AthFest 2026: Dash Rip Rock at the Georgia Theatre

In this episode, Sloane catches up from the green room of the legendary Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA during AthFest, with Dash Rip Rock, who’s been hard at work on a collection of new songs that are already generating plenty of excitement, especially across Europe. We dive into the story behind their latest album, A Song in Everyone, recorded at Bobby Matt Patton’s wonderfully eclectic studio in Mississippi, Dial Back Sound. It’s the kind of place that’s old, funky, and full of character, the perfect setting to capture the band’s unmistakable sound. We reminisce about Sloane catching DRR back in the 688 days, talk about how the band has evolved over the years, and share a few laughs about life in the studio, including the occasional yacht rock soundtrack of Toto and Sting playing in the background while the creative magic happens. So pour yourself a drink, settle in, and join us as we explore the stories behind the songs in another low-key, high-taste happy hour for music nerds. Pin Our Tastemaker Playlists • Apple Music (  / dive-bar-music-club-dash-rip-rock-at-athfe...  ) • Tidal (https://tidal.com/playlist/230abf23-1...) Musicians Featured in this Episode • Bobby Matt Patton • Bill Davis (Dash Rip Rock founder) • Butthole Surfers • Dash Rip Rock • Dexateens • Drunken Prayer • Eric "Roscoe" Ambel (referred to as "Roscoe" and "Eric Campbell/Amble" in the transcript; misspoken and corrected to be Eric Ambel) • Lilly Hiatt Musicians, Bands, Festivals, and Ships • AthFest (festival) • HeAthens Fest (festival) • Dan Baird • Dave Barbe • Dial Back Sound (studio/label) • Drive-By Truckers • Fat Possum (studio referenced as the former Fat Possum studio) • Georgia Theatre • Henry Barbe • Hurray for the Riff Raff • Lance Bangs • Led Zeppelin • Mammoth Records • Mary Lee Kortes • Metroplex (Atlanta venue) • Mitch Easter • Mojo Nixon (referred to simply as "Mojo") • Morgan (of Drunken Prayer; surname not stated) • Rob Reiner • Rolling Stones • Shinyribs • Spain (mentioned as a touring market, not a venue/person) • Steely Dan • Sting • Sunny Sweeney • Supersuckers • The Deslondes • The Nick (venue in Birmingham, AL) • The Outlaw Country Cruise • The Whole Truth and Nothing Butt: The Story of the Butthole Surfers (documentary) • Tom Petty/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (referenced as "the Heartbreakers") • Toto • Warner Hodges • 688 Club (referred to as "688" and "688 Presents") • 688 Presents (record, concert promotion series) The Regulars • Sloane Spencer (https://divebarmusicclub.com/episode/...) Chapters • 00:00 - Introducing Dash Rip Rock • 01:22 - New Music • 05:03 - Musical Connections and Band Origins • 07:02 - The Impact of Music on Creativity • 08:35 - European Audiences • 11:27 - The Return to Familiar Stages Recommended If You Like Dive Bar Music Club, 90s alt rock, emerging songwriters, cult band favorites, music playlists, indie music culture, music nerds podcast, recording studio stories, Athens music scene, Dash Rip Rock, Drive By Truckers, European music audiences, zine making, metal music photography, folk music nostalgia, new album releases, music collaborations, yacht rock, Butthole Surfers, live music venues, Dash Rip Rock, Dash Rip Rock interview, A Song in Everyone, Bobby Matt Patten, Dial Back Sound, Drive-By Truckers, ATHFest, Athens music festival, Georgia Theatre, Southern rock, roots rock, Americana music, alt-country, cowpunk, rock and roll, Mississippi recording studio, Water Valley Mississippi, Dexateens, Drunken Prayer, Mitch Easter, Tom Petty, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Butthole Surfers, Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Toto, Sting, Warner Hodges, Dan Baird, Supersuckers, Lily Hiatt, Sunny Sweeney, Shinyribs, Hooray for the Riff Raff, Outlaw Country Cruise, Mammoth Records, 688 Club Atlanta, The Knick, independent rock music, new rock album, music podcast, artist interview, album recording, Southern music, Athens Georgia music scene, Europe tour, underground rock, cult rock band