Drew Holcomb is one of the most successful – and innovative – independent singer-songwriters working today. His rootsy, unadorned style has filled theaters and halls around the country, driven several singles up the Americana chart, seen some major placements in prominent films, television shows, and ad campaigns, and earned him a devoted fan base. Moon River, the festival he originally founded in Memphis, now draws tens of thousands of fans to Chattanooga, Tennessee, each September and has hosted Brandi Carlile, The National, Wilco, Dawes, Leon Bridges, Lord Huron, Allison Russell, Jason Isbell, The Avett Brothers, and so many more. So when True Tunes’ John J. Thompson was trying to choose a special guest to speak to the final gathering of his first class as a teacher at Lipscomb University’s School of Music, he thought of Drew. Fortunately for him, his co-teacher (and boss) Platinum selling and Grammy Award-winning producer Brown Bannister happens to be Drew’s father-in-law.

On this extraordinary episode of the podcast, Drew Holcomb comes to class! JJT is joined by eight students as guest interviewers, each bringing one excellent question, and Mr. Holcomb offers a world of wisdom, wit, humor, and inspiration. We hear about everything from his earliest days as a struggling artist to last fall’s disastrous Moon River rain-out. We hear about making music with a spouse, managing a band with friends, learning how (and when) to co-write, his biggest mistake, and much more. Throughout the conversation, we also hear clips from a slew of rare tracks by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors and other friends and comrades.

Says the host: “I am thrilled to be kicking off my new position as the Director of Music Industry Studies at Lipscomb University’s College of Entertainment and the Arts with this special glimpse into the creative and strategic conversations we are having with the next generation of artists, songwriters, and industry leaders. Drew was an amazing guest; this show is a gold mine of artist development wisdom. Thanks, Drew – and Brown – and to the students for bringing such excellent questions!” (JJT)

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Music On This Episode:

 

Opening segment

Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul – Full Circle (True Tunes podcast theme version)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – I Like to Be with Me When I’m with You (A Million Miles Away)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Hung The Moon (A Million Miles Away)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Love Is Magic (Passenger Seat & Live from Ocean Way)

 

Set One

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Nothing Like a Woman (Good Light)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Without a Light (Bandcamp single)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Postcard Memories (Best of the Rest: Live from Ocean Way)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Here We Go (Medicine)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Avalanche (Live at the Ryman)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Hallelujah (Passenger Seat)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Live Forever (Live at the Tennessee Theatre)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Family (Julie Lov remix & Live at the Tennessee Theatre)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Live Forever (NBA Forever version) (Chasing Someday)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors and Johnnyswim – Sing It Out Loud (Goodbye Road, Vol. 2)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Shine Like Lightning (Live at the Ryman)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors and Johnnyswim – Isn’t Everything a Love Song? (Goodbye Road, Vol. 2)

 

Set Two

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Wrapped Around Your Finger (In Case You Missed It: 15 Years of Dualtone Records)

Drew & Ellie Holcomb – Hey Rivers (Feels Like Home single)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Silent Night (A Neighborly Christmas)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Fire and Dynamite  (Live at the Ryman)

Drew & Ellie Holcomb – Crazy In Love (Kitchen Covers)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – End of the World (Dragons: Live from Ocean Way and Live at the Tennessee Theatre)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – What Would I Do Without You (Good Light)

Zach Bryan – Whiskey Fever (American Heartbreak)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors and The National Parks – Dance With Everybody (single)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – You Want What You Can’t Have (Dragons: Live from Ocean Way)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Good Light (Live at the Ryman)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – The Wine We Drink (Good Light)

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Tennessee (Live at the Tennessee Theatre)

 

Closing

Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul – Full Circle (True Tunes podcast theme version)

 

If you liked this episode, don’t miss these:

Eric Earley (Blitzen Trapper) + Sacred Psychedelia on the Jukebox (w David Bunker)

 

Ep 15 Buddy Miller: Learning To Listen with Big Ears

The Cornerstone Festival: 10 Years Gone (and counting…)

DOE (plus Stevie Wonder on the Jukebox!)

Royce Lovett (plus Gospel Hip Hop on the Jukebox)

Audiofeed Festival Lineup Announcement and Interview

Terry Scott Taylor’s Beautiful Mystery

Natalie Bergman’s Jesus Music for a New Generation

Myron Butler and the Legacy of Andrae Crouch!

Andy Zipf Solo Acoustic Performance on True Tunes @45RPM

45RPM: Phil Madeira and Love Songs

Bruce Cockburn: Kicking at the Darkness for Fifty Years (and counting!)

From The Vault: Michael Been of The Call

Marc Byrd (Hammock, God of Wonders, etc) 

Singing Along with The Choir

Phil Madeira on Expanding Horizons

Kevin Max Considers Boundaries

See the full list of previous episodes HERE