WFUV's Take Five

Celebrated songwriter Rodney Crowell and award-winning poet and author Mary Karr grew up only 16 miles and 5 years apart in the gritty East Texas of the early 50s. Now they've co-written an amazing new album called 'Kin' — featuring star vocalists and producer Joe Henry — and it recently brought Rodney and Mary to FUV for some live tunes and fascinating conversation with host John Platt.

The Alternate Side's Russ Borris talks to Twin Shadow (a.k.a. George Lewis, Jr.) about the making of his sophomore release, 'Confess.' The band also performed songs from the new album live in WFUV's Studio A.

When Deer Tick frontman John McCauley was looking to set up another raucous clubhouse of collaborators, he enlisted some all-star players: Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, Ian Saint Pe of The Black Lips, Hardy Morris from Dead Confederate, Bryan Dufresne of Six Finger Satellite, and his Deer Tick bandmate, Robbie Crowell. The resulting chemistry was swift and obvious, and now as Diamond Rugs, the sextet has put out its self-titled debut album — which recently brought them to FUV for a chat with host Eric Holland and a killer set.

Al Spx is a Canadian singer-songwriter of East African descent, who heard echoes of ancestors in the Deep South recordings of Alan Lomax. As Cold Specks, she has since developed a sound that channels the gospel greatness of Mahalia Jackson with the off-kilter blues of her idol Tom Waits. Calling her sound 'doom soul,' she pairs chain gang rhythms with a gothic indie-folk that'll mesmerize you — especially in the solo performances from her recent visit with FUV's Rita Houston.

Feral art child, muse, poet, punk priestess, rock star, Midwestern mom, award-winning author — to this day, Patti Smith remains unfettered and without category. She has judiciously fed us a well-considered body of albums with space in between, and each is a prize and a stepping stone to the next. The latest is called 'Banga,' and its songs are just part of Patti's recent conversation with FUV's Eric Holland.

The San Antonio-based quartet, Hacienda, didn't have to look too hard to find each other. With three brothers plus a cousin, the band's sound of Beach Boys harmonies bouncing off garage rock walls is championed by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, who has produced all three of the band's albums. The latest is called 'Shakedown,' and Hacienda shook down our walls with a recent visit to Studio A with host Alisa Ali.

For its latest album, 'Neck Of The Woods,' Silversun Pickups enlisted producer Jacknife Lee, and when the LA band made its way over to the east coast, they stopped by WFUV and talked to The Alternate Side's Russ Borris about what it was like to work with a new producer. The band also performed some of the new material, live in Studio A.

If you think you know all about funk and soul, you'd better know Lee Fields. Long compared with James Brown and Otis Redding, Fields has held fast to his love of the groove, and in recent years has been championed by the new wave of soul fans and aficionados, from the extended Daptone family and beyond. Lee Fields has a new album out called 'Faithful Man,' and ahead of a gig opening for Wilco at Celebrate Brooklyn, he brought his band The Expressions to FUV for a Studio A session with host Claudia Marshall.

Ronnie Spector's voice and style left a mark on some of the biggest rock luminaries of our time, and clearing up some of the rumors of her 50-year career is part of a new multimedia production, called 'Beyond the Beehive.' Spector brings the show to New York City this month, but Dennis Elsas got the conversation started when Ronnie stopped by FUV.

From FUV's Alisa Ali: 'The Canadian band, Great Lake Swimmers (or GLS, if you're into the whole brevity thing) did a fantastic session with us in Studio A. They came in to talk about and celebrate the release of their latest album, 'New Wild Everywhere.' Great Lake Swimmers is known for recording music in unusual places (castles, national parks, islands, subway stations) and I recently spoke to the band about those challenges and the subject of song structure. Please enjoy.'

Larry Campbell is a master of guitar, violin and all things stringed and strummed. You might know him from his years touring with Bob Dylan, working as an A-list session player, or serving as the musical director of The Levon Helm Band. With the late, great Levon, Campbell joined a long list of artists to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International on the 'Toast To Freedom' project, and Larry came by FUV to tell host Rita Houston all about it.

The sophomore album from Baltimore band Lower Dens is based around the concept of 'smart drugs' — hence the name, 'Nootropics.' The Alternate Side's Kara Manning recently spoke to the the band about this intriguing topic, and Lower Dens performed some of the new material live in WFUV's Studio A.

Glen Hansard is almost too many things to fit into one package: singer-songwriter and guitarist in The Frames and The Swell Season, actor in 'The Commitments' and 'Once,' and Oscar-winning composer for the tune 'Falling Slowly'... to name a few. But Hansard has just put out his first-ever solo album, 'Rhythm and Repose,' and it's a beauty. He's also been spending more time in New York City, and host Claudia Marshall recently welcomed Glen back to FUV to talk about his latest adventures and songs.

From FUV's Alisa Ali: 'I absolutely loved White Rabbits' last record, 'It's Frightening,' and I still rock that album three years later. Recently I got their new album, 'Milk Famous,' and I'm happy to report that this one is also awesome. It's definitely darker and not as immediately catchy as the last one, but I still really enjoy it. I asked their front man, Stephen Patterson, what was up with all the creepy lyrics (not as crudely as that though... I hope) and he denied that there was a nervous energy about the songs. But I like that nervous energy. I can identify. Why deny? I'm a big fan of these guys. I think they are very talented and precise players, and — they rock the double drum kit. What?! Yes.'

Neil Young and filmmaker Jonathan Demme took a special journey last year from 'a town in North Ontario' to a Toronto concert hall. The ensuing film - 'Neil Young Journeys' - provides an emotional record of the landscapes of Neil's past — how they've changed, and what remains the same. FUV's Darren DeVivo recently had a chance to talk with Young and Demme, and they discussed their many collaborations and the music that runs through it all.