Song of the Day

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January 31, 2019

Altamesa: “Genuine Affection”

By: Jack Anderson

Way back in 2016, Austinite Evan Charles introduced the world to his project Altamesa and picked up critical attention for his debut full-length The Long Ride Home. One dusty trail later, Charles is far from riding off into the sunset and fronts what is now a cosmic Americana trio that includes The Happen-Ins frontman and Altamesa co-producer Sean Faires.

In 2017 Charles and Faires hit the studio with a fuller rock sound than Altamesa’s previous solo recordings, and next week we’ll get the fruits of their labor. The ten songs on the Idol Frontier LP are spacey, rustic, rugged and pleasant all at once, and pretty much achieve musical manifest destiny for Altamesa. You can hear Altamesa at 5pm next Wednesday at Waterloo Records, 3pm next Thursday live on KUTX, and at the release show next Friday at Cheer Up Charlies! Let’s un-hitch from the work week with one of Idol Frontier‘s finest, “Genuine Affection”!


Episodes

November 11, 2026

May Sun: “So Sweet”

One might say that the beauty of Austin is the blending of cultures that takes place on its streets – and today’s Song of the Day, “So Sweet,” by May Sun, embodies that spirit. As part of a project supported by the Austin Live Music Fund, Sun, a classical pianist turned blues vocalist, teamed up […]

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November 9, 2026

Mari Fores: “Rio, Lua”

We’re off to Brazil! Rising singer-songwriter Mari Froes began sharing her passion for singing via a YouTube channel at 8 years old, uploading Brazilian covers of Amy Winehouse and Beyoncé. Fast forward to 2026: her debut album Esquino do Sol has garnered her international praise, an incredibly successful European tour, and a debut U.S. tour […]

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November 6, 2026

A Parent’s Project: “You’re Enough”

Children’s artists often walk a wobbly tightrope of producing songs that are attractive to children while remaining enjoyable to the parents who are also in the car. Today, we bring you a Song of the Day that we think checks both boxes: “You’re Enough” by A Parent’s Project. Landon Thompson from The Black and White […]

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November 5, 2026

Zoë Pete Ford: “Tattoo City”

If Chess Club and the Broken Spoke had a sonic baby, it would be Zoë Pete Ford. Splitting time between New York and Austin, Ford says she only needs a car and guitar, and everywhere is home, which manifests beautifully in her cross-country sound, something I’m calling “punky tonk.” Her new album Tattoo City comes […]

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November 4, 2026

Almost Heaven: “Fever Trying To Blow” [Live In Studio 1A]

Some songs can turn your day around, and “Fever Trying to Blow” by Austin’s Almost Heaven is one of them. This was the first song I heard from the band, and it’s stayed in heavy rotation ever since. I love how the song builds and moves between its sections without losing that infectious energy. It’s […]

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November 3, 2026

The Harms: “Tornado Row”

After more than a decade, Austin’s The Harms are releasing their sophomore album! Fronted by Austin music mainstay Chase Frank, the Beto Martinez-produced album is chock-full of earworms that splinter and showcase the wide world of psych rock. “Tornado Row” is a fun, hyped-up garage-surf tune with Frank’s harmonies adding an 80s Go-Gos like veneer. […]

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November 2, 2026

They Might Be Giants: “Get Down”

For music veterans They Might Be Giants, momentum is the secret sauce….or novel spice blend, attributing the “open-endedness” of their approach to the craft as the key to their continued popularity and intrigue after 44 years. Their latest album (and note: their 24th) The World Is to Dig is a largely upbeat- 18-track romp, bursting […]

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October 30, 2026

lluvii: “junii (llámame)” [KUTX Live At ACL Fest 2026]

As we round fourth base on October, we’re giving it up one more time for our Artist of the Month lluvii. The Latin pop/psych group made their ACL Fest debut at the beginning of the month, and they stopped by our backstage tent to delight us with a live version of the song we’ve been […]

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