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Freebird T-shirtYelling "Freebird!" in a Crowded Theater
In his new collection of essays, The Boy Who Cried Freebird, music critic Mitch Myers spoofs topics like obsessive record collectors, rock concert decorum, Sixties nostalgia, Deadheads, and music journalism, and other related pop phenomena. He joins us to talk about crafting these and other fables. Also: the Puppini Sisters, a British trio specializing in 1940's style vocal close harmony music perform live. And finally, conductor Robert Spano interviews composer Osvaldo Golijov as part of WNYC's American Music festival. We hear an excerpt.
Rock 'n' Roll Fables
In his new collection of essays, "The Boy Who Cried Freebird," music critic Mitch Myers blurs the line between fact and fiction in music criticism. He joins us to talk about crafting fables about the man who first cried "Freebird!" during a lull at a concert and the power of Black Sabbath’s "Paranoid" in unmasking the aliens who live among us.
The Puppini Sisters
The vocal trio the Puppini Sisters sings everything from "The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" to "I Will Survive." Fans of the retro-jazz outfit include Vivienne Westwood, Kate Moss and Prince Charles. They perform live in our studio today.
Golijov and Spano
Conductor Robert Spano has specialized in reaching new audiences with new repertoire as music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Composer Osvaldo Golijov blends Latin American, Jewish and other musical traditions in his multi-ethnic compositions. We hear an excerpt from a conversation between the two that will air tomorrow night on WNYC's Evening Music.
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Go behind the scenes!
Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show. Plus, watch videos from in-studio performances.
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Introducing our Video Contest
Soundcheck
John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.
In Studio: Angel Deradoorian
Soundcheck
The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.
- Comments [6]
Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico
Soundcheck
Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.
- Comments [1]
In Studio: Stephanie McKay
Soundcheck
The local singer-songwriter performs "Jackson Avenue," a nostalgic toast to her childhood in the South Bronx.
- Comments [3]
In Studio: The Decemberists
The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.
Sound Off
Soundcheck
Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.
