Host Joe Kendrick and panelists Fred Mills and Dennis Jones have a ball with this conversation about bands that were created for TV or movies, bands that were spoofs of other bands, artists using assumed names, bands disguising themselves in concert, and so on. This is a conversation that's more fun than a barrel full of Monkees!
Episode 103: Reviewing the New Tut Taylor Tribute and Dream Syndicate Reissue
Dennis Jones talks all things Dobro and resophonic guitar in his review of the new compilation tribute to Tut Taylor and Fred Mills expounds on the new reissue of Dream Syndicate's sophomore effort.
Episode 102: Remembering Abbey Lincoln
What It Is remembers the life and music of musician and actress Abbey Lincoln with panelists Dennis Jones, Fred Mills and host Joe Kendrick.
Episode 101: Defining Authenticity In Music
What It Is takes on the question of whether you can put your finger on what is "authentic" in music, debating the ebb and flow of showmanship, pretense and artists being true to themselves throughout music history. Joe Kendrick hosts this conversation with panelists Dennis Jones and Fred Mills.
Episode 100: Reviewing the new Cotton Jones and Jr. Sisk albums
What It Is returns to its old habit of reviewing new records when new panelist Dennis Jones joins host Joe Kendrick in a conversation about the latest from Jr. Sisk & Ramblers Choice and Cotton Jones.
broadcast 9-2-10
Episode 99: Sad Songs
What makes sad songs so enduring? What It Is tackles the question and notes several examples of favorite sad songs in the collections of host Joe Kendrick and panelists Fred Mills and Dennis Jones.
broadcast 8-31 and 9-1-10
Episode 98: RIP Ben Keith
What It Is remembers the life and music of the recently departed artist and producer Ben Keith. Host Joe Kendrick is joined by new panelist Dennis Jones and Fred Mills.
broadcast 8-30-10
Episode 97: Music's Effects On Mind, Body and Spirit
Joe Kendrick hosts a What It Is conversation with John Byce and Aaron Berg about the many ways that music influences us on fundamental levels.
This is the full version of the version abbreviated for broadcast on air 8-26-10
Episode 96: Piedmont Blues and Memories of Cootie Stark
What It Is tours the Upstate for talk on Piedmont Blues and memories of the late great Cootie Stark with Aaron Berg, John Byce and host Joe Kendrick. This is the full version of what was abbreviated for broadcast on WNCW 8-25-10
Episode 95: Boundaries of Taste and Musical Intolerance
What sorts of music do you dislike? What It Is takes on the question of intolerance in everyone's musical tastes and finds out how it can be both good and bad. With host Joe Kendrick and panelists Kristin Isgett, Aaron Berg and Zak Sitter
Broadcast 8-18, 8-19, 8-23 and 8-24-10
Episode 94: Is YouTube Good For Music?
What It Is tracks down the end result, especially for artists, of all those music videos you can see for free online. Join host Joe Kendrick and new panelist Kristin Isgett, Aaron Berg and Zak Sitter.
Broadcast 8-16 and 8-17-10
Episode 93: The Fighting Side of Music
Join new What It Is panelist Kristin Isgett (her blog is here: http://questnevythng.wordpress.com/) and returning panelist Aaron Berg plus Zak Sitter as host Joe Kendrick comes out swinging and the crew examines some of music's notable brawlers.
Broadcast 8-11 and 8-12-10
Episode 92: Bettye LaVette's Interpretations and Covers Records New and Old
Fred Mills, Bob Hinkle, Zak Sitter and host Joe Kendrick take on the new Bettye LaVette covers album and analyze cover records of all varieties.
Episode 91: Roky Erikson, Man Of The Year
We celebrate the miraculous return of Roky Erikson and his great album collaboration with Okkervil River, True Love Cast Out All Evil. Joe Kendrick is joined by Fred Mills, Zak Sitter and Bob Hinkle.
Episode 90: Behind The Scenes
What It Is tips its hat to some people in the region who cultivate the music scene for the love of it. From Black Mountain's Don Talley to Union Grove's The Cook Shack and beyond, host Joe Kendrick and panelists Bob Hinkle and Fred Mills have plenty of heroes to acknowledge.
Episode 89: Concert World In Upheaval
2010 is shaping up to be the the worst year for concerts in a lifetime as the trend of higher and higher ticket prices begins to collapse. It's not just that the economy is bad, either. Join host Joe Kendrick and panelists Fred Mills, Bob Hinkle and Zak Sitter in this What It Is conversation which takes a long look at the concert business, from stadiums on down to clubs.
Episode 88: Is The Internet Really Over?
Prince recently declared that the internet is dead and it got the What It Is panel talking about a lot more than the purple one's comments.
Episode 87: Copyright Law In Music
What It Is opens the legal can of worms in this conversation with Carol Rifkin, Jeff Eason, Zak Sitter and host Joe Kendrick. From the good (e.g. protection of artists' intellectual property) to the bad (e.g. archaic laws), the the ugly (e.g. artists never having publishing rights to their songs) and the hopeful (e.g. the Grateful Dead school of marketing), we have plenty to talk about.
Episode 86: Is Rock and Roll Dead?
Join new What It Is panelist Zak Sitter, host Joe Kendrick and veterans Carol Rifkin and Jeff Eason as we debate the definition of rock vs. rock 'n' roll, whether it's a cultural force anymore, and the evolution of rock and other genres. This podcast is the full version of what was abridged for broadcast on-air.
Episode 85: First Times
When was the first time you heard a song that you'll never forget? What It Is examines the lightning-strike moments in our history with host Joe Kendrick, new panelist Zak Sitter and veterans Carol Rifkin and Jeff Eason.