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March 2008

Rock Movies on Screens Big and Small

Monday, March 31, 2008

Director Martin Scorsese’s new Rolling Stones concert film hits theaters this weekend. Today on Soundcheck, we get a sneak preview of "Shine a Light," plus a film critic shares his list of must-see rock movies. Later: a live performance from the Brooklyn-based group My Brightest Diamond.


Ghosts of Pop Music Past

Friday, March 28, 2008

The Eliot Spitzer sex scandal showed that secrets, if left to fester, can be costly. Today, we reveal the "dirty secrets" in our pop music past, from horrifying albums to shameful concerts to irrational rock-star crushes. Later: singer Ana Moura is part of a new generation of singers working with fado, the melancholic and mournful Portuguese music. She joins us for a live performance.


Pop Music's War of Words

Thursday, March 27, 2008

The top songs of the 1960s contained an average of 176 words. These days, hit songs regularly top the 500-word mark. (Chris Brown and T-Pain plowed through "Kiss Kiss" with 740 words.) Today on Soundcheck, we debate quantity and quality in pop-music lyrics. And later: jazz vocalist and pianist Loston Harris pays tribute to Carolyn Leigh, a songwriter whose work was immortalized by the Rat Pack.


Orchestrating Better Business Practices at Symphonies

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Most American orchestras spend more money than they take in, and those who dig into their endowments are risking their future viability, according to a new study by the Stanford Business School. We talk to the study's author about his conclusions, and about the debate it has been generating in the blogosphere. Also: live music from The Whigs, an Athens, Georgia band who recently released their sophomore effort, "Mission Control."


In Hip Hop, Haters at the Gates

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

For years, DJs and MCs fended off declarations of hip hop’s demise with innovative beats and chart-busting albums. But these days, hip hop is stuck in a deep funk. Today on Soundcheck, we look at hip hop’s soul-searching journey into the future. And later: West African Lionel Loueke mixes the giants of jazz with African traditions. He talks about his turn on Herbie Hancock's Grammy winning album and plays live in the studio.


Noms de Rock

Monday, March 24, 2008

Sting’s stage name was inspired by a black-and-yellow striped shirt and Iggy Pop’s name came from his high school band, the Iguanas. On today's show: the story behind the greatest monikers in music. And later: Grammy nominated producer and bassist Tony Scherr is known around town as an in-demand sideman. He joins us to talk about his latest solo CD, Twist in the Wind.


Songs in the Key of Death

Friday, March 21, 2008

Before 24-hour news networks and supermarket tabloids, songwriters described the gory details of daily tragedy. Today on Soundcheck, a look at murder ballads and disaster songs from the 1920s and '30s. Later: songwriter Liam Finn may be the son of a New Zealand pop star, but he's carving out his own experimental rock sound on his solo debut, "I'll Be Lightning." He joins us for a live performance.


From Oil Boom to Arts Explosion

Thursday, March 20, 2008

The Persian Gulf states are on a mission to bring high culture to their rapidly growing, oil-rich cities – importing major classical music stars and translating Mozart operas into Arabic. We find out what happens when a land of glitzy skyscrapers, camel markets, and unbearable heat is transformed into a cultural hub. Also: Opera singer Michelle DeYoung is a Wagnerian mezzo-soprano – part of that rare breed who has the voice and the endurance to make it through one of Wagner's epic operas. She talks about making it through Wagner - and about her favorite pastime: fishing.


For Billy Bragg, All Politics Is Love

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Some songwriters sing about politics. Others sing about love. But for 25 years, one British songwriter has specialized in the unthinkable: the political love song. Today on Soundcheck, we talk to Billy Bragg about love, politics and his first album in six years. And later: songwriter Joseph Arthur intends to release five CDs this year, including one full-length album. He joins us to talk about his ambitious plans, and he plays live in our studio.


In a Galaxie of His Own

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Dean Wareham conquered indie-rock as the lead singer for the bands Galaxie 500 and Luna. Today, he shares his new memoir, Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance that goes behind the New York rock scene, while detailing the collapse of two bands and one marriage. Also: In the 1970's Marc Copland dropped his alto sax and taught himself to play the piano because his attraction to the instrument had become stronger. He performs live and shares his new album, "Voices," with two heavy-weights: bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Paul Motian. Finally: Soundcheck's CD Picks of the Week.


Why Irish Music Is More Than Leprechauns and Shamrocks

Monday, March 17, 2008

Irish music is not all sentimental ballads, step dances and ditties about Leprechauns and green beer. Today, hear about Ireland's long tradition of topical storytelling in music, with songs about politics, immigration, alcoholism and even Iraq. Also: Brazilian singer Curumin has fashioned a new musical genre: samba soul. On his second album he adds some Japanese into it. Curumin joins us to talk about his sound and to play live in studio.


The Tragic Figure Behind Country-Rock

Friday, March 14, 2008

Name any number of modern-day alternative-country bands and you can be sure that their influences include the singer and songwriter Gram Parsons. In working with groups like The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, Parsons fused country and rock and created something entirely fresh. Today, David N. Meyer, the author of the new biography Twenty Thousand Roads, talks about Parsons' music and tumultuous life. Later: the Peruvian style "Chicha" blends indigenous melodies, Columbian cumbia, and surf rock. The band Chicha Libre performs live in our studio. This is a repeat edition of Soundcheck.


SXSW: Gateway to the Music World

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Hundreds of foreign musicians are in Texas right now searching for the American dream: a chance to crack the U.S. music market. Today on Soundcheck: The world comes to Austin. The second of two special live broadcasts from the South by Southwest music festival. And later: offbeat soul band The Heavy hails from outside Bath, England. They claim to “specialize in making everything wrong sound right.” We find out just what that means when The Heavy join us for a live performance in the studio of our host station, Classical 89.5 KMFA.

Follow our journey into the belly of the (music industry) beast on our blog, Soundcheck On Site: SXSW!


South by Southwest, Day 1

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

With over 1700 bands, 80 stages, and 10,000 participants, South by Southwest is the largest music conference in the country. In the first of two special live broadcasts from Austin, Texas, Soundcheck takes a look inside this annual music industry blitz. Later: Austin-based, lo-fi folk group Peter and the Wolf performs in abandoned buses and Salvation Army outlets. Leader Red Hunter joins us to tell his unusual story, and Peter and the Wolf performs live in the studios of our host station, Classical 89.5 KMFA.

Follow John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff on our festival blog, Soundcheck on Site: SXSW


One Man's Quest to Become a Hit Songwriter

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

In a new memoir, British journalist Will Hodgkinson sets out on a mission: to learn how to write a hit song and record it within a year. Today, he joins us to share that journey, which included songwriting lessons with Keith Richards, Chan Marshall of Cat Power and Ray Davies of the Kinks. Also: Songwriter John Darnielle from the band The Mountain Goats performs songs from his new album, "Heretic Pride," and talks about writer's block.


The Devil Wears a Rock 'n' Roll Mullet

Monday, March 10, 2008

“The Office” meets “Spinal Tap” in a new tell-all memoir about a marketing flunky at a major record label. Today, Dan Kennedy, author of Rock On: An Office Power Ballad shares his hilarious behind-the-scenes stories - of overpaid executives and corporate incompetence. Also: Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip share their brand of electro hip-hop poetry.


Side by Side on the Piano Keyboard

Friday, March 07, 2008

If you want to spark a great romance, or improve your bond with a sibling, try starting a piano duo. A team of British researchers have found out why piano duos represent the ultimate in musical - and personal - collaboration. Joining us are music psychologist Marilyn Blank and the piano duo of Saar Ahuvia and Stephanie Ho reveal the secrets to musical partnerships. Also: Nick Cave talks about his multi-faceted pursuits -- songwriter, novelist, film-score composer, screenwriter, and owner of one awesome porn-star mustache.


Latin Music Looks to Future

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Inside the Latin music industry, a shakeup is underway. One major label was just sold and album sales are plummeting. Today on Soundcheck, we find out if Latin indie labels will come to the rescue. Plus: Venezuelan guitarist Aquiles Báez plays live in our studio.


The Time for Rhyme: 1988

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Many of hip-hop's most influential albums were released in 1988. Today on Soundcheck, we find out why that year produced a bumper crop of classic beats. Plus: American teens weren't the only ones inspired by rap's salad days. We look at the rise of Palestinian hip-hop. And later: Cambodian pop and American alt-rock collide in the infectious music of Dengue Fever. The group joins us for a live performance.


A Closer Look at the Blues

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Rock ‘n’ roll owes a huge debt to blues music from the Mississippi Delta, but a new book claims scholars and record collectors were the ones who created the Delta blues. Today on Soundcheck: contesting the history of black music. Plus: Tenor Anthony Dean Griffey takes us inside the title role of Benjamin Britten's dark opera "Peter Grimes."


Rocking the Broadway Stage

Monday, March 03, 2008

"Passing Strange" and "In the Heights" are a pair of new musicals that are smashing Broadway clichés with electric guitars, hip-hop and salsa. Today, we look at musicals that could save Broadway from cheesiness. Also: Singer and songwriter Kate McGarry's album "The Target" has won numerous critical plaudits, including Downbeat magazine's list of the top CDs of 2007. She performs live in our studio.