Mike Mettler

Rock is rock, no matter where it comes from and who’s playing it. Sure, certain sounds and styles will always get some kind of genre label attached to them, but it all really boils down to one thing: Does the music move you? “Obviously, we’re from the South and proud to be Southerners — but you know, man, we just write and play music,” observes Donnie Van Zant, co-founding 38 Special guitarist. Adds co-founding 38 Special vocalist/guitarist Don Barnes, “We derive everything from our influences from before and we’ve kept the standards high, just like they all have.” Recently, I got on the line separately with Van Zant, 63, and Barnes, also 63, to discuss the rich musical history of 38 Special and their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, working with Dan Hartman as their early-era producer, and their respective legacies as both songwriters and performers. They’re just two wild-eyed Southern boys caught up in making some good ol’ rock & roll for anyone who’s willing to listen.

If there’s one thing the ongoing pandemic has taught us, it’s that the “too much time on my hands” concept no longer applies. Here are five music-centric podcasts and a sixth smorgasbord selection to enhance your appreciation of music and the ways it’s made.

The always-must-be-fed M.O. of today’s streaming services has produced a plethora of rock documentaries. Here are six you don’t want to miss.