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by WNYC Studios
WNYC, New York Public Radio, brings you Soundcheck, the arts and culture program hosted by John Schaefer, who engages guests and listeners in lively, inquisitive conversations with established and rising figures in New York City's creative arts scene. Guests come from all disciplines, including pop, indie rock, jazz, urban, world and classical music, technology, cultural affairs, TV and film. Recent episodes have included features on Michael Jackson,Crosby Stills & Nash, the Assad Brothers, Rackett, The Replacements, and James Brown.
Latest Episodes
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- 4 days ago35 min
Guitarist and Singer Ruthie Foster Shares Her Genuinely Soulful Brand of Folk Blues, In-Studio
Ruthie Foster was born into music, grew up with music, and it was only natural that music would follow her wherever she’d go. The now Grammy-winning singer-songwriter was a soloist in a local choir in her hometown of Gause, Texas, soaking in the soulful melodies of gospel music. After high school, Foster majored (much expectedly) in music – and broadcast journalism. She joined the Navy shortly thereafter, where she often took the stage to sing. Soon, she’d be in New York City, developing her unique brand of blues and folk music as a regular at local clubs where she’d end up on the radar of Atlantic Records.Her label and Foster had different ideas about the kind of artist she could be at the time. But Foster still walked into every session with an open heart where she often felt the urge to write about being back at home in Texas. So, she went back home, leaving her record deal behind, to be with her family and live a simpler life, which would eventually lead to the creation of her aptly titled record, Full Circle.In the following three decades, Foster never stopped making and releasing music. Having become highly comfortable playing her guitar, she actively toured, sometimes with a band and other times solo. Now back with her fourteenth album, Just Say Yes, Foster brings her skillful guitar playing and powerful vocals to our studio for a solo performance to share some of her new songs for this episode of Soundcheck. - Sırma Munyar(Photo by Jody Domingue)Setlist: 1.Yes 2.Thank You 3.Tangled Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 5 days ago51 min
Best of Soundcheck: Everlast, Ghost Hounds
The artist known as Everlast was the lead rapper in the group House of Pain, whose single “Jump Around” remains one of hip hop’s most familiar songs. But in the 1990s he began adding bluesy guitars to his songs - which continues with his latest, Embers To Ashes. Everlast plays his B-boy country punk rock blues in-studio. Then, Ghost Hounds is a Pittsburgh-based blues-rock band with a sound that may remind you of classic early 70s bands like The Rolling Stones. In fact, they’ve opened for the Stones and do a cover of that band’s song “Gimme Shelter” on the new Ghost Hounds album. But most of their music is original and their latest record, called Justified, is full of apocalyptic imagery and songs that swagger their way through the End Of Days. Ghost Hounds brings a rootsy, intimate version of the band to play these new songs, in-studio. in-studio for this episode of Soundcheck.Everlast set list: 1. Losing Man's Game 2. StonesGhost Hounds set list: 1. Something Wicked 2. Pale Horse Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 1 weeks ago31 min
Raw and Punchy Soul From Brooklyn-Based Eli Paperboy Reed, In-Studio
For the past 20 years or so, Eli Paperboy Reed has been making records that revel in the vintage sounds of Memphis and Chicago soul, with a healthy dose of R&B, early rock’n’roll, and a bit of country. His latest album is called Getting There, a mature reflection on love, life, and romance- where in the face of hard times, romantic partners “respond with more determination, more commitment and more love” (EliPaperboyReed.com). Eli Paperboy Reed and his band have set up camp here in our studio, and they’ll play some of their latest bluesy-soulful grown folks music.Watch the video performances on the New Sounds YouTube channel:Set list: 1. Getting There 2. Asking For a Friend 3. One Man's Trash (Is Another Man's Treasure) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 1 weeks ago32 min
Welsh Indie Rock Band The Royston Club Bare Their Emotions, In-Studio
It’s rare to come across a traditional origin story like The Royston Club’s nowadays: a group of small-town kids from Wrexham, Wales, coming together to form a band in high school and taking the stage on open mic nights at their local pub. Their music, woven with nostalgic lyrics and crunchy, anthemic guitars, also feels as though it belongs to a different time. And yet, The Royston Club has no trouble finding new fans with each release and tour they embark on, having hit the top 20 on the UK album charts with both of their albums, Shaking Hips and Crashing Cars and Songs for the Spine. Now based in Liverpool, the band still visits their hometown frequently, keeping all the people that cheered them on close. Even the word “spine” from the title of their latest record refers to those same people in their lives, who hold them up and keep them going, as The Royston Club travels the world to reach new masses. The band takes a short break from their US tour to play a few new songs in our studio for this episode of Soundcheck. - Sırma MunyarSetlist: 1.Shivers 2.Glued to the Bed 3.Cariad(Photo by Sam Crowston) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 1 weeks ago51 min
Best of Soundcheck: Helado Tropical, Martin Hayes With Kyle Sanna
Helado Tropical ("tropical ice cream") is a collaboration between Helado Negro, the experimental pop project of Ecuadorian-American singer/songwriter Roberto Carlos Lange, and Reyna Tropical, which is the work of the Mexican-American musician Fabi Reyna (also of the cumbia band Savila).They bring their langorous brand of Latin electro-pop to our studio. And another duo takes a more acoustic approach: Irish fiddler Martin Hayes and guitarist Kyle Sanna. Hayes is one of the great fiddlers of our time, and one of the things that makes his playing so distinctive is the way he incorporates elements of jazz and contemporary classical music. Hayes is a founding member of the Irish-American supergroup The Gloaming, and he’s led a couple of ensembles, the Martin Hayes Quartet and the Common Ground Ensemble, that include musicians from the New York new music scene, including guitarist Kyle Sanna. They also play jigs, reels, and hornpipes in-studio for this episode of Soundcheck.Helado Tropical Set list: 1. Tocando 2. Sensacion 3. SoledadMartin Hayes / Kyle Sanna Set list: 1. The Wild Geese/Lord Leitrim 2. Port An Deoari/My Mary Ann 3. The Golden Castle/Mikey Callaghans Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 2 weeks ago27 min
Mexico City Cumbia Punk Marimba Band Son Rompe Pera Brings the Sweaty Mayhem, In-Studio
They started as a street band in Mexico City, but Son Rompe Pera has attracted attention as far south as Chile. Formed in 2017, they’re a party band with a distinctive sound centered on brothers who play marimbas and draw on punk, ska, pop, and the ubiquitous Latin dance rhythm called cumbia. Now they’re back with a new album called Marimbazos de Oro, and while the marimbas and the punk are still evident, there’s a lot going on here – with songs that use the cumbia rhythm, as well as the sounds of salsa, reggae, hardcore, psychedelic guitars, traditional Mexican and Colombian rhythms, even Andean music. Son Rompe Pera brings their danceable and "sweaty, respectful mayhem" to the studio (without the marimba mosh pit) for this edition of Soundcheck.Set list: 1. Lagrimas 2. Nada que Hacer 3. Reptilio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 2 weeks ago31 min
The Messthetics With Marc Ribot Leave Space For Play and Crunch, From the New York Guitar Festival 2026
From the 2026 New York Guitar Festival, recorded live at Bryant Park, hear a set from the instrumental trio called The Messthetics -who are Anthony Pirog (guitar), Joe Lally (bass) and Brendan Canty (drums). Pirog has played avant-rock, ambient, and freely improvised music, often in his own projects and in his duo Janel & Anthony. Bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty were the rhythm section of the Washington D.C. band Fugazi. They were joined by special guest guitar hero Marc Ribot, who is one of the most in-demand and unpredictable guitarists around. He’s played with Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, and John Zorn, and led bands that deal in noise, rock, Latin, and free jazz. Hear a set from the Messthetics with Marc Ribot from that August night in this special podcast.1. Mythomania 2. Rules of the Game 3. Inner Ocean 4. Gestations 5. Touch Earth, Touch SkyPhoto of the Messthetics, courtesy of the artist's Bandcamp Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 2 weeks ago51 min
Best of Soundcheck: Humbe, The Lone Bellow
Some vocal performances are so emotionally compelling that you can’t help but hang on every word while eagerly anticipating the next. Such spellbinding experiences are the live performances of two acts that come from two different parts of the Americas: Mexican singer-songwriter Humbe and the Nashville-based folk-rock trio The Lone Bellow. Humbe may be young in years, but he’s been writing and releasing songs that sound timeless for almost a decade. His viral hit “Fantasmas” opened a new chapter for the Latin Grammy nominated star on the rise. The Lone Bellow has been around for a little while longer, consistently growing a loyal fan base since the early 2010s. But they hit a roadblock as they were working on their latest album, What a Time to Be Alive, after a break-in to their tour van resulted in the loss of the precious hard drives that contained their vocal recordings. Thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, the band managed to finish the record and get back on the road. Both acts tell these tales behind their music, and more, as they share heartfelt renditions of their songs for this episode of Soundcheck. - Sırma MunyarThe Lone Bellow's Setlist: 1.I Did It for Love 2.You Were Leaving 3.No Getting Over YouHumbe's Setlist: 1.Harry Stamper 2.Fantasmas 3.Morfina Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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About Soundcheck
WNYC, New York Public Radio, brings you Soundcheck, the arts and culture program hosted by John Schaefer, who engages guests and listeners in lively, inquisitive conversations with established and rising figures in New York City's creative arts scene. Guests come from all disciplines, including pop, indie rock, jazz, urban, world and classical music, technology, cultural affairs, TV and film. Recent episodes have included features on Michael Jackson,Crosby Stills & Nash, the Assad Brothers, Rackett, The Replacements, and James Brown.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Soundcheck as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
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How often does Soundcheck release new episodes?
Soundcheck publishes every few days. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Soundcheck cover?
Soundcheck covers topics including Music, Arts, Commentary, Performing Arts, Comedy Interviews. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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