Who Needs Shakespeare?, Future Of Baseball, Wisconsin Band Scene

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Public radio icon Ira Glass attracted plenty of twitter attention when he chided a Shakespeare performance for being unrelatable. We speak with an English professor about the value of the writer’s work. Then we discuss the business of baseball, as a new MLB commissioner is selected, and explore Wisconsin’s contemporary band scene.

Featured in this Show

  • WPT Host Shares 3 Must-Hear Tracks From Wisconsin Artists

    In the mood for some fresh, locally grown music? Andy Moore, host of the “30-Minute Music Hour” on Wisconsin Public Television has three must-hear songs from some up-and-coming musical acts right here in Wisconsin.

    “Light” by Klassik

    Milwaukee-artist Klassik made a huge splash this year at the South by Southwest music festival, and Moore said he expects even bigger things to come.

    “This is a young act, a hungry act, a very professional, very going-places act,” he said.

    Moore described Klassik’s sound as “a tremendous melding of old school R&B, but with some really edgy soul.”

    The song “Light” comes off Klassik’s 2013 LP, “YRP (Young Rising Phenoms).”

    “Gone, Baby Gone” by Meridene

    “When we have ringing guitars, and crystal, crystal-clear vocals, we’ve got what amounts to a great pop band from Eau Claire called Meridene,” Moore said. “They’re upbeat and poppy in kind of a throwback way.”

    In addition to the sound, Moore noted the band’s communication onstage is a joy to watch. The song “Gone, Baby Gone” comes off the band’s 2010 album, “Something Like Blood.”

    “Christmas In July” by The Traveling Suitcase

    There’s a musical movement afoot in the Fox Valley, and Oshkosh’s the Traveling Suitcase seems to be right at the heart of it. Moore said drummer and lead singer Nicole Rae is really starting to turn heads.

    “When she sings, people want to compare her to Janis Joplin,” he said. “You can really hear it when she rocks hard.” The song “Christmas In July” appears on the band’s 2013 EP, “Live Clippings.”

  • Is Shakespeare Unrelatable?

    Recently, Ira Glass raised ire by tweeting that Shakespeare was unrelateable after attending a performance of Shakespeare in the Park in New York. Today, we consider the question: Is Shakespeare overrated?

  • With Change Coming At The Top, What Does The Future Hold For Baseball?

    As Major League Baseball selects its new commissioner, a sports economist talks about the business of baseball, the current state of the game, and what changes could be in the works to keep the sport strong in the coming decades.

  • Share Some Music: Wisconsin's Pop Scene

    In this week’s edition of “Share Something,” the host of Wisconsin Public Television’s “30 Minute Music Hour” shares highlights from the state’s pop music scene.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Chris Malina Producer
  • Andy Moore Guest
  • Holger Syme Guest
  • Andrew Zimbalist Guest

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