There’s a new indie rock kid in town. Although he may not wear the flannel shirt and Converse uniform, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams is proving his music cred with his new Web-only show "BriTunes."
The show kicked off its debut episode Monday with Williams interviewing folk/garage-rockers Deer Tick. The 3:39 minute vlog features Williams and the guys discussing fame and the meaning behind their song “Dirty Dishes” as well as footage of the band playing live.
Williams explains on the MSNBC Web site that he’s not to blame for the cheesy name of the show but that he is a hardcore fan who hopes to chat up mostly emerging acts.
“Okay, so I didn't name this thing, but I did come up with the idea. I have always loved identifying good music and good groups -- discovering them early (bar bands are best) and following them through their journey. While we'll interview some established musicians, mostly I'd like this to be a place where people can sample some of the great music being created every day, by talented musicians who wouldn't dream of doing anything else.”
Williams told Rolling Stone that he’s a “music freak” and that if he’s going to a friend’s party, he brings along his iPod and insists on doing the music for the night.
But don’t worry about him becoming too cool for school.
“No one should fear me becoming a tragic hipster. I may be a hipster, but never tragic. I'm not going to bars in Brooklyn and drinking PBRs,” Williams told RS. “I did that when I was 18. I was a fireman on the Jersey shore and I have a huge advantage because we stalked a new band then called Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. Those were great days.”
Hee. I love that Williams calls himself a hipster. This guy is great.
In another vlog on MSNBC.com, Williams said he’d love to interview The Knux and Great Lake Swimmers. Here are a few tunes he recommends: Camera Obscura’s “French Navy,” Carina Round’s “Do You,” BrakesBrakesBrakes “Two Shocks,” Florence & The Machine's “Dog Days are over” and The Republic Tigers’ “Building and Mountains.”
Check out "BriTunes" by clicking here.
Read the Rolling Stone article here.