S E109: Rock Docs, AI Songwriting, Cruise Nightmares and Road-Game Injuries :: Ep 109 Try That in Small Town Podcast
S E109: Rock Docs, AI Songwriting, Cruise Nightmares and Road-Game Injuries :: Ep 109 Try That in Small Town Podcast  
Podcast: Try That in a Small Town Podcast
Published On: Mon May 18 2026
Description: From Toradol shots and “rock docs” on the road, to AI tools like Suno reshaping Nashville, to cruise-ship horror stories and fans yelling requests at charity shows… this episode of Drive That in a Small Town goes all over the map in the best way.  The guys swap stories about playing hurt on tour, getting hooked up by “rock docs,” demolishing Luke Bryan’s band in flag football, near-disastrous 100-yard dashes, and getting smoked by a college women’s softball team. They also take a hard look at AI in songwriting, the death of old-school demo sessions, and how quality songs still rise above the noise.  You’ll also hear heartfelt praise for John Morgan’s heart for kids, a hilarious breakdown of Zach Bryan’s infamous fast-break clip, cruise stories including the notorious “Poop Cruise,” a peek into publishing contracts and quotas, and a “Dip Shit” segment calling out bad audience etiquette, shady neighbors, and 5-minute voice texts.  If you love small-town stories, country music, road-life chaos, and real talk about where the music business is headed, this one’s for you.  02:00 Shoulder sling, cortisone shots and playing hurt on the road  05:03 High-ankle sprain, Toradol, and “rock doc roulette” on tour  09:12 Behind the scenes: how rock docs keep shows from getting canceled  11:19 Golf postponed, one-armed putting, and Def Leppard drummer jokes  13:02 John Morgan at Bethel Bible Village: connecting with kids and staying late  14:25 John Morgan’s small-town roots and Chattanooga ties  14:42 Zach Bryan’s legendary fast break: live reaction to the clip  18:05 Is he a team player or just a chaotic fast break? Hoops talk and last-shot mentality  20:16 Who played what sport? Shortstop, field goal specialist, soccer and skateboarding handstands  22:15 Sponsor: Original Glory beer and Patriot Mobile  23:00 Neil’s college field goal career and the illness that changed his path to music  25:00 Spotting athletes on stage by how they move with their instruments  25:48 Flag football vs Luke Bryan’s band and a very lopsided score  27:00 Hungover 100-yard dash: who’s really the fastest?  29:24 Thomas Rhett vs Jay: 50-yard dash, gravel, and a brutal face-plant  30:30 Road games: Wiffle ball, basketball, softball and unhealthy competitiveness  32:41 Getting humbled by a college women’s softball team  33:04 Tennis, pickleball and even getting hurt playing video hockey  34:34 Women’s hockey, drunk women’s hockey and a TV-league tangent  34:55 Publishing meeting anxiety: “no cause for alarm” text and overthinking contracts  37:44 Song quotas vs quality: why the biggest years came from fewer songs  39:21 Suno AI demos, ChatGPT lyrics and “shining up a turd”  42:20 Why AI is scary for real creatives and how it masks bad songwriting  43:42 Who owns AI-generated masters and what happens when tools get better?  46:02 The death of Nashville demo sessions and what’s been lost for musicians and engineers  49:21 Why a real band in a room can’t be replaced, and how ears have changed  50:54 Hearing untuned vocals again and why imperfection feels so good  52:04 Cruise people vs non-cruise people and the infamous “Poop Cruise”  53:20 Disney Cruise and Castaway Cay: the one cruise they actually loved  55:16 The Venice/Disney Magic gig almost everyone in the band was offered  56:10 Hantavirus on cruise ships and mysterious “wives overboard” stories  58:09 Dip Shit segment: drunk fans yelling at benefits and show etiquette  01:01:09 Neighbor overcharging on landscaping: calling out the rip-off  01:02:55 Voice-text etiquette: why anything over 30 seconds is a problem  ______________________________________________________________________________________________SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces!Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every BusinessBook a tour today at espaces.comFrom the Patriot Mobile studios:Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t!Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOTRight now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN.Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!!Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory.Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.comPeacemaker Coffee CompanyFounded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.co  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.