For longtime followers of the band, it's a little strange that Modest Mouse has now spent more time as a big-name ticket than a scrappy indie rock band from Issaquah, but in retrospect, the band's current status goes along with Modest Mouse's singular trajectory. Although many would label them with…
The Juan MacLean is the stage name of talented electronic musician and DJ John MacLean. While his roots trace back to post-hardcore Sub Pop band Six Finger Satellite in the first half of the 1990s, he's been a force on the revered DFA Records label for over a decade with three critically-acclaimed …
Vancouver, BC-based multi-instrumentalist and electronic producer Pomo (real name David Pimentel) has skyrocketed over the past couple years to become a standout figure within a crowd of young artists adding a fresh and colorful slant to club music. Recently joining the likes of Kaytranada, Ta-Ku, …
Throw out your rule book and rewrite the record book. That's what you must do to keep up with Chance the Rapper. Earlier this year, the 24-year-old Chicago rapper became the first musician to win a Grammy without releasing physical versions of his songs, clinching "Best Rap Album," for his upliftin…
How does K Records label impresario Calvin Johnson feel about Pink Floyd? DJ Sharlese may not get the local legend to reveal how he feels, but one thing we know for sure is that he loves Portland surf-rockers The Shivas. Not only has he released the young band's fourth album You Know What To Do on …
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, featured on the Afterno…
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, featured on The Morning…
Yeah Yeah Yeahs' frontwoman Karen O has announced she'll be releasing a debut solo album, Crush Songs, on September 9th via Julian Casablancas' label Cult Records. In a note on her website, O shares, "When I was 27, I crushed a lot. I wasn’t sure I’d ever fall in love again. These songs were writt…
This upcoming Record Store Day, April 19th, Jack White will be recording, pressing and releasing the limited edition version of his next single, a live rendition of the title track from his upcoming LP Lazaretto. The entire process will take place at Third Man Records, White's own independent recor…
Sunday at Bumbershoot 2013 was just about as good as it gets at Seattle’s hometown festival. Beginning with Kithkin’s tribal hair-cutting and ending with an incredible turnout in Key Arena for Death Cab For Cutie’s 10th anniversary performance of Transatlanticism and packing pretty much everything …
From PWR BTTM to Patti Labelle, music by “out” artists and our allies powers KEXP's DJ El Toro through happiness, hopelessness, and hardship … and always steers me back towards love. 1. The Julie Ruin - I Decide 2. Lisa Prank - Starting Again 3. Alex Anwandter - Siempre Es Viernes En Mi Corazón…
Rap Class is the alias of Portland's John Kammerle, a vast resource of knowledge and skills as a DJ, a chameleonic and exploratory electronic producer, a school music teacher, and also a founding member of the beloved Dropping Gems collective. While he's offered up his own productions on releases f…
Brooklyn-based popsters The Pains of Being Pure at Heart announce a new EP today, Hell, out November 13th via their own cleverly-named label, Painbow. Today, they share a track from that, a cover of the 1993 single "Laid" from Manchester band James, which you've surely heard on The Morning Show on…
Soul Clap is a renowned DJ and production duo from Boston, Massachusetts. Active in the club scene since 2001, they've become trusted club favorites with their top-notch mixture of house, disco, funk, soul and anything groovy, while also displaying their production skills on numerous singles, remix…
Australia's golden child of the past couple years, Courtney Barnett, has released a brand new old song, a track she used to perform often at open mics when she was just starting out. Titled "How To Boil An Egg," it has finally been recorded and released for our listening pleasure. The single is bei…
Miami-based garage rockers Jacuzzi Boys have launched a new label Mag Mag, and who better to be on their first release but the Grandfather of Punk himself, Iggy Pop. Check out the single "Asshole Blues" below, officially out April 21st as the first in a series of flexi-discs. In an interview with …
San Francisco-based DJ/producer Jessica Phillippe, a.k.a. J.Phlip, has been a force in the underground club circuit for over a decade now, establishing herself as one of the savviest selectors and precise mixers behind the decks as well as a crafty technician as a producer. Ever since her debut sin…
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 Afte…
During Decibel Festival, Optical 3: Playful Dischord took place at the Sky Church, this time featuring Berlin's Kangding Ray, Atom™ HD/AV and ending with Oneohetrix Point Never with visual artist Nate Boyce. This stacked line-up explored everything from dance to deep space. Kangding Ray, a former a…
In an act of hometown pride, Aussie sweetheart Courtney Barnett performed INXS’ 1987 album Kick in its entirety. The performance was part of the “Summer Of Classic Albums” concert series initiated by Melbourne label Pure Pop Records. Watch the great stripped-down set below, and hear an exclusive K…
