I’ve been doing this long enough to say that it’s kind of a big deal to hear a song that stops you dead in your tracks. A song so urgent, fresh and timely that you remember where you were and what you were doing when you first heard it. Well, Reckoning by the Havana-by-way-of-Nashville based Sweet Lizzy Project is such a song. In this episode, SLP singer/songwriter Lisset Diaz makes her annual appearance to discuss how this powerhouse of a song came together—and so much more. Reckoning is a blistering take on Lisset’s native Cuba; it is a raw, honest song that takes no prisoners. Musically it hits hard—loud, crunching guitars barely hold Lisset’s soaring vocals. Lyrically it hits even harder; it is a direct hit against the existing Cuban regime and all those who think they know what truly ills the country. This is also my first interview with Lisset since the passing of legendary Mavericks’ frontman Raul Malo, who discovered the band in Havana nearly 10 years ago and brought them to the States. This episode is as emotional, honest and direct as any I’ve ever done…perhaps more so than any other. So strap yourself in and hold on as Lisset Diaz joins me again.

Can you believe it! Six years ago I started this podcast at the height of COVID on a complete whim. Never thought I’d be doing this for more than a few weeks let alone six freaking years! And what a way to celebrate by bringing back my first-ever guest, Staunton, Va.-based singer-songwriter Scott Miller. Scott cut his teeth in the mid-90s during the burgeoning alt.country or no-depression or insurgent country scene that never truly got off the ground. Signed to country legend Steve Earle’s E-Squared Label, Scott’s band the V-Roys released two dynamite albums before the band split and Scott started his prolific solo career. In this episode, Scott catches us up on what he’s been up to since he last joined awhile ago. We talk about his latest single the ingenious Like a Simile from his forthcoming new record. Scott also touches on a new vinyl-only compilation album and dishes on how he balances his music career with his life on his Shenandoah Valley farm. So sit back and welcome Scott Miller back to For Songs!

“What’s missing…is Shane.” Buckle up for a special episode of For Songs Singles! In this episode, James Fearnley, original accordion player for the legendary Irish/English punk band the Pogues, returns to talk about the band’s recent run of reunion shows celebrating the 40th anniversaries of their first two records, Red Roses for Me and Rum Sodomy and the Lash. Together with founding Pogues members Spider Stacy and Jem Finer, the trio is leading an ensemble production across the globe reimagining the fire and spirit of those heady early days. James talks about how this effort came together and what it’s like giving these old songs new life. We wrap up with an in-depth discussion about his new band the Walker Roaders’ blistering latest single Singing School, released in late 2025. So go grab a pint and listen in!

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.

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.

You know that feeling when you rediscover something—a sound, a feeling—that makes you feel young again? Takes you back 25-plus years? Just hits you right between the eyes? I do, because it happened the second I heard the opening riff of “Irish Goodbye,” the first single from latest album by the Minneapolis-based band the Honeydogs. That jangly guitar took me back to 1996/97, when the so-called alt.country music scene was just getting started. So it was a thrill to welcome Honeydogs singer/songwriter Adam Levy to the show and talk about the band’s first album in almost 10 years, Algebra for Broken Hearts. More than that, this is the first album with the original lineup since 1997—so yeah, there’s a familiarity here that’s hard to beat. Adam talks about getting the band back together, writing songs with the new-old band, jamming with the band’s drummer, brother Noah Levy, and a ton more. So sit back, dig in and jam out as Adam Levy joins me on For Songs.

Sit down everyone as school is back in session. Your teacher for this episode is one of America’s best storytellers, Louisiana-based singer/songwriter/fiddler/guitarist Louis Michot. Louis is truly a national treasure, a student as much as he is teacher. In his "day job" he fronts the multiple Grammy winning traditional Cajun band the Lost Bayou Ramblers. Here, Louis returns to For Songs to discuss his latest solo album called Seauxleaux (pronounced “solo” in Cajun French). This interview, along with his performance on the raw, riveting Seauxleaux, will give you chills, or at least it does for me. We talk about history, the impact of lifelong relationships, and what it means—or doesn’t—to be punk rock. So grab a beer, your pencil, and let Louis take you away.

Every album is important to every band, but some have greater impact than others. Look no further than the [Sweet Lizzy Project](www.sweetlizzyproject.com). The now Nashville-based band’s first album Heaven, was released 10 years ago this year and literally changed their lives. Recorded in a humble studio in Havana, Cuba, Heaven ended up in the hands of Raul Malo, lead singer/songwriter for the Miami-based Americana band the Mavericks as he was scouting bands and locations to film the 2017 PBS special Havana Time Machine. One listen and Raul not only included the band in the special, but also brought them to the US. In this episode, Sweet Lizzy Project lead singer Lisset Diaz makes a return appearance to discuss Heaven, which the band is rereleasing to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Join me as Lisset recounts how a part-time hobby turned into an album that uprooted and changed their lives. It can be cliché to say that music changes lives, but Lisset and her band are living proof. Dig in!

If nothing else, music is healing. Look no further than my guest on this episode—Dan Murphy, former lead guitarist from the 80s-90s cowpunk band Soul Asylum and the alt.country super group Golden Smog. The Minneapolis-based Murphy, who thought he had quit the music biz for good roughly 13 years ago, is in the midst of an unexpected musical renaissance. In this episode, Dan and I discuss his band the Scarlet Goodbye’s second album El Camino Adios. We talk about his partnership with band co-founder Jeff Arundel, a few tunes from the record, and how he has rediscovered his love of being in a group again. Go grab a beer or two and dig into this one!

It’s a For Songs first! Join me in the studio for this fabulous conversation with Kevin and Jarrett from the rock/pop/indie rock trio Franklin Gotham. This interview was recorded at Jarrett’s Mixtape Studios in Alexandria, Va. We talk about the band’s latest EP Good Times, Bad Times, and three brilliant songs: the rock-pop gem Caroline, their brilliant cover of Life in a Northern Town, and then, well, you just gotta listen to the whole interview to see what Star Words is about. Trust me, it’s worth it. So sit back, grab a beer, and enjoy!