In a new memoir, British journalist Will Hodgkinson sets out on a mission: to learn how to write a hit song and record it within a year. Today, he joins us to share that journey, which included songwriting lessons with Keith Richards, Chan Marshall of Cat Power and Ray Davies of the Kinks. Also: Songwriter John Darnielle from the band The Mountain Goats performs songs from his new album, "Heretic Pride," and talks about writer's block.
In music journalist
Will Hodgkinson's first memoir he attempted to teach himself to play guitar in just six months. He chronicled his musical crash course in the book
Guitar Man. Now he's back, with a sequel called
Song Man that charts his quest to write and record a single song. ...
The Mountain Goats are known for their low-fidelity recording approach, hard-strumming acoustic guitar lines and ultra-literate lyrics. The band's new album, “Heretic Pride,” is just out and frontman
John Darnielle performs highlights.
By
Brian Wise
Austin is a city of weird contradictions. On one hand, it's a ramshackle jumble of thrift stores, head shops, fortune tellers, quirky little dive bars, and storefronts offering both bail bonds and Chinese take-out. You'll also find gleaming (sometimes gaudy) new ...
By
Joel Meyer : Senior Producer, Soundcheck
Austin legend Daniel Johnston's Jeremiah the Frog mural, located at 21st Street and Guadalupe. (Quick quiz: How do you pronounce 'Guadalupe?') More here on the campaign to save it a few years back. The mural was saved. The Baja Fresh outlet was ...
By
Joel Meyer : Senior Producer, Soundcheck
Austin is home to the Whole Foods headquarters, and their flagship store is something to witness. As a guy who lives in a neighborhood that lacks a gourmet grocery store, I was kind of in heaven.
Nine a.m. is the perfect time to ...
By
Joel Meyer : Senior Producer, Soundcheck
Departed for Austin yesterday from Newark Airport. When I arrived at my gate, it became clear that space in the overhead bins was going to be scarce: the seating area was filled with musicians and their instrument cases. The flight was delayed ...
Austin is a city of weird contradictions. On one hand, it's a ramshackle jumble of thrift stores, head shops, fortune tellers, quirky little dive bars, and storefronts offering both bail bonds and Chinese take-out. You'll also find gleaming (sometimes gaudy) new ...
Austin is home to the Whole Foods headquarters, and their flagship store is something to witness. As a guy who lives in a neighborhood that lacks a gourmet grocery store, I was kind of in heaven.
Departed for Austin yesterday from Newark Airport. When I arrived at my gate, it became clear that space in the overhead bins was going to be scarce: the seating area was filled with musicians and their instrument cases. The flight was delayed ...