Wheels Off With Rhett Miller

Raymond Pettibon is recognized for his early work created in the midst of the Southern California punk rock scene in the late 1970s-early 80s, most notably his hand drawn concert flyers and logo design for his brother’s band, Black Flag. On this week’s episode of Wheels Off, he joins Rhett to talk about his creating his own place in the art world and the DIY approach that he continues to maintain. Raymond and Rhett discuss the unique way he combines art with words in his work, and why it’s important to stay grounded in the work itself. Raymond Pettibon emerged from Southern California DIY culture and its punk-rock sensibility, and his work still embraces a youthful edginess and sense of political engagement. Drawing from disparate cultural sources—which range from Marcel Proust and William Blake to the Bible—the artist makes cartoon-inspired ink drawings on paper which evoke the aesthetics of fanzines and concert flyers. Baseball players, trains, crashing waves, political figures, and comic book characters ma

Writer Jillian Medoff joins Rhett to discuss her upcoming book release, balancing her career with the creative obstacles of being a writer, and persevering through adversity. Jillian shares the story behind becoming a writer, and explains why her work is a ‘life-sustaining force’.   Jillian Medoff is the author of four (soon to be 5) acclaimed novels including Hunger Point, which was made into an original movie in 2003. A former fellow at MacDowell, Blue Mountain Center, VCCA and Fundacion Valparaiso in Spain, Jillian has been taught by some of the best, and received her MFA from NYU. She studied with Mona Simpson and Jonathan Dee, and took master classes with Toni Morrison, Grace Paley, and Joyce Carol Oates. In addition to writing novels, Jillian has a long career in corporate consulting, advising clients on communication strategies for all aspects of the employee experience.   Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership wit

Keyboard wizard Marco Benevento joins Rhett from his newly-renovated studio in Woodstock, NY to talk about his upcoming record. Marco tells Rhett about learning to unlock the artist within, the importance of practicing without taking any shortcuts, and the musical relationship that deepened his understanding of simplicity.   Marco Benevento is a pianist, songwriter, and producer, best known for his solo work as well as his playing in the Benevento/Russo Duo and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. Marco has been a fixture of the New York experimental music rock and jazz scene since 1999, and has collaborated with legendary musicians including Trey Anastasio, Andrew Barr, Phil Lesh, and Joe Russo. He has released 7 studio albums, and his eighth, titled Benevento, will be released on June 10th. You can pre-save Benevento here.   Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Matt Dwyer. Production

Singer-songwriter Michaela Anne joins Rhett from her home in Nashville, TN to talk about her new record, converting lyrics into children’s books, and why being a new mother doesn’t give her the time or energy to feed into negativity. Michaela explains how she found her lane,, and why you don’t need to fit into the country music mold to be a country musician.   Michaela Anne is a singer-songwriter from Brooklyn, NY who currently lives in Nashville, TN. Her music incorporates elements of country, pop, indie rock, and Honky Tonk, and she has released four albums since officially launching her career in 2014. Her fifth album, Oh to Be That Free, comes out on June 10, and will add another breathtaking installment to her discography of dazzlingly unique Americana sounds.   Pre-save her upcoming album, Oh To Be That Free, here. Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Matt Dwyer. Produ

Eric Pulido, front man for indie rock pioneers Midlake, joins Rhett on this episode to talk about celebrating failure, finding balance while grappling with ambition, and recognizing the moment when you have to take a leap of faith. Eric tells Rhett about the inspiration behind their song Bethel Woods, and shares the advice he would give to his younger self. Indie Folk Rock pioneers Midlake formed in Denton, Texas, in 1999. Currently comprised of Eric Pulido, McKenzie Smith, Eric Nichelson, Jesse Chandler, and Joey McClellan, the band’s 5th studio album For the Sake of Bethel Woods was released on March 18th, 2022. Produced to layered, loving perfection by John Congleton, For the Sake of Bethel Woods is an album of immersive warmth and mystery from a band of ardent seekers, one of our generation’s finest: a band once feared lost themselves by fans, perhaps, but here revivified with freshness and constancy of intent. Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced

Walter Martin is a multi-award-winning songwriter first known for his work with New York rock 'n' roll bands The Walkmen and Jonathan Fire*Eater. In this episode, Walt joins Rhett to talk about his prolific and varied songwriting career, the importance of separating art and commerce, and the creative freedom he enjoys as an independent artist.   In 2014 Martin launched a solo career and has subsequently released five studio albums: two Parents’ Choice award winning family albums (2014's We're All Young Together and 2017's My Kinda Music) and three critically acclaimed albums for adults (2016's Arts & Leisure, 2018's Reminisce Bar & Grill and 2020’s The World at Night. In March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world, Martin released two collections of unreleased songs (Common Prayers; Green Beans & Tangerines).    A much anticipated new album, The Bear, was released on March 25, 2022. Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in

Songwriter, guitarist and singer, Kristin Hersh joins Rhett from her home in Rhode Island to talk about recording with 50FOOTWAVE, a musical collective she founded in 2004 under the theory that ‘music doesn’t belong in the music industry’. Kristin shares stories from her days as a young artist in the Boston music scene, grappling with the pressures of the industry, and what it means to lose yourself in the work. The two discuss the difference between creating art for art’s sake versus selling your art as a product, and being humbled by the complexity of humanity. Kristin Hersh’s prolific career has seen her heralded queen of the alternative release. Songwriter, guitarist and singer, Kristin Hersh has released over 20 records solo, with Throwing Muses and 50FOOTWAVE. She released her tenth studio album, 'Possible Dust Clouds' in 2018. Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Matt

This week Hillary Fretland joins Rhett to talk about her band, Fretland, and the making of their latest album, Could Have Loved You. You’ll hear Hillary and Rhett discuss being gentle with the lessons you learn along the way, breaking the rules in music, and Hillary does a deep dive on her fan-favorite song “Do You Think of Me” from Fretland’s last album. Hillary Fretland is the leader of the sensational Americana band, Fretland, whose sound mixes fragile alt-country with passionate gushes of indie rock. From Snohomish, WA, Hillary was inspired by her mother to play music when she was young, and 10+ years of playing and writing songs has led to two exceptional albums for Fretland in just two years. Fretland has racked up more than a million streams with their aching ballads, leaf-strewn sound, and gently spun secrets, and in this episode you’ll hear all about the creative process of their front woman. Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Clu

Frontman and fiddler for Old Crow Medicine Show, Ketch Secor, joins Rhett from his longtime home of Nashville to talk about the upcoming Old Crow Medicine Show album, the difficulty of writing songs about social and political issues, and why there are so many things to sing about today that make the heart heavy. Ketch explains why moving around a lot as a kid helped to shape him as an artist, and discusses his incredible career in one of the top Americana acts of the last 20 years.   Ketch Secor is a founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show, a Grammy Award—winning group that has been inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry. In 2017 and 2018, Old Crow Medicine Show released three critically acclaimed albums: Best of Old Crow Medicine Show (Nettwerk), 50 Years of Blonde On Blonde (Columbia Nashville), a reimagined version of Bob Dylan's classic Blonde on Blonde album, and Volunteer (Sony Music Nashville).  Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirst

Jack Torrey, one half of the indie band The Cactus Blossoms, joins Rhett from his home in Minneapolis to talk about getting back on the road, writing and recording a new record during the pandemic, and why he was content to not have a plan other than playing music. Jack tells Rhett about the impact that Bob Dylan had on his writing, and explains what he means when he says he’s the “eye of the storm”.   “Hey baby, do you wanna take a trip with me? / I’ve got a feeling there might be a silver lining all around.” So begins One Day, the captivating new album from critically acclaimed Minneapolis duo The Cactus Blossoms. Written and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, the record explores the tension between optimism and despair that’s defined much of the past few years of American life, examining the power (or naïveté, depending on your perspective) of positive thinking in the face of chaos and uncertainty. The songs here are tender and timeless, with straightforward arrangements centered around brothers Jack T

Paz Lenchantin is an Argentinian-American musician who has played bass for The Pixies since 2014. She joins Rhett to talk about recording the latest Pixies album, writing music for film, and why she feels that there are more opportunities for female artists now that ever before. Paz explains why she likes to switch things up musically when she’s home by returning to the violin; and, why she thinks that social media is detrimental to the artistic process. Paz Lenchantin has been the bass guitarist, vocalist and violinist of the alternative rock band Pixies since 2014. She has also played bass and strings with various bands, including Entrance, A Perfect Circle, Silver Jews, and Zwan.   Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven.    This podcast is ava

Duquette Johnston, a founding member of the breakout 90s indie band Verbena and now an acclaimed solo artist, joins Rhett from Birmingham, AL. to talk about his new album, Social Animals, and the road to his creative life. Duq explains the evolution of his creative process, why he’s never had a Plan B, and how he eventually worked through the fear of success that was holding him back. By his own admission Duquette Johnston has lived a "wild, incredible life," but even that might be underselling the three-act 25-year journey that's led to the Alabama musician's new album The Social Animals. In bringing the new album to life, Johnston drew from his indie rock past to unite a remarkable group of collaborators. This team included producer John Agnello - known for his work with Dinosaur Jr as well as recent albums from Hop Along, Waxahatchee, Twin Peaks and Kurt Vile - and a band anchored by longtime Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley. Through their spiraling guitars and cavernous beats, Johnston shares deeply-lear

Guitarist Scott Metzger joins Rhett from his home in Brooklyn to talk about his forthcoming album Too Close To Reason, which is his first solo effort. Scott tells Rhett about his early days as a sideman and shares the story of meeting James Brown, which was a pivotal moment in his career. The two discuss The Alexander Technique and why being aware of your body can help you navigate through stress, and Scott tells Rhett why it’s cool to be uncool.  Scott Metzger has performed, recorded, and toured with artists including: John Mayer, John Scofield, Warren Haynes, Nels Cline, Anders Osborne, Phil Lesh & many others from a variety of genres. He is a full time member of the critically acclaimed, increasingly popular Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. His various part time projects include the Gypsy Jazz influenced The Showdown Kids, and WOLF! (Royal Potato Family Records), an instrumental guitar trio whose music has been featured on the hit television series Z-Nation. In addition, Scott has made various appearances on natio

Musician Suz Slezak joins Rhett from her home in Charlottesville, VA to talk about her new solo album, the moment when she realized that she could make a living as a musician, and talks about her struggle with bipolar disorder. The two discuss managing one’s self critic and why it’s important to remember that your fantasies might come true.   Suz Slezak is a fiddle player and one half of the pioneering folk duo David Wax Museum. Our Wings May Be Featherless is the debut solo album from Suz Slezak, co-founder of the pioneering indie folk band David Wax Museum. The nine-track album was produced by Anthony da Costa (Joy Williams, Yola, Sarah Jarosz) and recorded throughout 2020 in Nashville and in Slezak’s homebase of Charlottesville, VA. It is a stunning and poignant collection of songs, an emotional tour de force, displaying the artist’s breathtaking lyricism, multi-instrumental breadth, and her ability to weave some of life's most difficult moments – traumatic childbirth, a best friend's suicide, and her own

Comedian John Poveromo joins Rhett from the Jersey Shore to talk about the road that led to his stand-up career and why his podcast, Dystopia Tonight, was a saving grace during the pandemic. Poveromo discusses opening for Jimmy Fallon, why comedy can help in the midst of disaster, and the innate curiosity that helped him navigate through depression.   John Poveromo is a nationally touring comedian, cartoonist, writer, actor, and the host of Dystopia Tonight with John Poveromo on TwitchTV, ApplePodcasts, Spotify and YouTube. John has been seen on FXX’s Gotham Live, FoxTv’s The Q, VH1, MTV, and has a short film on Amazon Prime that he both co-wrote and starred in titled, Duppet. He has been critically acclaimed by numerous major publications.   Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Kather

Singer-songwriter Margo Price joins Rhett from her home in Tennessee to talk about finishing up the memoir that she’s been writing, the challenges of the process, and what she learned from the experience. The two discuss her uniquely heartfelt musical style, benefitting from a healthy lifestyle, and what it will take for the music industry to turn things around.   Margo Price is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter and producer who is originally from Illinois. Her debut solo album, Midwest Farmer's Daughter, was released on Third Man Records in 2016 and was considered to be one of the best records of the year by many music critics. She has gained recognition for her work by winning several prestigious music awards, including a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2018.   Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD

Singer-songwriter Steve Poltz joins Rhett from Portland, ME (in the middle of his tour with the Wood Brothers) to tell wild stories from the early days of his career, growing from failed performances, and his morning routine. You’ll hear Steve tell Rhett about a practical lesson that helps him eliminate internally-generated negativity, making less money from performances after destroying venues, and much more.   Steve Poltz is a musician from Nova Scotia who grew up in San Diego, CA. He gained initial recognition for co-founding the Rugburns, who released 6 exciting albums in the late 80s and early 90s, and toured nationally. Steve co-wrote the multi-platinum “You Were Meant For Me” with Jewel, and has also written songs with other legendary artists including Billy Strings, Sierra Hull, Nicki Bluhm, Oliver Wood and even Mojo Nixon. In this episode you’ll hear all about his wild ride on the rock n’ roll rollercoaster, and you won’t want to miss what he has to say!   Steve’s new record, Stardust and Satellites,

An encore episode: Liz Phair. In this episode, singer-songwriter Liz Phair joins Rhett from her home in LA to talk about her creative journey as a musician. The two discuss how being home during the pandemic has changed their lives, why social interaction is crucial for creative inspiration, and dig into her memoir Horror Stories. Liz explains why you “just have to go for the ride” in order to conquer feelings of self-doubt and shares a few other savvy insights gleaned from her extraordinary career.   Liz Phair is a two-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter from Chicago who came to prominence in the early 90’s, thanks to the emotional authenticity of her lyrics and the lo-fi instrumentation in her music. She has been a recording artist and touring performer for over twenty-five years, paving the way for countless music artists, particularly women, who cite her among their major influences. Her 1993 debut studio album, Exile in Guyville, is ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Tim

Television and film director Noah Hawley joins Rhett from his home in Austin, TX to discuss his circuitous journey of writing three novels before his first novel sold, Kurt Vonnegut’s impactful influence on his creativity, and growing up in a household of artists. Noah and Rhett discuss the making of the final season of Fargo, and Noah walks us through a conceptual trick that he used in the first season of the show. Noah Hawley is a television director, producer, and author from New York City. He created and wrote the FX television series Fargo and Legion, and has also written five novels. Noah previously worked on the television shows Bones, The Unusuals, and My Generation. He is set to create a new television series based on the Alien film franchise, which he discusses with Rhett in this episode. Noah’s new book Anthem is out now, check it out here. Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media

An encore episode of one of the most popular episodes of 2021. Grammy-winning musician Jeff Tweedy joins Rhett to talk about his new book and what the process of writing music has been like during the pandemic. The two discuss songwriting as a reaction to stress, how he discerns between imposter syndrome and anxiety, and why the power of observation is a useful writing trick. Jeff explains his above-average music consumption habit and the sense of awe he experiences when discovering a new album. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.