Each week KEXP's Music Director Don Yates shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from Dr. Octagon, The Moondoggies, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and more.
Although they hit you immediately, the depth of Unknown Mortal Orchestra's songs belies their urgency. Underneath a pulsating rhythm or Ruban Nielsen's expressive vocals is always a subtle, just-as-infectious keyboard melody or a texture that alters Nielsen's voice. On the Portland group's latest a…
For almost five years now as Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ruban Nielson has been learning how to give himself away. On his eponymous debut, it was from behind the closed door of a bedroom, where we heard psychedelic funk gems muffled through the wall and wanted to know more. On 2013's II, the door cra…
Unknown Mortal Orchestra has not slowed down since releasing the spectacular 2015 album, Multi-Love. The band has been on an ambitious world tour since the release of the album, and solved many people’s first world problem of a lack of new UMO music last week by releasing a new single. Aptly title…
This year's Capitol Hill Block Party ended the weekend strong with stellar performances from TR/ST, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and, of course, Father John Misty, just to name a few. Check out shots from photographers Eric Tra and Alley Rutzel.
Following their soulful set at last weekend's Capitol Hill Block Party, the Northwest's own Unknown Mortal Orchestra share a very theatrical video for "Ur Life One Night," off their latest release, Multi-Love. The clip was directed by Manoj Leonel Jahson, who told Rolling Stone, "I am deeply inspi…
More clouds? More rain? When have these things ever mattered to Seattle? Capitol Hill Block Party 2015 ventured onwards with nothing but smiles as time for Day 2 arose. Between Jamie xx and Built to Spill yesterday, Saturday had a high bar to clamber over. But the festivities got underway very quic…
Join Midday Show host Cheryl Waters for a summer podcast full of sparkling songs from London, Brooklyn, California and, as always, the Pacific Northwest. 1. Desert Sound Colony - Riverbed 2. Happyness - Naked Patients 3. The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers - Little Light 4. AM & Shawn Lee - Persua…
Pickathon's live video stream concludes today... but don't worry. You still have until 2AM on Sunday night to watch and hear performances from X, Courtney Barnett, Foxygen, The Barr Brothers, The Men, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and many others. Check out the schedule above and watch the video stream …
Whether you're attending in person or in spirit, Midday Show host Cheryl Waters presents the perfect soundtrack for your trip to Sasquatch! Music Festival this year. 1. Sufjan Stevens - Should Have Known Better 2. Julia Holter - Feel You 3. Briana Marela - Surrender 4. Unknown Mortal Orchestra -…
Moon King is the project of Daniel Benjamin originally from Toronto, and now spending most of his time in the Detroit area. When Benjamin released his first tape as Moon King in 2011, he caught the attention of fellow Toronto band Fucked Up’s guitarist Mike Haliechuk who released his first two EPs.…
Every time a Little Big Show happens, our accomplishments seem to get bigger and better. Our must recent show, at Neptune Theatre last Friday, marks the fourteenth occasion on which Starbucks, STG, and KEXP have put their heads together to line up a crazy good show. And not only that - like all oth…
Everyone's recovering from the long Memorial Day weekend, including the music industry, but there are still some excellent new releases awake today. One of the highlights is the third full-length from Portland band Unknown Mortal Orchestra. KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls it "an adventurous, im…
The rumors are true: LCD Soundsystem and Guns N' Roses will reunite to headline the 2016 Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California, with Calvin Harris headlining the final night.This April 15-17 and April 22-24, you can head to the desert and catch Sufjan Stevens, M83, Grimes, Run the Jewels, I…
Pickathon, an innovative weekend music festival located in the aptly-titled Happy Valley, Oregon, will open on the 1st of August and run through the 3rd. Over the course of the weekend, you can see bands like X, Parquet Courts, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Courtney Barnett, Angel Olsen, Warpaint, Jona…
KEXP, Starbucks & STG are partnering together to present Little Big Show, a concert series created to benefit our city’s arts organizations.
