Marcus King Fishbowl Event

Summary

The Bonfire w/ Big Jay Oakerson & Robert Kelly

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

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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.

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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

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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)

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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.

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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

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

Transcript

[Marcus King]

Start the season with Etsy and make.

[Big J Okerson]

Your holiday traditions extra special.

[Marcus King]

On Etsy.

[Nikki or Bri (Podcast Hosts)]

You'll discover original pieces from small shops.

[Big J Okerson]

That will help you celebrate your way.

[Nikki or Bri (Podcast Hosts)]

Shop Etsy for holiday decor that makes you feel seen.

[Marcus King]

Special starts on Etsy.

[Robert Kelly]

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]

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

[Big J Okerson]

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]

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

[Big J Okerson]

17 of our craziest fans in the house.

[Robert Kelly]

What if this was it?

[Big J Okerson]

This was all of them.

[Robert Kelly]

This is all of them right here.

[Big J Okerson]

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.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Where we look like little piles of tires.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. Damn it.

[Big J Okerson]

This sucks. Look at my knees are showing. Hey, I like a boy.

[Robert Kelly]

I love that. The skinny guy has no idea what we're talking about right now.

[Big J Okerson]

Talking fat guy shit, bro. The rest of the crowd gets it.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah.

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Look at my knees.

[Jacob]

I didn't get it either. I didn't understand. Now I understand.

[Big J Okerson]

You didn't understand what?

[Jacob]

I think you look good.

[Robert Kelly]

We don't look good. We feel fat.

[Big J Okerson]

I can't perform good when I feel fat.

[Robert Kelly]

We're both holding our stomachs in. We can't do that a whole show.

[Big J Okerson]

We want to stand and we're going to look weird.

[Robert Kelly]

Yes.

[Jacob]

I've never had that feeling.

[Robert Kelly]

Oh, fuck.

[Big J Okerson]

Fuck you, dude.

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Welcome, everybody, to the show. Of course. I'm Big J Okerson. That is the great Robert Kelly. Our whole crew is here for. Maybe you don't see them on. On our clips all the time. We should introduce. Of course. We got our Great. Black Lou Johnson over here. Make some noise for Lou.

[Robert Kelly]

And of course, we have little short king Jacob right there. Jacob the Todd. He's a lot shorter in person. Right.

[Jacob]

Bobby?

[Robert Kelly]

What?

[Jacob]

In front of God in the audience, you're one of us.

[Robert Kelly]

I am not.

[Jacob]

You belong here with us.

[Big J Okerson]

No. Look how high he is up on that chair.

[Robert Kelly]

I am taller than both of you.

[Jacob]

Come to us, Bobby.

[Robert Kelly]

No. I don't want to go to short people.

[Jacob]

Bobby, you, me and Lewis are going to live on the island now. We're going to go and live the rest of our days there together.

[Robert Kelly]

Guys, I am not a short king. I am a perfect movie star height.

[Big J Okerson]

What?

[Robert Kelly]

5. What?

[Big J Okerson]

What the hell was.

[Jacob]

I'll give him movie star height. But that means you're. You're one of us.

[Robert Kelly]

I'm not one of you. I'm not going to be fat and short.

[Jacob]

But, Bobby, you are not short. I'm not fat.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, wait, I gotta introduce the rest of our crew.

[Marcus King]

Yes.

[Big J Okerson]

Come on. We, of course have in the booth there our great DJ Lewitsky in the house.

[Jacob]

I'm a cowboy. We're gonna do a lot of gay sex to you.

[Big J Okerson]

DJ Lou. Oh, and of course, last but not least, I'll be right back. Bobby Van.

[Robert Kelly]

Hey.

[Big J Okerson]

You announce her when the time's right.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, that's right. What's up, everybody? I am not as short as you. And stop trying to suck me into your world.

[Jacob]

Last time we measured you, I didn't lie. You did.

[Robert Kelly]

Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the queen of the bonfire and her face to the glass for getting us shit chairs that she should have got, Christine Evans. Everybody, keep that face to the glass. Ah. God, these chairs suck.

[Big J Okerson]

Bobby, you know how much I hate flexing my pimp hands.

[Robert Kelly]

Well, you gotta do what you gotta do. We're sitting in stools we hate. Oh, God, you can't get it. Leave it. Get it at the end of the show.

[Big J Okerson]

Don't bend over in front of the people. You've humiliated yourself enough.

[Robert Kelly]

Oh, man, so glad we have lady fans. Hey, are you guys here? Are you fans? Are you just here because you had to drive him? You know black Clue. All right, well, there you go.

[Big J Okerson]

They know Black Lou. It's not even a fan. It's a friend of a family.

[Robert Kelly]

They were invited to his barbecue, which we weren't.

[Big J Okerson]

You know what? We should stop asking. We're gonna find out. Everybody here is related to somebody on the show. Nobody wanted to be here at all. Jay is me, your cousin Tom.

[Robert Kelly]

He wanted to be Here?

[Jacob]

Yes.

[Big J Okerson]

Slipknot guy. Yes, of course. Absolutely.

[Robert Kelly]

And the guy next to him? His lover.

[Big J Okerson]

You think? So which one's the top? I'm kidding.

[Robert Kelly]

He has to be or he'll kill him. He? The little one looks like my Jewish foster father, Ken Laz.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, what's your name? First one that molested you?

[Robert Kelly]

No, that was the second one.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, did you get molested by a stepfather?

[Robert Kelly]

No, I didn't. It kind of sucks.

[Big J Okerson]

You thought you were so hot, but nothing was there. Nobody sitting in that chair next to them, of all things. Real nice. That just feels mean to this guy. Nobody wanted to sit next to him.

[Robert Kelly]

We can't sell out a 15 seater.

[Big J Okerson]

We were complaining they wouldn't let us out there.

[Robert Kelly]

We should have went on Punch Up Live and sent an email out.

[Big J Okerson]

Nobody. Who here goes on Punch Up Live?

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, what's up? One, two, three. What's up? I'll take that. Those odds are good.

[Big J Okerson]

I don't like this guy. Admitted it, like reluctantly. He's like, I fucking went on it one time. Yeah.

[Robert Kelly]

I just found a tooth in my hoodie. What is it?

[Big J Okerson]

Actually, that's a cashew.

[Robert Kelly]

Sorry.

[Big J Okerson]

No, don't.

[Marcus King]

Why?

[Big J Okerson]

Did you eat it?

[Robert Kelly]

Yep. I shouldn't have. That wasn't a cashew. I don't even know what that was. I don't know what that was. That could have been wood. I think that was wood. That was some type. Oh, I know what it is. I was. I was saying I was setting mousetraps up in New Hampshire. What?

[Big J Okerson]

It's mouse bait.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. Mouse bait is regular food.

[Big J Okerson]

Did you just eat a small piece of cheese out of your pocket?

[Robert Kelly]

I've been known to eat worse. Dude, I hate these chairs. I can't see you in my peripheral.

[Big J Okerson]

I know. And your hands are in your pockets trying to make yourself not look heavy.

[Robert Kelly]

No, I'm actually. I have my thumbs in my belly button.

[Big J Okerson]

Blousing. Also Black Lou's auntie. What do you think of all this?

[Robert Kelly]

She does look like an aunt.

[Big J Okerson]

He definitely calls her. What's your name? I bet it's Ms. Jen. Do you call her Ms. Jen? Black Lou? No. No. Hey, Ms. Jen. Can I borrow some brown sugar? How do you know Black Lou?

[Robert Kelly]

We used to work together.

[Big J Okerson]

Really?

[Robert Kelly]

Where? Before his life here.

[Big J Okerson]

Where?

[Robert Kelly]

At hospital. Oh, you worked at a hospital? What were you, a candy striper?

[Big J Okerson]

Close it up. We should do it at a hospital. Black Lou. Why are we unaware of this?

[Robert Kelly]

He was a scanning technician. Used to scan medical records. Oh, really? Is that where you learned to squat? So long like that.

[Big J Okerson]

Scanning medical records. You said scanning technician. We thought scanning the body. We thought it was a medical thing, not taking pictures of folders. Black Lou, you were a failure before you met us. Never forget that. You're nothing without us. Nobody else wants you.

[Jacob]

It.

[Big J Okerson]

I'm bringing my pimp pain out all night. Jen. What do you do now? You still work at the hospital?

[Robert Kelly]

Not the same one, but I'm still at a hospital. Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

In medical billing.

[Robert Kelly]

Medical records.

[Big J Okerson]

Nice. What information do you have on Black Lulu? We don't know. What did he do at work? Weird. Got caught whacking off.

[Jacob]

No.

[Robert Kelly]

Was he whacking people off? Was he giving. Was he giving showers? He was in trouble though. He was always in trouble.

[Marcus King]

Why?

[Nikki or Bri (Podcast Hosts)]

Cuz he would just disappear for making.

[Big J Okerson]

All the coma patients listen to his raps.

[Robert Kelly]

Is that your. Is that your husband right there?

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Marcus King]

Does he.

[Robert Kelly]

Does he friends with Black loot?

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah. Okay, well, you have to become friends with him. You can't just have some black dude kicking it with your wife.

[Robert Kelly]

If you're into it. That's your favorite porn?

[Jacob]

No.

[Robert Kelly]

Okay.

[Big J Okerson]

Do you think Black Lou is too short?

[Robert Kelly]

Well, I'm the same size height as him, so. No.

[Big J Okerson]

You're a woman.

[Robert Kelly]

Whoa.

[Big J Okerson]

Whoa. Yeah, that's a weird anti comment.

[Robert Kelly]

Good things coming sweet, small packages.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, we weren't talking about his wiener. I assumed that was big.

[Robert Kelly]

His wiener's huge. What?

[Jacob]

Jacob, I just said. Do you see that?

[Robert Kelly]

See what?

[Jacob]

Small things. Good things come in small.

[Big J Okerson]

I tried to put it on a shirt.

[Robert Kelly]

If you're gonna say it, Jacob. I am not. Will you please tell him, Jay, that I am not a short king? Jay.

[Jacob]

He can't say it. Nobody can.

[Big J Okerson]

What's the definition of short king? What does it go up to?

[Jacob]

Here it is under 5, 9. I say a man cannot be full human being.

[Big J Okerson]

I feel like this is written next to your bathroom mirror on a piece of paper.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, it says. It says if you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the CD and then this.

[Jacob]

But Bobby claims to be over five, eight. And I know he was lying the last time we measured him.

[Robert Kelly]

Not true. How do you know I don't lie?

[Jacob]

Because we could tell. I watched it.

[Big J Okerson]

How do you lie while you're measuring? You're there.

[Jacob]

Go like this.

[Big J Okerson]

You think he was giving a little oomph?

[Jacob]

Yes.

[Robert Kelly]

What do you think I'm a magician?

[Jacob]

You oomphed.

[Robert Kelly]

I didn't oomph.

[Big J Okerson]

Have you been fat for so long that you think getting on your tiptoes Is a magician's move.

[Jacob]

I say it right.

[Big J Okerson]

What am I, a magician? Getting up on my tiptoes?

[Jacob]

He fluffed his height. You fluffed.

[Robert Kelly]

I don't fluff my height.

[Jacob]

I swear to God. He's had his ruler in his backpack for a remeasure since the last time.

[Robert Kelly]

All right.

[Jacob]

Remeasure.

[Big J Okerson]

Measure with a ruler.

[Robert Kelly]

You want to measure me right now? I've been waiting. Measure me right now. And if I am five, eight and a centimeter, I want an apology. On your knees, Jacob.

[Big J Okerson]

Say millimeter.

[Jacob]

On my knees.

[Robert Kelly]

Millimeters. Thanks, Jay. Millimeter. What? I say centimeter.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, I don't think you're going to make it to the 5, 8 at all.

[Jacob]

But.

[Big J Okerson]

Do the centimeter, though.

[Robert Kelly]

Centimeter.

[Jacob]

You'll have to take off your.

[Robert Kelly]

No, I will not.

[Jacob]

Guy shoes. Shoes that have the extra lift in them.

[Robert Kelly]

Got them.

[Big J Okerson]

You are wearing your.

[Jacob]

You could see the padding on those.

[Big J Okerson]

First of all, those are thick. That's a thick car.

[Robert Kelly]

These are not. These are regular shoes.

[Marcus King]

No.

[Robert Kelly]

What I don't want to take. You want me to take my shoes off? Fine, I'll take my shoes off. I'm five eight.

[Big J Okerson]

Mismatched socks. One's like a Rick and Morty. The other one's just a dirty white one.

[Robert Kelly]

I have. I have brand new socks on.

[Big J Okerson]

Brand new.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. Okay, I got. Hang on one second.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, God, these chairs.

[Robert Kelly]

I hate them. What's up?

[Big J Okerson]

We look like fools.

[Robert Kelly]

We look like fools.

[Jacob]

I. I think you look good.

[Robert Kelly]

Shut up.

[Jacob]

I do know now that you mentioned the Bennington chairs. I know which chairs you're talking about.

[Robert Kelly]

You mean the comfortable ones that all.

[Jacob]

I said gray chairs, so we put gray chairs. But now I know if you say the bent for the next show.

[Big J Okerson]

Who said gray chairs?

[Jacob]

I did. Those are stools.

[Robert Kelly]

I said chairs.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, so no one's taking the blame. Jacob, I would like you and Christine both five minutes on the glass, please.

[Robert Kelly]

Sir, can you do her and you do him, please.

[Big J Okerson]

I assign people to put your faces on the glasses, please. Let's measure. Bob, you have. It's a tape measure. I hope. It can't be a ruler. I've had it on for a long time.

[Jacob]

But he has to stand here because I think this is going to be.

[Big J Okerson]

Damn. People think black. Who's a carpenter. He's walking around with that thing so much. Because you're always measuring your dick. Gotta make sure. Well, no one believes me, so I always gotta bring a tape measure.

[Jacob]

I would go for an impartial one of you. Actually. I Want a piece of paper? And if the paper goes under his heel, we know he's lying. He's fluffing.

[Big J Okerson]

Jennifer, you work in medical.

[Jacob]

That's right. Jennifer, will you check him? All right, stand here and then. Fine. You. You're five, eight. You're five, eight.

[Robert Kelly]

Okay, five, eight and something.

[Big J Okerson]

Let's see. It's the paper.

[Jacob]

Don't even stand under your jeans. That'll give you height.

[Robert Kelly]

I'm not saying nothing, Bobby. You are not doing nothing. I'm not doing nothing. Stop touching me, dude. This is against business policy.

[Big J Okerson]

You can always standing on your jeans.

[Robert Kelly]

I'm not doing it. I'm. I'm not.

[Jacob]

You are bouncing.

[Robert Kelly]

I have rhythm in my feet. I can't help it.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, that's good. That's good.

[Jacob]

Lewis.

[Robert Kelly]

No, no, no, no. You don't want to see my dead toenail. You don't want socks off.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, don't. It's gonna upset all of us.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, you don't see that.

[Big J Okerson]

Jennifer, don't take Bobby's socks off unless you want him to hang upside down.

[Robert Kelly]

Jennifer. Am I on the ground? Am I on the ground? Am I on the ground? I am on the ground. Here's an easy thing, technician.

[Big J Okerson]

Here's an easy thing. Jennifer, do us a favor. Push down on both Bobby's shoulders.

[Robert Kelly]

I'm flat. I'm flat.

[Jacob]

Where are we?

[Big J Okerson]

I need the level.

[Jacob]

Put it on his head.

[Robert Kelly]

This is ridiculous. I never said a level. This is fit. I want my. We're at five, seven.

[Big J Okerson]

You're at five seven.

[Robert Kelly]

That's not. No, no, no.

[Big J Okerson]

Christine.

[Robert Kelly]

This is the whole audience is what? This is the whole audience. Let me get straight.

[Jacob]

No, now he's doing it.

[Robert Kelly]

Let me get straight. Let me get against the wall.

[Big J Okerson]

Push down his shoulders.

[Marcus King]

Now.

[Robert Kelly]

Do it now.

[Jacob]

Do it. Fluffing. Now.

[Robert Kelly]

Do it. I'm not fluffing nothing. You fluff down. I healed it down.

[Jacob]

Make sure that paper.

[Big J Okerson]

Push down on his shoulders. Bear down.

[Robert Kelly]

Here is my straight. How do I stand Straight, Bobby. There you go. Straight.

[Jacob]

Welcome.

[Robert Kelly]

Straight.

[Jacob]

Welcome, brother.

[Robert Kelly]

Five, seven and nothing. That's eight in a centimeter. You're lying, dude. How do you know you can't see that high.

[Big J Okerson]

Welcome to the kingdom.

[Jacob]

Give me a. Give us a hug, brother.

[Big J Okerson]

We welcome you with open arms.

[Robert Kelly]

God damn it.

[Jacob]

I knew he was lying.

[Robert Kelly]

I love.

[Big J Okerson]

I love you so much.

[Robert Kelly]

I was just scared. I was scared to come over here because I didn't know if it was safe. Bobby, shut up. You're too tall.

[Big J Okerson]

You've been hilariously short behind my Back this whole time.

[Marcus King]

That's what I mean.

[Jacob]

That's what I mean.

[Big J Okerson]

You keep telling me you were five, eight. So I've showed you the respect of such.

[Jacob]

You did. You took his side every time. And I knew he was lying.

[Big J Okerson]

No longer.

[Jacob]

Thank you.

[Big J Okerson]

I apologize, Jacob.

[Jacob]

I just. All I wanted was for you to turn on him.

[Big J Okerson]

No, no, I. I thought I was.

[Marcus King]

Part of the club.

[Jacob]

No, the short.

[Big J Okerson]

This will not result in me treating Jacob better. It'll result in me treating you like I treat Jacob.

[Jacob]

That's it. That's all I want. Fairness.

[Robert Kelly]

Nobody wants that.

[Big J Okerson]

I will be yelling at you on a weekly basis.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, well, you're not as tall as you think you are.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, I am.

[Robert Kelly]

How tall are you?

[Big J Okerson]

Like six two something.

[Robert Kelly]

No, you're not. You're six one.

[Big J Okerson]

Challenge me, bro.

[Robert Kelly]

I'm challenging you, bro. I say you're not six two. I say you're not six two.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, I'm you.

[Robert Kelly]

Take your high heel boots off.

[Big J Okerson]

I used to be 6:3, and then I think I shrunk.

[Jacob]

You shrink.

[Big J Okerson]

Probably from flying a lot or. One of my other theories is when I lost weight, there was fat on the bottom of my foot that was making me a little taller. I don't know if any of that is true.

[Robert Kelly]

I think the fat foot thing is true.

[Big J Okerson]

Is it?

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, I think I've lost.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, I've lost about. I'm six two something.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, you lost an inch.

[Big J Okerson]

We can measure me, but everything over 510 is just gonna break your.

[Jacob]

Guys, it doesn't matter.

[Robert Kelly]

I don't want to see it.

[Jacob]

You. You finding out your 61 and 62 is gonna break my heart either way.

[Big J Okerson]

No, especially when you see my disappointment, like, oh, dude, I'm like a girl now.

[Jacob]

I'll just give you it. Thank you, six two.

[Big J Okerson]

I appreciate it.

[Robert Kelly]

How tall are you, Jacob?

[Jacob]

Five foot. Miserable.

[Robert Kelly]

How tall?

[Marcus King]

Seriously?

[Big J Okerson]

Even five foot?

[Robert Kelly]

You're five what?

[Jacob]

Six.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have did that. And you're taller than black Lou, right?

[Jacob]

I think we're about the same. Although he's fluffing.

[Big J Okerson]

He is fluffing. He's wearing those Kanye sneakers that have a whole cloud on the bottom of them. He doesn't love Jews. Or being short. That's in solidarity with both Kanye's beliefs and. And height. Well, we figured it out, Bobby. That's.

[Robert Kelly]

Whatever.

[Big J Okerson]

Disappointing as.

[Robert Kelly]

It's not disappointing. It's life, man. People, I was five eight and a quarter at one point in my life.

[Jacob]

You can still shut up, lead a full Life.

[Robert Kelly]

I'm not gonna lead a full life.

[Jacob]

Not really, but I'm just saying that I'm not.

[Robert Kelly]

I'm gonna. I'm gonna. I'm gonna. I'm gonna hurt myself after.

[Big J Okerson]

It does explain why you don't dream, though.

[Marcus King]

Midgets don't dream. Really?

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah. Or the three of you can go live in one of those villages upstate New York where they're just for midgets. They always talk about.

[Robert Kelly]

Oh, I like that.

[Big J Okerson]

Like live in little hovels.

[Robert Kelly]

Hey, can you turn the heat up in here, too? Because not only am I uncomfortable in this stool, I'm hot. I want to be hotter.

[Jacob]

Okay, I'll go. I'll do that.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, Thanks.

[Jacob]

I can give you that.

[Big J Okerson]

Okay, Jacob, just before you go in the other room, I want you understand that. With sarcasm.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. What are you, Dutch?

[Big J Okerson]

He would actually like it to be colder in the room.

[Jacob]

That's what I meant.

[Big J Okerson]

Okay, I just want to make sure. Because he just said yes to that. Could you make it hotter? My tits sweating enough? Sure, bud. I can go crank it up in there.

[Robert Kelly]

It's hot in here.

[Big J Okerson]

We trying to get sexy in this.

[Robert Kelly]

This guy's silky skin is sweating right here.

[Jacob]

No, no, Christine just did her thing. She did the.

[Robert Kelly]

Oh, good.

[Jacob]

You can't bury the needle any further down.

[Robert Kelly]

I like that.

[Big J Okerson]

Nice. Christine, I don't think the camera women are enjoying the show at all. Can you tell them we're okay with a head nod? Can you let them know that you want your face on the glass? Can you please let these women know that you deserve it and you need to learn lessons the hard way? Yeah, please, just tell them that. That it's your fault.

[Christine Evans]

I'm on their side now.

[Big J Okerson]

What?

[Robert Kelly]

And tell them the smudge was actually DJ Lou. He wasn't really smudging your face across the glass.

[Big J Okerson]

Did he play that near when I put her against.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, he did. It was great.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, that sounds so violent.

[Robert Kelly]

It's so funny. Security's looking in here like, what the fuck is this?

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, well, they're probably wondering. Usually they need more security because there's people all over the place.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, they have to stop.

[Big J Okerson]

We really contain this fucking fire. How does this couple know Black Lou?

[Robert Kelly]

Yes, sir. How do you know the show?

[Marcus King]

I work here.

[Jacob]

You're a plant.

[Robert Kelly]

No, they had a telemarket for this. This little gathering.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, Jesus.

[Robert Kelly]

What is it, your birthday? They give you 10 tickets to the live bonfire?

[Marcus King]

No, no, they had it at work, like a contest.

[Jacob]

I just.

[Robert Kelly]

You won a contest?

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Robert Kelly]

So you don't even know who we are.

[Jacob]

This is my first time here.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, your first time here? I'll tell you what. They won a more comfortable chair than us. God damn it. So they want a contest in house here. That's a weird one. These two guys are fans for sure. These two guys? Definitely. We already know Jen's story. This guy here, fan of the bonfire. Nice.

[Robert Kelly]

Are you friends with them? No. You don't know them. Okay.

[Big J Okerson]

But you know Black Lou.

[Robert Kelly]

You don't know Black Lou. Would you like to know Black Lou?

[Big J Okerson]

Of course.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. Okay, cool.

[Big J Okerson]

In a biblical sense. The beast with two backs.

[Robert Kelly]

Huh?

[Big J Okerson]

Gay sex.

[Robert Kelly]

Oh, yes.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah.

[Robert Kelly]

I love that. He was like, what's up, my brother?

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, you guys should already had a complicated handshake by now.

[Robert Kelly]

We've got something up.

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

How tall are you, sir?

[Robert Kelly]

Six. Stop bragging. Whatever.

[Big J Okerson]

Are you a Cowboys fan?

[Robert Kelly]

No.

[Big J Okerson]

You can't hang out black. Blue, then. No.

[Robert Kelly]

Do you like it? Do you like football or soccer? I don't watch anything. Anything? That's crazy. It's on a tv. I'll watch it, but I'm not really.

[Big J Okerson]

No.

[Robert Kelly]

You don't watch. You don't watch sports at all?

[Jacob]

No.

[Robert Kelly]

Wrestling? Sometimes it's on to you. Yeah. Arm wrestling.

[Big J Okerson]

Bobby? Sure.

[Robert Kelly]

Okay.

[Big J Okerson]

I like watching you run somebody down on not watching sports.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, it's not that he doesn't watch anything, Jay. That's scary.

[Big J Okerson]

No, he watches stuff.

[Robert Kelly]

It's just like, go for it. You go.

[Big J Okerson]

What I'm saying, what do you watch on your own? Anime.

[Robert Kelly]

Yes.

[Big J Okerson]

Knew it. I know the audience, dude.

[Robert Kelly]

Actually, I don't like it.

[Big J Okerson]

Anime. You don't like anime? No, but you watch it.

[Robert Kelly]

I was being sarcastic.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, what do you watch? Dark web pornography on a VPN?

[Robert Kelly]

No, a lot of YouTube.

[Big J Okerson]

I just got a VPN, so I can't do that. Just enough, but I can't.

[Robert Kelly]

You like Dave Smith? Yeah, actually, yeah. Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Like.

[Robert Kelly]

Like debating and stuff like that. So. Yeah. I watch your podcast. I'm sorry. With Versi. Oh, Bone. Want to pick?

[Marcus King]

All right.

[Robert Kelly]

What's up, dude?

[Big J Okerson]

He likes to debate. This is good because I'm not gonna know today. We're gonna go full Gaza debate with Marcus King, so.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. And he. He is for the Jews. He's gonna be uncomfortable.

[Big J Okerson]

Weirdly loves the Jews. Wrote a whole album about it coming out pretty soon. Bone Dan on Bone. Boom. From river to the sea.

[Robert Kelly]

That'd be a good song.

[Big J Okerson]

Damn. I'm gonna play harmonica on it. Bonito.

[Jacob]

Boo.

[Big J Okerson]

Boo. Camera, ladies. I'm just kidding. We're not gonna talk about politics with them. Also, Bobby's super pro Palestine.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. So what's up? What's wrong with that? You have a problem with that?

[Big J Okerson]

They're not getting involved. They hate us. Christine, give him a nod, God damn it.

[Marcus King]

Fuck.

[Robert Kelly]

She's actually. Actually holding the camera. Is that camera gonna fall? No, she's not doing anything. She's actually lying back.

[Big J Okerson]

She's keeping herself busy so she doesn't have to pay attention to it.

[Robert Kelly]

She's holding the camera for some reason. I think you can let it go. We're not gonna move anywhere. It's just two chubby guys in a chair.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, we're good. Well, get comfortable. Stool. Christine will tell you it's a stool.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, it's a stool.

[Big J Okerson]

She says Jacob doesn't understand what the difference chair when you're that tiny as a stool when you're that big. He has to climb his kitchen chairs.

[Robert Kelly]

I think it's so funny. We can't have our stuff projected into the hallway because we're naughty boys.

[Big J Okerson]

I know.

[Robert Kelly]

They won't let us hear us.

[Big J Okerson]

They can only see us, but they're curious what's going on. Bobby, I think this is a better time than ever. Give him a pressed ham.

[Robert Kelly]

I can't.

[Big J Okerson]

What do you mean you can't? You can't get your balls and dick between your legs and then smash that up against the glass right now.

[Jacob]

No.

[Robert Kelly]

Everything's in my ball.

[Big J Okerson]

It's double pane glass. No one could shoot you through it right now.

[Robert Kelly]

I'd have to shoot it out of my body. It's all inside right now. My balls and my penis.

[Big J Okerson]

Does this help?

[Robert Kelly]

A little bit.

[Big J Okerson]

Is this doing anything?

[Robert Kelly]

That's better. Do my ear.

[Big J Okerson]

Luke, tell everyone not to panic. I'm just trying to get him hard so he can put his dick on the glass.

[Robert Kelly]

Okay.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, I thought you were running out to explain what was going on.

[Robert Kelly]

Look at. She's laughing. Oh, she left. The skirt got. Just left. Sorry about that. We're just joking. I'm not really blowing. She just walked away.

[Big J Okerson]

Howard Stern Studio. Oh, no. Oh, no. We're done. Let's find out. We obviously went.

[Robert Kelly]

O'.

[Big J Okerson]

Brien. What's your name back here?

[Robert Kelly]

Jacob. What's up? Stop. Stop. Jacob, come here. What's on your shirt?

[Jacob]

What do you mean?

[Robert Kelly]

What is that?

[Jacob]

Oh, I don't know.

[Robert Kelly]

Ew, that's weird.

[Jacob]

It was.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. Well, what am I talking about? I ate something out of my pocket. Yeah, that's weirder. Go ahead.

[Big J Okerson]

Jacob, can you pick that up and let Bobby eat it, please.

[Robert Kelly]

Can you. Are you talking to the Matrix guy? Neo. Hey, buddy, how are you?

[Big J Okerson]

What's up, dude? What's your name? My man?

[Robert Kelly]

Rob. What's your pronouns, dude?

[Big J Okerson]

He, him.

[Robert Kelly]

Okay, cool.

[Big J Okerson]

Boring. I was gonna go with. Huh. Are you a fan of the show?

[Robert Kelly]

Yes.

[Big J Okerson]

Very, very nice. You're from here in New York? Yeah. You weren't dragged here by the company itself?

[Robert Kelly]

No, I'm from Brooklyn.

[Big J Okerson]

You're from Brooklyn. You've never met Jacob before?

[Robert Kelly]

No, I've not.

[Big J Okerson]

You don't know DJ Lou from some weird drug deal going bad?

[Robert Kelly]

You haven't met with Christine at all? No. Okay.

[Big J Okerson]

Sexually? No.

[Robert Kelly]

I don't think so. In your own brain?

[Big J Okerson]

In her vagina?

[Robert Kelly]

No.

[Big J Okerson]

Christine. Tell the truth.

[Jacob]

I think so.

[Big J Okerson]

Okay. No, that's all weird answers.

[Robert Kelly]

Your tattoos are pretty freaky. Dude, you got an anchor. Were you in the. Were you in the Navy? No, it was just a joke. Oh. Oh, that's kind of stolen valor. I don't know if about that.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, it's funny, dude. He's got a Navy tattoo and he's clearly a background dancer for something. What do you do for a living?

[Robert Kelly]

I do motion picture underwriting.

[Big J Okerson]

Motion picture directing. The twenties.

[Robert Kelly]

Underwriting.

[Big J Okerson]

Boring.

[Robert Kelly]

Underwriting. You know what underwriting is? You're in the business, Jay.

[Big J Okerson]

You should tell me.

[Robert Kelly]

Dude, dude, underwriting, man. He does it under. He writes under the writer. That's writing.

[Big J Okerson]

You don't have to just keep talking. Think about it for a minute. You'll come up with something good.

[Robert Kelly]

I got it.

[Big J Okerson]

Underwriting. Keep saying the word underwriter. No, don't like your thinking. Just be like underwriting. Underwriting. Right under.

[Robert Kelly]

He underwrites all the stuff in the movies. Motion picture insurance. Yeah, underwriting. The underwriting stuff. Yeah. You take all the stuff, the things, and you pull it in. Exactly. You go on to make sure everything's legit. You're an underwriter?

[Big J Okerson]

God damn, I wish you would stop calling it motion pictures. Like we're living in the 50s. It's crazy. The moving picture. What are you selling? Insurance. For Alfred Hitchcock. The Birds. An old film. Insurance for what? What's a hard movie to insure? Action.

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Mission Impossible for the Reckoning.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, Pretty much all that stuff. What's the biggest movie ever under it? Well, my office does, like, smaller ones compared to our LA one, but, like, we're doing the new Hershey movie that's coming out with Alexandra Daddario. Oh, yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

About the story of Hershey.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Chocolate.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, exactly.

[Big J Okerson]

With Alexander Daddario. The tits girl.

[Robert Kelly]

Exactly.

[Big J Okerson]

Why do they need to see me? I looked right over at the camera girl, and I said, the tits girl. I'm like. I was gonna say just to be funny. Don't get mad at me. No, you don't understand. Alexander Daddario is an actress and she shows her tits, her breast. She shows her breasts in a lot. I'm doing good. She shows her breasts. No, turn us on out there. This is fine. She shows her breasts in almost everything she did. And then, True Detective. Also her vagina.

[Marcus King]

That's very good.

[Big J Okerson]

You know, I don't really ask for kudos very often, but that was awesome what I just did, the way I cleaned that up. Jacob, look at you. Look at that proud father smile he's got on me. He goes, that was good. We're not gonna get called to HR for that.

[Robert Kelly]

Do me a favor. Can you get that little cup of water right there and hand it to him? I think he's thirsty. You thirsty, dude? Right? Yeah. Take a sip. You get nervous with those questions. Did you murder somebody today? Have you ever thought about murdering somebody?

[Big J Okerson]

That would be a great alibi for it.

[Robert Kelly]

This will be underwriter. How you doing? Are you friends with him? You guys don't know each other? What's up, buddy? What's your name?

[Big J Okerson]

It's Brian Murray. Dude, that's an old friend of ours.

[Robert Kelly]

I know, but the people listening don't know who it is.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, you want to make it seem like there's more than just friends here.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. What are you talking about?

[Big J Okerson]

Jen's been a fan for the better part of 45 minutes.

[Robert Kelly]

I just met him. What's up, dude? How are you?

[Jacob]

Good, man.

[Robert Kelly]

Are you? I'm good, man. I'm just hanging out enough. I drove your car before you what?

[Nikki or Bri (Podcast Hosts)]

Yeah.

[Robert Kelly]

Oh, over at Skank Fest.

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Robert Kelly]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Thanks, buddy. That was awesome, didn't it? That's when I was somebody.

[Big J Okerson]

They have cheese in all your pockets.

[Robert Kelly]

I didn't have cheese. I had nuts.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, buddy. Oh, our guest.

[Robert Kelly]

Oh, we got more people coming in. This is fantastic. We didn't get to him. Hi, buddy. How are you? Okay, good. See you later.

[Jacob]

Our guest is here.

[Robert Kelly]

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp Mental Health. And being healthy is very important. Not only is it important for yourself, it's important for your relationships. My relationship with family members over the years has gotten so much better, and it makes me happy. My son has a better life because of therapy, because I talked to somebody, because I got the stuff out he can have a healthier life too. World Mental Health Day is October this year, and BetterHelp is shining the spotlight on therapists. People who truly make the world a better place. Because the right therapist can change everything. I know this because I got one. BetterHelp therapists work according to a strict code of conduct. They're fully licensed in the U.S. go in there, you get matched up with a therapist that is right for you and focuses on your therapy goals. And if you're not happy with your match, just switch to a different therapist. Any time. This World Mental Health Day, we're celebrating the therapists who've helped millions of people take a step forward. If you're ready to find the right therapist for you, BetterHelp can help you start that journey. Our listeners get 10% off their first [e-mail] Bonfire. That's B E T T E R h e l p.com bonfire.

[Big J Okerson]

Hey everybody, have you noticed that everywhere you go it seems like prices are going up? They keep saying it. The grocery store, your cars, your appliances, everything is through the roof right now. Wouldn't it be nice if prices would go down? Well, at Metro, they've got your back. They've lowered their prices and are giving you a five year price guarantee on talk, text and data. One line now 20% lower. Family plans also lowered. And you also get a free 5G phone, all with no ID required and no activation fees. Stop by your neighborhood Metro store, Visit metro by t-mobile.com or call to find out about their amazing offers. Bring your number. Not available. If currently at T Mobile or with Metro in the past 180 days. Guarantee covers monthly price of on network, Talk, text and 5G data for customers activating on eligible plan exclusions Apply details at metro by t-mobile.com Guys, you know, running a business is complicated. There's dozens of software programs that you need and they're all so expensive and since they come from different companies, they don't always play nice with one another. But what can you do, right? Odoo. That's what Odoo has all the software business owners need. We're talking sales, CRM, manufacturing, websites, literally every kind of software and it's all on one platform. So it works together and it's quality software so you're not sacrificing. It's simply a better experience than a hodgepodge of programs. You'd expect to pay a premium for it, right? But that's the most amazing part about Odoo. This interconnected suite of business software costs less than the mini mash of disconnected programs you're currently using. So the question is, why spend more on software programs that are less efficient when Odoo's simple software platform can handle everything for a fraction of the price? Discover how Odoo can take your business to the next level by visiting odoo.com that's o d o o odoo.com why.

[Robert Kelly]

Do most of us want to learn a new language? It's probably not about memorizing grammar tables or topping a leaderboard. It's because we want to speak it out in the real world with real people. Babbel gets you there fast. Babbel lets you practice real life conversations step by step without the stress. You'll build the confidence to speak up when it matters, from ordering coffee to chatting or new friends abroad. Listen, I use it and it's great because I was using this other app and it, after a while it just stresses you out. It's not fun. And I wasn't learning how to speak, but now I actually practice speaking. They teach you in live real life conversation skills in different languages, which helps you learn so much faster. I love Babel. Here's a special limited time deal for our listeners right now. Get up to 55% off your Babel subscription at babel.com/bonfire. Get up to 50 off at babel.com/donfire spelled B A, B, B E L.com/donfire. Rules and restrictions may apply. All right, here he comes.

[Big J Okerson]

Jay.

[Jacob]

Wow.

[Big J Okerson]

In the house. Joining us in the fishbowl, Marcus K. Oh, man, that's so much dungaree.

[Robert Kelly]

That's more than good to see you. That's Christy McNichol Dungaree right there. That's awesome, buddy. How are you, man?

[Jacob]

I'm good.

[Marcus King]

How are you doing?

[Robert Kelly]

I'm fantastic.

[Big J Okerson]

What brings you to New York? You're just doing a press tour for the new album? Yeah, the new album just coming out. Oh, it's out right now.

[Marcus King]

It's out.

[Big J Okerson]

What an ass. The Marcus King Band album, Darling Blue out now. It's the first studio album together since 2018. No more Rick Rubin, huh?

[Marcus King]

Rick's out of here.

[Big J Okerson]

You fired his ass. And I hope he did it meanly, too.

[Robert Kelly]

Did you have to stop doing yoga? Yeah.

[Marcus King]

Just for this one.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah. Did he, like, rip like Buddha beads off your neck or something? I'll take these back then.

[Jacob]

I couldn't stare at his feet if I had to. He goes barefoot all the time, right?

[Marcus King]

He's got Very, very handsome feet. They are. They're clean. He keeps them clean?

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Really? Because he's going to show them to you a lot.

[Marcus King]

Yeah, well, I mean, they're always out.

[Big J Okerson]

Like at your house?

[Marcus King]

No, he never came to my house. I was at his house a lot. He made me take my shoes off and that.

[Big J Okerson]

Down to your feet?

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Come on.

[Robert Kelly]

God, you couldn't do socks?

[Marcus King]

No, I had to take my boots off.

[Robert Kelly]

Do you have to take your pants off?

[Big J Okerson]

Dude, that's an alpha dog move if ever I've seen it. You got to get barefoot in my house. Let that be your socks.

[Robert Kelly]

I want you to get fully naked. I need to see you.

[Jacob]

You.

[Big J Okerson]

I don't like that. I feel like I would leave little sweat footprints everywhere I went after that.

[Marcus King]

You and me both.

[Robert Kelly]

So how you doing? How. You're hating this stool, right? This stool sucks.

[Marcus King]

I'm kind of sliding in and out.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, right? We want Jay requested chairs and they gave us stools.

[Big J Okerson]

Cuz Christine says it's Jacob's fault. Jacob says it's Christine's fault. Yeah, they're both fired.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, it's terrible.

[Marcus King]

How are you guys, man? I miss y'.

[Big J Okerson]

All. Well, we'd be doing better if we were in better chairs and we had more people here. But we're not allowed to say things out there because once in a while I'll act like Bobby's blowing me in the fucking room.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, yeah, he did that already. And the security guard left.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah.

[Robert Kelly]

These people won a contest. They have no idea who we are.

[Big J Okerson]

They don't know who we are.

[Robert Kelly]

They're friends of Black Lou, not us. Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

And these two guys have made death threats to me online several times. But I like to keep my enemies close.

[Robert Kelly]

How you doing, man? Are you excited to drop the. Go back to the roots and go back to the band and. Yeah, have.

[Marcus King]

Yeah, it's awesome, man. I mean, we were coming up here for press and like, you know, I was telling Lou and Jacob earlier, like, you know, whenever I can just put something I enjoy doing, like in the middle of the press day, makes it a little easier. It's good to come see you guys. It's funny to see you guys do it with an audience. It's always different.

[Big J Okerson]

I know. Instead of just the studio. It's our first time too. It's going great. Ish. Pretty fantastic. Ish. When were you. When you performed last time with the band? That was the Marcus King band you came in with the first time, Right?

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

So those three other guys. Right?

[Marcus King]

Yeah. So it's four other guys now. Sometimes we have our horn section come out. Horn section was on this record a lot. It was. It was really. Because, like, when I did that first record with Dan Auerbach, he. He's really adamant about using his guys, and, like, he's got a real system that he likes to stay to. And my band wasn't on it, so I didn't feel like I should call it Marcus King Band. And it just caused a lot more confusion, really, because in the next two records were also without that band. So I just. I don't know. We're kind of. We're kind of calling it the Return of the Marcus King Band, but it's been my touring band the whole time.

[Big J Okerson]

It's always the guys that go with you. Yeah, they don't play on the albums necessarily.

[Marcus King]

Yeah, they didn't play on the last few records because, like, Rick had a specific idea. Dan always has a specific idea.

[Big J Okerson]

Did that cause, like, arguments? No, they just ate it. Nice.

[Robert Kelly]

I'm sure they. They took it behind your back. They probably.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, he's probably not wrong.

[Marcus King]

I'm sure they weren't super pleased with it.

[Big J Okerson]

But, like, there's a couple of Olive Garden dinners where they were like, guys. Marcus King there.

[Robert Kelly]

If Jay did the Bonfire on the road without me for a couple years, I'd be mad.

[Big J Okerson]

Right?

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah.

[Marcus King]

Right.

[Big J Okerson]

But they always toured, so it never really.

[Marcus King]

They always toured with me. I mean, I'm sure there were a few uncomfortable conversations had, but the band's always really just been my. Me and my drummer, you know?

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah.

[Marcus King]

We've always kind of had, like, a Steely Dan kind of relationship. Fagan and Brecker. And there's been. People come and go around that nucleus, but that's the solid. That's kind of the. Yeah. And like, the last four or five years, the band's been really solid, you know, Otherwise.

[Robert Kelly]

When we saw you at the Blue Note, that. That was not your band. That was.

[Marcus King]

Yeah, that was a different thing.

[Robert Kelly]

What was that?

[Marcus King]

That's, like a side project I do with. With Chris Dave. And Chris Dave, he played on the Mood Swings record. And he's. I mean, a staple in, like, jazz fusion and neo soul. And, like, he played with d' Angelo and Erykah Badu. So it was me and Chris. Mono neon.

[Robert Kelly]

Mono neon, I believe, was staring at me the whole time.

[Marcus King]

Very good chance.

[Robert Kelly]

Pretty sure.

[Big J Okerson]

Mask over his face.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. But he was staring right at me, looking at me like, what? And I stared back because I thought that was respectful.

[Marcus King]

Dude, it was so much fun. You guys came out to the Blue Note. Yeah, that was a good time.

[Robert Kelly]

It was awesome. And we. We got to order food. And then Josh ate it all.

[Big J Okerson]

Joshua Myers did eat it all. Yeah, but he kept ordering more on our dime. He did always make sure there was more coming on our dime.

[Robert Kelly]

And then he left me and Christine in the back and left you guys went up to the dressing room. Me and Christine was stuck downstairs.

[Big J Okerson]

He'll make sure we get it.

[Marcus King]

Security's not super tight. You always just come on up.

[Big J Okerson]

You like the idea of you wearing a fucking robe barefoot at Rick Rubin's house, calling your band, being like, hey, we're gonna leave you guys out of this one back right here. Marcus, your chakra is fading over here. Sorry, guys, I gotta go. You understand, right?

[Robert Kelly]

Was there anything that he did that you were uncomfortable with or was it. Were you just. Ah, it. Let's go.

[Marcus King]

Oh, man.

[Big J Okerson]

Come on.

[Marcus King]

I don't know.

[Robert Kelly]

You know, he's not gonna hear this.

[Big J Okerson]

I brought in a children's choir for this song. Why?

[Marcus King]

They're all barefoot too. Nice, everyone. Barefoot Rick's. He's so great, man. He's just. He's really set in his ways, you know? And like, if we were going to work together again, I mean, there'd probably be some, you know, your house shoes.

[Robert Kelly]

Boots, maybe regular food.

[Marcus King]

Like, he. He kind of. He moves with the climate that best suits him. So he's in Malibu and then he'll move to his place in Hawaii and then Costa Rica and then Italy. So depending on where he's at, I gotta travel to him. So, like, making that record just took forever. And it was just kind of. There was a lot of challenges in making it. We finished it at its place out in Tuscany, which was what the dude.

[Big J Okerson]

Probably a very inspirational place for like fucking country rock.

[Marcus King]

Well, he's got like this 11th century cathedral out there that's like. That he turned into his home.

[Robert Kelly]

Do you think at some point does.

[Big J Okerson]

It all have to be so weird?

[Marcus King]

I know.

[Robert Kelly]

Do you think he. Do you think he wanted just to show you his.

[Big J Okerson]

His. That's all he wants to do.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. Hey, man.

[Big J Okerson]

Hey. You want to see what a cave house looks like in a weird place that's like a fifth, 17 hour flight. It's got the greatest acoustics.

[Marcus King]

And I do remember, like, you know, sometimes Rick, like, he's been in his Rick thing for so long, sometimes he. He forgets how normal people operate in there. And he's, you know, take it upon.

[Big J Okerson]

Yourself to Remind him.

[Marcus King]

Yeah, I should. Well, I did. Like, in one instance, they're like, you know, we need Marcus to fly to Italy next week to finish the record. And I was supposed to be at home, off. I was like, well, I mean, for flying to Tuscany, like, give me and my wife, you know, first class seats will come over. And I like, nah, it's gonna be like, you know, $30,000 because it's next week. And I'm like, I didn't make the schedule, you know, he was gonna make.

[Robert Kelly]

You fly coach to go see his.

[Big J Okerson]

I was like, rick about this when he gets back from his afternoon gondola.

[Marcus King]

Yeah, the late. The label was gonna make me pay for it, and I said, no, then we're just not doing it. And it was the only time I really was like, no, that. But, you know, they took care of it. They took care of us. And we went over and we worked on the record. And, you know, he also. He was gonna have a stay. Like, did y' all see that movie or that documentary about, like, the, like, the cult leader guy out in Oregon? And he ended up getting arrested at Charlotte International. So, like, the remainder of, like, his followers, they have, like, a place on the same stretch of road that Rick lives on.

[Big J Okerson]

Coincidence?

[Marcus King]

I don't know. No, that's where. That's where he wanted us to stay at the ashram's place.

[Big J Okerson]

You sit here, noodle on your guitar. I'm gonna go talk to my minions.

[Marcus King]

It was like a. It was like a hostile situation, like this yoga retreat kind of place. And I was like, man, I just. I want some air conditioning and, like, a bed.

[Robert Kelly]

Amenities.

[Marcus King]

Some amenities.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah, you don't want to eat avocado salad for five days.

[Marcus King]

Right.

[Big J Okerson]

Brought to you by a white slave.

[Marcus King]

Yeah. So this was. This was the.

[Big J Okerson]

This is Vanessa.

[Marcus King]

I love. I love Rick, and, like, he's just so eccentric. Like, you said, it all has to be kind of weird.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, but it's weird to have to fall into becoming that. I always feel like Marilyn Manson. Same thing. You can't just go to his place and he's like, you know, wow, it's a really nice couch. It has to be like a castle couch and stuff. Like, you know, the guy who wrote the Satanic Bible made this out of skin.

[Marcus King]

It's always something like.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah. And you're like, really? And then you go in the fridge, you got, like, gogurt. Like, that's a weird combination.

[Marcus King]

Did they.

[Jacob]

Did they.

[Robert Kelly]

When you were making the album in. In Italy, was. Did they have, like, Good food or pasta.

[Marcus King]

Rick had like four. Like, is he a vegetarian? No.

[Robert Kelly]

Oh, they had known they had a slave. Italian old ladies.

[Big J Okerson]

Damn, dude, I'd love to have an Italian old lady slave.

[Marcus King]

Yeah. These four little Italian ladies, and they loved feeding me, you know, and they didn't speak any English. They just bring me stuff and they pat your belly.

[Big J Okerson]

You get it too thin.

[Robert Kelly]

You get it too thin.

[Marcus King]

And they just feed me all day. It was great. Make me iced coffees.

[Big J Okerson]

Such a weird uninspiring thing, though, to go play the music you play. I know.

[Marcus King]

Well, I mean, that record, like. And it was funny enough, it was inspiring. And this is for the mood swings Record like, Rick. His original idea was to, like, for me and Chris and Corey Henry to record. And then we were gonna, like, sample ourselves and kinda splice the record together. Like a hip hop record. Cause Rick's like, you know, a hip hop, like, genius, you know, so he wanted to splice it together that way. And it didn't quite take that effect. But, like, being in Tuscany and, like, being on his terms, he was, like, more involved. And he was in the room with me every day, which I know it's not something he usually does anymore. He's not usually, like, there.

[Robert Kelly]

Right.

[Big J Okerson]

You know what I mean? That was Slipknot's complaint about working with him. They said he was never there.

[Marcus King]

Yeah. So I felt honored that he was in the room with me. And he was like. He was really. He put a lot of effort and a lot of thought into it.

[Big J Okerson]

And yeah, he's like, hey, that's a great song. You thought about making it a wrap?

[Marcus King]

Hey, can you thought about wrapping it?

[Robert Kelly]

You mind putting that linen robe on for me?

[Marcus King]

No, he did. He did tell me he had on, like, he had on these pants. And I was like, man, Rick, what kind of pants are those? Because he looks so cozy all the time. And he's like, these are called Thai Fisherman pants. And he sent me a link and I bought a pair and I went home.

[Robert Kelly]

He didn't buy you a pair. The.

[Big J Okerson]

He's supposed to send you a pair. That's classy.

[Marcus King]

Yeah, that's real class.

[Robert Kelly]

There's a link.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, dude. PD's bad boys a comedy. He sent me a box of baby oil. I gotta be honest with you, I didn't get at the time. In hindsight, I think he wanted to do something to my butt. Yeah, could be in hindsight.

[Marcus King]

Hey, hindsight.

[Jacob]

Got it.

[Marcus King]

No, but the making of this most recent record was a lot different.

[Robert Kelly]

The last record, you did was so out of your element and so different. Did you. Were you like, I just want to go back to my band and to where I do it and do it my way and do my thing with my guys.

[Marcus King]

Is it.

[Robert Kelly]

Is did that. Was that like. Like a driving force into doing this and getting back to your roots?

[Marcus King]

Yeah. And.

[Robert Kelly]

And you wanted to wear your shoes.

[Big J Okerson]

But this is more like this. Now you get to see kind of natural progression versus, like going in a different direction.

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Like the actual product, I mean, progression of the band.

[Marcus King]

Yeah. Like, growth is. Growth is sometimes painful and like, is lonely for me not to have my guys. And like when you have like session players, they come in and they're on, you know, they're on the label's dime and they come in and they knock their shit out and they leave. And then the rest of the night at the studio, I'm just by myself.

[Robert Kelly]

Oh, Jesus.

[Marcus King]

But like, I was. I was really ready just to get back to my guys and my band and that familiarity. But there was a lot of growth that happened in that two or three years, both career wise and, you know, personal growth that happened. I met my wife in that time. You know, it was all really positive stuff, but, you know, sometimes it could be more painful than not. So it was nice to get back in the room with my guys and we kind of have that chemistry and that ability to kind of read each other and. And grow off of that.

[Big J Okerson]

I'm sorry.

[Marcus King]

A lot of the musical parts we.

[Big J Okerson]

Did you do all the lyrics?

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Nice.

[Robert Kelly]

And where do you guys do. Do you have like a studio? Are you in your basement? Are you at your house? Where are you doing it?

[Marcus King]

So the writing process is usually like. I mean, it could be anywhere from a week to like a year, depending on what your schedule's like. And just getting together with co writers. I do a lot of just solo writing. I write a lot of songs just on my own. My keyboard player, he comes down, he comes to the house and writes lyrics with me. It's nice to write with a pianist because they think of things quarterly, a little bit different. So we wrote a few together for this record.

[Big J Okerson]

And have you ever outright like purchased a song from somebody or someone else, wrote one completely?

[Marcus King]

No.

[Big J Okerson]

It seems like it's a weird thing. It's the same thing, I think in comedy with like, people like writing for like roasts and stuff. I always have a hard time with that because it's not my thing. So I always wondered about that, like having a hit that wasn't your Words Feels a little bit empty, I'd say.

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Until you get the money, I suppose.

[Marcus King]

That check helps a lot.

[Robert Kelly]

I.

[Marcus King]

No, if I ever did anything like that, I would. I would cover somebody's song, you know?

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah.

[Marcus King]

Like, I've. I've covered, like, Brooks and Dunn, but it's, you know, on the Brooks and Done reboot album, so it's my version of their song. But I've never. I've never taken somebody's words, and, like, I've never really been into that.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, it seems like a strange. Like, this is unfulfilling almost.

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Great. Well, your song was good, it turns out.

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Like, not my own. Yeah.

[Marcus King]

Right. Thank you, man.

[Jacob]

I listened to it a bunch of ways.

[Robert Kelly]

I don't know if you can see him. That's Jacob. He's a little short.

[Marcus King]

Jacob, come out here.

[Jacob]

I'm just gonna tell him the same thing.

[Robert Kelly]

Now he can see you.

[Big J Okerson]

Make a wish, kid.

[Robert Kelly]

Move your arms like a man. Stop sitting. Look at you.

[Jacob]

No, I was telling him before. I, like, tell him, not me. I think I asked Marcus to play half the album before. Before we started. There's not a bad song on it. It's just fantastic, man.

[Marcus King]

Thank you.

[Jacob]

I absolutely love this album.

[Marcus King]

I'm so. I'm so happy with it, you know? Like, I don't know. It just felt like I've got a lot of friends that do, like, bro country or, like, pop country or. Or whatever, and it just felt like there's space in that. That overarching country moniker for, like, what I do, what we do. It's, like, the best shot we have at getting our stuff, like, any kind of mainstream recognition, you know, we're kind of taking a shot on ourselves, but not in any kind of way that feels, like, detrimental to our integrity, you know?

[Big J Okerson]

Are you gonna tour this a lot?

[Marcus King]

I think so. We want it to be. And I mean, honestly, like, we just kind of started scratching the surface with our producer when we. When we were working on it. So, like, we're ready to get back to work, really.

[Robert Kelly]

Back in the studio and make some more songs.

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Marcus King]

And just keep. Keep touring it, because we love touring, and we're just trying to build it to a. To a place that's, like, we can tour comfortably, you know, because right now, you start out, you. You all cram in one van, and then you all cram in one bus, and then you have two buses, and then you're on the road with people like that have 16 buses. And I'm just trying to get to two and I'll be fine.

[Robert Kelly]

You're talking to two guys who have no bus.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, we have uber city bus. You can take the city bus to things I like. I'm such a fan of tour bus.

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Like, living to some degree. I mean, as long as, like, you stop at hotels for. Take showers and shit all the time.

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

I mean, people just live out of the hotel. Gets pretty. Or the bus gets pretty gross. But I like traveling on it a lot.

[Marcus King]

Yeah, I mean, it's the way for us. I love it. But, you know, we. We play the gig and then we get on the bus, go to sleep, wake up in the next city. You go into the venue, and the venue always has, like, showers and amenities, all the stuff that you need.

[Robert Kelly]

Now do you have your own bus or the. Are you guys.

[Marcus King]

You have the.

[Robert Kelly]

Did you make the back, like your little suite?

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Marcus King]

So the way we tour, like, me and my dog and my wife are in the back, and then all 12 bunks are full with band and crew.

[Robert Kelly]

A lot of farts.

[Marcus King]

A lot of farts. We call it the fart missile. So we're trying to move to, you know, we'll have two buses, then we'll have band and myself and the crew on the other bus. Just makes things a little easier, a little more breathing room.

[Big J Okerson]

I know. And everything costs. Like the band. I found out. When you're going, it's like every thing you decide to have on stage, backdrop, banner, it's like. Yeah, it all comes out of the pocket.

[Marcus King]

Well, you get. You get some of these growing pains that are like. Well, you know, I'd love to hire another set of hands to make the cruise life easier, but we don't have anywhere to put them. You know, we're out of bunk space. So, like, I can afford a drum tech, but I can't afford the second bus that I need to fit them, you know, so that's kind of the growing pains that you get with this industry. But. But to be able to tour as much as we want to, we just want to get to a place where we're, you know, bringing in higher guarantees and putting enough asses and seats to where we can tour comfortably and make a good living at it, it's tough.

[Big J Okerson]

Because the music itself doesn't generate much money anymore.

[Marcus King]

Yeah, that is a challenging part for sure. I mean, even the highest streaming artists, you know, it's not. It's not making much of a dent.

[Big J Okerson]

It's like pennies on the dollar they give you. Right?

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

Make your tickets $1,000 a piece.

[Marcus King]

Well, that's the other thing, too, is, like, these, like, secondhand, like, people buying and reselling the tickets and, like, gouging the. The fans. It's a nasty business.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

There's no way around it. I don't think either.

[Robert Kelly]

Well, punch up.

[Big J Okerson]

God damn it. If you. Kid Rock did that, like, $20 memory. The 20 ticket and everything. All concessions are like five bucks or something.

[Marcus King]

But I'm sure he took a bath on it, though.

[Big J Okerson]

He did.

[Marcus King]

I mean, I don't know. I should. I should ask him because, like, I'm inspired by that, kind of. Because I. I love that.

[Big J Okerson]

Do something cool for the family.

[Robert Kelly]

You're friends with him, right?

[Marcus King]

I am, yeah.

[Robert Kelly]

Tell him about me and Jay.

[Marcus King]

He knows you.

[Robert Kelly]

We'd like to go to his house.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, I want to do drugs in a hot tub with Kid Rock in front of his White House replica thing and. And fucking chase Mexicans with crossbows or whatever you do. I don't know. I've never been. I've only heard the stories. I think human hunting Mexicans. Jacob, here's some thoughts.

[Jacob]

I want that for you.

[Big J Okerson]

Thank you. I know. Middle of the night, he just goes, hey, now that all the uncool people have left, you guys want to hunt Mexicans. Yeah. On ATVs while we listen to rap rock. You know who didn't think my joke was funny? When I met his son, who's half black, half white, and I was. And he told me his name, I go, damn. Real opportunity. Miss not naming you rap rock. I thought it was hilarious. It not hit all night. I went around telling other people, like, that's rap rock. I don't get him, because he did the fuck off.

[Marcus King]

Missed opportunity.

[Big J Okerson]

Missed opportunity. You're still in Nashville. Yeah. You love it there.

[Marcus King]

I like it.

[Big J Okerson]

Is that what you recorded this album?

[Marcus King]

Part of it, yeah. We recorded a lot of it down in Macon, Georgia, which is like. Like Otis Redding's from there. Little Richard. The Allman Brothers kind of formed there, and they were. They were based out of there for a long time. And Capricorn Studios. Marshall Tucker Band recorded there. Capricorn Studios was. It was a label. It was like the first Southern rock label. And the recording studio is still there, and it's pretty much untouched. The A room, anyway. The rest of it had been gutted and completely remodeled. But the A room, like where the Allman Brothers Band first played together as a band, is still there. So we just wanted to get in there and get some of that energy onto the record. But, you know, just like with anything, like the label, you record a bunch of songs and then you send them to the label and they're like, these are so great. Can we set up more writing dates so you can write more? Because, you know, they haven't heard anything that they think is marketable yet. So you write again, and then you demo them, and then you send them, and then you just kind of do that process over and over, and it's a little arduous. And then we decided, like, I guess it was in May or June, the last round of sessions, we did them while we were in Nashville. So we recorded, like, maybe a third of the record in. In Nashville, Tennessee.

[Big J Okerson]

That's where all the guys live, too.

[Marcus King]

Just me and my guitar player.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, really?

[Marcus King]

I've been trying to get the rest of the band and move there for, like, 10 years.

[Big J Okerson]

Where are they all based out of?

[Marcus King]

The Carolinas.

[Big J Okerson]

Wow.

[Jacob]

Really?

[Robert Kelly]

You went all the way to Italy? You went all the way to Italy and Hawaii and they won't come two states over?

[Marcus King]

No.

[Big J Okerson]

That is pretty funny.

[Marcus King]

As he goes, guys, like, move to Nashville.

[Robert Kelly]

I'm like, I. I joined a cult to get the last album.

[Big J Okerson]

The things I did. I was at a Druids party. Do you know what that means? I still don't. I was there.

[Marcus King]

Yeah. Yeah. It's a fair point.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah. I got 7,000 more. Rick Rubin questions. Does he walk around with a candle and a robe all the time?

[Marcus King]

I will say, like, he doesn't use.

[Robert Kelly]

Like.

[Marcus King]

He doesn't like harsh lighting, really. You know, so it's all red lights. So when it gets dark out there on the farm, it's just red light.

[Robert Kelly]

That's because he doesn't want you to see him float.

[Marcus King]

I mean, I was. I was. I was.

[Big J Okerson]

I've been dead for 20 years.

[Jacob]

I can't watch. I know he's a genius, but I can't watch any of his interviews because when he. He always crosses his legs, so his foot is, like, in the camera. Like, you have to stare. I only stare at his foot, and I don't want to stare at this foot. I'm sure it's nice, but I remember.

[Marcus King]

I was over there right before he put his book out. And if you haven't listened, you should listen to the audiobook that he did. It's really good.

[Big J Okerson]

Does he read it?

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Robert Kelly]

Did he force you to listen to it?

[Marcus King]

No.

[Robert Kelly]

In front of him as he looked.

[Big J Okerson]

You guys should listen to it because I fucking had to.

[Marcus King]

Yeah. I just. I love Rick, man, because he Is he's really, like. He's removed from, like, pop culture. He tries to be, like, on the fringe of society and tries to say. Tries to stay kind of removed. And he was gonna go do Joe Rogan when I met him or when I was in Italy with him. And he's like. He was nervous about it. I'm like, you're Rick Rubin. You'll be fine.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah, you know, it's really true. But yeah, he, like, I wonder if you thought, like, Joe Rogan's gonna, like, not co. Sign like, shit on the book. Like, not in the book. Just like, the weird. Just like, his stuff that he's into in general. Because it is funny. He came from, like, they were NYU hip hop producers, him and Russell Simmons, like, their story. And like, he did. There's a. There's a conscious decision that was made in his life at one point where he's like, well, I'm not a leather jacket, long hair guy. Now I'm a guru person. And now I wear wooden jewelry and don't give a fuck anymore. And fuck you, shoes. I mean, like, there's a one day. It was like. It wasn't that. But I think a lot of famous people. It's the removal, I think. Never get like that. Marcus. You're such a normal dude. Like, it's the funny. It's young Johnny Depp interviews, you know, he's like, oh, yeah, I auditioned. I got the movie. It was great. Oh, we had so much fun working on it. And now everything's like, hair in the face. Like, I don't know. I can't. I don't have a watch. Because time doesn't mean anything. You know, he just chose to be that guy. So there's a choice to it.

[Robert Kelly]

That'd be awesome. There is a choice if Marcus came in on a kung fu outfit next time.

[Big J Okerson]

Bowing, everybody. Gentlemen.

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Marcus King]

I mean, you're not wrong. It's like what happened to Elvis Presley, you know?

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

I'll start believing his own. Yeah.

[Marcus King]

People just stop saying no to you.

[Robert Kelly]

I know.

[Marcus King]

And my drummer is my ultimate contrarian. And you all. You all met him. Like, Jack's always like, no, that's stupid. Yeah. And it's good. You gotta have that. You gotta have some. Some push and pull.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah.

[Marcus King]

It's important.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah. My wife won't let me leave the house. I was wearing all blue one day.

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Robert Kelly]

And she's like, are you in a lesbian softball team? I was like, why? She's like, get it off.

[Marcus King]

Get it off.

[Jacob]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

All baby blue.

[Robert Kelly]

Blue pants, blue hoodie, blue hat. And I thought I. I was kind of excited for you to see me. I thought you'd be like, you look good.

[Big J Okerson]

I would have went, you're wearing blue. Bobby B. Bobby, Bobby, Bobby B. Bobby, Bobby, Bobby B. Bobby Bob.

[Robert Kelly]

I almost bought a hat this weekend. I almost bought a cowboy hat. I'm scared to. I'm scared to buy it for real.

[Big J Okerson]

You should be.

[Robert Kelly]

I know, but I. I know.

[Big J Okerson]

I know you're doing what I just said. I know you're just gonna go country now.

[Robert Kelly]

Well, I. I've. First of all, I've always been country. I've been country for a long time. You just don't know it. I've been closet country.

[Big J Okerson]

Oh, I didn't know that.

[Robert Kelly]

I've been in the closet.

[Big J Okerson]

But what do you keep your country? Do you keep it in your fanny pack? Good God.

[Robert Kelly]

I. I went to a. I was up in New Hampshire, and there was a store with the hats. And every time I see a cowboy hat, and then when you put it on, I'm like, I look good.

[Marcus King]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

That is the problem. You end up looking good in a cowboy hat. You're like, damn, I wish society wouldn't just laugh me out of the room if I went, would I wear this? Now?

[Marcus King]

There's a. There's a confidence to it, you know?

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah.

[Marcus King]

And like, five years ago, I come up to Nash or come up from Nashville to New York, and I get a lot of looks, a lot of weird looks. But cowboy culture is kind of in vogue right now. So if I'm in LA or, you know, in New York, I don't really get the strange stares anymore, which is nice.

[Big J Okerson]

But you have to do. It's like, you got to go jeans. If you're wearing the cowboy hat, you can't. Cowboy hat on sweats.

[Marcus King]

No, you can't do it.

[Robert Kelly]

And you're also. You're also one of the greatest singers in the world. I have nothing to offer your community. You know what I mean? I know how to tie a knot.

[Big J Okerson]

Yeah. Somebody goes, why are you wearing that cowboy hat? You can go, oh, hang on, and show them why.

[Robert Kelly]

Yeah.

[Big J Okerson]

And Bobby would just be like, they have a store in New Hampshire.

[Nikki or Bri (Podcast Hosts)]

Hey, everyone, it's Nikki and Bri, and we're here to let you know that we have a podcast, the Nikki and Brie Show.

[Robert Kelly]

Yes.

[Nikki or Bri (Podcast Hosts)]

And we've got new episodes every Monday and Thursday. We're serving up real deal conversations that go beyond the cameras. Think Motherhood Confessions, Sisterhood Vibes, Boss Business Energy and tv, live tea? Need a laugh? We got you craving inspo. We got inspiration and affirmations on deck. Want a little cry or a big? Heck yes. That's our jam. Whether we're breaking down pop culture, sharing parenting wins or fails, unpacking personal growth, or just riffing on everyday chaos, nothing is off limits. Plus, we welcome incredible guests, play our favorite games, and do what only sisters can keep it 100 while raising a glass together. So pop a bottle, hit play and come hang with us. Listen to the Nicki and Bri show wherever you get your podcast.

[Christine Evans]

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