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.