Welcome to Pine View Heights, the friendliest trailer park in America. Antsy McClain, lead singer for the critically acclaimed Trailer Park Troubadours, is your host as he talks with fellow musicians, writers, and other interesting people about music, humor and whatever else helps us to enjoy the ride. Click on podcast titles to go straight to the audio link. Be patient. Some files may take a minute or so to download.

A Daddy Understands - NEW
"And I want you all to know how fun it is just being here and watching you grow..."
Antsy discovers a long-lost recording of the first "real" song he ever wrote, a duet with his then-five year old daughter Lauren singing "I Might As Well Be Talking To The Wall." The song was found on an old cassette tape made on a Yamaha four track recorder, the first song writing tool (other than a guitar) Antsy ever purchased. It was recorded in the kitchen while little brother Buddy and little sister Emily played nearby. Polly was leaning against the kitchen counter wearing a big, matronly grin. Also featured in this podcast is a song never released on a Troubs album, called "A Daddy Understands." It depicts the quiet, contemplative life of a father who's heart is open to the beauty of the passing of time. The two children mentioned in the song are his daughter Brooklynne and his son Grant, who came padding out of their bedrooms and onto Antsy's lap as he was quietly working on the song one Saturday morning. "I Might As Well Be Talking to The Wall" is slated to be recorded in Memphis at The SUN Sessions in October.

The Voice of Degeneration
"She took the sad outta Saturday night..."
Antsy relives a painful but poignant moment during a recent show in which he lost his voice. Suffering from laryngitis, he persevered in front of a sold-out crowd in Chico, California. The concert, held at the renowned Sierra Nevada Brewery, had sold out in four days, and was being broadcast live and over the internet by local radio station KZFR. In these days when it's not uncommon for artists to cancel a show or walk off the stage when things aren't going perfectly, Antsy applies the blue collar work principles he grew up with, and sticks it out. In this rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to be, well, behind the scenes at a Troubs concert, you get Antsy's unique perspective. Features NEW SONGS never heard before, which are fast becoming hits with Flamingoheads at shows around the country: Everything's a Dollar, and The Facebook Blues. Also featured is A Better Past, from The Beige Album. 27 minutes.

Antsy Meets Dr. Demento
"If we weren't all crazy, we'd just go insane." - Jimmy Buffet
Antsy gets to meet the man who is responsible, at least partly, for his career in songwriting. Having hosted his two-hour weekly radio show for over 35 years, Dr. Demento shares his vast record collection with the world, playing wonderfully wacky songs like "Who Put The Benzedrine in Mrs. Murphy's Ovaltine," "Fish Heads," and "Pencil Neck Geek." These songs were exposed to Antsy during his impressionable teenage years, and charted his course to write songs which aren't afraid to make us laugh. Dr. Demento is also credited for having discovered Weird Al Yankovic, among others. Antsy and the Doctor talk – and even sing – about music, radio, humor, and life in this 40 minute podcast. Antsy also gives you an advance listen to the song: Another Happy Song, featured on his new album New Good Old Days, coming out in October '08. Also mentioned in this podcast is the music of Carla Ulbrich. Check her out.

"Right Side of The Dirt"
"The only times I've ever grown was when I got pushed out of my comfort zone." - Antsy McClain
Antsy gives us an inside track to his preparations for his upcoming album with The Trailer Park Troubadours. He also talks about having a song in the film Witless Protection, and meeting the film's star, Larry The Cable Guy. Antsy's new album, due out September 1st, is tentatively titled Let The Good Times Roll, and will feature a cover of The Cars' classic hit of the same name. The album will carry on the "Enjoy The Ride" philosophy of Trailercana, with many of the songs addressing the theme of travel and wanderlust. Songs in this podcast include demos of Let The Good Times Roll, Right Side of the Dirt and a brand new song entitled A Better Past. 30 minutes long

"Old Dogs and Guitars"
"It seems I keep coming back to the same old things: Old dogs and guitars and back porch swings." - Antsy McClain
In this songwriters workshop of sorts, Antsy presents several demos of new songs. Some are older ones that have never been heard before, and some are brand new, having just been recorded in the last 48 hours. Antsy gives a little background to the songs, and the stories behind them. "A Good Wishing Song," "Old Dogs and Guitars," "Hunky Dory," "The Ghost of Stevie Goodman," "Another Road to You," and "Drive-Thru Life." "I've been in a real writing spurt lately," Antsy says, "And I wanted to let Flamingoheads know what I've been up to. The songs are pretty simple, as far as production value -- It's just me and an acoustic guitar and layered background vocals and mandolin here and there -- but I think folks will get the idea. Some of these demos, like "The Ghost of Stevie Goodman," may never even end up on an album anywhere, I don't know. They were written as exercises, really, or journal entries, and because of their tone or message, they may not fit into a Trailer Park Troubadour set list. They're kind of misfits, I guess, but I still wanted folks to hear them." Antsy mentions in this podcast that he'll continue to share these songs under the condition that he get feedback from listeners. Let Antsy know what you think of the new music by e-mailing him at thetroubs@unhitched.com. Your feedback is always carefully considered, and even shapes the content of future albums.

"Cockroach After the Bomb"
"For years, I didn't want anyone to know that I'm a functioning disaster, which was always painfully obvious at our live shows." - Tommy Womack
Antsy McClain presents another demo of a brand new song: "That's What I Do," and covers some personal ground, giving insight into how he is wired, and examines why we do the things we do. Also in this podcast, Antsy talks with singer/songwriter Tommy Womack, whose new album, "There I Said It," is a wonderful collection of introspective songs that track Tommy's path into an unknown future - a concept we can all embrace with familiarity. Many of Tommy's songs are featured in this podcast. They are are honest and forthright; funny and thought-provoking. Despite being born the same year, and almost living in a paralell universe (Tommy's a Kentucky boy first turned on to music by bands like KISS as a kid), Antsy only recently discovered Womack's music. "It's been a big part of my summer listening," Antsy says, "And I wanted to share it with my friends." So Antsy got in touch with Tommy, who agrred to an interview. They talked in the living room of Womack's Nashville home. Tommy talks about songwriting, depression, and what he's learned from his years traveling with a rock and roll band. His answers might surprise you. He also reads from his popular book "Cheese Chronicles - The true story of a rock and roll band you've never heard of" which outlines the ups and downs of a 7-year long adventure with the rock band Government Cheese in the 80's and 90's. To learn more about Tommy Womack, visit his website at: www.tommywomack.com.

"A Life Like Ours"
"Somewhere past these gravel roads, high on a castle's towers, a rich man dreams of paradise, and sees a life like ours."
Antsy McClain presents a demo of a new song, heard only at recent live concerts: "A Life Like Ours." We've received a lot of e-mails from folks asking where they can buy the song. The answer: You can't. You can only get it here, for free, for now. Also in this podcast, Antsy talks with 88-year-old Flamingo Head, Laurita Cateur who has seen great changes in her life, and shares the secret of her longevity. Jerianne VanDijk of KVMR radio, takes the microphone again to interview Craig and Linda Peck of Sacramento. Craig recently had brain surgery to remove four abcesses that caused pain, memory loss, and even personality change. Instrumental music for this podcast is provided by award-winning guitarist Todd Hallawell, who was on our Polyesterfest Cruise this year. Check his music out at http://www.toddhallawell.com. To see pictures of Laurita's life and career as an actress and dancer, click here: http://www.unhitched.com/laurita.htm. Here's the podcast: http://www.unhitched.com/Podcast/podcast10.mp3

"Wonderful Baggage"
An interview with Laura Hopper of KPIG radio, posted May 29, 2007
Our friend Laura Ellen Hopper of KPIG Radio, died Monday, May 28th, 2007, after a short fight with cancer. We are forever indebted to her and the KPIG family, and we will miss her more than we can say. In this special podcast, we present Antsy's casual interview with Laura unedited and uncut, from this past Polyester Fest Cruise. No music. No website plugs. Just Laura, as we remember her: candid and honest. Here's the podcast: http://www.unhitched.com/Podcast/podcast9.mp3