Explore every episode of the podcast The Working Songwriter

Our guest this week on the Working Songwriter resides in Los Angeles, but spent many of his formative years in St. Louis, Missouri. Ricky Montgomery first built an audience on Vine in his early twenties before releasing his self-titled debut album in 2016. That bedroom pop album was a cult favorite until 2020, when several of its songs exploded on TikTok, leading to a deal with Warner Records.

Montgomery's singles, “Line Without a Hook” and “Mr. Loverman,” are RIAA-certified platinum and, all told, his catalog has collected more than a billion streams worldwide. That grassroots support has led to headlining tours with stops at the Wiltern in Los Angeles, Iriving Plaza in New York City, and the Pageant in St. Louis, to name just a few.

This interview was recorded nearly 18 months ago and has been delayed due to a snafu on my end, but I’m so glad we get to hear it now. I think you’ll very much enjoy hearing about Ricky’s musical journey through his own words.

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This episode was originally aired on June 29th, 2018

One of Nashville's favorite daughters, by way of Jacksonville Texas, discusses arriving for writing appointments with children in tow, finding song inspiration in everyday conversation, and dealing with the success of an international crossover hit.

Our guest this week on The Working Songwriter hails from The Woodlands, Texas. Hayes Carll is a singer, songwriter, and storyteller whose sharp wit and plainspoken poetry first broke through with his 2002 debut, 'Flowers & Liquor.' That was followed by 2008's 'Trouble in Mind,' which delivered the hit "She Left Me for Jesus" and cemented his place among the genre's most distinctive voices. Carll has toured with artists like Old Crow Medicine Show, Todd Snider, and Alison Krauss and his songs have been covered by Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack, and Kenny Chesney. He's recorded for Lost Highway, Dualtone, and Thirty Tigers and he's performed on stages from Newport Folk Festival to Austin City Limits and the Grand Ole Opry.

'Rolling Stone' praises his work for its "razor-sharp wit and lived-in warmth," while NPR notes his "keen eye for the human condition wrapped in disarming charm." 'American Songwriter' calls him "one of Americana's most reliable truth-tellers."

Our show's most frequent guest pops by to discuss his latest album "We're Only Human" and finding a creative voice that's more true to himself.

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The legendarily spirited rock and roll frontman joins the show to discuss his early years working for record labels, DIY touring, and learning the craft of songwriting from mentors in Nashville.

This Grammy winner stops by the show to discuss her acclaimed band Flor de Toloache, and her time touring with notable acts such as Dan Auerbach's The Arcs.

This artist, formerly of Fake Problems, has toured with the Gaslight Anthem, Anti-Flag, Frank Turner and many others.  

This legendary songsmith who has written for Brad Paisley, the Chicks, Guy Clark, Montgomery Gentry and many others joins the show.

Listen to the first song of the new Joe Pug album.

Providence Rhode Island's greatest gift to rock and roll joins the show to discuss their years on the road and their knack for collaborating with one another over the course of years.

This musical project is the brainchild of musician Joe Bagale, who has built a sizeable following for his music via the pathway of the royalty free library on Youtube.

This native of the PNW has won the Telluride Troubadour award for songwriting and the prestigious Kerrville Folk Fest "New Folk" award.  She's been composing and recording critically acclaimed folk records for the last decade.

This Akron OH native got his start busking the streets of Europe before moving to Los Angeles and scoring his first record deal.  He's carved out a career as one of Americana's most beloved journeyman songwriters.

After starring in hit musicals like "Spring Awakening" and "American Idiot", this multi-faceted performer has struck out on a career as a singer-songwriter.

This episode originally aired on September 27, 2019.

The Nashville via New Jersey vocalist and songwriter discusses the turn of the century anti-folk scene in NYC, her major label debut being derailed by legendary producer Rick Rubin, and sobriety.

This peripatetic songwriter has collaborated with Rhett Miller, Gary Louris, Matthew sweet and many others, all while keeping her own artistic career rolling.

Wes Bayliss, one of the co-founders of this Nashville southern rock juggernaut, stops by the show to talk about the band's genesis and the loss of their co-founder Jason "Rowdy" Cope.

This duo from New England has been releasing anthemic and rousing folk music for over a decade.

Julia Steiner, the creative force behind this exciting young indie rock band, stops by the show to discuss the band's origins and their latest album.

One of the founding members of this indelible American jam band stops by the show to discuss his early years, recording with Steve Berlin, and writing with a group.

The legendary troubadour who fronted bands like the Nerves and the Plimsouls, talks about his five decade career as a Grammy nominated singer-songwriter. 

Zack Feinberg, one of the creative forces behind this platinum selling rock band, stops by the show to talk creative process.

This blues guitarist from Kansas City is also an ace songwriter and performer.

This talented songwriter signed to Geffen Records as a senior in high school, and has headlined Red Rocks.

This native of Greece has been blazing his own path in American music after an auspicious meeting the soul music star Leon Bridges.

Our guest this week hails from Tobias, Nebraska, a town of about 100 people. Evan Bartels is a singer-songwriter who with his 2017 debut, 'The Devil, God & Me,' burst onto the national scene. More recently, Bartels has expanded his audience with the release of his EP, 'To Make You Cry,' recorded after relocating to Nashville and reflecting on a period of personal upheaval and renewal. 

Bartels has toured with American Aquarium, The White Buffalo, and John Moreland; he records for MCA/Universal; and he's performed at Mile of Music, AmericanaFest, and the C2C Festival. 'No Depression' calls him "a haunting new presence in Americana," while Americana Highways praises his "unvarnished, soul-bearing songwriting." 'Glide Magazine' notes his "ability to turn bruised experience into stark, resonant beauty." 

I caught up with Evan Bartels a few months ago for The Working Songwriter to hear about his musical journey so far.

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This homegrown Nashville artists has written for Morgan Wallen and Thomas Rhett, and now has a Gold Record of his own.

This artist has written songs for Amy Grant and the Pointer Sisters and has also worked as a session singer for Jewel and Freedy Johnston.

This Grammy nominated and chart-topping artist from Breaux Bridge, LA stops by the show to recall his ascent in music and entertainment.

The former member of Styx and writer of hits for Patty Smyth, Don Henley and Randy Travis stops by the show.

The lead guitarist and one of the contributing songwriters to this iconic heavy metal band stops by the show to discuss his time in the studio and on the road with the group.

This Canadian born troubadour has seen platinum success, toured with Shania Twain, and has hosted "Canada's Got Talent".

The Texas troubadour returns to our show to opine on owning a nightclub, running a studio, and producing his latest album "Yesterday's News" in Fort Worth.

This standard bearer of Nashville's music row stops by the show to discuss his many decades in songwriting, including writing hits for Elvis, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire, and many others.

This troubadour and proud native of West Virginia stops by the show to talk about his rise to national prominence, balancing family and artistic obligations, and leaving one dream to pursue another.

This songwriting supergroup is composed of Sean McConnell, Garrison Starr, and the producer Peter Groenwald.

The Texas music icon passed away this week.  Ten years ago he was the inaugural guest of this podcast.  It was so gracious of him to sit down for a show that was just starting.  He was always generous with his time and attention to younger artists.  Another devastating loss for American music.  This episode originally aired on February 26, 2016.

Dallas Green, the creative mastermind behind this platinum selling Canadian band, stops by the show to discuss his musical upbringing and his creative process.

Formerly of The Curse and The Loved Ones, this prolific songwriter who now helms his own eponymous project returns to the show to discuss his new album.

This young songwriter from Pennsylvania has toured with the likes of Mavis Staples, Gladys Knight, the Brothers Osborne and many others.  He stops by the show to talk about his musical journey so far.

This living legend of American music stops by the show to discuss three decades of inspired singing and songwriting.

Stepping out into the spotlight after years on the road with his brother's band, Tim Hause stops by the show to discuss his new eponymous project

These modern rock stalwarts have sold over ten million records and find themselves regularly at the top of Billboard's rock charts.

This Pennsylvania native has written for Dierks Bentley and played in concert with Willie Nelson.  He stops by the show to discuss his unlikely path into the center of the modern music business.

This folk group led by two sisters has consistently blazed a trail for independent musicians over the last two decades.

The Memphis-based troubadour stops by the show to talk about his early inspiration and his years on the road.

The psychedelic songsmith, whose music has inspired the likes of REM and the Replacements, stops by the show to discuss his five decades in music.

This legendary British songwriter and producer went multi-platinum with his band Eurythmics before embarking on a career that has included collaborations with Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Tom Petty, and many others.

This songsmith has 12 one hits to his name, along with 2 billion Spotify streams and counting.  

This folk supergroup is composed of Anais Mitchell (Hadestown), Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats), and Josh Kaufman (The National, Bob Weir, Josh Ritter).

The troubadour from Flint, Texas stops by the show to talk about his years on the road and in the writing room.