Story Archives of 'Alternative Music'

We’re joined in the studio today by three of the four members of the band Wild Light. The band is made up of New Hampshire natives Jordan Alexander, Seth Kasper, Timothy Kyle and Seth Pitman. They’re getting a lot of attention, with smashing write-ups in Rolling Stone and Spin, and they've toured with the bands Arcade Fire and Tapes 'N Tapes. The band has a new album out called Adult Nights, and on Friday, Wild Light kicks off a 10-stop tour with The Killers. But before they head out they stopped by NHPR's new studios here in Concord. Click here to see photos.

Download an exclusive live track from Wild Light, recorded at NHPR's Studio D

Watch the video for Wild Light's "California on My Mind" (warning: explicit lyrics):

(Photo by Martha Poole)

You might call The Sway Machinery an indie-rock supergroup. Its members come from bands such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, Antibalas, and Balkan Beat Box. But listen to the band’s music and you may be surprised by what you hear.

The Sway Machinery describe their music as "ritualistic Afropop and cantorial blues." They layer old Jewish melodies over frantic horns and a hard-driving rhythm section. The band formed in 2006, and this April they’ll finally release their first full-length album, called Hidden Melodies Revealed. The track we’re listening to is “Anim Zemiros.”

Jeremiah Lockwood, singer, guitarist and mastermind of The Sway Machinery, joins us from New York.

Watch The Sway Machinery perform their song "Revive The Dead":

For 13 years, the magazine No Depression gave exposure to alternative country music that was virtually ignored by the mainstream. Many bands of this broad and diverse genre owe a debt of gratitude to No Depression for helping them connect with a passionate and hungry fan base.

But with so many people changing their habits in this downloadable world, small print publications are having a harder time keeping that audience. Last February, No Depression announced that its bi-monthly publication would cease production, and that their May/June issue would be their last. Several niche music magazines have folded or gone digital this year, including Harp, Resonance, Bluegrass Now, and Punk Planet went under last year.

But today, No Depression launches their new website, and they'll publish their first “bookazine” in October. The magazine’s co-founder, Peter Blackstock, joins Word of Mouth on changes in music journalism and the evolution of Americana music.

Also, musician Justin Townes Earle talks about his childhood as the son of songwriter Steve Earle, his teenage infatuation with drugs and alcohol and why he prefers mountain music of yesteryear over popular music of today. Click here to listen.

Dean Wareham, author of a new memoir, "Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance," was the frontman of the iconic indie rock bands Galaxie 500 and Luna. He now records with his wife and former Luna bandmate, Britta Phillips, in the group Dean & Britta.

It's an up-close look at how Galaxie 500 achieved a cult following and then fell apart, a backstage pass to his years of living the sex, drugs, and rock & roll lifestyle while on tour with Luna, and a chronicle of vast changes in the music industry over the past two decades. Dean spoke with Word of Mouth host Virginia Prescott about the highs and lows of a career spent in music.

Watch the video of Galaxie 500's "Fourth Of July"

Watch the video of Luna's "Lovedust"

Watch the video of Dean & Britta's "Words You Used To Say"

Read Liz Phair's review of "Black Postcards" in The New York Times

(Photo by muzikspy)

Tom Waits says "Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night." The New York Times says it "sounds as is it comes from an imaginary country." And music reviewers around the country are adding her debut album to their "best-of" lists. Jesca Hoop is making a splash, that's for sure. Word of Mouth new music reviewer Bill Slammon talks with us about her album, Kismet.

Click here to check out Jesca Hoop's website.

Click here to find out more about Bill Slammon's radio show on WVEW.