Megann Wither is an artist with not only one of the most unique stories on Aux Send, but also amongst musicians at large. I met Megann many years ago and have watch her story develop over time as she has brought her distinct and unique voice to many venues; from dark bars to tv auditions; and now to her own red room. When we decided to do an episode of the show I knew that I wanted to film on location to capture the beautiful sound of her acoustic piano blending with her powerful voice in a place that was home to her. Megann is many things, a musician, a performer, a career woman, a wife, and a mother; each facet playing a critical role in shaping her voice as a songwriter.
    Like many artists on Aux Send, Megann has a long history with music, spending many of her formative years expressing herself in song. Where her story begins to differ is that she pursued opportunities in music reality television. After many auditions though, she realized that her love of performing her own music, interpretation of music, and singular voice was more appealing than trying to fit a mold that the shows were seeking. And that is why Megann is here, she brings a truly beautiful and original collection of songs to her own red room that express very real emotions and stories.
    Keep up with Megann on her Facebook page and download her music from her Bandcamp page.

Episode 028: Megann Wither | auxsend.tv
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    Today’s episode brings another band from the Harrisonburg, VA music scene to the red room. The Will to Survive is an indie rock band with a great love of dynamics and honesty. Their music is nothing short of raw intensity, their lyrics the confessions of a man striving to be more and seeking a way to live with his decisions. Without warning moments of quiet erupt into deafening blasts of distortion and drums. This is an episode to be listened to at full volume. Needless to say, it was a true joy to have them up.
    The band’s music is deliberate and precise, each instrument and sound doing something important for each song. Nic’s drumming is technical without being showy; Ben’s basslines are a great mix of rhythmic and melodic, sprinkling small fills in throughout their songs; Austin’s guitar lines, frequently tapped, go from heavy rhythm to indie lead to dissonant texture; Adam’s rhythms lay a solid foundation for the songs and his vocals ride over the crashing waves of music, either unexpectedly tenderly or screaming at full blast. Combined, the band has an incredibly tight set of songs that will be released soon on their forthcoming LP. The band has been hard at work for nearly 2 years on what is sure to be a truly epic album that I can’t wait to hear.
    Keep up with The Will to Survive on their Facebook page and look for their new album on their Bandcamp.

Episode 027: The Will to Survive | auxsend.tv
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    Today’s episode features another incredible band from Richmond’s Subterranea Collective, Night Idea. Carter, Reid, Joey, and Ethan play an imaginative blend of indie rock, jazz, prog, and a number of other genres mashed together into music that is at the same time rich with texture, filled with hooks and solos, and tied together with post-rock like sections that pull you into introspection. Like their name suggests, their music feels perfectly seated between waking and sleeping. Driving everything is the raw talent of these four musicians who are able to demonstrate a huge amount of talent without diving into self-indulgent showmanship.
    Night Idea is a band that’s songs evolve over time. Upon re-listening to their album, Ocho the Cat, their song, “Do Not”, had grown since it’s initial recording, adding a solo section that really makes the song explode. “Find a Way” was a new song that I fell in love with, and I can’t wait to see what it evolves into over time as they work on their next album. Night Idea is a tireless band, and while we wait it’s easy to find them playing shows in Richmond.
    Keep up with all of their happenings on their Facebook page and get their album for free at their Bandcamp site.

Episode 026: Night Idea | auxsend.tv
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    Shy, Low is a band that I am incredibly excited to have had a chance to have had in the studio. When I was in college I fell in love with post-rock music, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Do Make Say Think, and Explosions in the Sky changed my life in very important ways. I spent a number of years playing in 2 post-rock bands, //panoramic and the output, and my love of music that could move you without saying a word exploded. Shy, Low is a part of Richmond’s Subterranea Collective, and was recommended to me by Brother Wolf, although they had at the time been going by the name Vessel. This band fits in so well with the experimental, incredibly talented group of musicians working in that scene, and it was a privilege to have them in the red room.
    Shy, Low’s music evolved from a band that was once harder, including vocals. A while before our session they shuffled members and became what they are now: a band of explosive beauty and expressive music, retaining moments of dark chasms of noise. The songs they played in studio have many elements of the post-rock I love; long builds, sparkling tremolo guitar lines, loops and delay, rich atmosphere from Gregg’s massive pedal board, and intense, precise rhythm from Sean’s drums. Their passion for this music is evident in every moment of their songs as they go from near silent to ear shatteringly loud over the course of ever-evolving song structures. Their music was so intense it literally tore my studio headphones apart after several takes (which I still need to replace). I’m happy to have included in this episode a very new piece, Presence, from their freshly released vinyl, Binary Opposition. It is their longest, and most matured piece showing growth from their already accomplished composition talent.
    I can’t stress enough the value of putting on headphones, turning up the volume and letting their music take you places. I have to stop myself from saying you should close your eyes and let it be a purely auditory experience, as that would be bad for Aux Send, but do it with their albums. Keep up with Shy, Low through their Facebook page, their Bandcamp and their Tumblr.

Episode 025: Shy, Low | auxsend.tv
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    We’re ramping up for a really exciting opportunity: actual TV broadcast. At the end of last year we talked with WVPT in Harrisonburg, Virginia and signed an agreement to run a 13 episode season of Aux Send on the station beginning this March on Saturday nights at 10pm, directly preceding Austin City Limits. The broadcast season will consist of performances from lots of bands you’ve seen on the site with new songs and more to fill the hour-long time slot we have. This couldn’t have happened without all of the support you’ve given the show since it started, and we’re really excited to give all of the bands on the show that much bigger of an audience to reach. Tell your friends, tell your family, and tune in to help us get to a larger distribution level and hopefully more broadcast seasons. Thank you!

Here’s where to watch the premiere where you live:
Harrisonburg, VA • Channel 11.1 digital over the air broadcast and Comcast SD/Channel 220 Comcast Digital/DirecTV Channel 51/Shentel Channel 12/NTELOS Channel 13 & 1013
Charlottesville, VA • Channel 11.1 digital over the air broadcast/Channel 219 Comcast Digital
Winchester, VA • Channel 21.1 digital over the air broadcast/Channel 12 Comcast SD/Channel 219 Comcast Digital/DirecTV Channel 42 & 970/Dish Network Channel 42
Lynchburg • Channel 11.1 digital over the air broadcast/Comcast Digital Channel 2(SD) & 16 (SD Lynchburg) & 219 (HD)
Washington DC • DirecTV channel 42 & 970/Dish Network 42
Hagerstown, MD • DirecTV channel 42 & 970/Dish Network 42

Aux Send to premier on PBS member station WVPT on March 23rd | auxsend.tv
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    Today’s episode takes me back to 2007, after I had recently moved to a valley town in Northern Virginia. After beginning to work with the band that would eventually evolve into Gallows Bound, they took me to a show in a small town nearby to watch Jon Felton and his Soulmobile. At the time, Jon performed with a smaller group and played a kick and snare drum with pedals on his feet while playing guitar and singing. It was unbelievable. I bought their CD and loved its themes of searching for a meaning and purpose, the storytelling that ran throughout, and the unmissable sense of love and humanity that pervaded the entire album.

    While I spoke briefly with Jon then, we lost touch soon after for a number of years, until Episode 011 when Gallows Bound told me to get them on the show. I reached back out to Jon and after all these years he was as friendly as I had remembered and he agreed to bring his, now expanded, band from Frostburg, MD down to the red room.

    The Soulmobile’s music has evolved to include more people and instrumentation since I had last spoken with them, including fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and dulcimer. This expanded lineup is evident in their new compositions, now exploding with lush harmony in their frequent climaxes. Thematically their songs continue to explore our purpose and position in this world and our relationship with spirituality. Being able to sit and talk with all of these wonderful people, sadly without their drummer BJ who couldn’t attend the filming, was a great experience that reenforced my appreciation for their music and their genuine nature. I can’t recommend spending a few minutes getting to know them after a performance enough.

    The Soulmobile puts on an amazing show, and if you’d like to find their music visit their bandcamp site and get to know them on their facebook page.

Episode 024: Jon Felton and his Soulmobile | auxsend.tv
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    This episode brings us back to the shockingly thriving music scene of Staunton, VA featuring a performance by masters of modern vintage music, The Judy Chops. The Judy Chops come recommended by Pete Stallings in Episode 014, who told me that the only thing wrong with Aux Send was not having enough Judy Chops. He may have been right. I had talked with Bill on and off for about a year before Pete sealed the deal, and having him, Molly, Sally, Jess, and Danny in the red room was incredibly fun. Their entire presence as a band could be described that way, despite having a number of songs that deal with depression, longing, and desperation.

    The Judy Chops play a brand of americana that ranges from old country inspired ballads to foot stompin’ rockabilly infused songs. Their unique rhythm section of Jess’ cocktail drum kit and Danny’s upright bass compliment the dueling guitars and three part harmonies perfectly, taking the tone from driving to casual depending on the song. Bill’s leads drift in beautifully, lending the perfect amount of melody to the songs when the vocals take a break. The tasteful use of guitar exemplifies one of the best qualities of The Judy Chops, great compositions. Each instrument does exactly what is needed and leaves you wanting more, while the vocal harmonies surprise you and add beautiful layers to what could be simple, straight ahead songs.

    The music of The Judy Chops feels very much of the Shenandoah Valley they call home, but a few of their songs also evoke the empty plains of the mid-west and northern Kansas. Listening to their music will take you places, move your heart, and leave you feeling as though you’d rather be drinking whiskey with them. Learn more about the band on their facebook page and listen to their music on their reverbnation page.

Episode 023: The Judy Chops | auxsend.tv
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    After yet another seemingly endless break from episodes, we’re back! And with some amazing news! On March 24th, 2013 Aux Send will be premiering on PBS member station WVPT in Central, Western, and Northern Virginia as well as parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and DC. Check your local listings to see if you receive WVPT’s signal either over the air, on cable, or on satellite and watch the 13 episode season featuring new performances from lots of bands that have been on the show already. Having to come up with 13 one-hour episodes has been an excellent motivator to complete a number of episodes that have been awaiting mixing, editing, and uploading over the last 7 months, so I’m happy to say that updates will be a bit more regular for a while now. And to start this off, I’m happy to finally present Nick Coward & The Last Battle.

    Nick and his band come from Richmond, Virginia where they have received a lot of very positive press attention in music scene news. I met Nick through Aux friend, Wes Swing, who told me that they would be a great addition to the lineup on the show. Since then, I’ve seen that they are connected to a number of past and future guests including Nelly Kate and the artists from The Subterranea Collective. Their music is nothing short of beautiful, blending traditional rock instrumentation with cello and trumpet parts. Taking cues from C.S. Lewis and Iron and Wine, Nick’s often whisper soft vocals ride triumphantly over textural chords, exploding unexpectedly into yells that shake the soul. Their love of creative songwriting and fantasy literature create genuine worlds, characters, and stories within their music that will capture your imagination as much as move you emotionally.

    I couldn’t have been happier to get to have the band on the show, and only wish I had been able to get this online closer to when we taped it a year ago, but all this time later and I’m still in love with these songs. Connect with Nick Coward & The Last Battle online at their Facebook page and find their music on their Bandcamp page.

Episode 022: Nick Coward & The Last Battle | auxsend.tv
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Episode 021: Bryan Elijah Smith & The Wild Hearts | auxsend.tv
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Episode 020: Wargo | auxsend.tv
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