Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Black Sabbath Guitarist Tony Iommi Debuts Choral Work

6:40am April 10, 2017

Iommi has gone from heavy metal to a choral composition for the cathedral in his hometown in England. Does that mean he found religion? Iommi said it just seemed like a nice thing to do.

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90 minutes of frenetic guitar playing from, quite literally, way down under. (KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD, 9:30 CLUB, WASHINGTON, D.C.)

Music & Culture

Bob Boilen's Week In Live Music, 4/8/17

1:08pm April 08, 2017

by Bob Boilen

Check out the All Songs Considered host's photos from the shows he saw this week, including shots of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Peter Silberman and Lambchop.

SOFTSPOT's new album, Clearing, is out now.

Music & Culture

A Brooklyn Band Finds Inspiration In Stormy Seas

8:06am April 08, 2017

SOFTSPOT's song "Maritime Law" originated when frontwoman Sarah Kinlaw and her dad were caught in a storm off the North Carolina coast. She says the experience made her view safety in a new way.

Zeshan Bagewadi's new album combines American funk and soul with Punjabi lyrics.

Music & Culture

The Second-Generation Soul Of Zeshan Bagewadi

8:06am April 08, 2017

The Chicago singer learned about civil-rights-era funk and soul through his Indian Muslim father's record collection. Bagewadi's new album, Vetted, is informed by his family's immigrant story.

Music & Culture

Precision Drum Company Takes On The Beatles

8:06am April 08, 2017

by Karen Michel

One of the oldest U.S. drum makers is Precision Drum Company. It's made instruments for some big names in jazz and rock. It's now making a replica of the drum on the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album.

Music & Culture

Across the Blue Ridge #67 - Fiddler Buddy Pendleton, bluegrass classics, and some new recordings

5:17pm April 07, 2017

by Paul Brown

This week we profile Buddy Pendleton (1935-2017), a remarkably talented and fluid Patrick County, Virginia fiddle player whose repertoire spanned old time, bluegrass, folk, swing and jazz.

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Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim in the studio.

Music & Culture

Revisiting A Masterpiece: When Frank Sinatra Collaborated With Antonio Carlos Jobim

3:39pm April 07, 2017

by Nate Chinen

Sinatra was well into his Rat Pack era, the reigning American embodiment of masculine suavity and aplomb, when he teamed up with the Brazilian maestro for one of the best albums of his career.

Jeremy Messersmith's new album, 11 Obscenely Optimistic Songs For Ukulele: A Micro Folk Record For The 21st Century And Beyond, comes out April 14.

Music & Culture

Start Your Weekend With An 'Obscenely Optimistic' Ukulele Jam

2:31pm April 07, 2017

by Stephen Thompson

Hear "Everything Is Magical," the first song from Jeremy Messersmith's literally titled 11 Obscenely Optimistic Songs For Ukulele: A Micro Folk Record For The 21st Century And Beyond.

Josh Tillman, as Father John Misty, isn't always easy to love. Pure Comedy knows that.

Music & Culture

The Mad Genius Of Father John Misty

2:27pm April 07, 2017

by Robin Hilton

The singer takes aim at all of humanity on his sprawling new masterwork Pure Comedy.

Tash Sultana performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Feb. 17, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR)

Music & Culture

Tash Sultana: Tiny Desk Concert

1:15pm April 07, 2017

by Bob Boilen

It's astonishing to watch Sultana's fluidity on her instrument, like a natural extension of her body. She also plays bass, saxophone, trumpet, flute and more, but kept it "simple" for the Tiny Desk.