May 16, 2008
WYEP is celebrating GREAT OUTDOOORS WEEK by giving away a Family Camping Weekend Rental Package!
The package includes tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and camp stoves (gas sold separately).
May edition
tell a friend about this delectable evening of new music
May 22, 2008
6-7:30 pm
The WYEP Community Broadcast Center
Have you ever wondered how WYEP DJs choose the music you hear on the station? Well, here’s your chance to find out during a fun, informal happy-hour-style event!
The WYEP Music Taste Test gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how WYEP DJs select the music on 91.3fm. This new workshop gives you the chance to listen to brand new music and participate in a candid discussion about the songs and artists you hear on the air. And best of all, tasty eats and beverages will be provided while you check out the music in a fun group setting at the WYEP Community Broadcast Center.
We also want to encourage you to bring a friend to the WYEP Music Taste Test—especially friends who might not know about us. Each attendee can reserve two spaces, so hurry—sign up today—space is limited to 20 participants!
If you missed WYEP’s recent studio sessions with Bob Schneider, Mark Olson or any of the other musicians who have visited the WYEP studios this year, check out our On Demand Audio section. You can listen to recent Discumentary episodes (including new ones about Bruce Springsteen and The Cure), and check out our podcast section for On-Demand Audio on the go!
The On Demand Audio section is constantly being updated, so bookmark it and check back often. http://www.wyep.org/music/ondemand/streaming/
WYEP is giving one lucky winner the chance to attend “Rabbit Hole” – the latest production by Pittsburgh Public Theater.
Balancing honesty with humor, and tragedy with hope, this Pulitzer Prize-winning drama explores a family’s journey out of darkness after their lives are suddenly and forever changed. More information about “Rabbit Hole” at the PPT.
The winner will receive 4 tickets to the Friday, May 16th performance of ”Rabbit Hole“. Showtime is 8 PM at The O’Reilly Theater.
WYEP’s podcasts are back and updated after some down time due to technical difficulties. Along with your favorites are some brand new podcasts!
Check out “You Gotta Hear This!” a monthly look at new essential music, hosted by Cindy Howes.
With our other new podcast “What in the World?”, you can join Rosemary Welsch as she visits a new album from around the globe every month.
Also, there’s WYEP’s monthly “Local Music News” podcast featuring full songs from musicians around Pittsburgh.
There are also podcasts of “Prosody”, “Discumentary”, “RPM” and our “Third Thursdays” local music performances.
Check out our podcast page for more information.
If you use iTunes, and haven’t been getting updates of WYEP’s podcasts, you may need to re-subscribe to them via the iTunes podcast directory, just search for “WYEP”.
We hope you enjoy taking WYEP with you on the go!
Sunday
Luckily being on west coast time I was able to catch the Pens beating the Rangers before heading out to the last day of Coachella. First on the list was a set by Swervedriver. Tight musically but not much of a ’show’ but again they sounded good and seemed to be enjoying playing for a small but faithful audience but not real heavy on the showmanship. It was a little hazy which gave relief from the heat but it didn’t matter at the main stage. Gogol Bordello was up. They had a big crowd and had it moving to their eastern European flavored sounds and songs. Like a gypsy punk band turned up to 10. The energy they put out was passed on to the crowd and there was lots of dancing and attempts at dancing but it didn’t matter. A great live act. Over at the 2nd stage was Metric. I didn’t know any of their music but I liked their set and will investigate more. Sia is one of the acts that I had hoped to see. To me her recorded music is pleasant as is her work with Zero 7 but put in a live venue with the sound turned up gave it better energy than I was used to and I did enjoy her set more than I expected. To finish off the night and Coachella ’08 was Roger Waters. His first set was Pink Floyd classics from The Wall, Wish You Were Here and Animals complete with a flying pig with political slogans, an airplane flyover, spotlights, and tons of smoke. After a short intermission and a trip to the hotdog stand, Waters and the band performed ”Dark Side of the Moon”. The band was very good and the guitarist played pretty much note for note but in my mind I was wishing David Gilmour would pop on stage and make it complete but alas, not to be. Still it was a great performance. Surround sound included. Another Coachella done. Now the let down of leaving the southern California sun behind but summer’s just around the bend, right?
Thanks for reading my Coachella adventures for this year. Lots of great music and sunshine. My last comment is that except for Jack Johnson, the headliners and major draws to Coachella have been around quite a while. Lots of acts new to me at this year’s shows. Who is gong to be the next big thing to break out now and still command headline status in 20 years in the way that Prince and Roger Waters did this year?
Frank
Saturday was hot hot and a lot of standing. the first act we caught was MGMT. The tent was pretty full and hot. While most people knew the material they seemed to kick it up a bit on the last few songs and the crowd responded well. It’s funny to me to see so many people knowing the music to band that is so new. I just got to them recently and they’ve only recently released their first full length album. Next up was another hot performance in a tent. Bonde Do Role, mixing dj, singers and rap, wrapped up in Brazilian words, heavy metal sounds and various singers grabbing the mic. Over to the outdoor stage for Dwight Yoakam. A little bit’o country in the middle of everything else. He did a few of his Buck Owens covers, his own hits like “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere” “Guitars Cadillacs” and paid homage to another southern California artist, doing “Garden Party” by Rick Nelson. After a not so good burrito, it was over to the main stage for the rest of the night. Kraftwerk was up first. When you hear the beats, if you don’t know beter you don’t imagine 4 stoic Germans manning keyboards and laptops. A good show visually and musically. Portishead was next. While the band was tight and I did look forward to hearing them live, the words are depressing. If I wasn’t standing in a good spot I would have headed over to Flogging Molly. Prince closed out the night and I was glad I stayed in the crowd. He and his band threw a great show. Starting out with Morris Day, then Sheila E. doing “Glamorous Life”, some of the ‘youngsters’ didn’t know what was happening. He played most of his hits, closing with “Purple Rain” and “Let’s Go Crazy”. It was cool that he went back as far as “Controversy” My only disappointment was no songs from his 2 recent releases, 3121 and Planet Earth. He played almost 2 full hours so it was well worth it. It was great to see his guitar playing live.
One more day then home. It’s gone too fast!
Coachella day one is done. As expected the weather is in the 90’s so we downed a few bottles of water before we even got in the gate, which after the long entrance lines and security check, necessitated a trip to the port-o-johns. Anyway, we’re in and off to some music. The first band I heard was “Architecture In Helsinki” an Aussie band. Not bad although they didn’t excite me either. Next it was over to the main stage for The Breeders. Kelly and Kim Deal were in a fun mood, which came across in their performance. I thought the band played well although there was an initial false-start. The crowd was receptive but of course made the most noise for their familiar song “Cannonball”. Next up on the same stage were Tegan & Sara. Since I had a good spot I stayed for a few songs even though I’ll see them soon in Greensburg. Worked my way out of the crowd,(lots of girls in the T&S audience) checked the Pens score at the ‘cool off’ tent and then a very good performance by The National. I’d see them again and will explore more of their recent album. Next up on the same stage was the Swell Season, basically the Frames with Marketa Irglova. Herself and Glen Hansard fresh from their Oscar win for best song. A strong audience sing-along during “Falling Slowly”. Glen is one of the best performers out there at making an intimate connection with his audience. After that was a very energetic performance by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. She has a great voice, never stopped moving and the band was tight.She had the crowd. ’Nuff said. We left feeling good. After a gyro it was over to the Sahara tent which was well overflowing and pulsating with the performance. It was a good day of music, heat and sights and the Pens won which sent me out in a great mood, although a little tired. Now some rest and preparation for another day of heat and music which will be capped off by a performance by Prince, which I gather is where most of the crowd will be gathered tonight.
Last night we flew into LA, had a burger on Venice Beach and saw a really nice sunset. Later we ’saw all the stars as we walked down Hollywood Boulevard’ stopped in a bar and I sang some karaoke(Rosalita by Springsteen) It’s hard for me to pass up a karaoke opportunity. Why not? It’sre Hollywood baby! Today we’ll head out to the highway, gather some essential supplies and get to our weekend digs in Palm Desert, about 20 minutes from the Coachella concert site in Indio. On the way out we pass through a huge wind farm. Hundreds of windmills. The desert hills are a great sight and along the highway we pass other concert goers with Coachella banners in the windows. We should get settled in plenty of time to make some early acts. My goals for today are to catch the John Butler Trio, Rogue Wave, The reunited Breeders, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings The Swell Season, the National and the Verve. Some of the set times conflict a bit but I’ll do my best, although I won’t kill myself. Iant to end up with a fun experience, not running fom tent to tent to catch a bit of everything which turns into frustration. Also I’ll be stopping in the ‘refreshment’ tent for some cool air and use the available internet services to check on the hockey scores.
Let’s Go Pens!
Check out the lineup at www.coachella.com
Tune in to WYEP throughout the month of May for our series of Pittsburgh250 Tributes. We will be highlighting noteworthy musicians from our great city, from Jimmy Thackery and Chris Frantz to Mary Lou Williams and Billy Strayhorn. Pittsburgh250 Tributes throughout May air weekdays at 2:45pm and 8:45pm on member supported radio 91.3 WYEP.
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