Willy Mason - Live Concert - 2013

by Carmel Holt

Willy Mason’s career has been an amazing series of important connections and relationships (or as he put it, “accidents”). It began with his initial discovery by a friend of Conor Oberst, which led to his subsequent tour with Bright Eyes and the release of his debut, Where Humans Eat, on Oberst’s Team Love Records. Since then Willy has earned the admiration and support of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, collaborated with Lianne La Havas on her Mercury-prize nominated debut, and recorded a few of his parents’ songs with Brendan Benson in Nashville, which resulted in a Record Store Day release. Now he has been signed by Communion Records - the label of Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons - and his third album, Carry On, will be released in the U.S. in August. Willy shared material from Carry On and a couple of his parents’ songs during this intimate and engaging FUV Live performance at The Living Room.

Question of the Day: Taking the Temperature

by Corny O'Connell

The guy who came up with the Fahrenheit temperature scale was born on this date in 1686. Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit introduced the use of mercury in thermometers and markedly improved their accuracy. So in today's WFUV Question of the Day we're looking for songs that mention the temperature - whether that's body temperature or the outdoor temperature. Leave your song suggestion in the comments below and we'll spin a set this morning.

Here's what we played:

Third World "96º in the Shade"

Iron and Wine - Words and Music - 2013

by Carmel Holt

Sam Beam is the mastermind behind Iron & Wine, and he released his first record back in 2002, called The Creek Drank the Cradle. It was an intimate and mostly acoustic affair, but over the years, Sam has expanded his sound. He's now on his fifth full-length Iron & Wine album, Ghost On Ghost, and it features backing vocals along with string and horn sections.

Sam brought his whole crew to Studio A when he recently stopped by WFUV to talk with me about the new album. See video of the live performances right here, and catch Iron & Wine at The Beacon Theatre tomorrow and The Capitol Theatre this Sunday.

Pesky J. Nixon - Sunday Breakfast - 2013

by John Platt

Pesky J. Nixon, an acoustic group with roots in the Boston area, takes their name from favorite favorite Red Sox players (sorry, Yankees fans), Johnny Pesky and Trot Nixon. The two leaders, Ethan Baird and Jake Bush first met at Brandeis University, where they were part of an a capella group. They maintained a sense of harmony and humor ever since. Both were on display when they came to Studio A for a Sunday Breakfast session.