Music lovers across the globe all have stories of that first record store that ushered in their individual Age of Enlightenment. Chances are, those little shops of our youth are long gone, particularly now that digital technology offers customers the chance to shop from home with a click. But there are still die-hard fans out there who not only continue to go out into the world seeking used vinyl and new and used CDs, these folks are also fostering a young brood of new music lovers; buyers who are still willing to embrace new technology but also looking for both the tangible and more intrinsic benefits of vinyl. (more…)

Our recent “Sounds of the Re:Union” episode features the old time music and square dance scene in LA. In the episode, one of the people we hear from is Susan Michaels. Susan’s been calling at LA square dances for decades. She also helps to keep the old time tradition in LA alive by teaching a new generation how to call.

One of her mentees, Cory Marie Podielski, has been calling for a little more than a year. We asked Cory some questions about how and why she participates in the LA Old Time scene. Here’s what she had to say: (more…)

First Avenue in Minneapolis

First Avenue is an iconic live music venue that has served Minneapolis and St. Paul for nearly 40 years. The biggest names in music have graced the stage and the surrounding community embrace this club as a landmark. From the storied history that includes playing Prince’s backdrop in Purple Rain to those recognizable stars on the exterior of the building, Sounds explores one of the most renowned music venues in the country.

Click on the image to play the podcast.

To learn more about First Avenue, visit their website and to view our other Sounds episodes, visit our Sounds page.

Going Above and Beyond for the Local Music Community

For the Record: The Louisiana Music Factory

Sounds of the Re:Union visits the Louisiana Music Factory, a New Orleans record store that goes above and beyond to serve their local music community. From in-store performances to an extensive selection of local artists CDs, no one nurtures NOLA musicians like LMF. Host Brenton Crozier speaks with owner Barry Smith, as well as musicians Cyril Neville and Kermit Ruffins about the impact LMF has on the community.

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Hear How This Little Instrument Is Changing Lives

Sounds of the Re:Union - The Milwaukee Ukulele Club

The ukulele typically evokes thoughts of a Pacific island paradise, but as we found out, it’s all the rage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Ukulele Club consists of a group of people who come together to play the small instrument and find a meaningful, positive social outlet that creates a unique sense of community in their lives.  We spoke with the club’s founder and leader Lil Rev, as well as members Nina and Cheryl Ann. (more…)

What You Should Be Listening To – The Hip-Hop Edition with Willie Evans Jr.

Sounds of the Re:Union - Willie Evans Jr.

Sounds host Brenton Crozier spoke with hip-hop producer and performer Willie Evans Jr. about albums that influenced him, the albums that may have gotten past your radar and some upcoming releases that he is looking forward to. Willie Evans Jr. performed with national act Asamov, produced for underground favorites Mr. Lif and Akrobatik, has recorded with Rawkus Records and now performs as a solo artist across the country. (more…)

I’m currently working on producing our next Sounds of the Re:Union podcast, about the Milwaukee Ukulele Club. Yes, that’s right – a ukulele club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin… not a tropical island in the Pacific.

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Pat Graham was kind enough to allow the Sounds of the Re:Union team to use a couple of his photographs for our Indie Rock podcast. He has photographed music’s most formative independent artists for more than two decades and published his pictures in a collection titled Silent Pictures. From Fugazi and Bikini Kill to Modest Mouse and The Shins, Pat Graham has shot countless celebrated bands from their days at tiny hole-in-the-wall clubs to playing for thousands at popular festivals. There’s a certain intimacy to his photos that make you feel like you may just be getting something more out of the show than even someone in attendance. (more…)

New Sounds of the Re:Union Podcast Coming April 1st

Al read a Washington Post article in which the reporter was lamenting his local record store closing. It gave him the idea for a theme that we eventually dubbed For the Record, a podcast about independent record stores across the country and what they are doing to survive during a widespread industry decline. We not only wanted to highlight some of these community gems, but to chronicle them. (more…)

We had the pleasure of interviewing some of Indie Rock’s biggest names including Ben Gibbard (Death Cab and Postal Service), Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh), Chris Hrasky (Explosions in the Sky), Orenda Fink (Azure Ray) and Pat McGuire (Editor-in-Chief of FILTER Magazine) about the definition, beginnings and humorous stereotypes of the genre. You can visit our Sounds page to view the podcast or go to our Vimeo page for a full-size, HD version. Thank you to everyone involved!

From the moment I heard the music and poetry of Blair, I was in love with it and believed in it.  He weaves spoken word poetry, with folk rock, trip-hop and punk. On his MySpace page, he writes, “My dad looked like Chuck Berry, played like Hank Williams. My mom cleaned white folk’s houses. She raised five children. On her own. I inherited all sorts of ghosts from both of them. Sometimes I can fly.” (more…)

Stepping through the door of Jim Russell Records is truly a revelation for record collectors, music enthusiasts and appreciators of community culture alike. The Sounds of the Re:Union recently visited New Orleans to film our inaugural podcast. Our on-the-ground insiders and our own research consistently pointed us to this area staple. (more…)