KWVA Sunday Live Sessions | Summer 2024 Recap

Photo collage with black border, four people playing instruments and singing into microphones
Authored By
DJ Taco Supreme

Welcome! Live Sessions is a show on KWVA every Sunday from 4pm-6pm during Fall, Winter and Spring terms. Bands and artists from Eugene and beyond are invited to perform LIVE as we turn our station into a DIY recording studio. 

Shows are often hosted by KWVA DJs, who interview the artists on-air. Live Sessions is produced and scheduled by the KWVA production department and it's hard-working assistants, with additional help from the KWVA Music department.

Let's take a look back at the Live Sessions broadcasted during Summer 2024:

 

Picture of a black sign that says "Emo's not dead, Pretty Suspect, check us out on spotify and everywhere" and a spotify url code.

Pretty Suspect | 7/7/24

Music Video / Full performance + Interview (Hosted by DJ Felonious Monk)

 

Eugene's finest Emo/Pop Punk group Pretty Suspect was invited to play live sessions through our mutual friend, DJ Felonious Monk, a member of the group Missed Connection, who has also performed on Live Sessions back in March 2024. Bryce on Guitar, sang lead vocals along with Colten on Bass. Jaren brought the double-kicking metal energy through his Drum set, and Bryce's brother, Zac, provided synths and keyboards.

The four-piece group performed every song from their upcoming (now released) full-length album Surviving The Fire ahead of their album release show at The WOW Hall.

Bryce brought in a fun toy to use for capturing the performance, a 360 camera! The unique camera was used to capture video as the group arrived to the station, as well as film songs from their performance. We thank Bryce for sharing the footage with us to use in our music video! During editing, two songs came out really well, and thus both were chosen to be included in the final cut.

Pretty Suspect were a pleasure to work with, and we hope they'll join us again!

 

 

 

Black and white Yin-yang symbol surrounded by sun flares and the words "stereo minds live session"

Stereominds | 8/18/24

Music Video / Full performance (coming soon)

 

Stereominds (formerly Bajuana Tea) consists of partners Austin and Matrisha Armitage. The pair have been playing and writing music together for over a decade after meeting at South Eugene High School. Armitage previously brought a showcase of youth musicians to Live Sessions in the Spring for a special KIDZ ROCK showcase as

For the first time in over many years, Live Sessions was broadcast remotely from Stereomind's private performance space! Although this brought about a few challenges, and required an extra day of testing/rehearsal, the live performance was a great success!

We would like to give special thanks to our Chief Engineer, Ali Abdul-Sater, for helping us configure the Comrex device to broadcast in stereo. Another thanks goes to DJ PeeWee for holding down the signal at our station on campus, helping sound as good as possible.

We are looking forward to seeing Armitage again when Live Sessions hosts a GRRLZ ROCK showcase in the coming weeks.

 

 

Middle aged black man wearing white T-shirt and brown baseball cap, holding electric guitar and singing into a headset microphone

Robert Kimbrough, Sr. | 9/15/24

Music Video / Full Performance + Interview

 

Robert Kimbrough, Sr. is a legend among southern blues musicians. His late father, Jr. Kimbrough, pioneered a genre of music known as Cotton Patch Soul Blues. A legacy, to which his children have carried on through their music. 

Kimbrough was in town to perform at the Twisted Duck, and a private private party. His mutual friend, Vicky, very persistently reached out to our station to get him on the air, and we were happy to oblige.

Kimbrough arrived with his good friend Brian with nothing but a custom-made guitar and a small fender amplifier. Unbeknownst to him, our own DJ PeeWee (who was originally asked to interview Kimbrough, but was feeling under the weather) had been playing the Kimbrough family's music regularly on his radio show.

Robert Kimbrough, Sr. and DJ Taco Supreme had a wonderful conversation about the importance of family, music, and culture that means so much to us and our listener's. Kimbrough played some of his original songs (including a premiere of an unreleased track) in addition to some songs written by his late family, such as Jr. Kimbrough's All Night Long.

As the interview concluded, the phone lines lit up as listeners thanked Kimbrough for his music and stories. Kimbrough later went on to a blues jam that night at a local music venue, where he said he was welcomed with love from the people of Eugene.

 

White man wearing black sweater and a brown baseball cap holding acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone

Micah McCaw | 9/29/24

Music Video / Full Performance + Interview

 

Micah McCaw is a singer-songwriter from Ashland, Oregon. Usually he performs with his group, a full band of his friends, but on this day he elected to bring only himself and two acoustic guitars.

McCaw's songwriting is progressive, pop-enthused, and thoughtfully introspective. His music touches frequently on topics encouraging self-worth and deliverance from religious and capitalist radicalism.

We hope to see McCaw again soon, next time with his full band accompanying him!

 

 

Look out for more Live Sessions coming soon! 

Tune in Sundays from 4-6PM to hear it live!