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Almost Almost Famous: The Tall Tales Behind the Stories from a Lifetime Spent Chasing Roots Music. Out April 1, 2026 By @jcrutchmer.bsky.social. crutchmer.com

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Latest posts by The Back Lounge @thebacklounge

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Listen to Me Talk About Mogging and Ruin an Incredible Interview with William Prince | The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer Get more from The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer on Patreon

This week on Hippies & Cowboys, I talk about looksmaxxing and ruin an all-timer of an interview with Canadian country star William Prince

www.patreon.com/posts/listen...

06.03.2026 23:55 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Roger Clyne on 30 Years of the Refreshments' 'Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy': 'The Lighting of the Fuse' Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers drop new album 'Hell to Breakfast,' and look back at the Refreshments' breakout album 'Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy.'

In the 30 years since the Refreshments' Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy, "Banditos" and the King of the Hill theme made Roger Clyne briefly famous, he's never stopped writing and never left the Arizona borderlands. We talked for @rollingstone.com ahead of his latest LP

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

05.03.2026 18:25 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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2-for-1 with Clay Street Unit. Plus, What's Treaty Oak Revival to Do? | The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer Get more from The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer on Patreon

Talked twice with Clay Street Unit lately. Once for @rollingstone.com and once for Hippies & Cowboys. And on H&C, Garrett and I discuss what options Treaty Oak Revival even has to rein in beer-throwing fans.

Links here in this free @thebacklounge.bsky.social post.

www.patreon.com/posts/2-for-...

05.03.2026 00:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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'Sad Cowboy Songs' Made Ryan Bingham an Oscar Winner. Now He's Singing About Love Ryan Bingham talks new album 'They Call Us the Lucky Ones,' with the Texas Gentlemen, and why he wouldn't play 'The Weary Kind.'

Ryan Bingham is releasing his first studio LP since 2019, and his first with The Texas Gentlemen. In every aspect β€” his music, his band, touring, life with Hassie Harrison, his family β€”Β Bingham is happy, and it shows. We talked about it for @rollingstone.com.

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

17.02.2026 16:09 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Tyler Halverson, Tyler Halverson Again, Johnny Mullenax, and The Merc's Bluegrass Brunch | The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer Get more from The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer on Patreon

Tyler Halverson showed up on Hippies & Cowboys this week, as well as Rolling Stone, capping a busy week of catchups and new music for me.

www.patreon.com/posts/tyler-...

14.02.2026 00:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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How Johnny Mullenax Turned a Tulsa Bluegrass Brunch into a Music Fan Must-Do Johnny Mullenax turned his weekly bluegrass brunch set into a career: He'll play major festivals this year and opened for Turnpike Troubadours.

If you are not yet on board with Johnny Mullenax and the bluegrass brunch he presides over at Tulsa’s Mercury Lounge, @rollingstone.com has some reasons for you to remedy that asap

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

12.02.2026 22:23 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 3

Oh yeah I talked to Tyler Halverson this week

13.02.2026 18:47 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I didn't write anything new today β€” Andie's essay is all that needs saying right now β€” but I did try to pull together my recent writings and speeches about January 27, 2001 into a single place. You can find that at @thebacklounge.bsky.social

www.patreon.com/posts/i-am-s...

24.01.2026 17:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Including Todd Snider's Final Interview in (Almost) Almost Famous | The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer Get more from The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer on Patreon

A note about Todd Snider’s final media interview, and how best to share it publicly

www.patreon.com/posts/includ...

13.01.2026 15:36 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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'Landman' Is Striking Gold With a Fringe Country Soundtrack Taylor Sheridan's 'Landman' series is creating its own musical world with country and Red Dirt songs by Sunny Sweeney, Drayton Farley, and more.

I wrote about Landman ahead of Sunday's season 2 finale, and about the enduring ability of Taylor Sheridan and music supervisor Andrea von Foerster to spin Americana and Red Dirt music into overnight sensations. The story is up now @rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

12.01.2026 16:54 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Blaine Bailey Is Taking Back Native Culture Country singer Blaine Bailey celebrates his Cherokee history and culture on the new album 'Indian Country.'

Blaine Bailey is making powerful music while proudly advocating for his Native heritage. I wrote about it for @rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

06.01.2026 17:23 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Josh Ritter Deconstructs the Idea of the Muse on 'I Believe in You, My Honeydew' Songwriter Josh Ritter celebrates the idea of the muse on his new album 'I Believe in You, My Honeydew.'

Josh Ritter is spending less time following the muse and more time speaking directly to it. That's how last fall's I Believe in You, My Honeydew, happened. I caught up with him at the end of his tour and we talked about this. Story is up @rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

04.01.2026 15:15 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 2
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Bleu Edmondson Was Set to Become a Huge Texas Country Star. Then He Walked Away Bleu Edmondson was poised to be the next big Texas country star, but he walked away. A decade later, he returns with the EP 'To the End.'

Bleu Edmondson returned from a decade-long hiatus in 2025 with a six-song EP that was one of the best albums of the year. I talked to him about it, and to Wade Bowen about producing. It’s up at @rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

01.01.2026 16:55 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Hippies & Cowboys 2025 Finale: Naughty and Nice | The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer Get more from The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer on Patreon

Year-in-review Hippies & Cowboys fuckaround episode ahoy!

www.patreon.com/posts/hippie...

31.12.2025 15:55 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Top 25 Country Albums of 2025 (and the Best Concerts I Saw, Too) | The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer Get more from The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer on Patreon

Here are my top 25 country and Americana albums of 2025. As the first person to ever make a list of the top songs of one genre for a year, I understand this might be jarring, so I included my favorite concerts of 2025 too.

It's free at @thebacklounge.bsky.social

www.patreon.com/posts/top-25...

28.12.2025 20:09 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Miles Miller Is Sturgill Simpson's Drummer. Allow Him to Introduce You to 'Mr. Runaway' Miles Miller, Sturgill Simpson's drummer, branches out and becomes a frontman on new album 'Mr. Runaway.'

Wrote about Miles Miller and his 2025 album Mr. Runaway that should absolutely be on your best-of list this year. Story is up @rollingstone.com now.

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

28.12.2025 16:14 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 3
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Sierra Hull Lost Her Voice Right Before a TV Taping. Her Mandolin Sang for Her Sierra Hull's new album 'A Tip Toe High Wire' is up for four Grammys, elevating the mandolin player to new heights.

Wrote about Sierra Hull, what Grammy nominations mean, and about losing her voice before a national tv taping and pivoting to instrumental bluegrass. It's up @rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

26.12.2025 16:36 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Best Music Books of 2025 Rolling Stone editors review the best music books of 2025, including books about Cameron Crowe, Ozzy Osbourne, Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Tupac Shakur, and Bruce Springsteen.

Today, @rollingstone.com named Never Say Never as one of the top books of 2025 in its Year in Music recap. Honored, elated, all of those things.

If you don't have it, you can get it at @thebacklounge.bsky.social. And you can read the list here:

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

24.12.2025 18:12 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Red Dirt Unplugged (2024) Browse all products in the Red Dirt Unplugged (2024) category from The Back Lounge.

Red Dirt Unplugged was released one year ago last night! It was a life-changing book in thousands of ways, and if you missed out on these roots music tales, you can still remedy that in time for the holidays (cc @thebacklounge.bsky.social)

backloungepublishing.bigcartel.com/category/red...

14.12.2025 16:27 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Almost Almost Famous – Back Lounge Publishing

Dropped the chapter list and featured artists in (Almost) Almost Famous today. Check it out and then pre-order now!

backloungepublishing.com/almostalmost...

12.12.2025 20:42 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Wait but people online keep telling me that this is a miracle technology that must be embraced immediately and criticizing it is ableist doomerism

05.12.2025 22:22 πŸ‘ 721 πŸ” 133 πŸ’¬ 18 πŸ“Œ 0
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Authentically Unintelligent: Hippies & Cowboys with Drayton Farley | The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer Get more from The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer on Patreon

Drayton Farley joined us on Hippies & Cowboys this week, a welcome presence after I get all worked up about ai music and Garrett's Spotify Wrapped first.

www.patreon.com/posts/authen...

05.12.2025 21:52 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Finish the year strong at crutchmer.com

04.12.2025 15:04 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Never Mind the Beer Throwing, Here's Treaty Oak Revival Treaty Oak Revival earned a reputation for a chaotic live show where fans throw beer; singer Sam Canty says he can't explain the behavior.

How Treaty Oak Revival accidentally became the hottest band in country music (even before West Texas Degenerate dropped today)

Story up at @rollingstone.com with a full-band interview

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

28.11.2025 15:09 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Shelby Stone Is Red Dirt Country's Blue-Haired Heartbreaker Shelby Stone, with her shock of blue hair, is bringing angst and heartbreak to the male-dominated Red Dirt country scene.

Wrote about Shelby Stone, a blue-haired Texan who has infiltrated Red Dirt's elite. Story is up @rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

27.11.2025 16:40 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Black Friday 2025 Browse all products in the Black Friday 2025 category from The Back Lounge.

For Black Friday, we're doing a special run of ALL Back Lounge Artist's Editions dating back to Red Dirt in 2020. Use THANKS2025 at checkout for 25% off. Runs through December 1

backloungepublishing.bigcartel.com/category/bla...

19.11.2025 17:00 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Turnpike Troubadours Pay Tribute to Todd Snider With Surprise Cover of 'Just Like Old Times' Hear Turnpike Troubadours cover Todd Snider's 'Just Like Old Times' in new studio recording and video.

The Turnpike Troubadours released a video accompanying their cover of Todd Snider's "Just Like Old Times"

I added a bit of context and insight and it's up @rollingstone.com

Watch and read here

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

25.11.2025 16:27 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Muscadine Bloodline on Longleaf Lo-Fi's Chill Vibes (Plus Todd Snider and Turnpike) | The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer Get more from The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer on Patreon

Muscadine Bloodline joined us on Hippies & Cowboys this week to talk about their surprise Longleaf Lo-fi album (and I give a whole ton more Todd Snider tributes.

www.patreon.com/posts/muscad...

25.11.2025 18:24 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Delayed Hippies & Cowboys: Country Grammys | The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer Get more from The Back Lounge with Josh Crutchmer on Patreon

Last week on Hippies and Cowboys was just Garrett and I, and we went off on the country Grammy nominations.

www.patreon.com/posts/delaye...

21.11.2025 14:57 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Put A Record On: Something Besides 'Americana' We need a better word...

attn: all the people freaking out over jesse welles

you can't trust smug; you can't trust galaxy brain tiktok bait maker joe rogan appearing guys.

you *can* trust don't rock the inbox to steer you towards all kinds of great country/roots/folk protest music www.dontrocktheinbox.com/put-a-record...

21.11.2025 16:08 πŸ‘ 60 πŸ” 14 πŸ’¬ 6 πŸ“Œ 3