Etown Podcast

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Dan Hicks / Vienna Teng

A fantastic only-in-Etown pairing of artists comes to you this week, bringing music rooted in everything from jazz, swing, and old-time to classical and ‘chamber-folk’. After a many year gap, guitarist and songwriter Dan Hicks is back in Etown! No one at all sounds like him. And of course he’s bringing those great back up singers, The Hot Licks. His eclectic style and counter-culture appeal, driven by sharp-tongued and dry-witted lyrics, has twice landed him on the cover of Rolling Stone! “Dan Hicks is fly, sly, wily and dry!” says Tom Waits. Also with us this week is pianist and singer-songwriter Vienna Teng, making her first visit to Etown. She’s a Stanford computer science grad and software engineer whose career took a sharp turn several years ago, when she ditched that world to pursue her musical passions. She has since released two critically acclaimed independent albums which landed her on the Billboard album charts and Amazon’s bestseller list. Her “engaging voice, insightful lyrics and reflective piano-driven chamber folk packs quite the punch…simmers and soars.” (LA Weekly). All this, plus an inspiring E-Chievement Award interview, awaits you this week, in Etown.

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DeVotchKa / Au Revoir Simone

In this exciting encore broadcast, it’s DeVotchka, back for their third visit to Etown. This popular Colorado based band has a huge international following and fan base. Lead singer’s Nick Urata’s vocals infuse their songs with striking emotion, all beautifully supported by an eclectic ensemble featuring a string section, trumpet, sousaphone, melodica, and more. Also joining us is the Brooklyn based band Au Revoir Simone: Erika Forster, Heather D’Angelo, and Annie Hart use vintage keyboards and drum machines to deliver their modern, electronic-based songs that resonate with an inviting, organic warmth. They’re David Lynch’s favorite band these days, and they’ve been touring Europe, Japan and the U.S. to rave reviews. A bit of Etown trivia: Boulder born and raised Erika Forster is the natural born daughter of etown host Nick Forster and the beloved stepdaughter of Helen Forster! There’s also a creative and motivated E-Chievement Award winner who shares her inspiring story, all this week in Etown.

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Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mtn. Boys / Ramblin’ Jack Elliott

This special taping celebrating Etown’s 18th Anniversary, features two icons of American music. First, the legendary Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys take the stage sharing songs from Ralph’s 60+ years as a performer of bluegrass, old-time, and roots music. Host Nick Forster chats with the 82-year-old Stanley about his rich performance history and his recent involvement in current events. Then long-time, ‘hard travelin’ Ramblin’ Jack Elliott takes the stage, with musical support here and there from Nick & Helen. And Nick and Jack have a one-of-a-kind Etown conversation you won’t want to miss! Plus, there’s a very special in-person E-Chievement Award featuring a woman who is making real difference in the lives of urban kids. Don’t miss this week’s Etown!

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Calexico / Dave Alvin

Etown welcomes Calexico to Etown in this rebroadcast episode. These Tucson-based eclectic rockers led by Joey Burns and John Convertino, deliver songs influenced by spaghetti westerns, surf, twang and 50’s jazz, sprinkled with just the right amount of southwestern spice. Plus, Nick & Helen Forster and the Etones take the stage with Dave Alvin, as he swings back to Etown in support of his new release, West of the West, Songs from California Songwriters. He takes songs by writers as different as Jackson Browne, Kate Wolf, and Brian Wilson, and puts his own unique spin on them, giving them an intoxicating sound that only Dave can create, sounding like he might have written them himself. It’s Etown, bringing you another fine hour of great music, engaging conversation, and an amazing E-Chievement Award story.

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David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez / Ray LaMontagne

Returning to Etown in this encore broadcast are our friends from Los Lobos, David Hidalgo & Louie Pérez, as they perform a rare duo set, sharing tunes old and new. There are intimate, stripped down moments, but Hidalgo & Pérez also rock the house with Nick & Helen Forster and the Etones backing them up. Plus, they let us in on some remarkable behind-the-scenes stories of their exceptional songwriting craft. Also returning to Etown is singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne, here with his full band. He treats us to some of his brilliant songs and powerful, expressive voice. There’s another fine Etown hour of music along with a moving
E-Chievement Award story from Washington State.

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BeauSoleil / Ben Kweller

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet are back in Etown, this time as recent Grammy winners for Best Zydeco / Cajun Music Album. Bob Dylan once said this about their sound: “That’s my kind of music!”. . . and it’s sure ours in Etown, too! Texan Ben Kweller makes his debut Etown appearance. Ben is an acclaimed indie-pop singer songwriter who is catching on fast in the music world. Nick & Helen Forster and the Etones lend their stellar musical and vocal support on some of his tunes. Nick also chats with interview guest Nicolette Hahn Niman, noted environmental activist, attorney and cattle rancher, and author of Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms. This is another in a rich tradition of fantastic Etown tapings coming to you featuring stellar music, compelling conversation, and the presentation of the E-Chievement Award to a grassroots hero from a small town in New York. Tune in!

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BoDeans / Over the Rhine

BoDeans (Sammy Llanas and Kurt Neumann) return to Etown in this repeat broadcast. Plus, Over the Rhine (married couple Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist), along with their band, bring their exceptional tunes to the stage. And Doug Fine, author of Farewell My Subaru, talks about his book in which he hilariously describes the challenges of ‘greening’ his life in order to live in a more sustainable way. Plus, there’s a dedicated E-Chievement Award winner from Wisconsin, who joins us to tell us her story in person. This week, join hosts Nick & Helen Forster for an hour filled with great music and engaging conversation.

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Nanci Griffith / Piers Faccini

In this encore airing, we welcome back legendary folkie and an Etown favorite, singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith, as she returns with her long-time back up band. Also on the show is an impressive young talent, Paris-based singer-songwriter, Piers Faccini. Faccini calls on hosts Nick & Helen Forster and the Etones to back him up musically. Plus, there is an outstanding E-Chievement Award story from Portland, Oregon that you won’t want to miss, all this week, in Etown.

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James Taylor / Keb’ Mo’

In this special encore broadcast, we are joined by a couple of truly remarkable musical guests for a one-of-a-kind Etown anniversary celebration. The legendary James Taylor returns for this stunning program recorded at the beautiful and historic Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado. With that recognizable voice and those beautifully crafted songs, James demonstrates why he remains one of the world’s most beloved performers. He’ll also talk candidly with host Nick Forster about his continually evolving music. Nick & Helen Forster and the Etones lend their graceful musical support to James’ set, and to that of Etown’s second guest, Kevin Moore, better known as Keb’ Mo’, the talented one man blues powerhouse. And there’s an environmental-themed in person E-Chievement Award for this extraordinary occasion. Don’t miss this week’s repeat episode of Etown.

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Michelle Shocked / The Bad Plus

Michelle Shocked is a ten-time Etown veteran! We’re thrilled to welcome back this troubadour from Texas who throughout her career has blazed all sorts of new musical trails, routinely making a stop in Etown to share her latest. The Bad Plus are a boundary breaking jazz combo who perform most-unexpected material along with their solid originals. Challenging conventions, “The Bad Plus are the Coen brothers of jazz: both ironic and dead earnest; technically brilliant, beyond versatile…” (The New Yorker). Also, there’s interview guest Pat Mahaffry, along with Prof. Doug Bamford. Pat talks about an amazing prehistoric discovery right in his own backyard! Join Nick & Helen Forster as they host another fantastic Etown featuring music, conversation, and the presentation of the E-Chievement Award to a grassroots hero.