The Sound

Tonight, on The Sound we get into the latest EP from Minneapolis artist Clare Doyle, titled: Stranger. Clare Doyle is an Americana/country artist who burst on the scene in  2023 with a string of singles that made quite an impression with audiences across the state and beyond. And judging from this latest EP, Stranger it doesn’t look like that momentum will slow anytime soon. Clare has a gorgeous country crooner style voice, and her songs will take you on a journey through love, love lost, and even love gone wrong as the stories have us running from the wro...

Legend has it that this story we are about to dive into was started 10 years ago with a three act bill, some sharpied band sketches on a two-color flyer, and a name at a place with no name. Legend also has it that any genre was and still is fair game, nothing is out of the question. And if you’ve ever been to a Radderdaze show at No Name bar here in Winona then you know what we’re talking about here tonight. Next weekend on Fri and Sat, Feb 28 and March 1st, Radderdaze celebrates 10 Years of better than...

Legend has it that this story we are about to dive into was started 10 years ago with a three act bill, some sharpied band sketches on a two-color flyer, and a name at a place with no name. Legend also has it that any genre was and still is fair game, nothing is out of the question. And if you’ve ever been to a Radderdaze show at No Name bar here in Winona then you know what we’re talking about here tonight. Next weekend on Fri and Sat, Feb 28 and March 1st, Radderdaze celebrates 10 Years of better than...

Tonight, on The Sound we talk with Dante DeGrazia about his newest album Pe the Weople. DeGrazia known for playing in bands such as Sleeping Jesus and Texas Toast shows off his creativity and work ethic in this October 31st release. This album forces its listeners to step out of their comfort zones discussing topics such as education, consumerism, and politics through the use of archival clips and narration, mixed with layers of instruments and sounds. . The album is not for the faint at heart but its strong message and storytelling is something that makes this album one to l...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you an exclusive look at the new album by Gregg Hall, titled Exit 222. The album will be available this Saturday, Oct 26 2024 as Gregg plays a release party at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts here in Winona. Based in La Crosse, WI, Gregg Hall is a local staple playing his brand of country and americana with his band The Wrecking Ball and with Minnesota country faves, The White Iron Band. If you’ve seen Gregg play you know that he’s the real deal and has the stories to prove it, and lucky for...

Tonight on The Sound, we indulge in the world of memes translated into music by WSU professors Dr Davin Heckman and Dr Talon Memmott, or otherwise known as by their band name, Clickbait. Clickbait is a project that started off in roughly 2015 translating popular memes into something musically spectacular. Tonight, Dr Memmott joins me as we discuss the band's history as well as talk about their EP, ANGRY EMOJI, which was released in 2022. I'm Dylan Alzate, and you're not, so get some snacks, grab some water, as we dive into some Clickbait and their EP, pensive emoji- wait hold...

Tonight on The Sound we bring you some Minnesota Rock from Minneapolis Band Valors with their latest album, Play of Fools, that was released June 14th 2024. Valors has had quite a few Incarnations, but Play of Fools will be the second album released by this garage punk band. Tonight we sit down with the founding member of the band, Ian Valor, and discuss the ins and outs of each songs and how the band has grown and changed over the years. I'm Dylan Alzate, and you probably aren't, so get comfy and grab some snacks as we get into...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you the newest upcoming album  Terrible Things by St Paul based band A Piano In Every Home. 
Terrible Things is the bands third full length album and their fifth release this year. their usual indie folk styleis fully present in this latest release but the band took the opportunity to play around with other sounds using instruments such as the mandolin, dobro, and even an EBow synthesizer to make each track stands out from the rest. These guys have been busy . But their schedule did not stop them from creating a truly me...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you an exclusive look at the latest album by Molly Brandt, titled American Saga which comes out this Friday, Sept 27, 2024. Molly Brandt is a rising star in the Minneapolis country scene, but she pulls from a variety of genres on American Saga making it an eclectic mix that has a little something for everyone. American Saga includes everything from banjo’s and chimes, to synthesizers and distorted guitars on tunes ranging from classic country to straight up pop! American Saga is Molly Brandt’s second full length album and is proof that she has...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you the soulful sounds of the latest album from Winona’s own, Ghostland Radio.

This self-titled album marks a new chapter for the Winona-based band, featuring some changes in their lineup. The band's sound has reached a whole new level with the addition of three new members, Sierra, Mariah and Jim rounding out the band’s sound with powerful female vocals and electrifying guitar riffs.

So, if you’re searching the dial for something a little different, something with more power, something ethereal, something that stands out from the static...

Tonight, on The Sound we fly high as we bring you the newest album from Minneapolis based band Humbird. This album titled Right On is Humbird’s third full length album and features the band’s signature indie folk sound. The songs are captivating and full of intense imagery depicting everything from the deep cuts of heartbreak and white supremacy to the untamable beauty of nature. 
Tonight, we sit down with lead singer and songwriter Siri Undlin to discuss the intricacies of the tracks, the bands unique approach to recording the album, and ask the important question of if sh...

Tonight, on The Sound we sit down with Dylan Mazurkiewicz the lead singer and guitarist of Garden Home to dig into their self-titled debut full length album. Garden Home, self-described as a post hardcore screamo rock band has grown quite a following in their native home of Milwaukee Wisconsin and this album is sure to sprout some more. Their debut album consists of 8 heart pounding, head banging, mosh pit forming tracks that warrant more than a second listen. The lyrics themselves tackle some serious topics but make sure to sprinkle in a little bit of sunshine that reflects lead...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you the latest “gem” from Cole Diamond titled, Trailer Park Troubadour. Cole Diamond is a Minneapolis treasure and his latest EP is a shining example of good writing, good taste, and down-home good vibes. The EP starts out with a cover of “Where Corn Don’t Grow,” originally done by Waylon Jennings and it only gets better from there. If you haven’t heard Cole Diamond yet, then Trailer Park Troubadour is a great place to start. I’m Bill Stoneberg, here to ask the tough questions like, “are diamonds really a girl’s best friend?” St...

Tonight, on The Sound we talk with Eleanor Sievers about her debut self-titled Ep. Though she might only be 16 years old Eleanor has no problem singing and playing her tunes on stages in and around her hometown of Rochester MN. her debut Ep originally released in November of 2023 features songs containing relatable themes of love and hope with great lyrical imagery and some killer guitar backing played by Eleanor herself. Tonight, we dive deeper into her process of creating her first solo ep, learn more about the origins and inspirations behind some of her songs, and discuss the role...

Tonight, on The Sound we spin the latest album from Minneapolis country crooner, Jeffrey Robert Larson. The album, titled “Country & Western Songs For The Americas,” is chock full of classic country sounds and heartfelt stories. The kind of stories that make you yearn for lost love, drown your sorrows or just take a good hard look in the mirror. It’s the kind of album that sounds good whether you are up or down, the kind of album that reassures you that no matter what, you are not alone. That others have felt the same pain or worse, and that l...

Tonight, on The Sound we take a trip over the river and through the woods for an exclusive debut from Fox River Valley faves Redshift Headlights. “If You Are Around Still” is the latest release from Redshift Headlights and its official release date is this Friday, July 12th 2024. Tonight we bring you an exclusive sneak peak at the album. The album will be the fourth release for the Oshkosh WI based band and was engineered by the late Steve Albini at Electrical Audio studios in Chicago just weeks before his sudden and tragic passing. Tonight, we talk to the guys...

Tonight, on The Sound we speak with Jake Pavek and Travis Erickson from the Minneapolis based, band A Piano in Every Home on their new compilation album, North American Review. These guys are some serious songwriters and hearing them talk about their writing process is sure to fascinate and inspire you. Oddly enough, much of the album seems to lack the instrument the band was named after, but we will get more into that later. I'm Abby Hawkey with KQAL's Bill Stoneberg and this is Jake Pavek and Travis Erickson from A Piano in Every Home on The Sound.

onight on The Sound, we're bringing a special treat to hype up the 15th year of Midwest Music Fest. To celebrate, we're joined in the studio by a handful of artists such as the Radium Girls, Charlie Boy, Chutes, Joe Westerlund as well as Nathan Graham as we get to know them before the weekend of the festival.

I'm Dylan Alzate, and kick back and grab some snacks as we dive into a taste of Midwest Music Fest 2024 tonight on The Sound.

Original Airdate: 5/8/24

The Sound is written and produced by KQAL 89.5FM...

Tonight, on The Sound we have a Midwest Music Fest Preview show. We’re joined by Chris of Collections of Colonies of Bees, Sean form the Heiruspecs, Marcus of Waisted, and Mike of the Mike Munson Trio as these guys answer some hard-hitting questions leading up to the festival.

I’m Ryan Flanders, kick back and enjoy as we bring you a little taste of what is to come at Midwest Music Fest 2024 tonight on The Sound.

Original Air Date: 05/01/24

The Sound is written and produced by KQAL FM...

 Today on the sound we are joined by H3O Jazz Trio as they discuss their first album Tafel Jazz. The Winona based trio consisting of a father and his two sons started playing music together in 2011 when they were requested to play at a private pool party. The three musicians continued playing jazz ever since and have played with several other Jazz performers including John Paulson and John Seivers. 

Original Air Date: 03/13/24

The Sound is written and produced by KQAL 89.5FM on the campus of Winona State University. 

The Sound is made pos...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you the self-titled debut from Scott Hefte and the Bury ‘Em Deep from Minneapolis. You’ve heard of country and western? Well, get ready for rock and western. That’s right, Mr. Hefte and the band seamlessly combine rock with a western feel and aesthetic, so in essence, they’ve dropped the roll and inserted western. Just to be clear here, they aren’t dropping and rolling, they are just dropping the roll off rock and roll and replacing it with western, I mean, I don’t know about any real roll off, per se, I ju...

Tonight, on The Sound we check out the self-titled debut album from Bird and Air all the way from Oshkosh, WI. Bird and Air is the solo project from Steve McCabe, the frontman for Redshift Headlights, a staple of the Fox Valley music scene. Bird and Air’s self-titled debut is a collection of nine tunes that range from deep heartfelt emotion to silly but always close to the artist’s heart. All nine tracks have very personal stories and themes and cover the range of human experiences like being a parent or being a child or falling in love...

Tonight, on The Sound we check out the latest from Minneapolis recording artist, Future Babel. Future Babel released their Monkey Man EP in October of 2023 and tonight we will check out all four tunes from the EP as well as some singles and covers that were also released throughout the fall of 2023. From Buddy Holly to Marty McFly to the Violent Femmes, tonight’s episode is all over the place, like a barrel full of monkeys! And I hear it’s just as fun! So buckle up and prepare to hit 88 miles per hour with Future Bable’s Monkey Man EP...

Tonight, on The Sound we check out the debut EP “1, 2, 3 ,4” by Waisted. These Winona based rockers know how to 1. Have a good time, 2. Rock out, 3. Count, and most importantly 4. Make some banger music. Marcus, Connor, and Amber from the band join us this week to chat about their love for making music and the beauties of the local music scene.

I’m Ryan Flanders, take a seat, get your counting fingers ready, and enjoy the stories of Waisted as we listen to their debut EP “1, 2, 3, 4,” tonight on The Sound.

Original Air Date: 2/28/2

JuneThaKid: Just Get Home Safe 

Original air date: 02/21/24.
 The Sound is written and produced by KQAL 89.5FM on the campus of Winona State University.
 The Sound is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Tonight, on the Sound we kick off this Valentines season with a bang... and no, I didn't bring chocolates, but instead I brought some local rock music featuring an exclusive debut of Our Chemistry is a Tightrope by none other than Porcupine... or is it our physics was a bungee cord by hedgehog?... or maybe... I don't know! Whether you typically prefer squirrels, meerkats, or prairie dogs, you're bound to fall in love with Porcupine and their latest hits. I'm Dylan Alzate, here to kick off the season of love with pure rock band Porcupine, tonight, on the Sound.<...

Tonight, on The Sound we check out Luke Callen's upcoming album, Also Going Nowhere. Despite the name, this one is definitely going somewhere according to the likes of Charlie Parr and a Storied First Avenue Bartender. Luke joins us tonight to talk about songwriting, lyrics, and the everyday inspirations that helped create this latest album. I’m Ryan Flanders, kick back with your fishin‘ rod and enjoy the stories as we take a trip through Luke Callen's newest album, Also Going Nowhere, tonight on The Sound.

Original air date: 01/31/24.
 The Sound is written and produced by KQAL...

Amanda Grace: Give Me Away

Original air date: 02/07/24.
 The Sound is written and produced by KQAL 89.5FM on the campus of Winona State University.
 The Sound is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Tonight, on The Sound we check out the latest album from Turbo Pastel, called well, Turbo Pastel, what else? As someone once said, it’s fast and it’s Easter colors! I don’t know who that person is or was, but I believe them. Tonight, the creative force behind Turbo Pastel, Ben Burwell becomes our tour guide as he pulls back the curtain to give us a glimpse into the creative process that went into making Turbo Pastel. 

I’m Bill Stoneberg, saying hang on to your hats and put all your Easter eggs in one basket (u...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you a little gem with a great big sound called Big Blue EP, by The Mascot Theory. Hailing from Madison, WI, The Mascot Theory has been around for a while now but has recently put the pedal down to take their sound from acoustic to rock in 0 point…  seconds? Oh boy, math. Hmmm… anyway, you get the picture, these guys Rock! So let’s not waste time splitting hairs and counting seconds, strap yourself in and hang on tight for the rock n roll ride that is Big Blue EP by The Mascot Theory...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you a little band that’s making a big impression on folks lately, Charlieboy. Springing up out of La Crosse WI, Charlieboy has a growing following and their latest album People Garden is sure to grow on you. Indie, pop, rock, Bjork? Rock, paper, scissors? Huh?… their bio says that Jake thinks they’re weird and mom thinks they’re rock stars. Ha, either way we think you’re gonna love this album, we sure do. I’m Bill Stoneberg and like I said, it’ll grow on ya! So plant yer butt down somewhere...

Today on The Sound we are joined by local artist Trajan Schaub as he presents a few singles from his roster of music. Join us for an exclusive debut from local artist Trajan Schaub, tonight on The Sound!

Original air date: 01/17/24.
 The Sound is written and produced by KQAL 89.5FM on the campus of Winona State University.
 The Sound is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Tonight on the Sound we kick off the year with a new years treat from Local Winona featuring an exclusive debut joined by none other than LAN3S, an alternative rapper with her new album, Wannabe Superstar. Is she a wannabe, is she a superstar? Who knows? Either way you're bound to get jamming to each of these tunes so you can tell everyone you heard them here first. Before I say more, I'm Dylan Alzate here to bring you LAN3S with the exclusive debut of Wannabe Superstar, tonight on the Sound. 

Original air date: 01/10/24.
T...

Tonight on The Live Feed, we have a special holiday episode featuring Winona’s own Johnson Street Underground. Johnson Street Underground is an a capella group that covers a wide variety of musical genres from Dolly Parton to the Beatles to Adele. Tonight they turn their talents more towards themes of wintery nights, holiday cheer and Christmas. The group is comprised of Matt Schultz as the dramatic tenor, Seth Flatten as the lyric tenor, Charlie Opatz as the baritone and John Chernega as the b-b-b-b-b-basss. This holiday concert by the Johnson Street Underground was performed at the Winona Arts Ce...

Tonight, on The Sound we have a special holiday treat for you. No, it’s not sugar cookies, it doesn’t really have a bow or pretty wrapping on it and it didn’t come from a jolly bearded fella… or did it? At any rate, like I said, this is our special holiday episode of The Sound. This  will be the very first holiday episode that we’ve done here at The Sound. Who knows, maybe it’ll go well, hell, maybe you’ll even like it. Maybe we can do it again next year. Well  enough dreamin of future sugar...

Tonight, on The Sound Nick Elstad of Winona’s own, Sleeping Jesus joins us to talk about the bands latest album, Hollywood Smile. Although the band has released a handful of singles and EPs in the past, Hollywood Smile, released December 4th 2023, is the band’s second full length album. And it’s a solid record that will put a smile on your face for sure. Tonight we’re going to play through the whole album for you while Nick takes us behind the behind the scenes for a glimpse at how Sleeping Jesus writes and records their music and what...

Tonight, on The Sound we imbibe some beautiful brew-grass with an exclusive debut of the latest album from The MilBillies, titled Capital B. Hailing from Milwaukee as their name implies, the MilBillies bring their own brand of barn dancin’, barn burnin’, rip roarin rocket fueled party time brew-grass… you heard me right, I said it again, brew-grass. I caught up with Joe Wais from the MilBillies, well we just talked on the phone really, it’s not like I chased him down or that he was running away or anything like that… anyway, Joe fills us in on what went into...

Today on the sound we are joined by local artist John Paulson as he talks about his new album The Refuge Project. Starting his music career in Rochester MN John Paulson has made a career for himself teaching music at Saint Mary’s University and teaching Jazz Studies at Winona State University. He has performed with The Cab Calloway Orchestra, Mel Torme, Andy Williams, Bob Hope, The Temptations, Johnny Mathis, and several theater and dance troupes. We have this Local Jazz Legend here in the studio with us but first lets get into the music. 
Original air date: 11/08/23.
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Tonight on The Sound we give you Winona's own, Dante De Grazia with his latest album, Nothing Ever Happens, but I gotta add, a lot happens here. Tonight we bring him into the studio to get a look behind the scenes. So go relax and grab some snacks, as we present Dante De Grazia, tonight on The Sound.
Original Airdate: 11/29/23
The Sound is written and produced by KQAL 89.5FM on the campus of Winona State University.
The Sound is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Tonight, on The Sound we dig into the latest album by Pert Near Sandstone, titled Waiting Days. Hailing from the Minneapolis/St Paul area, Pert Near, as the band is affectionately known, have long been an important part of the Minnesota americana/roots rock scene. With a career spanning pert near 20 years (hehe), these guys show no signs of slowing down any time soon. Annnd, their latest album, Waiting Days is proof that they are just as relevant today as they were pert near 20 years ago… yea I know, but I can’t seem to help myself. I’m Bill S...