PBS’ Soundstage ’09 Season Announced

Fall Out Boy, Sugarland, OneRepublic, Death Cab For Cutie, Josh Groban, Jackson Browne and Billy Idol among the shows.

By Blurt Staff

The ground breaking primetime music television series, Soundstage has announced its seventh and 2009 summer season. The season will begin airing nationally on PBS on June 18 with a performance by Jackson Browne.  Airing through July, the summer season includes one-hour performances by Fall Out Boy, OneRepublic, Sugarland, Death Cab For Cutie (Ben Gibbard, pictured above), Billy Idol, and Josh Groban.

"We are so fortunate to have attracted such a diverse group of artists for the seventh season of Soundstage," says Joe Thomas, producer/director, Soundstage. "I think more and more musicians are realizing that coming on our show gives them the rare opportunity to solely perform their best work in an intimate setting, for TV."

Over the years, Soundstage, the innovative and prestigious program achieved widespread critical acclaim and featured the artists that defined the era, including Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Al Green, the Doobie Brothers, Harry Chapin, Dionne Warwick, the Temptations, and Kenny Loggins, among others. Since Soundstage was reintroduced in 2003, performers have included the Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Joss Stone, Wilco, Sonic Youth, the All American Rejects, KT Tunstall, Train, Alison Kraus, Alanis Morissette, Alan Jackson, and more.

Soundstage returned to PBS with Thomas at the helm. Partnering with WTTW, Thomas and his production company specializing in combining high-definition television and cutting-edge surround sound gave Soundstage a state-of-the-art makeover. Thomas' concept was to combine the singular musical performances of the original show with an ultra modern stage boasting innovative 5.1 audio and hi-def visual technologies. 

The majority of the concerts are filmed before small studio audiences, at WTTW's Grainger Studio in Chicago. However, for the seventh season, Soundstage has veered away from its usual format filming Josh Groban's performance in the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Check the official website (http://www.pbs.org/wttw/soundstage) for more details.

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Here's the breakdown of shows:

Jackson Browne: June 18: Rock's poet laureate, Jackson Browne has written and performed some of the most literate and moving songs in popular music and has defined a genre of songwriting charged with honesty, emotion and personal politics. Browne delivers a remarkable performance during his Soundstage set featuring tracks from his latest studio release, Time the Conqueror, such as the album's title track and "Drums of War," as well as hits from his previous 11 studio albums, "Doctor My Eyes," and "Boulevard."

OneRepublic: June 25: Grammy-nominated OneRepublic, whose sound features prominent piano riffs and anthemic pop/rock melodies, displays boundless energy throughout this episode of Soundstage. Offering rousing performances of hit singles "Apologize," "Stop and Stare," "Say (All I Need)" and "Mercy." The set also includes tracks from their debut CD Dreaming Out Loud, along with a fantastic version of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy."

Sugarland: July 2:  Jennifer Nettles' voice can hold its own in any setting, but exceeds expectations alongside partner Kristian Bush's mandolin strumming at the Grainger Studio. During this sensational hour, Sugarland presents a versatile set that gains momentum with each song. "Joey" is heartbreakingly sincere; "Everyday America" reveals strong, twangy vocals while broken-down acoustics give "Stay" a more traditional country sound. Their forte is to effortlessly transition from energetic pop songs to heartfelt, soulful ballads without skipping a beat. The dynamic duo also present older classics like "Baby Girl" and even venture into covers of R.E.M to pay homage to shared Atlanta roots during their set.

Death Cab For Cutie: July 9: Indie rock favorite turned major label sensation Death Cab for Cutie presents an impeccable set on this episode of Soundstage.  Lead vocalist Ben Gibbard's cozy voice has an engaging quality that ropes you in on songs from their new EP The Open Door, 2008 studio album Narrow Stairs and highlights from their prolific catalog. Don't miss their performance of "I Will Possess Your Heart," "The Sound of Settling," "Cath" and many others!

Billy Idol: July 16: 80's rock icon, Billy Idol takes Soundstage by storm with a fast-paced, intense, pulsating, and exciting show.  Idol presents a high-energy rock and roll blowout with classic hits like "Dancing with Myself," "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding."

Fall Out Boy: July 23: With their stadium rock riffs and anthem choruses, Chicago-based Fall Out Boy offers up unparalleled energy in this Soundstage set. Vocalist/guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, drummer Andy Hurley and guitarist Joe Trohman make up the perfect pop punk quartet. Amidst bass twirling, drum solos, and roaring power chords, Stump delivers strong vocals from start to finish, ricocheting to falsetto and back on recent hits "America's Suitehearts" and "I Don't Care." Other show highlights include "Dance, Dance," "Sugar, We're Goin Down," and "Thnks fr the Mmrs."

Josh Groban: July 30: "Josh Groban, An Evening in New York City":

An internationally renowned performer who has sold more than 23 million albums worldwide, Josh Groban has thrilled a legion of devoted fans with his flawless baritone and extraordinary stage presence. Performed in the intimate setting of the Rose Theater at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, this exhilarating program includes favorites from his best-selling albums, including "Alla Luce del Sole," "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" and "February Song." The concert features guest appearances by award winning trumpeter Chris Botti who joins Groban in performing "Broken Vow" and master musician Herbie Hancock who plays the keyboard for "Machine."