Wheels Off with Rhett Miller
Rhett Miller, musician and frontman for the Old 97s, hosts “Wheels Off” a show about the messy reality of the creative life. Conversations with musicians, writers, artists, actors, and comedians about the pivotal moments that shaped their work, what it means to create in a digital age and grapple with the challenges, and the joy, of living a creative life.
Episodes
April 30, 2024 • 37 mins
Grammy winning musician Clay Ross joins Rhett to discuss his powerful new project, American Patchwork Quartet and their mission to celebrate the immigrant soul of American music. Clay explains how the group of acclaimed musicians came together, the creative process behind the making of the record, and how the project reflects his own “patchwork” journey into music. The two discuss the challenges of being an independent artist, the ...
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April 16, 2024 • 37 mins
Jon Dee Graham is a guitarist and songwriter best known for his critically acclaimed solo records. He joins Rhett to talk about his latest album, what it means to get a major label deal on the cusp of turning 65, and shares stories about his upbringing that led to his decision to become a musician.
Jon Dee Graham is a three-time inductee into the Austin Music Hall of Fame as a member of the Skunks, the True Believers, and a solo a...
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April 2, 2024 • 28 mins
Alejandro Escovedo, one of the most critically acclaimed artists in contemporary music, joins Rhett to talk about his musical evolution, from his early days in punk band The Nuns to Austin-based rock band The True Believers, to the making of his new album, Echo Dancing. He tells Rhett about the creative process behind the song selection on the new record and the decision to revisit and reshape some of his earlier work. The two dis...
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March 19, 2024 • 34 mins
Tim DeLaughter, the creative force behind The Polyphonic Spree, joins Rhett to discuss his journey as an artist and the challenges he faced that led to the creation of their latest record “Salvage Enterprise”. Tim tells the story behind the album’s title, discusses the importance of visuals in performance, and shares the epiphany moment he had when his teacher played an Emerson, Lake, and Palmer album in music class.
Tim DeLaughter...
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March 5, 2024 • 39 mins
Singer-songwriter, musician, and indie rock icon Juliana Hatfield joins Rhett to discuss her creative process, the music she’s working on, and the balance between work and artistry. The two talk about trusting your instincts, allowing songs to develop naturally, and Juliana reflects on what her dream day job would be if she decided to do something other than music.
Juliana Hatfield’s inimitable 35-year career has seen her an underg...
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February 20, 2024 • 37 mins
Rhett welcomes Adam Weiner, the driving force behind Low Cut Connie, for a conversation about the creative projects he’s been working on, the early days of his career, and what prompted him to start his own record label. Adam tells Rhett about the lessons he learned from having a theater background, emphasizes the need for artists to create their own opportunities, and explains why honing one’s craft is essential for success.
Low C...
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February 6, 2024 • 42 mins
Singer-songwriter Dar Williams joins Rhett to talk about the process of writing songs that matter, the importance of finding a supportive community, and tells Rhett about the music she’s currently writing. The two discuss prioritizing authenticity over algorithmic success in today’s creative environment, and Dar offers sage advice for aspiring musicians.
Dar Williams was always in the right place at the right time for the success ...
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January 23, 2024 • 29 mins
Singer-songwriter Jaime Wyatt joins Rhett to talk about her latest album “Feel Good”, working with Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada, and the process of exploring new sounds during the making of the record. Jaime talks about her growth as an artist, why she practices radical self care, and the two discuss the concept of authenticity in music.
Hailed by Pitchfork as one of the “most exciting and skillful storytellers” working today, Jaime...
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January 9, 2024 • 38 mins
Gavin Rossdale, best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter of the legendary rock band Bush, joins Rhett to talk about his writing process, the new music that he’s working on, and what he's learned from working with some of music’s most talented producers. Gavin tells Rhett about the moment when he discovered punk rock, and explains why authenticity and individuality are the secret to living a creative life.
After th...
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December 27, 2023 • 42 mins
M.C. Taylor, singer-songwriter and frontman for Hiss Golden Messenger, joins Rhett from Durham to talk about the latest record, “Jump For Joy”. M.C. tells Rhett about finding his musical voice, the importance of having a creative practice, and the two discuss why it's important to maintain some mystery around the meaning of a song.
Describing the Durham-based Hiss Golden Messenger is like trying to grasp a forgotten word: It’s alwa...
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December 12, 2023 • 35 mins
Lucinda Williams, one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of her generation, joins Rhett to talk about writing her memoir, the moment she realized she wanted to write music, and learning to understand the difference between songwriting and poetry. Lucinda recalls some of the first songs she wrote and goes into depth about her songwriting process, using a song that she’s currently working on as an example. She shares an import...
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November 28, 2023 • 28 mins
Singer songwriter Devon Gilfillian joins Rhett from his home in Nashville to talk about the many musical influences that have inspired his career, how he found his voice as a singer, and what he does to keep himself creatively healthy. Devon explains how he’s maintained a positive outlook throughout his life, and the importance of using his platform for good.
Love You Anyway, the new album from Devon Gilfillian, is an intoxicating,...
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November 14, 2023 • 49 mins
Zach Williams is best known as ⅓ of the Nashville-based supergroup The Lone Bellow. He joins Rhett on this episode to discuss the twist of fate that led him to Brooklyn, where his musical journey began, why he took a break from songwriting to try his hand at long form fiction, and the conversation with Jim James that changed his perspective. Zach tells Rhett about The War of Art, a book he turns to when he needs help moving through...
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October 31, 2023 • 31 mins
John McCauley, singer-songwriter and the frontman of band Deer Tick, joins Rhett to talk about getting back on the road with the band post-lockdown and balancing his on stage persona with his life offstage. The two discuss John’s evolution as a songwriter and desire to become a better musician, and John explains why his band continues to push themselves creatively with each new record.
Founded by John McCauley in 2004, Deer Tick’s ...
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October 17, 2023 • 36 mins
Sedona, AZ based songwriter Brandon Decker (aka decker.) joins Rhett to talk about the making of his 8th studio album, Ouroboros. Described as a fusion of poetry and chaos, Decker explains the stories behind the music, which arose out of the grief he felt during his father’s illness. Decker discusses the side hustle he created during the pandemic, his approach to healing, and the importance of spending time in nature to help him na...
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October 4, 2023 • 32 mins
Brennen Leigh is an American songwriter, guitar player, mandolin player and singer whose to-the-point storytelling style has elevated her to cult status around the world. On this episode, she joins Rhett to talk about her new album, Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet, being an artist in the age of digital, and the sacrifices that touring musicians make. Brennen explains how she gained confidence as an artist, and shares insight into h...
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September 19, 2023 • 66 mins
Mike Gordon, bassist and co-founder of the seminal improvisational rock band Phish, joins Rhett to talk about his solo album Flying Games and the long, adventurous process of finishing the record. Mike and Rhett discuss grappling with creative roadblocks, what the “Ten-Thousand-Hour” rule really means, and the role that mindfulness and meditation play in songwriting. Mike reflects on the early days of Phish and explains how he tran...
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September 6, 2023 • 32 mins
After telling the story of the musicians who shaped his Oklahoma roots in his 2020 book Red Dirt, journalist and author Josh Crutchmer saw an opportunity to dig deeper into the artists that shaped independent roots music. His second book, The Motel Cowboy Show, is about the Americana music in the American West that began with cowboy poetry and lives on today in artists like Reckless Kelly, Micky and the Motorcars, and Ned LeDoux. A...
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August 22, 2023 • 27 mins
Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and musician Grace Potter joins Rhett on this episode to talk about her latest release, Mother Road, and the journey that inspired the music. Grace tells Rhett about finding her voice at a young age, building characters and worlds around her songs, and why she’s more driven now than she ever was.
Back in summer 2021, Grace Potter took off on a solo cross-country road trip that wou...
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August 8, 2023 • 33 mins
Stewart Copeland is perhaps best known as the drummer for The Police, but he’s also had a successful solo career as a composer, authoring a prolific series of film and television scores, video game soundtracks, opera, and ballet. His latest project is Police Beyond Borders, a reinterpretation of the seminal 80s band’s classic songs with diverse interpretations and artist representation from South Africa, India, Japan, China, Canada...
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