Local Vibes Live hosted For Me For You, a Las Cruces alternative rock band three years into building a sound that draws from the Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Breeders, and Incubus, among others. Vocalist Micaela, guitarists David and Emmy, bassist Ethan, and drummer Tony talked with hosts Alex Brinkley and Casey Chacón about the band's origin - Tony and David jamming together for years before the current lineup came together - and their three-track EP Three Steps Forward, recorded late one night in the KTAL studio. The conversation also touched on their forthcoming full-length, The End of the Bit, a 12-track LP recorded at a home studio the band set up themselves, due out later this year.
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Local Vibes Live hosted Stillbefriends, a San Antonio indie rock band whose visit coincided with the show's one-year anniversary. Natalie, Jeremiah, Cole, Noah, and Josh - several of them bandmates going back to a 2017 project called Ponder - regrouped in October 2023 after years apart, and the name Stillbefriends became both a mission statement and a mantra. In conversation with hosts Alex Brinkley and Casey Chacón, the band talked about their sound (dreamy guitar lines, synth-driven textures, drumming rooted in rock and gospel), their growing San Antonio fanbase, and a set that mixed three already-released singles with three newer songs still in progress. Their stop at KTAL was part of a short road trip that included a show the following night at Mona Bar in El Paso.
Local Vibes Live hosted Lighttube Logcabin, a Las Cruces emo-ish trio whose sound draws from Midwest emo, post-punk, and grunge — think twinkly guitars, screamed vocals, and a punk-driven rhythm section. Julian (guitar/vocals), Javery (bass), and John Mateo (drums) talked with hosts Alex Brinkley and Casey Chacón about the band's evolution from bedroom jams to a working live lineup, their revolving-door history with guitarists, and the El Paso and Las Cruces scenes they've been navigating since their first show in 2023. Julian's dad, who played drums in the early days of the band before John came aboard, also joined in for a song. A debut single, "Required Reading," is expected out soon.
Local Vibes Live hosted Papayas Con Chile, a Las Cruces trio blending cumbia, punk, folk, and borderlands sounds into something entirely their own. Founding members Celina Corral and Kayla Martinez, joined by Israel Chavez since 2024, draw from roots spanning Ciudad Juárez, Northern New Mexico, and the Mesilla Valley — and from nine years of playing together, collaborating, and living in each other's orbit. Their live set included original songs exploring heartbreak and resilience, a father-daughter story set to a driving march tempo, a cumbia, and a closing canción protesta called "Mariposa." In conversation with hosts Alex Brinkley and Casey Chacón, the band described their music as sonidos de la frontera — street sounds shaped by cumbia, polka, waltz, ranchera, and whatever else the border carries with it.
 Hosts Alex Brinkley and Casey Chacón welcome Planet I Love You to Local Vibes Live for an energetic in-studio performance and conversation. Formed in 2019, the six-piece indie rock band talks about growing from a small project into a collaborative group rooted in community, connection, and shared experience. Between live performances of original songs, the band reflects on their songwriting process, the meaning behind their name, recent creative growth, and plans for upcoming recordings and touring.
In this New Year’s Day edition of Local Vibes Live, hosts Alexandra Brinkley and Casey Chacón welcome MT KUP, a Las Cruces indie dark-wave duo whose sound emerged from the isolation and creative experimentation of the pandemic.
Local Vibes Live joins forces with KTAL’s Saturday night punk block for a special remote from the Valley Sessions Live music festival at The Hood. Hosts Alex Brinkley and Casey Chacón showcase an intimate set from Era Snow, a dark and cinematic performance from Los Angeles band Velvet Penny, and a high-energy bilingual closer from Papayas Con Chile, along with on-air conversations that dig into songwriting, influences, and the growing Las Cruces arts scene—including a segment with tintype photographer Nick Gialanella of Dead Still Tintype Studio. Johnny Catalog (Catalog) and Tone Deaf (Smear Campaign) also join in and talk about how their Saturday night shows and community radio help listeners discover new punk, hardcore, and underground sounds.
In this reflective episode of Local Vibes Live, hosts Alex Brinkley and Casey Chacón welcome guitarist and composer Santana Garcia, whose intricate finger-style playing creates immersive, meditative soundscapes.
Born and raised near Anthony, New Mexico, Santana shares how growing up among cotton fields and open skies shaped his creative approach to music. Between performances of original pieces, he discusses his evolution from punk and Midwest-emo roots to the expressive acoustic style that defines his solo work today. In this elegant, swinging episode of Local Vibes Live, hosts Alexandra Brinkley and Casey Chacón welcome the Lush Life Quintet, Las Cruces’ award-winning jazz ensemble led by bassist George Jacobs.
Joining Jacobs in the studio are Miguel Torres on piano, Rex Malgoza on saxophone, Mark Mathias on drums, and vocalist Danika Toscano, whose smooth phrasing and classic tone bring warmth to every standard. The quintet performs timeless favorites including Dream a Little Dream of Me, Autumn Leaves, All of Me, Fever, and Fly Me to the Moon, each reimagined with the band’s signature blend of bossa nova, pop, and contemporary influences. In this first concert edition of Local Vibes Live, hosts Alexandra Brinkley and Casey Chacón broadcast live from Hubbard’s Music & More during the annual Hubfest in Las Cruces. The show featured several live performances from the 575 Band and one from the Cosmic Unknown at the end of hour, along with interviews of Drew Hubbard and several of the musicians.
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