RockPopandRoll

The Black Crowes Survived? And Have a New Album? / Ep. 76

They’ve been fired from tours for speaking their mind, they’ve broken up more times than a high school couple, and yet, they remain as the band that still carries the flag for 70s-inspired blues-rock. Stones-rock. Faces-rock.  And they have stayed around long enough to inspire new bands to keep doing the old rock thing. Their sound blasts back to 1972. The Black Crowes’ debut album was a crunch of rock and roll goodness, just as the hair pop metal was winding down and just before grunge blew what we knew as rock and roll up.  They have a 2026 album that is the second project produced by country-rock knob-twister Jay Joyce.  We dive into the new - and the old - and see if we think the Crowes matter.

Finding Steve Earle / Ep. 75

Steve Earle is rock and roll, he is country, and Earle has deep roots in early Americana all the way back to Guy Clarke, Townes Van Zandt, and Rodney Crowell, among many. A songwriter first, I found him with his "Guitar Town" release back in 1986.  Listened to the second album, the Springsteen-esque "Exit 0", a lot, and when 1988's "Copperhead Road" album came out, we turned it up loud. With this episode, I wanted to listen to his older music and talk about artistry, rebellion, and political themes that the three-time Grammy winner has embraced through 20 albums with themes of social justice, addiction recovery, and political, anti-war views. A newly-invited member to the Grand Ole Opery (who would have ever thought that would happen back in 1987), we also listen to some of what is a whole lot of great cover songs.
Let's go.

New Music from Classic Rock Bands: Any Good? / Ep. 74

Classic rock and roll bands and artists releasing new music?  What's the point?  Is it worth a listen?  Do we discount some excellent rock from these bands just because it's not 1987? Or is it a shell of their sound and original fire?
Def Leppard has a new song, in conjunction with a run at the Sphere in Las Vegas.  We take a first listen. Then we look at the past 12 months of rock and roll releases from bands like Alice Cooper, Styx, and others who are still making and releasing new music—an objective ear on the sound of what some bands are doing today.
Let's check it out together.  No BS.  Just our ears and the vibe. What works and what doesn't?

Garage Rock Americana: What I Remember / Ep. 73

The thumping, pumping, Telecaster-driven, snare-smashing roots rock and roll of the 80's (and into the 90's) shaped my world.  Drove my inspiration for finding more of "that". Looking back, some of "that" lasted. And some of the bands and their songs went into the vault of lost rockers, and some even made it out to rock some more.  
This podcast jumps back about 10 years to when I was digging into the roots of my rock and roll, which would later be labeled alt-country and Americana. But to me, it was jangly, garage-y, sloppy-but-not-too-sloppy rock and freakin' roll. Who were those bands?  See what you might remember. Or hear a new-old discovery.  That's the thrill.  Let's listen together and see how we do.  Rock on.

In Memoriam: 2025 Rock and Roll Deaths / Ep. 72

As we enter 2026, we dedicate a podcast episode to remembering the rock and roll artists (and some pop music icons, too) who passed away in 2025. We remember some of the greats and the overlooked individuals who made an impact on music - and RockPopandRoll, particularly in rock music. From Ozzy to Sly to the architect of bubble gum music, we remember and listen to some of the great music they created that lives on.

20 Great Rock and Roll Christmas Classics / Ep. 71

Can anyone put together a Santatacular set of rock and roll/Americana/roots-rock Christmas/Holiday songs?  Hell, yeah, someone can. 
I’m your guy.
We’re gonna take a look and listen to the best, oddest, dustiest, loudest, semi-legendary holiday rock music.  My top 20, countdown style. Songs you can sing along to every time you hear the damn thing, or tunes that should have been more than a holiday lost classic.

More Todd Snider: Listening To His Playlist / Ep. 70

As time passed since Todd Snider passed away on November 14, I've been crawling around, hearing some music that I'd put aside. Some of it is Todd's music, especially his post-Nervous Wrecks output. Along the way, I found the purported Todd Snider Playlist of 2018, listing the top songs that he'd listened to that year.  I took it as real.  Don't know if it is. Still, I recorded this podcast episode by taking it at face value. If it is not created by Todd or his time, that's cool.  It remains a freakin' great group of rock and roll, folk, and country songs.  Listen as we dig into them a bit.

Remembering Todd Snider / Ep. 69

Americana rocker. Songwriter and troubadour, proudly following the Prine/Kristofferson/Jerry Jeff lineage. Amazingly great, connective live performer. Loved the band he had as Todd Snider and the Nervous Wrecks. His solo writing and singing are from the soul. He died the weekend this was recorded. Just 59 years old.
Sad.
And I'm grateful to have heard him.
Take a ride with us through some of my favorite moments and songs by Todd.

The Case for Jefferson Starship / Ep. 68

Jefferson Starship is an oddly overlooked band on classic rock radio. In the annals of late 70s-into-the-80s corporate AOR radio rock and roll, they sat firmly and fittingly with Boston, The Cars, REO, Styx, Foreigner, and the rest of that gang. 
While those bands still get their four cuts played repeatedly on the classic rocker stations (and burn those few cuts out), Jefferson Starship was quietly placed to the side.  Hmm.  Let's revisit the rock of their catalog and see what we think.

(Some more of) My Favorite Rock and Roll Cover Songs - Vol. 2 / Ep. 67

So many great cover songs.  My list is really long.  That's why we have part two. Find Waylon Jennings, Todd Snider, Tom Petty, Pat Green, Cheap Trick, and a bunch more.  Pretty simple, really.  Dive into the magic on Rock Pop and Roll.