Video Sessions Tokyo Police Club Goes Acoustic for SXSW The Current March 15, 2008 • Tokyo Police Club's party-starting mod-punk show up minus its heavy rhythms, in an acoustic version of "Tesselate." David Monks sits solo on The Current's stage, on the corner of 7th and Red River in Austin, for the SXSW festival.
Video Sessions The Heavy Gets Dirty and Funky The Current March 15, 2008 • Traveling from Noid, a small town in England, The Heavy creates a one-of-a-kind retro-soul sound that's heavy, dirty, and funky. Performing at the corner of 7th and Red River in Austin, Tex., the band plays "That Kind of Man" for a crowd at the South by Southwest Music Festival.
Video Sessions Billy Bragg's 'Mao-ist Sing-Along' at SXSW The Current March 14, 2008 • Backed by just an electric guitar, folk-punk legend Billy Bragg took the stage at The Current's showcase, on the corner of 7th and Red River in Austin, Texas, for SXSW.
Video Sessions Carbon/Silicon Spreads 'The News' at SXSW The Current March 14, 2008 • Carbon/Silicon is a collaboration between The Clash's Mick Jones and Tony James of the Billy Idol-fronted Generation X, but its sound veers more toward danceable rock. See and hear the band play "The News" at the corner of 7th and Red River in Austin, Tex., for SXSW.
Video Sessions Bowerbirds: What Sunday Morning Sounds Like February 29, 2008 • With sharp songwriting and constant touring, the Bowerbirds trio of North Carolina are turning heads around the country. They play from their debut album, Hymns for a Dark Horse. Bowerbirds: What Sunday Morning Sounds Like Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/87792162/87792107" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Video Sessions Lizz Wright Returns with 'The Orchard' February 26, 2008 • The soulful singer-songwriter talks about her new album, The Orchard, during a studio performance chat. Wright opens up about her music, her life, and what's next for her recording career. Lizz Wright Returns with 'The Orchard' Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19360270/25046288" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Lizz Wright Returns with 'The Orchard' Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19360270/25046288" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Video Sessions Ingrid Michaelson Is Everywhere February 18, 2008 • New York City indie-pop artist Ingrid Michaelson got her big break when Old Navy used her song "The Way I Am" for a sweater collection. She takes time out to play for the Bryant Park Project. Ingrid Michaelson Is Everywhere Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/19141491/19141445" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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Video Sessions Jose Gonzalez: Unlikely Art KUT News February 13, 2008 • Beneath the gentle exterior of Jose Gonzalez's soothing, lilting voice and trademark "chord-picking" guitar lies a deeper and sometimes darker driving force. For KUT's Retread Sessions, Gonzalez performed two songs at the Blanton Museum to pleasantly surprised visitors.
Video Sessions In from the Cold with White Hinterland February 12, 2008 • Singer-songwriter Casey Dienel talks about making the transition from solo artist to bandleader, struggling with nerves as a performer, and watching people disassemble a giant whale that had washed up on the beach near her hometown. In from the Cold with White Hinterland Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/18905306/18905279" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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Video Sessions Hot Chip Finds Magic in the 'Dark' February 7, 2008 • The British electro-pop band Hot Chip samples and tweaks old sounds to create new songs. The group performs work from its latest album, Made in the Dark. Hot Chip Finds Magic in the 'Dark' Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/18764896/18764870" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Hot Chip Finds Magic in the 'Dark' Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/18764896/18764870" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Bryant Park Project Video Jack Johnson Tunes in the 'Static' February 1, 2008 • Known for his sunny, acoustic leanings, singer/songwriter Jack Johnson is back with a dark, electric record, Sleep Through the Static. Johnson stopped by to play some songs from the album. Listen to Jack Johnson's complete interview and performance Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/18599694/18599669" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Listen to Jack Johnson's complete interview and performance Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/18599694/18599669" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Video Sessions The Klaxons: Piano-Pop in a 'New Rave' The Current January 30, 2008 • The British press has credited The Klaxons with pioneering a genre called "new rave," which is really a mask for a heavy-handed dose of pop with a dance-punk kick. The band stopped by The Current to perform a version of its hit, "Golden Skans."
Video Sessions The Whigs Play The BPP January 30, 2008 • The Whigs are hailed as leading a return to All-American Rock. The band from Athens, Georgia, plays from their new album, Mission Control. The Whigs Play The BPP Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/18532637/18532609" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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Studio Sessions Ida Whispers a Prayer for 'Lovers' January 28, 2008 • The band Ida specializes in indie rock and children's music. The unusual duo stops by the studio to play some songs from their new album called Lovers Prayers. Ida Whispers a Prayer for 'Lovers' Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/18468156/18468111" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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Video Sessions Alice Smith Makes Music 'For Lovers' January 1, 2008 • Hear an in-studio performance by Alice Smith, a New York-based soul singer whose latest album is titled For Lovers, Dreamers, and Me. Smith also discusses her attempts to cross the boundaries of race in the music industry. Listen: Michel Martin Interviews Alice Smith Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/17759824/17759812" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Listen: Michel Martin Interviews Alice Smith Listen Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/17759824/17759812" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript