music


The Birth of Swing and the Hep Benny

When Benny Goodman first played swing music, audiences threw bottles at him. We celebrate the moment the crowd came around by getting out some bottles of our own - to make a cocktail.


Rollins Meets Cash Meets Clash

During our fall 2011 taping with Henry Rollins, he told an unbelievable story about a backstage encounter between himself, Joe Strummer of the Clash, and Johnny Cash. The tale was, alas, too epic for our radio time constraints…but it SCREAMS to be heard, so here it is. Enjoy!


That Sounds Delicious

Our interview this week with ?uestlove got me thinking about the marriage of my two favorite things – food and music. While not all food-related songs are actual odes to the edible (“Cherry Pie”, anyone?), there is no shortage of tasty metaphors in the world of music.


Stephin Merritt’s bubblegum picks

The Magnetic Fields’ frontman knew “Don’t Stop Believin'” was a masterpiece before Tony Soprano did. Click to hear a couple more of his unheralded favorites:


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Willie Nelson Talks ‘Crazy’

Music legend, classic songwriter, outlaw, folk hero: Willie Nelson makes it tough to choose your descriptor. He penned mega-hits for Patsy Cline and Roy Orbison, broke open the Nashville scene with his “outlaw country” music, and became an activist for a slew of sociopolitical causes. And there’s more coming. In this chat with Brendan, he recalls growing up in his native Texas and his 'Crazy' start… and then promptly forgets both.