Photo by Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon/KUTX

For Rod Melancon, songs are never just about the melody or the words; they evoke specific times, specific places. One song takes him back to the backseat of a grey Lincoln Continental in southern Louisiana, classic country ringing around his ears. Another one reminds him of cruising L.A. after midnight, falling in love with music that tells a story. This week on My KUTX, the Austin-by-way-of-Louisiana singer-songwriter is our guest DJ, digging deep into what these songs and artists mean to him. He’s fresh off a tour with Hayes Carll and the release of Pinkville–a narrative-filled album recorded by Adrian Quesada–and you can see him at the Paramount on December 31. But first, hear Rod Melancon’s My KUTX on Saturday, December 7 at 6 p.m., or listen at any time in the player below.

–Art Levy // producer, My KUTX

Playlist:

1. Conway Twitty – “It’s Only Make Believe”

2. Ritchie Valens – “Come On Let’s Go”

3. Bruce Springsteen – “Candy’s Room”

4. Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Sinister Purpose”

5. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Here Comes My Girl”

6. Doug Kershaw – “Louisiana Man”

7. Freddy Fender – “Before The Next Teardrop Falls”

8. Link Wray & The Wraymen – “Rumble”

9. Kris Kristofferson – “The Pilgrim: Chapter 33”

10. Barbara Lynn – “You’ll Lose A Good Thing”

11. Neil Young – “Out On The Weekend”

12. Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters – “A Change Is Going To Come”

Illustration by Jacquie Fuller/KUTX

It’s as Thanksgiving as turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, more pumpkin pie, and what the heck, even more pumpkin pie: every year, KUTX gives thanks to some of our favorite musicians and music lovers by handing them the keys to the station. Beginning Thursday morning at 6 a.m., we’re serving up a My KUTX marathon. Each hour, a different musician will guest DJ for your Turkey Day pleasure. Check out the schedule below and don’t forget to tune in!

–Art Levy // producer, My KUTX

6 a.m. // Ley Line (playlist)

7 a.m. // Will Courtney (playlist)

8 a.m. // Hand Habits (playlist)

9 a.m. // Israel Nash (playlist)

10 a.m. // Dave Wakeling of the English Beat (playlist)

11 a.m. // Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas (playlist)

12 p.m. // John Doe of X (playlist)

1 p.m. // Margo Price (playlist)

2 p.m. // JD McPherson (playlist)

3 p.m. // Mobley (playlist)

4 p.m. // Shane Renfro of RF Shannon (playlist)

5 p.m. // Sasami (playlist)

6 p.m. // Moving Panoramas (playlist)

7 p.m. // Will Johnson (playlist)

8 p.m. // Music supervisor Maggie Phillips (playlist)

9 p.m. // Molly Burch (playlist)

10 p.m. // Carson McHone (playlist)

Photo by Andrea Garcia/KUTX

Daphne Tunes is an Austin-based band headed up by Santiago Dietche. A few years ago, you might have heard him with the fuzzy power-pop outfit Growl, but Daphne Tunes is a gentler animal. As he describes it, the music is for Sundays, contemplative and quiet but still packed with hooks. Daphne Tunes recently released its second album, Volume 2, and this week on My KUTX, Dietche gives us a tour of his influences as our guest DJ. Listen to My KUTX on Saturday, November 30 at 6 p.m. or at any time in the player below, and see the band at the Barracuda on December 4.

–Art Levy // producer, My KUTX

Playlist:

[intro music: Daphne Tunes – “Thinkin On A Mem”]

1. Arthur Russell – “Love Is Overtaking Me”

2. Chris Cohen – “Green Eyes”

3. Blood Orange – “E.V.P.”

4. Frank Ocean – “Self Control”

5. Faith Healer – “& Waiting”

6. Maria Usbeck – “Bosque De Bambú”

7. Pavement – “Spit On A Stranger”

8. Harry Nilsson – “Early In The Morning”

9. Elliott Smith – “Ballad Of Big Nothing”

10. Sun June – “Discotheque”

11. Fairport Convention – “Tale In Hard Time”

12. The Doobie Brothers – “What A Fool Believes”

13. Steely Dan – “Dirty Work”

14. Nick Drake – “Pink Moon”

15. Lomelda – “From Here”

Photo by Julia Reihs/KUTX

Over the past two decades, Will Johnson has steadily built a unique musical niche, first in Denton and now in Austin. He’s led bands like Centro-matic and South San Gabriel; collaborated with Jim James, Conor Oberst, Jay Farrar, and more; and toured around the country playing intimate living room shows.

Johnson’s music is similarly restless. This year’s Wire Mountain is subtle and sparse, fixated on the friction between quiet folk and noisy, fuzzed-out guitar jams. It’s fitting that Johnson’s guest DJ set also explores this intersection, offering up metallic punk, pre-war blues, and intense soul in equal measure. Ahead of his show at the Cactus Cafe, hear Will Johnson’s My KUTX on Saturday, November 23 at 6 p.m. or at any time in the player below.

–Art Levy // producer, My KUTX

Playlist:

[intro music: Will Johnson – “Cornelius”]

1. Denny Lile – “Hear The Bang”

2. Hüsker Dü – “These Important Years”

3. Elizabeth Cotten – “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad”

4. Dead Moon – “Graveyard”

5. Jim Sullivan – “Jerome”

6. Nina Simone – “Four Women”

7. Vic Chesnutt – “Speed Racer”

8. Magna Carda – “Back Then”

9. The Glands – “When I Laugh”

10. Sparklehorse – “King Of Nails”

11. Betty Harris – “There’s A Break In The Road”

12. Buck Meek – “Halo Light”

13. Roy Ayers Ubiquity – “Everybody Loves The Sunshine”

Hovvdy is the KUTX Artist of the Month for November. Photo by Julia Reihs/KUTX.

The songs on Hovvdy’s 2017 debut Taster are intensely intimate. Marked by lo-fi beats and distorted harmonies, it sounds like you’re listening to the band’s thoughts and emotions right at inception. For this year’s Heavy Lifter, the Austin duo expands their palette, but not at the expense of the band’s heartwrenching songwriting. This week on My KUTX, Hovvdy’s Will Taylor and Charlie Martin are the guest DJs, showing how everything from Frank Ocean’s melodies, Lucinda Williams’ directness, and Sparklehorse’s noisiness have influenced the band. Hear My KUTX on Saturday, November 16 or listen at any time below.

–Art Levy // producer, My KUTX

Playlist:

[intro music: Hovvdy – “Mr. Lee”]

1. Dijon – “CRYBABY :*(”

2. Sparklehorse – “Hammering The Cramps”

3. The Breeders – “Mad Lucas”

4. Frank Ocean – “In My Room”

5. Lucinda Williams – “Drunken Angel”

6. Katie Dey – “Y O Y O”

7. Nick Dorian – “Palisades”

8. Richard Buckner – “Willow”

9. Bon Iver – “U (Man Like)”

10. Young Thug – “What’s The Move” (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)

11. Suzanne Vega – “Tom’s Diner”

12. (Sandy) Alex G – “Sarah”

13. Vegyn – “It’s Nice To Be Alive”

14. Neil Young – “Til The Morning Comes”