Pug Johnson – El Cabron Album | Texas Roots, Americana, and Louisiana Influences | Rugged Revival
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There's something quietly profound about an artist who carries the ghosts of a thousand porch songs in his voice. Pug Johnson, a Texan who grew up on the outskirts of Beaumont—that peculiar intersection where Louisiana swamp bleeds into Texas pine and the Gulf Coast whispers its own stories—has spent his life collecting those ghosts. On his new album El Cabron, he's finally given them a proper home.
The opening moments of our conversation reveal something essential about Johnson. When asked to speak about his roots, he doesn't start with ambitions or achievements. He starts with his grandfather, sitting on a porch somewhere in Southeast Texas, singing Jimmy Rodgers and the old guard of country music. That's where it began—not in a recording studio or at some pivotal moment of epiphany, but in the everyday intimacy of family and song. His father too was a singer, both men filling the house with music the way other families might fill it with conversation. For Johnson, music wasn't aspirational; it was oxygen.
When you lose your love, Christian hearts get broke, tables turn, you lose your learn.
— Pug Johnson
Growing up on the outskirts of Beaumont is an education in American contradictions. The city straddles cultures, sounds, and sensibilities. You've got the deep traditions of East Texas country, the Creole and Cajun influences bleeding over from Louisiana, the swamp pop that emerged from that exact geographical and cultural collision. Johnson absorbed it all. That multicultural soundtrack—the one that shaped everyone from Johnny Cash to Doug Sahm—became the foundation for what he would eventually create.
What makes Johnson's approach to roots music so compelling is that he hasn't tried to sand down those contradictions or choose a lane. Instead, he's leaned into them. His sound is unapologetically eclectic: there's honky-tonk grit alongside swamp pop grooves, Texas country swagger mixed with genuine Americana depth. When Lonesome Highway praised him for "exploring life's darker side in places… with high spirits and wicked humor," they were identifying something crucial—Johnson doesn't present his music as heavy-handed or self-serious. He lets the darkness sit next to the levity. He lets the pain coexist with the humor. That's how real people actually experience their lives, and it's a rare gift in modern country music.
The memories we've built are to last.
— Pug Johnson
El Cabron represents a peak for Johnson, a moment where all those accumulated influences and hard-won experience have crystallized into something undeniably mature and accomplished. There's the confidence of an artist who knows exactly who he is and isn't interested in compromise. There's the craft of someone who understands that the best country songs aren't about explaining emotions—they're about creating the precise conditions where listeners can feel them for themselves.
What stands out in talking with Johnson is his humility about his influences. He doesn't name-drop to impress; he references Freddy Fender, Charlie Pride, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, and the Mavericks the way you'd reference your uncles—with genuine respect and the understanding that you're part of a continuing tradition. That lineage matters to him. He's not trying to reinvent roots music or deconstruct it. He's trying to inhabit it authentically, to add his own voice to a conversation that's been going on for generations.
For UK audiences discovering Johnson for the first time, El Cabron is the perfect entry point. It's an album that respects the traditions of American roots music while refusing to be bound by them. It's music that sounds equally comfortable in a honky-tonk, a festival tent, or someone's living room. Most importantly, it's music made by someone who understands that the best songs come from lived experience, family history, and the willingness to explore both the light and shadow of the human condition.
Listen to the full episode to hear Johnson discuss the making of El Cabron, the influences that shaped him, and what it means to carry forward a musical tradition while carving out your own identity. This is roots music made by someone who genuinely understands what roots mean.
When you lose your love, Christian hearts get broke, tables turn, you lose your learn. >> The memories we've built are to last. >> Memories. First stitch life tap. Yes, this is the 2026 Rugged Revival podcast where all memories are made. We're your official trademarked home of the UK's country Americana and Roots music community. And yes, this is where all the cowboys come. >> Anytime now. You've messed it up again, haven't you? >> Anyway, supposed to be. >> There you go. Anyway, um moving on. So, I'm your host, uh Ronnie. I'm joined by our very own sickly pelican, TJ. TJ, I've missed you over Christmas and New Year. Where have you been? What's happened? >> Well, I'm I'm not the person to just get regular colds and stuff. I I pick up super flu and um all these tropical diseases. So, uh yeah, I haven't left the house since uh Boxing Day, I don't think. Um so, this is kind of the only social interaction I get these days. Sat in me mother's basement. >> And you could tell. Um I uh someone well actually it was your wife that messaged me and said TJ's just been to the doctors and they said you have a peranal absess or a peranal cellulitis. That was the medical term. Basically a bum infection. So I think she might have been lying if you said flu. Anyway, um moving on from there. At least you've got rid of the sickness for 2026. Let's hope you don't get anything else because oh my god, what a lineup we've got for this year. We've already started and we'll get on to that in a minute. But what a lineup we've got. Isn't that right, TJ? >> That's true. Yeah. Shall I uh do the do? >> No. Anyway. Anyway, so now before we go any further, you've completely knocked me off on my notes. Now, before we go any further, I'm bursting at the seams. I'm vigorously vibrating and I'm shaking like an old man pissing with excitement. Uh, I've got the opportunity to introduce our very first guest of 2026. >> Ladies and gentlemen, please make some noise for >> Yes. the one, the only, very own lone star, fellow Texan and Bowman, Texas C cowboy Pug Johnson. Pug Johnson, how you doing? >> Hey, man. I'm doing great. Appreciate y'all having me on. >> It is lovely to have you on. What an honor to have you as our very first guest of 2026. So, normally, Pug, we would ask the artist to introduce themselves, but because this is a very special occasion, would you mind if I do your intro? >> Yeah, sure, man. I'll I'll uh you know I'll let you know if you got anything wrong. >> Perfect. That'll be great cuz I probably have already. But we'll go for it. We'll keep going until we finish this. So TJ, play it. So ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, shapes and sizes, this is Pab Johnson, a singer songwriter from Blowmont, Texas, and his music has been described as cinjun, swamp pop, text mess, honky tonk, plus plenty of Texas country and swing. Hug has been described by his fans as the modernday Elvis Presley. Freddy Fender and Charlie Pride sprinkled with a bit of Mel Haggard. Then the man in black and Conway Twitty. Mix it all together with some of the Mavericks and you've got Pud Johnson. How's that? >> That's pretty great, man. Uh there's a a few few of my heroes that you threw in as like, you know, who I've been been uh compared to that that I haven't heard yet. So, so that was nice. You know, >> good. >> Charlie Pride. Nobody's ever given me that. And uh I love that. Honestly, let me tell you, that was all the names I thought of when I started listening to your music because I was blown away by your your incredible talent. So, uh, thank you very much. And listen, uh, we've had a bit of a bit of fun at the start of this intro. It's the longest intro in the world, but it's so nice to have you on. Um, so, Pug, I I start off with all the deeper, meaningful bits uh, about your personal life, where you come from um, and and what you do. So, if you wouldn't mind sharing with us, can you give us some experiences of you growing up, childhood experiences, where it all started, where did you where did you begin? >> Okay. Um, we uh moved around a lot when I was a kid. Um, my dad had to travel for for um work. He was a um union uh union uh electrician. >> Yeah. >> So, you know, always in the trades. Um, but by the time, let me see, before I started the fourth grade, we kind of landed uh right outside of Bowmont. And my dad and my grandpa is from uh that area as well. Um, so yeah, I kind of came up there. Um, shortly after we moved there, we moved my grandparents out there with me, which were my dad's folks. Uh, and I had always been really tight with them. I was the last of the grand grand uh children. And so I spent I spent a you know a lot of time with uh me and papa and uh my grandpa he he was uh uh he would sing a lot you know him and my dad both they would just kind of sing around the house. Uh >> Yes. Yeah. And uh Papa would sing a lot of uh Jimmy Rogers and like really old school uh country singers uh Bradley King Kaid and Riley Pucket and stuff like you know people that we >> have uh forgotten about. And then we would sit and watch uh GAC, you know, all the uh country music video countdowns and stuff. And papa would sit there and talk [ __ ] >> on 90% of it, you know, cuz we were in the 2000s by then. And so it was it was already starting to, you know, we were getting away from mostly country, you know, but like, you know, an Allan Jackson or a a Rodney Cra video would come on and Papa would be like, >> "Yeah, that's that that's good stuff right there, you know." >> And so he kind of, you know, was instilling in me this this love of like real uh country music and like like what passed as real country, you know? And then uh and then my dad, you know, he loved uh Willie Nelson, you know, and some of the later stuff that like my grandpa wasn't into. And my mom was a big uh you know, '8s rock, like loved all of that stuff. I think uh Journey is her favorite band ever. >> Okay. Um, and like that, you know, that influence kind of made its way in, but I mean it's it's still not like, you know, I don't know every Journey song. I I don't know, you know, a lot of the, you know, '8s rock bands and stuff like that. Um, and then my uncle, which uh uh when I was I think just before the seventh grade or the eighth grade, uh I I went on a trip to uh visit my aunt and my uncle that lived in in uh Dallas. >> Yeah. And uh by this point I I had I had found uh Whan and I was I was the world's biggest 13-year-old Whan Jennings fan. Uh and my uncle was like, "Well, hey, you know, if you're into Whan, have you heard of uh Billy Joe uh Billy Joe uh uh uh Billy Joe Shaver?" >> Yeah. >> Uh I was like, "No." And so he was telling me all about him and you know playing me some of his tunes and stuff and I fell in love with that guy and uh by the time I moved home it was like okay this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I'm going to write songs about >> my experiences and you know and then I thought I needed to live as hard as Billy Joe did with uh which I have not. I I gave a good run at it, but you know, I pulled back eventually. Um, but yeah, so I mean, as far as like like musically, that's that's kind of where it all uh came from. And it seems like uh like the older I get, the more into uh you know digging further and further back into my heroes and and to you know who influenced them or what influenced them. Uh at some point um you know uh I went to college and found out that I had a love for uh Dixie Land jazz. There's just something about that music that that um rhythm and the way the horns are moaning that, you know, it it just, you know, hits me right in the spot, you know. Um and so that's been a thing that, you know, I throw in there. um uh as well. And that's that Texas and and uh uh uh Louisiana blend that we get in the uh in the Bowmont area. You know, you're right on the border there. And um we get a lot of um you know, bunch of uh bunch of Cajun folks, which is you know, a little different from the New Orleans culture, but it's you know, it's all kind of connected. It's just, you know, you know, who came in to the port and then, you know, branched out. >> I love um I love them stories when you were telling them about your the the traditions and and what they were telling about the real country music and and you've got that whole grounding with all their experience and all their all the traditional people that that were involved in in country music back then. Um that that for me is is incredible. I love it. I I love all the people you've just mentioned. Um I grew up on very much old school country. Um and and half the people I mentioned in that in your intro. Um and listening to you, you tick all the boxes of I could just run through it and go that's a bit of that one, that's a bit that one, that's a bit, you know, and it's just that's just incredible to have that grounding. Um honestly really really good. Uh, and in fact, um, just I know you're going to talk about music and stuff with TJ later, but just, um, one of the first songs I listened to was, um, the Big Train. Um, >> yeah. Yeah, Big Trains. >> Uh, which, yeah, Big Trains. And, um, I immediately fell in love with it anyway because I'm a fan of trains, but that's not the point. Your talent is incredible. >> Um, so, uh, I wanted to ask you when you when you were going through that, when you were going through, you know, they're walking around singing around the house. Um, what did you do? Did you sing along with it? Did you start thinking, I think I might be pretty good at this. I think, you know, this isn't, you know, >> No, for the longest time, I uh uh I couldn't uh sing at all. Uh I remember in the sixth grade, they put me uh in band. Uh and I didn't really want to be in the band. And I remember my mom talking to the band uh uh director and she said something, you know, like, "Well, he can't be in choir because he can't uh sing at all." And uh no, so you know uh I started doing this when I was >> uh uh 15 or 16 was when like I started like playing out, you know, in venues and stuff and uh I just I I couldn't sing very well. But uh uh I was writing my own uh songs and I had a love for it. But it wasn't until I uh moved to Nashville that I kind of like figured out a way to use my voice that didn't sound like uh you know two cats fighting in the alley. Uh but no uh um back to when I was a kid though uh I would just you know listen to Pawpa and he would you know he'd sing the songs and I'd be like sing that one again and he you um one thing I forgot to mention is he is he had all these like funny little songs with cuss words in them like you know kind of like little poems little funny things that he had learned you know from back when he was a kid or from when he went to uh to the Navy or things you picked up at work. All you know, he uh he was uh was a mechanic. So, you know, you you know, you get around all these different characters over the years and you you pick up all these little poems and silly songs and stuff and he would sing those to me as a child and I'd be like, you know, you know, and some I can still say, but I won't. >> I I might get you doing that later. We'll get you to we'll get you to do a rendition later. That'll be that'll be fantastic. Thank you for sharing that with me. Uh it it does mean a lot. I like to I like to talk about people's backgrounds, where you've come from. Everybody's got their own story. Everybody's got their own sort of path in life, where they've come from and what they've done. Uh and I like to make sure that everybody when they start listening to you or if they already listen to you, they know a bit of your background. So, thank you for sharing that with me. Um now, just coming up to present day. Um, I know TJ is gonna cover off some bits with you, but um, is it right that you're married and you're married to a wonderful lady called Mindy? >> Yes, sir. >> Wonderful. And a shout out to Mindy >> manages me uh, full time now. >> Amazing. And that's obviously working well cuz she's doing an amazing job at it. >> Oh, well, thank you. >> She's incredible. >> I will be sure to >> Yes, sir. >> Absolutely. Um, I'm going to stop talking now. So, you'll be you'll be happy to know, pug, I'm going to stop talking. Uh, and I'm going to hand over to my wonderful co-host, TJ. >> You're right. That was the uh longest introduction I think we've ever done. So, thanks for putting up with that, Pug. >> Which I mean I mean I mean it's probably uh my fault. I'm the one that kept rambling on. >> No, no, no, >> no. It's all interesting, mate. And you >> Yeah, we we got loads of questions for you. So, so ramble away, mate. I mean, the first thing I like to start with is particularly with people with sort of stage names like yourself. Um, >> so I'm a big fan of that. Me and Ronnie, you know, are both fans of it. And we we've had people over over from the US to the UK. People like Skinny Mulligan. Um, I I love that name. If I if I had a stage name, it would be something like Skinny Mulligan or Pug Johnson because I think it's cool. But um would you mind explaining kind of the the the kind of background to your your stage name almost? >> All right. So uh that is a a um favor that my parents uh you know it gave me. Uh really my dad uh I got that name the uh day that I was born. Dad said I had a a pug uh pug nose. And so that's what they have, you know, called me ever since. Uh and they they you know like to remind me that um when I was a kid uh you know I'd be running through the house and they would you know hey what what's um what's your name? You know and I'd go pug and they'd say no no no what's your full name and I'd Calvin Wayne Johnson uh pug for short and they were like all right you know and they would all you know you know that was cute. So, >> let you be on your way. Yeah, that's I think that's a cute name. And you know, if you think about pug dogs, they are cute. Do you know what uh Ronny's uh nickname was as a child? >> Uh I I'll I'll let you guess. I've got a little video of of Ronny as a baby and growing up. >> Oh, here we go. >> And um you know, I think I'll let you guess. >> Always. Do you know what? I was nice to you earlier. I >> I think you were, but let's let's have a look anyway. So, uh Ronny's childhood. Let's see if it'll play. Baby Ronnie Blob, they used to call him. >> Is that a slug? >> It's a blobfish. He kind of looked like a blobfish. And this is him at his high school prom. We, you know, master uh his prom date at the time. But yeah, so Ronny Ronny also had a nickname. >> Ronnie, why is he doing you like that, man? >> Oh, he's a [ __ ] [ __ ] I'm sorry. Blobbo Ridden. So, we got Pod Johnson and Blo. Anyway, anyway, >> Blobo's a good one. That's a good name. >> I think so. I think that I think that should stick, mate. I think we all call him Blob every >> But, um, anyway, moving on to more serious matters. So, I think this episode's a great example of how social media and, you know, the music platforms like Spotify, etc., um, are working in the way it's intended. So, I I came across your music plug. Um, I was listening to some of my favorite artists on Spotify. I I always go down like a kind of blues or soul kind of rabbit hole lately. Um, so listening to the likes of Jesse Williams and >> you know um and our friend Alex Rogers and you know and and Spotify is really good for kind of pulling together a AI playlist almost of that kind of music and then inserting people that are new to you are new to your playlist and your your song uh was on there and I was like I I need to know more about this. So, it was believer uh that came up and I thought this is absolutely fantastic and like Ronnie said >> and then there wasn't anything else you know on the record that yeah that sounded like I'm sorry about that >> but that's why we put it out when we did the promo initially to say you transcend genres and you really do because I can hear the kind of Cajun influences I can hear a little bit of Tyler Childer in your voice um not necessarily his music but kind of your your vocals and then you know old school kind of honky tong And it just goes on um a a a varied kind of tangent um that particular album, but that that song is the one that kind of got me hooked. Would you mind if we play a little bit of that, mate? >> Yeah, man. Go ahead. >> So, I've got the video and um it's worth noting that your wife is in the video as well. So, >> yes, sir. >> Let's uh let's play a little bit of Believer. I was just another stranger, but I was all that you could see. You said never mind the danger when you took my hand and my armor off me. A so much love there. There is so much love there. >> Yeah, I I love that video. Is Is that your roommate that uh recorded it or? >> Yes, sir. >> Ah, it's uh >> Yeah, I'm glad you asked cuz Yeah, I was Yeah, I was sitting here. I was like, "Hey, yeah, yeah, Payton filmed that." So, yeah, that was filmed uh >> three minutes away from where I'm sitting right now uh at the the uh studios at at uh Fiser, which is where we um recorded this the you know that album. >> Oh, cool. We were in uh Fisher very briefly. Really? >> Uh we we visited Texas in I lost track of time. Is it October? Uh we went to >> Tou. Uh, we went to The Devil's Backbone. Uh, see All right. >> Adam Hood, which was kind of our dream. Um, >> Oh, man. Yeah. Great show. I haven't >> Yeah. I haven't got to see him play in years, but uh, back when I was in high school, I mean, he was one of my favorites. He like I was like, "Oh my god, this dude is I mean, his voice is so smooth." Yeah. Anyway, >> definitely go ahead. It's the Well, we we're Adam Hood stalkers, so you can see kind of signed stuff and me and Ronny kind of there with with him. Um he's probably got a restraining order against us now, but >> he did come on the podcast a while back to be fair. So, uh it was nice to talk to and to see people in person for a change. So, we do a lot of these well, we do all of these online. So, we we did a bit of a Texas tour in October. a really good friend of ours, you know, treated us so well. Took us to these cool places like Fisher uh to to um New Bronils, uh Green Hall. >> Yes, sir. >> Um obviously Fort Worth uh Fort Worth >> fried chicken. That was incredible. >> No, fried steak. Sorry. Fried fried steak and green. >> Oh, chicken fried steak. >> Yes, the chicken fried steak. Man, you can't go wrong. >> So good. >> I think we came back about four stone heavier, but uh right, >> it's all good. Um, but anyway, yeah, I I love that video. I love that song, mate. And, you know, it it it was just funny how it came off the back of, you know, the stuff I was listening to. So, it does get it right more often than not. Um, love the video. Um, me and Ronnie were kind of talking about it earlier. We're like, I wish our wives loved us that much that it feature in a video that I'd write a song about them that they'd enjoy it for a start. Um, so maybe me and Ronnie would do a parody of that. So, >> dude, yes. I I think I think we should do that. I'll wear the white shirt. That would be hilarious. My gut might be hanging out the bottom. Um I catch Ronny's eye across the bar. Maybe your mate can film it for us. I think that'll be uh >> Yeah, man. Y'all come over. >> We'll do that. >> We'll come over for that. >> We can put you in the exact spot. >> A be unreal. >> I don't know if it'll do anything for your uh reputation, but um we'll certainly have a laugh doing it. So anyway, you're you're from Bowmont, Texas. Are you still based in Bowmont now? >> No. So So yeah, we live here in in uh Fiser. >> Okay. Sorry, you should mention that. Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah, we moved over here. Mindy and I, we uh uh sold our house in Bowmont about 4 years ago, and we bought a uh bought a motor home. It was like a 19 uh 95 motor home that we found in uh Georgia. And so we flew to Georgia and we drove it back. It was the first time that you know either one of us had ever uh driven a motor home. And this thing was 37 ft. Uh, you know, it's a, you know, a 95. And we had a blowout on the um the A Chaffallayia Bridge in uh of Louisiana, which is a huge bridge with with nowhere to pull off of like like it goes on for miles and miles. You're crossing over uh basically a a swamp. and uh we had a blowout and so we were holding traffic up until we could get a tow off of this bridge. Uh but we lived in it full-time for about 3 years and uh we uh um just at the end of uh 25 we moved over here with with uh Payton. We were about 10 minutes around the corner from him. Um, and yeah, he gave us a, you know, a place to park the bus plus a room inside. And so, yeah, uh, life has been a little easier not being, uh, confined to, uh, the 37 ft. >> Yeah. I mean, it sounds like a a great life anyway. Um, but I remember a fish. It's hill country, isn't it? That that's sort of why I remember, you know, we we spent how many hours in the car, Ronnie? It was um a lot of hours in the car each. We're not used to that. >> We're not used to that in England. Um but >> it's really nice over here like it, you know, it's a drier heat even when it is hot. Uh whereas like back in Bowmont, you're right on the coast >> and it it's just humid and hot and humid and hot and the mosquitoes are terrible. >> Oh yeah. We we were fortunate we didn't have any of that where we went. So, it was >> awesome. >> It was It was good. I do remember >> snakes and bears and coyotes. >> Yeah. See coyotes >> pretty much. We we were too scared to leave our uh cabin in uh it was in Fisher somewhere, wasn't it? It was in the middle of nowhere. Uh and we had this uh this tiny little It's going to bring back memories for Ronny because he was uh in top bunk and uh >> had a terrible accident. >> Managed to fall out of the top bunk and nearly through the floor. Um it was hilarious to be fair. Um, you know, I found it funny. You were pretty much in pain for the rest of the week. Um, but it was worth it. Anyway, so um, so yeah, we we've we had a lovely time in Texas and and as fellow Texans, you know, we we've got our favorite things from when we were out there. I say fellow Texans because we were made honory Texans. >> Nice. Good. >> I'm emailing the governor to ask for honorary Texan Texan stage. >> I thought you did that already and he just [ __ ] blew you off. >> I was trying to. Yeah. And he just ignored me. So I'm going to email him again. >> Yeah. So I I'd like to talk about um for people who perhaps haven't been to Texas, you know, types of food, drinks, etc. So let's start with like your favorite particular foods in Texas. So me and Ronnie absolutely love Texas barbecue. I I wish we had more of it. Um you particularly love the Mexican food when we were there. Um >> great. >> Me not so much. I don't mind Mexican food, but I prefer the the barbecue. But for you, mate, uh, Pug, what what is your kind of go-to cuisine? >> Uh, that's tough to say, man. Um, uh, I'm a cook, you know, here at the house. So, uh, I like to, you know, explore, uh, quite a bit. Uh, back home in Bowmont, you know, you get a lot of Cajun influence. And so, you know, um, uh, gumbo is just as popular as, you know, you know, chili. In fact, uh, you know, you know, for years, Bowmont didn't even have a good, uh, barbecue joint. Like, you know, you had places that were that were okay, but, uh, but for years, I mean, as far as like Texas barbecue, you you just really couldn't get it. But everybody, you know, that that would uh barbecue uh at home was great at it. And so, like, if you went, you know, if you went to somebody's house and got some barbecue, it was just as good as what you were going to get, you know. Um but really, yeah, the Cajun food over there is is the dominant thing. uh Cajun food and Mexican food. Uh in Vietnamese food, >> uh we get quite a lot of um or we've we've had quite a lot of Vietnamese uh you know down in Port Arthur in Bulmont for years and years and so you get little pockets where you can go get some you know some fur or some bondme that >> I mean it's awesome just great. Um, and it's been a little tougher to find over here in the Hill Country, you know, the Vietnamese food. Like I I'm sure if you go to uh go to Austin or go to San Antonio or like to to uh New Bronals, but as far as like where we're at right out here, there's, you know, there's not much. Um, but yeah, you uh barbecue, Mexican food, uh, Vietnamese, and then yeah, all the Cajun food. And yeah, we just kind of cycle through them. Uh, you know, here at the house, I'll get on a mood. Uh, here lately, I've been making I made a uh beef and Guinness >> or I didn't I didn't actually use a Guinness. I went and found a Texasmade uh you know, stout. Um, >> but a uh you know a steak and Guinness uh uh stew um with uh uh with a soda bread and uh and my roommate >> nice >> uh and my wife were very pleased with it. >> Yeah. So >> yeah, I can see why, mate. Um yeah, we didn't we didn't try everything out there. We say it was a I think it was a week. We weren't. It It felt like an eternity, but um in a good way obviously. Um we also had our favorite drinks and we're really pissed off because since we come back, we cannot find any of these things online or get them in the UK. So for instance, we we loved Lonear uh beer. >> Yeah. >> Course banker. So this is like in homage of um you know the cause bank. Ronnie was on a Mountain Dew fix, weren't you? um when you were there when I when I come back I couldn't cuz you can't get it here >> and and even we only got the little bottles of Mountain Dew and they taste like [ __ ] >> So, um I got Yeah. And I need it. I feel like I need need Mountain Dew. So, we we we are lacking somewhat. Um but yeah, there there was some great stuff and and you know, Ronnie kind of for my birthday that I missed due to illness, he got me some uh yellow rose Texas whiskey. Nice. >> Uh, Texas whiskey I hadn't really tried before until we went out there. I'm a big bourbon fan. Normally it's Kentucky stuff, but you guys have got great whiskey as well. So, I'm probably talking about all these alcoholic. I I don't know if you drink at all. If you don't drink, yes, you do. >> Yes, I do. >> Good stuff. So, what what's your >> That was a That was a heavy confirmation there. Yes, that was >> Yes, I do. >> Yes, I do. Gets me in trouble from time to time. >> Doesn't it all, mate? Yeah, you know, it's um so what what's your favorite drinks in Pug? >> Uh so if uh uh here here um lately I've been on a beer kick and I've been wanting like you know stouts and you know ales and stuff like that. Um, but that's not always uh I love I love uh uh whiskey. Um, and haven't really had a lot of them that I don't enjoy uh unless it is uh flavored. I'm not I'm not big on putting, you know, honey or >> uh cinnamon or, you know, apples and, you know, I don't >> straight up. >> I don't uh Yeah. I just want I just want some whiskey in a glass with a little bit of water in it. Um, mostly uh Dickle. I drink a lot of George George uh Dickle, which is a uh Tennessee sour mash. >> It's what my old man that's been his uh go-to. >> Uh it's not expensive, but it's >> really good uh whiskey. >> Yeah. Yeah. Everyone's got their own kind of thing. And I think Buffalo Trace over here is our go-to bourbon. It's cheap as hell, but it's it's amazing, you know. >> Yes, sir. >> You can't go wrong. >> Yeah. Solid uh solid choice. >> Absolutely, mate. Absolutely. >> I've just Sorry to interrupt, TJ. I've got to say, you're coming out with a lot of Irish traits. So, there's a lot of Irish around the the stout and the Guinness and steak and the soda bread. And then you said about whiskey and water, and that's uh that's a very Irish thing. So, yeah, proud of it. I would I would uh I would say I'm kind of like a like an armchair anglophile, you know, a little bit. Uh like it and it it's it's that part of my personality that is you know into tracing the you know the history of of um you know you know country music. I mean it goes it goes a little deeper than that. It's like, well, all right. Well, who are all the people that, you know, influenced this thing? >> And like you you wind up kind of studying the, you know, those those u cultures a bit and figuring out, okay, how they got over here, what they brought with them. >> Yeah. Um, you know, the first episode of that uh Ken Burns uh both the Ken Burns uh jazz uh documentary and the the um um country music episode where they're talking about, you know, all these different u cultures and uh you know, immigrants that that came over and brought this little piece of something with them from, you know, their homeland that wound up building jazz and and you know, country music. And I find that, you know, all of that stuff uh fascinating as hell. >> Yeah. >> And uh and yeah, so it's it's one of those things if I'm dipping into one of these uh styles of music and I'm learning about the culture, well then I'm wanting to it's like, "All right, well, what's the food they ate?" You know, I'm going to find a recipe and I'm going to make it or, you know, try to at least. I I think that's an idea for a bit of an armchair podcast. >> Okay. Okay. >> I think we could all get on live and we could all sit in armchairs with whisies or bourbons or whatever you drink and we could sit there and talk about it. I think that would be a great show. Anyway, we'll talk about that another time. Back to you, Pug. Back to you. >> That sounds like a very serious podcast. That does. Um >> Yeah, I like it. I like it. >> I'm of the same ilk as you, Pug. You know, I love deep diving into things. I I don't think there's enough um documentaries, should we say, about country music, you know. I I came into country music a bit later than Ronnie. So Ronnie is all over the historic stuff. You're big George Jones geek, you know, um all of that kind of stuff. >> I came into it later, so I'm I'm more into the kind of the newer artists, the you know, a lot of the indie scene really. So that that's where I come into it. But I do love the documentary and I think that's how you learn about obviously the history of things and where it started, who started it, uh, and like you say, what what were they doing at the time um, around that. So, I'm going to have to check out that one that you mentioned around Ken Burns, but I still don't think there's enough around the country music scene particularly and the history around that. There's a lot around blues, uh, jazz, you know, particularly like classic rock and Woodstock and and you can find a million things on there, but um, yeah, when I when I try to educate myself on certain things, it it was a bit more difficult. You know, YouTube's normally a good place to find things, but um, yeah. >> Yeah, dude. It's been that's you know u back when I was a kid and we didn't have this this um resource you know you you know you would go uh crazy just kind of re-watching the same you know movie or whatever piece of documentary you know that you could find at the time and uh you know on on uh DVD you know you would find it online and you're like well all right I'll buy this thing and see if it's you know any good whereas now You can, you know, you type in, you know, the history of, you know, X and you just get video after video and you can go through and find the ones that like, oh, okay, well, you know, now it's like, all right, well, this is just an AI video. I don't really want to watch this one. Okay, well, this one like is actually made by a person. All right, cool. Here we go. Um, so yeah, that's been it's been a game changer for real. >> Absolutely. I love it. I love Ronny's idea as well. I think we should, you know, be sitting in armchairs, Chesterfields, you know, almost with smoking jackets on and talking about the history. I don't know too much gone all out. >> I'm going to make it up. >> I like the Yes. >> Um uh have you heard the uh cocaine and >> and uh Rhinestones uh podcast? >> No. No, I haven't. >> Oh, you should you would uh if you want to know more about the history of uh Yep. Cool. We'll uh Yeah. >> Country music. Yeah. Cocaine or rhinestones. It's uh Tyler Maym uh Tyler Maym Co, who's David Allen Co's son. >> Oh, cool. Yeah. >> And he does a Yeah. A killer job with this podcast. I, you know, does the research. >> Um Yeah, it's fantastic. >> Yeah, we'll have to check him out. We're too lazy to do too much research. Um >> I feel you. >> We we Yeah, that's why that's why I haven't done a podcast yet. >> Like, well, Tyler's out there doing that thing. I'm I'm going to let I'm going to let him do it. He's doing a really good job. >> Yeah, good good shout. Good shout, mate. Well, your takes us through and through. I I love that. You know, you've been all over. Um I like to ask this because we I I think our dream, Ronnie, is eventually to travel to as many states in America as possible, you know, and experience the different cultures because it it just varies so wild widely across each state. But I'd love to ask this question. Um, you know, from for people from Texas, what does it mean to you to be a Texan and what to you is uh special about the state? Uh the uh you know, independent streak, you know, that we've always had. Um, you know, uh, Texas is, uh, uh, you know, I used to think that I knew a lot of of, uh, Texas history back as a kid because that was my first kind of, you know, love before I found um, found the music thing. Um, and you know, if you get older and there's the bit of the uh uh the revisionist history coming out or you know, other other takes on it and uh you know, you learn a lot and it's um yeah, there's there's there's more to it than I thought there was, you know. Um but all still fascinating. It's still a, you know, a unique blend of cultures and that's that's why Texas is the way it is. That's why it's had this very kind of, you know, independent thing. Uh, and it you know, it comes out with u u with the music and uh you know with the film making and you know our art it um there's I don't know there's a there's a dust on it. There's a twang about it. There's a I don't know something else. And then, you know, being from Bumont, I've got this this other thing that's like it's partially Texas, but also uh you know, a lot of cinjun, a lot of a lot of Louisiana in there as well that you don't really get even when you go further north uh uh you know, on that that same uh border, you know, cuz most of your Casians are down in in the southern part of of uh you know, they're in the heel of the boot, you know, and kind of in the middle, but uh and then they just kind of bled over into Bowmont. It's a the the uh geography is pretty, you know, it's kind of the same. It's swampy, pine trees, um you know, and plants now. And uh now it's it's you know you know oil oil business and and so yeah you get a lot of folks from uh from you know uh Lake Charles and stuff that will come over and work in Texas and vice versa. >> Yeah, it it's a fascinating place. Uh I I would I think Ronnie you'd agree some of the kindest people I think we've ever met. uh couldn't more for you. >> Yeah. Never had any problems whatsoever. Maybe you did. >> I fell in love with it. But that's what I >> That's what Mindy and I thought whenever we went and got married over in uh we went to um went to Ireland and uh went to Scotland and down uh down to London. >> Didn't uh make it into uh Birmingham. We did stop in uh Manchester. >> Yep. >> One night along the way. Sorry about that. Dude, they were working they were working on every roundabout at once when we went there. And uh I uh I was I was not happy with uh Manchester when I was there. I'm sure it's a wonderful place, >> but uh at the time with with me still getting used to driving on, you know, you know, the other side of the car and >> doing round, you know, you know, we we like might have a roundabout over here, >> you know, in Texas, like you might have one, but it's like, oh, okay, we got this one roundabout. This is weird. Uh >> whereas over there it's it's every intersection. It's like, son of a [ __ ] I got I got to get better at this. >> But see, yeah, I was I was uh Manchester sucked when we were there. >> Well, mo most places in England suck to drive around, particularly the big cities. It's just it's just not built for it, you know, and uh >> Right. Although, you know, most of your roads in town were built in what, you know, 1500 the you know, 1300s or something like that. >> I saw they were repaired as well, I think. Um, >> but but you're right about the round. There's one by you, Ronnie. I think I'm sure it's by you. It's called the magic roundabout. And there's one big roundabout in the middle and there's about 12 mini roundabout. Nobody knows what to do. So, they just go over. >> So, people just drive at each other. >> It's It's mental. So, I'm coming in. >> Kudos to you for at least uh attempting it. We We were looking at the roads over in Texas and I thought, I don't I don't think I can do this. You know, it's just it looks so massive. >> Oh, I love it. I could >> The bigger it is, I want to drive it, the bigger it is, I want to drive >> uh further uh west on, you know, uh on uh 10. It just it gets to where you're There's nothing. It's It's just uh >> Yep. Highway uh in the desert. >> It goes on forever, doesn't it? It's uh yeah, we we made up plenty of games on the way cuz some days it was five, six hours in the car. It was great. You know, we're not used to that, but um it it did go past quite quickly, maybe through >> It wears you out. >> It it does, mate. >> Being on the road for five or six hours in Texas will wear you out. >> Our bodies were battered when we got home. It was uh it was an experience, mate. But, you know, it's something I'd never change. And and the experience to go to Fort Worth is something that mainly we wanted to do. and it was for Stocktober. So, I don't know who you hang out with particularly on the indie scene. Um, but we had some amazing artists there that particular night. That was the main reason we went out. You know, we we're good friends with people on other podcasts in Texas. And, you know, we had people like the the Teague Brothers band there. >> Oh, yeah. >> Presley Hail, you know, all race. It it was just an incredible evening. Um, so I suppose my question is to you, um, with with the scene, is there any particular people that you you bump into a lot or you hang out with or you you go to their shows? You know, who who are those people, mate? >> Um, let's see. There's uh, you know, you mentioned mentioned uh, the Teague brothers, and I haven't I haven't seen John in a few years now. Um, but we went went to went to high school with each other. >> Oh, cool. >> Yeah. Me and John. And in fact, his his uh uh brother Matt uh graduated with me. And Matt used to show me stuff, you know, on the guitar. He was a killer guitar player back when we were in in uh uh middle school. And I was just kind of trying to learn stuff. And I', hey man, uh, teach me, you know, uh, Sweet Home Alabama, right? you know, um, but so John and John was a big help, uh, you know, earlier on and, uh, you know, uh, just before we moved out of Bowmont and stuff, he was, he was a big help with, uh, with trying to help us get, uh, get the last album the or I'm sorry, uh, get the first album put out. Um, uh, Presley Hail, I just got to meet her last year. Um that was at uh Larry Joe Taylor Festival. Yeah. >> One of the uh DJs over here uh uh JR uh brought me out and uh got me to play at his uh campsite. So like I wasn't on the bill at Larry Joe Taylor, but I got to come and he he was bringing me around, you know, and introducing me to folks. Um, as far as like artists that uh I'm really um really into, there's a couple out of uh of uh of Nashville, but they're doing they're they're kind of uh uh kind of underground. You got uh you got the Reeves uh brothers and they are the [ __ ] Uh uh both of them are uh very good uh pickers. They you know they sing well and the show is great. Uh you know the tunes are fantastic. And then um uh Christina Murray uh put out a record uh last year, a couple months after mine that uh is one of the best I've heard in a long long time. Uh and I I might have had a buzz u when I found uh Watching the World Pass Me By which was the tune of hers that like like grabbed me. But uh uh she only had three songs out uh from the new album and I went, you know, and listened to, you know, all three of them. And I was like, "This is going to be, you know, this album is going to be the shit." And I've only heard three of the songs. And so I I reached out to her. I was like, "Well, I really thought I was going to have the coolest uh traditional country album of the year, and you've ruined that with three songs. So, thank you so much, you know. Uh, but no, I'm a huge fan of hers. Uh, went to see her when she came uh down to Austin to play. I made a point to go and see her. And and there weren't enough people out there. You know, it it's, you know, so just cuz they're in uh Nashville, that doesn't mean that they're, you know, having any better luck with it than we are down here. >> It it's really difficult, isn't it? Even for the bigger names. uh that we we saw and experienced over here. Uh places would be absolutely packed. Big venues would be packed for those guys. Um but for some of the shows, it was like surprisingly quiet. So I don't know if it's like you guys are are just blessed with so many artists and you know it's just a saturated industry. >> It is that for sure. >> For sure. >> And and it's difficult, isn't it? you know, and it must be, you know, really hard for the artists when, you know, they're they're doing really well online, you know, and the listens on Spotify are are way up. Uh, and then when you go to a live show, it's uh, you know, that that's where people, I think, need to support artists more. Go to the shows, buy the merch, you know, uh, and support in person just to show that you, you know, there's real people out there. Um, >> yes, sir. >> You know, I I wish we had more of that stuff here, but no, it's amazing. I I I love the fact that you shared a few names. Uh we're not familiar with those. So we will definitely uh go on a deep dive listen to both of them. Um >> yeah, if you get the Reeves brothers on, they are they're they're uh characters. >> Okay. >> They they are uh really funny. >> There you go, Ronnie. Uh you can do some more of your jokes uh in that case, can't you? See how that lands. But anyway, let let's go into your music. So, I I feel like we've kind of talked around a lot of it, you know, obviously with your personal life and and how we got there. Um, but I we kind of go through online and see where things kind of started. I think it was 2018 um you started to release singles professionally and I think Calling My Name uh was the first one you put out. Obviously, correct me if I'm wrong, >> but what what did the kind of start of your particular journey look like back then? You know, how was it for you? So, uh, so I I moved to Nashville in 2012, uh, after I graduated from a little, uh, two-year, uh, uh, two-year audio, uh, program down here in or, uh, down in in, uh, Port Arthur. Uh, moved to Nashville because that's where a bunch of my buddies that uh, I went to school with uh, had moved off to. And uh I got up there and I stayed I stayed for uh 2 years and then I decided I was like well look I like they're not really picking up on what I'm trying to do up here. So I think I'm going to go back home to uh Texas and uh went back to school. I was studying uh uh uh writing um and I was doing really well in school. And then I wound up uh partying quite a bit. Started putting things into uh my face that I shouldn't have been putting in. And uh uh I was about to ruin my my uh 4.0. And so I dropped with the intention of going back uh and I started picking up uh gigs more and more. And so I just, you know, I never went back. And then I met my wife uh and she made it clear that she wasn't going to put up with me putting things in my face and you know so so then I kind of started to get it all uh uh together and uh I tried to do a a project with my buddy uh Tyler uh Darby that that co-wrote uh Rancho and uh Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll and uh cocaine street blues with me. Um we had a duo that we used to do in Bowmont quite a bit. And so, uh, when I first, um, started working with, uh, my producer that has done, you know, everything that that, you know, y'all have heard, uh, it was, it was with this this, uh, duo. And we did a version of, uh, Rancho and, uh, when the Levy breaks because this was right after Hurricane Harvey. And so, uh, Bowmont had gotten flooded all to hell. And uh so that kind of fell through. That project fell through. And so then I just went back and was like, "All right, well now I'm just going to do it as a solo thing." And uh so I would play gigs and save all my money. And uh it would take me, you know, several months of putting a little bit away, you know, at a time. Uh, and I would raise about two grand, a little more than that to be able to pay to do uh, uh, do the single and to pay for, you know, all the musicians because I I had gotten to a point I was like, you know, I I want to make uh, make some records with some horns on them. Like, I want to hear my songs this way. And so, I'm going to I'm going to save up and pay to do it right. And I and you know, I'll start with the singles and uh just make sure that everything I put out, you know, uh kind of fits the standard of of uh quality, you know, cuz I had I had tried to do other projects in the past with uh with buddies that were, oh yeah, you know, I've got a studio, you know, you can come over and we can make some stuff. And the quality just wasn't there. you know, it sounded like a home, you know, homemade thing, which can be cool, but it just it wasn't the way I was wanting these tunes to come out. You know, I I wanted to do something that actually had a production value. Uh, and so I found uh found my buddy Ryan who had gone to the same um same program that I had for uh uh you know down in uh Port Arthur. But he was good at it. I wasn't ever really good at it. Uh and I never kept working in it after uh I graduated. whereas, you know, he had and he's still one of the best that I've ever worked with. Uh he's he's quick. He can hear things that I don't hear. You know, we'll do a take and I'm like, "Hey, yeah, that that was good." And he's like, "Ah, you're a little pitchy right here and right here." Or there's a buzz we're getting, you know, you know, uh uh you know, somewhere in the chain and I'm not hearing this [ __ ] at all. So, it's like, man, all right. Well, uh, I'm going to keep working with you. And so, yeah, we put out, uh, Calling My name, and then I think a year later or so was Johnny, and then, uh, back to Austin, then I think Coyote Ken, and then it was, you know, the full album. and and uh eventually I got to the point um to where it was like, you know, I think it's time to do a full u full album. I'm confident in Ryan and you know, in the studio that um you know that this can measure up uh you know uh to the quality that uh I'm wanting. Um, and so yeah, you know, I had the band, I had Ryan, I had the space, and so yeah, so then then we did uh Throw It Off and Glad. >> Yeah, that that's a great album, mate. And um I like the fact you say that you you had standards that you wanted to achieve right at the beginning and you can hear that you know and we we hear a bunch of people and we do our research and you know right at the beginning it sometimes it does sound like they've recorded it in a closet and maybe that's what they're going for like you say there's projects that kind of work with that rawness. >> Exactly. Exactly. Um, but I think with your stuff, I I I think you're right in the way that you've done it in that >> it sounds better with with the horns, the full band, the the production value, because I think that is your that's your sound, you know, when and you hear Frodoff and Glad, you know, I planted the seed earlier with the Tea Brothers band because uh there is a song on there that I love, Buffalo Coin, um, and John features on that and I thought that's cool. Uh John is dead to me now though, I'll be honest with you because uh he was meant to come on the podcast uh just before Christmas. I think I lose track of time, but he he blew us off because he had a bigger and better thing to do at the rhinestone saloon. So John, if you're listening, >> I think you might need to change what he just said there. >> Um okay. >> No, I'm only joking. >> You welcome back. He was in the military, so uh I won't [ __ ] with John. Um, >> he will kill you with his little finger. >> I'm all the way in England. Come and get me. Uh, but no, we we will definitely have him back on. Um, T Brothers band. I love the fact you've got him on there, John Teague. Um, >> yes, sir. >> I I reckon he put out one of the best albums of last year. Um, >> yeah, man. >> The Ranch Radio have been hammering it non-stop and deservedly so. It's just, you know, Breathe is probably one of my favorite songs of last year. Anyway, that's enough about John. Back to you, though. So, so that was 2022 and then El Cabbron. Um, me and Ronny were talking. We're like, we could be a backing band. We could be the El Cabronies, maybe. Uh, but then I I did Google translate what it meant and I thought maybe not. Um, so you didn't. You went that we need a new name. >> What' it give y'all? >> Elabonis. >> What? What did uh Google? >> So, I Google it meant El Cabbron and it was uh the bastard. >> Yeah. All right. Is is that a perfect translate? Yeah. >> Yeah. It's uh so it seems like uh different um like if you talk to a Spanish uh speaker from you know uh Texas versus one in California or one in you know um uh um Florida like they have slightly you know it's it if uh it varies slightly. It might mean the, you know, um the the the um um the [ __ ] or you know, the goat. Uh so there's a but you know everything kind of you know it works. It works with uh you know how I wrote it. >> So what was the reason behind the name of the album to start with then? What where did that come from? Uh well, I mean that that tune it just kind of seemed like it was the was the theme of this uh kind of character. It seemed like all these these uh tunes that I had written kind of worked with um trying to tell a story of of this uh this character that's uh you know a lovable um uh kind of a [ __ ] you know you know a dude that uh but the way I you know explained it to people uh back when we were making the record and everything was you know, he's the dude at the bar that, you know, is telling all the stories and you're pretty sure, you know, he's full of [ __ ] but you want him to keep keep on going, uh, you know, because the stories are good and it's, you know, funny, you know, but you're pretty sure it's all a lie. >> It's all made up. >> And so, you know, and that's uh and that's kind of the thing with uh with that song. It's like, well, you know, is this guy, you know, you know, does this guy actually do all the [ __ ] that he claims he's doing? You know, you know, does he actually go down to Mexico? Has he, you know, has this dude ever even been to Mexico? You know, we don't know. But hey, man, buy him another beer and tell him to keep keep uh, you know, talking. >> It's uh it's it's an amazing album. you know, Ronny uh couldn't speak hardly of it enough earlier. Um I wish we didn't sleep on it, though. Um it it just kind of escaped our attention last year because it was March around March time you released it. >> Um so, but I'm glad >> there's a lot of good >> uh I mean u last year was uh was a tough year because there was a lot of like excellent excellent albums that you know got dropped. >> Yeah. So there there was some amazing stuff. Um, but I think if if we that had caught our attention sooner, we would certainly um been talking about it more. But, you know, it's great. You know, it's nice to find things eventually uh and to speak to the people that make it. And, you know, it's an incredible album. We implore everyone to go and listen to it. Like you say, it takes you on a bit of a journey. There's a good story to it. And if you if you're hoping or thinking it's going to be all like Believer, it's not. You know, it was a nice surprise for me. Um, it was great. >> That was a was u was an outlier. It was never meant to uh be a single. It was one of those uh you know, I wrote it for Mindy and I intended that one to be a kind of a soul song, you know. Uh but I didn't want to pass up on putting it out. So, it's it definitely is an outlier. In my opinion, it still fits in the record. um just because I'm from Bumont and so like but if you're if you've you know never been to Bowmont and don't like get the like the blend of cultures and the way the playlist at the bar might be uh working then yeah maybe it doesn't make sense and uh it doesn't fit but there will be more you know like that uh in the future. >> Good. No, we we're looking forward to definitely seeing what you're bringing out next. Um, you know, it's it's going to be amazing. But anyway, I I feel like I've been talking and chewing your ear off for quite some time, and I feel like Ronnie needs to to say something interesting now, maybe. >> Um, no, you can't. You've been talking so long that um that my my paperwork has gone all over, post, my notes, my show notes. Um, I'm joking. You can tell he hasn't been out the house for a long time because he is just talks and talks and talks about the old people. We like it. We love him. >> We love him sometimes. So, actually, Pug, what we've got now is we're going to play a game. Would you like to play a game? Do you want to play a game? >> Yes, sir. >> Yes, sir. >> TJ [ __ ] sake. >> Yes. This is the rugged revival. TJ Murphy. We have a special game is called the across the pond game. It's meant to be our Clint Eastwood phases. Yeah. Now, basically that music was for the fact that we do a true and false. It's the Rugger Revival True and false with a new spin on it for 2026. So, what I do is I ask up to 10 questions and I say, uh, TJ, true or false? Pug, true or false? And then we'll go through the answers at the end. So, I've got some interesting questions for you this time. Uh, it is a pub quiz in the style of a pub quiz. Um, and it is Texas v UK. So, >> okay. >> Question number one, pug. Which is greater in land area? Is it A, Texas or B, United Kingdom? This isn't true or false at all. I've asked for true and false and it's not, but it's A and B. Anyway, >> A. >> Okay, TJ. >> No, it's obviously Texas. I know that. >> Do you? Right. You ready? What does y'all mean? Is it a one person, B a group of people? pug. It is uh B TJ. >> Um I'd say one person because I've been called out on text by Tex and friends. So I reckon it could be >> you don't have any text and friends. >> All right. >> So you want to go a Okay, fine. Good. Uh what does I'm knackered mean in the UK pug? Is it A I'm angry, B I'm tired, or C I'm hungry? >> I'm going to go with C. I'm hungry. >> Nice. >> I think it could have been B. Yeah. Sorry. >> Are you going to change your uh which one do you want to go for? >> No, I'm going to stick with C. >> You sure? >> Yes. >> Positive. >> All right, I will change it to B. >> Oh, interesting. Okay, TJ. Well, seems like a bit of uh cheating going on here. Uh B. Yeah, good stuff. Uh, in the UK in a UK pub, what's a lagger shandi pug? Is it a lagger and lemonade, b lagger and cola, or c lagger and cider? H, I'm going to go with logger and cider. >> The only one that sounds appealing. >> I think that's called something else. Um, no. It's definitely laggera and uh lemonade. A >> Okay. >> Uh, the rest are something that Dellboy might drink. >> Pero and lemonade. >> Guinness and po. Yeah. >> Question number five. Which one is a real Texas city? Is it A. Basing Stoke, B. Sugarland, or C. Scunthorp. >> What was the first one? >> Bazing Stoke. >> Bazing Stoke. Is it A Bazing Stoke, B Sugarland, or C Scunorp? I'mma go C. TJ, I'd love it to be Sugarland. So, I'm going to go with that. Okay. Question number six. Which one is a real UK place name? Is it a luk, b ding-dong, or c amarillo pug? >> All right. So, which one is a UK >> place name? Yeah. >> Okay. It's uh ding-dong, I'm guessing, cuz the other two are from here. Unless y'all have >> unless y'all have uh you know, a love Do we? >> I don't know. I don't know. So, I'm gonna go with Ding-Dong. >> Good. TJ. >> Uh, I I don't actually know the answer to this, but I'm going to go with Labuk. That sounds like it could be >> interesting, right? >> A dual place name. Yeah. >> Okay. Question number seven. What is a US biscuit closer to in the UK? Is it a a scone or a scone? M >> who knows how to say it. B a digestive biscuit or C a crumpet. So what is a US biscuit closer uh closest to in the UK? Is it A a scone or a scone? B a digestive biscuit or C a crumpet? >> Aug. Cool. TJ. >> Yeah. I'm going to go A. I tried making it once. Biscuits with gravy and it turned out pretty horrendous. Uh, it looked lovely on the recipe, but I don't think I did it right. >> Thanks for that. Uh, what is football in most of the UK? Is it A, American football, B, soccer, or C, rugby? >> So, what is football in most of the UK? >> P. Uh, uh, B. >> Go, TJ. >> Yeah. Soccer. Did you um watch any soccer when you were out here, mate? Did you ever have a favorite team at all? >> No, sir. >> No. I thought you were going to say Man Man United, seeing as you uh you went through. >> I'm not I'm not really a big uh sports guy, you know. I don't even I don't even keep up with uh with the football over here. >> We tried. We we we got taken to What was that place? It was like this massive sphere dome. It >> was amazing. >> Oh, it felt like you were there. It was uh cosm I think it was called. Oh. Um, okay. So, question number nine. Which is more likely a UK chippy? Is it A, a corn dog, B, a chicken fried steak, or C, mushy peas? Pug. Which one is most likely a UK chippy? >> Yeah. Fish and chip shop. >> Okay. So, Okay. So, that's something that's coming from a fish and chip shop. All right. What's uh what's my what's my options again? >> So, you got a corn dog, b chicken chicken fried steak, or c mushy peas? >> I'm going to go with the uh corn dog. >> TJ mushy peas all day long. >> Okay. >> Oh, this is going in your favor. >> It is. Yeah, you've done. >> Uh and the last very last question. Sh. We might even do a breaker. The breaker question. >> Uh the last question is finish the phrase in the UK. Cheers can mean a only thank you, B only goodbye, or C both thank you and goodbye. So finish the phrase in the UK. Cheers can mean only thank you only goodbye or both thank you and goodbye. Pug. >> I'm going to go C. >> TJ. >> Yeah. C. >> Now have a one. >> Oh, I'll tell you what. Let's I'm going to do the breaker question. How how I like this question. How many miles approximately is it from London to Dallas by air? How many miles approximately is it from London to Dallas by air? You're going to have to give me a number in the world, pug. From London to Dallas. Oh, I'm the worst at this. Uh, I'm going to go 4,000. >> Okay, TJ. >> 4,562. If I'm spot on, then uh you're absolutely not. Don't worry, you you're not going to get it. So, uh answers. Which is bigger in land area? Um A is absolutely correct. You both got that right. Um what does ya mean? Uh the answer is B, a group of people. Uh so Pug, you got that one right. Uh what does I'm knackered mean in the UK? Um, pugsy, right? B. Yeah, obviously TJ, that's what he says all the time. Um, in a UK pub, what's a lagger candy? Uh, the answer is lagger and lemonade. So, it's >> it's what girls order, mate. You know, don't don't have one of those. >> Is it good? Like, >> it's refreshing. >> Refresh, you know, it's good in summer, but >> as a man, you wouldn't go up to a bar and ask for a chandi. It's uh I got you. >> It's not a ding. >> No. Uh, which one is real? Uh, is a real Texas city? Is it Basin Stoke, Sugarland, or Scumforp? Uh, the answer is B. Sugarland. So, TJ, >> oh, which one is a real >> Texas? I thought you said which one is not a real Texas city. >> I tell you what, >> you you did get that. >> Sugarland. Yes, that's uh down by Houston. >> Well, it's lucky I wrote the answer down for you in the correct manner because you got it right. >> There you go. >> Um, because it's not fixed. There we go. Uh uh what's the what's the next question? Where are we? What one is a real UK place name? Um Labok, Ding-Dong, or Amarillo? Pug, you're absolutely right. It is ding-dong. >> Abidam. >> Ding-dong. >> Um what is a US biscuit closest to in the UK? Yeah, I said that really weirdly. Biscuit. >> Um in the UK it is a scone or a scone. Scone or a scone. You're both right on that one. Uh what is football in most of the UK? It is soccer. We both got that one right. God, they're quite close. Um, which is more likely a UK chippy. Unfortunately, TJ got it right. It is mushy peas. Uh, it's a thing. Yeah, you normally put vinegar in it. Mushy peas and pepper. >> Um, and then the finish the phrase in the UK, cheers can mean uh only thank you, only goodbye or both. Thank you and goodbye. Um, you're absolutely right, Pug. It is both thank you and goodbye. Uh, and now the breaker question. Interesting. How many miles is it from London to Dallas by air? The answer is between 4,700 and to 4,900 miles. Um, I'm going to give the right answer to Pug only because you recently flew from London to Dallas and you you're at an advantage and Pug isn't. So, um, all in all, Pug, congratulations. You are the very first winner of the Rugger Revival. Um, it's not true or false. Rugger revival quiz, pub quiz. Congratulations. Well done. You should be very proud of yourself. >> TJ, >> play the music. >> Play the music. >> I'm sorry, TJ. Well, I I kind of got it right almost because I I'm so scared of flying that for nine hours I was holding on to the back of that person's chair watching that freaking plane go over that screen and how many miles were left. >> I'm shocked. I'm shocked you didn't you didn't get the right answer to me. >> Wow. I tried. >> So that's why the point went to Pug and actually it's not fixed cuz Pug got it right most of the time. You were one down. So, let's see if you can beat it again next episode. Anyway, so, uh, back on to more serious questions. So, Pug, um, we we've we've talked about the past. We've talked about how you've been dealing with things. We we've talked about your wife being your manager. Uh, and on the podcast itself, we talk a lot about mental health. Uh, and we talk about a lot around men's mental health as well. Um, we know that the industry can really take its toll on people. Um, it can really have an impact on people. uh especially when you're traveling a lot um or if you've got friends and family that are involved and it does take uh a lot out of you. So, if you wouldn't mind sharing with us and and please don't feel like you have to, but um what do you do to to keep your head straight? What do you do to to look after your own mental health? >> Um well, here uh lately I've been uh trying to work out more. you know that you know everybody's saying uh the way to take care you know of your mind is to take care you know of the body. Um here lately I've probably been drinking a little more than I than like I should be. But, uh, you know, uh, check in with Mindy, you know, uh, it really really helps having, you know, having somebody like her, you know, that I can, um, uh, I've always, you know, having a partner that you feel like you can actually talk to, you know, and and they're they're um receptive and you know uh willing to help. Uh and Mindy is very much that. Um we we recently got me uh a a uh social media person. So I'm not even really on it as much anymore. Uh it's like uh you know once a day uh I get on and check if there's any >> uh notifications that like I need to respond to or anything like that and then I get to put it away and not worry about it. And I've been I've been making a point to where uh you know even if you know I'm >> you know on the toilet or something like that I'm I you know I find something else to do other than sit there and scroll through >> Yeah. you know, do some do some uh um duo uh duo lingo or something like that. You just just something else. And uh I think that's been a big help. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and thank you for sharing that with us. I know that it's sometimes it's a taboo subject, sometimes people don't like talking about it and and we understand that. And and I've got to say we we put a video together at Christmas. Um, and it was about sometimes it's a difficult time at Christmas and uh, you know, wherever you are, you're part of this rugger revival community. You know, if if you need anything, please do shout out to us. Come and speak to us. Just message us. Even if you want to chat, scream, you know, >> tell us to [ __ ] off. Just do whatever you want to do. Whatever's going to help you more often. Yeah. >> And actually, >> [ __ ] off. >> [ __ ] off. >> Yeah, fair enough. And then um TJ's got a phrase actually of for [ __ ] sake. Um for [ __ ] sake. >> Um so you know we we've talked about it before and actually I did get a lot of messages from that video saying it made people quite emotional. It made people quite upset um and it that we weren't intending it to be like that. But what we did do is we we touched note with some people that Christmas and New Year can be a tough time. Uh and not just that you know going into 2026 January is a very tough time for some people you know some people have money troubles financial issues and uh a lot of people sometime have arguments over Christmas and New Year's and whatever it is you know we are always there uh for everybody and I know I'm very passionate about this subject a lot um and uh you know I'm sure you would agree pug if if you need anything you know if anybody needs anything uh shout out go and speak to your partners go and speak to us if you if you haven't got anybody. Um, and it's great. So, shout out to Mindy. So, thank you, Mindy, for looking after Pug as well. So, yeah, well done. >> Um, okay, moving on from there. Uh, actually, I've got a very important question to ask you, Bug. >> Okay, >> TJ, can you play it for me, please? >> You're going to have to remind me. Oh, for [ __ ] sake. >> I'm doing you now. >> Oh, for goodness sake. >> Burgers. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Hold on. Hold on. >> Yeah. I found this video. >> If you need a perfect burger, say Waterburg inside Waterburger all over the state of Texas. Of course, Waterburger has the greatest food. Chicken, fries, burgers. They have everything. What's on the menu? Burgers. Of course, everybody loves burgers. Chicken, fries, desserts, you name it. And also, what goes great? Drinks. Fountain drinks. that is fresh, icy, cold, and superbly delicious in your favorite flavor, your favorite brand, and it tastes so good. Also, we find your patronage somewhat acceptable. And remember, if you need a perfect burger, say what a burger. >> Who is I saw that video that >> I'm going to find out and I'm going to post homage to her poem. Um, I think that is probably the best advert that I've seen in a long time. Uh, so the question that is very important, Pug, is what is your favorite wall burger? >> Oh, I typically do the uh I forget which um number it is, but it's it's just the bacon and cheese water burger. Just the you know, a classic. >> Yeah, classic. Live classics. TJ, what was your favorite? >> What did we have? I'm trying to think. Was it the like normal or spicy honey thing. >> I think I had the new >> No, I didn't have the same as you. >> Yeah, the hot and spicy. >> Oh, yeah. >> Uh bacon burger. >> I think I had >> got the honey butter uh chicken uh biscuit. >> I done the hot and spicy one. That's what I had. It was so good. >> Yeah. And that Yeah. Even the fast food joints are just like infinitely better than what we have here. I'm I'm just jealous, mate. Yeah. We have like macked, KFC, all usual kind of stuff, >> but the food's like atrocious. It's almost like you take great pride in your burgers and >> and [ __ ] all over the UK fast food. >> I just like if you're going to make something, you do it properly. You don't [ __ ] about. And I'm like, I just wish we did the same, you know, the same quality of the care. >> We tried to make it as small as possible and charge more money anywhere you go. So, we'll give you the smallest drink >> and the smallest bit of food and we'll charge you double for it that you can get in America. Anyway, >> [ __ ] you fast questions. Um, so, uh, right, next question. Um, is I've completely lost my place. It's a question I've asked previously. Uh, and and I do I I I always like to know the answer and what what makes you tick basically. What makes you play to crowds? What what gives you that urge to go and do what you do? What makes you get up in that morning and and go and play to crowds, go and do a gig, go and record something. What is it? What do you get out of it? >> Um, it's definitely uh, you know, it's a high like like when you have a good gig, like when you really got the crowd um, you know, just right there. Uh, yep. There's u, there's a high that comes from it. probably better than, you know, any drug I've ever had. Uh, and I've had several. Um, you know, uh, when I first started doing this, I just wanted to be, uh, be a songwriter. I wanted, you know, cuz I didn't think I could sing. Um, I didn't think I, you know, would ever want to be, uh, be a performer really, you know. I didn't think I had it in me. Um, but eventually it got to where it was like, well, if I want to be a songwriter, I have to play my songs, you know, for people, you know, they have to hear it and say, hey, that's a good song. And uh, you know, and through the course of that, I wound up with a band back uh, back in high school. And uh and then you know you fall in love with that part of it and you know you get that high and you're like [ __ ] that that was a lot of fun. I you know I think I could get better at this and you know um but yeah you know as an entertainer I've grown a lot you know um from the time I was uh 15 you know and starting to play in bars uh back home. Um, it's been a constant just, you know, little bit by little bit, you know, you pick some things up, you know, to make you a little better at it. Uh, and I'm still trying to learn more and get better at it. you know, you see somebody that's like really really got the snap and like they're real uh pros at it and uh you know, it comes across and when I see those acts, I'm always taking it notes, you know, okay, well, this is what they this is how they kind of uh set this up. That's great. You know, um you know, they told a story before the song, but they didn't drag on. and they either they got to it quick or you know with guys like uh Todd um uh Todd uh Todd Snider you know he would drag drag a story on for 20 minutes if he wanted to and it and you know and you loved every bit of it and so it's just kind of studying you know how you know all the different ways that people are you know achieving the goal of putting on a show uh you know and trying to figure about what you can do, what you what you don't do very well. Is that something worth getting better at or do I lean heavier into into this aspect? And um yeah, it's a good good uh question. I don't I don't I don't know if I've ever, you know, had it asked quite like that before. >> May May I ask a question off the back of that? So, so you >> so you with your productions, so you you you've got big productions on the records with the horns and the kind of full band. What what can you expect at a Pug Johnson uh live set? Do you have the full band and the horns or, you know, how do you kind of recreate it as best as you can or in the way that you want? Yeah, right now uh you get uh if it's a full band show, it's uh just uh drums, bass, you know, and a lead player with me. Um because horns are expensive and you know the key like I uh I'm not drawing uh you know enough yet to like really get all these guys paid based off the door you know and uh >> so no but but the way I you know I justify that is that well you know the record once it's made and put out there you know it's going to live live uh forever whereas you know my band may change next week you know uh you know all my guys may quit on me and you know I got to find a whole new roster and you know if you know if I get a gig that's paying well enough it's like well you know all right well yeah let's bring the keys and the pedal steel and the you know uh uh you know at least two or three horns in you know if we can't get the full four or five that uh I would, you know, uh that I'm trying to get to the point to where like I do have these guys on stage with me every night. Um but here lately, I do a lot uh you know uh by myself just uh do an acoustic set and uh you know that's how I came up in Bumont really. Um um you know, I was doing a lot of those to help raise the money to pay for the the uh first album uh in the singles and all that. Uh would just be me doing three or four hours in a bar by myself. And so I'm uh really comfortable doing that. and uh doing those gigs, I might tell more stories and talk a little more and you know uh kind of lean into a little more of a Todd Snider feel >> versus when I've got the band out and you know it's like all right well let's just let's just hit song after song after song and you know and then I'll tell a little bit of a story uh before this one you know I've got a good bit that I do uh you know leading in to this song or this song in. >> Cool. No, it's it's always interesting to find those kind of tidbits out, but uh anyway, Rody, I kind of stole your fun. >> Yeah. No, it it's it's great you asked that question and I think just just to feed off that is um prime example. I I personally think your your material, your songs are addictive, but as soon as you start listening to them, >> you it gives you that I don't know what it is. It gives you that vibe of you want to listen to more and it makes you feel good and then you want to listen to more and then it's just it's that whole circle of you want to listen to more and you want more and uh and you know even the the songs that so anybody that hasn't listened to the album um as we were talking about earlier Elabon um listen to it because you'll get why what I mean you'll understand what I mean when you listen to it because it's just incredible um so so thank you for for sharing Um, now we are >> just just out of your albums or or your singles, whatever you want to whatever you want to do. Um, we've got a playlist that we have at Rug Revival. This is I can't even say that. Rugged Revival. Even put my teeth back in. Um, and it's about the artist. So, it's about you. Um, if you could choose two of your songs that you would want on this exclusive playlist for people to get a feeling about what you're like, about your talent, about you, what would your two songs be? >> [ __ ] Um, that's tough. Uh, uh, Elabone would be a good pick or, uh, Big Trains, >> guess. And then um I don't know, maybe one of the older tunes. Maybe um Poncho or or uh Weed Man. >> Weed. I like that. >> That's a bit of YouTube. >> Yeah. Um and I've got to say, if I could if I could have anything on my playlist, it would be uh The Pipeline of Blues. song is unbelievable. That gives me uh you coming out on stage as you're coming out. That's Elvis Presley vibes all over, let me tell you. >> That's awesome. >> Um anyway, >> so that's an old that that song's a uh moon u u mullikin tune. He was an old Texas piano player. Um, >> right. >> And the version that that that we did was from a uh a Johnny Bush album that uh my dad had for years. Uh, and dad would come home from work, you know, and if we were going to be going out or something and he'd, you know, break in to uh to the dickle >> and he would stand in the living room and he would put that that uh record on and he'd have that whiskey glass in one hand and with the other hand he'd >> get in there and >> dance and sing along with it, you know. >> I love it. >> And then we'd we'd uh go to dinner. >> That is incredible. I love it. And in fact, I think there is a picture of you doing that pose uh on that I found earlier. Um I I'll find it and I'll post it as part of this. But um I thought it was hilarious. I thought it was brilliant. >> But yes, I Yeah, I'm definitely my uh father's. >> Yeah. >> You know, uh progeny cuz >> I love it. That's one more question. >> I dance uh >> Yeah. Just uh just like >> just like him. Yeah. >> Yeah. I don't know what I done to be honest. I mean, you've seen it if you have a look at the revival. >> We posted it a few times and >> channel. There's a few dodgy moves on there, but um anyway, last question for me uh is what do you love about Texas? >> One thing. Um, I would say that that it's a, you know, it's a part of America that still has its like its own kind of culture, you know, and there there's uh I feel like there's a lot of parts, you know, of our country where it's it's all gotten kind of um um u Manila, you know, and uh a little bland and you know, the uh maybe overcommercialized or something, you know, the fast food joints and you know, they come in and take away, you know, the mom and pop, you know, and and and uh I know a lot of cities have really pushed back over, you know, on that thing and tried to find their their uh culture that, you know, that thing that is, you know, them and makes them, you know, who they are. uh and they and they try to preserve that and bring it back. Uh and with Texas, it's always it's always kind of been there. Um although, you know, we still, you know, are facing all the you know, all that other [ __ ] that I just >> mentioned. You know, we're dealing with it uh as much as anybody else. But there's like we still just have this kind of streak about us. This >> Yeah. >> Um >> Yeah. Yeah. And independence and, you know, I'm going to do it my way, you know, and I don't give a [ __ ] what anybody else, you know, >> take your [ __ ] nose out of my business. Ex, >> dude. Very, very much so. That is that is a, you know, a Texan trait through and through. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Love it. Thank you so much. Cheers, Pug. TJ, uh, I know you've got your little thing that you Let me reword that. You've got your little thing. You've got You've got a thing to do now. I I have. Yeah, I I like the uh that that Texas analogy. Maybe that's why we got on so well out there is that we are, you know, independent and uh we we don't give a [ __ ] Um so we we blended in quite well. But there you go. Yes, sir. Anyway, I'll stop talking [ __ ] Um so this is the final game uh of the podcast. You'll be pleased. We we're so close to the end pug, but this this is a world famous game. It's been played by anyone you can think of really. Anyone big in the industry has played this game. Uh, it's called I'm >> Prince Selenion. >> Yeah, exactly. Um, it's called the Kiss Game and it sounds a little bit fruity. I promise you it's not. >> Um, basically um I was listening to Prince Kiss, that song. I love it. I love Prince. Um, but for me it's a hilarious song. It's it's a ridiculous song that only Prince can pull off. Um, so we try to emulate that um with the opening kind of introduction to that particular song. So I think if I play you a snippet of the original, Ronny's going to have a go uh of showing you what it's all about and then would you like to to have a go yourself once you've seen it? >> Sure. Yeah. All right, >> I like that. You're up for it, mate. >> I think so. >> Yeah. Well, it will make sense as we go along. >> I think I'm up for it. Well, you you've said yes now. So, uh so this is the original of uh Prince. There you go. So, quite a quite a famous introduction. Um I'll do you what I did. Um you probably think it's the same one, but uh let's just play it. So, very similar. Very similar. Uh, and Ronny's gonna have a go now just to show you exactly how it goes. Are you ready, Ronnie? Are your vocals warmed up. >> So, yeah. Go on. >> Right after three. One, two. >> That was quite good. I think that's your best attempt. So, I'm getting better at it. Hopefully, you get the gist of uh the game, pug. >> All right. >> We We score it >> on accuracy. timber, pitch, tone out of five. >> And you haven't got a [ __ ] clue what you're talking about. >> We make it up as we go along. So, plenty of people have played it. Plenty of people have failed. But, um, >> okay. >> Some people have done really well. >> Right. So, you're trying you're trying to recreate the original. >> As close to And I think because you're an artist, I reckon. >> Do you want to hear it one more time just to kind of >> Yes, please. >> Right. Let me play the original. I reckon because you've you've got that kind of pitch to your vocals already, you might nail this. >> So, do you want to hear it one more time? Are you ready to just dive straight? One more time. One more time. Right. Here we go. >> All right. >> Are you ready? >> I'm ready. >> Right. You can have as many goes as you want, but uh hopefully the first one will be good after three. So, one, two. Ah. >> Oh, >> that wasn't me doing it after you. >> Oh, >> that was uh >> that was good. >> It takes some beating for for Cory Michael. Cory Michael absolutely smashed it. But Pug, >> I think you did really well. Ronnie, what would you uh >> Oh, he's got to be up there. He's got to be in the high numbers. Four out of five. >> Oh, I reckon out of 10, eight and a 3/4. >> Oh, that's pretty good. >> Nine. Nine. >> I'd give you nine and a half, pug. Well done, mate. We'll uh you'll insert. >> Appreciate you having me. >> We've only got a couple more questions. I promise you. Um, so you talked about coming to the UK, mate. Um, you've already been here. uh been been to Scotland, to England, to Ireland, and and you know, probably more places than me and Ronnie have been uh in fact just just like very few little points, you know, we we didn't get to like take in, you know, all the all of the the the uh >> Yeah. And so, um, Hendy and I have talked about, uh, we were over there for three weeks and, uh, you know, we'd like to have three weeks, you know, in Ireland and three weeks, you know, in Scotland and three weeks just in England and, uh, you know, we didn't even, uh, get to go to Wales. So, and then yeah, in that like west western part of uh of uh you know England, I know there's a lot over there that is just >> beautiful. Yeah. Uh Dartmore and all that and isn't that Somerset and Dorset. Yeah. There's some beautiful places out that way. But yeah, we always ask, you know, people that come on, particularly obviously from the US, you know, to is there any plans to come back or to come for the first time or to to to play any gigs, you know, and I suppose you kind of semiwans answered already. >> Yes, sir. I've uh I've played I played uh uh Americana Fest I think in 24. I think that was 24 that that Mindy and I I think we uh we were in um uh you know London for uh less than 24 hours. We flew over and played and then we flew back uh which was a rough trip and uh not how I recommend anybody go to visit cuz it's just a blur. Um but no, there's uh there's a lot over there that both of us would uh you know really want to see. Um so yeah. Yeah, because uh because last time I mean we were there for three weeks. We had uh you know the first week we were getting getting u married and then the next two was us on our kind of uh kind of honeymoon and we wound up, you know, uh we had to take a couple of days off of sightseeing to nurse uh uh nurse the hangovers that we had acquired. >> So >> excellent. Well, if you ever come back this way, shout us up, mate, cuz uh we we'd love to see show you the sites. >> We'd love to take you around. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Take you some of the places to go. Yeah, >> let's do it, mate. Um but it's a fresh year, so 2026. Um I'm sure you've got loads of exciting things planned with the music and and with gigging, you know. Is there anything you can kind of reveal in terms of what what you've got going on? You know, what's your plan? >> Yes, sir. So, uh we are uh about to start a uh crowdfunding uh you know a campaign to try to uh uh finance the uh the uh uh next album that hopefully we can start working on I think in April or so. uh April or May I think we is the tentative uh dates but around uh Valentine's Day we're going to really uh try to launch this this uh Kickstarter campaign to uh yeah man get the funds uh together because you know the way the way I want to make a record is expensive but uh you know I'm sticking uh to my guns that, you know, I want it to measure up to a quality and uh >> yeah, so this this uh this record is uh I got really big into uh Jerry Lee Lewis, his his his uh country stuff um over the past year and a half or so. And then uh Merl Haggard is like you know is and always will be one of my biggest uh biggest influences. And so, uh, by exploring more of, you know, the 70s Jerry Lee and the 80s, uh, Merl Haggard, uh, records, um, you know, I decided that, uh, I wanted to write a hardcore, uh, country heartbreak, you know, uh, record. And so this one will probably have more of a um you know a concise theme than the the previous two which were kind of a collection of tunes that I had written and and it's like oh okay well there's there's a bit of a theme here so we'll we'll go with this whereas this one it was like all right well I need to make a heartbreak album. Uh, and so my roommate and I got in here and I was like, well, I, you know, if I was going to make a, you know, a fantastic heartbreak album, I need a song like this and I need a song like this. I need a, you know, a barroom anthem. I need a um, you know, a she done me wrong. I need a I did her wrong, you know, and just kind of, you know, uh, built a track list like that. And then I started uh breaking it down and writing uh writing some tunes that I I'm uh I'm really pleased with. Um that are going to be a real uh throwback to uh that that old uh crying, you know, in your beer, you know, country songs. And there will be more uh piano on this one uh you know because of the Jerry Lee influence. >> Awesome. >> So yeah. >> Oh, we're looking forward to that, mate. I think that's going to be amazing. Um funny enough, when we were at uh New Bronfields and and at Green Hall, Jerry Lee Lewis's uh little sister, I forget her name. >> Yeah, dude. She was rocking the >> Linda Gale. >> Yeah, Linda Gale. That was it. Yeah, she was I mean she's getting on a bit herself now, but uh that band was awesome. You know, I think they were half cut, you know, dare I say it, but uh they having a good old time. So are we. Um but no, that sounds amazing. I'm I'm really looking forward to what you're putting out next. And if you need us to share anything, um you know, we we'd love to do that for you. >> Absolutely. Yeah, >> that'd be great. >> We Yeah, u Mindy will be uh reaching out, I'm sure. >> Well, she's got my details now, mate. So, uh, we we we'll make that happen. But anyway, Ronnie, you love to do the final messages, don't you? So, uh, >> you keep Yeah, you keep calling it the final message and and it sounds like everybody's dying. Uh, stop calling it the final message. The last message. >> The last message. >> Uh, Mr. Pug Johnson, you have been an incredible guest. not only uh an incredible guest to come and speak to us and put up with us for an hour and a half uh but to um to to be the first one for 2026. Um I mention a lot of things in the intro. Um people need to listen to that back uh because it really does describe who you are. You're a whole mix uh of everything of all goodness and greatness and light. uh as I've as I've already said at the start um and and as I I just want to say that you you're so passionate, you're so knowledgeable also, you know, with the past and and your roots and where you've come from and why you do it. You know, a lot of the times I ask that question and people can't really answer. They do they say cuz they love it. You know, it's but you you you know why. Um you're headstrong and I cannot wait to see your career explode. Uh because it's going to be huge and uh and we'll be sitting in the background like two old men. >> Yeah. We're going to be sitting in the background like two old men waving, dancing, uh, and drinking a lot of, uh, of Coors banquet. But you've been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for joining us today, fellas. >> Um, and, um, yeah, and that's it. So, I'm going to raise a toast. So, if you've got a drink near you, um I think I've got this horrific uh I made a I was I don't know if you heard it earlier, but I made a hot chocolate and I think it's a couple of years out of date and it tastes like [ __ ] and I've been trying to trying to drink it all night anyway in my BE mug. So, whatever it is mug. Yeah. >> So, here's the razor toes to the grit, the grind, and to the revival. Cheers to everyone for listening. Thanks, man. >> Cheers. We appreciate it, fellas.
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