Trace Adkins, musician and performer, discusses his love of working on oil rigs, his road from the oil fields to the stage, and the fine line between heavy drinking and addiction. Bill Maher shares his favorite Trace song, talks about kids calling the cops on their parents, and explores areas where he is risk averse. They also touch on the perpetually persecuted grievance junkies and discuss who caused the devastation in Trace's Louisiana hometown.
Bill emphasizes the dangers of careless driving and the need to be cautious in traffic.
Trace Adkins discusses his love for working on oil rigs and the excitement of hitting oil.
The speaker highlights the importance of cleverness in country songwriting and making people laugh through music.
Deep dives
Elvis Presley's Phenomenon
Elvis Presley was the first cult of personality in modern history, with his intense fan following and massive fame. His impact on music and pop culture cannot be denied, and even today, he remains a legendary figure. His rise to fame and the excitement he generated wherever he went set him apart as a groundbreaking artist.
The Absurdity in Cancel Culture
The recent controversies surrounding country music artists Jason Aldean and Morgan Wallen demonstrate the absurdity of cancel culture. In the case of Jason Aldean's music video location, the accusations were based on false assumptions and misunderstandings. Similarly, Morgan Wallen faced backlash for his use of racial slurs, but still sold out concerts and proved that the cancellation had no real impact on his success. The ability of comedians like Bill Burr and others to find humor in absurdity highlights the pitfalls of the current cancel culture.
The Significance of Comedy in Challenging Absurdity
Comedy has a unique power in challenging absurdity and bringing attention to societal issues. Stand-up comedians like Bill Burr and others use humor to shed light on the hypocrisy and nonsensical aspects of cancel culture. Through their performances, they provide a refreshing perspective and invite necessary discussions about freedom of speech, political correctness, and the limitations of cancel culture. The growing demand for comedy that satirizes and criticizes absurdity demonstrates the continued relevance and impact of comedians in our society.
Working in the Oil Field: A Roughneck's Experience
The podcast episode explores the speaker's experience working as a roughneck on an oil rig. They describe the competitive and team-oriented environment, working long hours in 12-hour shifts for 14 days straight. The speaker shares insights into drilling for oil, including how they would drill wells, test them, and cap them off before moving on to another location. They also discuss the physical demands of the job, the excitement of hitting oil, and occasional encounters with oil spills.
Songwriting in Nashville and the Importance of Cleverness
The podcast episode delves into the speaker's songwriting process and their perspective on country music. They share that they collaborate with other songwriters, particularly piano players, to create melodies and improve upon initial ideas. The importance of cleverness in songwriting is emphasized, exemplified by songs like 'I Left Something Turned on at Home.' The speaker expresses their belief that a song should have a mildly profound message or cleverness, even if they didn't write all of their own songs. They also touch on the humorous aspects of country music and the satisfaction of making people laugh through their music.
Bill and Trace Adkins on Bill’s favorite Trace song, kids calling the cops on their parents, why you have to be careful in traffic, the areas where Bill is risk averse, the perpetually persecuted grievance junkies, who caused the devastation in Trace’s Louisiana hometown, whether or not Trace ever gets tired of playing his hit songs, Trace’s love of working on oil rigs, Trace’s road from the oil fields to the stage, and the fine line between heavy drinking and addiction.
