On Demand
Soundcheck
-
Six-String Sticker Shock
Electric guitars are like fine wine: the older, the better. Today on Soundcheck, two vintage guitar dealers talk about the booming market for classic instruments — and why it might be headed for a crash. Plus: Elana Arian, a singer-songwriter inspired by classical, jazz and folk traditions, performs songs from her new album, "How to Stand in the Rain." And, a (brief!) preview of this weekend’s 26-hour long Bang on a Can Marathon.
Guitar Sales Hit the Ceiling
Stop fretting about the housing market: The rare-guitar bubble is ready to burst. Over the last five years, some vintage axes have quadrupled in price, but some say that market is about to crash. We'll talk to two vintage dealers, Stan Jay from Staten Island and George Gruhn from Nashville, to hear different perspectives on the forces that are driving guitar prices up — and down.
Elana Arian
Singer-songwriter Elana Arian is a folk artist who learned the discipline of classical music and the freedom of jazz music as a student. On her sophomore album, "How To Stand in the Rain," Arian crosses style boundaries with ease, backed by an impressive cast of players known for their work with Norah Jones, Dido, Lisa Loeb and They Might Be Giants. She performs live in studio.
Bang on a Can Marathon
For the first time in its 20-year history, the annual Bang on a Can Marathon will run for 26 consecutive hours. Starting on Saturday night, an eclectic lineup of innovative and experimental musicans will perform the equivalent of a baton-relay race at the World Financial Center Winter Garden in lower Manhattan. Randy Nordschow, of Newmusicbox magazine, offers a sneak preview of the lineup, which includes indie-rockers Yo La Tengo, Argentine singer-songwriter Juana Molina, jazz pianist Vijay Iyer, and dozens more.
- About this program
- Staff Bios »
- Contact Us »
- Latest Episode
- Internship
- Tapes and Transcripts
- Show Archive »
Features & Series
Podcast
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to the Podcast
Soundcheck Blog
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.
More
Introducing our Video Contest
Soundcheck
John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.
In Studio: Matisyahu
Soundcheck
Hasidic star Matisyahu joins Soundcheck to play "One Day" live in studio.
- Comments [8]
In Studio: Los Amigos Invisibles
Soundcheck
The Venezuelan funk-rock band "Los Amigos Invisibles" was discovered by David Byrne in a Manhattan record shop. They perform live on Soundcheck.
In Studio: Angel Deradoorian
Soundcheck
The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.
- Comments [8]
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: 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.
