Wherever Chickfactor goes, I will follow. The premiere indiepop zine, Chickfactor began in 1992, around the same time the east coast pop scene was starting to explode. Labels were forming, like Slumberland and Teen-Beat, and founders Gail O'Hara and Pam Berry were on the scene, interviewing bands, …
Get ready of an alt-country battle royale when local musicians take on the songs of Uncle Tupelo vs. The Jayhawks on Thursday, January 30th at the Tractor Tavern! Don Slack of KEXP's Swingin' Doors will referee the rockin' ruckus, but really, everyone wins because all proceeds from this event go to…
Shearwater have a new album coming out 11/26 on Sub Pop Records titled Fellow Travelers, a collection of covers of their former tourmates. This past summer, we captured frontman Jonathan Meiburg backstage at the Sub Pop Silver Jubilee, working through his version of the Baptist Generals' FCC-unfri…
After wrapping up Saturday brunch Capitol Hill was again swarmed for the Capitol Hill Block Party. Luckily, the line-up was jam packed with great music. Taking full advantage of the easy-going mid-afternoon crowds that make early time slots so enjoyable for fans, we were able to get right in front …
If Killer Mike had my favorite show at Sasquatch, Chvrches gets to take favorite pop show of the weekend. Where their albums are already pretty perfect in the realm of pop - the live performance blew them out of the water. Lauren Mayberry's vocals are so close to sweet that it's almost bitter - she…
Most of the bands playing SXSW 2013 are probably going to play about five shows during their time in Austin. Ozomatli are playing five in one day. Founded in 1995, Ozomatli’s multicultural blend of Latin, funk, reggae, and hip hop (among other things) has made them cultural ambassadors on a number …
M.I.A.'s much-anticipated album Matangi has been rejected by Interscope for being "too positive". The album was supposed to be released last month, but now with apparently some "darkening up" needed, the release is expected around April 15th, in time for the Tamil New Year. It turns out M.I.A.'s …
KEXP listeners vote for their top albums of the year in 2021.
If the Fremont Abbey and its team are known for anything, it's for finding new visions for how we see intimate shows in Seattle. For a singular example, earlier this year, the Abbey hosted Baltimore dream pop band Beach House for the smallest show the band has put on in Seattle almost a decade. Sho…
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…
This year's Oscar nominations rolled out this morning and some very familiar names to KEXP are on the list. Indie-folk genius Sufjan Stevens is nominated in the Best Original Song category for one of the two songs he contributed to Luca Guadagnino's Call Me Be Your Name, "Mystery Of Love." Stevens …
When last we checked in with the music of Edward Ka-Spel - probably best known for his work with the Legendary Pink Dots - word was he might be touring with said Dots imminently. Well, the tour has come and gone, and it included a stop at our own Chop Suey. Ed helpfully kept a tour diary, with thi…
I've covered a lot of obscure bands in the (gulp) 9 years I've been doing this series, but The Invisible really takes the cake. Interestingly, their album Dystopia seems to be available on all the usual internet music services, but the only smidge of information I can find on them is a discogs list…
If you missed a minute of our exclusive interview with Father John Misty, stream his hour-long intimate chat with DJ Cheryl Waters below. KEXP has had a long-standing relationship with this charismatic singer/songwriter (real name: Josh Tillman) and one-time Seattle resident. From his early days as…
case/lang/veirs -- the lowercased super-group of Neko Case, k.d. lang, and Laura Veirs -- share a video for the track "Atomic Number," a highlight from their self-titled debut, out now via Anti- Records. Director Kangmin Kim explains, "This animation is inspired by the search for a soul-mate with …
The Greatest is gone. More than just a boxing legend, Muhammad Ali was a cultural icon and humanitarian above nearly all else. He passed away on Friday after a long battle with Parkinson’s. Ali didn't just fight inside the boxing ring. Outside of it, he stood up for those who couldn't or wouldn't, …
Seattle duo Crater - Ceci Gomez and Kessiah Gordon - stopped by for an in-studio, both to play us some tracks from their debut, Talk to Me so I Can Fall Asleep, and to talk to DJ Sharlese about drooling in their sleep and The Sims "Hot Date" Expansion Pack. Crater only emerged in 2014 to immediate …
On their sophomore release, Time to Go Home, local ladies Chastity Belt unveil a new maturity. While their 2013 debut, No Regerts, took a snapshot of the Seattle party, the follow-up captures the aftermath: maybe there are "regerts" after all? Take in the new songs in this excellent weekend afterno…
As major labels continue to exist behind the times, artists and labels with little capital and lesser reputations are producing some of the most innovative, interesting, and inspiring music. Whether it’s creating a new niche in digital technology or looking to once obsolete formats, Agitated Atmosp…
Enter Sasquatch! 2014 day 3... people enter the festival grounds slightly tired, mostly grimy with camp for 2 nights and no showers, but ready for round 3. Things started a bit mellow Sunday afternoon as clouds parted ways for more beautiful sunshine and only 1 scattered storm that nobody seemed to…
