Our Mother The Mountain

Our Mother The Mountain

Author: Tyler Short and Brian Wallace February 6, 2026 Duration: 1:24:45

We're back and we're discussing "Our Mother The Mountain," Townes Van Zandt's second studio album and probably his goofiest release. We hate ICE. We love BD Wong and Wayne's World.


What happens when two musicians from the hardcore punk scene fall down a rabbit hole of storytelling songwriters? Hardcore Troubadour is that deep dive, hosted by Tyler Short and Brian Wallace. This isn't a formal music history lesson; it's the sound of two friends with a shared obsession, unpacking the entire catalog of Steve Earle as a starting point. Each episode focuses on an album, but the conversation naturally spirals into the wider worlds of country, folk, rock, and Americana that orbit Earle's work. You'll hear them connect the raw, working-class narratives in these songs to the ethos of their own backgrounds in bands like Inclination and Perfect World. The discussion often takes detours into adjacent records and artists that influenced or were influenced by the topic at hand, creating a rich tapestry of musical connections. Expect a podcast that treats this music with the same passionate, detailed analysis you'd find in a punk basement, full of genuine enthusiasm and a keen ear for the stories behind the songs. If you've ever wondered how the spirit of rebellion translates across genres, or just want to hear two knowledgeable fans geek out about great songwriting, this is for you.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 64

Hardcore Troubadour
Podcast Episodes
Getting Clean's The Easy Part. Now Comes Life (The Wire, Part I) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:54
Speaking about his character Walon, Steve Earle said, "“In The Wire I played a redneck recovering addict. It didn’t require any acting.” The last thing the world needs is two more middle aged white dudes talking about Th…
Down By The Green River Where Paradise Lay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:24
Our friend Jessee Kowalski (Meantime, Jessee William) joins us to kick off 2024, where we talk more about the connections between country and hardcore and explore records by John Prine, Blue Rodeo, and Orville Peck. Also…
The Revolution Starts Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:06
It's 2004. Join us as we drive up and down I-55 listening to Steve and Janeane Garofalo get us amped up about what would surely be the most important election of our lifetimes. Right?
Live From Austin, TX [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:38
"You outta work? You hungry? Eat your Nissan." Come for the ode to Brian's 1985 Mercury Topaz. Stay for Steve and the Dukes on Austin City Limits in 1986.
Just An American Boy, Part II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:03
"Back home, I have been accused of being unpatriotic, which doesn't bother me very much. Mainly because I'm reasonably sure that my definition of patriotism and the definition of my accusers are pretty far apart."
Just An American Boy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:13
Join us as we discuss the 2003 documentary, "Just An American Boy," that covers Steve's 2002 tour with the Dukes, the right-wing media's bad faith interpretation of "John Walker's Blues," and Steve's anti-death penalty a…
Jerusalem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:12:44
This is the record that put Steve in the crosshairs of the post-9/11 right wing outrage machine. Wild that this is the week we're talking about it, but we swear it just happened this way. Join us as we dream about a day…
Together at the Bluebird Cafe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:22
On September 3rd, 1995, three of the best to ever do it got together in a small room south of Downtown Nashville and played some songs. We are lucky that it was recorded for posterity. Join Steve, Townes, and Guy as we t…