Dan Boeckner is far from new to Iceland Airwaves, having played in 2006 as Wolf Parade and in 2008 as Handsome Furs. With his most recent project Operators, Boeckner brought in a packed crowd to KEXP's stage at KEX hostel and an energy that made the normally reserved Airwaves crowd dance so hard it…
After showing off one of the most refreshing album rollouts in recent history (see: fake websites, conference calls, and blockbuster billboards), synth pop duo Tanlines don't seem to be running out of ways to up the ante on tour. Eric Emm and Jesse Cohen brought a rock-heavy four piece setup to Neu…
What better way to get out of the sun than to spend a bit of time digging crates at your local record shop? While the summer weeks tend to be slow for new releases, you'll find plenty of excellent new albums in stores this week. Among them is the second album from Seattle's Shelby Earl, whose Damie…
Even with a full band backing her on stage at the KEXP Gathering Space Stage on the second day of the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival, it seemed like Seattle singer songwriter Shelby Earl hardly needed a mic. Her voice rang clear, powerful, and true even when she stepped back from her mic to …
The POP Montreal Festival celebrates the wide variety of artists coming out of the Montreal music scene, but also features a ton of bands from across Canada as well. Releasing records since 2009, Vancouver, BC 4-piece Woolworm played a killer set of straightforward solid rock. With catchy hooks and…
Perspective is a powerful tool to have in your pocket as an individual. It can make even the worst situation a blessing in disguise, as learned strength can produce a rose from the thorn patch, and doors unlocked and opened where others closed. This perspective is even more valuable when you manage…
Father John Misty has released a new, polished version of his laid-back love song "Real Love Baby". The track, which first burst onto the scene in May on SoundCloud, was recorded with The Budos Band's electric guitarist Thomas Brenneck. [CoS]
Most bands start by writing songs at home and recording in their basements. For David Bazan, it took nearly two decades to get there. The former Pedro the Lion bandleader and subsequent solo artist has long been a local treasure, appealing to a generation of Northwest indie kids in the 90s and 2000…
Truly, we can't do without you, Dan Snaith. With a discography 15 years deep and only getting sweeter with time, any chance to see Snaith in any venue under any of his monikers is an incredible blessing. In fact, I bet he could have sold just as many tickets throwing a DJ set as Daphni or even just…
It's almost summer 2014, and that means we get to see the indie pop scene evolve once again. Back at the beginning of 2012, Grimes dropped a bomb with Visions that didn't stop shaking up the synth pop scene for nearly an entire year. The post-modern (or post-Internet, if you prefer) aesthetic and m…
I know I covered Soul Asylum in this space not too long ago, but I just couldn't resist sharing this delightful cover (Soul Asylum's take on a much-parodied Herb Alpert album cover) with you all, and with another legendary Minneapolis band in the news today, it seemed like as good a time as any. Ev…
Damn, 2013, you are looking good! You just keep hitting us week after week with one killer list of new releases after another. This week, there's no way we're not going to run out to pick up the latest from long-time KEXP favorite Frightened Rabbit. As if there was any doubt that this would land hi…
Martin Douglas dives into the legacy of the Swiss band Kleenex, later known as LiLiPUT.
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Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, Albina Cabrera, and Janice Headley discuss the idea of "punk" through the lens of four bands.
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