This episode was supposed to be all about country music, inspired by going to see Latin-influenced alt-country legends the Mavericks, but, as often happens … I got a little distracted along the way.

Researching the possible connections between London Calling, Bruce Springsteen’s The River, and Sandinista! (and not finding much, no disrespect to Martin Popoff’s book, The Clash: All the Albums, All the Songs), I stumbled across folks accusing Bruce of being a “sellout,” based, I guess, on ticket prices for the US leg of his current tour and the fact that he sold his catalog to Sony Music for $500 million. Which reminded me of the many instances in which people accused the Clash of “selling out,” almost from the beginning of the band’s existence. Signing a major label record deal was a sellout, they said. London Calling was a sellout, they said. Having Top 40 hits on Combat Rock was a sellout, they said … 

So, that got me thinking about what “selling out” means and whether artists owe it to us to live in poverty and deprivation (spoiler alert: no, they don’t). In fact, I think the Clash did, and Bruce has done, a pretty good job of threading the needle between getting their music out, making a living, and still taking a stand. 

And while we’re on the topic of Bruce and the Clash, please check out my friend Jesse Jackson’s Springsteen podcast, Set Lusting Bruce, which is really great. Both my wife and I have appeared on Jesse’s show and we had a blast.

So, after this extended digression on “selling out,” I finally get to country music and my occasional Great Artists, Good People segment, featuring, as I say, the Mavericks, who originated in Miami and came to dominate Nashville in the mid-1990s. After a hiatus, they were back and better than ever in the 2000s and they continue to make records and tour to this day. They are easily one of our favorite live acts, and we’ve been fortunate enough to see them multiple times from the ’90s to the present. 

But, as the theme of this segment suggests, they are more than just great artists. They seem to be genuinely good people. While not overtly political, they are not afraid to share their values, including support for immigrants and LGBTQIA people, and simple things like, you know, loving, respecting and valuing other humans. All-around standup guys, and you should definitely buy their music and go see them live.

Anyway, please give this week’s show a listen and share your thoughts in the comments below. And remember, as Joe always said, “Without people, you’re nothing.”