Displaying items by tag: npr music

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
RSVP

June 12, 2009
Meat Puppets at the World Cafe Live

XPN Free at Noon at the World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

This Friday's Free At Noon rock out to underground legends the Meat Puppets. Progenitors of American indie rock, the Meat Puppets were formed in 1980 by guitarist brothers Curt and Cris Kirkwood with drummer Derrick Bostrom. Brandishing a hard, fast, and refreshingly sloppy edge, the trio grabbed attention early on from the emerging (pre-internet) network of underground music fans, zinesters, and SST Records. Signed by SST, their 1982 eponymous debut carved a loud, furious niche in hardcore history. Their second release, Meat Puppets II, was an unheard of fusion of acid country and straight- ahead rock but with an intact punk core. The American underground music scene would never be the same.

With releases such as the smoothed-out Mirage and the heavy Huevos, Meat Puppets built their reputation as experimentalists. The trio's fan base grew to include Kurt Cobain. Their vault to the majors was bolstered by Cobain's invitation to perform a few of the Puppets' songs together in New York. The band acquired short-lived mainstream success and broke up soon after.

In 2006, with diehard fans' enthusiasm, the original line-up reassembled and released a new album, Rise to Your Knees. With the addition of a new drummer, the excellent Ted Marcus, the Meat Puppets are as loud and fast as ever. Their latest, Sewn Together, is tight and does not disappoint. Released in May, Sewn Together is true to the Meat Puppets' legacy - ensuring a undeniably great Free At Noon.

Website: meatpuppets.com
MySpace: myspace.com/themeatpuppets
Recent Release: Sewn Together
Release Date: May 12, 2009
Label: Mega Force Records
Origin: Phoenix, AZ

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Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
RSVP

June 5, 2009
Soulive at the TLA.

XPN Free at Noon at the TLA.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

Long admired for their rollicking jazz-funk fusion grooves and sweaty improv solos, Soulive originated in 90s New England - first as jam band rhythm sections (Moon Boot Lover, Greyboy Allstars, Lettuce), then a brief detour into hip-hop. By 1999, their emphasis shifted to more traditional organ-driven jazz and a core cemented around the trio of the spidery Grant Green-esque guitar lines of Eric Krasno with brothers Alan and Neal Evans leading the way on drums and organ/bass keys/clavinet, respectively. True to their funk forefathers, they have frequently fleshed out their earthy, organic sound with rich horn sections and energetic guest vocalists.

During their first summer as a band, Soulive independently produced Turn It Out, an auspicious debut that sold a respectable 65,000 copies. The response to Turn It Out scored spots on high profile national tours with the Stones, Maceo Parker, Dave Matthews, The Roots, and Common as well as on the festival circuit - Bonnaroo and Monterey Jazz. Utimately, Soulive inked a deal with Blue Note. During their Blue Note years, they amassed fervent devotees through collaborations with legendary James Brown trombonist Fred Wesley, guest vocalists Dave Matthews and Amel Larrieux, rappers Talib Kweli and Black Thought, and remixes with Jurassic 5, DJ Spinna, DJ Krush and the Beatnuts. Departing Blue Note in 2005 for Concord Records and Stax, Soulive crafted new jams with a who's who of jazz, funk and rock - Chaka Khan, Ivan Neville, Corey Glover and Robert Randolph - and experimented with less free-form, more beat-driven songs.

Soulive have returned to form with their latest album Up Here, due out in July. Wowing crowds with meaty instrumentals and a stellar horn section, Soulive will hit the World Cafe Live for XPN's Free at Noon/NPR Live Friday on June 5. Get ready to dance!

Website: royalfamilyrecords.com/artists/soulive
MySpace: myspace.com/soulivemusic
Recent Release: Up Here
Release Date: July 2009
Label: Royal Family Records
Origin: Boston, MA / Vermont

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Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.

SOLD OUT ! | Listen to the Show Live Friday at 12noon

May 28, 2009
Double Header! Derek Trucks Band and Guy Sebastian featuring Steve Cropper at World Cafe Live

XPN Free at Noon at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

The Derek Trucks Band, or DTB, is an eclectic collection of self-proclaimed jammers, each highly successful in his own right. Headed by Derek Trucks on guitar, the sextet includes Kofi Burbridge (keyboards, flute, and vocals), Todd Smallie (bass and vocals), Yonrico Scott (drums, percussion, and vocals), Mike Mattison (lead vocals), and Count M'Butu (percussion). They have released seven acclaimed albums since 1997, touring with other musicians such as Trucks' wife, Susan Tedeschi.

Derek Trucks is a Grammy-nominated guitar prodigy. His first instrument came from a garage sale for $5 when he was nine, and within a year he was on stage performing. He was the youngest guitarist to make it onto Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He formed the DTB when he was 15, and has been perfecting their diverse and improvisational sound ever since.

The DTB's influences range from blues, soul, jazz, rock, Indian music, Latin music, and other international sounds. Their latest album, Already Free, is no exception. Featuring an emotive cover of Bob Dylan's "Down in the Flood", this collection of twelve songs is warm, soulful, and relaxed.

The DTB is currently touring across the continent with stops in Toronto, Washington D.C., and Florida. They play The Keswick on Friday night, May 29 at 8pm.

Website: derektrucks.com
MySpace: myspace.com/thederektrucksband
Recent Release: Already Free
Release Date: January 13, 2009
Label: Victor Records
Origin: Atlanta, GA

Promising to be a Free At Noon not to miss, this show will bring together two musical greats, the incredible voice of "Australian Idol" Guy Sebastian and the legendary Stax axe man Steve Cropper. Their recent collaboration on Sebastian's platinum The Memphis Album has led to touring together, and the two are coming to World Cafe Live to kick up some soulful R&B.

Guy Sebastian is an Australian singer/songwriter with several top albums and singles under his belt since winning the country's first "Idol" contest in 2003. His joyous and individualistic style has won him over twenty music awards, and his U.S. debut is expected this summer.

Named one of the "Top 100 Guitarists of All Time" by Rolling Stone, Steve Cropper first picked up a guitar at age 14 and began playing with local musicians in his native Tennessee. Legendary for for his work with Booker T & the MGs, The Blues Brothers, and his songwriting, engineering and producing, he has been inducted into the American Hall of Fame four times (Rock and Roll, Rhythm & Blues, Songwriters and Musicians). Cropper has been credited with writing some of the most enduring soul music of all time.

Join us this Friday as they perform the music that critics have called creative masterpieces.

Guy Sebastian
Website: guysebastian.com
MySpace: myspace.com/guysebastian
Recent Release: The Memphis Album
Release Date: November 10, 2007
Label: Sony BMG
Origin: Australia

Steve Cropper
Website: playitsteve.com, stevecropper.com
Recent Release: Nudge It Up A Notch
Release Date: July 29, 2008
Label: Stax
Origin: Nashville, TN

This show has SOLD OUT. Listen to the Show Live Friday at 12noon

Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
RSVP

May 22, 2009
Phil Roy at World Cafe Live

XPN Free at Noon at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

After years of writing music for other artists, movies, and TV shows (and good stuff at that - two of those movies garnered Academy Award nominations, and his lineup of artists include Ray Charles and Joe Cocker), Phil Roy knows music. He's been playing the guitar since he was nine, attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music at the age of 17, and headed to Los Angeles to front two bands during the '80s before he left the recording industry to begin exclusively songwriting.

But after years of penning for shows and other musicians, Roy decided to strike out on his own. He packed up his things, moved back to Philadelphia, and released his debut Grouchyfriendly. With their maturity and master musicianship, Roy's storied songs were soon on air and all over the web. Grouchyfriendly won an Independent Album of the Year award, and critics across the board were praising Roy's sincere, smooth style. Roy went back the studio, and since then he has released two more folksy soul albums - both highly acclaimed. The latest of the two, The Great Longing, is inventive and lush, and universal in its sentiments. Including vocalists Amos Lee ("Busy Thinking Bout Today"), Madeleine Peyroux ("Exceptionally Ordinary"), and rising Philly star Melody Gardot ("A Meditation..."), The Great Longing is deeply sincere and breathtaking. As said by Tom Waits, "This is Phil Roy at his Phil noir best. Eccentric, lush and musical. An atmospheric wicked beauty. Uncommonly smooth, yet strange and curious."

Phil Roy will be at the World Cafe this coming Friday, playing from The Great Longing as well as some of his older work - a Free At Noon not to miss. And, he plays Burlap and Bean in Newtown Square, Friday night, May 15, and Appel Farm Music & Arts Center on Sunday, June 7.

Website: philroy.com
MySpace: myspace.com/philroyband
Recent Release: The Great Longing
Release Date: May 20, 2008
Label: Decca Records
Origin: Philadelphia

RSVP for Friday's Live Show

Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
RSVP

May 15, 2009
White Rabbits at World Cafe Live

XPN Free at Noon at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

After hitting the music scene in 2007 with the release of their standout debut album Fort Nightly, White Rabbits developed a reputation as an energetic six-piece. Touring with a series of breakout indie acts such as The Walkmen and Spoon, White Rabbits captivated audiences around the country with their lively performances and unique lineup (two drummers!), appearing on the World Cafe the same year. NME named them one of the top three performing bands after their winning showcase at SXSW the same year.

Intense rhythms and sweeping, melodic choruses typify their catchy and, at times, sinister sound - a blend of reggae and ska the members describe as "honky-tonk calypso." They seamlessly intertwine tinkling piano riffs and heavy handed guitars, transforming once straight ahead pop hooks into something much more adventurous. Two years since the release of Fort Nightly, White Rabbits continue to dance to their own drummer(s). With the same unflagging momentum they prepare to release their greatly anticipated sophomore album, It's Frightening, produced by former tourmate Britt Daniel, of Spoon.

White Rabbits are playing NYC's Bowery Ballroom on May 21 and will return to Philly to play Johnny Brenda's on Friday, June 5.

Website: whiterabbitsmusic.com
MySpace: myspace.com/whiterabbits
Recent Release: It's Frightening
Release Date: May 19, 2009
Label: TBD Records
Origin: Brooklyn, NY

RSVP for Friday's Live Show

Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
RSVP

May 8, 2009
Fastball at World Cafe Live

XPN Free at Noon at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

Starting out as a typical '90s garage-punk outfit, Fastball went through the normal basement practices and nearby venues in Austin. While building local buzz, they caught the attention of some record execs, and soon they had a deal with Hollywood Records. They changed their initial name from Magneto USA to Fastball (after their favorite porno), released their debut, and began touring the U.S. However, the band was still something of a side-project for all three members. Joey Shuffield, Miles Zuniga, and Tony Scalzo were all working part-time up until the release of their breakthrough album in 1998, All the Pain Money Can Buy.

Suddenly, Fastball was a household name. The catchy single "The Way" was heard on radios all over the country. Teens and adults alike were flocking to stores for cassettes and CDs, and sales reached the million mark at the end of the year. Fastball hit the road for world tours and TV appearances with two Grammy nominations under their belts. Audiences around the globe fell in love with the Fastball's alt-country and '70s balladry.

Since that time, Fastball has been recording, performing, and collaborating with artists including Al Anderson and Bowling for Soup. Each of their subsequent four albums have stayed true to their infectious pop-rock sound. Their latest album is no exception, yet it also shows how much the band has evolved since those late-night garage practices. Little White Lies was produced by Miles Zuniga and C.J. Eiriksson (Blue October, Jack’s Mannequin) and mixed by Bob Clearmountain (Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie). Fastball wowed audiences with some of their new songs from the album at the SXSW Festival this past March, and they have a nation-wide tour scheduled to support the release. After over a decade of shows and music, Fastball are proving that quality guitar rock will never lose its appeal.

Fastball is in town to play the Tin Angel on Thursday night, May 7.

Website: fastballtheband.com
MySpace: myspace.com/fastballtheband
Recent Release: Little White Lies
Release Date: April 14, 2009
Label: MRI/RED Distribution
Origin: Austin, TX

Song Clips:
Little White Lies | The Way

RSVP for Friday's Live Show

Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
SOLD OUT>/b> | Listen-->

May 1, 2009
Peter, Bjorn & John at World Cafe Live

XPN Free at Noon at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

Peter Bjorn & John whistled their way into indie hearts just a couple years ago with their unavoidable, catchy single "Young Folks". The Swedish pop band got their start playing together in high school, and became official in 1999 when Peter Morén (vocals, guitar and harmonica), Björn Yttling (bass, keyboards and vocals), and John Eriksson (drums, percussion and vocals) performed their quirky new wave pop aboard a Stockholm boat. The gig was not a very successful one, but the trio were not deterred - as they said, they "just wanted to make good music for [their] own amusement". And with that aim in mind, Peter Bjorn & John have become some of the biggest names in indie pop today.

After two albums, the trio released their third studio album, Writers Block, in 2006. Filled with plenty of whistles, bongos, maracas, and warmth, the album was an instant hit, and the omnipresent single "Young Folks" was being heard on radios across the globe. Since their launch into world fame, the three have played with the likes of Kanye West, toured extensively, and focused on more projects.

After a three-year hiatus from the public eye (apart from an instrumental, download-only release in 2008), Peter Bjorn & John are back with Living Thing. This latest release proves that they do have more than a few infectious pop ditties up their sleeves, but this time around, the songs are a bit more cynical, wonkier, and even cleverer. The trio has lately been travelling the US in support of Living Thing.

Peter Bjorn & John just played the 3-day Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Southern California. And, before heading back to Sweden for the June Hultsfredsfestivalen (The Hultsfred Festival in Pampas, Sweden), Peter Bjorn & John will also play a full show at World Cafe Live on Friday, May 1st.

Website: peterbjornandjohn.com
MySpace: myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn
Recent Release: Living Thing
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Label: Almost Gold (US)
Origin: Sweden

Listen to the Show Live

Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
SOLD OUT | Listen to the Show Live on Friday

April 24, 2009
The Bacon Brothers at World Cafe Live

XPN Free at Noon at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

PLEASE NOTE: This is the weekend of The Penn Relay Carnival (April 23-25, 2009), so please do not drive to the April 24 Free At Noon. We ask that you take public transportation to get to WXPN/World Cafe Live that day, as there is NO PARKING available in University City during the annual Penn Relays.

Long before Kevin Bacon became a pop-screen phenomenon, and before his older brother Michael Bacon became a sought after film/TV composer, this Philadelphia-based duo of brotherly love had been collaborating under the moniker The Bacon Brothers. After Michael Bacon established his music career with Columbia Records in the '60s and released several solo albums on CBS Records in the '70s, he turned to collaborating with Kevin. Despite writing music together since childhood, the duo didn't become official until 1995.

Now 14 years and plenty of exposure later, the two are still playing around their Philadelphia base. Their brotherly chemistry is evident when it comes to creating rootsy rock 'n' roll tunes, and their strong style incorporates elements of alt-country, folk, blues, and Americana. The two are onto their sixth full-length album, New Year's Day. Receiving a great deal of praise, the release is one of the duo's most accessible to date. Though New Year's Day is filled with the brothers' trademark sound, they experiment with jazzy blues and reggae. Ukeleles, keyboards, and a background choruses round out this collection of catchy songs.

Currently, the duo has performances scattered across the country for the summer, and will be back in the PA/NJ/MD area in the fall. For complete tour dates check out myspace.com/thebaconbrothers.

Website: baconbros.com
MySpace: myspace.com/thebaconbrothers
Recent Release: New Years Day
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Label: Forosoco Records
Origin: Philadelphia, PA/ New York

Song Clips:
Go My Way

This show is SOLD OUT

Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
RSVP

April 17, 2009
The Revelations featuring Tre' Williams at World Cafe Live

The Revelations featuring Tre' Williams join us for XPN Free at Noon at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

The Revelations' members, featuring singer Tre Williams, revive '60s and '70s soul, yet there's a modern quality to their sound that suggests they're not bound to the confines of a jukebox. Their debut record, Deep Soul, blends images of the bluesy South with the gritty streets of a bustling city into one contemporary view of life.

The raw-voiced Williams brings to mind a modern-day Otis Redding. With a background in church choirs and R&B, he's developed an impressive four-octave range that's lent itself to tracks by Nas and Petey Pablo. The sextet's mixture of soul, funk and hip-hop on Deep Soul creates a fusion of old standards with fresh ideas.

MySpace: myspace.com/trewilliamsrevelations
Origin: Brooklyn, NY
Recent Release: Deep Soul
Release Date: November 18, 2008
Label: Decision Records / Traffic Entertainment Group

RSVP

Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
RSVP

April 10, 2009
Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks at World Cafe Live

Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks join us for XPN Free at Noon at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

So few truly original figures exist in pop music that Dan Hicks should be a national treasure.
- San Francisco Chronicle

Singer-songwriter Dan Hicks is truly an American original. Since the early '60s, Hicks has blended swing, jazz, folk and country to create the appealing sound he calls "Folk Jazz." At 66, Hicks is bringing back the Hot Licks on his upcoming album Tangles Tales. With the updated version of the female backup singers, the album is a swirling mix of swing, blues and folk-jazz. A rhythmically knee-shaking collection of originals and covers alike.

In addition to the XPN Free At Noon, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks play a full show at Sellersville Theater on Friday night April 10 at 8:30pm.

Website: danhicks.net
MySpace: myspace.com/danhicksthehotlicks
Origin: California
Recent Release: Tangled Tales
Release Date: March 24, 2009
Label: Surfdog Records

Song Clips:
The Rounder | Who Are You?

RSVP

Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At 12 Noon ET

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
SOLD OUT
Listen

March 6, 2009
Celebrating the 4th Anniversary of XPN Free At Noon with
Shemekia Copeland & Indigo Girls at World Cafe Live

Shemekia Copeland & Indigo Girls join us for the XPN Free at Noon show at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.

Grammy Award winning rock duo Indigo Girls officialy began performing under the now famous moniker in 1985, signing their first record contract to Epic Records three years later. Now celebrating their 20 year career, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers remain as creative as ever. Though they are associated with a major label, they have always retained an independent feel with their warm and crisp acoustic guitars and intertwined melodic vocals. With an incredible career behind them, it is not surprising that a great deal of excitement is building up in anticipation of Poseidon And the Bitter Bug, expected to be released at the end of March.

Recorded in a short three-week period in Atlanta, the album intends to focus less on perfection and more on the rich mixture of textures explored. According to Ray "... it was very much an in-the-moment recording... we had to trust our instincts." Following the successful release of their 2006 album Despite Our Differences, the girls have a lot to live up to; however, circulating previews are already labeling the album as one of their best. Though they retain the very qualities of folk and Americana music that fans adore, they have embarked on new musical explorations by incorporating styles such as R&B. The album will also feature acoustic versions of all the songs in order to give fans an idea of how they sound without a back-up band.

Website: indigogirls.com
MySpace: myspace.com/indigogirlsmusic
Origin: Decatur, Georgia
Recent Release: Poseidon and the Bitter Bug
Release Date: March 24, 2009
Label: Vanguard

Song Clips:
Closer to Fine | Hammer and a Nail

The daughter of blues guitarist/singer Johnny Copeland, the young Shemekia Copeland was greatly influenced by her father's work. As a child she would often accompany him on tours, making her own mark in the blues circuit. The unfortunate turn in her father's health pushed her to embrace her incredible vocal talent and share it with the rest of the world. In 1998, the 19-year-old established herself as raving new artist with the release of her debut album Turn the Heat Up! The soulful intensity of the album was met with a great deal of enthusiasm and landed her several features in motion pictures. Her style, which integrates elements of blues, soul, funk and jazz, is rich and mind-blowingly powerful. Though she is not yet 30, the passionate singer has already won several blues awards, recieved a Grammy nomination, and opened for top acts such as the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, and Taj Mahal.

The incredible list of accomplishments hasn't quite struck the young artist. In fact, the humble Copeland continually strives to strengthen her singing and grow and an individual. Her fifth album, Never Going Back, is a powerful and soul-drenched compilation of tracks. While she remains true to her blues roots, she takes a step further in her career by experimenting with new styles of music and new approaches to singing (including a silky cover of Joni Mitchell's "Black Crow"). She is not afraid to step outside of her comfort zone; and as the album demonstrates, she does so with both grace and unbelievable power.

Prepare to be blown away by the future Queen of Blues, this Friday at noon!

Website: shemekiacopeland.com
MySpace: myspace.com/shemekiacopeland
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Recent Release: Never Going Back
Release Date: February 24, 2009
Label: Telarc

Song Clips:
Never Going Back to Memphis

SOLD OUT
Listen to the Show Live

Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!

Welcome to ground zero for music discovery! For more than 30 years, World Cafe has been the place where public radio audiences get their first “before they were famous” look at emerging musicians and connect deeply with legendary performers.

A celebrated music tastemaker, World Cafe spans an array of genres including singer-songwriter, classic rock, indie rock, Americana, alt-country, blues, world music, R&B and soul. Along with a carefully curated music mix, the central element of each daily show is a conversation with an artist focusing on his or her craft, songwriting, and inspirations, and combined with an exclusive musical performance.

World Cafe is hosted by Raina Douris along with contributing host Stephen Kallao.

Ways to Listen:

• Tune to WXPN broadcast or livestream starting at 2:00 pm ET on weekdays
• Stream studio sessions anytime from NPR Music
• World Cafe: Words and Music podcast provides listen anywhere, anytime excerpts of key live performance and conversations from the show

Show Features:

• Sense of Place takes listeners around the world to meet the local artists who bring the music scene alive and enlighten audiences about the ways geography and culture influence their work. Locations have included cities in Brazil, Ireland, Iceland, and Cuba, as well Portland, Memphis, Austin, Charlottesville, and Detroit.
• Latin Roots is a biweekly segment that explores and exposes American audiences to the vast variety of work from Spanish and Portuguese-speaking musicians.
• Reports from World Cafe Bureaus in Nashville and New Orleans connect audiences with artists, journalists, and music historians from these music-rich locations, showcasing the breadth of artistic expression in each city.

Fun Facts:

• World Cafe is produced by WXPN and distributed to more than 250 US radio stations via NPR.
• World Cafe reaches more than 6 million music fans each month via broadcast, digital streaming and archives, video, and social platforms
• Winner of two NFCB Golden Reel Awards, five “Best of Philly” awards, NARAS Philadelphia Chapter’s “Hero Award,” ASCAP Deems Taylor Award, and numerous radio industry trade citations.
• The first episode of World Cafe aired on October 14, 1991.