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The Brains Behind the Music
The managers who guide rock careers have been lauded (The Beatles’ Brian Epstein), vilified (Elvis svengali Colonel Tom Parker), and parodied (This Is Spinal Tap). Today on Soundcheck, we peek inside one of the oddest jobs in music: band manager. Plus, the full-length debut from New York-based Battles sounds less like rock circa 2007 than rock circa 2097 (or so says the indie music website Pitchfork). They join us to talk about their refreshing take on computer-aided music.
Band Managers
Many of rock's greatest acts owe a part of their success to a band manager. Others just end up owing a fortune. We talk with Steve Overbury, author of Guns, Cash and Rock n Roll: The Managers, about the best (and most notorious) band managers in history. And, band manager Alex Kadvan, who works with New York-based groups like Antibalas, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, and the Budos Band, shares his experience working in today's music industry.
More about the Steve Overbury book
Guns, Cash and Rock n Roll on Amazon
Kadvan Entertainment web site
Song for New York / Interview With Battles
Song for New York is a free, waterfront musical theater production that gets underway this weekend. And the theater critic Alisa Solomon is not just interested in the performances, but in the unruly elements involved with launching a new show.
More about Song for New York
The New York-based band Battles claims to be four guys with impressive indie-rock resumes and a mountain of electronic gear. But after hearing the chipmunk vocals and thumping grooves on their album Mirrored, you might get the impression they're actually bionic men sent from the future -- to rock. We talk with guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams and drummer John Stanier.
Battles on MySpace
Video: Live clip of Battles at Studio B in Brooklyn
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The Ill Effects of Urban Noise
Soundcheck
Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.
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