Song of the Day

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February 1, 2023

Kool & the Gang: “Let’s Party” (feat. Sha Sha Jones)

By: Jack Anderson

Happy Black History Month! You may know that the first observance took place at Kent State in early 1970, back when the civil rights movement was still fresh in memory and the Black Power movement was just ramping up. But did you know that funk pioneers Kool & the Gang dropped their eponymous debut mere weeks before the first Black History Month? It’s a curious cultural crossroad, but also pretty remarkable that they’re both still going strong in 2023. Kool & the Gang are responsible for some of the most recognizable, influential, and enduring soul-funk-R&B hits of the ’70s and ’80s; chances are, regardless of your age, you’ve heard them in some shape or form. The latest generation of the Gang (which includes Robert “Kool” Bell himself and founding drummer “Funky” Brown) makes history once again 8PM this Saturday at ACL Live at the Moody Theater along with opener/KUTX favorite Tameca Jones. And if you don’t think their newer stuff captures the aura of all their best ’80s bops, mingle with rising R&B star Sha Sha Jones on “Let’s Party”. Just don’t come complaining once it overtakes “About Damn Time” in your top played tracks.

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June 14, 2023

Lauren Lakis: “Terror Tears”

When an actor gets their first big break out in L.A., most folks can quickly differentiate between the pretty faces and those with a burning creative core underneath. A dead giveaway for the latter? Other than a luminous performance that transcends the screen and leaves a lasting impact on the audience…maybe the most obvious tell […]

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June 13, 2023

Fort Never: “Take A Look At Us Now”

You might’ve seen recent headlines about Fort Hood changing their name to Fort Cavazos. Which, apolitically speaking, is fascinating because there was also an outfit right here in town under the same name who pulled pretty much the same move almost a decade back. But even before the Austin trio formerly known as Fort Hood […]

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June 12, 2023

Henry Invisible: “Dance Music Saves” (feat. Bernard Purdie)

For die-hard Steely Dan fans such as myself, the name Bernard Purdie is instantly recognizable; he invented the Purdie shuffle! So for someone that so casually blew the perfectionist minds of Becker and Fagen with his rhythmic genius back in the late ’70s, Bernie’s bar for collaborating is obvious purdy high. Which brings us to […]

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June 9, 2023

Black Sheep Optimists: “Questions and Lies”

Our Saturday night specialty show The Breaks does a great job of highlighting Austin hip-hop. But naturally, stuff is bound to slip through the cracks, especially when it comes to events before broadcast. That brings us to Austin three-piece Black Sheep Optimists, who’ve been bending genre norms since the start of the pandemic. The trio […]

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June 8, 2023

Sidney Scott: “Maybe You Were Right”

Historically, a native Austinite status set you on an accessible, auspicious trajectory towards making music. But of course, as tech culture eclipses the “weird” Live Music Capital character that Austin’s clung on to since the ’70s, it just doesn’t happen as much any more. So while simply being born within the city limits isn’t enough […]

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June 7, 2023

Ekiti Sound: “Mami Wata”

The Nigeria-UK connection has given us some of the greatest musical talents of modern music; while Shirley Bassey and Sade became more of national symbols, legendary performers ranging from Seal to grime icons like Skepta and Dizzee Rascal alongside modern innovators like Little Simz, and Obongjayar have really upheld London’s reputation as an incomparable centerpiece […]

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June 6, 2023

Genuine Leather: “Tear It Down”

When the handle “Genuine Leather” first catches your eye, a number of potentials present themselves; like Genuine Leather could easily be the name of a Kiss-era glam metal outfit, a bunch of Ramones-esque punks, a Berghain-inspired Western European dance DJ, or even just a dusty posse of country cowboys. Well, consider those expectations subverted, ’cause […]

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June 5, 2023

Dad’s Home: “Automatic Reply: No Thanks”

Ever since punk rock took off in the late ’70s, it’s expanded and matured into a ton of subgenres. Its kiddo pop-punk, on the other hand, is more like a Lost Boy from Neverland; it never grew up and that’s the way we like it. So when we look at the robust roster of pop-punk […]

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