wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

On Demand

Program Schedule

Topics


Soundcheck

Thursday, June 28, 2007
Previous Episode | Next Episode
  • "Guitar Hero" screenshot
    "Guitar Hero" screenshot

    Rocking the Video Console

    New advances in video game technology allow greater interactivity between gamers and on-screen action. On today's show, we look at how huge video game hits like the "Guitar Hero" franchise are helping users rock both inside, and outside the living room. Also: Classical pianist Jeremy Denk performs live in our studio. Finally, Bon Jovi's unlikely transformation from rock to country superstars.

So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star?

PC World magazine called the release of Guitar Hero 2 one of the most anticipated products of the year — along with the iPhone, of course. We’ll talk with Joel Lawrence, who runs Guitar Hero night at the NYC club Piano’s, and Matt Miller of Game Informer magazine, about how the “Guitar Hero” franchise is helping gamers rock both inside, and outside, the living room.

Game Informer review of "Guitar Hero II"
Screenshots of forthcoming "Rock Band"
YouTube clip of "Guitar Hero" competition

Think Denk

Classical pianist Jeremy Denk is a true musician’s musician who when not traveled the globe, as both a soloist and as a recital partner to violinist Joshua Bell, writes a popular music blog called Think Denk. He joins us to perform live in studio.

Think Denk:The Glamorous Lfe and Thoughts of a Concert Pianist

Bon Jovi goes Country

Bon Jovi's latest country music album "Lost Highway" has landed at the top of The Billboard 200 chart. It's their first No. 1 album since 1988’s "New Jersey." Today Billboard editor Bill Werde explains how this transformation from blue collar rock band to Nashville-styled country boys happened.

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 Leonard Lopate Show: Big Storm (09/04/2008)
  7. The Brian Lehrer Show: Live from the Republican National Convention: Day 5 (09/05/2008)