This week we celebrate the 15th year of one of Seattle’s favorite hometown labels: Barsuk Records! Since its birth in 1998, Barsuk has helped create a platform for dozens of great bands, from the Pacific northwest and otherwise, to get off the ground and put forth incredible music. Even in the deca…
This week we celebrate the 15th year of one of Seattle’s favorite hometown labels: Barsuk! Since its birth in 1998, Barsuk has helped create a platform for dozens of great bands, from the Pacific northwest and otherwise, to get off the ground and put forth incredible music. Even in the decade and a…
"It's a complicated place, this planet we're on." That's how Mark Kozelek closes "Dogs", the most confrontational and stomach-churning cut on new Sun Kil Moon record, Benji. It's a great thesis for the rest of the record, really - Kozelek has witnessed some pretty insane shit, and much of it appear…
With so many indie rock legends on one stage, you wouldn't be faulted for being a little overwhelmed during Filthy Friends' set at the Mural Stage during Day One of the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival. The band boasts -- deep breath -- Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, The F…
To know Kanye West is to love him, but to be in an endless mosh pit fifteen feet under him is something even more. It's limitless devotion to the church of Yeezus. It's agreeing wholeheartedly when Ye compares himself to Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, or, most notably, God. And in turn, much like I Am fe…
Dan Bejar is releasing his 12th solo album as Destroyer on October 20 via Merge, ken, and today he shared the lead single, "Sky's Grey," a genial jam that makes the bold claim, “I’ve been workin’ on the new Oliver Twist!” Bejar describes the name for his new album like this, "Sometime last year, I …
Due to the windy weather and the consequential shuffling of band’s set times and locations, Sasquatch! Music Festival's El Chupacabra tent housed several acts that certainly didn’t fit the sound the EDM-themed stage is known for. Ibeyi was seemingly one of those bands, but the group had been schedu…
Describing My Morning Jacket's live show is almost as difficult as describing their music. While tagging it with a reductive broad stroke isn't that hard ("rock music"), listing out the individual elements that play into the band's style can come off as too disparate to make it their music seem com…
There’s an art to first impressions. As an artist, you really only get to make one first step onto the scene, and whether everyone cares or no one cares, that’s the point from which you take every single step after. For Thomas Arsenault, that first step has been a long time in the making. He’s been…
Portland's Moon Duo made maybe one of their most surprising moves yet: showing up and playing a set as a trio. Alright, that's not totally true. They did play with a third member on the KEXP Stage at the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival, but the band is constantly taking surprising new avenues…
DJ Albina Cabrera talks about one of her favorite bands from Mexico City, Vondré, and their new shoegazy song “31.”
Four years ago, the Tacoma artist proclaimed he was quitting the rat race of being a rapper. He made good on his promise and became one of Tacoma's most multitalented artists. Martin Douglas explores.
Martin Douglas speaks to one-half of Armand Hammer about his instant-classic solo album, New York history and its rap music lineage, and much more.
Martin Douglas travels to the home of Tiny Vipers singer/songwriter Jesy Fortino—in his estimation, "one of the most significant Seattle recording artists of the past 20 years"—for a career-spanning conversation.
The most recent album from the one-time Sound Off! competitors is a lush, emotional journey of dissolving relationships and the lingering depression that comes from it. If you're looking for a cathartic cry with your festival experience, be sure to catch their performance on June 2nd.
KEXP’s Midday Show host looks back at the station’s early days as KCMU, getting demo tapes from Ben Gibbard, and one of the biggest Seattle band’s earliest days.
In an era that incites us all to compare each other to one another constantly, Seattle's Seacats offer a loving alternative.
Singer-songwriter Shara Nova shares how her move back to Detroit has made her think about race in a whole new way.
Montreal band Stars stop by the Midday Show in support of their recently released album, "No One Is Lost". Recorded 03/02/2015 - 4 songs: This Is The Last Time, Trap Door, Look Away, Elevator Love Letter.
Former Seabear member and acclaimed songwriter in her own right, Sóley performs a tight set of electro-pop from Kex Hostel in Reykjavik during Iceland Airwaves 2014. Recorded 11/05/2014 - 4 songs: Ævintýr, Deeper, One Eyed Lady, Halloween.
