Phil and Beth of Bowerbirds joined us for a beautiful session off the strength of their debut full length album, Hymns For A Dark Horse. The album was released by Burly Time Records a year ago and ended up catching the attention of John Darnielle from The Mountain Goats.

After touring with The Mountain Goats last winter, the Dead Oceans label swooped in and signed the ‘birds’ and re-released “Hymns” this summer. Phil and Beth treated us to several songs from the album as well as a brand new song.

Track Listing:
Hooves
In Our Talons
Olive Hearts
interview–
Teeth Of Life (new/unreleased)
The Ticonderoga

Bowerbirds - In Our Talons (Live On WOXY.com)

Bowerbirds - Hooves (Live On WOXY.com)

Bowerbirds - Teeth Of Life (Live On WOXY.com/ Unreleased)

Bowerbirds - Live On WOXY.com (full session download)

Back in 2005 when Okkervil River released Black Sheep Boy, I am quite sure the band had high hopes for how it might be received. The response was great, and the overflow of the Black Sheep Boy sessions resulted in another full album of material, which was dubbed the Black Sheep Boy Appendix.

Fast forward to 2007, when Will Sheff and his band got together again to create The Stage Names, an album that took the band to new heights and opened the ears of tons of new fans as well. Again, the sessions surrounding the album were rich with content, and Okkervil River have prepared another ‘appendix’ of sorts, titled The Stand Ins.

The Stand Ins is 8 full songs and easily fits alongside The Stage Names as a perfect companion piece. Okkervil River visited us in the Lounge back in April and treated us to a great set that included one of the new songs, “Lost Coastlines.” Listen to that below, as well as the album version, which sees Shearwater frontman, and former full time Okkervil member Jonathan Meiburg assist Will on vocals.

Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines (Live On WOXY.com)
Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines (album version)

The Stand Ins is out September 9 from Jagjaguwar Records, and you can pre-order the album right now!

The band is also preparing to hit the road for a fall tour, check out all the dates after the jump….
Read the rest of this entry »

Another “This Just In” today features a look at the new album from Kristoffer Ragnstam. Enjoy Joe’s thoughts on the album below.

When it comes to Swedish singer/ songwriter types, we have become very familiar with the likes of Jens Lekman in the indie world in the past couple years. But if Jens and his brand of swedish geek pop are not your thing, you don’t even have to leave Sweden to find another take on indie pop courtesy of Kristoffer Ragnstam.

Ragnstam prefers more of a power pop approach to things, if you can pardon that overused description, and interjects lyrics that are fun, and sometimes quite thoughtful, which can be rare from popsters at times.

On his second full length album, Wrong Side Of The Room, Ragnstam grabs the listener by hand and whirls you around the room on the first song, “Stop On Top” and barely lets go through the first four upbeat and sugary sweet tunes. And the album is not without a nice punch as well, which brings to mind fellow Swede Sondre Lerche and his most recent album Phantom Punch, which is a good companion album to Wrong Side Of The Room.

Wrong Side Of The Room hits your local indie stores shelves this week via Blu Hammock Records and you can expect to hear some of the songs from us as well. In the meantime, enjoy a free download of “Swing That Tambourine” below.

Kristoffer Ragnstam - Swing That Tambourine

Welcome to the first installment of “This Just In” where a WOXY.com DJ gives thoughts on a new record that has recently been added to the playlist. Today, Joe takes a stab at the new album from Horse Feathers, House With No Home.

When it comes to mostly acoustic based, sometimes quiet singer songwriter types, I am, admittedly, quite the fan. So it should not come as a big surprise that I am totally bowled over by Horse Feathers. The Portland based trio are preparing to release their second full length album, House With No Home, on Kill Rock Stars and I can honestly tell you that this has become my morning album of choice during the past month or so.

There is something almost sacred about good morning music for me. It has to be gentle enough for me to ease in, but not so sleepy and I stay in my morning coma. Horse Feathers achieves both of those and more on this new album. Combining the hushed tones of early Iron & Wine with vocals and the backing strings you might find on a Bonnie Prince Billy album, Horse Feathers have created a soothing yet complex piece of art. And to be quite honest, the more I listen to songs like “Rude To Rile” & “Heathen’s Kiss,” the less I think this is just a morning album, and the more I think it is suitable for just about any part of the day.

So, if you have ever called yourself a fan of Sam Beam, Will Oldham, M. Ward, John Fahey, or Bon Iver, this is required listening. House With No Home drops on Septemeber 9th from KRS, but you can listen to a song below right now.

Horse Feathers - Curs In The Weeds

Cincinnati’s own Pomegranates are back in their hometown for anothe Lounge Act with us later today. The guys have been very busy since we saw them last and will have some brand new songs to share today. Their debut album, Everything Is Alive, has been a great success for the guys and we cannot wait to see what is next for this local product.

So join us today in the Lounge at 3pm ET for a session with Pomegranates! In the meantime, check out these tracks from their last Lounge Act.

Pomegranates - Whom/ Who (Live On WOXY.com)
Pomegrantaes - The Bellhop (Live On WOXY.com)

Our friends from Chicago, Bound Stems, are due for another session in our Lounge later this afternoon. The band is getting ready to release a brand new album The Family Afloat and will likely be playing a bunch of new material for us today.

We last saw the band back in 2006, when they released one of our favorite albums of the year, Appreciation Night. Check out that session below, as well as a new song from The Family Afloat. And be sure to listen in this afternoon for the session, which should go off at around 4:30 ET!

Bound Stems - Live On WOXY.com (2006 Full Session)

Bound Stems - Happens To Us All Otherwise (from the new album, The Family Afloat)

Sorry for the late notice, but there is a really great show tomorrow night in the Windy City that you need to be aware of. WOXY.com is proud to welcome three great bands to the stage at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago tomorrow night, all of which have been into our lounge in the past.

Sundayrunners, Butterfly Assassins and Jukebox The Ghost will be filling up a great bill tomorrow night and we highly suggest you make it out to the show if you are in the area.

Sundayrunners - Live On WOXY.com (Jan 2006 Session)

Jukebox The Ghost - Live On WOXY.com (Jan 2008 Session)

Butterfly Assassins - Live On WOXY.com (July 2008 Session)

Thao Nguyen claims to be lazy but you’d never know it by listening to We Brave Bee Stings And All. In her WOXY Lounge debut, she’s backed by The Get Down Stay Down for a set that includes 5 cuts off the new cd.

We caught the band just two days after beginning their first headlining tour. Not only will you hear some great music, but there is a strong defense of the Lilith Fair and tales of extreme weiners in Columbus, Ohio (those stories are not related, we promise).

Track Listing:
Beat (Health, Life, and Fire)
Big Kid Table
- interview -
Swimming Pools
Violet
Bag Of Hammers

Thao w/ The Get Down Stay Down - Beat (Health, Life & Fire) (Live On WOXY.com)

Thao w/ The Get Down Stay Down - Bag Of Hammers (Live On WOXY.com)

Thao w/ The Get Down Stay Down - Swimming Pools (Live On WOXY.com)

Thao w/ The Get Down Stay Down - Live On WOXY.com(full session download)

And hopefully you already saw our excellent video of Thao in the studio, if not, check it out here.

OK - you’ve registered. That’s Part One. Now comes Part Two: listening for your name to be called on-air sometime between Noon & 5pm ET all this week thru August 22nd.

If we call your name, you’ll have 10 minutes to call us at 513-621-0012 to claim your spot in the Grand Prize Drawing, also on August 22nd. One winner will receive:

- Two VIP GOLD Passes to the Monolith Festival
- 3 Nights Lodging
- Roundtrip airfare via Southwest Airlines

If we call your name, but you fail to call us…we’ll select another name who will receive the same 10 minute window to call the station. We’ll qualify one person a day until we have 10 finalists for the drawing.

We already have one person in the finals, don’t miss your chance! In addition, check out the recent additions to the Monolith lineup right here. And create your own Monolith schedule right here.

A lot has happened to The Young Republic in the last year. After graduating from college, the band decided to relocate from Boston to Nashville. They lost a few members in the process, but the streamlined lineup has since been signed to a UK indie label and released a cd across the pond.

With a new home studio in place, the band have been focusing on new material. In this session, they let us hear a little bit of what they’re working on.

Track Listing:
Shiloh
Green Hills Mall Blues
Tango ‘Til They’re Sore (Tom Waits cover, not included in podcast)
- interview -
Dual Voices
Two Step Darling
The Alchemist

The Young Republic - Shiloh (Live On WOXY.com)
The Young Republic - Two Step Darling (Live On WOXY.com)

The Young Republic - Live On WOXY.com (full session download)