The Rustic Overtones came into the studio a few weeks ago and sang their song “Letter to the President” off their most recent album, Light at the End. After their performance, they talked to Lyra about their thoughts, intentions, and influences in writing the song. The song is a fictional story centred around a lonely soldier, with no intended political stance. The band also discussed war, their development and changes since their previous album, staying together forever, and possible acronyms for their band name.

Click on the link below to hear their live performance and the discussion that followed!

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Biffy Clyro joined us today in studio on their way to perform tonight at the Palladium with Say Anything. The Scottish band performed acoustic versions of three songs off their latest album, “Puzzle” and discussed the record with Lyra. Biffy Clyro brought some unconventional instruments with them, including a salt shaker which ended up emptying salt all over drummer Ben Johnston’s pants. Simon Neil sang and played acoustic guitar, and James Johnston played bass guitar.

Biffy Clyro joked about their Scottish accents and how their record company required them to put English subtitles on their video on their website. They said that their accents slowly become americanized as they tour the United States and mentioned their plans to tour in Australia and how their friendship of nearly 20 years has held up throughout years of touring. They replied humbly to the notion that they are like a British Nirvana and joked about ending with a “bang” like Nirvana.

Check out the podcast for this exclusive interview as well as the songs “Saturday Superhouse,” “As Dust Dances” and “Machines” from their lastest record!

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Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull sang two brand new songs and played acoustic guitar in the studio today. He talked about the creative process behind writing Manchester Orchestra’s songs and his unothordox, yet resourceful, ways of using youtube.com to improve his music. Hull used his own concert footage that had been posted on YouTube to help him compose the first song he played “Do You Really Like Being Alone?” The second song is still untitled. Listen to the podcast for an in-depth interview with Lyra. Tonight, Manchester Orchestra plays at the Living Room. Check back here for the review!

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Papa Roach stopped by the station on Tuesday, on the way to Lupo’s for WBRU’s 38th Birthday Month concert, for an interview and acoustic session. Along with live acoustic performances of “Forever” and “Time is Running Out,” they talked about their affinity for a raw sound that stole the show from Hinder when they toured with them earlier this year and that fans could surely expect from their performance that night. They also shared ghost stories from the Paramour Mansion in Los Angeles, where they recorded their most recent album, The Paramour Sessions, and mentioned their recent acoustic performance in their hometown in support of breast cancer research. For more about their changing music style, what it’s like to be a rock star and a parent, and lead singer Jacoby Shaddix’s new show Scarred on MTV, listen to the full podcast below!

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Coheed and Cambria stopped by our studio last week to perform a rare acoustic set in honor of their newest album, No World for Tomorrow. The sci-fi infused band arrived at WBRU after recent shows in New York, which included an Alzheimer’s benefit concert with As Tall As Lions in Manhattan. All the profits from the door went to the cause, with Claudio (guitarist and lead singer) noting that the band’s involvement stemmed from the passing of his aunt from the disease last year. Coheed and Cambria also confirmed that they’re headlining the Kerrang! Tour next year - a 13 date trek across England - with Madina Lake, Fightstar, and Circa Survive.

Claudio, Travis, and Michael (the band’s two guitarists and bassist) then played “The Running Free” (their newest single), and “A Favor House Atlantic.” Click here to read more.

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Manchester Orchestra came by and hung out with Julius before their show at Lupo’s on Saturday. They were super cool guys who apparently like writing music, buying their album art at thrift stores, and opening for Axel Foley (yes Foley). The full interview and performance are up for grabs after the jump. Read More

Kenny and Mike of the Starting Line played “Island (Float Away)” and “Something Left to Give” acoustic in our studio. They covered a number of topics in the interview, like their Ace of Base lyrical quotation (”I hope they don’t sue us!”), how bands that don’t play their old songs live are totally lame, and their influence from the Clash (to demonstrate, when “Rock the Casbah” came on as they were tuning up, every head in the room started nodding in time).

Where the bongos in the bridge of “Island” came from… Read More