Skip to main content
The Travis Book Happy Hour

The Travis Book Happy Hour

By Travis Book

The Travis Book Happy Hour is hosted by Travis Book of the GRAMMY Award-winning band, The Infamous Stringdusters. The show’s focus is musical collaboration and conversation around music and matters of being. The podcast is the best of the interviews and music from the original livestream show recorded in Asheville, NC. The podcast is brought to you by Americana Vibes, iamavl, Thompson Guitars and the Grey Eagle.
Available on
Google Podcasts Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Episode 12: Tony Rice Tribute pt. 2

The Travis Book Happy HourJun 21, 2022

00:00
56:54
Episode 16: Nicki Bluhm

Episode 16: Nicki Bluhm

In the spring of 2021 I was joined on the Happy Hour by my good friend Nicki Bluhm. I’d first met Nicki when her band The Gramblers was opening for the Stringdusters in Montana. Later she joined us as a sixth member for our Ladies & Gentlemen tour following the release of the album by the same name. Funny, gracious, and kind, we became good friends and when I started the show she was at the top of my list. We had a wonderful couple of days playing and talking and the resulting interview is really special.

Time Stamps:

:06  Soundbyte

:37  Introduction

1:40  Ashworth/Maher groovin intro

2:14  “I had an interesting week myself”

3:00  on agitation and anger

5:53  Hide No More

9:35  on waiting for grace

11:05  Beauty in the Ugliest Days

14:45  live advert w/ vamp by Ashworth/Maher

17:10  Interview w/ Nicki Bluhm

47:20  Nicki a cappella

51:17  It’s Ok Not To Be Ok

54:43  Still The One

58:08  To Rise You Gotta Fall

1:02:55  Outro

Aug 16, 202201:04:16
Episode 15: Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon)

Episode 15: Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon)

In the summer of 2021 I was joined on the Happy Hour by the legend Vince Herman. His band Leftover Salmon was one of the first bands I obsessed over, burning bootlegs from my friends library and following them all over Colorado. Vince was always the life of the party, and still is; the night before we taped this episode we stayed up late in my mom’s kitchen drinking mescal and playing music. One of my biggest influences and favorite people, I was honored he agreed to join Lyndsay Pruett and I for the show.
Time stamps:
:06 sound byte
:45 introduction
1:53 Bill’s introduction
3:00 Rise Sun
5:52 unprepared monologue
6:50 about the stream not working
8:22 Top Shelf Rock Bottom
13:06 Morning Light
15:24 Get Up and Go
20:20 Hey Woody Guthrie
25:20 interview
44:24 Love Grown Cold
48:48 Maude Only Knows
53:04 Brand New Good Old Days
56:48 Let In A Little Light
60:00 Outro
Aug 02, 202201:01:01
Episode 14: Josh Daniel - Recorded January 2021

Episode 14: Josh Daniel - Recorded January 2021

In January of 2021 I was joined by Josh Daniel on the Happy Hour. Josh had been streaming live every single day of the pandemic from his home in Charlotte, NC and I was honored he brought the stream to the mountains for a couple days. A man of faith, full of gratitude, and a musical master, Josh has played in bands, duos and as a solo artist. We were joined by Mike Ashworth for this musical adventure deep in the midst of the pandemic’s second wave.

00:06 Soundbite: Following the Spirit

1:37 Introduction

3:05 on Right Livelihood

7:49 Everything Is Free

13:30 a word from our sponsors

14:42 Interview

42:36 Silver Lining

49:22 Throw A Little Light My Way

55:25 Travelin’ Song

59:00 The Truth is Out There

1:03:45  Outro

Jul 19, 202201:03:34
Episode 13: Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass) - Recorded March 2021

Episode 13: Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass) - Recorded March 2021

In March of 2021 I invited my oldest musical cohort and one of my best friends, Anders Beck to join me on The Happy Hour. Anders and I spent the first 3 or 4 years of our careers in the front seats of my 92 Ford Explorer and have 20 years of history. I love him dearly and I’m not pulling any punches in this episode. We were joined by our Broke Mountain Bluegrass Bandmate Jon Stickley for this musical retrospective. I love Anders’ humor and insight and find him to be endlessly inspiring.

:08  Soundbite

1:00  Introduction

2:57  Rise Sun

6:34  Howard Hughes Blues

12:20  Interview

41:49  All That I Can Take

48:44  Reservoir Hill

52:00  Casual Wednesday

56:24  How Far I’d Fall

1:00:35 Stickley thinking about Andy Thorn

1:02:59 Long Lonesome Day

1:07:56 Outro

Follow us!

Travis Book Happy Hour (@thetravisbookhappyhour) Travis Book (@travisbook) Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)

Jul 05, 202201:08:45
Episode 12: Tony Rice Tribute pt. 2

Episode 12: Tony Rice Tribute pt. 2

This episode is the second half of my tribute to legendary guitarist and musician Tony Rice. The entire show runs in chronological order and was designed as a career retrospective so there was really no question that there would be little to no editing. Huge thanks to Jon Stickley, Lyndsay Pruett, and Shawn Lane. I could not think of a better group to honor Tony’s music and I’m grateful for their dedication to the project. We occasionally play as Still Inside; a Tribute to Tony Rice at my weekly gig at 185 King St. in Brevard and this music and this ensemble always makes me extremely happy.

Timestamps

:07  soundbite Shawn Lane on song selection

:50 introduction

1:58 on Bluegrass Album Band

2:41 interview w/ Shawn Lane

7:00 Please Search Your Heart

9:56 Jerusalem Ridge

13:42 noodling, Thompson Guitars & Can’d Aid

14:55 on songs, songwriters, Allison Krauss

16:00 Cold On the Shoulder

20:00 interview w/ Lyndsay Pruett

25:16 Port Tobacco

31:33 on Blake & Rice, Gordon Lightfoot

32:18 I’m Not Saying

35:53 Night Flyer

40:12 on the Pizza Tapes

41:07 Shady Grove

46:56 on his final recordings

49:11 noodling w/ Bill K

51:06 Manzanita

55:40 outro

Jun 21, 202256:54
Episode 11: Tony Rice Tribute pt. 1

Episode 11: Tony Rice Tribute pt. 1

On Christmas Day 2020 we lost the greatest flat top flat picker of all time, the incredible Tony Rice. I’ve been obsessed with Tony’s music since the first time I came across it and immediately set to work putting together a tribute to this legend. He was a huge inspiration for me and all of my contemporaries and I am so grateful to Shawn Lane, Lyndsay Pruett, and Jon Stickley for helping me produce this career retrospective. I loved Tony Rice and this is my gift to him and any would-be/should be fans of this musical luminary. The show ran nearly 2 hours and I didnt want to cut anything out so I split it into two episodes.

:06 soundbite: Stickley on Tony’s tuning

1:16 introduction

3:50 on Tony Rice, the show

5:36 Don’t Give Your Heart to a Rambler

9:06 on J.D. Crowe and The New South, David Grisman Quintet

11:00 Swing 51

14:54 on Dawg music, Manzanita and Acoustics

16:20 Old Train

19:00 on Tony’s split musical personalities

20:47 Soul of Man

24:18 Old Gray Coat

30:20 noodling and advertisements

31:57 Neon Tetra

40:22 on Tony’s singing

41:16 Model Church

45:35 on Church St. Blues

45:55 interview w/ Jon Stickley

48:43 Orphan Annie

51:41 outro

Jun 07, 202252:42
Episode 10: Kyle Tuttle (Recorded January 2021)

Episode 10: Kyle Tuttle (Recorded January 2021)

In January of 2021 I invited banjo player Kyle Tuttle to join me on The Happy Hour. Kyle is one of my favorite people; an absolute delight and he’s partly responsible for the Happy Hour’s genesis. His banjo playing is singular and his sense of humor sharp. Kyle’s definitely worth hearing from. He’s currently touring with Molly Tuttle and Golden Road and he has a new record that I had the honor of playing on, due to be released in the fall of 2022.

Timestamps

:06  soundbite: how he rolls

:51 introduction

3:05 monologue

6:02 I Will Lead You Home

8:50 welcome Lyndsay Pruett

9:37 If I Had A Hammer

12:27 on how Kyle helped start the Happy Hour

15:07 interview w/ Kyle Tuttle

33:40 Ship Of Fools

39:00 on Earl Scruggs (Kyle)

40:00 Home Sweet Home

41:21 I Wonder

45:22  on Not Quite Spring (Kyle)

46:55 Not Quite Spring

50:26 Goodle Days

54:28 Birdie Strut

1:00:29 Outtro

May 24, 202201:01:33
Episode 9: Sierra Hull (Recorded May 5, 2021)

Episode 9: Sierra Hull (Recorded May 5, 2021)

Sierra Hull is a legend in the making. A superb and accomplished musician, she’s shared the stage with everyone from Bela Fleck to Allison Krauss to Corey Wong. I was already a fan, and appreciated her music, but I was unprepared for how completely she’d blow me away with her insight and humility. Not only an absolute shredder on the mandolin, she’s an accomplished songwriter and distinctive singer with no pretense. Down to earth with a sharp sense of humor, Sierra made for an absolutely ideal guest for the Happy Hour.

Timestamps:

:05   Soundbite

1:15  Intro

3:15  Rise Sun

5:50  Monologue

9:00  Gentle On My Mind

13:50  Sierra Introduction

14:30  Interview 1

33:50  Queen of Hearts

40:00   Weighted Mind

44:00  Middle of the Woods

47:38  Interview 2

1:05:21 Sierra & Justin Mandolin Duet

1:08:40 Outro


Follow us!

Travis Book Happy Hour (@thetravisbookhappyhour) Travis Book (@travisbook) Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)

May 10, 202201:09:31
Episode 8: Barrett Smith and Mike Guggino (Steep Canyon Rangers) - Recorded Oct 14, 2020

Episode 8: Barrett Smith and Mike Guggino (Steep Canyon Rangers) - Recorded Oct 14, 2020

Mike and Barrett, like most musicians, are much more than their roles in Steep Canyon Rangers. Barrett’s also an accomplished fingerstyle guitar player and he and Mike have performed traditional Italian music as a duo for nearly a decade. It was only recently that Barrett joined the Steeps as their full-time bass player, but these two have a long friendship and history. Mike lives down the street from me and I was itching to hear some italian music and pick these guys brains so I invited them out for The Happy Hour and was not disappointed. Barrett delivered some inspired performances and we had some great conversation. Hope you enjoy!


Featuring Barrett Smith (@barrettnow1320) and Mike Guggino (@mikeguggino)

Brought to you by Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)


1:39 Interview 

19:30 Italian Duo 

34:56 I Am A Pilgrim 

41:00 The Harbor and The Sea 

46:20 Wake Me Up 

50:30 Sisters & Brothers


Follow us!

Travis Book Happy Hour (@thetravisbookhappyhour) Travis Book (@travisbook) Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)

Jul 02, 202156:49
Episode 7: Benny Galloway - Recorded Nov 11, 2020

Episode 7: Benny Galloway - Recorded Nov 11, 2020

Benny “Burle” Galloway was the first person to hand me an upright bass. Burle was the first person to help me write a song (some call that a co-write). Burle taught me about space, melody, songwriting, listening, tone, reefer, and erasers when I was discovering bluegrass and related acoustic music in Durango, CO. My only solo album, Alice, was a tribute to the man and his guitar. We still play and write, probably always will. It was really fun to have him on the show. He was on his best behavior; wily as ever, charming, funny, and still the best damn songwriter ever. We had Tommy Maher join us because he’s the right guy for the job.


Featuring Benny "Burle" Galloway (@burle_galloway)

Brought to you by Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)


2:35 It’ll Be Alright 

5:18 Ain’t Been Myself In Years 

9:30 Interview with Benny Galloway 

34:06 Ghost in the Guitar 

41:00 Why Cry 

46:30 Long Lonesome Day 

50:06 Poor Boys Delight 

55:45 Gimme Some Wings 

1:02:07   Sing Me Back Home


Follow us!

Travis Book Happy Hour (@thetravisbookhappyhour) Travis Book (@travisbook) Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)

Jul 02, 202101:06:50
Episode 6: Mimi Naja (Fruition) - Recorded Sep 2, 2020

Episode 6: Mimi Naja (Fruition) - Recorded Sep 2, 2020

Mimi Naja will inevitably be etched in annals of american music. Her style is unique but familiar, with no pretense, pragmatic to the core. I knew her first as a wide-eyed mando wunderkind ranging the grounds of Planet Bluegrass. In Fruition she’s grown into a telecaster-wielding rocker with no fear. She delivered a killer upright bassline on King of the Road, and a ripping mandolin break on Things in Life, but the highlights of this session are the songs she wrote and the brutal honesty of her interview. Mimi is the truth and I’m so grateful we could share the stage with Lyndsay Pruett on this awesome session.


Featuring Mimi Naja (@miminaja)

Brought to you by Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)


2:55 Travelin Teardrop Blues 

8:00 Interview with Mimi Naja 

26:00 Have Love Will Travel 

29:43 Beside You 

35:04 Northern Town 

39:20 Things in Life


Follow us!

Travis Book Happy Hour (@thetravisbookhappyhour) Travis Book (@travisbook) Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)

Jul 02, 202144:43
Episode 5: Travis Book - Recorded Oct 28, 2020

Episode 5: Travis Book - Recorded Oct 28, 2020

Faced with a last-minute guest cancellation, I decided the show must go on so I enlisted regular collaborator and Happy Hour House Band member Tommy Maher to join me on dobro and take over interviewing duties, essentially turning the microphone on myself! I played some of my favorite songs and Tommy asked me some of the same questions I ask my guests. Tommy really rose to the occasion at the last minute. Hope you dig.


Brought to you by Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)

Follow us!

Travis Book Happy Hour (@thetravisbookhappyhour) Travis Book (@travisbook) Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)

Jul 02, 202158:07
Episode 4: Jesse Iaquinto & Tommy Maher (Fireside Collective) - Recorded Aug 19, 2020

Episode 4: Jesse Iaquinto & Tommy Maher (Fireside Collective) - Recorded Aug 19, 2020

Jesse and Tommy both became fast friends when I worked with their band, Fireside Collective, on their debut album Circles. When I started putting together these “funny little bands” for The Happy Hour and my weekly show at 185 King St. in Brevard, NC, I knew the three of us would make an easy combo. I also knew that both Jesse and Tommy were deep thinkers, engaged with the world and their place in it. We had a great time and enlightened conversation. I hope you enjoy the podcast.


Featuring Jesse Iaquinto (@jesse_fireside) and Tommy Maher (@tommymahermusic)

Brought to you by Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)


2:20 Back Home 

6:40 Interview 

30:50 Cabin Song 

34:17 Back to Caroline 

37:32 High Time 

43:28 Bring it on Home


Follow us!

Travis Book Happy Hour (@thetravisbookhappyhour) Travis Book (@travisbook) Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)

Jul 02, 202149:34
Episode 3: Matt Rieger & Andy Dunnigan (The Lil Smokies) - Recorded Oct 21, 2020

Episode 3: Matt Rieger & Andy Dunnigan (The Lil Smokies) - Recorded Oct 21, 2020

Rev Rieger and Dunnigan came out to the house for three days in October of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. They flew from Montana, slept in my kids beds, shared the house with my mother and I. It wasn’t ideal conditions, but they didn’t bat an eye; they just wanted to make  music. And that’s what we did. It’s no secret that I love dobro, and a trio of guitar/dobro/upright bass with three singers is just about my favorite combo to play in. We also riffed on some really interesting ideas and, as always, got into matters of being. Thanks for listening, hope you enjoy!


Featuring Matt Rieger (@matthewriegermusic) and Andy Dunnigan (@dobrohobo)

Brought to you by Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)


1:19 I’m not Alone 

6:20 My Old Friend 

9:40 Interview 

35:04 

38:54 

42:30 One More Chance 

47:25 California 

52:53 Back Home 

101:20 The City 

105:53 Time to Move On


Follow us!

Travis Book Happy Hour (@thetravisbookhappyhour) Travis Book (@travisbook) Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)

Jul 01, 202101:09:58
Episode 2: Jon Stickley - Recorded July 14, 2020

Episode 2: Jon Stickley - Recorded July 14, 2020

I first met Jon Stickley in 2004 in North Carolina, two days before we were set to record with Andy Thorn (Leftover Salmon), Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass), and Robin Davis. The band was Broke Mountain and the rest is still unfolding, but needless to say that was a seminal point in all of our lives and careers. Jon is one of my best friends and favorite musicians and one of the reasons I moved to Western North Carolina. Playing with him is always a joy and that was the topic of conversation on The Happy Hour that evening in July of 2020.


Featuring Jon Stickley (@jonstickleytrio)

Brought to you by Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)


2:53 Rise Sun 

5:28 Intro for Stickley 

6:40 Jon Interview 

17:42 Won’t You Come and Sing for Me 

19:32 Mildrelphia 

27:15 Blackburn Brothers 

32:28 Comin’ Down 35:45 Far I’d Fall 

39:44 Places I’ve Been


Follow us!

  • Travis Book Happy Hour (@thetravisbookhappyhour)
  • Travis Book (@travisbook)
  • Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)
Jul 01, 202144:10
Episode 1: Lindsay Lou - Recorded Aug 5, 2020

Episode 1: Lindsay Lou - Recorded Aug 5, 2020

I absolutely fell in love with Lindsay Lou the first time I saw her perform. I know of a thousand other people that would say the same. She writes, performs, and sings from a deep place, rooted and steady. Her music makes me feel connected to life and the earth and truth. Can you tell I’m a fan? I was thrilled she agreed to join me for The Happy Hour in August of 2020. She agreed to play some of my favorite songs of hers and we had a great conversation about the state of things and our states of being. I hope you enjoy!


Featuring Lindsay Lou (@lindsayloumusic)

Brought to you by Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)


2:20 Planets 

8:40 Beauty in the Ugliest Days 

13:55 Introduction of Lindsay Lou 

14:40 Lindsay Interview 

24:20 Reconstruction 

28:52 River Jordan

33:10 The Voice 

37:00 Go There Alone


Follow us!

Travis Book Happy Hour (@thetravisbookhappyhour) Travis Book (@travisbook) Americana Vibes (@americana.vibes)

Jul 01, 202142:47