19 episodes
Roots Music Rambler Francesca Folinazzo & Jason Falls
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- Music
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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Where there are people, there is music. In our celebration of melodies and lyrics, harmonies and riffs, we typically focus on the songs or the people who wrote them. We often overlook the where.
Join Francesca and Falls for Roots Music Rambler, a podcast exploration of the where as much as the who or what. We’ll interview emerging and established artists, fans and others in Americana, Outlaw Country, Bluegrass, Blues, Roots, Soul, World and beyond. But we will always get to the stories of where they’re from and how that impacted the music we know and love.
It’s more than just their influences. It’s their families. Communities. Cultures. This show is a fun combination of music, travel, history and more. We dig into the stories from artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, fans and beyond, that don’t just expose their musical influences, but their life influences.
Music follows the path of human movement. We trace the steps to bring better understanding to what we hear today and why we love it.
Join us for the exploration of the real roots of music on Roots Music Rambler.
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Son Volt, Bottle Rockets guitarist John Horton talks about the beginnings of Alt Country
Welcome to Episode 19 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.
On this episode, we have a true Alt Country legend with us. Guitarist John Horton joins us on the show to talk about his career and impact on the music world. He became a member of the legendary band The Bottle Rockets in 2003. As if that wasn’t impressive enough to cement him as an impactful contributor to the Alt Country sound, he joined friend Jay Farrar and his band Son Volt in 2021.
Son Volt, of course is one of the two offspring of the Uncle Tupelo split. That band is often credited with starting the Alt Country genre.
Horton takes us through his musical journey, the impact of both bands and their music, Son Volt’s latest album Day of the Doug (a tribute to Doug Sahm) and a lot more.
Frank and Falls also discuss the recent dust-up between Jason Isbell and the widow of Justin Townes Earle over Isbell’s song When We Were Close. The controversy was covered widely in the music business as Jenn Marie Earle posted a harsh criticism of the song which calls out their daughter.
Frank also discusses her recent trip through Belleville, Illinois, to New Orleans, to stalk historical sites related to both Farrar and former Uncle Tupelo and Wilco founder Jeff Tweedy. She and Falls also offer up their regular Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices for music you should listen to.
Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.
Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.
Notes and links:
Jenn Marie Earle article on Whiskey Riff
John Horton article on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Son Volt online
Son Volt on Spotify
The Bottle Rockets online
I’m going to No Depression Facebook Group
Robin Wheeler (Woody Guthrie book project) on Substack
Musk Ox Flannels (Use RAMBLER for a discount)
Mike Ireland on Spotify
KSHE 95 Radio - St. Louis
Day fo the Doug by Son Volt on Spotify
The Roots Music Rambler Store
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook
Jason Falls on Instagram
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations
Savannah Keyes on Spotify
The Secret Sisters on Spotify
And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler
Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.
Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum
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Folk Legend Si Kahn Turns 80 with New Music, Look Back at Career
Welcome to Episode 17 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.
This week, folk music legend Si Kahn joins the program to celebrate his 80th birthday (April 23). He looks back on his over 50-year career of making music and talks about a new album coming out in September called “Labor Day.”
Kahn is a long-time labor organizer and advocate whose songs are typically laced with political punditry and satire. His first album, New Wood, was recorded in the 1970s and chronicled electioneering and old boy’s clubs of small mountain towns, among other themes.
Kahn has recorded over 20 albums and written four books, the latter of those mostly focus on community organizing and grass-roots community building. He is the former leader of Grassroots Leadership and has served in various roles with songwriting unions and organizations over the years.
In 1987, Kahn recorded Carry It On: Songs of America’s Working People with Jane Sapp and legendary folk singer-songwriter Pete Seeger. He has also written several theatrical plays and musicals.
Frank and Falls also discuss the ambiguous definition of Americana music and, of course, offer up another offering of Pickin’ the Grinnin’ – recommendations for you to discover new or rediscover older music this week.
Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.
Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.
Notes and links:
Americana Music Association’s definition of Americana
Si Kahn online
Si Kahn on Spotify
The Charlie Daniel’s Band on Spotify
Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen on Spotify
Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen on Spotify
John Prine’s Paradise on Spotify
Bob Dylan on Spotify
Me and Bobby McGee by Kris Kristofferson on Spotify
Harry Chapin’s Cats in the Cradle on Spotify
Musk Ox Flannels (Use RAMBLER for a discount)
New Wood by Si Kahn on Spotify
The Roots Music Rambler Store
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook
Jason Falls on Instagram
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations
Sierra Ferrell’s Trail of Flowers on Spotify
The Animals on Spotify
And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler
Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.
Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Singer-Songwriter Renee Maskin Turns Out Another Strong Album with Shimmer
Welcome to Episode 17 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.
This week, New Jersey-based singer songwriter Renee Maskin joins the show to talk about her transition from progressive rock and punk to folk and Americana. She’s now on her third album, an imaginative gem called Shimmer, and has even been named songwriter of the year and artist of the year by New Jersey Stage.
Maskin spent several years in a progressive / punk band before a fateful trip to Texas and a recommendation to listen to Tom Waits turned her musical interests to folk and Americana. Since the switch, she’s been honored as a songwriter with awards and recorded three albums, all fueled by the inspiration surrounding the music scene in her hometown of Asbury Park, N.J.
She sat in with Falls to talk about the Bruce Springsteen-vibe of Asbury Park, her evolution as a songwriter, touring with her former band which included touring with The Pretenders and more. Maskin started her professional pursuits in college as a visual artist, but quickly moved to music full-time.
She’s been writing since she first took a guitar lesson as a teenager.
Frank and Falls also talk about Falls’s recent invitation to fill-in on WFPK’s Roots ‘n’ Boots, a weekly roots music show on terrestrial radio in Louisville, music documentaries worth watching and, of course, both share their regular pickin’ the grinnin’ recommendations for new music.
Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.
Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.
Notes and links:
Roots and Boots on WFPK
WFPK online
Renee Maskin online
Renee Maskin on Spotify
Renee Maskin’s Shimmer on Spotify
The Short Film on Shimmer
The Stone Pony
New Jersey Stage article on award winners
June on Paramount Plus
Willie Nelson and Family on Paramount Plus
Thriller at 40 on Paramount Plus
The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix
The Roots Music Rambler Store
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook
Jason Falls on Instagram
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations
Neil Young’s Greatest Hits on Spotify
Teddy Swims on Spotify
The Beastie Boys on Spotify
And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler
Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.
Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Brit Taylor Flips Kentucky Blue to a Chart-Climbing Bluegrass Album
Welcome to Episode 16 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.
This week, Falls caught up with rising star Brit Taylor before a recent performance in support of her Kentucky Bluegrassed album. The Hindman, Ky., native actually took 2023’s Kentucky Blue, her second album comprised of a number of strong country and Americana nongs, and rendered a bluegrass version of many of those songs with Kentucky Bluegrassed.
The bluegrass version entered the Americana Music Association charts in early March as Taylor went on the road to promote both records. Kentucky Blue was produced by Sturgill Simpson and Dave Ferguson. Taylor also previous wrote songs with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.
Frank and Falls also talk about his trip to see Taylor play which included some celebrity spotting, of sorts. They also chat about the potential break-up of Lovejoy, Falls’s experience seeing Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit for the first time.
And, of course, both share their regular pickin’ the grinnin’ recommendations for new music.
Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.
Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.
Notes and links:
Lovejoy controversy on The Mirror
Brit Taylor online
Brit Taylor on Instagram
Kentucky Blue on Spotify
Kentucky Bluegrassed on Spotify
The Americana Music Association charts (current not archived)
Silas House on Wikipedia
Kindred Valley on Spotify
Falls’s Instagram post from the Jason Isbell show
Isbell’s Threads post Frank commented on
Joan Shelley on Spotify
The Roots Music Rambler Store
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook
Jason Falls on Instagram
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations
Smushie on Spotify
Reilly Downes & The Acid Cowboys on Spotify
Sparkle Carcass on Spotify
The Waco Brothers on Spotify
Jon Langford on Spotify
Cabeza de Chivo on Spotify
Hermanos Gutierrez on Spotify
Logan Ledger on Spotify
And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler
Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.
Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
S.G. Goodman Talks About Her Rise to Prominence in Americana Music
Welcome to Episode 14 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.
This week, the Patron Saint of the Dollar Store herself blesses us with her presence. S.G. Goodman joins the show to talk about her meteoric rise to prominence in the Americana music scene. The last 12-18 months have included her being named Americana Emerging Artist of the Year, releasing her second album to high acclaim, having Tyler Childers cover “Space and Time” on his Rustin’ in the Rain album, then being asked to join him on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, then going on tour to open for Childers and Jason Isbell … WOW!
Goodman sat in with Falls to talk about the rise, her background, the whole Tyler Childers evolution with Space and Time and a lot more.
Frank and Falls also talk about the Jason Isbell-Amanda Shires divorce, The 2024 Grammys and more. Falls had a very pointed reaction to Taylor Swift’s on-stage announcement of her new album much to his daughter’s chagrin. Frank lamented the fact Childers’s In Your Love video didn’t win.
And, of course, both share their regular pickin’ the grinnin’ recommendations for new music. Falls even asked Goodman to contribute, so she told us who she’s listening to during her brief break from the road.
Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.
Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.
Notes and links:
Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires to divorce
The 2024 Grammys winners list
Senora May’s Instagram Post
S.G. Goodman’s website
Daniel Martin Moore online
The Kentucky Natural Lands Trust & Pine Mountain Settlement School
Erin Rae on Instagram
Lankum on Spotify - (S.G.’s music recommendation)
Fred Eaglesmith on Spotify - (S.G.’s music recommendation)
The Roots Music Rambler Store
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook
Jason Falls on Instagram
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations
El Paso by Marty Robbins on Spotify
A White Sportcoat & Pink Carnation by Marty Robbins on Spotify
Hermanos Gutiérrez on Spotify
La Lom on Spotify
Manolo on TikTok
The Muyun Brothers on TikTok
And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler
Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.
Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Louisville-based Digby back with first album in 17 years (Exclusive clips!)
Welcome to Episode 13 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.
On this episode, Falls sits down with three members of the Louisville-based Digby, which is back with its first album in 17 years. The group, originally known as Hundred Acre Wood, scored a modest hit single in the early 2000s with “Hundred Percent Free” but put down the guitars, drums and fiddle as life happened to its members.
While often labeled a “power pop” band, the group evolved from a more acoustic and folk-based sound and fits squarely into the Americana vibe.
They debuted the single “Love is Love ” on Valentine’s Day on WFPK in Louisville. The full album, Happy Little Heartbreak, drops March 1. The episode features the world-wide debut of three songs from the upcoming album (clips, not the full cuts), and lead singer, guitarist and primary songwriter Paul Moeller, lead guitarist Rich Oeffinger and bassist Ben Schneider all dialed in to chat about the past, present and – yes – future of Digby.
Also on the show, Frank and Falls discuss the recent news that Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires are divorcing. Falls drops a truth bomb on Swifties after Taylor’s tacky promotional speech at the Grammys. And, of course, some new music was offered up as this week’s Pickin’ the Grinnin’ for you to feast upon.
Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.
Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.
Notes and links:
Digby’s Website
Digby on Spotify
“Love is Love” single on Spotify
Nathan Graham on Spotify
Boy Genius on hiatus on Pitchfork
Carl Casper Custom Auto Show ends
The Roots Music Rambler Store
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook
Jason Falls on Instagram
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations
Miles Miller’s Solid Gold on Spotify
TradFest Website
The Waterboys on Spotify
Billy Tracey on Spotify
Carlos Nunez on Spotify
And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler
Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.
Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
A must listen
I am aover of music. I don't follow any one particular style or artist so it is hard to find people to talk music with, but Francesca and Jason feel like old friends. They are people I would feel comfortable sitting back, sharing a drink, and listening to and talking about music. Even in the silent pauses of the conversation they would be absorbing the music and taking in the story. To borrow from Tolkien, they make me feel this quote from "The Hobbit"; Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.