EPISODE · Mar 24, 2026 · 1H 15M
Building Inspector By Day, Stapleton Tribute By Night | Hogpod Chicago Music Podcast
from H.O.G. POD: Chicagoland Hyper Local Music Scene · host HogPod Chicagoland's Hyper Local Music Chat
Rich Sawyer spends his weekdays inspecting buildings in South Elgin — and his weekends channeling Chris Stapleton across the country. The guy went from frustrated Chicago-area musician complaining about not getting festival slots to flying coast-to-coast, doing meet-and-greets after 1,000-person shows at Joe's Live, and turning down the gigs he once begged for. This is that story..Tennessee Whiskey Chicago is widely recognized as the United States' #1 Chris Stapleton tribute act. Rich leads the band while holding down a government building inspector job since 1998 — and he's about 2 years from retirement. The music life and the day job life are about to collide..🎶 All Cattle No Hat — Hogpod AI Album #6:https://open.spotify.com/album/5DwLurfVwuDmFhJgGwRKS6.🎧 All Hogpod AI Albums on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/album/5DwLurfVwuDmFhJgGwRKS6.🎯 KEY MOMENTS0:00 White Horses from Matt's Barn https://youtu.be/SLtS3niaTko?si=ruuQR2XvS9lZ0VGX12:34 Chris and Amy Poboski Wedding Bash15:00 Happy Birthday Beth Miller Party15:20 Rich Sawyer joins the show17:38 Tennessee Whiskey Chicago intro19:53 Rich Sawyer's background29:57 Early vs late show start — why Rich demands the early slot36:20 Why Chris Stapleton — is country even country anymore?42:10 How COVID launched Tennessee Whiskey Chicago47:43 Ed Warm — Joe's Live / Joe's on Weed Street Country Force https://youtu.be/oZGIIOKiQKQ?si=U-oVlz8dTHxJcN3648:47 Has Rich been in contact with Chris Stapleton?52:14 Chicago country music up and comers — Justin Wallace https://youtu.be/Ne728N5YmSw?si=tkOTXtlnEsKBD6NZ55:28 Beard maintenance57:00 Rich Sawyer influences growing up59:24 Three Amigos1:02:50 Upcoming shows https://www.facebook.com/TennesseeWhiskeyBandChicago/events/?id=100085364674088&sk=events1:04:25 Bongo Mike question segment.📍 Topics in this episode — Chris Stapleton tribute - Tennessee Whiskey Chicago - building inspector - Joe's Live - COVID music scene - Chicago country - Justin Wallace - beard maintenance - early shows vs late shows - festival oversaturation - Seventh Heaven - Sundance Saloon - Mosquitoes band - Steel Drivers.🎤 Guest Linkshttps://tennesseewhiskeychicago.comhttps://www.facebook.com/RichSawyerMusic/https://www.facebook.com/TennesseeWhiskeyBandChicago/events/?id=100085364674088&sk=events.❤️ Support Hogpod — https://patreon.com/hogpod.Hosted by Pete Jansons, Mike "Bongo" Orfanos (Bongo Mike), and Chris "Rhodesy" Rhodes..📞 Booking — [email protected] / 708-287-3692.#HogpodChicagoMusicPodcast #ChicagoMusicPodcast #ChrisStapleton #TennesseeWhiskeyChicago #ChicagoCountry #TributeBand #ChicagoMusic #HogPod #PeteJansons #BongoMike #ChrisRhodes #CountryMusic #ChicagoMusicScene #JoesLive #SundanceSaloon
What this episode covers
Rich Sawyer spends his weekdays inspecting buildings in South Elgin — and his weekends channeling Chris Stapleton across the country. The guy went from frustrated Chicago-area musician complaining about not getting festival slots to flying coast-to-coast, doing meet-and-greets after 1,000-person shows at Joe's Live, and turning down the gigs he once begged for. This is that story..Tennessee Whiskey Chicago is widely recognized as the United States' #1 Chris Stapleton tribute act. Rich leads the band while holding down a government building inspector job since 1998 — and he's about 2 years from retirement. The music life and the day job life are about to collide..🎶 All Cattle No Hat — Hogpod AI Album #6:https://open.spotify.com/album/5DwLurfVwuDmFhJgGwRKS6.🎧 All Hogpod AI Albums on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/album/5DwLurfVwuDmFhJgGwRKS6.🎯 KEY MOMENTS0:00 White Horses from Matt's Barn https://youtu.be/SLtS3niaTko?si=ruuQR2XvS9lZ0VGX12:34 Chris and Amy Poboski Wedding Bash15:00 Happy Birthday Beth Miller Party15:20 Rich Sawyer joins the show17:38 Tennessee Whiskey Chicago intro19:53 Rich Sawyer's background29:57 Early vs late show start — why Rich demands the early slot36:20 Why Chris Stapleton — is country even country anymore?42:10 How COVID launched Tennessee Whiskey Chicago47:43 Ed Warm — Joe's Live / Joe's on Weed Street Country Force https://youtu.be/oZGIIOKiQKQ?si=U-oVlz8dTHxJcN3648:47 Has Rich been in contact with Chris Stapleton?52:14 Chicago country music up and comers — Justin Wallace https://youtu.be/Ne728N5YmSw?si=tkOTXtlnEsKBD6NZ55:28 Beard maintenance57:00 Rich Sawyer influences growing up59:24 Three Amigos1:02:50 Upcoming shows https://www.facebook.com/TennesseeWhiskeyBandChicago/events/?id=100085364674088&sk=events1:04:25 Bongo Mike question segment.📍 Topics in this episode — Chris Stapleton tribute - Tennessee Whiskey Chicago - building inspector - Joe's Live - COVID music scene - Chicago country - Justin Wallace - beard maintenance - early shows vs late shows - festival oversaturation - Seventh Heaven - Sundance Saloon - Mosquitoes band - Steel Drivers.🎤 Guest Linkshttps://tennesseewhiskeychicago.comhttps://www.facebook.com/RichSawyerMusic/https://www.facebook.com/TennesseeWhiskeyBandChicago/events/?id=100085364674088&sk=events.❤️ Support Hogpod — https://patreon.com/hogpod.Hosted by Pete Jansons, Mike "Bongo" Orfanos (Bongo Mike), and Chris "Rhodesy" Rhodes..📞 Booking — [email protected] / 708-287-3692.#HogpodChicagoMusicPodcast #ChicagoMusicPodcast #ChrisStapleton #TennesseeWhiskeyChicago #ChicagoCountry #TributeBand #ChicagoMusic #HogPod #PeteJansons #BongoMike #ChrisRhodes #CountryMusic #ChicagoMusicScene #JoesLive #SundanceSaloon
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Building Inspector By Day, Stapleton Tribute By Night | Hogpod Chicago Music Podcast
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