Soundcheck

Since 1994, The Sadies has been a steady workhorse of a band, churning out album after album of country and bluegrass-infused ramblers, punky bangers, and blustery psychedelic rockers. It's a sound that has found not only a diverse array of fans, but admiring musicians who have called on the Toronto band's talents to back them -- from Neko Case to John Doe to Neil Young. After a series of acclaimed records -- 2002’s Stories Often Told, 2004’s Favourite Colours and 2007’s Juno-nominated New Seasons -- The Sadies reached new heights with its 2010 record, Darker Circles, which received a Juno Award for Best Video and was short-listed for the 2011 Polaris Prize. This fall, The Sadies returned with Internal Sounds, another album bursting with high energy twang and straight-up rock 'n' roll riffs. With this effort, founding member Dallas Good takes on the production duties for the first time, both expanding the band's palette and helping to truly capture its rollicking live sound. Hear the band bring that live energy in a set recorded live in the Soundcheck studio.   Set List: "The First 5 Minutes" "So Much Blood" "Story 19"

Soundcheck's occasional series That Was A Hit?!? is all about unlikely songs that have made it to the top of the charts. Today's installment looks at not just one surprise hit, but three separate versions recorded in three different countries. The song "Der Kommissar" ("the commisioner" or "police captain") was originally written and recorded by Roger Ponger and Falco in Austria in 1981. A year later, British rock band After The Fire recorded an English language version, while American pop singer Laura Branigan completely reworked the lyrics, ditching the original storyline about drugs and turning it into "Deep In The Dark." Mario Correa, writer and regular contributor to Entertainment Weekly Live on SiriusXM, talks with Soundcheck host John Schaefer about the many iterations of "Der Kommissar," why they came about, and how all three battled for chart supremacy.            

Nick Lowe -- the celebrated British singer-songwriter and producer -- just released an album fit for the holidays. On Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection For All the Family, Lowe covers lesser-known Christmas songs, giving them a rockabilly and bluegrass twist. Plus, Lowe wrote a few new holiday tunes for the album that steer far away from sleigh bells and sugar plums. Hear Nick Lowe perform an original new song, "Christmas At The Airport," as well as some revamped classics from the album live on Soundcheck. Set List:  "North Pole Express" "Christmas At The Airport" "House For Sale"

Insane Clown Posse has bubbled just under the surface of mainstream culture for over 20 years, yet the rap duo has been remarkably successful thanks to a devoted fanbase. They've earned two platinum albums with little airplay -- due to the explicit language -- and were parodied on Saturday Night Live. And while Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J have gained notoriety for graphic songs about violence, depravity and insanity, the group's latest endeavors have taken a slight turn from what fans -- called "Juggalos" -- have come to expect.  In an interview with Soundcheck host John Schaefer, The New York Times' Dave Itzkoff discusses the group's struggle to "court mainstream acceptance without alienating the deeply loyal fan base that [they've] built up over time." Itzkoff also details the new risks the Insane Clown Posse is taking, including a Fuse network show called Insane Clown Posse Theater and legal battles with the FBI and a former publicist, as chronicled in his recent Times story. ICP's music video for "Miracles" inspired online parodies and was also spoofed on SNL.  

The Coen brothers' latest film, Inside Llewyn Davis, will add a few new fictional musicians into the canon of fake movie bands. And after talking with Movie Date's Kristen Meinzer and Rafer Guzman about their favorite fictional movie bands, we wanted wanted to hear a few nominations from listeners. Soundcheck producer Joel Meyer plays some listener picks for host John Schaefer that include everything from the Coens film, O Brother Where Art Thou?'s Soggy Bottom Boys to the '80s cult classic Streets Of Fire, which spawned the single "I Can Dream About You." And then there's the greatest movie band that never was: Stillwater, from the 2000 film Almost Famous. Meyer explains the band is "like Led Zeppelin and Grand Funk got together and had a baby." Of all the bands nominated by listeners, Almost Famous' Stillwater had four separate nominations.    The 1984 film Streets of Fire included a song originally written by Dan Hartman, but in the film it was performed by the fictional band "The Sorels."     Then, Schaefer talks with an authority on the man whose life inspired Inside Llewyn Davis. Elijah Wald finished a posthumous autobiography of musician Dave Van Ronk and the New York folk scene in the 1950's and '60s. Wald explains Van Ronk's importance to the folk revival as both a musician and as a mentor to artists that eventually eclipsed him in the public memory, including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Phil Ochs. Van Ronk was a central figure in New York's Greenwich Village for years, and ran the open mic night at The Gaslight, "which was kind of the hip room on MacDougal Street," according to Wald. But he's quick to point out that while the Cohen brother's new film is inspired by the events that shaped Van Ronk's life, Llewyn Davis is his own man. "The character of Llewyn Davis is not based at all on Dave Van Ronk, but some of the music is."  

The Brooklyn chamber-pop band San Fermin is named after the festival in Pamplona, Spain where the bulls famously run through the streets. Led by composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone, the group released a self-titled concept album earlier this year. Ludwig-Leone talks with host John Schaefer about studying as a composer at Yale and writing what became the band's debut album on the sly during a fellowship. "I sort of tricked my way in," he says, about applying with a string quartet. "And then I ended up writing this -- I don't think many people knew when I was there that I was working on this record." San Fermin stops by the Soundcheck studio to play some of their debut album live.  Set List:  "Sonsick" "Methuselah" "Bar"

It's never too early to start looking for the next big thing, and Time's Melissa Locker joins Soundcheck to talk about her picks for up-and-coming artists and bands for 2014. Her list includes groups that haven't even yet released an EP -- to artists who are already signed to major labels. Among others, Locker predicts 2014 will be a breakout year for Diane Birch, who was plucked out of a hotel lobby by Prince and has already released two albums. Locker also picks two rappers -- Chance the Rapper and Lizzo -- who each have a unique sound that she thinks will change the direction of R&B. Plus, hear the band that Locker crowns "the next pop overlords." Read Melissa Locker's full list of artists to watch in Time. One of Locker's picks for 2014: Lizzo NONONO has yet to release an album or even an EP. Locker predicts the group will be everywhere in 2014.

Last week, the nominations for the 56th annual Grammy Awards were announced. Leading the pack with nine nominations is rapper Jay Z, who this year released his album Magna Carta Holy Grail. But without landing any nominations within the general categories (Record, Album, or Song of the Year), he's not likely to be the biggest story at this year's awards. We talk with music critic Chris Richards of The Washington Post about what is likely to go down on Grammy night -- and who will and won't be celebrating.    On Jay Z's nine nominations:  Jay Z leads the nominations, but all of his nods are in the hinterlands of the awards and not in the center. I think it speaks to the power of brand names. Those go a long way with the people who do the nominations and the voting.... the brand name appeal totally applies to Jay Z. He's put himself forward as a brand more than anything else.  On Best New Artist nominee Kacey Musgraves:  I'm such a huge fan. No matter how bleak the year's nominees look for any Grammy nomination year there's always a faint whiff of sanity somewhere, and this year that's best new artist nominee Kacey Musgraves. She's a very quietly innovative country singer who's really talking about the "where do we go now" predicament that so many millenials in her face generation are facing right now.  On the Grammy snub of Kanye West's "Yeezus":  This is a record that has so much critical acclaim and has generated so much discussion this year, and it's nowhere to be found in the Album of the Year category, which was a headscratcher for me.  On Lorde, whose "Royals" was nominated for Record and Song of the Year:  She is very capable of having a huge night at the Grammys. The song "Royals" has been everywhere. It seems like a likely winner for either or both of those categories. 

Joseph Keckler has been variously described as a storyteller, balladeer, opera singer, and multimedia artist. Keckler describes himself as an "interdisciplinary artist." And The Village Voice named him the best downtown performance artist of 2013, though it acknowledged the title couldn’t do all his talents justice. Keckler's latest show, I Am An Opera, includes a duet with his own portrait, a silent film, and an opera he composed about a bad shroom trip. Hear Keckler perform live in the Soundcheck studio.  

Our recent conversation with Oscar Isaac, who stars as the titular folk musician of Inside Llewyn Davis, got us thinking about all the great bands in music history... that were only bands on screen. Soundcheck host John Schaefer gets some picks from Kristen Meinzer and Rafer Guzman of The Takeaway's Movie Date podcast. Watch some of their favorites -- and tell us about your favorite fictional movie bands below.  Kristen Meinzer's Favorite Movie Bands The Wonders, from the movie That Thing You Do (1996) Alex Fletcher, as solo artist and frontman of PoP!, from the movie Music and Lyrics (2007)   Rafer Guzman's Favorite Movie Bands The Fabulous Stains, from the movie Ladies And Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (1982)   Dewey Cox, from the movie Walk Hard (2007)   A movie band Kristen & Rafer seriously disagree on: Chris "Izzy" Cole, played by Mark Wahlberg in the movie Rock Star (2002)

People might recognize Marcellus Hall's name from his work as an illustrator for The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, or for his many children's books, including Because You Are My Baby, City I Love, and this year's Everyone Sleeps, his first as illustrator and author. Then again, you might also recognize Hall as an accomplished musician. He's fronted the bands Railroad Jerk and White Hassle, his 2011 solo album The First Line mixed garage rock and folk. Hear Marcellus Hall & The Hostages perform songs from their new album Afterglow in the Soundcheck studio.  

Our series That Was a Hit?!? is all about songs that have unexpectedly made their way to the top of the charts. Recently we spoke with Memphis music historian Robert Gordon about his book Respect Yourself: Stax Records and the Soul Explosion. But there’s one postscript to the Stax Records history we just had to follow up on. And it involves a disco-dancing duck. Gordon tells Soundcheck host John Schaefer how Stax co-founder Estelle Axton went on to produce one of the most successful records ever to come out of Memphis: "Disco Duck," by local radio DJ Rick Dees.  

Comedian Will Ferrell has brought to life some pretty interesting characters over the years -- from a man who believed he was an elf to a very high energy cheerleader. But perhaps more than any other roles, it’s the surly news anchor and jazz flute player Ron Burgundy from the 2004 comedy Anchorman that has become Ferrell's biggest cult calling-card. Before Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues -- the long-in-the-making sequel -- hits theaters on Dec. 18, we talk with John Nau, one of two composers behind the new movie’s soundtrack and score. He talks with us about working on his second film with Will Ferrell -- and we get a bit of an exclusive when we find out that the song "Doby," on the film's upcoming soundtrack, is about a great white shark that Ron Burgundy has raised from birth.    Interview Highlights John Nau, on the sound of Anchorman 2:  It's musically serious. It's orchestral for the most part. The music's not comedic whatsoever, they're funny. It plays off the comedy [and] works really well.... There's the orchestral element of it and there's another element of the score we did that's more groove or funk. It's definitely of the time period.  On "Doby" the Oscar-nominated song from Anchorman 2:  In the film there's one main feature song .... [Ron Burgundy] raises a great white shark. That's all I can really say. Andrew [Feltenstein] and I wrote it, Adam McKay and Will Ferrell wrote the lyrics .... Will really loved the song. He said he even cried listening to it. 

It’s hard to think of a big name in the music world who hasn’t been photographed by Lynn Goldsmith. From Bob Dylan to James Brown, Bruce Springsteen to The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson to New Kids On The Block, Goldsmith has been there to document them on and off stage. And for a long time, Goldsmith didn’t want to be known as a “rock and roll photographer,” yet with her new book, Rock And Roll Stories, she’s embraced the label. The collection collects photos and behind-the-scenes tales from Goldsmith's four decades of work. In an interview with Soundcheck host John Schaefer, Goldsmith shares some of those tales. Goldsmith also released a 1983 album -- and several innovative music videos as Will Powers. Hear her brand new remix of the Will Powers hit "Adventures in Success": Will Powers - Adventures in Success 2013 Remix Michael Jackson photographed by Lynn Goldsmith at Disney World, 1984 Patti Smith, photographed by Lynn Goldsmith, 1976 Frank Zappa, photographed by Lynn Goldsmith, 1988 Lynn Goldsmith with Gene Simmons of Kiss.

The songs of Seasick Mama are glossy and energetic, brooding and alluring. It's the work of singer, songwriter and model Marial Maher, a charismatic frontwoman and live performer with a powerful and lovely voice -- somewhere between Karen O, Anna Calvi and Gwen Stefani -- that commands your attention.  Seasick Mama just dropped a her second recording, Tip Top Shape, an EP that features collaborations with TV On The Radio's Dave Sitek, Peter Wade of MNDR, and Phantom Planet's Sam Farrar. And with that sort of production talent, this concise batch of songs fuse lean dance rock, grinding synth pop, and, as heard on the new single "Man Overboard," even some swaggering reggae that instantly recalls The Police. And while these songs may burst with wiry riffs, and sparkling melodies, it's Maher's smart and unselfconsciously honest lyrics that make Seasick Mama a promising young artist to keep an eye on.       For more photos, visit Soundcheck's Tumblr page. Set List: "Cooked Inside Out" "Man Overboard" "Something Romantic"