Holding Things Together

Holding Things Together is an unofficial aftershow to Country Music: A Ken Burns Film. Your hosts Don, Becky and Nick bring years of experience as classic country music radio DJs for a spirited conversation about the series. In every new show you can expect a breakdown of the episode, in-depth discussion, music clips, missed opportunities and recommendations for further listening. In our first episode, you'll get some background on your hosts, thoughts on Country Music: The Rub, which includes who the Shelby Foote of this series is, Jimmie Rodgers, commerce, The Carter Family and a handful of recos to complement the soundtrack.

The unofficial aftershow to Ken Burns' Country Music continues with an analysis of the 2nd episode, "Hard Times" covering the years 1933-1945. Your knowledgeable, trained radio professionals talk about the influence of border radio, singing cowboys, western swing, western wear, the Opry, infused with personal anecdotes, historical tidbits, hits and misses, sound bites and more great country music recommendations. All this and World War II!

It's really kicking into gear as the Ken Burns Country Music series hits the Hank Williams years. We talk about holograms, the wonderful insanity of Maddox Bros and Rose, Chet Atkins & the Carters, Bill Monroe and Hank Hank Hank. Plus, recommendations for further listening.

In this 4th episode of our Ken Burns Country Music aftershow*, not only do we have our first kerfluffle because Don doesn't care for Ray Price as a Hank Williams imitator, but we have another over a book called Heartaches by the Number: Country Music's 500 Greatest Singles because it's all kinds of wrong.  We also touch on Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Lefty Frizzell, The Louvin Bros, and lots and lots of rockabilly...Sun Records, The Collins Kids, Janis Martin, Wanda Jackson and more. *unofficial

The unofficial aftershow to Ken Burns' Country Music keeps chuggin' along as we cover episode 5: The Sons and Daughters of America which covers the years 1964-1968.  We talk fandom, the Nashville Cats, the Kings of Bakersfield...Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, the pivotal scene from where we took our show's name, the outspoken Loretta Lynn, Jack White's hair, Nashville Creeps, the visionary Dolly Parton, the charm of Charley Pride and as always, our recommendations of country artists who were not mentioned in the show.

Episode 6 of the unofficial aftershow to Ken Burns's Country Music is loaded for bear as we take on "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" (1968-1972). Your hosts try to stay on topic when it comes to the crazy origins of Kris Kristofferson's career, Mr. & Mrs. Country Music: George Jones & Tammy Wynette, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band sessions, everyone's favorite: politics!, Don's favorite: Hee Haw, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, the authenticity debate and as always...our recommendations that the series didn't cover. 

It's the penultimate episode of Ken Burns' Country Music, "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?" and there's way too much to talk about in the 10-year span of time. The Ryman/Opry transition, the first iteration of Pop Country, George and Tammy, the Austin scene, Waylon Jennings and the dawn of the Outlaws, Billy Joe Shaver, Hank Jr. aka Bocephus, Dolly, Emmylou and the 50-year shadow of Gram Parsons. Plus, our recommendations for listening beyond the series.

The wait is over! Episode 8 of the unofficial aftershow to the Ken Burns series Country Music has finally arrived. If you don't remember what happened, you'll get back up to speed quickly. We talk about our own generation gap of the 80s/90s, Randy Travis, country radio/music videos, Johnny Cash, Americana and as always our recommendations of who warranted more attention. Plus, our summation of the series as a whole. If you liked this series, and would like to hear another season, let us know!