For over 25 years, Texas native Rhett Miller has fronted the Old 97's, recognized as one of the most acclaimed staples within Americana or alt-country music. Still, he's found plenty of time over that span to step out on his own: Hosting the podcast Wheels Off, writing children's books and recording seven solo records containing collaborations with Jon Brion, Aimee Mann, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, longtime session drummer Jim Keltner and members of the Decemberists. Recorded at Vance Powell's renowned Sputnik Sound in Nashville (as the Old 97's began work on their 12th proper album), Rhett muses on his early fascinations with Joan Jett, the Kingston Trio and ZZ Top, pumping quarters into the vinyl jukeboxes of his local diner, how patterns in genre fiction influence his solo albums and what Wheels Off has taught him about the creative process. Visit old97s.com and rhettmiller.com for tour dates, music, social media and more. Plus, subscribe to Wheels Off however you get podcasts.
Since opening its doors in 1999, Grimey's New & Preloved Music has become one of the most beloved record stores in existence -- a beacon to its native Nashville, and the music world at large, for a focus on live performances, fair pricing and meeting the needs of eccentric and avant-garde music aficionados in a town mainly known for its country roots. Founded by Mike Grimes as a way to sell off product he acquired while working in the industry, his humble vision was to create "the Floyd's Barbershop of record stores," a community-oriented meeting place for eclectic music lovers to obtain and share their obsessions, no matter how under-the-radar. He partnered with friend and fellow music fanatic Doyle Davis a few years later (himself a veteran of Nashville chain The Great Escape) and the pair have run Grimey's as co-owners for close to two decades. With the renowned Ryman Auditorium being known as Music City's "Mother Church," Grimey’s has taken up the moniker of the "Other Church" among its devotees, after converting a previous house of worship into its current location in 2018. Today, Mike and Doyle pontificate on the shop's early days, the women who helped shape their love of vinyl growing up, the important roll that cut-out bins played in exposing them to new sounds, and which artist would be the in-store booking of their dreams. They'll also describe how the Avett Brothers' own in-store performance was more insanely dangerous and hardcore than even Metallica's. Plus we get to current hot button record industry issues like the ramifications of the recent Apollo Masters fire, and Direct Shot's distribution nightmares since last Record Store Day. For upcoming events, promotions, social media and more, hit up grimeys.com and while in Nashville, visit them at 1060 E. Trinity Lane.