Back in the '70s, Steve Jones and his band, Sex Pistols, lasted all of three years and put out a single album, but they helped turn punk from a fringe musical movement to a snarling, international phenomena and gave misfits everywhere anthems like, "Anarchy in the U.K." Before telling our audience how to behave in mosh pits, the musician stopped by to talk about why writing his autobiography felt like torture and explains his stance on the disputed origins of punk.
Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek are the masterminds behind the band Whitney. The band blends '60s folk and psych rock with a warm, orchestral sound on their debut album, "Light Upon the Lake." Listen as they blend folk and a touch zamrock for a party playlist perfect for the golden hour.
Natalie Mering makes gorgeous music under the name Weyes Blood and her new album has landed on a bunch of "Best of" lists for 2016. She serves up a soundtrack a few tracks from The Stranglers, Electric Light Orchestra's Roy Wood, and more to go with her tiny dinner party.
Back in 1997, the late great singer-songwriter Eliot Smith put out an album of sad, hushed songs called "Either/Or." In a few months, it gets reissued in honor of its 20th anniversary, and it features outtakes like this one called, "I Figured You Out."
We revisit a song, recorded live at our show in New York last Spring, which we've never shared before. It's from one of our favorite folk-pop musicians, the aptly named Emmy the Great. She serenaded us with a cover of a Sandy Denny tune.
Musicians Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward help you celebrate the holidays with playlist picks to set the tone your next Yuletide gathering.
Actor Zooey and acclaimed singer-songwriter M. Ward have put out several albums together under the name She & Him. Two of those happen to be holiday-themed, including their most recent, called "Christmas Party." Before share a holiday playlist, but first, Brendan chatted with them about their own special traditions.
This week in 1984, 40 of the biggest pop stars in the world assembled in London to tape a charity Christmas song that became a UK record-breaker. Hear the story of their smash hit, then "raise a glass to everyone" with this liquid evidence that the world can work together in harmony.
Since it's that time of year, we thought a holiday song might be appropriate. It's a brand new one written by Sandy's - a band obsessed with all things surfing and this track is no different. It's called "Surfy Christmas."
Virginia musician Lucy Dacus has had a pretty sweet 2016. Back in February, she put out her debut album "No Burden" on a local label. Then 20 labels were so floored, they came calling to re-release it. Matador Records won the bidding war, and their reissue is out now. Check out her party soundtrack featuring Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Big Thief and more.