WXPN Radio

The premier guide for new and significant artists in rock, blues, and folk - including NPR-syndicated World Cafe ®

Listen Xpo

24/7 Musical discovery. A unique mix of emerging and heritage blues, rock, world, folk, and alt-country artists.

Singer Songwriter Radio

Featuring classics from heritage troubadours to new musicians and bands in the singer-songwriter tradition.

Folk Radio

Folk music radio streaming on the web; Americana, Roots Music, recordings, and stories from folk's best.
Listen Live

The B-52's - Funplex - Astralwerks

It's their first release in 16 years, but after listening to Funplex once, it's like they never went away. The B-52's' new album is everything you were hoping it would be: fun, irreverent, bouncy, kooky. Time certainly has changed since the band emerged from Athens, Georgia (of all places) in the late 70's, looking and sounding like absolutely nothing else, but the band's inherent kitsch and attitude hasn't changed one iota. Even better, vocalist Cindy Wilson is back in the fold after not appearing on 1992's Good Stuff. Founding members Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland and the irrepressible Fred Schneider are back as well.

Their subject matter is classic B-52's... shopping malls ("Funplex"), futuristic love (the incredibly weird "Love In The Year 3000"), and their favorite subject – good times ("Keep This Party Going"). The band sounds and looks great, and there are plenty wacky Fred Schneider moments, too. They have the ability to find a groove and work it, but with a human quality that's lacking in so much dance-oriented rock. Pierson and Cindy Wilson sound fantastic as ever, and the underrated Keith Strickland ties it all together with his playing and arrangements.

If you're looking for a diversion from the continuing gloomy quality of the news these days, I'd suggest that you spend a quality hour or so with The B-52's. The band returns to Philly on April 25.

Written by Dan Reed

Non-COMM Recap: Going introspective with John Murry (photos, audio, setlist)

With just his guitar and his voice, Bay Area by way of Mississippi songwriter John Murry played an emotional, powerful set Wednesday...Read More

Non-COMM Recap: Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside dabble in retro rock (photos, audio, setlist)

Portland retro group Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside showed the Non-COMM crowd its rockability in a feisty set that closed out...Read More

Non-COMM Recap: The late night gets weird with Foxygen (photos, audio, setlist)

Quirky upstate New York four-piece Foxygen got crazy in a late-night Non-COMM set yesterday that blended Doors-esque poppy psychedelia...Read More

Non-COMM Recap: Robert Randolph makes steel strings sing and the crowd dance (photos, audio)

Slide guitar wizard and XPN favorite Robert Randolph got the downstairs crowd at World Cafe Live dancing in his Non-COMM set....Read More

Watch Surgeon perform “Greed” at Garage Mahal (playing Johnny Brenda’s on Sunday)

Local thrash / metal band Surgeon has been readying its long-in-the-making new full-length Chemical Reign for the past couple years...Read More