The deeper we get into Animal Collective's Painting With chapter, the more it feels like a real renaissance for the band. As the band themselves described it, the process for the new record felt natural and fun - a far cry for the laborious process it took to put forth Centipede Hz. Spending time i…
Some gigs feel like a secret you have all to yourself. The first time Savages played in Seattle, the band had released one song and the room was half full. Half a year later, they sold out Neumos months in advance of the date. The first time HAIM played Seattle, their Neumos date sold out a week be…
It’s time again for Friday on My Mind. Our weekly blog post where we look at videos centered around one common theme. This is a collaborative effort between KEXP and King 5 News. So there is this band that is going to be stopping by my show next Tuesday. Maybe you’ve heard of them - Pixies? Yeah. T…
Last September, ODESZA were slotted for Saturday night of Decibel Festival at Neumos, along with Slow Magic and a headlining set from Gold Panda. Set to open the night's festivities up, the boys were a bit nervous. As our photographer Dave Lichterman recalls from a conversation with Harrison, they …
The forthcoming Kurt Vile album may be titled b’lieve i’m goin down..., but the songs on this release only reveal an artist on the rise. KEXP is excited to premiere the streaming debut of Vile's sixth (and strongest) full-length, out September 25th on Matador Records. The Philadelphia-based art…
Historically, Capitol Hill Block Party hasn't booked that many legacy acts, but when they do, they don't screw around. The Flaming Lips' triumphant '13 set, Neko Case's quiet hurricane of a performance in 2012, and now Built To Spill's '15 set will surely go down in those ranks. Built To Spill's le…
Seattle’s Leeni Ramadan (aka the glitter-gloom pop singer, Prom Queen) has established herself as a singular-voiced, bouffant-boasting player in the Emerald City music scene. If the ultimate goal of any creative person is to establish an immediately recognizable style, Ramadan has done that already…
To say I feel like I know too much about Grimes might be an understatement. While I'm not a mega fan in knowing facts like her favorite foods - I am a mega fan in that I've been fascinated by her since around 2009, long before Grimes was a giant and adored pop star. And I am happy to say that seein…
Yes, we waited a long time, we waited through an audience rendition of "Oh Canada", we waited through rumors of the show being canceled. Yes, this was the band so many people had said was the one band they really needed (not wanted) to see this weekend. Yes, I actually walked to the wrong stage ass…
With so many indie rock legends on one stage, you wouldn't be faulted for being a little overwhelmed during Filthy Friends' set at the Mural Stage during Day One of the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival. The band boasts -- deep breath -- Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, The F…
You can't live in Seattle and not have heard of the O.K. Hotel. In the late '80s, Steve Freeborn and Tia Mathies transformed the now-legendary building, located under the viaduct in Pioneer Square, into a music venue, fine arts gallery, and cafe. In fact, in the 1992 Cameron Crowe film Singles, it'…
Niña Mendoza is a Vancouver, BC-based DJ renowned for her exquisite taste and deep knowledge of soul, R&B, hip-hop, boogie, and funk that spans everything from the deep cuts of past decades to breaking the latest jams from new underground artists. A trusted staple in the nightlife scene of her …
This week, as we continue to post KEXP DJs’ Top 10 Albums of 2015 lists, we also want to share the favorites of KEXP's extremely talented and dedicated volunteer photographers, who generously donate so much of their time and talent to give everyone direct access to the hundreds of live sessions, co…
Vancouver, BC-based multi-instrumentalist and electronic producer Pomo (real name David Pimentel) has skyrocketed over the past couple years to become a standout figure within a crowd of young artists adding a fresh and colorful slant to club music. Recently joining the likes of Kaytranada, Ta-Ku, …
It's time get out of bed and work off those Turkey Day tummies - today, Friday, November 27th is Record Store Day Black Friday, and just like the usual annual Record Store Day in April, it's your chance to score some exclusive, limited-edition releases at independent retailers! KEXP spotlights some…
This week in El Sonido we're going to focus on Colombia. I just visited the country for my second time, spending a week in Bogotá to attend a great music conference Resonancia Colombia, which is part of a bigger technology event Colombia 3.0. I spoke on a handful of music business panels, met a bun…
American treasure Willie Dixon would have turned 100 this year. As it seems must be the case with even the most revered and successful blues musicians, his life had its highs and lows; sometimes those were two sides of the same coin, from having his songs covered by some of the most popular bands i…
As lighthearted as they are lethal, Seattle’s Mommy Long Legs stepped into our live room to rock out a handful of tracks from their debut release, Life Rips, comprised of clever, hooky punk rock that mixed furious righteousness with a wicked sense of humor. Songs like "Horrorscope" and the title tr…
Cheryl Waters ushers in autumn with a mix of her latest acoustic, electric, and psychedelic fall favorites including new music from Temples, Cass McCombs, and Moby & The Void Pacific Choir. 1. SYML – Leave Like That (feat. Jenn Champion)2. Cass McCombs – Opposite House3. Van William – Revoluti…
