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Pete Seeger

Wed, Jan 7 Listen

From political anthems to children's sing-a-longs, Pete Seeger's contribution to music is immeasurable. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of "Woody's Children" - a radio program on WFUV named by Pete - we go back to 1995 when Pete visited 'FUV to talk with Rita Houston.

Jenny Lewis

Tue, Jan 6 Listen

With more musical muscle and no Watson Twins, Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis is back with solo album #2 called "Acid Tongue." Elvis Costello is just one of the guests joining her on the record, and during a conversation with 'FUV's Alisa Ali, Jenny shared some details about the balance of solo writing, band life, and collaboration in her work.

Steve Earle with Allison Moorer

Mon, Jan 5 Listen

Steve Earle still speaks loudly with his steady sound and message on the album "Washington Square Serenade," but finds fresh inspiration thanks in part to a new hometown (New York City), a happy marriage (to Allison Moorer), and a new producer (Dust Brother, John King). Hear how the pieces fit together as two of them — Steve and Allison — talk with WFUV's Claudia Marshall.

Best of 2008: Emmylou Harris

Fri, Jan 2 Listen

Best of 2008: She's made her name as an artful interpreter of songs, but Emmylou Harris can write a heartrending tune with the best of them. Her new album "All I Intended To Be" combines both talents along with her celebrated voice, and during a stop in New York City Emmylou told WFUV's John Platt about a few of the songs and themes that appear on the album.

Best of 2008: Amos Lee

Thu, Jan 1 Listen

Best of 2008: 5 years ago, Amos Lee was a teacher. Now he has 3 albums under his belt and the experience of sharing stages with big names like Norah Jones and Bob Dylan. His soulful voice is part of the attraction but he also has a gift for writing both topical songs and heartbreakers. "Last Days at the Lodge" showcases his range with some new sounds, and Amos recently performed some acoustic versions during an interview with host Rita Houston at WFUV.

Best of 2008: The Hold Steady

Wed, Dec 31 Listen

Best of 2008: After reaching international audiences with its 2006 album "Boys and Girls in America," Brooklyn's The Hold Steady is back with album #4, "Stay Positive." It's chock full of anthemic, sing-a-long, storytelling rock, and during an interview with WFUV's Rich McLaughlin the guys made it clear that high volume songs don't mean low quality writing.

Best of 2008: Calexico

Tue, Dec 30 Listen

Best of 2008: You can almost feel the desert dust on Calexico's new album "Carried To Dust," as the band once again tastefully blends folk, rock, alt-country and more along with the sounds of a few choice guests. A stop at 'FUV showcased that sound live, and host Claudia Marshall learned some of details behind making the record.

Best of 2008: Little Jackie

Mon, Dec 29 Listen

Best of 2008: "The Stoop" is the debut album from "Little Jackie" and one of many indelible images contained in the hip-hop and R&B infused songs. Equally NYC is the duo of Imani Coppola and Adam Pallin who put together the tunes, and they were joined by a band at WFUV during an interview with Rita Houston.

Best of 2008: Jim James & My Morning Jacket

Fri, Dec 26 Listen

Best of 2008: My Morning Jacket's grown from a Kentucky bar band to one of rock's best live acts, and they prove it on record too with the new album "Evil Urges." WFUV was there to catch the band debuting tunes at SXSW this year, and heard what Jim James had to say about the recent changes in the band's sound.

Best of 2008: Joan Osborne

Thu, Dec 25 Listen

Best of 2008: Soul, Motown, country, blues, rock... Joan Osborne has covered a lot of musical ground in her career, but on her new album she heads back to her breakthrough: teaming up with the guys who helped create "Relish" to make "Little Wild One," and taking the new songs to the stage for a special "FUV Live" show hosted by Claudia Marshall.

Best of 2008: Alejandro Escovedo

Wed, Dec 24 Listen

Best of 2008: There's a whole lot of energy in Alejandro Escovedo's new album "Real Animal" and part of it comes from exploring his wide-ranging musical past: anything from punk to poetry. Working with a co-writer helped tell the tales, and host Rita Houston got more of the story when Alejandro performed acoustic versions of the songs at WFUV.

Best of 2008: The Black Keys

Tue, Dec 23 Listen

Best of 2008: The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney started playing music as a duo in high school, and have stuck with the format ever since. The new album "Attack & Release" does bring in a few new sounds and a new producer in Danger Mouse, and the guys spoke about the changes with host Darren DeVivo during a visit to WFUV.

Best of 2008: Duffy

Mon, Dec 22 Listen

Best of 2008: Duffy grew up in a small fishing town in Wales, so the bright lights and big cities of having a #1 record are new territory. But she made it to New York City and WFUV for a visit with Rita Houston, talking about classic 60's sounds and playing stripped down versions of tunes from her debut album "Rockferry."

Kathleen Edwards & John Doe

Fri, Dec 19 Listen

A Gram Parsons tribute concert brought them together on stage, a song called "The Golden State" teamed them up on record, and this fall, Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards and "X" founder John Doe hit the road for "The Hurtin' & Flurtin' Tour." Host Rita Houston welcomed them to 'FUV too, where it was clear there's definitely some common ground in music and humor.

Author Tom Moon

Thu, Dec 18 Listen

1,000 recordings in 5 minutes. Not really, but 'FUV's Claudia Marshall does pick the brain of writer Tom Moon whose new book is called "1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List." It's a globe-spanning starting point for any level of musical explorer, and today the author describes how he compiled the list.

Aimee Mann

Wed, Dec 17 Listen

Aimee Mann's songs aren't often associated with merriment and cheer, but things changed in 2006. Aside from her now annual holiday show, Aimee released "One More Drifter in the Snow" — her first collection of Christmas music — and in-between live performances with her band at 'FUV, Aimee told host Rita Houston about her own holiday traditions.

Jesse Malin (new!)

Tue, Dec 16 Listen

From punk-rock to roots-rock, Queens, NY native Jesse Malin has lived a few musical lives. They come through in his own songs, but also in the tunes he chooses to cover (something he's done for years during live shows), and now a few of them make it onto the album "On Your Sleeve." Songs by Bad Brains and Jim Croce are two that made the cut, and during an interview at 'FUV host Ben Jones talked to Jesse about picking the rest of the bunch.

Ingrid Michaelson (new!)

Mon, Dec 15 Listen

Lyrics about a sweater and Rogaine backed a bouncy, melodic tune earned Ingrid Michaelson surprise widespread attention. But she's a couple years past "The Way I Am" and the CD "Girls and Boys," and working her way toward a new studio record. In the meantime there's "Be OK" - a mixed bag of previously unreleased material - and it brought Ingrid up to 'FUV to talk music with host Alisa Ali.

Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul

Fri, Dec 12 Listen

Using sounds from the Bronx to Ireland and beyond, Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul combine adventure and tradition in their brand of Celtic fusion. Last year, for the first time ever, they gave the Immigrant Soul treatment to a collection of Christmas songs and tunes called "An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas." Hear two of the selections performed live at 'FUV as Eileen and the whole band talk with host Kathleen Biggins.

Susan Tedeschi

Thu, Dec 11 Listen

After a 2005 album of covers, Susan Tedeschi returns to her own songs on the new album "Back To The River." Aside from the influence of an impressive list of co-writers (including husband Derek Trucks), her own ears have soaked up a lot over the years. So while the blues is still at the core of the record, Susan's versatile voice tackles a range of sounds and topics, and she shared a few of the results during an interview with 'FUV's Darren DeVivo.

Michael Franti & Spearhead

Wed, Dec 10 Listen

Michael Franti's spent his 2-decade career finding a way to speak out, motivate, uplift, and unite — all through music. No small task, but energy is key and a major factor in the Jamaica-made new album "All Rebel Rockers." With Spearhead and special guest Cherine Anderson joining in, Michael performed a few new tunes at 'FUV, and told host Claudia Marshall about what people added and will hopefully take from the record.

Thea Gilmore

Tue, Dec 9 Listen

Personal and professional challenges led Thea Gilmore to once again use songwriting as an outlet, and the resulting album - "Liejacker" - is a frank, melodic journey from dark times into light. The title is part of the album's theme as well, and the UK-based songwriter explained that detail and more during an interview with WFUV's Darren DeVivo.

Loudon Wainwright III

Mon, Dec 8 Listen

Loudon Wainwright III is nearing the 40 year mark in his career, and with the new album "Recovery" he's revisiting and reworking some of the songs that got him started. The record also reunites the eccentric songwriter with "Strange Weirdos" producer Joe Henry and brought Loudon back to WFUV for a conversation with Claudia Marshall.

Beck (new!)

Fri, Dec 5 Listen

On Beck's latest album "Modern Guilt," Danger Mouse makes some sonic changes, but the lyrics lead the way. A shorter, more introspective record results, and during a stop in NYC Beck talked more about the songs with 'FUV's Claudia Marshall.

Remembering Odetta

Thu, Dec 4 Listen

We lost a legendary voice and presence this week with the passing of Odetta, but her spirit will certainly live on in her music, and in her influence on generations to come. Defining that legacy was one topic in a conversation Odetta shared with host John Platt in 2005 — the same year an 'FUV show she performed became the holiday album "Gonna Let It Shine."

Angelique Kidjo

Wed, Dec 3 Listen

Angelique Kidjo is fresh off a gig at Carnegie Hall and a Grammy win for her latest album "Djin Djin." Celebrating diversity by exploring musical differences is one of her talents, but it's those vocal chords that continue to earn her acclaim around the world. Today we hear them at work as Angelique shares some songs live, and talks with WFUV's Rita Houston.

The Felice Brothers

Tue, Dec 2 Listen

Taking the stage at this year's "Holiday Cheer for 'FUV" and recalling the sounds of Dylan, The Band, and "The Basement Tapes," The Felice Brothers bring a new voice to American roots music. Last fall, before the release of their self-titled CD, the guys spoke with WFUV's Vin Scelsa about a few of their influences.

Dr. Dog

Mon, Dec 1 Listen

The working class and 60s rock vibe of Dr. Dog and the band's new album "Fate" is earning the Philly quintet some extra attention these days. Recently 3 of the 5 guys stopped by WFUV to perform trio versions of some new tunes and talk with host Darren DeVivo.

Sonya Kitchell (new!)

Fri, Nov 28 Listen

Thanks to a smoky, versatile voice and wise-beyond-her-years songwriting, Sonya Kitchell earned "old soul" status with her recording debut at 16. Although not yet 20, Sonya has a few more years under her belt, a few more entries on her resume, and a new album called "This Storm," and during an 'FUV Live show she spoke with host John Platt about two important collaborators.

Taj Mahal (new!)

Thu, Nov 27 Listen

No border too strong and no distance too long will keep Taj Mahal from learning about the universal language of music, and with a new album called "Maestro" he celebrates 40 years of taking listeners along for the ride. A crowd of lucky 'FUV members was one recent audience, and during the show host Claudia Marshall asked Taj about the view at four decades of music and counting.

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