Song of the Day

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September 5, 2022

The Beaches: “Orpheus”

By: Jack Anderson

Like the Jan Brady of national holidays, Labor Day is an oft-overlooked middle child between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. So, quick bit of “birthday” trivia; although it’s American-manufactured, some historians believe Labor Day may have been inspired by Toronto’s worker-centric parades held in 1882. Which means we ought to recognize our neighbors to the North and celebrate with some continental solidarity. However, if you got screwed out of the long weekend for whatever reason, you can find a instant escape with The Beaches.

Their namesake canonically pays tribute to a shared neighborhood, but it also evokes the quartet’s willingness to bury college plans in the sand and fully invest themselves in their music. Nowadays, in light of more than 50 million stream on Spotify alone, three JUNO Awards, and fanship from Elton John, it’s damn near impossible to cast doubt on that decade-old decision. Lately, however, inspired by the likes of Austin’s own Dayglow, The Beaches have seemed to heed changing tides and begun testing deeper waters of indie pop after years in the rock sandbar. This questionable shift comes right after the full-length merge of The Beaches last two EPs and a U.S. tour kicking off next month, but as we’ve learned before, it’s best to trust The Beaches’ intuition. Considering the pulsing, Phoenix-esque, indie pop masterpiece “Orpheus” that just came out? Give ’em all the resources in the world for them to do whatever the hell they want.


Episodes

August 5, 2026

Magic Rockers of Texas: “Where Did My Life Go” [Live In Studio 1A]

Looking to fill your Thursdays this August? Austin sardonic power-pop group Magic Rockers of Texas are holding down this month’s residency spot at one of our favorite venues: the Hole In the Wall. They’re kicking it off tonight with guests Slomo Drags and Quinn Decker and the LLC. We’re throwing it back to their latest […]

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August 4, 2026

Ruben Ramos + Carrie Rodriguez : “Ay Me Duele” [Live In Studio 1A]

Ruben Ramos, known to many as “El Gato Negro,” was not born in Austin, but his work over the last seven decades has earned him a sculpture in the city among other greats like Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. His work with Los Super Seven, a group featuring Freddy Fender, Joe Ely, Flaco Jimenez, […]

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August 3, 2026

Jesse Malin: “Hollywood Forever”

2026 has been a big year for New York’s Jesse Malin. The East Village icon released his memoir  Almost Grown: A New York Memoir in April, and the run of his autobiographical concert-theatre production Silver Manhattan was extended this spring at New York’s Bowery Palace. The production partially discusses his relationship with friend and D […]

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July 31, 2026

David Quinn: “Long Time Gone”

Nourishing, gritty, wood-smoked, and road-worn are all words that have been appropriately (and lovingly) used to describe the Americana songwriting of Illinois’s David Quinn. The upcoming album Down & Dirty was written purely for the joy of the game, and boy does it show. Quinn sticks to his compelling and illustrative storytelling with licks and […]

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July 31, 2026

Next of Kin: “Dimestore Jesus”

Austin alt-country sweetheart’s Next of Kin are back with their first new song (and dare I say, bona fide bop) since the release of last year’s Homemaker EP. “Dimestore Jesus” starts fully blossomed with their signature harmonies for a “beautifully honest track about carrying the burden of the savior complex: the tendency to pour everything […]

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July 29, 2026

Alex Hartley: “I Believe”

Austins Alex Hartley’s “I Believe“ was born from one of life’s hardest moments, written after a crisis during his and his wife’s IVF journey. The song reflects the strength it takes to stand beside someone you love through uncertainty, pairing heartfelt lyrics with warm Americana instrumentation that never overshadows the emotion. It’s an honest reminder […]

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July 28, 2026

Quentin: “Peanut Butter Cigarettes” [Live In Studio 1A]

A native Texan with a tri-coastal career spanning Austin, Los Angeles, and New York, Quentin has appeared at major festivals including Austin City Limits Music Festival and SXSW while earning a reputation for fearless live performances and genre-defying songwriting. Dubbed a “genre-hopping hustler” by the Austin Chronicle, they have evolved from their glam-rock roots with […]

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July 27, 2026

Warm Sound: “Better Days”

Austin electronic duo Warm Sound (who you’ve heard on KUTX) are back with “Better Days,” the title track to their upcoming third album out this fall. Lush and groovy, the new song is more ambient than their trip-hop roots, marking a new, more ethereal, meditative sound from the duo, “pairing intricate production with an equally […]

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