Richard Combs
@rmcombs.bsky.social
Husband. Father. Kentuckian. Writer. Music lover. Faith deconstructor.
Substack: https://substack.com/@rmcombs
(Topics: music, religion, writing, politics)
Substack: https://substack.com/@rmcombs
(Topics: music, religion, writing, politics)
Write about the Southern-fried sauntering of Futurebirds’ 2013 masterpiece Baba Yaga. open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
November 10, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Write about the Southern-fried sauntering of Futurebirds’ 2013 masterpiece Baba Yaga. open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
Last year I wrote about the day I learned the truth about Christopher Columbus after reading an historical essay called The American Genocide. Feels appropriate to share today. open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
October 13, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Last year I wrote about the day I learned the truth about Christopher Columbus after reading an historical essay called The American Genocide. Feels appropriate to share today. open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
Wrote about some of my favorite songs for fall. Includes Mazzy Star, Iron & Wine, and The Salty Dogs.
open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
Fall Songs - Part Two
On hearts, hands, pockets, and night-driving (featuring Mazzy Star, Iron & Wine, and The Salty Dogs)
open.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Wrote about some of my favorite songs for fall. Includes Mazzy Star, Iron & Wine, and The Salty Dogs.
open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
What I wouldn’t give for John Steinbeck to still be writing novels during this current era of American lunacy. Or better yet, Travels With Charley part two.
September 18, 2025 at 3:04 AM
What I wouldn’t give for John Steinbeck to still be writing novels during this current era of American lunacy. Or better yet, Travels With Charley part two.
Allow me to be greedily opportunistic and use the news of Taylor Swift’s new album and subsequent engagement (congrats!) to once again share my thoughts on her almost year and a half old album, The Tortured Poets Department, wherein I use the literal phrase “the messy stank of man drama.”
Taylor's Tortured Melody
Swift goes for it lyrically on her new double album, to varying degrees of success, but it's the melodies that truly shine on The Tortured Poets Department
open.substack.com
August 27, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Allow me to be greedily opportunistic and use the news of Taylor Swift’s new album and subsequent engagement (congrats!) to once again share my thoughts on her almost year and a half old album, The Tortured Poets Department, wherein I use the literal phrase “the messy stank of man drama.”
Morgan Wallen thinkpieces are nauseating.
May 29, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Morgan Wallen thinkpieces are nauseating.
Last night I saw Sinners and was blown away. It’s refreshing to watch a movie and know you’re in the hands of a director who knows how to entertain but also actually has something to say. Hand Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan all the blank checks, please.
April 28, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Last night I saw Sinners and was blown away. It’s refreshing to watch a movie and know you’re in the hands of a director who knows how to entertain but also actually has something to say. Hand Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan all the blank checks, please.
Reading Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon super slow because “Wonder Boy” by Tenacious D is stuck in my head the whole time.
April 26, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Reading Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon super slow because “Wonder Boy” by Tenacious D is stuck in my head the whole time.
I wrote about Pride & Prejudice and masculinity and why it’s a cinematic classic. And also my man crush on Matthew Macfadyen.
open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
April 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I wrote about Pride & Prejudice and masculinity and why it’s a cinematic classic. And also my man crush on Matthew Macfadyen.
open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
open.substack.com/pub/rmcombs/...
Vince Vaughn 2005: Are we gonna get hopped up enough to make some bad decisions?
Vince Vaughn 2025: Yes
Vince Vaughn 2025: Yes
April 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Vince Vaughn 2005: Are we gonna get hopped up enough to make some bad decisions?
Vince Vaughn 2025: Yes
Vince Vaughn 2025: Yes
The older I get the more I think music has always been my most abiding spiritual discipline.
Sad Songs, Hard Times, and The Voices
On depression, doubt, and dorm room altars (Bands mentioned: Trespassers William, Explosions in the Sky)
open.substack.com
April 17, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The older I get the more I think music has always been my most abiding spiritual discipline.
This is terrifying
Woman's arrest after miscarriage in Georgia draws fear and anger
Experts say the arrest is part of a pattern of criminalizing pregnancy that has accelerated since the fall of Roe v. Wade.
www.nbcnews.com
April 6, 2025 at 2:37 AM
This is terrifying
My almost 4 year old and 10 month old’s favorite song is Ice Cream Piano” by Vampire Weekend. It’s awesome.
April 5, 2025 at 11:19 PM
My almost 4 year old and 10 month old’s favorite song is Ice Cream Piano” by Vampire Weekend. It’s awesome.
One of the things that pisses me off the most in everything that has happened with the current administration’s shit show is Trump/Elon taking away federal funding from state humanities councils.
April 4, 2025 at 10:51 PM
One of the things that pisses me off the most in everything that has happened with the current administration’s shit show is Trump/Elon taking away federal funding from state humanities councils.
Wendell Berry - The Peace of Wild Things
It’s National Poetry Month. Here’s a favorite poem of mine and many others, and one that is quite timely these days.
It’s National Poetry Month. Here’s a favorite poem of mine and many others, and one that is quite timely these days.
April 2, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Wendell Berry - The Peace of Wild Things
It’s National Poetry Month. Here’s a favorite poem of mine and many others, and one that is quite timely these days.
It’s National Poetry Month. Here’s a favorite poem of mine and many others, and one that is quite timely these days.
Currently reading, and almost finished with, The Evolution of the Gospelettes by Tammy Oberhausen. Fast-paced novel with keen insights about Christianity, doubt, and the prosperity gospel. Vivid characters, detestable villain, palpable Kentucky setting. A great read.
March 29, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Currently reading, and almost finished with, The Evolution of the Gospelettes by Tammy Oberhausen. Fast-paced novel with keen insights about Christianity, doubt, and the prosperity gospel. Vivid characters, detestable villain, palpable Kentucky setting. A great read.
We don’t talk enough about how this is one of the greatest albums of all time.
Pete Yorn released his debut album 'musicforthemorningafter' 24 years ago on March 27, 2001
album.ink/PeteYorn01
album.ink/PeteYorn01
March 28, 2025 at 2:39 AM
We don’t talk enough about how this is one of the greatest albums of all time.
Have you ever wanted to read something extolling the virtues of both 90s pop radio stalwarts Savage Garden and indie-rock alterna-weirdos Cake in the same essay? Here you go.
The Making of a Music Lover
How Cherry Coke and chicken nuggets broadened my music fandom
open.substack.com
March 25, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Have you ever wanted to read something extolling the virtues of both 90s pop radio stalwarts Savage Garden and indie-rock alterna-weirdos Cake in the same essay? Here you go.
I am not familiar with other states’ literary history, tradition, and output like I am own, but I cannot fathom another state having such a stellar track record of producing incredible writers as Kentucky has over the years.
March 25, 2025 at 2:31 AM
I am not familiar with other states’ literary history, tradition, and output like I am own, but I cannot fathom another state having such a stellar track record of producing incredible writers as Kentucky has over the years.
The new My Morning Jacket seems like (and probably is) a fine album, but it just makes me want to listen to At Dawn, It Still Moves, and Z. I wish I wasn’t like this, but damn, that was a three album run for the ages.
March 21, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The new My Morning Jacket seems like (and probably is) a fine album, but it just makes me want to listen to At Dawn, It Still Moves, and Z. I wish I wasn’t like this, but damn, that was a three album run for the ages.
Otega Oweh: ice cold beast.
March 14, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Otega Oweh: ice cold beast.
I do not understand people who say this season of The White Lotus is “slow.” It’s always been a character-driven slow build with stunning cinematography. I’ve never been more excited for shit to go down than I am for the second half of this season.
March 11, 2025 at 2:56 AM
I do not understand people who say this season of The White Lotus is “slow.” It’s always been a character-driven slow build with stunning cinematography. I’ve never been more excited for shit to go down than I am for the second half of this season.
I hardly missed an episode of Pod Save America last year. These days, I hardly ever listen. I’m not sure why.
March 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I hardly missed an episode of Pod Save America last year. These days, I hardly ever listen. I’m not sure why.
Truly not understanding the people saying “God said ‘hold my beer’/ He made a man so he could watch and laugh” is a bad line. It is, per usual for Jason Isbell, a great line.
March 7, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Truly not understanding the people saying “God said ‘hold my beer’/ He made a man so he could watch and laugh” is a bad line. It is, per usual for Jason Isbell, a great line.
Can you imagine if Bob Dylan had posted Machine Gun Kelly’s cover of “Country Roads” with Jelly Roll.
February 28, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Can you imagine if Bob Dylan had posted Machine Gun Kelly’s cover of “Country Roads” with Jelly Roll.