World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Indie pop band Boy is the Swiss German pair of Sonja Glass and Valeska Steiner. They released their debut album to much success in Europe in 2011, and now the duo is taking on the U.S. The record is Mutual Friends, featuring the infectious single _Little Numbers,_ which Boy perform live, plus they explain how their partnership first began at a songwriting workshop.

With his album Multiply in 2005, British electronica DJ Jamie Lidell began incorporating his voice into his productions. As we hear today, the result is a layered, neo soul sound that Lidell continues on his new self titled album. He brings us a live performance, plus great stories about his new life in Nashville, Tennessee.

It has been five years since Hey Marseilles, the seven piece band from Seattle debuted their chamber pop sound, and now they follow up with, _Lines We Trace_. The new record has been a much more collaborative effort than their last, as the group discusses in this interview. Plus we will find out how the French city of Marseilles fits into this all.

The Seattle six-piece Pickwick started out performing singer Galen Disstons acoustic songs, but have since changed course to a more groove oriented band sound. Cant Talk Medicine is their debut studio album, which the band showcases live today, and they will explain their musical transformation, and play live.

Michaela Majoun welcomes Dawes on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. The L.A. rock band made a big impact when they debuted in 2009 with what' has been described as their So-Cal, Laurel Canyon sound. Dawes style has expanded a bit on their new album, Stories Don't End, as we will hear in today's set from the stage of World Cafe Live. Plus, singer and songwriter, Taylor Goldsmith, explains why the group decided to self-release this, their third, disc.

Formed in 1995, Eels is a fixture of the indie-rock scene led by Mark Oliver Everett, who performs under the stage name E. His latest, _Wonderful, Glorious_ marks the first record to include the other members of Eels in the writing process. Learn why in this interview, plus a stellar live set drawn from the new album.

On this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, host David Dye is joined by English singer-songwriter, Billy Bragg. His first release in five years is a more introspective record than the political catalog he's become known for since the '70s. It's called Tooth and Nail and was produced by Bragg's friend and fellow musician, Joe Henry. In this interview, Bragg explains how the new album relates to Mermaid Avenue, his 1998 tribute to Woody Guthrie, and he'll discuss how frustration drives much of his songwriting.

David Dye welcomes Jim James on this episode of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. As the frontman of My Morning Jacket, James has been making exciting rock for fifteen years and has also recorded collaborations under the alias Yim Yames, but now comes his first solo effort, Regions of Light and Sound of God. James departs from his band's sound on this album, which draws inspiration from '70s soul as well as Lynd Ward's graphic novel, God's Man. In this interview, James talks about the role of spirituality on the record and in his own songwriting practice, and he'll explain how the solo project came about, starting with his recuperation period after falling off the stage during a 2008 show.

Host David Dye gets a visit from the Kopecky Family Band on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. The six-piece band led by Kelsey Kopecky and Gabe Simon has been releasing a steady flow of EPs since forming in 2007. Kids Raising Kids, their long-awaited full-length debut, showcases the folk and electric blend the Nashville group has been honing for years. In this interview, the unrelated band members explain their "family band" moniker, and Kopecky and Simon recall how they first started writing together after a chance meeting at a guitar pull.

Three years ago, indie rock outfit Local Natives made a big impact with their debut, Gorilla Manor, named after their L.A. band house. They have since toured with Arcade Fire and The National, and more recently traveled to Brooklyn to record their sophomore album, Hummingbird, with producer Aaron Dessner of The National. In this interview, the group explains how some of the new songs, like Heavy Feet and You and I, came together, discuss their recording experience this second time around, and play for us live.

Pioneering rock n roll woman, Wanda Jackson, visits host David Dye on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. Encouraged by her one-time boyfriend, Elvis Presley, Jackson made the shift from country to rockabilly and became a sensation in the 50s. Lately she has been touring and recording with the likes of Jack White and Justin Townes Earle, who produced her new album, Unfinished Business. In this interview, Jackson explains why she took Elvis advice all those years ago, and talks about the younger breed of fans and artists, like Adele, who are discovering her work.

The Avett Brothers join Michaela Majoun on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. One of the first bands to the indie folk scene, the group led by brothers Scott and Seth Avett built their career slowly before their hook filled 2009 album, I And Love And You, became a popular hit. The Avett Brothers enlisted prolific producer Rick Rubin for their latest project, The Carpenter, which was released late last year. In this interview, Scott and Seth recall how the band first started out in the early 2000s, and discuss their recording experience this time around.

The Lone Bellow is a trio of transplanted Southerners and plays what they call Brooklyn country music. Their self titled debut is the result of lead singer Zach Williams songs written in response to his wifes life threatening accident and remarkable recovery. In this interview, Williams recalls this extraordinary story, explains how the band first came together, and plays for us live.

Something of a Swedish supergroup, The Amazing, led by Dungen guitarist Reine Fiske and singer songwriter Christoffer Gunrup made their debut in 2009. The band reenergizes the progressive folk rock traditions of the 70s on their second and latest release, Gentle Stream. Fiske and Gunrup discuss their songwriting process in this interview, and play an extraordinary live performance including the new epic title track.

With their eclectic influences, alt-rock outfit Camper Van Beethoven led by David Lowery, also of Cracker, was a staple of college radio stations in the 80s. Its been nine years since Camper Van Beethovens last album, and the new one, called La Costa Perdida, or the lost coast, channels the groups northern California roots. In this interview, Lowery explains how the bands hometown of Santa Cruz inspired the record, and discuss what caused the bands initial split and many breaks over the years.