Ripley Johnson’s Rose City Band project started as an act of wish fulfillment. One of the creative minds behind Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo just wanted to “start a country-rock band so I can retire and just play down at the pub every Thursday night during happy hour.” The resulting first album in 2019 was a hazy stroll through the morning dew of a not yet technicolor world. With hints of psychedelia and twang, it was a peak at the source of a style of music before it heads further out into the cosmos.

One year later, Johnson is back with Summerlong, an album that echoes Rose City Band’s quiet beginnings but imbues its primal sound with brightness and warmth that is worthy of its title. Brokedown Pod’s Jonathan Hart joins us to discuss this latest chapter in Ripley Johnson’s wild trip across the universe.

Travis Tritt started a tweet-a-cane with his suggestion that artists should stick to their art and leave the politics to...not artists. We've got a few things to say about that.

Songwriter Natalie Hemby has been quietly and consistently killing it behind the scenes by delivering hit after hit for some of Nashville's biggest names. Now she's stepping into the spotlight with Puxico, her debut album. Kevin, Patrick, and Marcus (Dowling) dive deep into this celebration of small towns everywhere, take time to ponder the future of country music in 2017, and more.

PLUS! Take a trip with southern California's Mr. Elevator and the groovy first track from their upcoming LP, When The Morning Greets You.