For the song writers, music creators, and anyone who has ever been in a band! Christian and Mike take the time for another vanity episode to discuss what it takes to make music. And they each share a song that highlights that path.

Whether through a group dynamic or a creative space of solitude, the creative process is a special place to experience the here and the now!

A few mentions:

Keep up with the here and now and join our mailing list for a T-shirt raffle! - https://www.BrothersHowdyshell.com

The best in the brewing community! https://www.RestlessMoons.com/

The best in the duckpin community! https://RubysArcade.com/

Passing (Days of a Drinker) by Soy Hero - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i65dUGWDWws&list=OLAK5uy_l65INwl0tez3FDxD8pvcdDiF4jPVu5oLw&index=9

With Chris and Christian on vacation, we finally have a calm, civilized conversation. Sure. Let’s call it that.

We are very fortunate to have Jay Zehr on the podcast as a regular cohost. For this episode, we decided to take a deeper dive into a business he once owned, Town and Campus Records, a Harrisonburg record store in the heart of downtown from the late 80s to mid 90s.

Join us for the history, a few laughs, and the kind of rich, insider info that local historians love to hear.

A few mentions:

Join us! And get in on that T-shirt raffle! - https://www.BrothersHowdyshell.com

Restless Moons Brewing - A fine brewery sponsor! - https://www.RestlessMoons.com/

Ruby’s Arcade - Our host with the pizza and pins - https://RubysArcade.com/

Rolling along… This episode barely stays on the rails. Vocalist Haley Hudson joins us to talk about her musical journey and her band, Haley’s Comet. Cool detail- the five member band has a unique dynamic in that Haley’s father is also a part!

Being a professor, Haley shares how she found a true passion in teaching others. She even provides a few tricks of the trade!

A few mentions:

Join our mailing list and automatically be entered in our T-shirt raffle! - https://www.BrothersHowdyshell.com

Restless Moons Brewing - Harrisonburg’s finest! https://www.RestlessMoons.com/

Ruby’s Arcade - THE best basement pizza - https://RubysArcade.com/

Haley on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6O8nP5irSP6kgFb2qFbEiA

Hudson Voice Studio - Music lessons - hudsonvoicestudio.com

Haley’s Comet Insta - https://www.instagram.com/haleyscometmusic

Haley’s Comet Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562834948161

Live at Rhythm Den July 17th - https://www.instagram.com/p/DWPmsgEgck9/

Haley's Comet by Phish - the best version?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wC-WFtnr2A&list=RD9wC-WFtnr2A&start_radio=1

We are fortunate to have another Staunton creative join us! We welcome Matt Parrish, the Artistic Director for ShenanArts. Matt shares his experience with the folks, the spaces, and the work that make Staunton such a great place for art and community theatre.

We also take a quick dive into how Matt found his way here from Georgia and his interesting backstory growing up in a not-so-well-known religious community with a secretive history. Check out the show notes for follow-up links!

A few mentions:

Join our T-shirt raffle! - https://www.BrothersHowdyshell.com

Restless Moons Brewing - Music, beer, good company - how ‘bout yeah! https://www.RestlessMoons.com/

Ruby’s Arcade - https://RubysArcade.com/

ShenanArts Community Theatre - https://shenanarts.org/

ShenanArts Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/shenanarts/

Music of the Statler Brothers: An Anthology - The Book - https://www.amazon.com/Music-Statler-Brothers-Anthology-American/dp/0881467510

Some I Wrote - The Musical - https://shenanarts.org/someiwrote/

Two by Two Religious Sect - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_by_Twos

Hulu Documentary regarding the Two by Two Church - https://www.hulu.com/series/impact-x-nightline-the-secrets-of-the-2x2-church-af1993c5-df67-4d5d-b1e9-85e56676e2f9

BBC article regarding recent controversies - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9d5x83gg45o

We welcome Kalela Williams and Davey White to the show! Kalela and Davey tell us about their work in Staunton with Off Center and Staunton Augusta Art Center. Both are creative doers who love what they do and appreciate Staunton as a wonderful home for their art!

We took a deep dive into many of their different projects and included links in the show notes. Do yourself a favor and go check out what these local creatives do with their talents!

A few mentions:

The hub for all our nonsense - https://www.BrothersHowdyshell.com

Restless Moons Brewing - One of the best places on earth! https://www.restlessmoons.com/

Ruby’s Arcade - I had BBQ here tonight.. *chef’s kiss! https://rubysarcade.com/

About Kalela - https://www.kalelawilliams.com/about

Kalela Williams with Virginia Humanities - https://virginiahumanities.org/about/team/kalela-williams/

Tangleroot - A novel by Kalela Williams - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250880673/tangleroot/

Davey Williams - playwright, director, puppetry artist, and performer - Davey talks about his puppetry work - https://shorturl.at/AZjXn

Staunton Augusta Art Center - https://www.saartcenter.org/

The Off Center - https://www.offcenterstaunton.com/#/productions-view

The Off Center - The Ensemble - https://www.offcenterstaunton.com/team-4#/productions-view

American Mythology According To Staunton - https://visitstaunton.com/event/american-mythology-according-to-staunton-6/

The Hot Mammas - https://www.thehotmamas.com/

Gamelan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEWCCSuHsuQ

Rampokan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMjF42F3TRM

In this episode we welcome Ryan Faraci, local record store owner and music community builder! Ryan tells us about his business in Harrisonburg's Liberty Street Mercantile Building- Rhythm and Vinyl. And the space also affords a listening room known as- The Rhythm Den.

Make sure to check out his venue for a truly unique Harrisonburg musical experience. Ryan is a big fan of our little town and we are lucky to have him!

A few mentions:

Go get a shirt and learn all things Brothers Howdyshell adjacent! https://www.BrothersHowdyshell.com

Restless Moons Brewing - Continuing to create a musical space, one pint at a time! https://www.restlessmoons.com/

Ruby’s Arcade - Rhythm, vinyl, wood fire pizza - makes sense to me. https://rubysarcade.com/

The Rhythm Den -

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579485676794

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/therhythmdenva/

WMRA NPR News: https://www.wmra.org/2025-10-23/valley-record-stores-see-increased-traffic-from-young-people

Metal fans celebrate! We are incredibly fortunate to have Maggie Worthington join us to talk about the fascinating world of Sludge Metal! Even if metal is not your bag, Maggie’s take on the local music scene is worth the listen.

We love the Staunton scene and are so honored to have Maggie join us for a great dive into the musical fabric that forms our local flavor! Ironically, even Doc Watson fans are going to find a safe space here. Enjoy!

A few mentions:

All things Brothers Howdyshell! Go sign up for a chance to win a free tshirt and help us fight the social media algorithms! https://www.BrothersHowdyshell.com

Restless Moons Brewing - Great beer, great community, incredible space for music! https://www.restlessmoons.com/

Ruby’s Arcade - Mozzarella metal on a woodfired pizza pie. Go get it! https://rubysarcade.com/

Heemeyer the band:

Bandcamp - https://heemeyerdoom.bandcamp.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heemeyerdoom/

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/heemeyer_doom/

Doc Watson cover - Wake Up Little Maggie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HruPzxs2_bg

Tread is a 2019 American documentary film directed by Paul Solet centering upon a 2004 attack upon the small mountain town of Granby, Colorado by welder Marvin Heemeyer, who destroyed a number of businesses and homes in that town with a secretly fortified bulldozer made up of steel, concrete, and guns after feuding with multiple residents.

From the band Uncle Bengine, we welcome vocalist, guitarist, and song writer Ben Schlabaugh! Ben shares his story- Mennonite background and all. This is a great episode for the musician’s musician!

Ben is another great example of the type of productive, creative individual that our local community is so lucky to have! We talk about a lot of music, a lot of where this music comes from, and a lot of love for local talent.

A few mentions:

Brothers Howdyshell website now available! Go sign up for a chance to win a free tshirt! https://www.BrothersHowdyshell.com

Restless Moons Brewing - Lovely space. Lovely beer. https://www.restlessmoons.com/

Ruby’s Arcade - Rockin’ pie and pins in downtown Harrisonburg! https://rubysarcade.com/

Ben Schlabach Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/benjamin.schlabach

Uncle Bengine Site - https://unclebengine.com/

Uncle Bengine Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unclebengine?igsh=amIwcm1wd202bGh1