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April 3, 2019

This Song: Patty Griffin on “Secret World” by Peter Gabriel

This Song

By: Elizabeth McQueen

Patty Griffin’s latest record “Patty Griffin” is a gorgeous acoustic exercise in vulnerability.  The album was borne out of a period in her life where she stepped back from music to undergo treatment for breast cancer.

Listen as she explores all the ways that Peter Gabriel’s  “Secret World,” from his epic breakup record up US, impacted her life and her songwriting. Griffin also explores how her friendship with George Reif inspired the song “Luminous Places,” and how important it is for her to allow herself to be vulnerable in her work.

“That’s what I would always like to try to arrive at. Something that’s deeply true and that I learn from. Then I’ve really got something to give”

Listen to this episode of This Song

Hear Patty Griffin’s new self-titled record “Patty Griffin”

Check out Patty Griffin’s Tour Dates

Check out Patty Griffin’s performance at KUTX Live at the Four Seasons

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

March 29, 2019

This Song: Jenny Lewis on “Govinda Jai Jai” by Alice Coltrane

This Song

By: Elizabeth McQueen

“Music is energy and music can be healing…music has so many different purposes, but at this stage in my life I’m looking for something that’s a little bit nourishing or just like a slight clue to the universe.” — Jenny Lewis

Jenny Lewis’ 4th record On the Line is a collection of songs that tackle love, lust, relationships and death. Lewis recorded the album in Capitol Records Studio B  with a band of legendary instrumentalists — Benmont Tench on keys,  Don Was on bass, and Jim Keltner on drums with contributions by Ringo Starr and Beck.

In this episode Jenny Lewis describes the effect that hearing  “Govinda Jai Jai” by Alice Coltrane while on a road trip across California with Jim James and Gary Burden had on her spirit  and on her approach to her new record.

Listen to this episode of This Song

Hear Jenny Lewis’ new record “On The Line”

Watch “On the Line Online”

Check out Jenny Lewis’ Tour Dates

Listen to Jim James’ episode of This Song

 

March 27, 2019

This Song: Warren Hood on “High Hill” by Uncle Walt’s Band

This Song

By: Elizabeth McQueen

In the early 70’s Uncle Walt’s Band, the acoustic trio made up of Champ Hood, Walter Hyatt and David Ball came to Austin, TX from Spartanburg, SC. The band brought with them a unique acoustic sound that melded folk, jazz, blues and pop.  Though the music of Uncle Walt’s Band never caught on nationally, it continues to inspire countless Texas musicians like Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin.

Listen as Warren Hood, Champ Hood’s son, describes how hearing the song “High Hill” gave him a deep appreciation for the music of Uncle Walt’s Band while helping him process his grief around the loss of his father.

Listen to this episode of This Song

Check out the re-release of “Uncle Walt’s Band”

Check out the Tour Dates for That Carolina Sound

See Warren Hood’s Tour Dates Here

 

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

 

March 20, 2019

This Song: Amanda Palmer on Nick Cave’s “Magneto”

This Song

By: Elizabeth McQueen

Amanda Palmer’s latest release, “There Will Be No Intermission” is a collection of devastating songs that explore her experiences with death, parenthood, miscarriage, abortion and living in this current, chaotic moment.

On this special live episode, recorded at SXSW, she explores how seeing  Nick Cave’s performance of “Magneto”  in the documentary  “On More Time With Feeling” showed her how powerful inviting an audience into deeply personal experiences could be. “The ability too walk into the dark and carefully take people with you is why we do our jobs.”

She also describes how powerful it was to see Nick Cave’s bandmates hold space for his grief in the recording studio and how liberating it has been for her own community  to hold space for her during the writing, recording and release of the new record.

Listen to this episode of This Song

 

Listen to Amanda Palmer’s new record There Will Be No Intermission

Check out Amanda Palmer’s Tour Dates

Check out Amanda Palmer’s Patreon Page

Watch the full, unedited version of this interview on Facebook live

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

March 6, 2019

This Song: Moving Panoramas Return

This Song

By: Elizabeth McQueen

Moving Panoramas have a new record out called “In Two.” Listen as vocalist and instrumentalist Cara Tillman describes the joy that Elton John’s “Burn Down the Mission” brings her, followed by guitarist Rosie Castoe who explores her life long love of Peter Gabriel’s “Steam.” And lead singer and songwriter Leslie Sisson explains why “Some Song” by Elliot Smith made her feel less alone, and all the “happy accidents” that led to the band’s latest sound.

Listen to this episode of This Song

 

 Moving Panoramas is KUTX’s Artist of the Month for March.

Listen to Moving Panoramas new record In Two

See the Moving Panoramas Tour Dates

Check out all the things KUTX is doing at SXSW this year

Check out the first Moving Panorama’s early This Song episode

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song


 

 

March 2, 2019

This Song: Allison Moorer

This Song

By: Elizabeth McQueen

Allison Moorer just released a new book and record, both titled “Blood.” Both works explore the legacy of her childhood in an abusive, addicted household and examine the impact that her parent’s murder suicide had on her life. In this episode, Moorer describes how “Every Breath You Take”  by the Police gave her a window into an entire other world of music, and helped her define herself apart from her family.

Check out Allison Moorer’s tour dates

Buy Blood

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

March 2, 2019

This Song: Meredith Goldstein

This Song

By: Elizabeth McQueen

Meredith Goldstein is host of the Love Letters podcast, the love advice columnist and entertainment writer for the Boston Globe and one of host Elizabeth McQueen’s oldest and dearest friends.  In this episode she explores all the reasons she loves the sexy, pleading desperation of “Father Figure” by George Michael.

Listen to this episode of This Song

Read the Love Letters Column

Listen to the Love Letters podcast

And now, for Meredith Goldstein’s “Pleading Playlist!”

George Michael was particularly incredible at writing songs about pleading for physical (or emotional) intimacy. On some tracks, he begs for it, usually while building to a great crescendo. “Father Figure” is my favorite (for many complicated reasons discussed on the podcast), but there are others that make their way onto my playlists. These are some of my favorite songs that feature George Michael asking, begging, and pleading to get love of some kind.

I Want Your Sex (Part 2)

The first installment of this very literal (and wonderful) pop song is all about lobbying for sex. But Part 2 adds new hooks, more begging, and my favorite lines: “I’m not your brother. I’m not your father.” I mean, he’s not technically a father … just a father figure.

Fastlove

I always thought it was weird that Adele chose to cover this song to honor George Michael on the Grammys (I figured she’d opt for “One More Try,” which seems very much in her wheelhouse). But this song is quintessentially George. It’s another hit that lyrically is one big request for intimacy, although in this case it’s more about distraction. It’s not so much about fast love, but more about seeking intimacy for a break from emptiness. “In the absence of security, I made my way into the night. …So why don’t we make a little room in my BMW …  searchin’ for some peace of mind.”

Fantasy

I love the lyrics: “When you know what to do, I’ll be in the next room.” What an invitation.

Freeek!

This is the most overtly sexual George Michael song there is, and in it, he’s still pleading. Aggressively. “Can I come on in, my sweet baby? Can I move on in? Can I come on in, my sweet baby? Can I move on in?” I highly recommend revisiting this music video.

A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Pt. 3)

Yes! There was a Part 3! George is shooting his shot one last time. “My cards are on your table, my dreams are in your bed. If I was able, I’d be there instead.” He ends it with a last plea: “Sleep with me tonight.”

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

February 27, 2019

This Song: Jungle

This Song

By: Elizabeth McQueen

On this episode, Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom  McFarland, of British electronic pop outfit Jungle, tell us about the Jai Paul’s “Jasmine” and how it helped their band get comfortable with sonic experimentation. “A lot of our music is just accepting bits and pieces that happen around the creation, and ultimately letting the sounds find you.”

Hear how this openness led the duo to include a creaky door solo on their first record and how they continue to try and walk the line between originality and relatability on their latest record “For Ever.”

Listen to this episode of This Song

Check out Jungle’s Tour Dates

Check out all the things KUTX is doing at SXSW this year

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

 

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