Music
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Alec Benjamin on the Influence of Leonard Cohen
Kyle Meredith With… Alec Benjamin Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public Alec Benjamin speaks with Kyle Meredith about his first full-length album, These Two Windows. The Phoenix singer-songwriter discusses how there’s enough leftover songs to make a second album and how being bilingual may lead to writing in Mandarin in the future. He also shares his appreciation for Leonard Cohen and explains how he’s been co-writing and collaborating on songs amidst quarantine. Kyle Meredith With… is an interview series in which WFPK’s Kyle Meredith speaks to a wide breadth of musicians. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Meredith digs deep into the artist’s work to find out how the music is made and whe...
Into the Wild Bus Removed From Alaska Wilderness Due to Safety Concerns
Authorities in Alaska have removed the abandoned bus made famous by the book Into the Wild and movie of the same name. According to The Associated Press, Alaska Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige cited safety concerns as the reason for the bus’ removal. At least two people have died attempting to reach the bus, while scores of others needed to be rescued by the Coast Guard. The 1940s-era bus had been used by a construction company to house employees during work on an access road in the area and was abandoned when the work was finished in 1961, The Associated Press explains. It later become a natural monument of sorts in the wake of Christopher McCandless’ tragic death in 1992. McCandless, a 24-year-old native of Virginia, sought refuge in the bus after becoming stranded on the...
Ms. Lauryn Hill, Brittany Howard, Leon Bridges, and More Play “Small Biz Live” Concert: Watch
Lauryn Hill (photo via ACL), Brittany Howard (photo by Amy Price), Leon Bridges (photo by Ben Kaye) With stores slowly reopening around the country, it’s tempting to believe that normalcy is just around the bend. That’s hardly the case, however, and perhaps no one knows that better than black small business owners, who have been financially hit the hardest by the coronavirus. To support these individuals, city locals have been widely sharing listings of Black-owned operations, such as restaurants and coffee shops. Now, a number of prominent musicians are doing their part by playing a virtual event today called “Small Biz Live”. The online concert is highlighted by Ms. Lauryn Hill, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, Leon Bridges, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Brandi Carlile. 2 Chainz, Bam Marley,...
Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Arcade Fire to Play on Preservation Hall Jazz Band Livestream
Dave Grohl (photo by Philip Cosores), Preservation Hall Jazz Band (photo by Paul R. Giunta), and Paul McCartney (photo by Joshua Mellin) Summer music festivals may be canceling left and right due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but that won’t stop Newport Folk Festival staple the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from playing loud and proud anyway. On Saturday night, the famed group will perform a livestream from their respective homes alongside some special guests, including Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, and Arcade Fire. The livestream, dubbed “Round Midnight Preserves”, will take place on June 20th from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET. In addition to the Foo Fighters frontman, The Beatles bassist, and Arcade Fire, Elvis Costello, Dave Matthews, Beck, Irma Thomas, My Morning J...
Chuck D Talks Public Enemy Reunion, DJ Premier Collab, and His Least Favorite President
In a world where little makes sense anymore, Public Enemy suddenly reemerging to release a fiery new song on Juneteenth actually makes a lot of sense. Early on Friday morning, the legendary hip-hop pioneers released their latest song, “State of the Union (STFU),” with a video to go along with it. It marked the first time that Flavor Flav returned to the equation after a very public dispute over Public Enemy Radio’s appearance at a Bernie Sanders rally earlier this year. But as Chuck D sees it, it’s Flav returning to what the pair does best: An unflinching condemnation of what the scumbag administration of the day has done now. It’s something Chuck has been outspoken about ever since forming Prophets of Rage with Cypress Hill’s B-Real, and three-fourths of Rage Against the Machine (To...
The 10 Best Punk and Alternative Bob Dylan Covers
Bob Dylan is one of the most widely covered artists in popular music – hit versions of his songs by the Byrds and Peter, Paul and Mary helped make him famous, and Dylan covers by Jimi Hendrix and Guns N’ Roses permanently remain in rock radio rotation. And even artists from the punk and alternative scenes that tend to have less reverence for ‘60s nostalgia been drawn to the Dylan songbook, often giving his compositions dramatically different arrangements. With Dylan’s first collection of new songs in eight years, Rough and Rowdy Ways, out now, here’s a look back at 10 Dylan songs that were memorably reimagined by punk, post-punk, indie, alternative, avant jazz and industrial artists. 10. My Chemical Romance – “Desolation Row” “Desolation Row,” the mighty 11-minute closer from 1965’s Highwa...
Guns N’ Roses to Stream 2018 Download Festival Set
After being quiet for a few weeks, Guns N’ Roses will be airing another show in their Not In This Lifetime Selects series. This one comes from a classic show from the Download Festival in 2018. That show, which took place at Donington Park, Castle Donington, England, was a marathon set, featuring 28 songs, including covers of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman,” and Velvet Revolver’s “Slither.” The rockers launched their Not in This Lifetime Selects streaming series last month with a 2019 show from Salt Lake City at Vivint Smart Home Arena serving as the first one. Guns N’ Roses played one show this year before having to postpone their tour plans due to the coronavirus pandemic. The set airs at 6 pm EST/3 pm PST on Guns N’ Roses’ YouTube chann...
Pharrell, Fantasia, Lionel Richie & More Celebrate Juneteenth
NEWS 6/19/2020 by Gil Kaufman In the midst of a national reckoning about systemic racism and the continued killing of Black and brown men and women at the hands of police, the country paused to celebrate Juneteenth on Friday (June 19). The holiday recalls the end of slavery in the U.S., marking the day (June 19, 1865) when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that enslaved people were free; the news came two-and-a-half years after Pres. Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. Though the holiday is 155-years-old and has been celebrated for more than a century by African-Americans, the focus on racial injustice spurred by the protests in every state over the killing of George Floyd has put a spotlight on the celebra...
Black Pumas, Brittany Howard, Mavis Staples Highlight ATO Records Black Lives Matter Benefit Comp
“Silence is Not An Option (turn this up)” is out now on ATO Records. ATO Records released a surprise digital compilation on Friday (June 19) that will support Black Lives Matter, Color of Change and the Innocence Project. The 11-track album, titled Silence is Not An Option (turn this up), features songs from the label’s catalog by Brittany Howard, My Morning Jacket, Black Pumas, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Benjamin Booker (with Mavis Staples), Drive-By Truckers and a new songs from Emily King, “See Me.” “ATO Records, an independent record label out of New York City, has been reflecting deeply on the injustices and inequality in our world. We recognize that music is not just an agent for change, but a space of solace,” the label said in a statement. &...
Cory Marks New Track ‘Drive’ Is The Feel Good Country Hit of the Summer
Follow up to “Outlaws and Outsiders” is a made for country radio jam Watch out country radio. Cory Marks has begun the promotional push for his new single “Drive” and the video for the breakout summer anthem is already posting some seriously impressive numbers. The Canadian country singer from North Bay, Ontario is following up his smash hit “Outlaws and Outsiders” with “Drive,” a straight-ahead country pop anthem with a infectious hook and roll-down-your-window feel-good sound that borrows inspiration from country greats like Alan Jackson or Brooks and Dunn. The video is equally summer-ready, with a wide-open landscape and a love story accompanying the road-trip-ready vocals. [embedded content] “Drive” is closing in on 60,000 views on Youtube, 90,0...
First Out: New Music From Victoria Monét, Jozzy, Lauren Ruth Ward & More
As Pride Month continues around the world, LGBTQ people everywhere are looking for uplifting anthems to help them tap into this season’s spirit of activism. Billboard Pride is here to help with First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new weekly music releases from LGBTQ artists. From Jozzy’s repeat-worthy new track, to Victoria Monét’s disco-infused Khalid collaboration, here are some of our favorite new releases this week: Victoria Monét ft. Khalid, “Experience” When you hear the names Victoria Monét and Khalid, you’d be forgiven if “disco” isn’t the first genre you thought of. But on their brand new single “Experience,” that is exactly what the pair are serving — with a constantly-grooving bassline, combined...
Cat Power Pays Homage to Cassius’ Philippe Zdar with ‘Toop Toop’
Cat Power paid homage to her late friend, French producer and collaborator Phillpe Zdar of Cassius with a special cover the French duo’s 2006 hit song, “Troop Troop.” Zdar died on June 19, 2019 after “an accidental fall, through the window of a high floor of a Parisian building.” Cat Power, born Chan Marshall, performaned “Troop Troop” with -M-, aka French rocker Matthieu Chedid, at Zdar’s funeral. Marshall and Zdar have collaborated on a number of projects including Cassius’ 2016 album, Ibifornia as well as Marshall’s 2012 LP, Sun. “We were standing by the entrance, not daring to enter the studio room as the events were too recent and surrealistic,” Dyane de Serigny, Zdar’s widow, said in a statement. “It felt unreal to be there without him. Cat Power and -M- started humming ‘Toop Toop’… ...
