World Cafe

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.

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.

Latin Roots: Son Jarocho

Jasmine Garsd — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:50:00 +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 20:50:00 +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.

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.