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Wheels Off with Rhett Miller

042: The American Songster, Dom Flemons

Wheels Off with Rhett Miller

Rhett Miller

Music, Performing Arts, Arts

4.9609 Ratings

🗓️ 21 July 2020

⏱️ 35 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode of Wheels Off, Rhett chats with multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and music historian Dom Flemons. They talk about what went into the recent reissue of his album Prospect Hill, his deep knowledge of music history and why he’s mindful of the message behind music he performs. Dom tells Rhett about the experiences he had as a busker that taught him about attracting an audience, and why he advocates for “taking it easy” when you can. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to Wheels Off, a show about the messy reality of the creative life. I'm Rhett Miller.

0:06.6

That's when they got wheels off. We started up and we ain't going to stop us. I like you.

0:13.8

I could like it or not. That's when they got wheels off. If the following conversation with Dom Flemons doesn't inspire you, then I don't know what

0:25.5

will.

0:26.8

This guy is so talented and so ambitious in the good way, not in the creepy way, but in the

0:34.8

way where he's just, he calls it during our conversation, he refers to

0:38.9

The Search and how sometimes he gets overwhelmed by it. And I think that's so cool. I think he is

0:47.2

someone to look up to. I certainly do. He plays guitar, banjo, bones, jug, harmonica, drums. He sings like an angel. He writes brilliant songs. He writes brilliant prose. He's a historian and a musicologist. He's a dad now. He's a world traveler. He was a part of the Carolina Chocolate Drops,

1:11.6

which is how I very first met him when the old 97 shared a festival stage with them.

1:17.7

And then years later, I had a long night after a Johnny Cash tribute.

1:22.8

We talk about it during the conversation you're about to hear.

1:26.3

But that night went late into the night,

1:28.7

Shooter Jennings and Dom and I were the last one standing in a fancy hotel room that Shooter

1:36.0

was staying in. And by the end of the night, Shooter and I just, we just begged Dom to keep

1:42.1

playing music for us.

1:46.3

Because it's, he's just so good.

1:49.0

It's so inspiring to hear him play music, but to hear him talk as well.

1:54.7

So I really look forward to hearing what you guys think of this.

1:58.2

I can't wait for you to hear this conversation because Dom is

2:03.3

just, he's one of a kind. So without further ado, welcome to Wheels Off, Dom Clements.

2:16.8

Hey, well, such a pleasure to be with you, Rhett. Thank you for having me.

2:20.4

Boy, this is so cool. You know, I haven't seen you in a few years, and I've been following you

...

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