Listening Lyrics

Billy Larkin and Eric Jordan join in today for a lively discussion, including AI in Music, Fobfest, KDRT's 20th anniversary, Pete Rose, Cissy Houston, Yolo's 4th Annual Mid-Winter Cabaret July 8th in Winters (an extraordinary evening of pure enchantment, fantastic talent, community, and the joy of giving.)

NOTE: Between minute 13:10 and 15:30 in this broadcast we had some technical difficulties

Billy Larkin joined me in the studio this week to discuss the power of music. He chose these songs to talk about, and we played snippets from most:

From his website: "Billy Larkin is an award-winning pianist/composer who has been bringing his individual brand of musical artistry to audiences for over 40 years. He is a composer and arranger who defies easy categorization and helps define true expression through the collaborative process."

"Music gives the soul to the universe" -- Plato

"Music is the food of love, play on"  -- William Shakespeare

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Listen Up! It's the KDRT volunteer newsletter that is produced monthly. In it is always a wonderful list of music selections. Below is this month's list of albums: I have selected one song from each. Enjoy the show. The goal is to broaden our ears to what's out there regardless of genre.

New releases keep our air sound fresh and engaging! A little sumpin’ for everyone…

The BellRays – Heavy Steady Go – LA heavy rock with steady soul vocals – going strong since 1990

Ryan Williams, Chris O'Keefe and Dani Judith are three members of Rainbow City Park. Their love of music and exuberance of life shine in their musical output. It truly was a pleasure to get to know them.

Here's the band's story from its website: "Rainbow City Park is an indie alt-rock/dream pop band from Northern California. The band draws inspiration from 90’s alt-rock acts such as Third Eye Blind and The Smashing Pumpkins, infusing their music with a modern twist akin to the sounds of Boygenius and Snail Mail. Band members reside in both San Francisco and the Central Valley, converging in Sacramento for rehearsals.

"Sonically, Rainbow City Park takes you on a journey through various soundscapes, from dance-inducing rhythmic sections to heavy breakdowns, to ethereal interludes where shimmering guitars blend seamlessly with the vocals. The lyrical content often delves into existential and melancholic themes, offering a stark contrast to the buoyant musical atmosphere. This juxtaposition finds its resonance with artists they admire, such as Phoebe Bridgers, Frightened Rabbit, and Pinegrove.

"Fronting the band is the charismatic Dani Judith, a multi-talented artist who wears the hats of an audio engineer and music teacher when she’s not playing with Rainbow City Park. The trio of guitarists, including Dani herself, Nick Nassab, and Chris O’Keefe, weaves intricate melodies that intertwine with Dani’s vocals. Their signature indie-rock sound is heavily influenced by their love of Fender guitars and an array of pedals that shape their tone. The rhythm section provides the backbone of the band, with accomplished musicians Dwight Struthers on bass and Ryan Williams on drums. 

"As a five-piece with Dani as lead vocalist, the band released three songs in 2023: double single 'Broken Record / Dad Jeans' in May and 'Convince You' in October." In February 2024, Rainbow City Park began supporting the release of its next single, “Valentine’s Day 1999,” with a series of shows throughout California.

This week Casey Groat and James Murphy spend some time free-form bantering with me, creating one sweet hour of radio.

Inner Nature (FKA Fashionista Boyfriend) is the work of Casey Groat from Sacramento. Having started as just a kid with an interest in making noises with the computer, the project has matured into themes such as love and loss, as well as experimenting with sampling and songs with meaning and purpose. Artists such as Washed Out, Toro Y Moi, Small Black and Neon Indian are a big influence on the sound. The live act is a three-piece featuring Casey, James Murphy (Ancient Astronaut, Saint Solitaire, Ihabial) and Austin Mooney.

This show is streamed at KDRT.ORG and available on most podcast apps under Listening Lyrics.