If surf rock is making a comeback with the rise of bands like Seattle’s La Luz, then Portland-based band The Shivas may well be ahead of the curve. Their head-bobbing rhythms and cute, airy background vocals envelope the ears like a warm tropical day. The band can rock, too, like on their song “Sta…
History seems to have mostly forgotten the London band Birdhouse - or The Birdhouse, depending on whom you consult - with references to their work turning up at baseline music information sites such as Allmusic and Discogs, but not much analysis or information beyond that. The only way I even found…
Duluth-based band Low, whose members are going into their 20th year as a band together, have released "Just Make It Stop" from the Jeff Tweedy-produced The Invisible Way out on Sub Pop on March 18th. The album will be their 10th, and the slowcore pioneers have upped the tempo on this track -- it's…
photo courtesy of the band
Hovvdy chats with KEXP about their new record True Love, how divorce can bring siblings together, and the "forehead sweat energy" of Texas and also premieres a live video of the band playing album highlight "Blindsided"
Indie-folk singer and guitarist Angel Olsen performs a plugged-in set with her band on The Midday Show. Her debut LP "Burn Your Fire For No Witness" was released on Jagjaguwar. Olsen has formerly toured as a member of Bonnie "Prince" Billy's band and The Cairo Gang. Recorded 3/…
BSH. BSH. BSH. BSH. The sound of four defiant cymbal crashes spreads out across Pike Street. It's Seattle band COSMOS’ turn at the main stage. Melding hip hop, jazz, and funk in a high-energy set, the Seattle band proves yet again why they won last year’s Sound Off! contest, an annual battle of the…
It's hard to believe, but LAKE are celebrating their tenth anniversary as a band this year. The charming Northwest outfit formed in Olympia, debuting at frontman Eli Moore's birthday party, and since then, have released eight full-lengths, four of those on legendary local label K Records. Over the …
Good morning! How about a little funky Afropop, all the way from Iceland, to start your morning? That's how we began our broadcast from Iceland Airwaves last month, with the 13 member Samúel Jón Samúelsson Big Band blasting you awake at 6AM. Now you have the luxury to enjoy the SJS Big Band wheneve…
As the sun began to set on The Gorge Amphitheater, The Head and the Heart played a memorable set at Day 1 of Sasquatch Music Festival, representing Seattle in the Eastern Washington Sasquatch setting. Despite Josiah Johnson still being absent from the band, the band still demonstrated their ability…
The psych- and Tropicalia-inflected rock of Boogarins is so intriguing that when their earliest recordings had been picked up by music fans all over the globe, in early 2013, the band hadn't even played any gigs. Fortunately, becoming a live band only just shortly afterwards didn't prevent the Goiâ…
Twins Kim and Kelley Deal celebrate their 54th birthday today, which got us thinking about twins in bands. It's no wonder it works so well: researchers have found that twin babies interact in the womb, so they're collaborating from even before birth. Twins have also been known to exhibit a sensitiv…
Sadly, it sounds like supergroup Wild Flag is now at half-mast. Drummer Janet Weiss tells UK publication The Skinny that the band is pretty much done: “It was great, but I think it just kinda ran its course. It’s hard to have a band when you live five hours apart by plane.” Weiss is currently on t…
British rock group The Heavy, rumored to be the only band David Letterman has asked to perform an encore on his show, stopped by the KEXP studios to deliver their own brand of rock and soul. The band effortlessly exudes cool, from lead singer Kelvin Swaby’s shades and grey tank top to Chris Ellul’s…
Directed by bandleader Danny Mekonnen, the Boston-based Debo Band take inspirations from 1960s Ethiopian jazz music, elements of klezmer, funk and rock and roll. They combine these into original instrumentation and create a rhythmic, thoughtful, often trans-like musical narrative. Adding to Mekonne…
As the mythology goes, Trampled By Turtles formed as a side project by the band members in order to get a chance to play acoustic songs together. Now look at them! Featured in mainstream movies and on tour nationally! “The first year of existence of this band was also the last year of existence for…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part 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, selected by Morning Sho…
The Internet doesn't seem to know a whole lot about Somerset anarcho-punks Thatcher on Acid. (Can you think of a band name that more specifically places a band in time, place, and genre? I sure can't.) One thing I appreciate about this gig is that these posts often serve as a way to add to the know…
It's that time of year again: MoPOP’s Sound Off! has been pitting local bands against each other for 16 years now. The all-ages "battle of the bands" has introduced us to acts like The Lonely Forest, Naked Giants, Manatee Commune, and more. Every Friday night this month, a new band will progress to…
Canadian indie legends Metric have undoubtedly "made it." They're at the glorious stage in a career where they have the commercial success to justify any off-kilter choice they make, while still being independent enough that they have the freedom to make those off-kilter choices without any corpora…
