Song of the Day

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March 27, 2024

James Mastro: “The Face of the Sun”

By: Jack Anderson

It’s well-known that we here at KUTX have a soft spot for Alejandro Escovedo – a love affair that’s lasted far longer than we’ve even been a station. So it’s our due diligence to let you know that Señor Escovedo does have a new record entitled Echo Dancing dropping this weekend. That said, we’re not just talkin’ up Al today.

No, we gotta jump in and tip our hat to Escovedo’s returning tour mate, Mr. James Mastro. A fellow pioneer in the early days of punk rock, this singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer’s already had the privilege and pleasure to perform across the globe more times than we can count, including in the company of Patti Smith, Ian Hunter, Judy Collins, and Robert Plant. This year, Mastro’s been riding high off his latest LP Dawn of a New Error, which dropped the final week of February.

Over the next month-plus of national touring, Escovedo and Mastro will likely be playing some of these new tunes in front of a live audience for the very first time. So as the pair escape the clouds and thunderstorms dominating Austin’s forecast for the next fortnight, familiarize yourself with “The Face of the Sun” and all the other cuts off Dawn of a New Error and Echo Dancing with the shared tour kickoff 8PM this Friday at Antone’s.


Episodes

July 14, 2026

Wild Heaven: “Dust in the Night Sky”

Austin band Wild Heaven premiered their debut single on Song of the Day two years ago. Now, they’re back with a brand-new single with the familiar raucous, post-punk energy that we love. “Dust in the Night Sky,” an upbeat single that lands between post-punk, shoegaze, and neo-psych rock, chronicles mischievous all-night adventures with a wink […]

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July 13, 2026

Kurt Vile: “Pretty Pimpin'”

Ryan Wen put it best: Kurt Vile is like Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Neil Young with Stephen Malkmus as the head. The blues-meets-slacker rock musician’s tenth studio album, Philadelphia’s Been Good To Me, is his “bringin it home to Philly” album, largely recorded in his home studio there and his first release […]

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July 9, 2026

Cure for Paranoia: “The Artshow” [Live In Studio 1A]

We’ve gotten really acquainted with Dallas hip-hop group Cure for Paranoia this year, and their meteoric rise has been a joy to be a part of and to watch from the sidelines. The winners of the 2026 NPR Tiny Desk Contest hit their Austin tour stop a couple of weeks ago, making a pit stop […]

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July 8, 2026

Slow Pulp: “Better Man”

Slow Pulp has a way of making introspective songs feel inviting, and “Better Man” is no exception. Soft guitars and Emily Massey’s understated vocal give the track room to breathe, capturing the complicated feeling of wanting to grow while still figuring things out. The song comes from an album that leans into subtlety, favoring mood […]

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July 6, 2026

Briscoe: “The Heart of Texas”

In the midst of a nearly year-long tour, Austin indie-Americana breakouts Briscoe have released “The Heart of Texas.” The song commemorates the anniversary of the horrific Kerr County floods that devastated entire communities and families and resulted in the deaths of around 60 people, including children. The song is what I would call “cinematic Americana,” […]

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July 1, 2026

David G. Smith: “Hero Street”

David G. Smith shines a light on an often-overlooked piece of American history with “Hero Street,” a moving tribute to the eight Mexican American soldiers from one small Illinois neighborhood who gave their lives in service. Anchored by understated acoustic guitar, heartbeat-like drums, and mournful steel guitar, the song honors both the sacrifice of these […]

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June 30, 2026

Jenny Gillespie Mason: “Rungs of Love”

During the oppressive heat of the summer, it’s easy to long for a breeze – and today’s song, “Rungs of Love” by Jenny Gillespie Mason, feels like one. In this single from In the Safety of the Light, Mason’s debut solo album, the Northern Californian artist croons about finding love and focus in a chaotic […]

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June 26, 2026

Deer Tick: “Mary Singletary”

The new album from Rhode Island indie-folk group Deer Tick, Coin-O-Matic, is a slice-of-life of the group’s hometown of Providence, which serves as our main character, with an album of vignettes that stitch together to illustrate the town’s “once-speedy past” and the gallery of characters wherein. But the town also has secrets. On “Mary Singletary,” […]

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