Robbie Robertson (The Band) Talks with M.C. Taylor (Hiss Golden Messenger) on the Talkhouse Podcast

They talk road-dogging with Dylan, scoring for Scorsese, and creating the seminal Music from Big Pink.

Robbie Robertson is a songwriter and guitarist who redefined American music with The Band, redefined what a concert film could be with The Last Waltz, and redefined movie soundtracks via his scoring of critical Martin Scorsese films like Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, and, most recently, The Irishman. To celebrate the release of the new documentary Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band, Robbie sat down for an incredible Talkhouse conversation with an artist at Americana’s vanguard, M.C. Taylor, AKA Hiss Golden Messenger.

The guys chop it up on some truly incredible stories, including (but by no means limited to!) Robbie’s touring with Bob Dylan, working with Martin Scorsese, and corresponding with the brilliant classical composer Krzysztof Penderecki. Their talk also takes in the meaning and process of songwriting, Levon Helm absolutely hating country music, and Robbie’s “incredible jukebox in the sky.”

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming episodes with authors George Saunders and Dana Spiotta, filmmakers Olivier Assayas and Kelly Reichardt, and musicians A.C. Newman (The New Pornographers) and Post Animal.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer @eliaeinhorn

Today’s episode is brought to you by Current.com. It was recorded in North Carolina by M.C. Taylor, in Los Angeles at Village Studios by Karl Wingate, and in Brooklyn at Hook and Fade Studios by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol and compliments to [email protected]

(Original photo credit, left: Don Dixon; Edited by Keenan Kush)

Your favorite musicians, filmmakers, and other creative minds one-on-one. No moderator, no script, no typical questions. The Talkhouse Podcast offers unique insights into creative work from all genres and generations. Subscribe now, and explore more illuminating shows on the Talkhouse Podcast Network.