What It Is gives an ear to Asheville's Paper Tiger, Charlotte's Yardwork and reissues of The Left Banke with panelists Fred Mills, John Schacht and Daniel Coston
Episode 143: SXSW In Review and 2011 Festival Season Preview
Kim Ruehl makes her What It Is debut in this conversation with Carol Rifkin and host Joe Kendrick as she relays her experience at the latest South By Southwest. We all talk up more festivals like Merlefest, IBMA on this podcast which is the full version of what was edited for radio broadcast.
Episode 142: Record Store Day 2011
What It Is previews the fourth annual Record Store Day with new panelist and No Depression writer Kim Ruehl plus fellow Asheville regular Carol Rifkin and host Joe Kendrick.
Episode 141: The Charlotte Music Scene
What It Is features three current and former Queen City residents for this conversation on the current and past music scene in Charlotte. John Schacht, editor of Shuffle Magazine is joined by photographer and writer Daniel Coston and Blurt! editor Fred Mills and host Joe Kendrick in this conversation which unearths the often surprising musical resources of a place better known for its banks. Is Charlotte still America's largest small town? That, as far as the arts and music scene goes, is answered herein.
Episode 140: Photography In Music
We welcome new panelists Daniel Coston and John Schacht to What It Is with Fred Mills and host Joe Kendrick in this conversation about the power of photography in music history as well as the Who Shot Rock & Roll exhibition in Columbia, SC.
Episode 139: Music & Media In Flux
We take on the broad topic of the shifting sands of media, from the decline of physical forms like CDs to the ebbing influence of print journalism and the rise of social media and electronic books and music and much more. What It Is host Joe Kendrick is joined by Jeff Eason, Bob Hinkle and WNCW alumnus Armando Bellmas.
Episode 138: Slow Songs & Novelty Songs
Are hits in the form of slow ballads and novelty songs a thing of the past? What It Is take on some fundamental differences in songwriting over the last few decades with Armando Bellmas, Jeff Eason and Bob Hinkle.
Episode 137: Merlefest 2011 Preview
Jeff Eason leads the way in this conversation about the upcoming festival season and Merlefest in particular. Host Joe Kendrick is also joined by Bob Hinkle in this nice and sunny musical forecast.
Episode 136: Cassettes
With the release of their latest album on cassette, Akron/Family II: The Cosmic Birth And Journey Of Shinju TNT, What It Is was inspired to wonder aloud how this medium still makes folks feel fuzzy and nostalgic. Armando Bellmas joins host Joe Kendrick and veteran panelists Bob Hinkle and Jeff Eason in this conversation.
Episode 135: Studios, Their Musicians and Bands
Join Bob Hinkle, Jeff Eason, host Joe Kendrick and WNCW alumnus Armando Bellmas in this conversation about some notable studio bands and musicians, plus a focus on studios themselves and where they're headed.
Episode 134: The Ukulele
What It Is welcomes Armando Bellmas back to WNCW in this conversation with Bob Hinkle and Jeff Eason about the ukulele, it's history and how it can be much more than a novelty instrument.
Episode 133: Poetry In Music
What It Is welcomes poet Barbie Angell and new panelist Erin Scholze to this conversation focusing on the many intersections of poetry and music. From artists like Leonard Cohen to spoken word artists with musical accompaniment, there are plenty of places where these two worlds meet.
Episode 132: The Asheville Music Scene
What It Is examines the burgeoning, diverse music scene in Asheville NC with new panelist Erin Scholze and Barbie Angell.
Episode 131: The Weird American Music Scene
What It Is welcomes new panelist Erin Scholze to the conversation with Barbie Angell and host Joe Kendrick in a quest to bring out our inner weirdo. From Harry Smith to Snake Oil Medicine Show and from the early 20th century to today, we've got plenty of niches to scratch.
This podcast is the full version of the show that was edited for broadcast on-air 2-1 through 2-3-11
Episode 130: 2010 Year In Review: Passings
What It Is looks back one last time on 2010 with Jeff Eason and Fred Mills noting many great aritsts who left us, from Alex Chilton to General Johnson and many more. This is the full version of the show abridged for FM broadcast. Broadcast 1-31-11
Episode 129: Tubeify and Earbits
What It Is examines two new means of music discovery in this conversation with host Joe Kendrick and panelists Barbie Angell and Erin Scholze
Episode 128: Low Power FM Spreads As College Radio Stations Are Sold
As the Local Community Radio Act enables low power FM stations to expand into new areas, many colleges and universities are selling their student-run stations for millions of dollars. What It Is examines the sea change for radio in this conversation with new panelist Erin Scholze, Barbie Angell and host Joe Kendrick.
Episode 127: 2011 Predictions
What It Is gazes into its crystal ball for the new year's musical predictions. Host Joe Kendrick is joined by panelists Fred Mills and Jeff Eason in this conversation which covers prognostications in matters of sound, touring, business and technology. This is the full version of the show that was abbreviated for broadcast on air.
Episode 126: 2010 Year In Review: The Winners
Hindsight is 20/20 and the more things change, the more they stay the same. What It Is focuses on music's critical and fan favorites of 2010 with Fred Mills and Jeff Eason, and finds out that the biggest winner just may be an old and very familiar name. This is the full version of the show that was abridged for on-air broadcast.
Episode 125: 2010 Year In Review: The Losers
Jeff Eason and Fred Mills join host Joe Kendrick in this conversation about the musical losers of last year. The biggest loser might be the industry itself. This is the full version of the show that was abridged for on-air broadcast.