Dive Bar Music Club

Dive Bar Music Club: low key, high taste happy hour for music nerds.Welcome to Dive Bar Music Club, your new favorite monthly hangout where deep music knowledge meets dive bar vibes. Each episode, a rotating cast of indie music lifers (record store owners, radio hosts, touring musicians, venue bookers, photographers, and more) grab a drink, hop online, and swap notes on the three albums they can’t stop spinning.It’s not a review show; it’s a conversation. A cozy, no-gatekeeping zone for the kind of people who make playlists for every mood, still buy records, and love to discover that one incredible band hiding in the liner notes. We’re heavy on new releases, but old favorites, hidden gems, and "how did I miss this?" moments are always on the table.Whether you work in music, live for your local scene, or just want cool friends to talk tunes with, Dive Bar Music Club is your invitation to pull up a stool, pour a drink, and nerd out. No VIP pass required.

Dive Bar Music Club is a music podcast hosted by Sloane Spencer, with 27 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Sloane Spencer hosts Dive Bar Music Club, a music show with 27 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #15

  We Lurve Lydia Loveless, How Not to Be a Stalker Fan, and Making Art Might Be Embarrassing

  Aug 5, 202653 min

  Kim Ware tours and writes music with her solo project, The Good Graces , and in a band, Y'All'Re . Ware shares how she's balancing her work with writing, recording, and weekend touring. Sloane Spencer rants about music promotion companies sending AI pitches, and the importance of building real life community in music. We laugh about music fandom, fangirl encounters with musical heroes, and the moments that remind us why we love making and sharing music. Whether you're an artist, a dedicated listener, or simply love a great conversation, this episode offers an honest, entertaining look at creativity, connection, and the joy of music. Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists Apple Music Tidal Musicians and Venues Mentioned in this Episode Venues Club 27 (Asheville) Common Market (Charlotte) Cobb Galleria Red Light Café (Atlanta) Snug Harbor (Charlotte) Star Bar (Atlanta) The EARL (Atlanta) Musicians The Avett Brothers Chickens and Pigs David Childers Jeff Evans Jeff Evans Porkestra Jerry Kee Kathleen Edwards Kim Ware Lydia Loveless Robert Childers Scott Roberts Tracy Clark Y'all're Yo La Tengo Yum Yum Tree Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to the Dive Bar Music Club Podcast 03:24 - Recording the New EP 11:21 - The Challenges of Independent Music Promotion 21:43 - The Vibrant Community of Music Scenes 30:01 - The Impact of Music: Personal Connections 35:39 - The Art of Expressing Appreciation 40:32 - Exploring Music Discovery in the Digital Age 48:25 - The Journey Through Music and Radio The Regulars Kim Ware Sloane Spencer Recommended If You Like AI music promotion, Apple Music, Asheville music, Atlanta music scene, Bandcamp, Charlotte live music, Chapel Hill indie music, Common Market Charlotte, creative process, David Childers, DIY musicians, Dive Bar Music Club, EP recording, independent artists, independent music, indie music, live music, local music community, Lydia Loveless, music discovery, music podcast, music promotion, North Carolina music, podcast, record stores, singer-songwriter, Snug Harbor Charlotte, touring musicians, vinyl records, Y'All'Re, dive bar music club, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, indie music podcast, music community, live music experience, independent artists, music playlists, music industry insights, songwriting process, touring musicians, music recommendations, music festivals, local music scenes, vinyl records, bandcamp discoveries, music collaboration, songwriter interviews, music promotion, music and mental health

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  Dive Bar Music Club

  AthFest 2026: Slightly Famous Somebodies at the 40 Watt

  Jul 24, 202612 min

  Recorded in the green room at the 40 Watt during AthFest , this episode of Dive Bar Music Club features members of Slightly Famous Somebodies and special guests sharing the albums, artists, and songs inspiring them right now. The conversation explores everything from Renaissance, Elf Power, PM Dawn, Nick Drake, and Mike Keneally to The Spinners, Frank Zappa, Sam Cooke, R.E.M., and The Allman Brothers Band, while diving into songwriting, rock operas, family musical legacies, podcasting, and Athens, Georgia's vibrant music community. If you love discovering overlooked artists, classic albums, progressive rock, soul, jazz, indie music, and behind-the-scenes festival conversations, this episode is packed with recommendations and stories for passionate music fans. True Athens fans know about JB, the Sausage Man with the Comeback Sauce. Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists Apple Music Tidal Musicians Mentioned in this Episode Al Green Aretha Franklin Boney James Brian Culbertson Christian Cordes (filmmaker) Elf Power Flournoy Holmes (artist) Frank Zappa Jonathan Spencer Kevn Kinney/Drivin n Cryin Laura Wiggins Mike Keneally Nick Drake NRBQ (New Rhythm and Blues Quartet) Paul Taylor PM Dawn R.E.M. Renaissance Sam Cooke Slightly Famous Somebodies Soul Occasion Steve Vai Stevie Wonder The Allman Brothers Band The Spinners Vaylor Trucks The Regulars Sloane Spencer Chapters 00:06 - Introducing the Dive Bar Music Club Podcast 01:04 - Introduction to Slightly Famous Somebodies 05:23 - Vaylor Trucks' New Podcast Season 07:15 - Green Room Antics 09:42 - Introducing JB the Sausage Man with the Comeback Sauce and His Personalities 11:01 - Introducing the Slightly Famous Somebodies Recommended If You Like Dive Bar Music Club, music podcast, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, indie music scene, alt rock bands, music recommendations, cult bands, music playlists, album reviews, music discussions, live music events, 70s R&B, British prog rock, soundcheck stories, music nerd culture, Slightly Famous Somebodies, Athens music scene, singer-songwriter interviews, music obsession, Jonathan Spencer, Laura Slade Wiggins, Vaylor Trucks, Sloane Spencer, sausage man with the comeback sauce, 40 watt club, athens, georgia, athens ga, allman brothers, Dive Bar Music Club, Slightly Famous Somebodies, AFF Fest, 40 Watt Club, Athens Georgia music, backstage podcast, music discovery, indie music podcast, progressive rock, psychedelic music, Renaissance band, Elf Power, Kevn Kinney, PM Dawn, Nick Drake, Pink Moon, Mike Keneally, Frank Zappa, The Spinners, soul music, R&B music, jazz recommendations, Boney James, Paul Taylor, Brian Culbertson, R.E.M., NRBQ, The Allman Brothers Band, Butch Trucks, Steve Vai, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, songwriting, rock opera, album recommendations, music interviews, festival podcast, live music, record collecting, alternative music, classic rock

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  Dive Bar Music Club

  AthFest 2026: Dash Rip Rock at the Georgia Theatre

  Jul 20, 202612 min

  In this episode, Sloane catches up from the green room of the legendary Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA during AthFest , with Dash Rip Rock , who’s been hard at work on a collection of new songs that are already generating plenty of excitement, especially across Europe. We dive into the story behind their latest album, A Song in Everyone , recorded at Bobby Matt Patton’s wonderfully eclectic studio in Mississippi, Dial Back Sound. It’s the kind of place that’s old, funky, and full of character, the perfect setting to capture the band’s unmistakable sound. We reminisce about Sloane catching DRR back in the 688 days, talk about how the band has evolved over the years, and share a few laughs about life in the studio, including the occasional yacht rock soundtrack of Toto and Sting playing in the background while the creative magic happens. So pour yourself a drink, settle in, and join us as we explore the stories behind the songs in another low-key, high-taste happy hour for music nerds. Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists Apple Music Tidal Musicians Featured in this Episode Bobby Matt Patton Bill Davis (Dash Rip Rock founder) Butthole Surfers Dash Rip Rock Dexateens Drunken Prayer Eric "Roscoe" Ambel (referred to as "Roscoe" and "Eric Campbell/Amble" in the transcript; misspoken and corrected to be Eric Ambel) Lilly Hiatt Musicians, Bands, Festivals, and Ships AthFest (festival) HeAthens Fest (festival) Dan Baird Dave Barbe Dial Back Sound (studio/label) Drive-By Truckers Fat Possum (studio referenced as the former Fat Possum studio) Georgia Theatre Henry Barbe Hurray for the Riff Raff Lance Bangs Led Zeppelin Mammoth Records Mary Lee Kortes Metroplex (Atlanta venue) Mitch Easter Mojo Nixon (referred to simply as "Mojo") Morgan (of Drunken Prayer; surname not stated) Rob Reiner Rolling Stones Shinyribs Spain (mentioned as a touring market, not a venue/person) Steely Dan Sting Sunny Sweeney Supersuckers The Deslondes The Nick (venue in Birmingham, AL) The Outlaw Country Cruise The Whole Truth and Nothing Butt: The Story of the Butthole Surfers (documentary) Tom Petty/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (referenced as "the Heartbreakers") Toto Warner Hodges 688 Club (referred to as "688" and "688 Presents") 688 Presents (record, concert promotion series) The Regulars Sloane Spencer Chapters 00:00 - Introducing Dash Rip Rock 01:22 - New Music 05:03 - Musical Connections and Band Origins 07:02 - The Impact of Music on Creativity 08:35 - European Audiences 11:27 - The Return to Familiar Stages Recommended If You Like Dive Bar Music Club, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, cult band favorites, music playlists, indie music culture, music nerds podcast, recording studio stories, Athens music scene, Dash Rip Rock, Drive By Truckers, European music audiences, zine making, metal music photography, folk music nostalgia, new album releases, music collaborations, yacht rock, Butthole Surfers, live music venues, Dash Rip Rock, Dash Rip Rock interview, A Song in Everyone, Bobby Matt Patten, Dial Back Sound, Drive-By Truckers, ATHFest, Athens music festival, Georgia Theatre, Southern rock, roots rock, Americana music, alt-country, cowpunk, rock and roll, Mississippi recording studio, Water Valley Mississippi, Dexateens, Drunken Prayer, Mitch Easter, Tom Petty, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Butthole Surfers, Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Toto, Sting, Warner Hodges, Dan Baird, Supersuckers, Lily Hiatt, Sunny Sweeney, Shinyribs, Hooray for the Riff Raff, Outlaw Country Cruise, Mammoth Records, 688 Club Atlanta, The Knick, independent rock music, new rock album, music podcast, artist interview, album recording, Southern music, Athens Georgia music scene, Europe tour, underground rock, cult rock band

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  Episode #13

  Let's Get Weird, Sexy Disco Country Crooners, and GBBN (Good Band, Bad Name)

  Jul 5, 202657 min

  This week's Dive Bar Music Club is a rabbit hole of garage rock side projects, forgotten lo-fi legends, Americana royalty, and gloriously oddball icons. The Regulars discuss everything from why some bands desperately need a new name to whether fans should let artists evolve, while swapping stories about tiny clubs, legendary live shows, and the strange magic of musicians who refuse to color inside the lines. Along the way, Swamp Dogg steals the conversation by being exactly as weird and wonderful as advertised, Tyler Childers sparks a thoughtful debate about artistic growth and rabid fanbases, and everyone accidentally proves that music nerds can spend ten minutes discussing an electronic duo's cassette track listing without a trace of irony, and somehow make it completely compelling. Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists Apple Music Tidal Musicians Featured in this Episode Kacey Musgraves Andrew Sa David Rawlings/David Rawlings Machine/Dave Rawlings Gillian Welch Jack Logan Old 97s/Murray Hammond/Rhett Miller Styrofoam Winos Weird Nightmare Swamp Dogg Tyler Childers/The Food Stamps Festivals AmericanaFest Atlanta Film Festival Musicians & Bands & References Barry and Levon (The State sketch characters) Chris Stapleton Cindy Lauper Daniel Johnston Derek Trucks Dylan LeBlanc Florrie Gabe Lee Gary U.S. Bonds Iron & Wine Jason Isbell/Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Jenny Lewis Jesse Welles (Tyler Childers band member) John Prine Jon Spencer/Blues Explosion Johnny Blue Skies Johnny Paycheck King Margo Kraftwerk Lavender Country Lindsey Buckingham Metz Miranda Lambert MJ Lenderman New Order Neko Case Patrick Haggerty Peter Buck Ratboys R.E.M. Rick Rubin Rilo Kiley Ryan Davis Scott Baxendale Slobberbone Starfucker Sturgill Simpson Susan Tedeschi/Tedeschi Trucks Band The Pollies The Replacements Vic Chesnutt W8ing4UFOs Wednesday Yaz/Yazoo/Alison Moyet Record Labels Capricorn Records Medium Cool Records New West Records Sub Pop Records Twin/Tone Records Venues Blue Plate Special (WDVX performance series) Boyd's Jig & Reel Coca-Cola Amphitheater (Birmingham) Fantasyland Records (Atlanta) Pinhook (Durham) Red Rocks Amphitheatre The Basement (Nashville) WDVX Radio The Regulars Nelson Gullett Charles Hale Amanda Miles Sloane Spencer Chapters 00:17 - Introducing the Guests 02:36 - Exploring New Sounds: Weird Nightmare and Beyond 07:59 - The Rise of Jack Logan 18:44 - Traveling and Music Experiences 21:50 - New Discoveries in Music and Memory 28:42 - The Evolution of Tyler's Sound 38:10 - Exploring New Sounds in Country Music 44:21 - Reflections on Swamp Dog's Legacy 46:36 - Exploring New and Established Artists 52:51 - The Transition to New Music Discussions Recommended If You Like Dive Bar Music Club, music podcast, indie rock podcast, Americana podcast, alt-country podcast, roots music, new music discovery, music recommendations, playlist podcast, Tyler Childers, Kacey Musgraves, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Swamp Dogg, Old 97's, Jack Logan, Weird Nightmare, Styrofoam Winos, Andrew Sa, John Spencer, John Spencer Blues Explosion, Jenny Lewis, Rilo Kiley, Jason Isbell, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, REM, Peter Buck, Peter Jesperson, The Replacements, Vic Chesnutt, Daniel Johnston, Iron & Wine, MJ Lenderman, Wednesday, Ratboys, Slobberbone, Sturgill Simpson, Johnny Blue Skies, Chris Stapleton, Lindsey Buckingham, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Patrick Haggerty, Lavender Country, Americana music, indie music, garage rock, power pop, lo-fi music, Southern rock, country music, record collecting, vinyl records, record stores, live music, concert reviews, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, AmericanaFest, WDVX, Sub Pop Records, New West Records, Twin/Tone Records, Medium Cool Records, dive bar music club, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, indie music podcast, music playlists, lo-fi music, garage rock, power pop, Weird Nightmare band, Jack Logan music, Americana music, country music, alternative country, record store culture, music discovery, passionate music discussions, underground music, music collaborations, concert experiences, music recommendations

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  Episode #12

  Happy Pride 2026! Music Gets Us Through Grief and Exciting Breaking News

  Jun 26, 202650 min

  Happy Pride! Sloane Spencer catches up with music journalist and Rainbow Rodeo founder Rachel Cholst during a period of both profound loss and exciting professional growth. Rachel reflects on the unexpected death of a longtime friend, sharing how music, ritual, and community have helped her navigate grief, while also discussing major milestones including Rainbow Rodeo’s subscriber drive , plans to revive its podcast , and the news that SiriusXM’s Country Pride channel will become a permanent offering , with Rachel continuing as one of its voices. Along the way, the conversation explores the role of music in memory and healing, highlights emerging and established artists from the queer, indie, and Americana worlds, and touches on Rachel’s ongoing creative projects, including a comic book series ( Kickstarter !). The result is a thoughtful, heartfelt discussion about loss, resilience, artistic community, and the ways music helps us make sense of life’s highs and lows. Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists Apple Music Tidal Musicians Featured This Episode Andrew Sa Micah Schnabel and Vanessa Jean Speckman North Ingalls VNV Nation Musicians Mentioned in Our Conversation Aaron Lee Tasjan Call Me Rita Frank Turner Gorillaz HC McEntire Jeff Rosenstock Jason Molina Jimmy Eat World Johnson and Magnolia Electric Company KMFDM Kim Richey Lake Street Dive Lavender Country Mount Moriah Paisley Fields Patrick Haggerty Procol Harum Rammstein Ratboys Two Cow Garage The Regulars Rachel Cholst Sloane Spencer Chapters 00:04 - Dealing with Loss 03:43 - New Beginnings: The Rainbow Rodeo Fundraiser 15:00 - Navigating the Landscape of Country Music and Sirius XM 16:00 - The Influence of Holographic Performances 26:24 - Navigating Grief and Music 32:03 - Transition to New Music Discussions 35:53 - The Impact of Social Media on Music Connections 44:06 - Exploring Creative Passions Recommended If You Like podcast episode, music and grief, loss of a friend, songs about death, emotional music, coping with loss, music therapy, LGBTQ+ music, Rainbow Rodeo, indie music, country music, music recommendations, alt rock, mental health and music, professional growth in music, overcoming grief, personal stories in music, music playlists, artists to listen to, music community, Dive Bar Music Club podcast, Rachel Cholst, Rainbow Rodeo, queer country music, LGBTQ country artists, Country Pride SiriusXM, SiriusXM Country Pride, Pride Month music, independent music journalism, music podcast, Americana music, indie rock music, alternative country, queer musicians, Rainbow Rodeo magazine, music discovery, emerging artists, Andrew Sa, North Ingalls, Micah Schnabel, Vanessa Jean Speckman, Two Cow Garage, Lavender Country, Patrick Haggerty, Paisley Fields, Jeff Rosenstock, VNV Nation, Ratboys, Jason Molina, Johnson and Electric Company, grief and music, music and healing, friendship and loss, funeral songs, music memories, country music culture, independent artists, music reviews, no Depression magazine, queer country community, music journalism interview, underground music scene, DIY music culture, singer-songwriter podcast, Americana podcast, LGBTQ music media, indie music recommendations, Pride Month podcast, music fandom, artist interviews, music community, alternative music podcast

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