Through words and songs, DJ ROX explores Gregory Alan Isakov’s most recent album ,This Empty Northern Hemisphere and finds this album to have possibly revived the genre of folk music in its refreshing reach to expose the soul of an artist through the careful construction of lyrics and the silky arrangement of soft spoken songs–songs that bite your lip with every word that rolls off of Gregory’s tongue and the resonant glow of the album’s sparse yet atmospherically encompassing production. Also look out for several tracks that include the harmonizing beauty of Brandi Carlile’s vocal accompaniment.

Native Brit singer finds inspiration from America’s Golden Age of power pop icons and country classics. Tune in to hear about Findlay’s influences, his newest record Love Will Find You, and future stops on the tour.

http://www.myspace.com/softtags

To learn more about these DIY, analog-loving musicians and their latest record–Mathematical Monsters–check out this link.

Mathematical Monsters:

Partially recorded in a Portland cement factory, Soft Tags creates an eerie yet dreamy sound that oscillates between the fundamentals of pop hooks and the captivating experimentation of neo-psychedelia. Expect to hear acoustic guitars strumming in the foreground of dissonance, the aggressive beckoning of pronounced drumming, the tranquil and, at times jarring retreat of quirky percussion, driving rifts of low-fi electric guitar, the commanding dimension of the Hammond Organ, the naturalizing integration of cello, violin and bass, and the crackling distortions of fuzzy atmosphere (cultivated through the use of vintage tube amps and an electrophone theremin). Richard Shirk’s voice sounds like a mixture between Isaac Brock, Lou Reed, Spencer Krug and Ian Curtis. Vocal arrangements often jump between a softer wash of reverb and the echoey articulation of multiple chants. Overall, this record sounds like the thrilling side of shadowy darkness with idyllic patches of sunlight.

Tune in to hear DJ Rox talking-the-talk with Soft Tags frontman Richard Shirk.

Brandi Carlile and Emily Sailers, of the Indigo Girls, have just released a recording of a song they performed on the Cayamo Cruise back in 2009. This tune will soften the strictures of everyday stress with the universal potential of storytelling intimacy. The rustic lull of Brandi’s vocals falls in tranquil harmony with Emily’s poignant style, while captivating fingerpicking, carefully composed lyrics, and the atmosphere-adding percussion of Matt Chamberlain- bring you the perfect balance of acoustic poeticism that makes folk music feel just right. “Let it Go” is a trustworthy gem worth purchasing on Amazon’s MP3 store–especially considering proceeds support the “Fight the Fear Campaign“- an organization/community in Seattle, WA, dedicated to preventing inflicted violence on women through informative education programs and self-defense training exercises.

CLICK TO LISTEN :

Let It Go

Laura Veirs-the galaxy goddess of folk rock- joined ROX on KZSU 90.1 FM’s Pherotones to talk about her new album “July Flame”. Be sure to tune in to hear this exclusive interview and to listen to July Flame on vinyl, along with the other musical gems of Laura’s discography. To find out more about “LV” and her lovely music–take a trip through cyberspace and visit these planets: www.lauraveirs.com and www.myspace.com/lauraveirs.

Click to see this radio playlist on KZSU 90.1 FM

Photo by Josh Duke

Bill Baird, former bassist and founder of the electro-indie band-Sound Team, talks about his new group Sunset and their most recent record Gold Dissolves to Grey. Bill touches on his colorful sound, some musical influences, the blissful limitations of antiquated technologies, and his creative exploration with filmmaking.

Click to see this radio playlist on KZSU 90.1 FM

On September 29^th, 2009, DJ Rox talked to author Harvey Kubernik to pick his mind on his latest book Canyon of Dreams: The Music and Magic of Laurel Canyon. Harvey is a Los Angeles native, author, resident, music ethnographer and Veteran rock journalist. In essence he is the “reel-to-real” rock-and-roll encyclopedia because he lived it and breathed it from both a personal and professional level. No one knows the industry and artistic insights of “the scene”, better than Harvey.

This book begins with a forward written by Ray Manzarek (The Doors) and is followed by a rich integration of intimate interviews, anecdotes, images, and authentic pieces of ephemera (provided by photographer Henry Diltz). Kubernik captures 80 years of music culture and revives the artistic parameters of Laurel Canyon from such a nuanced perspective—that somehow, either, visually and/or textually, this book will thrill you by revealing the unknown, while revering moments of generational nostalgia. Not to mention, this magic trip ends with an afterward written by Lou Adler—retrospectively discussing his Sunset Strip venues (Whisky a Go-Go, the Roxy Theater, etc) and the Monterey Pop Festival.

On October 27th, 2009 , Rey Villalobos, a talented troubadour of ambient folk rock,  joined DJ ROX in the KZSU studios to talk about his solo EP- Roses in the Nordic Countries- and to perform some acoustic tunes. Rey is also the frontman and multi-instrumental musician in the southern-californian “indie-rock” band: The Coral Sea.

Waves of November(LIVE @ KZSU)

Honeybee(LIVE @ KZSU)