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Soundcheck

Monday, June 04, 2007
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  • Pool Parties, a Summer 2006 concert series in the pool at McCarren Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vobios/203367322/" target="_blank">vobios</a>/flickr)
    Pool Parties, a Summer 2006 concert series in the pool at McCarren Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (vobios/flickr)

    When All the City's a Stage

    New York's outdoor summer festivals promise all-star musical line-ups but also plenty of hurdles -- from high-priced tickets to sold-out signs and sunburns. Today, a look at the risks and rewards of music in the great outdoors. Also: as the founder of Lollapalooza, alternative-rock pioneer Perry Farrell has seen it all when it comes to outdoor festivals. He shares his experiences, and his new band Satellite Party. Finally: Why amphitheaters are suffering a crisis similar to the drive-in movie theaters.

The Great Outdoors?

Outdoor concerts are ubiquitous during the summer months but it's not always a walk in the park. We hear about the up's and down's of finding the best live music this summer.

Perry Farrell

Perry Farrell helped pioneer alternative rock in the 1990s with the L.A. metal-funk outfit, Jane's Addiction. Later, he founded Lollapalooza and set the tone for American outdoor festivals. Now, his new band Satellite Party wants to save the environment. And party.

Perry Farrell bio

Have Amphitheatres Passed Their Prime?

Concert industry analysts say the outdoor venues aren't as financially feasible as they once were. The 22-year-old Nashville amphitheater Starwood was just sold to make room for housing, one of several arenas around the country that are up for sale. Gary Bongiovanni, editor-in-chief of the concert industry publication Pollstar, explains why amphitheaters are suffering a crisis similar to the drive-in movie theaters.

Irma Thomas

Irma Thomas

Soundcheck

August 22, 2008
New Orleans singer Irma Thomas has survived 50 years in the music business - and at least two hurricanes. She joins us to talk about her record, Simply Grand.

Bon Iver

Soundcheck

July 30, 2008
Singer-songwriter Justin Vernon spent a winter holed up in his father's hunting cabin in remote Wisconsin, recording songs about solitude that would be released under the name Bon Iver. He joins us to play some of them live.

Billboard Chart

Who's On Top and Who Should Be?

Soundcheck

August 14, 2008
Soundcheck looks at the artists who are reigning atop the Billboard albums chart -- and what their rankings tell us about the state of pop music.

Janelle Monae

The Next Big Things

Soundcheck

Paste magazine editor-in-chief Josh Jackson joins us to talk about Johnny Flynn, Janelle Monae, Bon Iver, Amy MacDonald and other must-hear artists who made Paste’s list of "The Best of What’s Next: 26 Emerging Artists You Should Know."

  1. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from Denver (08/29/2008)
  2. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Republican National Convention: Day 4 (09/04/2008)
  3. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Republican National Convention: Day 2 (09/02/2008)
  4. The Leonard Lopate Show: Young'Uns (09/03/2008)
  5. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Republican National Convention: Day 3 (09/03/2008)
  6. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Republican National Convention: Day 5 (09/05/2008)
  7. The Leonard Lopate Show: Big Storm (09/04/2008)