💨 A few last thoughts on Snock

Before we get into Promontory Paul's entry into Smokestack this week, I want to plug Bryan Sutton and Billy Strings' new live album. The full thing is up on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, etc. You know the drill. Not enough for you? Check out their full 2020 performance from the Station Inn, "Last Train from Poor Valley" at the same venue in 2019, or their "The Train That Carried My Girl From Town" into "Black Mountain Rag" from Bridgestone 2024. Our cups runneth over with good sounds and old tunes. How lucky are we! Oh, and I'd be remiss not to plug that issue #6 is out this Friday! Tell a friend, and make sure you're subscribed. —The Conductor

We lost a good one last week, I fear. As I'm sure many of y'all saw, the late great Michael Hurley–a "freak folkie" and prankster of the highest order–passed away last week. He left this mortal coil at the age of 83, just about 24 hours after what would be his last performance in Asheville, NC.

Lots of headlines and write-ups out there that are worthy of reading (seriously, they all have different stories and anecdotes about him – a true testament to an incredible life is having 5 different obituaries published that are all so unique), but words you'll see over and over again are "freak folk," "legend," "outsider," "eccentric" and even "hero." I'm by no means a definitive expert, and the thoughts/content shared here will be the basics. But I felt like at least lobbing the music of Hurley (who also went by The Spoc, Doctor Spoc, and many variations onwards) out for consideration and consumption was a worthwhile effort in his memory for this edition.

For many, I think Hurley exists as a bit of an enigma. He was there for some of the key formative moments of the folk revival, and basically oscillated between active and inactive for many decades.

To my best summation (as someone who discovered him much later in life), he was prolific and adored, but lived somewhere below the surface of wide fame and renown, in the sweet spot of real-ones-know punk-rock-style notoriety. He wasn't interested in commercial success, and made a career of "goofing off and getting away with it." It feels like he is the kind of guy you are either born into knowing because its passed down through the stereo systems of your childhood home, or that you encounter in the wild at the end of some mystical tunnel of musical exploration. I hope your musical background or explorations gave you the opportunity to enjoy him while he was still around. Fortunate for all of us (especially us late-bloomers), there is so, so much great stuff to listen to.

Thing about Hurley, is that his music so full of personality that even after a short listen, you'll feel like you knew him personally. Listening is the best way to understand why he is so cherished as a creative soul, but for a more in-depth background and history, The NY Times did a really great piece on him in 2021, just as he as turning 80 years old. This feature does a great job summarizing his career, and there is a one-line vibe summary that rings the truest for me: "sincerity and silliness could share space." I'm sure there are other, lesser-known publications that have done him justice write-ups, but consider this a good trailhead.

Whether you knew and loved Hurley for a long time or you're just catching wind of him at the time of his death, we've got some good ear food for your Monday. A great place to start with him today--whether you're just diving in or in the mood to revisit – is this really awesome "companion" playlist put together by Paul Dufrene of @dimestoreradio and @radiolenvie (a couple of roots music accounts well worth a follow, if you haven't already seen them--big thank you to them for all the cool stuff they put out. BIG fan). I think this selection of tracks really does an excellent job at demonstrating the sensibility of Doc Spoc that was so readily perceptible in all of his music, which spilled out of him so naturally. A few train mentions in the mix, for the purists – listen close.

Take a few moments to start your week on a whimsical note with some of Hurley's tune – he's your guy for that, anytime you ever need it.

Thanks for the tunes and rest in paradise, Doc Spoc.

A few more cool links for your exploration if you're curious:

• Reading: 1997 Interview w/ Michael Hurley in Perfect Sound Forever
• Hurley's Last Performance (3/15/25) in Portland, OR (where he took up residence for the latter portion of his life) – wild this was just a few weeks ago (37 mins 21 seconds)
• Snock 'N Roll: Adventures with Michael Hurley Sorta insane documentary I found that someone made in 2009 – the filmmaker has a chance encounter with him and the camera kinda just rolls from there? Quirky but really gets into some awesome stuff. (25 mins, 14 seconds)

• Some spooky home-cooked theatrics on this performance of "Werewolf" from Pickathon in 2014 (6 mins 41 seconds)