Why they do what they do. . . .

This week's show includes a big Mitten (Michigan block) and a big block of XXX Outlaw artists, both in the second half of the show: The Great Tribulation, Rachel Brooke, String of Ponies, Doop and the Inside Outlaws, Ty, Scott H. Biram, Hellbound Glory, High or Hellwater, Have Gun Will Travel, Jimbo Mathus, Nick 13 and more. I was asked why do what I do. Good question, why? It's simple, really. These artists don't get played on commercial radio, don't get played anywhere except satellite or the Internet, and they don't compromise. They're visceral, real, authentic, passionate, raw and every other adjective in that vein I can think of. They deserve it. I do it, because I can't hear the music I love, unless I do this (and I think you'll love too), or at the least, a very small number, a very few Internet stations that do it too. I do it because the music "industry", is just that, an industry. They couldn't care less whether or not they were selling you cans of tomato soup, boots or a CD; to them it's all about profit margin, units moved and using their consultants and profilers to make sure that the "product" they're pushing fits the right parameters, has the right notes, in the right sequence that have been focus group tested to make sure that it will sell the maximum number of units, period. Most music industry executives don't think much of you, don't think much of their musicians and bands, don't know that much about music, and don't know shit about rock and roll, and in fact, know that the particular product they're hyping isn't worth a heaping, smelly pile of dung, but it's all about the corporate profit margin. So that's why I do what I do, make sure that people who haven't been bought and sold by the system get played and get heard, and for that, I can only thank you all for a growing listenership who appreciates real music, good music and understands that American roots music; music that touches on the blues, on rock and roll, on country, on bluegrass and gospel is the most important form of art that American culture has ever produced. The first half of the show pretty much will twist your head around and whip back and forth between the blues and roots music that touches on the American landscape. Incredible songwriters like Joe Henry and Tom Russell. Musicians like Steve Cropper, B.B. King, Garland Jeffreys, John Doe, Gary Clark, Jr., Ryan Adams and more. Bands like American Taxi and musicians like Jim McCarty, they're all here this week. A long gone forgotten cut from The Hourglass Band, Duane and Greg's first band and one you may have forgotten about from Delaney & Bonnie & Friends on tour with Eric Clapton. Thanks for being a listener and supporter, thanks for being part of something that is important, real and vital. Remember to support people like Shooter over Give Me My XXX and Bryan over at Ninebullets radio. Please comment and rate, and most importantly. Share it! Share it on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and e-mail. The podcast is also available now on iTunes as free subscription, and most important of all, TURN IT UP and DANCE! Peace out, Kip