I’m psyched to welcome Joseph Settine to Roadcase for his second visit to the show. This time around, we were in the cozy confines of the podcasting studio at the lovely Russell Hotel in East Nashville. Joseph is the frontman of The Brook & The Bluff, who return to their Rock roots with their latest album, Werewolf. With loads of personal changes over the past several years, Joseph is well acquainted with life's transitions, and this wonderful album reflects the growth of the band both musically and personally.
Joseph is an open book – thoughtful and self-aware – and the sky’s the limit in this stellar interview. He talks to me about the driving forces behind the latest music, and his deep sense of gratitude as the band heads into its 10th year of hard work and life on the road. I can’t wait for you to give this one a listen!!
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Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome and Episode Intro with Host Josh Rosenberg
4:00 — Intro, height jokes, and concert crowd etiquette
5:30 — Bonnaroo stories and the reality of standing out in a crowd
7:30 — Going to shows off the road and the magic of live music
8:00 — Playing with Rainbow Kitten Surprise and performing at Red Rocks
9:00 — Why Red Rocks feels special from both the audience and performer perspective
10:50 — Front of house, sound, and how Joseph likes to experience shows
12:30 — Introducing Werewolf and the shift to a rock sound
13:00 — Tracking the album live and making music like a band again
14:00 — Working with producer Micah T and why the partnership works
16:00 — Building songs to be fun to play live
18:00 — Balancing studio ambition with live-band energy
19:00 — Concerns about how fans would receive the new direction
20:00 — Why the songs “play themselves”
21:00 — Reworking older material for the stage
22:15 — Why now was the right time for a rock record
23:40 — College-era DIY shows and pandemic livestreams
24:20 — Birmingham, Saturn, and the city’s music scene
28:00 — A stranger buys breakfast and southern hospitality
30:50 — Life changes, emotional writing, and the roots of the album
31:20 — Listening habits: Little Feat, Tom Petty, and classic songwriters
32:30 — Relationship changes, divorce, and writing in real time
35:40 — “Can’t Figure It Out” and songwriting as therapy
36:30 — Joseph’s role as main lyricist and how songs come together
38:15 — Starting with the first line and writing like a puzzle
39:30 — The importance of a strong opening line
41:20 — Joseph’s lyrical approach versus Alec’s instrumental approach
43:40 — “Super Bowl Sunday” and avoiding hard conversations
45:00 — People-pleasing, conflict avoidance, and learning self-accountability
47:20 — Therapy, resentment, and learning to communicate earlier
48:40 — Dogs, healing, and the role of companionship
51:10 — Tour response to Werewolf and fans singing the new songs
52:50 — What the band tries to create on stage: joy and connection
53:50 — Letting go of perfectionism during live performance
56:00 — Staying present, trusting the band, and performing with confidence
57:20 — Where Brook on the Bluff is now and how close the band feels
59:40 — Gratitude, luck, hard work, and how the band got here
01:02:40 — DIY booking, early hustle, and the long road to national tours
01:05:00 — Focusing more on creativity now that the band has a team
01:06:00 — Looking back at milestones like Bonnaroo, Red Rocks, Webster Hall, and House of Blues
01:08:00 — Old fans, new fans, and building a lasting connection
01:09:50 — Why live music matters in a more isolated world
01:11:00 — Music as a shared human experience
01:12:10 — Fans telling Joseph the music got them through hard times
01:13:00 — The meaning behind the Werewolf title and the metaphor of personal accountability
01:15:20 — Closing thanks and final thoughts
01:15:53 –– Episode Wrap-up with Host Josh Rosenberg
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Studio support provided by The Russell Hotel in East Nashville
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Roadcase theme music: "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer
