David Wax Museum’s living room jams are just like yours – except when they invite over pals it’s people like multi-instrumentalist Alec Spiegelman (Okkervil River, Lake Street Dive) and Lucius drummer Dan Moland. Spiegelman co-produced the duo’s latest recorded-from-home album Euphoric Ouroboric. Watch the 4-piece play songs from the album live and hear the full interview with WNRN’s Tad Abbey.
Preview the Lime Kiln 2021 Concert Series line up and hear artists like the Steep Canyon Rangers, Seldom Scene, and Sara Watkins talk about returning to the venue, plus Lime Kiln Director Spencer McElroy breaks down each date with WNRN’s Patrick Coman, tells stories from behind the scenes, and plays music from all the upcoming 2021 artists.
The Lime Kiln Theater is rooted in and inspired by the magic of a natural, outdoor theater. In 1967, two Washington and Lee University students, Tommy Spencer and Don Baker, produced A Midsummer Night’s Dream in an abandoned, turn-of-the-century lime quarry and kiln located in Lexington, VA. Fifteen years later, Tommy Spencer convinced the owner of the site containing the quarry to donate the use of the land for the establishment of an arts organization. After thousands of volunteer hours to clear the brambles, thickets, and rubble and to build the stage, the first season was presented in 1984.
From that summer season of one play, 12 performances, and an audience of 2,000, Lime Kiln expanded to an annual season peak of 74 performances of four plays and 23 concerts for an audience of nearly 25,000. Through Lime Kiln, artists have created and premiered 20 original scripts, and helped develop eight works by other playwrights. In February 2012, the theater temporarily ceased operations due to challenging economic conditions. In 2014, a newly energized Lime Kiln board, led by executive director Spencer McElroy, undertook the challenge to bring the unique performance space back to life.
Joe Pug talks about quarantine projects like his weekly YouTube show Sunday Songs, upping his output of episodes for podcast The Working Songwriter, and his new album The Diving Sun, as well as his thoughts ahead of returning to the stage for a live concert May 6th at Pro Re Nata Brewery in Crozet, VA. He plays two songs from the album (“Crescent Bridge” and “Free Rider”) live from home in this Home Studio Session.
Parker Millsap connects with WNRN from his home studio on the outskirts of Nashville, TN to talk about his fifth album Be Here Instead and how building the songs musically changed the way he writes lyrics. He also performs “The Real Thing” and “In Between” from the new album live from home.
Mike “McDuck” Olson from Lake Street Dive talks about the group’s devotion to the hook, shy collaborative style, and the spark that new bandmate Akie Bermiss brought to the songwriting process for new album Obviously. The group also performs three songs from the new album live from Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, NY.
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Valerie June talks with Tad Abbey about her latest album Moon and Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers, how her meditation practice helped form and focus the genre-blending sound on this new album, and drops some local knowledge about the best barbeque in her hometown of Memphis in this Home Studio Session.
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Andy Hull and Robert McDowell from Atlanta, GA’s Manchester Orchestra connect with Lindsey Goldin from their home/converted recording studio in the Atlanta suburbs to talk about the group’s forthcoming new album The Million Masks of Gold (out 4/30 on Loma Vista). See the pair perform “Bedhead” from the new album as well as one of our favorites from the group’s catalog “The Gold” in this Home Studio Session.
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Recently our Managing Producer Desiré Moses shared one of our favorite new songs with NPR Music for their Heavy Rotation series. See the full list of 16 songs that Public Radio can’t get enough of on NPR Music’s Heavy Rotation page or scroll down to read Desiré’s thoughts on “El Invento” the gorgeous new ballad by José González.
José González, “El Invento”
Arriving six years after the release of his third solo album, José González’s new single, “El Invento,” marks a rebirth of sorts. Tapping into his Argentinian roots, “El Invento” (“The Invention”) is Gonzalez’s first song in Spanish. Although the track captures the warmth and sentimentality of past solo efforts (as well as projects with his band Junip), it does so with a fresh perspective. Over finger-picked guitar, Gonzalez explores the existential, as he views the world through his young daughter’s eyes. The result is a stunning rumination on the source and purpose of human existence. —Desiré Moses, WNRN
New Home Studio Sessions are premiering the week of March 15th! Tune in every day at noon to hear interview and performances from emerging artists like Sofia Valdes and Julien Baker or legends like former Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen who talks about his new collaboration with John Hurlbut.
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Julien Baker talks about the making of her critically acclaimed new album Little Oblivions (out now on Matador Records), songwriting, and diving deeper into production for the sound of this record, plus she performs live from home in this Home Studio Session with Lindsey Goldin.
