Expansions began in late 1995 as the brainchild of Riz Rollins as a response to the burgeoning acid jazz scene that was enjoying popularity in local clubs but underexposed on the local airwaves. Even at its inception, it has always been important that the show not be commanded by any monolithic sty…
Just about the last thing we'd ever ask for in Seattle is "more rain" - unless of course that's the name of the latest album by M. Ward. On his eight studio LP, the Portland based musician doesn't let the Pacific Northwest's soggy gloom get him down, and dares the clouds away with his initially doo…
Just about a month ago, I had the honor of hosting a special all-electronic edition of KEXP's local show, Audioasis, to showcase some of the finest electronic sounds coming from the Pacific Northwest! We did two live in-studio performances, including a video session with 21 year-old Bellingham-base…
Bay Area bashers Thee Oh Sees return this Spring with their ninth album, Mutilator Defeated At Last. Stream the first single "Web" below. This time around, the line-up consists of mainstay frontman John Dwyer (vocals, guitar), Tim Hellman (bass), Nick Murray (drums), Brigid Dawson (keyboard and ta…
The Midday Show's Cheryl Waters returns with her first podcast of 2014. It's chock full of songs to rock your socks off, shake your booty and make you jump and shout. Enjoy. 1. Alice Russell - Twin Peaks 2. Cloud Control - Dojo Rising 3. The War On Drugs - Red Eyes 4. Sharon Jones & The Da…
South Carolina husband an wife team Shovels & Rope threw an infectiously fun clap and dance along set on the Sasquatch main stage. Somehow this dynamic duo managed to fill the enormous bowl with roots rocking americana sound, trading off on guitar, drums, keys, harmonica, and sharing beautiful …
The instrumentation in Radiation City tends to add up to more than the sum of its parts, so if the droves of passersby drawn towards the Fisher Green stage early in the Bumbershoot afternoon weren’t sure of the cause for their attraction, that might’ve been why. Instead of screaming guitar solos, c…
Super-duo EL VY (that's Matt Berninger of The National and Brent Knopf of Ramona Falls/Menomena) made their television debut last night on Conan. Watch those two (backed by Wye Oak’s Andy Stack on drums) perform the title track from their forthcoming full-length album, Return to the Moon, out Octo…
From heartfelt harmonies to tranquil flirtations, Seattle’s Smokey Brights drop by the KEXP live room to unveil a decadent collection of tracks from their new rhythmically red rummed release, Taste for Blood. Duo vocalists Ryan Devlin and Kim West produce hypnotic results - tender chants that sound…
One of the most exciting new releases of the week comes from Oakland artist Merrill Garbus, better known as tUnE-yArDs. KEXP Music Director Don Yates describes her third album as "an inventive set of visceral, rhythm-driven avant-pop with consistently strong, brightly melodic songs featuring a dens…
Day 2 of Macefield Music Festival possessed a nice balance of crisp October weather, jangly jams, electrified éclat, and some bona fide rock 'n' roll - such as the rapturous return of Hazel! It's been a minute since the 90s grunge-era band has reunited to play a festival, possibly since 2012's Musi…
Following his fantastic third solo album, Singing Saw, Kevin Morby shares a digital 7” single today titled "Tiny Fires." The acoustic track was written and recorded in Morby’s bedroom in Los Angeles, and features two members of his touring band -- Meg Duffy on slide guitar and bass, and Justin Sul…
Droning feedback. Static. The mechanical thrust of distorted, blown out drums. These are the first few sounds you hear on CHARMS’ debut album, Human Error, out June 16 on Killroom Records (which you can stream below). Even before the song descends into a flurry of manic, sharp riffs and guttural sy…
Lena Simon is a wizard. She plays bass, guitar, drums, keys and sings. She's been on Leno with Mary Lambert, has toured Europe with La Luz (who, incidentally, just announced a tour with Ty Segal) and writes songs for her band Kairos. She's also a generous soul with a great deal of compassion and in…
With the fate of Sonic Youth up in the air, founding guitarist Lee Ranaldo has found steady ground with his group, The Dust. Backed by fellow SY orphan Steve Shelley on drums, along with guitarist Alan Licht and bassist Tim Lüntzel, Ranaldo's tenth album, Last Night on Earth, is his most collaborat…
As clouds began to gather (though they wouldn't actually be super ominous until Earl Sweatshirts set) El-P took stage to a large audience totally ready to get down with the talented east coast rapper. He would later be called a brother to Killer Mike - and his ability to get the crowd moving whethe…
