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Big Mouths on Campus
For college kids who sing in a cappella ensembles, lighthearted harmonies are serious business. Today, we look inside the competitive -- and freewheeling -- world of collegiate a cappella groups. Plus, we'll unmask a few a cappella alumni from the celebrity world. Later: the off-kilter folk rock of Brooklyn-based Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles.
Collegiate a Cappella Exposed!
Membership in a lighthearted vocal group is a fond memory for many college graduates. For others, including more than a few celebrities, a year or two in a cappella is something they'd rather forget. Mickey Rapkin, author of the book “Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory” and a senior editor at GQ magazine, explains why a cappella is a polarizing force -- one that might be going mainstream.
Our blog: John Schaefer on a cappella groups.
Tell us: Are you an alumnus or alumna of an a cappella group? How do you look back at your time in one?
The South Comes Up North
Up from the Deep South...all the way to Brooklyn. A two-week festival is underway that celebrates the culture of the Mississippi Delta. WNYC’s Siddhartha Mitter reflects on the birthplace of the blues.
Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles
Somewhere between Langhorne, Penn., and Brooklyn, Sean Scolnick became Langhorne Slim. He and his band, the War Eagles, scored a deal with V2 Records and survived when that label fizzled. Now, Slim and his band, the War Eagles are out with their latest full-length. It’s filled with high-energy folk rock and Slim’s soulful yelp.
Langhorne Slim on MySpace
Video: Langhorne Slim on the Black Cab Sessions
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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.
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Introducing our Video Contest
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In Studio: Los Amigos Invisibles
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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
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The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.
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Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico
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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.
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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.
