Hiss Golden Messenger front man MC Taylor told me that what he learned from his time as a folklorist is “that … there are magical things happening everywhere all around us … and people create beautiful intentional communities and cultural movements around the smallest things that … maybe a lot of other people would never understand as something important enough to pay attention to, but that's what makes community so beautiful. There are many different types of community.” It is this awareness of and love for what many people might overlook that helps make Hiss Golden Messenger’s music special, at turns even profound. This attention to detail is just one of many aspects of MC Taylor’s personality, talent and spirit that grounds and propels his music.

Hiss Golden Messenger performing at Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, NC 7-11-19

I spoke with MC Taylor and band mate Phil Cook about the making of the new Hiss Golden Messenger album, Terms Of Surrender, about how they have embraced and come to represent Southern music and culture, how asking what someone had for breakfast can be the best way to begin an interview, and much more. Of course, there is also a lot of music, both from Hiss Golden Messenger (including two live performances) and from Phil Cook’s latest solo release.

Songs heard in this episode:

“My Wing” by Hiss Golden Messenger (excerpt, from Terms Of Surrender)

“Happy Birthday Baby"” by Hiss Golden Messenger (excerpt, from Terms Of Surrender)

“Hungry Mother Blues (Live At The Cave)” by Phil Cook from As Far As I Can See

“Cat’s Eye Blue” (live 8-24-19) by Hiss Golden Messenger

“Southern Grammar” (live 8-22-19) by Hiss Golden Messenger

Thanks to Hiss Golden Messenger tour manager Luc Suèr for his invaluable help in coordinating my interview with MC Taylor and for sending the band’s live songs heard in this episode!

Southern Songs and Stories is produced in partnership with public radio station WNCW and the Osiris podcast network, and is available on podcast platforms everywhere. New episodes air biweekly on Bluegrass Planet Radio as well. Would you help spread awareness of the artists featured here on Southern Songs and Stories, their music, and this series? Simply subscribe to the podcast and give it a good rating and a comment where you get your podcasts. You can find us on Apple/iTunes here, on Stitcher here, and Spotify here, for example. This is Southern Songs and Stories: the music of the South and the artists who make it. - Joe Kendrick

Happy summertime, y’all. It is the time of year to go places and take in some live music. And in this episode of Southern Songs and Stories, we tag along with several artists as they tell us some of their tales from being on those highways and byways. You will hear new stories from bands featured on previous episodes, like Town Mountain and Jon Stickley Trio, and from artists like Hiss Golden Messenger, Dangermuffin, The Deer, Yonder Mountain String Band, and The Travelin’ Kine, which will give you a peek at some of what we have in store. From practical jokes played on band mates to being locked in a kids’ bedroom to a stolen instrument, a lost tooth, stinky cheese and more, it is all here on this podcast. Of course, there is plenty of good music to go along with these tales, too.

Southern Songs and Stories is produced in partnership with grassroots radio WNCW and the Osiris podcast network, and is available wherever you get your podcasts. One of the easiest ways to help spread awareness of these artists, their music, and this series is to subscribe to the podcast and to give it a good rating and a comment on the platforms where you listen. We always want to improve, and want your input so we can give you more podcasts and experiences that you love. So, we are doing a listener survey. When you click to complete the survey here, you can enter to win an amazing limited edition, original Osiris poster. It is shown below. We will be selecting 3 winners at random. Thanks for listening, and for supporting great music and great podcasts! - Joe Kendrick

Songs played in this episode, in order:

Hiss Golden Messenger “Pittsboro Farewell (Two Monarchs)” excerpt, from Poor Moon

Yonder Mountain String Band “Black Truck”, performed live at Cold Mountain Music Festival 6-1-19

Hiss Golden Messenger “I Need A Teacher” excerpt, from Terms Of Surrender

Jon Stickley Trio “The Price Of Being Nice” excerpt, from Maybe Believe

Acoustic Syndicate “Vanity” excerpt, from Terra Firma

Canned Heat “On The Road Again” excerpt

Tim O’Brien “Me And Dirk’s Trip To Ireland” excerpt, from Two Journeys

Artist stereotypes do not apply

How many times have parents cringed when their children fell in love with a musician? Let's be honest, the world has looked askance at artists of all stripes (with notable exceptions) for most of our history. Musicians tend to be thought of as people who may be great at their art but who are nonetheless pretty bad at life skills like paying bills, getting to work on time, and sticking with the missus.

Aaron turns all those stereotypes on their head; he is not only a fantastic songwriter and musician, but he also runs his own construction business and is a devoted family man living a stone's throw from where he grew up in the western NC mountains. He is as meticulous and intense about his guitar and ballads as he is about his green built homes and raising his two girls.

As you'll see in our pilot episode, Aaron does both life and art exceptionally well. The folks around him are a big part of that.

Beautiful Intentional Communities With Hiss Golden Messenger

On The Road With Southern Songs And Stories: Tales From Colorado To Carolina

Artist stereotypes do not apply