David Dye

Frightened Rabbit On World Cafe

David Dye — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:08:00 +0000

Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchinson has been creating compelling, sometimes even uplifting, songs about abject failure since the Scottish band's first album, Sing the Greys, came out in 2006.

On this installment of World Cafe, Hutchinson tells host David Dye how the entire band was involved in writing lyrics for its new album, Pedestrian Verse. The singer also discusses Frightened Rabbit's unique experience during a recent tour of northern Scotland.

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside On World Cafe

David Dye — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:29:00 +0000

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside's music was raw and forthright from the beginning, when its album Dirty Radio came out in 2011. The Portland band captures the energy of early-'50s music, with blues and country influences that earned it a rockabilly designation early in its career.

The band's second album, Untamed Beast, doesn't step back from the edge in any way.

RNDM On World Cafe

David Dye — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:02:00 +0000

RNDM is a new band featuring Joseph Arthur, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament and drummer Richard Stuverud. Ament and Arthur met when the latter opened for Pearl Jam on tour.

Ament tells World Cafe host David Dye that he was mesmerized by Arthur's ability to create band sounds by looping his guitar and vocals. He also describes how RNDM formed and explains the process behind creating its debut album, Acts.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Dawn McCarthy On World Cafe

David Dye — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:48:00 +0000

In this installment of World Cafe, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (the stage name of Will Oldham) and Dawn McCarthy perform their own versions of classic Everly Brothers songs — as heard on their latest album together, What the Brothers Sang.

The two Kentuckians find new ways to harmonize on an array of famous and obscure Everly Brothers songs.

Next: Laura Stevenson

David Dye — Tue, 14 May 2013 01:18:00 +0000

Laura Stevenson describes herself as an "unfunny Woody Allen," which is another way of saying that her work channels her obsessions with death and doubt. On her third album, Wheel, she finds a way to make it all sound downright jaunty.

Stevenson came to her more folk leanings from roots in punk, as well as a musical family; her grandfather, choral director Harry Simeone, was responsible for "Little Drummer Boy." Listen to two songs from Wheel on this page.

Clive Davis On World Cafe

David Dye — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:30:00 +0000

At 81, music mogul and Columbia Records president Clive Davis has slowed down just enough to write his autobiography, The Soundtrack of My Life. The book, which describes how he's consistently made hit records, has itself become a bestseller.

In this installment of World Cafe, Davis discusses how seeing Janis Joplin with Big Brother and The Holding Company at the Monterey Pop Festival changed his life — and, consequently, the history of Columbia Records.

Rod Stewart On World Cafe

David Dye — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:44:00 +0000

Rod Stewart has little to prove as a rock star. He's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame twice, once solo and once with The Faces.

The Slide Brothers On World Cafe

David Dye — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:30:00 +0000

Calvin Cooke, Aubrey Ghent and brothers Darrick and Chuck Campbell are The Slide Brothers. The band's self-titled album debut album was produced by Robert Randolph, the spectacular young pedal-steel guitarist who became the first player from the Sacred Steel tradition to break out to a wider audience.

On this installment of World Café, the band plays three songs from its album and tells host David Dye about the difference between performing for the congregation at Church of the Living God and playing on club and concert stages.

Phosphorescent On World Cafe

David Dye — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:02:00 +0000

It's easy to hear the steady growth in the music of Phosphorescent's Matthew Houck since the release of his band's 2009 Willie Nelson tribute album, To Willie.

Hey Marseilles On World Cafe

David Dye — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:12:00 +0000

Seattle's Hey Marseilles formed around the collaboration between singer Matt Bishop and guitarist Nick Ward, back when the two were students at the University of Washington. The band has since grown into the septet that recorded Hey Marseilles' sincere and endearing new album, Lines We Trace.

Since the release of Hey Marseilles' 2008 debut, To Travels & Trunks, the group's fan base has grown steadily.

Next: Treetop Flyers

David Dye — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:29:00 +0000

The members of London's Treetop Flyers capture the sound of California folk-rock in the '60s on their debut album, The Mountain Moves. They met on the periphery of the London folk scene that gave the world Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling.

Treetop Flyers, led by singers Reid Morrison and Sam Beer, won Glastonbury's Emerging Sound competition in 2011.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds On World Cafe

David Dye — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:32:00 +0000

Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave recently re-formed his band The Bad Seeds, minus founding member Mick Harvey on guitar, to record a new album called Push the Sky Away.

Low On World Cafe

David Dye — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:20:00 +0000

It's hard to find another band that's stayed as true to its vision as Low. Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker have been making Low records for 20 years now, and just released their 10th full-length album, The Invisible Way.

At the invitation of Jeff Tweedy, the Minnesota band traveled to Chicago to spend just five days tracking the new songs at Wilco's space.

Pickwick On World Cafe

David Dye — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:46:00 +0000

The first incarnation of the Seattle band Pickwick revolved around Galen Disston's strummy acoustic songs. Disston eventually found himself bored with his own music until a not-so-subtle shift took place; the band began experimenting with new sounds and ideas, Disston shifted into the role of lead singer and crowds immediately noticed.

In this installment of World Cafe, you'll hear three songs from Pickwick's debut (Can't Talk Medicine), as well as the full story behind the band's reinvention.

Next: The Saint Johns

David Dye — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:02:00 +0000

A little reinvention never hurt anyone. Nashville singers Jordan Meredith and Louis Johnson met in St. Augustine, Fla., and quickly discovered how well their voices blended together, so they moved to New York City and formed Augustine.

The duo, which now resides in Nashville, has since become The Saint Johns, and recently released its gorgeous new songs on a free downloadable EP. Listen to two songs from The Live Sessions here.