Episode 367

with Roger Reeves, LeAnn Mueller & Ali Clem (La Barbeque), and Charley Crockett

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello “Face the Music” in this episode from a hotel room in the Live Music Capital of the World – Austin, Texas. Busker-turned-bona fide blues artist Charley Crockett subs in as Live Wire’s house band; poet Roger Reeves stops by and tells us why poetry is the harbinger of the future; and the women behind Austin’s famed La Barbeque – music and fashion photographer LeAnn Mueller and her partner Ali Clem – share the secrets to quintessential Texas BBQ.

Roger Reeves
Poet

Roger Reeves is a poet who, in his own words, wants to be “catapulted into a poem.” He earned his Ph.D. in Poetry right here at the University of Austin-Texas, and his work has appeared in journals like Poetry, Ploughshares, and Tin House, been selected for anthologies, and earned him a prestigious NEA Fellowship and Pushcart Prize. His first book of poetry is King Me, and his second collection, On Paradise, will be out this fall. Reeves’ wide-ranging cultural references and visceral imagery capture the rhythm of the world around him in his work – and we love his momentum.

LeAnn Muelle & Ali Clem
Restaurant Owners & Photographers

LeAnn Mueller and Ali Clem opened la Barbecue in 2012 – and busted down the doors of the BBQ boy’s club from the inside out. Mueller, born to a famous Texas barbeque family, and Clem, who quickly learned the trade, cook low and slow BBQ that’s melt-in-your-mouth delicious - steeped in tradition but also bursting with distinctive flavor. When not overseeing the pit, Mueller is also a world-class photographer, photographing the likes of Willie Nelson and Jay-Z. Mueller and Clem two are true partners in business, life, and the pursuit of delicious barbeque. Website • Twitter

Charley Crockett
Blues Artist

American singer and guitarist Charley Crockett has a family tree with deep roots and long branches. He has European, African, Cajun, Creole, and Jewish offshoots - and his family also stretches back to American frontier hero Davy Crockett. He’s taken his unique blend of influences and sounds to New Orleans back home to Texas, where his retro style mixes Southern soul, Western twang, blues, honky tonk, and Cajun jazz. His latest album is called “Lonesome as a Shadow” and we can’t wait to see which direction his career grows next. Listen • Twitter