The Shadow People

Welcome to The Shadow People, a podcast where New Orleans musicians Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman bring their unfiltered, unapologetic, and often hilarious takes on politics, music, sports, and the chaos of life. From behind-the-scenes tales of musician life to spirited debates about controversial internet comments and the state of pop culture, The Shadow People keeps it real, raw, and unpredictable. Whether you're here for the jokes, the insight, or just to feel like you're hanging with two of NOLA's finest, this is the podcast you didn’t know you needed.

The Shadow People is a music podcast hosted by Nigel Hall, Derrick Freeman, with 39 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Nigel Hall, Derrick Freeman hosts The Shadow People, a music show with 39 episodes published.

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  Episode #38

  The Shadow People Ep38 - Nigel’s Birthday, Earth Wind & Fire & Getting Older

  Sep 18, 202645 min

  No guest. No grand agenda. Nigel Hall checks in remotely from the road on his birthday, Derrick Freeman holds things down in New Orleans, and Danny Abel eventually wanders into the studio to join the foolishness.A rare day off has Nigel thinking about birthdays, gratitude, getting older, staying teachable, and why some of us apparently caught the absolute last flight out of stupidity. Derrick tells the story of unexpectedly running into Earth, Wind & Fire legend Ralph Johnson in Oregon and immediately turning into a complete fanboy, which sends everybody down a proper music rabbit hole.From there: Earth, Wind & Fire’s ridiculous run in the ’70s, Prince in the ’80s, favorite Stevie Wonder records, albums people call “bad” that still have unbelievable music on them, and the difference between how musicians hear records and how everybody else does.Danny shows up midway, there’s talk of putting the old band back in a van for one final — and possibly sober — road trip, football season makes its inevitable appearance, and Nigel has somewhere important to be because his bowling balls are ready.Just the fellas talking shit for 45 minutes. Sometimes that’s the show.Like, subscribe, and keep your shit together until the next episode.#TheShadowPeople #NigelHall #DerrickFreeman #DannyAbel #EarthWindAndFire #RalphJohnson #StevieWonder #Prince #NewOrleansPodcast #MusicPodcast #TourLife

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  Episode #37

  The Shadow People Ep37 - The United States of New Orleans

  Aug 28, 202649 min

  Nigel Hall is home for exactly two days, which apparently is just enough time to sit down with Derrick Freeman, Jelly Joseph, and Danny Abel for another episode of The Shadow People.This one starts with Nigel’s eye twitching from tour life, Jelly in her birthday mumu era, and the whole room trying to decide whether a meltdown is actually just your body telling you the truth. From there, it turns into records, record stores, PJ Morton, Brazil, childhood music memories, “useful hoarding,” New Orleans food, Coolinary, oysters, and why some people should not be left alone with a credit card near vinyl or keyboards.The crew also takes time to remember Jerome “Big Duck” Smith, a New Orleans civil rights legend whose work and legacy still sit deep in the culture. Then it’s back to tour communication, band family, Backline, mental health on the road, what it means to feel safe in the band, and one very important Waffle House order involving five cheese eggs.Plus: Danny pops up, Jelly starts a new one-liner segment, and New Orleans remains its own country.Like, subscribe, send us a message, and don’t you eat that beef.#TheShadowPeople #NigelHall #DerrickFreeman #JellyJoseph #DannyAbel #NewOrleansPodcast #NewOrleansMusic #Lettuce #Galactic #MusicianLife #TourLife #VinylRecords #PJMorton #BigDuckSmith #Backline #LunascendTIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome to the United States of New Orleans00:23 Nigel’s two-day break from tour03:36 Jelly’s birthday meltdown and mumu era07:41 Feeling your feelings instead of going numb12:26 Money, comfort, and expensive record habits15:23 Vinyl collections, childhood memories, and “useful hoarding”23:40 Remembering Jerome “Big Duck” Smith27:31 Coolinary, oysters, and New Orleans food talk30:28 Tour communication, patience, and Backline40:05 Road life, safety, band family, and five cheese eggs46:52 Jelly introduces the one-liner segment

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  The Shadow People

  The Shadow People Ep36 - Jelly Joseph Joins The Shadow People

  Jul 31, 202657 min

  The Shadow People are back, and this one comes with a new addition to the family. Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman catch up after a little time away, get into the Nolan Wells story and the exhausting reality of trying to make sense of things that still don’t make sense, then somehow end up deep in the Bobby Womack / Sam Cooke / Womack Sisters family tree — which, honestly, needs its own courtroom diagram. Then Jelly Joseph pulls up. What started as Jelly just stopping by turns into an official welcome into The Shadow People universe. From new music and burnout to touring, New Orleans credentials, bounce records, Japan jet lag, Tubi wigs, and why sometimes you really do just need to sit down somewhere, this episode goes exactly where it was supposed to go. We also take time to remember Dougie, the Maple Leaf, Oak Street, and the people who help keep New Orleans music culture moving. Welcome to the family, Jelly. As always, a shout-out to sE electonics for the sick mics! Like, subscribe, share with somebody who needs to be part of this madness. #TheShadowPeople #JellyJoseph #NigelHall #DerrickFreeman #NewOrleansMusic #NewOrleansPodcast #MusicPodcast #BobbyWomack #SamCooke #WomackSisters #MusicianLife #Burnout #MapleLeafBar #Lunascend TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The Shadow People are back 02:04 Nolan Wells and trying to process the unthinkable 15:11 Bobby Womack, Sam Cooke, and the wildest family tree ever 21:01 DeBarge, Tubi movies, and Party City wigs 23:02 Shout out to Jeremiah and JB Studios 25:03 Like, subscribe, and the return of bot talk 28:02 Jelly Joseph enters the building 28:12 Jelly officially joins The Shadow People 31:30 Burnout, comfort music, touring, and musician life 49:18 Remembering Dougie, the Maple Leaf, and New Orleans culture

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  Episode #35

  The Shadow People Ep35 - MJ Biopic, Danny Demoted to Cowbell, Knicks in Finals

  Jun 12, 202652 min

  Nigel Hall, Derrick Freeman, and Danny Abel are back for another episode of The Shadow People. This week: the Michael Jackson rabbit hole continues, Danny tells the story of getting sent to Europe only to end up playing cowbell through the longest second line in Copenhagen history, the crew talks Knicks basketball, Ray J's boxing embarrassment, Very Good Tuesdays, impossibly fast tempos, and why releasing singles might actually make more sense than albums in 2026. Plus stories from the road, New Orleans music culture, and the usual complete nonsense. Sponsored by Lunascend Artist Management, Talent & Services. If you're enjoying the show, like, subscribe, and share! Cuz for Mayor! Produced by Drew Meez by way of BROWN HOUND SOUNDS 0:00 Danny's angry Europe photo1:00 Welcome to Episode 351:20 Michael movie discussion9:50 Best music biopics17:20 Ranking Michael Jackson albums25:30 Lunascend sponsor25:50 Danny finally arrives26:40 Danny's Copenhagen cowbell disaster28:50 Knicks playoff talk34:45 Ray J gets knocked out39:00 Jeff Landry discussion42:15 We played so fast it summoned Cuz47:05 Nigel's new single48:05 Singles vs albums

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  Episode #34

  The Shadow People Ep34 – Zach Mama: From Paris to 50 States, Comedy, Jazz & Life on the Road

  Jun 1, 20261 hour

  TITLE: The Shadow People Ep34 – Zach Mama: From Paris to 50 States, Comedy, Jazz & Life on the Road DESCRIPTION: French-born comedian, drummer, world traveler, and all-around wild man Zach Mama joins The Shadow People for one of the most unpredictable conversations we've had yet. Before becoming a rising stand-up comic, Zach spent years touring as a professional musician, studying in Philadelphia, playing in churches, living in New Orleans, and eventually setting out on a mission to visit all 50 states while building a comedy career from the ground up. Along the way, Derrick Freeman and Nigel Hall dive into life on the road, bombing in front of audiences, dating while constantly traveling, becoming an American citizen, Richard Pryor, Eric Andre, jazz improvisation, tap dancing, roaches, bed bugs, and the surprising connection between stand-up comedy and music. It's thoughtful, ridiculous, hilarious, and occasionally profound—exactly the kind of conversation that makes The Shadow People what it is. Guest: Zach Mama Follow Zach Mama: @zach_mama The Shadow People Podcast features Derrick Freeman, Nigel Hall, and friends discussing music, culture, life on the road, New Orleans, and whatever else happens to come up. #TheShadowPeople #ZachMama #StandUpComedy #NigelHall #DerrickFreeman #Jazz #ComedyPodcast #NewOrleans #MusiciansLife #Podcast TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome Zach Mama 04:19 From Paris to Philadelphia 06:01 Leaving music for stand-up comedy 07:05 Becoming an American citizen 07:46 The quest to visit all 50 states 10:35 Nigel vs. Zach: Who finishes all 50 states first? 11:46 Performing comedy in a Kansas City gay bar 13:06 Bombing, improvisation & surviving bad gigs 14:03 Growing up in Paris 15:18 Making people laugh as a kid 17:15 The accidental Stevie Wonder story 19:50 What are you afraid of? 22:32 Dating, vulnerability & life on the road 26:20 Finding depth while constantly traveling 28:27 Bombing as a comedian vs. bombing as a musician 29:43 Why Zach hates tap dancing 31:09 Derrick's New Orleans roach story 34:05 Bringing comedy back to New Orleans 36:18 Reading the room & improvising a set 37:41 Eric Andre, comedy influences & musical comedy 39:45 Musicians, comedians & creative minds 41:12 The audience as an instrument 42:03 Comedy, music & "hiding the one" 44:15 Why unique stories matter 45:03 Making audiences uncomfortable on purpose 52:00 Comedy, truth & social commentary 58:00 Final thoughts 59:06 Outro

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