Song of the Day

Song of the Day > All Episodes

January 4, 2018

King Warbler: “Lighter Fluid”

By: Taylor Wallace

Sad Piano Boy Jack Van Norman helms his current project King Warbler with regal charm and squire-like modesty, plinking out some of the most infectious, melancholic singer-songwriter rock this side of your neighborhood’s coolest coffee shop. If you’ve spent any time going to shows in the Red River district, you’ve likely caught their set or at least seen their name on a bill, adding their early-Ray-LaMontagne spice to bills that usually host the fuzzier or poppier facets of the Austin indie-rock gem. With new music on the horizon, King Warbler kicks off 2018 wading in the deluge of free week, playing tunes that already keep the souls of their fans sad and warm, and new ones ready to tug on your melan-collar.

The opening notes of “Lighter Fluid,” immediately transport you back to a time where Ben Folds Five and Damien Rice ruled the indie scene with broken heartstrings and smooth-yet-aching vocal runs. Keys and strings add buttery grace to the song’s make-up, which swell up and down to keep your tear ducts teased and your soul feeling like its been hugged by the day’s most needed cup of coffee.

“Lighter Fluid” appears on Rosanky, out now via the group’s Bandcamp. Catch King Warbler at the Sidewinder TONIGHT with Mountebank, Batty Jr, and AlexAlco.

-Taylor Wallace// Host, Thursdays 8p-11p & Saturdays 2p-6p; Producer, Eklektikos with John Aielli


Episodes

December 4, 2024

Souls Extolled: “Gold”

That early-’00s indie punk rock sound shaped by heavyweights like Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes is still pretty dang popular. Just listen to some of the most-streamed rock artists these days and you can clearly hear the reverence. That said, it’s not too often that those newer acts actually invite nuance into their originals; it’s […]

Listen

December 2, 2024

The Grapes & Friends: “Christmas With My Baby”

Thanksgiving and Black Friday are behind us and Cyber Monday is here. And in terms of the latter two, most of the shopping does happen online these days. But if you did pop into a store or two since last Thursday, you’ll agree: if it wasn’t already by the moment Halloween ended, Christmas music is […]

Listen

December 2, 2024

dan levine: “a-frame”

It’s #GivingTuesday and pretty much anyone who’s a non-profit is crawling out of the woodwork and trying to stir up some financial love. And of course as a community supported public radio, we could always use a bit of help. That said, the nice thing about tossing KUTX a couple bucks is that you’re also […]

Listen

November 29, 2024

What Elephant?: “Made Up Words”

Thanksgiving’s behind us and Christmas is on the way, so ’tis the season for white elephant gift exchanges, right? And depending on you or your family’s level of southern drawl, if someone’s ever suggested “white elephant?” as the next activity, they may have inadvertently uttered today’s feature. Because unless it’s a drift-caught quip to “don’t […]

Listen

November 27, 2024

The Delines: “Left Hook Like Frazier”

You know what they say: you can take the woman out of Texas but you can never take Texas out of the woman. It’s a bit of a moot point, considering the Lone Star State sure ain’t a shining beacon of women’s rights, and that sets natives up to become ex-pats. Still, it’s a sentiment […]

Listen

November 26, 2024

Isak Thomas and The Stoop Boys: “Miss Strut”

It’s T-minus 48 hours until prep for the big feast and other Thanksgiving festivities. And even though some always end up just getting some takeout, the Turkey Day hunger is munching on most Americans’ minds right about now. But if you’ve got your meal all planned out and are still in need of some soul […]

Listen

November 25, 2024

Muzeke: “New Man”

Like it or not, we are in the home stretch for 2024. So don’t be too surprised when you start hearing everyone talk about their lofty New Year’s resolutions in the coming weeks. But if you yourself need some extra solidarity to help turn a new leaf and hit the ground running in 2025, we’ve […]

Listen

November 22, 2024

Swimming With Bears: “Patient Disguise”

If you stop to think about it, there are really only two typical climate observations from astute Austinites. 1: It’s too hot and the sun is literally cooking us alive. 2: It’s too cold and the sun needs to come back ASAP. Yeah, we’re a special kind of simple southerners in our own way. But […]

Listen