Song of the Day

Song of the Day > All Episodes

October 15, 2021

Calder Allen: “Bend of the River” (ACL Fest Pop-Up)

By: Jack Anderson

As the grandson of Lubbock-raised creative polymath Terry Allen, singer-guitarist Calder Allen has been raised with a set of songwriting sensibilities that few have been privy to. But despite that huge leg-up heritage-wise, Allen only made his live band debut just a couple weeks ago with Charlie Sexton during the first Sunday of ACL Fest.

Calder unleashed a batch of previously-unheard Americana originals, leaving the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Stage thirsty for much more from this poet extraordinaire beyond ACL. So while we all eagerly await to hear Calder Allen again, appreciate the fact that this up-and-comer doesn’t need a backing band to give a great performance, as evidenced by a stripped-down rendition of his earliest compositions, “Bend of the River”!


Episodes

March 13, 2026

Anastasia Hera: “Ambitions” [Live In Studio 1A]

KUTX’s coverage of SXSW is powered by Rivian and presented by Uber Eats Austin’s Anastasia Hera has been blending her brand of rap and R&B for almost fifteen years. In addition to releasing her own solo work, leading her group Anastasia and the Heroes, and putting her mark on various other projects, she’s also the founder of […]

Listen

March 12, 2026

Deer Fellow: “Fool For You”

Sonic ingenuity with ruffles imbued with love is the thesis of Austin indie duo Deer Fellow. Blending sonic loops and synth-sibilities with violin intimacy, they set a romantic mood that can’t help but creep in from the background. Newly married, Matt Salois and Alyssa Kelly are well into their season of love, beautifully illustrated through […]

Listen

March 11, 2026

Social Dissonance: “This is Hell”

Austin’s Social Dissonance is pushing the boundaries of genre-bending with their new track “This Is Hell.” With the combination of metal, alt-rock, and punk, we are left with a gritty and explosive track that thrives on distortion, raw energy, and an unrelenting pace.“This Is Hell” marks the first release featuring the band’s new frontwoman, Lucy […]

Listen

March 10, 2026

Francene Rouelle: “september bby”

One of the fastest ways to know that you’re changed is how those around you change. Austin-based pop Francene Rouelle, tackles this in her latest single, “september bby,” a brief, punchy dance tune reminiscent of hyperpop phenoms 100 gecs. Speaking to an unnamed character about her upgraded hair and wardrobe, she drives home the most […]

Listen

March 9, 2026

The Sophs: “House”

L.A. six-piece the Sophs are true chameleons. Whether they’re throwing in some twang on a college party bop, going full pop-punk nostalgia, or, in the case, of “House,” painting a Shirley Jackson-like story of a man living in a hovel built from and on bones, surrounded by ethereal remnants of past occupants and adding more […]

Listen

March 6, 2026

Glass Mansions: “Sunsetting”

Austin dark pop trio Glass Mansions, known for their lush, electronic leaden, pop-driven rhythms, are back with their most emotional and close-to-the-chest song to date. Following the sudden loss of both of her parents and disenchanted with the notion that you’ll always get to create “the next thing,” frontwoman Jayna Doyle asks herself, “what would […]

Listen

February 27, 2026

Alex Maas: “Honey Bee” [The Hole Story]

The Hole Story is a new series from KUTX. Taped live on the front stage of Hole in the Wall – we’ve invited artists to not just perform, but also share the inspiration, meaning, or backstory behind each one.  Opened in 1974, Hole in the Wall is one of Austin’s most legendary dive bars. It’s […]

Listen

February 26, 2026

Grocery Bag: “Stop Calling Me Out”

Austin garage-punk darlings Grocery Bag are back baby! Ahead of their shows as official SXSW 2026 artists, today they release “Stop Calling Me Out,” a song that hits you in the face with the group’s signature garage-psych brashness, but this time a little more melody has been added to the cauldron, one slightly reminiscent of […]

Listen