The Simon Henneman Quartet, with 6 guests here, fire a full broadside at the crossroads of jazz and creative music. This performance features Simon (guitar), Kenny Mandel (saxes), Kate Olson (saxes), John Seman (bass), Mark Ostrowski (drums), with Bill Monto, Bill Krautz, Jim Knodle, Amy Denio, Er…
Closing out another unbelievable night of music at KEX Hostel was English rapper and poet Kate Tempest. A “wayward youth” in her early teens, she was later inspired by an english teacher who got her into poetry, and at age 16 began her career as a poet, playwright, rapper, and spoken word artist. S…
It's called Music City, USA for a reason -- Nashville has been long been a destination for Country and Americana artists, including some from Seattle. Sound and Vision reporter Lisa Craze spoke with former Seattleites Aaron English, Kate Tucker, Bradford Loomis and Willow Scribner about why they mo…
Montreal-based band Loon is Tessa Dawn K, Gregory Burton, Alexander Thibault, Tamara Sandor and Alex Nicol. They played a lovely set of ethereal, down-tempo dream pop, with Tessa’s delicate, crystalline vocals shining through, reminiscent at times of Kate Bush and Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES. Their…
After the release of their stellar debut album, The Shape of Brat Pop to Come its been a year of relative silence, but today, HOLYCHILD is back with a bang. The indie pop duo has impeccable timing. "Rotten Teeth" is perfect summer jam to kick off your Memorial Day weekend. [SPIN]
KEXP's broadcast from Pioneer Square as part of Upstream Music Fest + Summit continues with Seattle-based group MASZER, who brought a expansive, droning set to our stage at Little London Plane. Built on the propulsive dual percussion of Joseph Braley and Emilio Muniz, resonant guitar from Tomer-Dav…
For her final mix of 2016, Cheryl Waters dives into a colorful spectrum of hip-hop, rock, and roots music from the Pacific Northwest and beyond, featuring new tracks from Pond, SISTERS, and Springtime Carnivore. 1. Hiss Golden Messenger – Biloxi2. DRAEMHOUSE – Hard Times For Good Days3. Headwaves …
Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole's first podcast of 2015 features music to warm you up during the cold days of winter. Exciting up-and-coming artists are brought together for the perfect winter mix of spacey pop gems, hypnotic grooves, grimy hip-hop and more. 1. Flight Facilities - Two Bodie…
Another year of Capitol Hill Block Party has arrived, bringing with it a sea of bro-tank tops, increased public intoxication, and a variety of local and national music acts. The music of Day 1 was quite good, with sets from Noname, Thundercat, and Katie Kate starting off the festival on an upbeat n…
In the midst of the 10th annual Decibel Festival, KEXP was fortunate to get Julia Holter in our studios. While her first two albums were recorded alone in the intimacy of her bedroom, her acclaimed recent release Loud City Song on Domino Records was her first to be recorded outside the comfort of h…
DJ Kevin Cole highlights some of the best albums, songs, and moments of 2016. 1. Blood Orange – Best To You2. Angel Olsen – Shut Up Kiss Me3. Deep Sea Diver – Secrets4. Pinkshinyultrablast – The Cherry Pit 5. Naked Giants – Ya Ya6. King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard – Gamma Knife7. Thee Oh Sees – …
Danger Mouse, a.k.a. Brian Joseph Burton, and The Shins' James Mercer have united once again under the name Broken Bells. They've shared their video for their dazzling new track "Holding on for Life". The visual features actress Kate Mara (American Horror Story, House of Cards) and Anton Yelchin (…
Audioasis host DJ Sharlese continues the two-part 2014 Pacific Northwest Roundup. Featuring more local sounds from 2014 by Secret School, Shabazz Palaces, Jen Wood and many more! 1. Wimps - Couches 2. Childbirth - I Only Fucked You as a Joke 3. The Murder City Devils - Cruelty Abounds 4. King Du…
Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole shares some of his favorites of 2014. Relish in the best of the year and hopefully discover something new and awesome! 1. Júníus Meyvant - Color Decay 2. Mac DeMarco - Blue Boy 3. Temples - Shelter Song 4. Ty Segall - Feel 5. Parquet Courts - Black and White 6. BRO…
We've got new releases from a few music veterans this week. British rock legends The Rolling Stones return with their first album in 11 years. KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls it, "a shockingly potent set of Chicago blues. The band sounds raw and vital, and Mick Jagger tears into the set list of…
We've reached day three, the halfway point of Iceland Airwaves Music Festival and of the KEXP broadcast. Rather than winding down, things are just getting going, as festival-goers prepare for a weekend that invariably becomes a music supermarathon, catching great music all over Reykjavik from noon …
The 2017 Mercury Prize shortlist was announced today. Nominees include alt-J's Relaxer (who previously won the award in 2012 for An Awesome Wave), Glass Animals' How to Be a Human Being, Sampha's Process, Kate Tempest's Let Them Eat Chaos, and The xx's I See You. The prize celebrates the best Briti…
If you, like myself, live in 2014 but still can't get over 80s new wave, you can't get much better than Berlin band Ballet School. The band is a godsend for new wave diehards and make some of the most incredible synth pop around. But tribute isn't Ballet School's only trick in the cards - the band …
