The Sound

Tonight on The Sound, we dive into Honkytonks & Hangovers released in 2020. The Federales, based out of Minneapolis are an Americana band with it's roots firmly planted in old school country. Tonight we'll figure out how 18 wheelers, Brad Paisley and The Ryman Auditorium all tie together with The Federales. So get your ears on and buckle up for a wild ride through Honkytonks and Hangovers. I'm...

Today on The Sound we check out the latest album from Gregg Hall titled Echoes From The Treetops. Gregg, a staple in the regional music scene has played in numerous bands over the years from The Smokin’ Bandits, The White Iron Band and his own band Gregg Hall and the Wrecking Ball just to name a few. Echoes From The Treetops was recorded at the legendary Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls and was p...

Tonight on The Sound we turn it up with Twin Cities Breakdown, the latest album from Minneapolis punk rock duo New Rocket Union. New Rocket Union is John Ensley banging out guitar riffs and singing with Bruce Gustafson banging out the beat and backing vocals. The band describes themselves as garage punk and their straight ahead no frills style on this album grabs ahold of you and doesn’t let go un...

Tonight [SWJ1] on The Sound [SWJ2] we get down to the smooth pop sounds of Early Eyes [SWJ3] . Early Eyes is a five piece indie pop group from Minneapolis. Their latest album titled, Look Alive! Was released in Feb 2022 [SWJ4] on Epitaph Records. [SWJ5] The album was written during the pandemic and social justice uprisings in Minneapolis and takes you on a journey through a myriad of emotions and...

Tonight on The Sound we bring you the debut album, Auditory Pleasure Pods To Satisfy Your Lust For Nihilism from Swashbuckler. The Winona band is comprised of four members who would describe this album as a reflection of their own personal growth. They want listeners to experience a dimension like never before and immerse themselves in an auditory exploration of pleasure. I'm Brylee Harris, stick...

Tonight on The Sound we bring you the latest album from Becky Kapell titled, In It To Win It. Becky is a country and americana musician out of St. Paul, MN whose path to the Minnesota music scene has been a unique and interesting journey. In fact, the Minneapolis Star Tribune called Becky a “late-bloomer country crooner” because of her unique path and what some might call her late arrival, but we’...

A conversation with Rochester based band Amateur about their latest album, titled Every Little Thing. Rochester, MN based Alternative/Indie Rock band. 
 Amateur is: Chris Tauzell (Vocals/Guitar) Brody Heinzel (Guitar) Alex Ortberg (Bass) Justin Tauzell (Drums/Vocals) Jonathan Tauzell (Keys)  Original Air Date: 05/04/22.  The Sound is produced by KQAL FM, on the campus of Winona State University. T...

Tonight on The Sound we bring you the second full length album from Luke Hendrickson titled, A Place To Call Our Own. Luke is a country musician out of Rochester, MN whose unique take on classic country sounds evolves more with each release. A Place To Call Our Own is something of a concept album in that all the songs combine to paint a picture and tell a story, and just like his previous releases...

Tonight on The Sound we bring you Oof and their self-titled debut, out now on Winona’s own Ouids Records. Oof is Tyler Steinley, founder of Ouids Records and drummer extraordinaire for Sleeping Jesus, Afflatus and Swashbuckler. A staple and a force in the Winona music scene, Tyler’s or Oof’s story is a familiar one as of late. When Covid 19 quarantines hit other music projects slowed down and Oof...

Tonight on The Sound we bring you the debut album EXTEND, from Aura Vortex recording artists Robot Slide. This Minneapolis based band is comprised of three brothers, Matt, Jake, and Todd along with their good friend Liam. Aura Vortex describes their artists as “sort-of-pop” and I think it’s safe to say that Robot Slide most definitely sort-of fits into that category. This guitarless quartet uses v...

Tonight on The Sound we follow some rising stars through their explosive musical journey over the past year. During the quarantine times of the COVID-19 pandemic, siblings Austin and Taryn Durry came together to write some of the hookiest hooks we’ve heard in a while, seemingly cranking out tunes on the fly as their fan base grows and clammers for more. The band is Durry, they hail from Burnsville...

Tonight on The Sound we check out Mike Munson's latest album, Let Some Light In. Mike's music style encompasses a variety of blues traditions that he adds his own personal flare to. His website would describe tunes as ranging from sad and somber to swampy stompers with various creative twists. Mike joined me in the studio to talk about his new album, his creative process, and where you can find hi...

Tonight on The Sound we have a great collection of songs from the self-titled debut album by bluegrass super group The High Hawks. The High Hawks consist of six different members who all met while touring across the country and their latest album perfectly exemplifies everyone’s unique attributes that help the group work together in harmony. Adam Greuel joined me in the studio to talk about their...

Tonight, on The Sound we have an exclusive debut by midwestern artist Erik Shicotte titled Miss’ry Pacific. Miss’ry Pacific is Erik’s debut EP and is being released on Shooter Jennings’ Black Country Rock Records this Friday, July 16th. Tonight, we get to hear all six tracks from the EP, along with stories of how the songs and the EP came together to create what Erik calls a manifestation of midwe...

Tonight on The Sound we check out the latest from a Winona artist called Musically Inclined. Chad Cagle, the creative force behind Musically Inclined, is a local singer/songwriter that explores a wide variety of genres to create the diverse, eclectic sound that is, Musically Inclined. KQAL’s Isaac Yanta sat down with Chad, to talk about the music, the man behind the music and the future of the pro...

Tonight on The Sound we dive into a home brewed instrumental album by Rich Lyga of Hallowed Ground. Rich has been part of the Winona area music scene for over 30 years and is most known in the area for fronting local metal band Hallowed Ground. Rich’s 3rd and latest album, titled Speechless, is a collection of instrumental tracks that show off his songwriting and his prowess on the guitar. Rich jo...

Tonight on The Sound we check out the latest album by Winona band Afflatus. Their new album titled, Is Called To Try, consists of 5 new tracks that the band laid down all in one take. Tonight, KQAL’s Paige Romanowski sits down with Afflatus drummer Tyler Steinley to talk about the new album, their process and what the future holds for the band. So stick around for some jangly, loose jams from a ba...

Tonight on The Sound we check out some new tunes from Minneapolis punk duo New Rocket Union. NRU has a stripped down no frills in your face sound with hooks reminiscent of The Ramones and an energy that makes you feel like your at a Vans Warped Tour show. The band has released three new singles and they took some time out to chat with us on the phone about the new tunes, some old tunes and ripping...

Tonight on The Sound we have a preview of the brand new album from the Minneapolis, rock 'n' roll band, Kiss the Tiger. Kiss the Tiger has a sound drawing influences like Patti Smith, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, and Iggy Pop. Their new album, Vicious Kid, comes out tomorrow, June 3rd, and lead vocalist, Meghan Kreidler, took some time to chat with us on the phone about the new music featured on...

Tonight on The Sound we have Winona’s own Karate Chop Silence with us to talk about their brand new album titled Lightninging. Lightninging is the bands first full length album since releasing No MSG in 2018. After 2 years of hard work and road testing the tunes on various local stages, the album is finally here, so tonight you’re in for a treat. because these masters of silent karate and loud mus...

Tonight on The Sound we check out the latest release from Bad Acid Cult. I sat down with Jason Robertson, the creative force behind Bad Acid Cult to talk about electronic music and his new double album release, Ryukenden: Hikiari and Ryukenden: Kage. Inspired by the music in the NES video games Ninja Gaiden 1 and 2, this release has special meaning to Robertson and we dive into the themes of Frien...

Hold on, because tonight on The Sound we’re gonna hit 88mph as we take you back to the mid 80s for The Victims album Silent Dreams. Originally released on vinyl in 1986, Silent Dreams is now being re-released in digital form, a whole 35 years after it’s original release. We caught up with Victims vocalist and keyboardist, Steve Harm to find out what it was like to start a band, make a record and b...

Tonight on The Sound we check out Life Trip, an album by the band Bright-Eyed and Blind. Life Trip is full of good hooks and guitar driven pop-rock tunes. The 5 piece group joins us tonight to discuss the making of the album, a year without shows including a long overdue release party, and plans for another album. I’m Bill Stoneberg, stick around for Life Trip with Bright-Eyed and Blind, tonight o...

Tonight on The Sound we check out Sweet and Lonely, the latest release from Sleeping Jesus frontman Nick Elstad. Sweet and Lonely is a lo-fi bedroom pop project that Nick has been working on over the past year. With four singles and a potential EP in the works, Sweet and Lonely delivers a brand of pop that is well, both sweet and lonely. The good hooks and good vibes of Sweet and Lonely will leave...

Tonight on The Sound we check out Second Attempt by The Shackletons. The Shackletons are an energetic punk rock band from Minneapolis. I caught up with the band when they played Ed’s no name Bar for the 2019 Mid Wes Music Fest. The band discusses the possibility of a new album, a summer show with The Posies at The Turf Club and of course we discuss bigfoot and even the Loch Ness Monster. Stick aro...