Transcript

Marcus King (0:00)

Start the season with Etsy and make.

Big J Okerson (0:02)

Your holiday traditions extra special.

Marcus King (0:04)

On Etsy.

Nikki or Bri (Podcast Hosts) (0:05)

You'll discover original pieces from small shops.

Big J Okerson (0:07)

That will help you celebrate your way.

Nikki or Bri (Podcast Hosts) (0:10)

Shop Etsy for holiday decor that makes you feel seen.

Marcus King (0:13)

Special starts on Etsy.

Robert Kelly (0:15)

If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. And now the bonfire with Big J.

Jacob (0:49)

Okerson and Robert Kelly live from the Fishbowl at Sirius XM studios in New York City.

Big J Okerson (0:57)

Hey, everyone. Welcome to our weird seating over here at the bonfire. What's up? It's our first bonfire live from the Fishbowl. Make some noise in here. Let them know there's people.

Robert Kelly (1:08)

Ooh, what's up? Oh, my God, these chairs.

Big J Okerson (1:11)

17 of our craziest fans in the house.

Robert Kelly (1:15)

What if this was it?

Big J Okerson (1:16)

This was all of them.

Robert Kelly (1:17)

This is all of them right here.

Big J Okerson (1:19)

I'll start out by saying we hate these fucking chairs. We thought we were going to get the Bennington treatment with little, little ones like this because we're being filmed. And instead they were like, no, let's put two fucking fatsos up on stools.

The Bonfire w/ Big Jay Oakerson & Robert Kelly

Live from the Fishbowl: Marcus King Fishbowl Event
SiriusXM Faction Talk | Aired October 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special Fishbowl live broadcast, Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly bring The Bonfire to a small but vocal studio audience at SiriusXM’s New York City headquarters. The episode is anchored by a wide-ranging, hilarious, and revealing conversation with acclaimed Southern rocker Marcus King, whose new band album "Darling Blue" has just dropped. The show blends classic Bonfire banter—good-natured roasts, backstage gossip, and live fan engagement—with deep-dive insights on the realities of music-making, personal growth, and surviving the business.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Live Audience Vibes & Crew Antics (00:57–13:00)

Jay and Bobby immediately riff on the awkwardness of their “stool seating” and a crowd that’s small but mighty ("17 of our craziest fans in the house!” – Jay, 01:11).
Ongoing banter about height, weight, and who qualifies as a “short king”—culminating in a live, contested tape measure session.
Playful introductions of the full Bonfire crew: Jacob, Black Lou Johnson, DJ Lewitsky, and Christine Evans.
Jay and Bobby speculate on the true fandom of the audience: “We can’t sell out a 15 seater… everybody here is related to someone on the show.” (Jay, 05:02)

Notable Quotes

“I’ll start out by saying we hate these fucking chairs… two fatsos up on stools where we look like little piles of tires.” – Jay, 01:19
“Last time we measured you, I didn’t lie. You did.” – Jacob, 04:01
"I am not a short king. I am a perfect movie star height." – Bobby, 02:56

2. The “Short King” Tape Measure Standoff (13:01–16:43)

Bobby insists he’s not short—Jacob challenges him to a real-time measurement, crowd gets involved.
After heated exchanges and alleged “fluffing,” Bobby is ruled “5’7” and officially inducted into the “Short King” club.
The running joke: equal opportunity ribbing now awaits Bobby alongside Jacob.

Notable Quotes

“You’re at five seven… Welcome to the kingdom.” – Jay, 13:30
“This will not result in me treating Jacob better. It’ll result in me treating you like I treat Jacob.” – Jay, 14:52

3. Fan & Crew Audience Interactions (18:28–27:35)

Hosts probe how various attendees know the show, learning some are friends or family of Black Lou, while others won tickets via a company contest.
Gags about “plants,” audience occupations, and sports preferences.
Highlights the pod’s balance of playful mockery and communal warmth.

Notable Quotes

“Are you a Cowboys fan? You can't hang out with Black Lou, then.” – Jay, 19:54
“Do you like football or soccer? I don’t watch anything. That’s crazy.” – Bobby, 19:56

4. Marcus King Joins the Show—Album, Band Life, and Rick Rubin Tales (32:20–54:57)

Marcus King Introduction & New Album (32:20–35:30)

Marcus arrives, described as radiating “Christy McNichol Dungaree energy.”
Talks about his return to recording with The Marcus King Band ("Darling Blue" is their first studio album together since 2018).

Working With (and Around) Rick Rubin (33:02–44:53)

Marcus shares what it’s like collaborating with the legendary—and legendarily eccentric—Rick Rubin.
- Rubin’s “always-barefoot” rule, making band members remove their shoes and even boots in his home.
- Rubin’s peripatetic lifestyle: recording sessions bouncing from Malibu to Tuscany, Italy.
- The strange luxury of finishing an album in an 11th-century cathedral; being asked to stay at an ashram/yoga retreat.
The hosts joke about cult leaders and the price of “artistic weirdness."
Marcus reflects on Rick’s intensity, involvement, and quirks. Despite challenges—Rubin’s absence or demands—he values the creative push.

Notable Quotes

“He made me take my shoes off… That’s an alpha dog move if ever I’ve seen it.” – Jay, 33:38
"Rick had like four Italian old ladies…they loved feeding me. They didn't speak any English, they just bring me stuff and pat your belly." – Marcus, 42:53

Band Dynamics, Touring, and the State of Music (45:09–54:57)

Marcus discusses the difference between recording with label-hired session players vs. his own band; the bonds and pains of returning to his musical roots.
The grind of touring: going from one shared van and bus (“the fart missile”) toward more dignified travel.
Candid about financial realities: Streaming royalties are minuscule, meaningful income is from touring—and even that’s increasingly fraught by ticket resellers and “growing pains.”
Jay, Bobby, and Marcus riff on touring fantasies—crashing with Kid Rock, hunting on ATVs—and the challenge of holding onto creative and business integrity.

Notable Quotes

“Growth is sometimes painful… when you have session players they just knock out their shit and leave—I’m just by myself.” – Marcus, 45:27
"We call it the fart missile... We're trying to move to two buses, a little more breathing room." – Marcus, 50:32
“Even the highest streaming artists… it’s not making much of a dent.” – Marcus, 51:38

5. Music-Making in Changing Times: Writing, Recording, and Place (54:57–56:56)

Marcus recounts recording parts of the album at legendary Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia—channeling the Allman Brothers' spirit—but still needing to satisfy labels searching for "marketable" singles.
Attempts to get his band to move to Nashville: “I went to Italy and Hawaii—they won’t come two states over.”
More Rick Rubin anecdotes: his aesthetic choices (red lighting, no “harsh” lights), and his self-conscious, counterculture “guru” persona.

Notable Quotes

“He doesn’t like harsh lighting… it’s all red lights. When it gets dark out on the farm, it’s all red.” – Marcus, 55:41
“There's a conscious decision in his life where he's like, well, now I'm a guru, now I wear wooden jewelry and fuck you, shoes." – Jay, 56:56

6. The Cowboy Hat Conundrum, Social Signals, Staying Down-to-Earth (58:00–End)

Bobby considers donning a cowboy hat but feels he “has nothing to offer that community.”
Marcus observes that cowboy fashion has “become in vogue” even in New York, but you have to “go all in”—no hat with sweatpants.
They riff on the perils of self-seriousness and the value of keeping normal people in your life to keep you grounded.

Notable Quotes

“I was kind of excited for you to see me. I thought you'd be like, you look good.” – Bobby, 58:39
“There's a confidence to it, you know. Five years ago in New York, I’d get a lot of weird looks; now cowboy culture’s kind of in vogue.” – Marcus, 59:41

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

Awkward Stool Opening: Jay and Bobby bemoan their unflattering live setup. (01:19)
The Great “Short King” Showdown: Live, heated measure reveals Bobby’s true height. (13:00–16:45)
Audience Surprises: Realizing many in the crowd are there by contest or connection, not just fandom. (18:28–20:35)
Marcus King Arrives, Dungaree Commentary: “Christy McNichol Dungaree energy!” (32:20)
Rick Rubin Antics: Forced barefoot sessions, cathedrals in Tuscany, and ashrams down the road from cult survivors. (33:15–43:57)
The Realities of Modern Music: Why cutting records makes less money than ever, and the grind of hitting the road with a big crew. (51:35–54:57)
Cowboy Hat Intimidation: Bobby wrestles with whether he can wear a Stetson and not get laughed out of the room. (58:56–59:41)

Final Impressions

This Fishbowl episode is classic Bonfire: irreverent, deeply personal, and filled with unscripted gems. The hosts’ chemistry, Marcus King’s mix of humility and road-tested wisdom, and real-life, unvarnished glimpses at the oddities of showbiz make this a can’t-miss for comedy and music fans alike. The episode keeps its edge while never losing its sense of fun or camaraderie.

Notable Quotes Recap

“You’re at five seven… Welcome to the kingdom.” – Big Jay Okerson, 13:30
“Rick had like four Italian old ladies…they loved feeding me. They didn’t speak any English, they just bring me stuff and pat your belly.” – Marcus King, 42:53
“We call it the fart missile... We're trying to move to two buses, a little more breathing room.” – Marcus King, 50:32
“Growth is sometimes painful… when you have session players they just knock out their shit and leave—I’m just by myself.” – Marcus King, 45:27
“Even the highest streaming artists… it’s not making much of a dent.” – Marcus King, 51:38

If you missed it, this episode delivers a behind-the-scenes party where music, comedy, and real talk collide.

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Marcus King Fishbowl Event

Transcript

Summary

The Bonfire w/ Big Jay Oakerson & Robert Kelly

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Live Audience Vibes & Crew Antics (00:57–13:00)

Notable Quotes

2. The “Short King” Tape Measure Standoff (13:01–16:43)

Notable Quotes

3. Fan & Crew Audience Interactions (18:28–27:35)

Notable Quotes

4. Marcus King Joins the Show—Album, Band Life, and Rick Rubin Tales (32:20–54:57)

Marcus King Introduction & New Album (32:20–35:30)

Working With (and Around) Rick Rubin (33:02–44:53)

Notable Quotes

Band Dynamics, Touring, and the State of Music (45:09–54:57)

Notable Quotes

5. Music-Making in Changing Times: Writing, Recording, and Place (54:57–56:56)

Notable Quotes

6. The Cowboy Hat Conundrum, Social Signals, Staying Down-to-Earth (58:00–End)

Notable Quotes

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

Final Impressions