Remembering Jeff Buckley: Songs of Tribute and Gratitude

On March 29, 1997, singer/songwriter/guitarist Jeff Buckley drowned at age 30 while trying to swim the Wolf River in Memphis. The son of folk legend Tim Buckley, Jeff made a huge impact on the music world with his haunting vocals, inspired songwriting, and amazing guitar work. As we approach the 17th anniversary of his passing, I feel that an investigation of the songs his peers and contemporaries wrote about him following his death can attest to his influence and impact. An article by contributor Adam Kukic, host of The Coffeehouse on WYEP fm.

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Rebecca Loebe – The Voice You Need to Discover

“The wit of Dar Williams, the bite of Ani DiFranco, and the beauty of Norah Jones." That's how I once described a gifted singer/songwriter named Rebecca Loebe. It was the combination of Becca’s voice and her determination that landed her on the first season of The Voice. But her appearance on the show was not the beginning nor the end of her story. To date she's issued five official releases - 3 LPs and 2 EPs, PLUS she's a non-stop touring machine. Since 2009 I’ve been fortunate enough to see her perform live three times. Here's why you need to discover this amazing talent. An article by contributor Adam Kukic, host of The Coffeehouse on WYEP fm.

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Indie Folk 101 — An Intro to Today’s Most Compelling Artists and Their Music

As the host of The Coffeehouse on Pittsburgh's WYEP-FM, I am tasked with providing the Sunday morning soundtrack for listeners who value independent, non-commercial radio. For many, Sunday morning is a time of reflection and relaxation. Often, I receive calls from listeners who are drinking coffee and doing the NYT crossword, getting ready for church, or doing laundry and other household chores. The common theme of these conversations is a general feeling of contentment and contemplation. Rushing around and meeting deadlines are a part of life. But Sunday mornings give us all the opportunity to recharge. With that in mind, I often sprinkle "indie folk" into the mix of music that I play, as it is the perfect complement to early Sunday mornings. By "indie artists," I mean those who generally produce non-mainstream music, independent of major record labels. What follows is an overview of those I consider to be today's most interesting and important indie folk artists. An article by contributor Adam Kukic, host of The Coffeehouse on WYEP fm.

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Sharing White Toast with Hayden: My Musical Journey with an Artist & His Work

I've been following Canadian singer/songwriter Hayden (Paul Hayden Desser) since 1996, when his debut album "Everything I Long For" was released in the United States. Such is my fandom that when the artist came to Pittsburgh in 2004 to perform, I had gotten in touch with his manager, “Skinny,” ahead of time and volunteered to be part of the “street team” to help promote the concert. Following the performance, my future wife Allison Hoge and I, plus Hayden, Skinny, and a few others all went to a 24-hour greasy-spoon diner. A highlight from that late night includes a slightly-overweight middle-aged waitress apologizing to Hayden when attempting to pour him coffee: “Sorry babe, didn’t mean to shove my tits in your face.” But my wife’s favorite memory of the evening is her keepsake from the outing -- a vinyl press of Hayden's third album, “Skyscraper National Park,” which he signed for her: “We shared white toast on September 10 / 2004.” I have a long history with Hayden's work, right up through his February 2013 release, "Us Alone," which I'll be reviewing in detail. But to fully appreciate the significance of his latest gem, allow me to shed a little light on the earlier pieces that all come together to form the total picture of Hayden's recording career to date. A review by contributor Adam Kukic, host of The Coffeehouse on WYEP fm.

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