Jack Anderson

You might not be ready for the first foray into Noah McBeth’s discography…quite honestly, we don’t think anyone was prepared for this. Better known by the stage name NoMBe this Heidelberg, Germany-born, Los Angeles-based producer and singer just released his debut full-length in the form of an eighteen-track concept album. They Might’ve Loved Me sonically steers its heavily-produced head through soul, funk, rock, electronic and much more while lyrically analyzing McBeth’s relationship with the women in his life over the years, ranging from ex’s to his god-mother to Chaka Khan. Already endorsed and backed by producer extraordinaire Pharrell, NoMBe released They Might’ve Loved Me last Friday and is about to embark on a national tour starting next Saturday. That tour brings NoMBe to the Live Music Capital May 2nd at The Parish, but you can enjoy NoMBe’s fabulous music and feminist ethic with his album opener that highlights the ironic contradictions of masculinity – “Man Up”.

–Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Houston troubadour Robert Ellis returns to the Live Music Capitol this week for a two-day tenure at the Mohawk! Inspired by the lyrics and arrangements of Paul Simon, John Prine, and indeed Randy Newman, Ellis has been refining his own songwriting since the self-release of his debut album nearly ten years ago.

Sonically dabbling with country, folk, rock, and at times even jazz and blues, Ellis’ exploration of sound and mastery of narrative, character-based lyricism was beyond clear with his latest and most lyrically omniscient offering yet, Robert Ellis. Representing both his deepest personal thoughts and an overview of his musical career thus far, this self-titled fourth full-length opens with a tune about what actually brings people together and how insubstantial connections can be at times.

You can truly connect with Ellis and his fans for two live shows this week, tomorrow and Wednesday night at the Mohawk. Until then feel the emotion shared by Ellis in KUTX’s own Studio 1A back in 2016 with a live rendition of “Perfect Strangers”.

-Jack Anderson (Host, Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

After about twenty albums and nearly thirty years residing in the Live Music Capital, Guy Forsyth is about to unveil the next installment in his already expansive catalogue. Longtime listeners of Forsyth are quick to associate his songwriting with that of Austin blues genre, but he’s recently swapped out his electric guitar for an acoustic one in pursuit of Americana. Forsyth is now headed even further down that electric-acoustic spectrum with his traditional no-electronics-allowed quintet, The Hot Nut Riveters. Exploring elements of  bluegrass, country, folk and to some extent traditional pop and blues, Guy Forsyth & The Hot Nut Riveters’s 21st century compositions easily cohere to the “old time” music Forsyth seeks to emulate. Forsyth most likely won’t be breaking out the blues tomorrow night at the Cactus Cafe for the Hot Nut Riveters CD release show but he’s also no stranger to KUTX’s Studio 1A – he stopped by Studio 1A this past Wednesday for a three-song performance culminating in “300 Miles”.

-Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Twenty-two year-old songstress Nilüfer Yanya and her soul-satiating compositions are giving the Big Apple a run for its claim to fame behind the initials “N.Y.” Based out of London, Yanya’s singing and songwriting made waves last year with the studio singles “Baby Luv” – a well-known tune for recent KUTX connoisseurs – and “Golden Cage”, which both ended up ranking on Pitchfork’s 100 Best Songs of 2017. With those singles and her debut EP Small Crimes already under her belt, Yanya just wrapped up her week of local appearances during SXSW and now she’s set for her first ever headlining tour throughout her native U.K. as well as Europe eventually returning to the States in July for the Pitchfork Music Festival. Speaking of Pitchfork, Yanya appears tomorrow afternoon on Pitchfork’s live streamed performance and interview series “Juan’s Basement“. Prior to her SX appearances, Yanya released an impressive new single that highlights the darker thoughts that occur during and after a painful separation. Check out the accompanying cultish music video and grab your post-SX blues download of “Thanks 4 Nothing”…you’re welcome.

-Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Dang. It’s finally over. SXSW 2018 came and went, entertained and exhausted us but now, sadly, we’re back to the grind. Monday doesn’t have to be all that bad though, especially when you’ve got your hands on some exclusive live Lukas Nelson recordings! Nelson wowed audiences as he wrapped up our Friday Four Seasons broadcast with his Willie-esque but undeniably unique country compositions alongside his phenomenal backing band The Promise of the Real. Nelson appeared at a multitude of official SX events in addition to gracing the Four Seasons with his early morning performance and he’ll be back in a few months for Willie’s Annual Fourth of July Picnic. Just like his father, Lukas Nelson’s ties to the Live Music Capital are deep seated, and enough to merit writing “Just Outside of Austin” for his first album. Eight long years later Lukas found himself in a crowded room full of Austin natives, Austin transplants, and plain old visitors where he performed it again, and knowing that context, try not to feel wholesome listening to this recording.

–Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

All this week, Song of the Day exclusively brings you artists playing SXSW 2018 (official and unofficial) 

Let’s face it. SXSW is certifiably not known as “Soul By Soul West”, and justifiably so – but fortunately for those who scour the sounds of soul, Joey Dosik is set to dote on local audiences tonight and tomorrow. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Dosik seamlessly navigates multiple musical duties as singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, having already collaborated with the likes of Vulfpeck and Miguel Atwood Ferguson. The debut EP Game Winner highlights Dosik’s affinity for surreal and smooth retro-soul vocals that not only hearken back to the likes of Marvin Gaye and others but indeed inspire a sound of its own. Joey Dosik performs tonight at the Barracuda Backyard for Secretly Showcase and tomorrow afternoon – 2pm at Scoot Inn for the the Relix Brooklyn Bowl Showcase. Don’t tease yourself any longer – take a listen to the title track from Dosik’s latest offering – “Game Winner” and you’ll hear just how much soul lies nary dormant in this West Coast common day crooner.

Joey Dosik SXSW Dates
Thursday, 3/15 || Secretly Showcase @ Barracuda **
Friday, 3/16 || Relix Brooklyn Bowl Showcase @ Scoot Inn

-Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

For the next two weeks, Song of the Day exclusively brings you artists playing SXSW 2018 (official and unofficial) 

Amassed around the offerings of Austin-based songwriter and visual artist Blair Robbins, local four-piece Ama hasn’t faced much difficulty winning over listeners with their brand of distorted, noise-heavy rock. Though three of Ama’s four hail from the original Milezo lineup, Ama’s aural landscape provides something much different. Complementing the work of legends like Neil Young, Courtney Barnett and Elliott Smith, Ama’s sound wanders from stark ambience to country swing to soulful grooves and pop melodies all in the same session.

Ama dropped their debut EP Losing Less late last year, and today they unveil their sophomore EP, Trilogy – three songs each with an accompanying painting created by Robbins. Ama celebrates the release of Trilogy tonight for free at the Electric Church alongside Batty Jr., Daphne Tunes, Why Bonnie, and The Stacks. Ama also gets unofficial with it next Saturday at The Fest For Last – another free show at Hole in the Wall featuring a solo performance from Ama’s Blair Robbins as well as Sphynx and Chakra Khan. Get a glimpse of Ama’s sound right now with the centerpiece of Trilogy – a tune about overcoming reservations and embracing romance – “Love Demons”.

Ama SXSW Dates

Friday 3/9 || EP Release & Art Show – Electric Church

Saturday 3/17 || The Fest For Last – Hole in the Wall

– Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Finding yourself furiously furrowing your brow at a lack of innovative dance music in your city? Open your eyes and ears to the self proclaimed prophets of funk and descendants of disco – the up-and-coming local five-piece Whiite Walls. Equipped with an arsenal of retro-80s grooves built atop modern production techniques, Whiite Walls is sure to get any dance floor moving and feed that energy back into their own performances for a gorgeous cycle of shared live energy. You can enjoy that live energy when Whiite Walls performs this Friday at Hotel Vegas and this Sunday at Spiderhouse part of All the Friends Ball (sponsored by KUTX 98.9). Feeling the need to satiate your four-to-the-floor fascination? Whiite Walls premieres their previously-unheard tune “Fine Fitting” right here on KUTX!

–Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Despite the possibility that they may be permanently trapped in a 1980s mindset, local trio Sphynx is always pushing their retro-modern sound to its limits. The three-piece had already endured seven long years of arduous touring before enjoying an auspicious 2017 in which Sphynx released two EPs, one full-length and opened for acts like ?uestlove and Walk The Moon across stages nationwide. Instead of taking a much-deserved breather, Sphynx is currently snowballing their concentrated energy with a six-stop tour in the UK before returning to their native Austin for several official SXSW gigs. Sphynx just dropped the first of what is to be a series of 2018 releases – a single that fits equally well in a modern synth-pop playlist as it would in the soundtrack of a Miami Vice episode – “Patterns”.

– Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Austin-by-way-of-Canada songstress Sue Foley can’t seem to shake the blues – at least musically. The Great White North simply couldn’t satiate Foley’s need for blues in her life, so why not pack up everything and move to a city with a Stevie Ray Vaughan statue?! This week’s been an exciting one for Foley; she performed at Antone’s last night, releases her brand new album The Ice Queen today, performs an acoustic set tonight at the Cactus Cafe. She’ll also be stopping by Waterloo Records this Sunday. Though tonight’s Cactus performance is strictly acoustic, you can get a taste of Foley’s live energy with a track recorded in our own Studio 1A this past Tuesday – “Run”.

-Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Can’t wait to dig into another excellent Austin-based indie garage rock outfit? Yes? Luckily for us like-minded folks, the local quartet Dryspell has been sonically seducing listeners since the release of their 2015 debut demo “Leaving Town”. In light of guitarist-vocalist Hunter Thompson and bassist Samuel Jacobson’s involvement in White Reaper and Hovvdy, respectively, the four members of Dryspell have continually found time to forge their own sound over the course of three singles and one EP. The latest endeavor for Dryspell is the EP More – four songs recorded straight to eight-track tape that perfectly capture Dryspell’s live ferocity, albeit in-studio. More releases digitally this Thursday and the release party is this Friday at Cheer Up Charlie’s alongside previous KUTX Artists of the Month Duncan Fellows and Growl, as well as Marijuana Sweet Tooth and The Nymphs. Can’t wait for More? Have I got a song for you! Check out track two of four from More – “Can’t Wait”.

–Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

If you’ve missed out on catching a live performance from Austin-based eight-piece Chief Perch, you’ve got a golden opportunity this weekend! Only a couple years into their time as a group together, Chief Perch boasts Ariel Herrera’s vocals at the forefront, backed with trumpet, saxophone, trombone, keys, auxiliary percussion, and of course the essential, guitar, drums and bass. The result is an aurally expansive but technically tight foray into the electronic future of funk. Chief Perch released their debut full-length Shoulda Coulda Woulda last year and they’ll be performing live this Friday at Spiderhouse Ballroom alongside Willy McGee. Prepare yourself for Chief Perch’s live presence with track six of twelve from Shoulda Coulda Woulda – “Far Away”.

–Jack Anderson (Host Monday – Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Seven years since first seeing the shared potential between two fellow Berklee students, Holiday Mountain is back once again! We’ve learned since 2011 that vocalist-keyboardist Laura Patiño’s proclivity towards the stylings of Billie Holiday and Amy Winehouse couples perfectly with drummer-producer Zander Kagle’s extensive knowledge of Latin, reggae and of course – electronic music. From the get-go, Holiday Mountain enthralled audiences with their live shows in Austin and beyond, eventually releasing their first studio album in 2015 with You Be You, Part One, following it up with 2016’s SHIA. Holiday Mountain left the live music capital and are currently bringing down the house in Brooklyn and packing in tour dates left and right. In the midst of all of Holiday Mountain’s activity, Patiño and Kagle have followed up their standalone single “Crawl Back” with the premiere of a brand new song that’s upbeat, uplifting and overall smile inspiring – “All Night”.

–Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Based out of New York (as opposed to Olden York) the up-and-coming four-piece Olden Yolk releases their debut self-titled this Friday. Initially conceived in 2012 by fronting vocalist and instrumentalist Shane Butler as an outlet to channel single songs, visual art as well as touring and releasing albums with the band Quilt but after the release of a split-record with Weyes Blood in 2014, Olden Yolk became the collaborative entity it is today.

Their “dysfolkian” aesthetic is undeniably infectious but words don’t do Olden Yolk’s sound justice – there’s no need to hold out a WHOLE THREE DAYS – get in there with a free download of Olden Yolk‘s lead single “Vital Sign”!

-Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Local bilingual folk-pop figure Gina Chavez is returning with a new EP – one that not only commemorates a significant sonic shift but indeed twelve years of unprecedented love. Already bestowed with nine Austin Music Awards, an NPR Tiny Desk performance and frequent tours as a cultural ambassador with the U.S. State Department, Chavez and her 6-piece band, currently known for their acoustic Latin aural accoutrements, have steamed up their sound with a transition towards smooth pop-peppered soul. That transition is manifested in the upcoming five-track EP Lightbeam – due for release later this summer. Lightbeam features some of Chavez’s most personal lyrics to date, alluding to her journey of falling in love with and eventually marrying another woman as a Catholic Latina living in Texas. Chavez is already booked for performances in Kyrgyzstan and the UK as well as SXSW 2018, but you can enjoy some of the new stuff right now with the recently released single,  “Heaven Knows”.

–Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Eager to kick off the weekend with brand new tunes?! Native Texan Matthew McNeal released his sophomore full-length album Good Luck today – thirty four minutes of analog excellence recorded with Israel Nash’s band right here in the Lone Star State. Good Luck will warm any digitally-produced -drained listener with it’s soft -rock sensibilities. McNeal stops by KUTX’s Studio 1A next Wednesday but get right to it with a free download of “Run”! Good Luck trying not to rock out to this one.

–Jack Anderson (Host, Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

For those who don’t already recognize the name Mark Noseworthy…you will soon. Best known currently for providing lead guitar for Strokes alum Albert Hammond, Jr., Noseworthy is taking 2018 by the reigns to create a name for himself. That name? Terri Terri. You can say that again! And if you do you get Terri Terri’s powerhouse of a self-titled debut – nine songs performed almost entirely by Noseworthy across keyboards, bass, auxiliary percussion, saxophone, vocals and of course – guitar. Save for drums, mastering and artwork Terri Terri is pure Noseworthy – unbound by genre ascriptions other than honest expression through rock songwriting.

Terri Terri came out last Tuesday and you can dive in with a free download of the inaugural track – “Attention”.

-Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

For fans of Westerns (such as myself) the name “Yuma” instantly conjures phrases like The Man From ____, The Rebel Johnny ____, and of course 3:10 to ____. But you can go ahead and toss out any sort of rustic country connotation you may have because Austin five-piece Yuma is straight up R&B-pop. Spanning the seven years since Yuma initially formed over Craigslist, the group has experienced the addition of several new members as well as their fair share of sonic transitions. The manifestation of Yuma’s musical maturation is the new EP Letters to the Editor – released today. Letters to the Editor was recorded by Mark DuFour of Ghostland Observatory and features songs with lyrics inspired by science fiction. Dive in right now with a tune whose lyrics bandleader Jesse Liberty penned based on Alan Moore’s Watchmen – “Ozy”.

–Jack Anderson (Host, Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Red carpet aside, San Antonio’s Tone Royal is coming out with some new material this Friday! Ray Villarreal AKA Tone Royal finds the balance between College Journalism by day and hip-hop heavyweight by night…and no one’s complaining. Tone Royal’s new album LATE drops this Friday and Tone Royal celebrates the release show at The Gatsby. Don’t be late on LATE‘s sound though – grab a free download of the final entry on Tone Royal’s LATE  – “The Beginning”.

– Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)

Exciting times for longtime latin eight-piece El Tule! This Saturday not only marks the release of their fifth album Bailando, it also commemorates fifteen years since El Tule first assembled. In the four albums and countless live shows undertaken in the past decade and a half, Bailando showcases El Tule’s cumbia and afro-cuban sound as honestly as possible – through analog tape. You can catch El Tule performing Saturday night at Hotel Vegas alongside Plan Sonidero and DJ Megabass. Ease back into the work week in the best way possible – with a self-referential song appearing halfway through Bailando‘s six tracks – “Bailando El Tule”. They’re not difficult instructions – dance with El Tule!

–Jack Anderson (Host Monday-Wednesday 8-11pm, Saturday 6-10am)