"It was like being in a car that hit the brakes and suddenly we had all this stuff to say." After spending nearly two years on the road behind their 2013 debut Wildewoman, Lucius had plenty of stories to tell on what would become their 2016 sophomore effort Good Grief, resulting in their…
Everything I've ever thought about MØ is wrong. Well, maybe not all of it – I think she put together an incredible debut LP this year with No Mythologies To Follow, and I think that hard work has put her in league with the leaders of the new wave of indie pop like Grimes, Charli XCX, and others. Bu…
Well, Seattle, it looks like we've corrupted Flight of the Conchords. Jemaine Clement, the gap-toothed glasses-wearing half of the New Zealand duo, confessed to the audience: he ate half a banana... and just left the other half sitting backstage! WHOA. "I'm the Iggy Pop of the band," he admitted ru…
On Subjective Concepts Olympia trio Strange Wilds have produced a faultless full length of feedback ridden, jagged jams that have helped bring a riotous, rebellious renaissance to Seattle’s notorious label, Sub Pop. To discuss the cover art, steeped in the same tightrope tension as the music, KEXP …
Philadelphia rockers The War On Drugs have been touring tirelessly on the wide success of their third album, 2014's Lost In The Dream. KEXP listeners voted it as their top album of the year, and with good reason. Singer and songwriter Adam Granduciel wrote the songs during a post-tour period of iso…
The popularity of today's folk rock stars, from Iron & Wine and Billy Bragg to Mumford & Sons and Of Monsters and Men, all owe a large debt to American folk legend Pete Seeger, who passed away yesterday at age 94. To the end, Seeger was a champion, activist and resounding voice for civil ri…
New York indie rock gods Yeah Yeah Yeahs make their long awaited return this year with a bludgeoning of contradictions. The trio - made up of singer Karen O, guitarist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase - has made the books in recent history with indie rock anthems like "Zero", "Phenomena", and "…
We like to believe Sam Beam is one of our own. Though he hails about as far away as you can get, from South Carolina and later Florida, the first three Iron & Wine albums were released on Seattle's celebrated label Sub Pop. And of course, KEXP was one of the first radio stations to get behind …
There are few moments in rock 'n' roll as iconic as the opening drum-and-breath line in "Time of the Season." Yet unlike many of their British Invasion co-horts (like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Moody Blues), The Zombies never reached the same level of success. Maybe it was tha…
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…
Lead vocalist and bandleader of Grand Hallway, and solo artist in his own right, Tomo Nakayama has a beautiful voice and a calming presence. He's one of those artists that, when you see him, you are soothed and introspective at the same time. On November 4th, Tomo is playing 14 shows around the cit…
Last time we caught up with Temples, they were blasting off from the propulsive buzz following the release of their debut, Sun Structures. Months of touring later, the young UK band are veterans of the road, fitting easily into the retro sounds that inspire them like a pair of well worn leather pan…
Benjamin Doerr is the sweetheart frontman for the Seattle-based band St. Paul de Vence. The group's newest album will be released October 1, and it comes on the heels of their WWII-inspired album - the songs of which written with Ben's grandfather and his stories of war. The band will be LIVE on KE…
Nothing like dirtying up a pristine wooded oasis with some gritty rock from Those Darlins. The Nashville band joined us in the Bunny Glade during Pickathon last month for an acoustic set of twang-tinged girl group meets garage rock songs from their latest album, Blur The Line, and a chilling cover …
The latest release from Hundred Waters is one of the biggest surprises to wash up on the musical shores this year. Two years ago, the Florida-based band became the first act to sign with Skrillex's OWSLA record label, but they take his trademark EDM-sound to celestial heights on their latest releas…
Long Island dream pop outfit Twin Sister have decided that after six years on the music scene, it's time for a slight name update. Henceforth, they would like to be known as Mr. Twin Sister, nothing too drastic. They haven't shared anything new since 2011, but now their back with the mysterious "O…
Twin Shadow has shared his new song "To The Top," an intense, pounding percussion anthem about starting over. His statement about the song offers a glimpse into the song's inspiration. He said, "What is it when you realize that someone isn't right for you? Or when you find that you do not and can …
Yesterday, M.I.A. teased a new song, and today we get the whole dang thing: hear the single "P.O.W.A." below via a video directed by Maya Arulpragasam (aka M.I.A.) herself. She also tweeted a lyric sheet if you'd like to sing along with the "wa wa wa wa / pa pa pa pa" chorus. [ Stereogum ]
