The World Cafe

Fitz & The Tantrums On World Cafe @ 8pm

David Dye — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:37:00 +0000

The L.A. band Fitz & The Tantrums broke through in 2011 with its debut album, Picking Up the Pieces. Undeniable songs and exciting concerts led the group to festival dates and other high-profile live appearances around the world.

The band formed when L.A. studio engineer and musician Michael "Fitz" Fitzpatrick gathered friends such as fellow vocalist Noelle Scaggs to perform songs he'd written following a breakup.

Boy On World Cafe

David Dye — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:20:00 +0000

The Swiss-German duo Boy has enjoyed worldwide success with its charming debut album, Mutual Friends. Members Sonya Glass and Valeska Steiner met in 2005 at a six-week song workshop and quickly developed a rapport.

In this installment of World Cafe, the two discuss the nuances of writing in English, and describe how their friendship grew along with their musical success.

Boy Thursday Night on the World Cafe @8pm!

News Intern — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:18:28 +0000

Female duo, Boy, debut their infectious brand of indie-pop on Mutual Friends.

Mount Moriah On World Cafe

David Dye — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:25:00 +0000

Mount Moriah is a rock band formed around the duo of guitarist Jenks Miller and singer Heather McEntire. Its second full-length album, the recent Miracle Temple, combines the strum and twang of Southern rock with vocals that hit hard emotionally.

On this installment of World Cafe, host David Dye discusses with McEntire the complexity of Mount Moriah's sound, as well as her push to explore the nuances in her vocals.

The National On World Cafe

David Dye — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000

The National's rise has been slow and steady, to match the growth and evolution of its dour but beautiful rock sound.

Next: Hanni El Khatib

David Dye — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:45:00 +0000

Hanni El Khatib is a first-generation American who grew up with a Palestinian father and a Filipino mother in San Francisco.

Futurebirds Live From Studio A May 20, 2013 @ 2PM!

Maggie Brennan — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:03:03 +0000

The Athens, GA. based band Futurebirds will bring their psychedelic country sounds to the WCBE studios the day after their show at The Basement.

Frightened Rabbit On World Cafe

David Dye — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:08:00 +0000

Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchinson has been creating compelling, sometimes even uplifting, songs about abject failure since the Scottish band's first album, Sing the Greys, came out in 2006.

On this installment of World Cafe, Hutchinson tells host David Dye how the entire band was involved in writing lyrics for its new album, Pedestrian Verse. The singer also discusses Frightened Rabbit's unique experience during a recent tour of northern Scotland.

Dawes Monday Night on the World Cafe @8pm!

News Intern — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:54:54 +0000

Dawes' latest rock record, Stories Don't End, is their much-anticipated third release and first on their own label.

Latin Roots: Son Jarocho

Jasmine Garsd — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:07:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NVNRlDWEy8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp6j5HJ-Cok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xv-FjbXaqk

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside On World Cafe

David Dye — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:29:00 +0000

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside's music was raw and forthright from the beginning, when its album Dirty Radio came out in 2011. The Portland band captures the energy of early-'50s music, with blues and country influences that earned it a rockabilly designation early in its career.

The band's second album, Untamed Beast, doesn't step back from the edge in any way.

RNDM On World Cafe

David Dye — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:02:00 +0000

RNDM is a new band featuring Joseph Arthur, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament and drummer Richard Stuverud. Ament and Arthur met when the latter opened for Pearl Jam on tour.

Ament tells World Cafe host David Dye that he was mesmerized by Arthur's ability to create band sounds by looping his guitar and vocals. He also describes how RNDM formed and explains the process behind creating its debut album, Acts.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Dawn McCarthy On World Cafe

David Dye — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:48:00 +0000

In this installment of World Cafe, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (the stage name of Will Oldham) and Dawn McCarthy perform their own versions of classic Everly Brothers songs — as heard on their latest album together, What the Brothers Sang.

The two Kentuckians find new ways to harmonize on an array of famous and obscure Everly Brothers songs.

Next: Laura Stevenson

David Dye — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:58:00 +0000

Laura Stevenson describes herself as an "unfunny Woody Allen," which is another way of saying that her work channels her obsessions with death and doubt. On her third album, Wheel, she finds a way to make it all sound downright jaunty.

Stevenson came to her more folk leanings from roots in punk, as well as a musical family; her grandfather, choral director Harry Simeone, was responsible for "Little Drummer Boy." Listen to two songs from Wheel on this page.

Clive Davis On World Cafe

David Dye — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:40:00 +0000

At 81, music mogul and Columbia Records president Clive Davis has slowed down just enough to write his autobiography, The Soundtrack of My Life. The book, which describes how he's consistently made hit records, has itself become a bestseller.

In this installment of World Cafe, Davis discusses how seeing Janis Joplin with Big Brother and The Holding Company at the Monterey Pop Festival changed his life — and, consequently, the history of Columbia Records.

Rod Stewart On World Cafe

David Dye — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:44:00 +0000

Rod Stewart has little to prove as a rock star. He's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame twice, once solo and once with The Faces.

The Lonely Wild Live From Studio A May 10, 2013 @ 1PM!

Maggie Brennan — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:34:39 +0000

The L.A. based quintet The Lonely Wild will play a few songs for us during the Global Village!

The Slide Brothers On World Cafe

David Dye — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:30:00 +0000

Calvin Cooke, Aubrey Ghent and brothers Darrick and Chuck Campbell are The Slide Brothers. The band's self-titled album debut album was produced by Robert Randolph, the spectacular young pedal-steel guitarist who became the first player from the Sacred Steel tradition to break out to a wider audience.

On this installment of World Café, the band plays three songs from its album and tells host David Dye about the difference between performing for the congregation at Church of the Living God and playing on club and concert stages.

Phosphorescent On World Cafe

David Dye — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:05:00 +0000

It's easy to hear the steady growth in the music of Phosphorescent's Matthew Houck since the release of his band's 2009 Willie Nelson tribute album, To Willie.

New Music From The Polyphonic Spree, Jon Hopkins, Eleanor Friedberger, More

editor — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:44:45 +0000

This week, All Songs Considered goes big with massive, heart-thumping new music from the gloriously exuberant, sprawling pop group The Polyphonic Spree, and the brilliantly experimental folk-rock band Akron Family.