Teddy and the Rough Riders, the Nashville-born duo of Jack Quiggins and Ryan Jennings, have returned with ‘Down Home,’ their raucous follow-up to their 2022 self-titled LP.

Out October 11th via Appalachia Record Co., the album’s 11 tracks are a blend of cosmic Americana, merging country, rock, and bluegrass influences with electrifying energy. Their signature sound—groovy, fuzzed-out guitar riffs and catchy hooks—makes for a record that feels both timeless and fresh.

Lead single “Catfish Summer” is a nostalgic ode to a transformative childhood summer spent in Rockmart, Georgia, at the home of an uncle who introduced them to fishing, four-wheelers, and bluegrass tunes. The track captures that simple, free-wheeling joy in a head-bobbing anthem. Elsewhere on ‘Down Home,’ songs like ‘Fast Livin’ and ‘Bird Has Flown’ pay homage to classic country, while ‘Hippies’ and ‘Bullet’ inject a playful, alt-country edge with their clever lyrics and Sean Thompson’s fuzz-drenched guitars.

Teddy and the Rough Riders show they’ve found their groove, creating a sound that’s both rebellious and rooted in tradition, proving their place in the growing cosmic-country scene.

“…a bummer childhood expectation turned into the best time of my life—fishing, four-wheelers, and a bluegrass band playing at my uncle’s hillbilly shack.”

‘Catfish Summer’ sounds like the kind of acid trip you’d have if you grew up on a steady diet of catfish and Hank Williams. If this track were a twisted, fever-dream movie, who’d star in it, and what would the plot be?

Ryan Jennings: If there was a movie, it’d be part O Brother, Where Art Thou? and part Alien 3, where Sigourney Weaver is stuck on an all-male prison planet. Maybe then she’d have to help them all have a big fish fry to distract from the hidden alien attack.

Your music’s got this wild, cosmic-Americana vibe that feels like it’s been shot straight out of a honky-tonk on Mars. If your sound was a cosmic cocktail, what would be in it, and how many would it take to get properly spaced out?

Hmm, it’d have to be a George Dickel whiskey cocktail, with soda water and a lemon for choice! Not that cosmic necessarily, but make it a double, and after two of those, you’d be feeling what we feel. Maybe some nice grade hybrid marijuana to pair.

You’re riffing on the idea that “hippies make the best country music” in your track ‘Hippies.’ What’s the most “hippie” thing you’ve done lately that felt like it brought out your best musical side?

Aside from playing music as our job, not much hippie stuff here to be honest! We love the Grateful Dead and smoke a lot of weed. In fact, I’m part of a great Grateful Dead Instagram chat with some heavy hitters in the Nashville music scene, haha. But talk to Sean Thompson’s Weird Ears, as he’s the most cosmic of all Nashville artists we work with.

<a href="https://teddyandtheroughridersarc.bandcamp.com/album/down-home">Down Home by Teddy and the Rough Riders</a>

Nashville has been your home base, and you’ve seen the city’s music scene evolve over the years. What’s one change in Nashville’s music scene that you love, and one thing you miss from the “old days”?

Man, what I love about Nashville’s scene is the inclusivity. I feel like that’s grown a lot over the years, with critiques, of course. There are so many genres and outlets you can follow, and the youth can gain access to music. There’s something for everyone if you have the time to look. I’d say I miss some of the punk and garage scenes here, but that’s probably because I’ve grown out of my old go-hard habits.

Can you share some further words about the recording and production process of your latest album?

We recorded with Sean Thompson’s Weird Ears. Sean’s really more into acid jazz and space country! But he supplied a heady tone, and we made the melodies. We also owe a lot to Jake Davis, our engineer and producer, who works with the likes of William Tyler, The Medium, The Opry, and so many more important artists to us. He really helps sponsor an experimental vibe.

‘Bullet’ on your new album flips traditional country conventions on their head. If you could rewrite the story behind any classic country song, which one would it be and how would you twist it?

I wouldn’t rewrite any classic country songs. Instead, I’d choose to cover them. I love the Sons of The Pioneers song ‘Along the Santa Fe Trail’ because of this insane ghost organ sound from the ’40s/’50s. It’s an amazing sound on a specific record. If I covered it, I would use synthesizers and affected pedal steel to emulate it.

‘Mountain Girl’ is a super up-tempo stomp with a bluegrass vibe. If you could have one legendary bluegrass artist (living or dead) join you on stage for that song, who would it be and why?

Of any living artist, I’d choose Alison Krauss, who is an angel, and her music almost transcends bluegrass into something further. For a dead artist, I’d love to sing with Bobby Osborne, who passed away recently, but in his prime, he was another amazing singer with the highest, loneliest sound ever.

Your single ‘Golden Light’ was inspired by the isolation of the pandemic. If you could send a message back in time to yourself at the start of the pandemic, what advice or words of wisdom would you share?

I guess there’s not much I could tell my past self, except that it’s gonna take longer than expected to learn from it all. The golden light of the song is about just that—being able to have some time off and write as much as possible. We had the ability to record a lot then, demo, and work on songs, so that was the silver lining.

What’s one quirky or unexpected ritual you guys have before hitting the stage?

Not much quirky stage rituals here. We like to drink whiskey and warm up with bluegrass songs by the Louvin Brothers or some wholesome Don Williams sing-alongs. Usually pretty quiet and pensive. We use that time to write solos sometimes.

What’s next for you?

We’re about halfway through our month-long Europe tour, right now heading to the ferry from France to the UK. We have about 11 more shows left and a lot more work still—after a tough start with some lost bags and flight delays. So we need to get through this tour and go home to see our family! After Americanafest and a string of September shows as Emily Nenni’s band opening for our friend Orville Peck, we’ll be headlining shows across the U.S. to support our album’s release in October.

What are some of the records you’ve been listening to lately?

Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch, ‘Woodland’
Emmylou Harris, ‘Ballad of Sally Rose’
Tom T. Hall, ‘New Train Same Rider’
Rodelius, ‘Durch die Wüste’
John Hartford, ‘Down on the River’

Klemen Breznikar

Headline photo: Mandi Fountain

Teddy and The Rough Riders Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp
Appalachia Record Co Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp