Song of the Day: Kindling - Blinding Wave

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is "Blinding Wave" by Kindling from their 2016 debut LP, Everywhere Else, on No Idea Records.

Kindling - Blinding Wave (MP3)It may sound familiar but this isn't not your typical woozy shoegaze - in fact, there's a punk aesthetic that ignites Kindling to its bonfire sound. The Easthampton, MA, band first formed as a side project of Stephen Pierce, who sought a different sort of creative outlet than his popular screamo band, Ampere, and joined forces with vocalist and guitarist Gretchen Williams. The two made quick work of a 9-song demo of brief, gauzy tracks that sounded like snippets of the My Blood Valentine's punchiest moments. After releasing a couple of EPs and expanding their ranks to include drummer Andrew Skelly (also of Ampere), guitarist Jeffrey Stevens and bassist Aaron Snow, Kindling has lost none of its DIY approach and punk spirit but now burns brighter, partially in thanks to producer and engineer Justin Pizzoferrato (Sonic Youth, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Speedy Ortiz, etc.), who help clarify their sound. Everywhere Else is where you want to be for a blissful balance of distortion-drenched guitars, thundering rhythms, and sugary vocals.

As of yet, Kindling haven't played much outside of the Boston and Western Mass areas, but hopefully their popularity will spread like wildfire and you'll see them soon enough in your town. Keep checking their website and Facebook page for updates, and be sure to watch the official video for "Black Eye", to hear another blazing song from Everywhere Else: