small-town Indiana around bluegrass and country music to touring nationally with Healing Sixes and eventually joining Steepwater Band, Saylors reflects on nearly three decades of life in working rock bands. The conversation also dives into the upcoming Steepwater album, the band’s writing process, memorable jams with artists like Marc Ford and Luther Dickinson, and the realities of balancing music, work and family life. ⏱ Episode Timeline 00:20 – Intro: getting to know Eric Saylors beyond the stage 01:07 – Growing up in Bunker Hill, Indiana 02:10 – Early musical influences: country, bluegrass & his father’s guitar playing 03:36 – First real band: Wanted 05:40 – Henry Lee Summer years & early touring lessons 09:23 – Joining Healing Sixes & working with Jason Bonham 11:30 – Touring years, New York recording sessions & Kevin Shirley 13:27 – First meeting the Steepwater guys through shared gigs 15:28 – Telling Steepwater: “If there’s ever a fourth guy…” 17:04 – Joining the band with no rehearsal 18:44 – Finding his role alongside Jeff Massey 20:01 – Learning the Steepwater catalog & adapting parts live 21:15 – Realizing the chemistry worked 23:22 – Balancing Steepwater with work and family life 25:26 – Long-term life in touring bands 25:54 – Memorable sit-ins & playing with Marc Ford 27:17 – “Whoa” moments: backstage with Warren Haynes, Rich Robinson & Marc Ford 28:45 – Excitement around the upcoming Steepwater album 29:06 – How the new material differs from recent records 31:32 – Soundcheck riffs, writing process & road inspiration 33:06 – Relearning the new songs for live performance 34:17 – How Steepwater writes and develops material together 35:19 – Closing thoughts & future conversations 35:39 – Outro ✅ Check out For all things Steepwater Band, go to steepwaterband.com. For more about Doug Henthorn and Healing Sixes, go to doughenthorn.com. 🎵 Music Credit Thank you to Nomad Planets for use of their song “We Can Settle This at Sunrise” as the show theme. You can purchase their album Outside Abiquiu here: https://nomadplanets.bandcamp.com/album/outside-abiquiu This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit illinoisdrifter.substack.com

    36 min

  3. May 5

    Illinois Drifter Podcast: James McMurtry and a night at the Castle

    I was back at the Castle Theatre in Bloomington to see James McMurtry and the Martial Law Review on Friday, April 24. I knew McMurtry’s music going in, but I didn’t really know what to expect live. In this solo episode of the podcast, I break down the night — from the venue, to the crowd, to the opener, BettySoo, who plays a unique dual role on this tour. I love that the band has been playing with McMurtry for years, I love that the bass player’s name is Cornbread, and I love that there were stickers of Cornbread (Michael Traylor), along with guitarist Tim Holt and drummer Daren Hess. But what I loved most was an unexpected moment when McMurtry and BettySoo stepped in front of the mics to serenade an appreciative audience. I’m still in awe. ⏱ Episode Timeline 00:22 – Intro: solo episode & return to Castle Theatre 01:00 – Discovering James McMurtry & getting into his catalog 02:45 – Castle Theatre setup, favorite standing spot & sound discussion 03:30 – Crowd size, vibe & Castle comparisons 05:10 – Crowd energy: engaged fans vs chatty back section 06:15 – Merch stand overview (vinyl, posters, stickers) 07:00 – BettySoo opening set & dual role (opener + merch) 08:30 – Opening set impressions (quiet, intimate, uneven energy) 09:30 – McMurtry joins opener → energy shift 10:00 – Full band performance: tight, polished, album-accurate sound 10:45 – McMurtry storytelling & “Black Dog and the Wandering Boy” 11:30 – Emotional peak: “Blackberry Winter” front-of-stage performance 12:15 – Crowd reaction & standout concert moment 12:45 – Overall show takeaway: unique, organic, DIY feel 13:10 – Why taking chances on unfamiliar artists pays off 13:30 – Closing thoughts & recommendation 🎵 Music Credit Thank you to Nomad Planets for use of their song “We Can Settle This at Sunrise” as the show’s theme. You can purchase their album Outside Abiquiu here: https://nomadplanets.bandcamp.com/album/outside-abiquiu This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit illinoisdrifter.substack.com

    13 min

  4. Apr 28

    Illinois Drifter Podcast: Larkin Poe, Gov't Mule and a solo night at The Factory

    I was trying to think of the name of the first song I ever heard by Gov’t Mule, then they opened the show with it — complete with someone in an Uncle Sam outfit holding signs. It was the kind of moment that makes going to see live music special, and why I don’t mind going to shows alone. It had been about six months since I’d been to a show by myself— this one felt worth breaking the streak for. Larkin Poe opening for Gov’t Mule at The Factory in St. Louis is about as strong a lineup as you’re going to find, and I wasn’t missing it. It also seemed like a fitting time to introduce the first solo episode of Illinois Drifter. Here’s a look at what the episode covers: ⏱ Timestamps 00:16 – Intro: first solo concert in six months 01:00 – Larkin Poe familiarity and recent listening 02:00 – Govt Mule background and Allman Brothers connection 03:30 – The Factory venue overview 05:00 – Crowd behavior and standing vs sitting 06:30 – Meeting a fellow concertgoer 07:30 – Phone use and concert etiquette rant 10:00 – Merch experience and pricing thoughts 12:30 – Larkin Poe live performance breakdown 15:00 – Govt Mule set: tone and highlights 17:00 – 420 nod: “Don’t Step on the Grass, Sam” 18:30 – Band performance and musicianship 20:30 – Larkin Poe joins for “Sugaree” (highlight moment) 21:30 – Encore: “Soulshine” and crowd reaction 22:30 – Final thoughts on venue and crowd 23:00 – Outro and upcoming shows ✅ Check out 👉 To find Gov’t Mule live shows, including the show from The Factory, go to nugs.net. Streaming takes a subscription, but you can buy and download shows without a subscription. 👉 Are you a stander or a sitter? Check out more of my thoughts here. 🎵 Music Credit Thank you to Nomad Planets for use of their song: * “We Can Settle This at Sunrise” (theme) You can purchase their album Outside Abiquiu here: Thanks for reading Illinois Drifter! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit illinoisdrifter.substack.com

    22 min

  5. Apr 22

    Illinois Drifter Podcast: Edward David Anderson on Backyard Tire Fire, family and a lifetime in music

    Singer-songwriter Edward David Anderson joins the Illinois Drifter Podcast ahead of a show at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn with Backyard Tire Fire and Steepwater Band. From his early days in Illinois to touring the country and eventually scaling back to focus on family and creative fulfillment, Anderson shares a candid look at 30 years as an independent musician. It’s a wide-ranging conversation that includes how I first discovered EDA, the origins and evolution of Backyard Tire Fire, why he never chased the traditional “music industry” path, moving to rural Wisconsin and embracing small-town life, the impact of family and fatherhood on his career, the “Let It Shine” documentary and much, much more, inclucing — of course — some Black Crowes discussion to finish. ✅ Check out 👉 For tickets to the Steepwater/Backyard Tire Fire show at FitzGeralds, go here: Tickets 👉 You can watch the outstanding documentary on Edward David Anderson, “Let It Shine” on YouTube here: 👉 For everything else EDA, including Backyard Tire Fire, go to Anderson’s website: https://www.edwarddavidanderson.com/ ⏱ Episode Timeline 00:19 – Intro: discovering EDA at Danenberger Family Vineyards 02:41 – Background on Backyard Tire Fire & musical style 04:23 – Bloomington-Normal years, early band life & meeting his wife 05:05 – Intro to FitzGerald’s show with Steepwater Band 05:39 – Moving to Wisconsin & life in the Driftless region 08:15 – Illinois roots & importance of Chicago scene 09:55 – Fitzgerald’s as a key venue 10:22 – Why he never fully chased Nashville/industry path 12:44 – Touring life: “46 states” era 14:03 – Pandemic shift & rediscovering home life 15:49 – Havana, Illinois & creative inspiration (Still the River) 16:15 – Let It Shine documentary & unexpected impact 18:00 – Music as legacy for his daughter 20:27 – Work-life balance & scaling back touring 23:29 – Current lifestyle: fewer shows, more intention 25:45 – Evolution from 200+ shows/year to ~30/year 26:52 – Learning to play & early musical development 29:32 – Growth as a songwriter over time 31:49 – Industry realities & staying motivated 34:37 – Challenges of the music business & mental toll 36:00 – Early career break: record deal & Brother Jed 38:47 – Backyard Tire Fire rise & touring years 40:55 – Reuniting Backyard Tire Fire 43:30 – Current lineup & band chemistry 45:49 – New album (with Steve Berlin) 47:18 – Recording process & what to expect 49:49 – FitzGerald’s show preview & Steepwater collaboration 51:47 – Solo work & Black Dirt Revival trio 54:04 – Other projects (Dead band, local gigs, etc.) 57:04 – Grateful Dead influence & musical evolution 59:09 – Managing multiple projects & creative fulfillment 01:01:16 – Closing thoughts on current phase of career 01:01:47 – Outro 🎵 Music Credit Thank you to Nomad Planets for use of their songs: “We Can Settle This at Sunrise” (theme) “Sweet Vermillion” (bumper music) You can purchase their album Outside Abiquiu here: https://nomadplanets.bandcamp.com/album/outside-abiquiu This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit illinoisdrifter.substack.com

    1h 5m

  6. Apr 6

    Illinois Drifter Podcast: Tim Cain on the Brooklyn Charmers and his famous Beatles list

    Music writer and author Tim Cain joins the Illinois Drifter Podcast to talk about a recent Steely Dan tribute show at Danenberger Family Vineyards — the Brooklyn Charmers — and dive deep into Tim's books and his famous Beatles song rankings list, which will be the subject of his next book. Justin and Tim revisit their long history — from newsroom colleagues to shared music obsessives. We break down what was great about the Brooklyn Charmers, what wasn't, why Steely Dan rules, and how personal experience shape the way we experience music — a theme for both of us in our content. Think of Tim and Justin as the Velvet Underground of music writing: They don't necessarily have a lot of readers, but those who do read them want to start their own Substack. ⏱ Episode Timeline 00:16 – Intro: meeting Tim Cain & early music influence 02:40 – The Mark Lewisohn Beatles book story 03:27 – Bringing Tim on/relationship background 03:50 – Steely Dan tribute show setup (Brooklyn Charmers) 04:52 – Danenberger venue first impressions 05:23 – The “dogs at the show” experience 06:19 – Crowd size, vibe & Central Illinois unpredictability 07:23 – The Brooklyn Charmers breakdown (Colin Paterik/Survivor connection) 08:49 – How well the band recreates Steely Dan’s sound 09:44 – Musicianship: guitars, sax & overall band performance 10:52 – Criticism: bass too loud/too busy 12:10 – Guitar work & subtle performance strengths 12:41 – Setlist discussion begins (“Night by Night” opener) 13:11 – Tribute band philosophy: deep cuts vs hits 14:10 – Pink Floyd tribute tangent (when it doesn’t work) 16:24 – First set highlights & overall performance feel 18:04 – Playing Aja live & complexity of Steely Dan music 19:38 – Favorite Steely Dan albums & catalog discussion 20:58 – Evolution of Steely Dan’s sound over time 22:31 – Jammy ending & live interpretation vs original band 23:21 – Wrapping show thoughts/social media tangent 24:18 – Classic rock’s staying power & generational appeal 25:43 – Music in commercials & cultural recycling 26:11 – Tim Cain as an author (book discussion begins) 28:33 – How Can You Not Hear That & writing about music 30:25 – The second book & Beatles list origin 33:20 – Bands left off (Buzzcocks, Easybeats) 34:11 – Beatles ranking project discussion 36:19 – Ranking controversy & why lists work 38:23 – Favorite Beatles songs & changing perspectives 39:40 – “Hey Jude” conversation & re-evaluation 42:10 – Timeline for new book 42:48 – Outro 📚 Tim's Books Here are Amazon links to buy Tim Cain's books: Decatur Celebration: A History of the World's Fair of the Prairie How Can You Not Hear That? How Can You Listen to That? ✅ Check out 👉 Find everything Brooklyn Charmers at brooklyncharmers.com and on Facebook. 👉 For more on Danenberger Family Vineyards, including upcoming shows, go to: danenbergerfamilyvineyards.com or their Facebook page. 🎵 Music Credit Thank you to Nomad Planets for use of their songs: “We Can Settle This at Sunrise” (theme) “Sweet Vermillion” (bumper music) You can purchase their album Outside Abiquiu here: https://nomadplanets.bandcamp.com/album/outside-abiquiu This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit illinoisdrifter.substack.com

    41 min

  7. Mar 31

    Illinois Drifter Podcast: Boone Froggett talks everything Otis

    Boone Froggett of the band Otis joins the Illinois Drifter Podcast to talk about building a blues-rock band from the ground up — from small venues in Kentucky to touring across the U.S. and Europe. After first connecting at the Backroom Listening Lounge in Riverton, Illinois, Justin and Boone dive into the band’s origins, influences and evolution, along with the realities of life as an independent musician. Here's a breakdown of the episode: ⏱ Episode Timeline 00:23 – Intro: discovering Otis at Backroom Listening Lounge 02:00 – Welcoming Boone & the Riverton venue experience 02:37 – First impressions of the Backroom Listening Lounge 03:30 – Boone’s musical upbringing in Kentucky 05:41 – Kentucky Headhunters influence & early exposure to music 06:26 – Personal connection to the Headhunters 08:21 – How Otis formed from a cover band background 10:28 – Naming the band (Greg Martin & Otis origin story) 12:34 – Debut album honoring bluesman John Brim 14:20 – Learning to arrange songs & discovering blues roots 18:17 – Billy Gibbons discovers Otis 21:24 – Developing identity before touring 22:43 – Eyes of the Sun album & early momentum 25:37 – Touring Europe vs the U.S. blues-rock scene 27:07 – 2020: band changes, pandemic & cancer diagnosis 30:10 – Surgery, recovery & impact on Boone’s voice 32:31 – Working with the Headhunters during recovery 34:16 – Thyroid cancer details & timeline 35:29 – First time singing again after surgery 37:20 – Decision to rebuild Otis 40:01 – Finding the new lineup (Alex & Dale) 42:37 – Band chemistry, improvisation & live philosophy 46:59 – New music & traction of “Wicked” 48:03 – How “Wicked” was created (influences & groove) 51:51 – Bringing “Wicked” to the live show 53:54 – Other singles & plans for a full album 55:29 – Challenges of making an album as an independent band 57:43 – Touring, word-of-mouth & building a fanbase 59:02 – “You either love Otis or haven’t heard them” 59:57 – What’s next: touring & future plans 01:02:26 – Kentucky Headhunters today 01:04:35 – Future idea: deep dive into Headhunters catalog 01:05:16 – Outro ✅ Check this out 👉 For more on Otis, check out their website at theotisband.com, and on Facebook. 👉 For more on the Backfroom Listening Lounge, check out their website at thebackroomlounge.com, and Facebook. 👉 Go to the Kentucky Headhunters Facebook page here: facebook.com/kentuckyheadhunters/ 🎵 Music Credit Thank you to Nomad Planets for use of their songs: “We Can Settle This at Sunrise” (theme) “Sweet Vermillion” (bumper music) You can purchase their album Outside Abiquiu here:https://nomadplanets.bandcamp.com/album/outside-abiquiu This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit illinoisdrifter.substack.com

    1h 8m

  8. Mar 25

    Illinois Drifter Podcast: Blues rocker Eric Johanson

    Blues-rock guitarist Eric Johanson joins the Illinois Drifter Podcast after a standout performance at Danenberger Family Vineyards in New Berlin, Illinois — a unique venue tucked into Central Illinois farm country that delivers a surprisingly intimate live music experience. In this conversation, Eric talks about growing up in Louisiana surrounded by music, finding his voice across genres, and how New Orleans’ deep improvisational culture shaped the way he approaches playing and songwriting. We also get into his journey after Hurricane Katrina, time spent in New Zealand, building his career back in New Orleans, and working with artists like Tab Benoit and Luther Dickinson. ⏱ Episode Timeline 00:22 – Intro: discovering Eric Johanson & deciding to attend the show 02:03 – Welcoming Eric & first impressions of Dannenberger Family Vineyards 02:33 – The unique “middle of nowhere” venue experience 03:25 – Comparing indoor vs outdoor setup at Dannenberger 04:14 – Growing up around music in Louisiana 05:15 – Early jam sessions, recording experiments & studio exposure 07:06 – Musical influences: blues, rock, metal & improvisation 09:56 – Hurricane Katrina: losing everything & shifting direction 12:25 – Moving to New Zealand & personal reset 13:30 – Realizing what makes New Orleans’ music culture unique 15:49 – Finding (or not finding) a music scene in New Zealand 18:07 – Returning to New Orleans & rebuilding through live music 19:50 – Forming the trio & stepping into a bandleader role 21:41 – Meeting Tab Benoit through the New Orleans scene 23:07 – Recording Burn It Down & first major collaboration 24:48 – Touring with Tab Benoit (with Tab on drums) 27:01 – Blues in My Blood with cousin Tiffany Pollock 29:36 – Connecting with Luther Dickinson & recording Below Sea Level 33:48 – COVID era: live streaming & Covered Tracks 37:31 – Building fan connection during COVID 39:53 – The Deep and the Dirty & evolving sound 43:42 – Live show experience & connecting with fans 46:30 – Age perception & authenticity in music 49:03 – Band members & building the trio lineup 52:22 – Sobriety, lifestyle & life on the road 56:15 – Musicians, personality & going “full throttle” 58:11 – Live album & capturing improvisation 1:00:00 – What’s next: touring, new music & future plans 1:01:31 – Albums vs singles & the value of “deep cuts” 1:04:10 – Outro ✅ Check this out 👉 For more on Eric Johanson, including new merch — an awesome shirt featuring his Gibson Explorer, visit: https://www.ericjohanson.com 👉 For more on Danenberger Family Vineyards, including upcoming shows, go to: https://danenbergerfamilyvineyards.com/ 🎵 Music Credit Thank you to Nomad Planets for use of their songs: “We Can Settle This at Sunrise” (theme) “Sweet Vermillion” (bumper music) You can purchase their album Outside Abiquiu here:https://nomadplanets.bandcamp.com/album/outside-abiquiu This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit illinoisdrifter.substack.com

    1h 7m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Illinois Drifter is my way of celebrating music — live shows, new records, old records, books, documentaries ... everything that makes you feel something. illinoisdrifter.substack.com

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