No Simple Road

Ric Robertson joins us to talk about turning home into haven, art into connection, and life’s biggest milestones into songs worth sharing.

From jam band stages to immersive healing through sound.

This week on No Simple Road, Aaron, Mel, and Apple sit down with the our Brother and the endlessly creative Chris “Hollywood” English, a multi-genre musician known for lighting up stages with bands like Grateful Shred, the high-octane bluegrass of Dirty Blanket, Cuppa Soup and a host of other musical collaborations that keep the modern jam and roots scenes buzzing. Chris joins us for a deep dive into the winding road of a working musician — from the early sparks that ignited his passion for music to the moment he found himself bouncing between genres, bands, and stages across the country. We talk about the freedom that comes with musical exploration and why staying curious is the secret ingredient to longevity in the music world. The conversation flows through life on the road, the chemistry that forms between bandmates, and the ever-changing landscape of the jam band and festival scenes. Chris shares what it’s like to shift gears between projects like Proper English and Dirty Blanket, how those different musical spaces challenge him in unique ways. Like all things No Simple Road, this episode goes beyond just the notes and grooves. It’s about creativity, community, and the willingness to follow wherever the music leads — even when the road twists in unexpected ways. If you’re a fan of funk, bluegrass, jam bands, or the kind of musicians who refuse to stay in one lane, this conversation will resonate. Press play and join us on the road with Chris “Hollywood” English as we explore the intersection of funk, roots music, and the ever-expanding world of live improvisational sound. Follow Chris on IG to keep up with everything he has going on @chrishollywoodenglish Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nosimpleroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for merch, past episodes, and community updates. Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/nosimpleroad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leave a 5-star review & share this episode with a fellow music lover! -FREE SHIPPING from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Tour Bus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use The PROMO CODE: nosimpleroad INTRO MUSIC PROVIDED BY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Young & Sick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OUTRO MUSIC BY AND USED WITH PERMISSION OF: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CHILLDREN OF INDIGO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Simple Road is part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OSIRIS MEDIA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Osiris Media is the leading storyteller in music, combining the intimacy of podcasts with the power of music.

This week on No Simple Road, we welcome the vibrant souls behind Mojo Fest 2026 — the members of Bodhi Mojo — for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like sitting around a late-night campfire with family. Aaron, Mel, and Apple dive deep with the band about how a dream, a community, and a whole lot of heart turned into one of the most exciting grassroots gatherings in Oregon. We explore the origin story of Mojo Fest, the intention behind creating a space where music, art, connection, and transformation can all coexist, and the realities of building an independent festival from the ground up. Bodhi Mojo shares what it takes to move from playing stages to building them — literally and figuratively — and how collaboration fuels both their music and their vision. The conversation flows through festival culture, the power of intentional gatherings, and the magic that happens when artists and audiences dissolve into one shared experience. We talk about the band’s creative process, their evolution as musicians, and why events like Mojo Fest matter now more than ever in a world hungry for authentic connection. Like all things No Simple Road, this episode goes beyond logistics and lineups. It’s about purpose, community-building, and following the spark that says yes even when the path isn’t clear. If you’ve ever felt the pull of live music as medicine, festival grounds as sacred space, or strangers becoming family under the lights, this conversation will resonate deeply. For tickets and info head over to: www.bodhimojo.com Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nosimpleroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for merch, past episodes, and community updates. Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/nosimpleroad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leave a 5-star review & share this episode with a fellow music lover! -FREE SHIPPING from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Tour Bus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use The PROMO CODE: nosimpleroad INTRO MUSIC PROVIDED BY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Young & Sick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OUTRO MUSIC BY AND USED WITH PERMISSION OF: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CHILLDREN OF INDIGO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Simple Road is part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OSIRIS MEDIA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Osiris Media is the leading storyteller in music, combining the intimacy of podcasts with the power of music.

This week on No Simple Road, we saddle up for a deep, honest ride with Andy Thomas — a songwriter cut from the cloth of hard roads, real stories, and the kind of truth you can’t fake. Andy joins Aaron, Mel, and Apple for a conversation that moves far beyond the surface, exploring the grit, grace, and lived experience behind the music. We dig into Andy’s journey blue collar to the stage — where independence matters, authenticity is everything, and songs are born from life rather than industry expectations. He shares stories from the road, the inspiration behind his songwriting, and shares some of the magic that went into his upcoming almub produced by Dave Schools himself! But like all things No Simple Road, this episode goes deeper than genre. We talk about resilience, creative freedom, and the tension between tradition and evolution. Andy opens up about the influences that shaped him, the lessons learned along the way, and why raw, emotional honesty still resonates louder than polish. For tour info, music and more head to: andythomasmusic.com Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nosimpleroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for merch, past episodes, and community updates. Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/nosimpleroad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leave a 5-star review & share this episode with a fellow music lover! -FREE SHIPPING from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Tour Bus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use The PROMO CODE: nosimpleroad INTRO MUSIC PROVIDED BY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Young & Sick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OUTRO MUSIC BY AND USED WITH PERMISSION OF: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CHILLDREN OF INDIGO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Simple Road is part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OSIRIS MEDIA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Osiris Media is the leading storyteller in music, combining the intimacy of podcasts with the power of music.