Music has always been the lifeblood running through multi-instrumentalist Phil Cook's veins for as long as he can remember. In 2015 he fully dialed in to that guiding presence for the first time in his life, and the result was the magnificent Southland Mission. Mission mined a deep history of American gospel and blues to deliver songs of beauty, hope and rejuvenation, that didn't just honor what came before them, but weaved themselves into the very fabric of the rich tapestry of the culture that's at the root of our modern experience.

We (finally) caught up with Phil before his recent show here in Washington, DC to talk about his past, the music he loves, and how a goofy kid from Wisconsin found enlightenment at at an early age in the most unlikely of places.

This podcast can be the instrument to mend a broken heart or to straighten out your life through the sincere testimony of one righteous dude. A must!

This week on the podcast: How easy is it to trick a music blogger? Apparently hilariously so if you’re using Wayne Coyne as bait! The gang discusses a hilarious prank that was recently pulled on the blogosphere, and its implication for the sad state of modern music journalism as a whole.

Then we’re heading over to the jammy side of town, as we dig deep into two of this year’s best releases. First up, Athens, GA’s Futurebirds  are back with their unique brand of cosmic twang on their new album Hotel Parties (22 min mark). Then, Megafaun’s Phil Cook has made a career out of playing with some of the biggest names in indie rock, but with the hugely soulful Southland Mission, he may have crafted the album he’s waited his whole life to make (51 min mark).

Last but not least, Meow The Jewels is here and it’s exactly what we expected and more. So that happened.

Get comfortable and hide the cats, because here comes a super-sized shot of the “23rd most influential” podcast in the land, it’s Episode 135 of ChunkyGlasses: The Podcast!