Gotta admit to not listening to The World Cafe since the mid 1990's. Always amazed at how tame, and boring a show aledgedly committed to the vast diversity of music can be.
Not expecting hard hitting Hip-Hop, Thrash Metal, Punk or even serious contemporary classical music to be explored.
• A live interview and performance session with Donora, recently recorded at WYEP.
• WYEP Morning Mix host Cindy Howes talking about Pittsburgh and playing her top five new local bands.
• A chat with Jerry Weber of the legendary Jerry's Records
• Renowned soul singer Billy Price selecting his top five classic Pittsburgh songs.
• An archived World Cafe performance by Rusted Root.
• And Pittsburgh music selections chosen by Dye.
World Cafe is nationally syndicated to more than 225 radio stations by NPR. It airs on WYEP at 6 p.m.
Why not contact The Roboto Project, Brillo Box, Justin Strong (Of The Shadow Lounge) or at least a host or two from WRCT?
The good thing is Pittsburgh certainly has enough going on to fill several interesting shows.
Caveat--I have never listened to Mac Miller's music and know very little about this.
The Times has a good article about new artists breaking into the scene without the help of major record labels as Mac Miller joins Wiz Khalifa as a recent chart topping artist from Pittsburgh.
First, the good news: A new generation of rappers is actively trying to build a new business model in which releasing oodles of free material online builds a fan base that paves the way for revenue streams: touring, merchandise, even something as old-fashioned as a record deal.
“Blue Slide Park” (Rostrum) is the first independently released album to top the chart since Tha Dogg Pound’s “Dogg Food” (Death Row), in 1995. But Tha Dogg Pound was affiliated with Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg, the heavy hitters of the day.
Later, the article, points out the importance conventional radio play still holds in giving careers staying power.
But once the loyalists have spent their money, then what? Be mindful of the drop in sales from Week 1 to Week 2 — these artists have so far had only moderate success on radio, which is where albums go to not die. In their second week on sale, Wale and Mr. Cole’s albums each sold just a quarter of their first-week numbers. Without the singles to guarantee them consistent exposure and, by extension, consistent sales, these first-week figures will be a historical blip, a trivia question 20 years from now.
Wow, I don't mean to make this an all Braddock station but I keep coming across things that seem interesting and relevant.
Not mentioned in the recent Times piece-and rarely spoken of in the media in any positive light is Club Elegance,(formerly Club 804) where several violent incidents have happened. The mayor has made it a personal mission to shut it down.
Might the place have some value as a potential connecting point? A former resident and several others have hooked up an event, aimed at helping local artists to interact with major label execs and show off their talents.
Featuring representatives from Def Jam, Interscope, Sony, Good Music, Fontana/Universal and EMI Records, the tour gives artists who pay a $100 entrance fee a chance to network with and perform for executives.
The tour also will take artists to local music studios and allow them to perform during a closing showcase at Club Elegance, 804 Braddock Ave. The showcase winner will receive several prizes, including the chance to perform in another city on the tour's next stop.
Friday September 21: KONTACT : New Invisible Joy : 8 pm : Rex Theater. New Invisible Joy CD release show with Wolfy. 8 p.m. Fri., Sept. 21. Rex Theatre, 1602 E. Carson St. $8. 412-381-6811
... New Invisible Joy is ready to play live again, with a fresh batch of tunes -- just don't say they're "back." "It's an ongoing thing, just like it always has been," Gaydos emphasizes. "Even when we were doing the record, the band was an ongoing venture, it's just we kinda turned into The Beatles circa '68 at the time!" from the City Paper review. Read more
I went to Soma Mestizo's CD release party last night. It was a gripping performance. Christiane D. is an extraordinary vocalist, Soy Sos was incredible. Okay, the entire band deserves kudos and roses for their show last night. Lucky you, there are still two more shows. Want a preview? Check out Soma's MySpace page. Details about the shows are below
There is a great article on the Tribune Review that gives some history about the band. It's hard to believe that it's ten years. This band has grown in so many unexpected directions. Check out this little video sample --
Details --
TELOMERE
Presented by the 4th River, a Project of the Three Rivers Arts Festival
Telomere cd release June 8th, 9th, 10th
121 7th Street, (above bossa nova) Pittsburgh, PA 15222
$ 5
Soma Mestizo is a band that defies classification or categorization, if forced to name it we say it is: deep, dark, sexy global genre busting, booty-shaking, head-filling magic music. This year’s 4th River Project introduces Soma Mestizo’s Telomere to Pittsburgh and the world.
The 4thRiver Project/Telomere release event will be a multi-media, multi-disciplined: music, art and dance experience featuring special guests, directed by Staycee Pearl. Lighting and Sound design by Douglas Duerring. The evening features, dancers: Amanda Schneider and Brandon Jones; video artistry by MEXED Missages, poet/mc: Jack Wilson; musician, Ketan Bakrania from Chai Ba Ba; Christiane's dress created by Kari Kramer of Ironiece. Dancer costumes provided by Suz Pisano.
June 8th through June 10th
Friday and Saturday, 2 shows, 7:30 pm, 10:00 pm - Sunday, one show 7:30 pm.
* 6.8: Friday Night: special guest, Ketan Bakrania and poet/mc Jack Wilson * 6.9: Saturday Night: special guest Ketan Bakrania. 11:30 pm After party featuring Anthony Fugate and Jack Wilson. BYOB. * 6.10: Sunday Night: special guest Ketan Bakrania.
Never Souled Out - 9pm-6am, May 12-13 - will be held at the desanctified First Presbyterian Church 416 Library St., Braddock, PA, 15104 (Resanctify this baby with SOUL!)
$8 in advance and ten at the door.
Other facilities on-site include the Elks Lodge, with full bar, located two doors up, and Dorothy 6 art gallery located next door, which will be open during the early part of the evening with a multi-artist show including newsworthy NYC artist SWOON.
Never Souled Out is a BYOB event - please bring the adult beverages of your choice to see you through the night. We'll supply a couple of free kegs initially, as a gesture of beer-drinkin' good will!
However, the good folks of Braddock, PA, will be staffing a cash-only coffee/Red Bull/snack/etc. bar until 2 or 3 a.m. Tip well!
Several record dealers of no-small repute will be on hand, including Des Parker, Dave Moore, "Philly" Dave Brown, and more. So bring cash for your 45 fix, too.
But why Braddock?
"Just as small otherwise forgotten industrial towns such as Wolverhampton and Stoke, Blackpool and Wigan, ( and Manchester!!!) provided the original Northern Soul scene with its fans and clubs, Braddock’s post-industrial legacy makes it the perfect setting for Never Souled Out. But what’s more, by bringing soul fans from around Pittsburgh and around the country to see the revitalization process underway in Braddock, we hope that people will make that connection and realize that, with the right support, Braddock can fulfill its destiny as Pittsburgh’s once and future king (neighborhood)!
On our first site-visit to check the possible Braddock location, we were greeted by members of the local Elks Lodge who were old-school Porky and Mad Mike fans, R&B and record folks just like their “northern” brethren – and with a similarly caustic sense of humor. Braddock Mayor John Fetterman and Deputy Mayor Jeb Feldman have supported Never Souled Out with the passion of devotees, and really, we can’t think of a better fit."
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