Welcome to Pursuing the Muse. Today we’re joined by Nathan Evans Fox, a musician whose brand of country blends Appalachian roots with deep empathy.

Stay tuned as we discuss the raw emotion of Nathan becoming a father while losing his own in the same year. We’ll also explore his inventive "rewilding" of the banjo and hear all about his beautiful new album, Heirloom, out now, Pick it up today.

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https://www.nathanevansfox.com/

https://instagram.com/nathan.evans.fox

https://www.tiktok.com/@nathan.evans.fox

https://nathanevansfox.substack.com/

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00:00 – Intro and Theme

02:02 – Welcome: Nathan Evans Fox on the "exhaustion of dadhood"

02:44 – Introducing the new album, Heirloom

03:24 – The risk and vulnerability of autobiographical songwriting

04:11 – Vocal dynamics and the raw emotion of "I Know The End"

04:58 – The central theme: Becoming a father while losing a father

05:06 – Exploring personal, political, and systemic inheritances

06:00 – Making the album a literal heirloom through a structural "loop"

09:01 – The "nine-month panic attack" of bringing a child into the world

10:02 – Perspectival shifts from abstract "what ifs" to concrete history

10:59 – Biblical Jubilee and the hope for social liberation

13:05 – The Banjo: A tool for losing religion and marking cultural location

15:03 – Avoiding nostalgia and "stomp and holler hell"

16:18 – Inventive textures: Bowing, muting, and synth-style banjo

17:19 – The "cursed" noise solo on the track "Race Car"

18:21 – Banjo virtuosity vs. the "pocket and vibe" of songwriting

19:45 – The "Chris Knight" edge of the song "Meanness"

20:20 – Pushing creative boundaries and avoiding the "worship music" sound

22:12 – Collaborating with producer Zachary Hamilton

23:46 – A look at the contemporary Kentucky country scene

24:43 – Sequencing the record: A-sides, B-sides, and viral transitions

26:43 – "Thinking About Quitting": A scary cry for help

28:54 – "Sevendust": Insecticide as a metaphor for poisonous love

33:48 – Reimagining the nuclear family as a rehearsal space for solidarity

35:10 – The professional empath: Lessons from hospital chaplaincy

37:05 – When empathy isn't enough: The need for systemic solidarity

38:43 – Music as medicine and the "blue-collar" understanding of songs

40:24 – Metabolizing pain into agency and change

41:46 – Planting seeds and being "good compost" for the future

42:51 – Nurturing real hope vs. "the cheap shit"

44:52 – Upcoming tour dates and record release shows

45:47 – The "used car salesman" reality of the 2026 music industry

48:43 – Rewilding Country Music: Killing the monocrop of mainstream values

50:45 – Radicalizing the merch table with Zines and Okra seeds

55:47 – Musical influences: The AI-proof genius of Roger Miller

57:05 – Autobiographical boundaries and the influence of David Bazan

59:19 – The heartbreak of Wasted Love and the "composting" of a career

01:05:21 – Closing thoughts on authenticity and "no cosplay" country

01:07:04 – Outro and Contact Information

Welcome again to Pursuing the Muse! Today we are joined by Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist, the frontmen and primary songwriters of the Austin-based Band of Heathens, who are celebrating twenty years of making great music.

Stick around to hear how their song craft has evolved over the years. Learn how Hurricane grew into a platinum monster. And find out which band member played linebacker in college.

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https://bandofheathens.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thebandofheathens

https://www.instagram.com/bandofheathens

https://www.patreon.com/bandofheathens

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00:00 - Theme and Intro

02:14 - Welcoming Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist

02:50 - Celebrating 20 Years: From the Momo’s Residency to Country Sides

04:22 - Improving the Craft: Dedication to Songwriting in Middle Age

05:27 - The "Problem Solving" Nature of the Songwriting Puzzle

07:02 - Waiting for Inspiration vs. The Discipline of Showing Up

09:15 - Keeping the Creative "Antenna" Up

11:44 - Inviting Inspiration: How Literature, Film, and Other Art Fuel Ideas

13:24 - Patterns of Creation: Starting with Titles, Guitar Hooks, or Stream of Consciousness

15:20 - Remote Collaboration and Trusting Each Other's Instincts

17:45 - Early Roots: The Original Lineup and the "Side Project" at Momo’s

19:51 - The Liberation of Shared Frontman Duties

21:45 - Common Aesthetics as the Key to Band Longevity

22:47 - The Legend of Colin Brooks: From Rocker to Fly Fishing Guide

24:47 - Full Circle Moments: Reconnecting on Stage with Old Friends

26:24 - The Good Time Supper Club: Building a Digital "Second Family"

27:41 - The Dartmouth Connection: Gordy and Trevor’s Past as College Football Players

28:51 - From the Gridiron to the Stage: Translating Linebacker Tenacity to Music

31:10 - Bull Riding Trivia: The Biblical and Texas Imagery of "Eight More Seconds"

32:33 - The Finishing School: Running a Private Creative Clubhouse in Austin

33:41 - BOH Records: The Business of Staying Independent

35:50 - Why They Turned Down Major Label Deals and Kept Their Rights

37:39 - "Hurricane": The Accidental Journey of a Platinum Monster

38:37 - Reinterpreting Levon Helm: Dark Themes and Gulf Coast Imagery

40:55 - The "Slow Burn": How "Hurricane" Went Viral Without Industry Muscle

42:27 - Hayes & The Heathens: Collaborating for the Pure Fun of It

47:22 - Learning Lyric Obsession and Word-Level Detail from Hayes Carll

51:25 - Simple Things: Capturing the Hard-Won Optimism of the Post-Pandemic Spirit

53:11 - "Sprints" and "Pods": The Strange Logistics of Recording During Lockdown

56:01 - The Narrative Arc of Country Sides: Mirroring the Band's 20-Year Journey

59:34 - Connecting with the Band: Patreon, Good Time Supper Club, and Social Media

01:00:58 - Outro & Closing Remarks

Welcome to Pursuing the Muse. Today we feature Warner Hodges, an Americana pioneer who rose from childhood drumming in USO country bands to defining the cowpunk sound with Jason and the Scorchers. He's also played alongside Dan Baird and Homemade Sin, as well as, the Bluefields. Now he's fronting the Warner E Hodges Band and not missing a beat. In this episode, Warner reveals why his wife actually hopes he dies out there on stage. The blunt advice he received from Dan Baird about the need for more guitar pedals, and the accidental and hilarious origin of the title to his new album, Absolutely. Pick that record up today!

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https://warnerehodges.com/

https://www.instagram.com/warnerhodges/

https://www.facebook.com/warnerhodges

Get the new album Absolutely here:

https://warnerehodges.com/store

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• 00:00:00 - Introduction and song clips

• 00:02:02 - Tom Compton welcomes Warner Hodges to Pursuing the Muse

• 00:02:28 - Transitioning from Sideman to Lead Frontman

• 00:04:51 - "I Hope You Die Out There": Perspectives on Road Life

• 00:05:41 - Early Musical Roots: Playing Drums in the Family Country Band

• 00:08:55 - From Drums to Guitar: The Impact of Seeing AC/DC

• 00:10:56 - Rehearsals vs. Pedals: Hard Truths from Dan Baird

• 00:13:31 - The Attitude of Punk and the Impact of the Sex Pistols

• 00:14:47 - Meeting Jason Ringenberg and Forming the Scorchers

• 00:17:36 - Defining "Cowpunk" and "Volume-Based Americana"

• 00:18:54 - Touring the Southeast with the Ramones and R.E.M.

• 00:22:38 - Sobriety and Reclaiming the Gift of Music

• 00:27:50 - The Evolution of Guitar Style and Nashville Chops

• 00:32:14 - The Physics and History of the 360-Degree Guitar Flip

• 00:35:13 - Connecting with the Georgia Satellites

• 00:37:25 - Joining Homemade Sin and Performing Satellites Classics

• 00:40:50 - "A Rock Band Inside a Jazz Head": Improvised Setlists

• 00:43:31 - Producing "Rollercoaster" and Trusting Joe Blanton’s Ear

• 00:45:29 - Collaborative Songwriting Dynamics

• 00:50:41 - The "Absolutely" Album and the Supersuckers Connection

• 00:53:27 - The Bluefields and Jimmy Page Aspirations

• 00:56:13 - Outro and Closing Remark