Resisting Enlightenment

Antsy McClain recalls his stepfather's love for acoustic guitar music, and wanders down a path of honor, pain and loss as he pays tribute to one of the most decent, but most complicated men he has ever known. Songs include "My Own Kind of Mojo," "Drive Thru Life," "Good Times Roll" and a new demo never heard before, "First World Problems."

Antsy McClain talks about the band Misfits, Marilyn Monroe's last film, The Misfits, and talks with his wife, Deana Lynn and neighbor Niles Andrew Ingalls about what really causes us to be misfits. Also included in this episode is the poetry of Dylan Thomas, the classic magazine Famous Monsters, and Antsy's songs, "A Better Past," "My Own Skin" and "I'm Everyone." A new song, "The Program" is also introduced and shared for the first time.

Singer/songwriter Antsy McClain explores how living in bubbles and comfort zones are dangerous to our health, citing how Amish and rogue Mormon communities are isolating themselves at their own peril. It's the same with our creative lives. Songs include "Another Happy Song," "Lillian" and "Joan Rivers."

Singer/songwriter Antsy McClain goes down the memory lane of his childhood recalling his father's catch phrases, things he picked up from the pop culture of the 50's and 60's; phrases that are all but gone now. Antsy also recalls the songs his father would sing around the house, and one song his mother sang to him as a child, which created a generational favorite. Antsy shares his never-before-released song, "A Hundred Years."

Singer/songwriter Antsy McClain shares his creative process, from first idea to finished song. Using clips from his iPhone voice memo app, Antsy gives you his step-by-step writing method and introduces a new song, "Yard Sale Saturday." Other songs include "Having a Good Time Tonight" and "The Folkabilly Shuffle."

Singer/Songwriter Antsy McClain delves into why storytellers like football, and details a recent game in which Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri narrowly escapes "the agony of defeat," and explains why it matters to us. Songs include "Don't Go Looking Back That Way," "If the Trailer Ain't Level Ain't Nothing Right" and "The Last Man on Earth to Get The Cooties."

Antsy McClain talks with his neighbor, friend and webmaster, Niles Ingalls about life, technology and ice cream. Songs include "The Blah Blah Song," "Seems Like Old Times" and "In a Class All by Myself" from his very fist album, a demo recording made in 1993. 

Singer/songwriter Antsy McClain shares conversations from a recent road trip with talented Nashville musicians Myles Thompson and Chris "Spoons" Long. They talk about life, music and the intestinal fortitude it takes to go on the road. Songs include "Larry Anne," "Time Machine," "Don't Stop to Rest" and "Drive Thru Life."

Singer/songwriter Antsy McClain shares moments from a recent Nashville Field Trip, a quarterly event he hosts with his wife, Deana Lynn. Music from Tim and Myles Thompson, Mare Wakefield & Nomad and Kevin Ward are featured along with a live version of Antsy's song "A Life Like Ours" featuring Chris "Spoons" Long on drums, Blake Branch on bass and Nomad on melodica.

Singer/songwriter Antsy McClain explores life and death, and more specifically, why some want to end their lives early by their own hand. McClain looks into many recent well-known celebrity suicides, and asks some heart-felt questions. Songs include "Right Side of the Dirt," "We're All Gonna Die" and "Drive Thru Life."

Singer/songwriter Antsy McClain shares a favorite childhood memory of his father – and how he kinda screwed it up, as well as his thoughts on the contrived concept of "worthiness." Songs include "Don't Stop to Rest," I'm Gonna Be Happy If It Kills Me" and "No More Wishful Thinking." Find Antsy McClain's music, books and artwork at unhitched.com.

Singer/songwriter Antsy McClain shares a humorous essay about his complicated history with smoking, from his childhood in the 70’s in a family where tobacco use was ubiquitous, to his adulthood and where he stands now. Songs include “A Poor Man’s Education,” “Time Machine” and “Conditional Love.” Antsy McClain's music, books, artwork and more at www.unhitched.com.

Episode 8: Singer/songwriter Antsy McClain confesses that he almost quit many times over the years. But recent experiences have given him an appreciation for his 25 years in the entertainment business. He has words of encouragement for young artists embarking on the difficult but rewarding path toward authenticity. Songs include Right Side of the Dirt and All in the Trip.

Episode 7: Girls, fear and the love song of John Davidson Singer songwriter Antsy McClain talks with his friend Chris "Spoons" Long about their fear of girls when they were young, imitations of Steve Martin and the glorious masculinity of John Davidson. Songs include: Ella May; Out on a Limb and Larry Anne.

Episode 6: Sacred Clowns Singer songwriter Antsy McClain muses on the lovable people who make us laugh. Songs include: Inspector 372 (Live); Another Happy Song; When You’re Laughing; I’m Gonna Be Happy If It Kills Me, and a brand new song in demo form called, Ain’t That a lot Like Life? which will be on his upcoming album due out in the Spring of 2019.

Episode 5: Surviving Disaster Singer songwriter Antsy McClain reaches out to friends dealing with the California wildfires, sharing a mix tape of sorts: songs that might help in times of loss. Antsy also shares a link to his friends at Operation Song, a group of Nashville songwriters using their powers for good in assistance to military veterans with PTSD.

Episode 4: I Was a Teenage Bed Wetter Antsy McClain talks - and laughs a lot - with his wife Deana Lynn about music, art, family and the strangely taboo topic of bed wetting. Songs featured: "I'll Be Me and You Be You" from the Somewhere Past These Gravel Roads album sessions, never released before); "No More Wishful Thinking" from the album, Under the Light of a Quarter Moon; "Like a River," from the album, Limited Edition Prince. Antsy McClain's music, books, artwork and more at www.unhitched.com

Episode 3: 12-Years-Old On The Inside Antsy McClain talks with cartoonist and musician Robert Armstrong about staying young at heart as we get older. Songs featured: "When You're Laughing" from the album, New Good Old Days. Antsy McClain's music, books, artwork and more at www.unhitched.com

Episode 2: What Are You Afraid Of? Antsy McClain and Chris "Spoons" Long discuss what they fear the most in life. Songs featured: "My Own Way" from the album, Under the Light of a Quarter Moon. Antsy McClain's music, books, artwork and more at www.unhitched.com

Episode 1: I Freaked Out Rodney Crowell Singer/songwriter Antsy McClain talks with his buddy, Chris "Spoons" Long about the time he met Rodney Crowell in a Nashville arts supply store and totally made a fool of himself. Songs featured: "Don't Go Looking Back That Way" from The Beige Album. Antsy McClain's music, books, artwork and more at www.unhitched.com