Elijah Wald

Elijah Wald appears in the following:

The Difficult, Adventurous, Happy Life Of Rosalie Sorrels

Thursday, June 15, 2017

During her remarkable life, Rosalie Sorrels' was adored by Hunter S. Thompson and Studs Terkel, was backed by Jerry Garcia at Woodstock and an early supporter of Townes Van Zandt.

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Listeners' Favorite Movie Bands; Elijah Wald Remembers Dave Van Ronk

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Soundcheck listeners nominate a few of their favorite "movie bands." Then, Elijah Wald sheds light on Dave Van Ronk, the New York folk musician who served as a loose inspiration for t...

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Context and a Movie: "Inside Llewyn Davis"

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Dana Stevens, Slate's film critic and co-host of Slate's Culture Gabfest (now airing on WNYC) and Elijah Wald, writer, musician and co-author of The Mayor of MacDougal Street (Da Capo Press, 2006), discuss the Coen brothers’ new movie "Inside Llewyn Davis" and take your calls on Greenwich Village back in the day.

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Listeners' Favorite Movie Bands; San Fermin Plays Live; Is Insane Clown Posse Losing Its Edge?

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

In this episode: Soundcheck listeners nominate a few of their favorite "movie bands." Then, Elijah Wald sheds light on Dave Van Ronk, the New York folk musician who served as a loose inspiration for the title character the latest Coen brothers film Inside Llewyn Davis.

Then, the Brooklyn chamber pop band San Fermin performs in the Soundcheck studio.

And, The New York Times' Dave Itzkoff wonders if Insane Clown Posse's recent moves towards the mainstream is alienating it's devoted fanbase.

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Inside 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Elijah Wald talks about folk icon Dave Van Ronk, whose memoir served as source material for the new Coen brothers film.

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Those Dirty, Dirty Dozens

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Long before rap, there was “the dozens” – the African-American street rhyming tradition that author Elijah Wald defines as “halfway between ‘yo mama’ jokes and rap freestyle battling.” He joins us to share the surprising musical history of the R-rated comedic insults.

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Tough Times for Mexican Musicians

Friday, November 05, 2010

Back in late June, Mexican singer Sergio Vega was found shot to death on a highway in Sinaloa. No official motive has been determined, but many are speculating he was killed because of his music. Vega was a singer of “narcocorridos” – Mexican ranchera songs with lyrics about the drug trade – and he’s only the latest of a dozen such singers to be murdered in recent years.

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Tough Times for Mexican Musicians

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Late last month, Mexican singer Sergio Vega was found shot to death on a highway in Sinaloa. No official motive has been determined, but many are speculating he was killed because of his music. Vega was a singer of “narcocorridos” – Mexican ranchera songs with lyrics about the drug trade – and he’s only the latest of a dozen such singers to be murdered in recent years.

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Robert Johnson and Studio Alchemy

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Last week, Soundcheck discussed the theory that Robert Johnson’s iconic recordings are actually at the wrong speed. After receiving a flood of thoughtful comments from listeners, we revisit the topic today.

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Turning Pop Music History on Its Head

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The Fab Four turned rock into an art form, but not everyone thinks that was a good thing. Author Elijah Wald joins us to talk about his alternative history of American pop music, How the Beatles Destroyed Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Tell us: What do you think? What was lost ...

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An Alternative History of Popular Music

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

How The Beatles Destroyed Rock And Roll is a new book that offers an alternate history of American popular music. Author Elijah Wald joins us to explain the provocative title and give his perspective on American pop history. Plus: Sultry violinist Lara St. John performs Bach and a Czardas Caprice ...