It's the most wonderful time of year... if "wonderful" actually means insanely busy. All the more reason to make some time for the music and attend KEXP's 2014 Yule Benefit! It's back and better than ever. This year features an amazing line-up of artists — Strand of Oaks, Cymbals Eat Guitars, S, an…
Shut eyes, wide mouth, brow furrowed -- lead singer Tim Wilson’s face reads passion. If there was any doubt about his care for the songs he sings with the five-piece band Ivan & Alyosha, just take a moment to look at his visage. The band, one of the most well-coiffed in the business, took the M…
Following up his latest album, Help Is On The Way, scratchy-voiced local songwriter Gerald Collier stopped by the KEXP studios to play some new songs. Accompanied by friend and collaborator, Anna Horvitz, the duo harmonized over an unassuming acoustic guitar, singing narrative songs about women, fo…
Despite keeping busy with his Run the Jewels project, Atlanta MC Killer Mike shares a previously unreleased track "Saks Fifth" which you can stream below. Stereogum points out, it's mostly likely an older track as Mike shouts out his old Grind Time Rap Gang crew and his short-lived Grand Hustle la…
Last month, beloved local troubadour Karl Blau lost all of his instruments and recording gear in an accidental fire that destroyed the Anacortes Music Channel, an all-ages DIY art space, concert venue, recording studio, and online radio station that he established last year in Anacortes, Washington…
The last time I posted on The Smiths in this space, I was pretty bummed about the disappearance of various local businesses and the gloomy weather. Good thing those days are behind us, right? Hahahahaha! Ha! Ha. Suffice it to say it's been a while, and there are a number of fine Smiths albums with …
LCD Soundsystem may have called it quits, but frontman James Murphy is keeping busy. The prolific musician/producer has composed the soundtrack to the new Noah Baumbach film While We're Young, which stars Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Amanda Seyfried, Adam Driver, and Beastie Boys' Ad-Rock. Stream the…
Leave it to an Australian band to save Brit Pop. Actually, they may be destroying it because reportedly Noel Gallagher is too busy listening to Jagwar Ma to get the old band back together. In truth, the young Aussies have revitalized the Madchester sound, though rather than sustain one long bacchan…
SIFF is bringing I Am The Blues to Seattle this weekend, and it is well worth a look. Bobby Rush lays out his life story as he returns to the Blue Front Cafe in Mississippi and a reunion gig in Louisiana. Watching him travel The South and greet friends like Lazy Lester, Henry Gray, Barbara Lynn, an…
Seattle's Dave Pezzner, or just Pezzner, has been one of the most respected figures in the local underground electronic music and dance community for the past decade. Beginning as one-half of the beloved duo Jacob London alongside fellow Seattle artist Bob Hansen, Pezzner has forged an exciting sol…
After a highly successful run in 2014, Project Pabst returns this weekend July 17-19th at Zidell Yards in SW Portland. This year's eclectic lineup boasts several impressive big name performers sure to draw a crowd- for example, Blondie, Weezer, and Passion Pit, alongside indie pop band Alvvays, pun…
Natalie Mering, better known as Weyes Blood, has had a busy year. She released her latest (and very good) LP Front Row Seat To Earth late last year and followed that up a few months later with a collaborative EP with Ariel Pink called Myths 002. Next on her agenda is a 7" of two covers of two songs…
Sometimes life's journeys lead us back home matter how far away we travel. It's been nearly eight years since U.K. born producer Will Holland released a solo album as Quantic. He was certainly busy the whole time, producing records, collaborating with Alice Russell, and most significantly, moving t…
If Dean Wareham's own name isn't familiar, his previous projects most likely are. Galaxie 500 and Luna may never have quite reached the commercial success to match their critical acclaim, but both bands inspired a generation to follow of dream-pop wanderers and romantic rock dreamers. And both were…
It's a beautiful fall day in Reykjavik, and the small northern capitol is buzzing with activity, with bars, venues, shops, and restaurants in every nook and cranny of the city are busy with preparations for Iceland Airwaves Music Festival. While the KEXP broadcast begins tomorrow at 6 AM, you can c…
Earlier this year, Bryce and Aaron Dessner of The National curated the compilation Day of the Dead, a whopping 59 song, 5 and a ½ hour long tribute to the Grateful Dead. Today, NW-via-NZ band Unknown Mortal Orchestra share a video to go with their rendition of the 1978 track "Shakedown Street." Di…
In Icelandic their name means "seasons", but the warm, acoustic chamberpop songs of Árstíðir are particularly comforting on these cold days of winter. Recently, the group has been busy recording and crowd funding their third LP, Hvel (due February 2015), but they took time to share a handful of gor…
Part of Minneapolis' Doomtree collective, Dessa, the 7-member group's only female emcee, may also be their most well rounded. A degree in philosophy, a background in writing, particularly in creative non-fiction and spoken-word, and enough business acumen to run day-to-days of the label itself all …
