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Airplay is more than a show, it's an institution. Join the Airplay gang every week as they open the flood gates and let the music pour in. Airplay specializes in live in-studio performances by the best and brightest. Search the performance database if you don't believe us. Three parts freaky and two parts fresh, Airplay licks it where most shows only lightly kiss.

Featured Performance
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Burning Star Core Friday, April 10, 2009
These 4 artists came and played a set before their quasi-secret show at the Mopery and it was as if a party of experimental music was in progress. They all improvised 15 to 20 minutes sets, each as like as chalk and cheese from each other: Wasteland Jazz Unit went first and played horns aggressively, erratically, in a duet, to the point that we almost turned down the volume for fear of hearing loss (we didn't). Three Legged Race's set was electronically generated noise, with contact mics changing pitches and even some minimal melodies. And, C Spencer Yeh double-handedly played the violin, switching from harsh to strident to intermittent plucking and back again. We kinda felt guilty for being the only people there to see them, so make sure you listen to this!
Recorded by: Lori Crasnic & Adam Clark
Last Time on Airplay listen!
Last Saturday, January 21, 2012
4:00pm-7:00pm
Hosted by: Matt Ludwig & Ethan Simonoff
  • Brighton, MABrighton, MA (Recorded Tuesday, January 17, 2012)
    Brighton MA is a product of a wide range of modern music. Their sound is lyrically driven with no small debt to indie, folk, noise pop, and the classics. Members Matt Kerstein and Sam Koentopp founded BMA with Jim Tuerk immediately after leaving Scotland Yard Gospel Choir. The addition of guitarist Joe Darnaby and bassist Jon Ozaksut have helped drive the band towards an urgent sound filled with layered intricate guitars, a rattling heaviness and driving simplicity. Their songs have been licensed by TV shows such as "Gossip Girl" and "Community", and the band has found themselves in front of the camera starring in"Rock the Route", a web- and television-based mini series produced by Red Bull. Most recently, their signature tune "Good Kind of Crazy" has been licensed by Jack Daniels for their 2011 Holiday advertisement, giving the band more prolonged exposure than they've enjoyed to date. In early 2012, they will release the 7-song "Billboard Sun" EP with production assisted by Sea &Cake guitarist Archer Prewitt. Later in the year, the band will be ready to release their long-awaited sophomore full-length album, produced by Brian Deck at Engine Studios. Based in Chicago the band is named for the Boston neighborhood where singer Matt Kerstein was born.
  • Golden BirthdayGolden Birthday (From the Airplay Archives;
    recorded Monday, November 21, 2011)

    Chicago band Golden Birthday overlaid old, half-broken drum machines and effect-laden keyboards with simple yet satisfying guitar hooks to create catchy, off-kilter pop on their debut record "Infinite Leagues". Their newest album "Illusions" stays true to their lo-fi roots, but incorporates a darker and funkier maturation of their previous sound. Carving their own niche in the indie-pop world, Golden Birthday is a prime example of the effectiveness of earnest pop music stripped down to its bare elements.
  • Bird NamesBird Names (From the Airplay Archives;
    recorded Tuesday, November 08, 2011)

    We've featured Bird Names on Airplay before, but this time, they've upped their roster to 6 people. Bird Names are David Lineal, Phelan Lavelle, Mercer West, Joe Kubler, Cameron Dye, and Kelsey Brooks. Originally from Chicago, the band is now based in Athens, Georgia. On tour in support of their new album, Metabolism: A Salute of Energy to the Sun, the band will be stopping by the studio the morning after their Empty Bottle Performance.
  • Names DivineNames Divine (Recorded Wednesday, January 18, 2012)
    Names Divine is a 9 member band from Chicago, IL touring the USA. Starting 2006 as Call Me on the Allophone and changing names with the addition of a 2nd now-retired member in 2009, Names Divine has grown up to be 14 members wide before settling in to its core. Names Divine performs originals, jazz standards, blues classics, and songs by friends and family in a psychedelic blues avant-goth rock n twang style featuring acerbic female vocals, operatic male harmonies, guitars, bass, violin, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, percussion, alternate tunings, and a hell of a lot of soul. Current Members: Kendra Calhoun (Manhattan Raid) – guitar, harmonica, vocals Ike Floor – Vocals, Violin, Mandolin Justin Cheng (Panda Riot, Joywheels) – Bass Joe Dummitt (CMI) – Trumpet, Percussion Lukas Wolever (RRRainbow Family, Nude Sunrise, Sunshine 9, Purple Chong) – Drums, Power Electronics Lara Bourbon (RRRainbow Family) – Vocals, Tambourine Kalina Malyszko – Clarinet, Saxophone Heather Lynn (Pure Magical Love) – Percussion Retired Members: Jillian Musielak – Drums Nicole Miller – Theremin Jon Ziemba – Drums Brooks Johnson – Drums Right Eye Rita – Bass Marcus Kirby – Guitar Morgan Krauss – Flute