WYEP Music Blog

Willie Nile will be opening our next WYEP Free member show with Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers on Tuesday, February 2nd at the New Hazlett Theater. Here’s a recent video from a benefit concert in Asbury Park in which Joe Grushecky & Bruce Springsteen joined Willie Nile on stage for a rocking version of Willie’s song ‘Heaven Help The Lonely’.

Today marks the 49th birthday of Wayne Coyne (lead singer of The Flaming Lips). I mentioned it on the Morning Mix today and got this great listener email from Paul in Pittsburgh:

“You were mentioning that it was Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips’ birthday and he was born in Pittsburgh.  His parents were from the Troy Hill section of the North Side (the little plateau above the Heinz plant).  My older sister was a very good friend of his aunt and used to see them play at their restaurant/bar on Mt Royal Blvd in Shaler, around 20 years ago, when they were still up and coming.  When they played the East Coast they would swing through and play there.  My sister also said Wayne is a very kind and generous fellow.”

Nice!!! Take some time to listen to a fellow Pittsburgher today on his birthday :)

— Cindy

This week we’re are featuring the new Vampire Weekend cd Contra as our featured cd of the week.

The review is here http://www.wyep.org/support/cdoftheweek/

Enjoy the new Video for “Cousins”

A singer–songwriter is a musician who writes, composes and sings their own material including lyrics and melodies.  They often provide the sole accompaniment to an entire composition or song, typically using an acoustic guitar or piano.  Their lyrics are often personal.  The song is more important than the performance.  The sound can be sparse, direct and reflective, again placing the emphasis on the song itself.  Singer-songwriters came into popularity in the early 1970’s and are still sharing their stories with us as we embark on a new decade.

Join me January 10^th on The Sunday Mix as we explore the best of… singer-songwriters.  From the 1940’s until the present, artists from all around the world.  Sunday, January 10, 2010 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Barb S. – Sunday Mix Host