Right before their KEXP in-studio, DJ Cheryl Waters caught the Montreal band BRAIDS in a group hug. It was a sweet moment that defines this young group's history: vocalist Raphaelle Standell-Preston and drummer Austin Tufts met on the playground at the tender age of twelve; together, they met multi…
The Pixies have a video for "Andro Queen" from their most recent release, EP-1 - although what's happening in the video is uncertain. Two bands seem to be performing and there is a girl dancing, or just walking, as well as several tiger masks and a tiger lamp. Even if you can't make heads or tails…
The Men have graced us with yet another track from their upcoming acoustic EP Campfire Songs, which was literally recorded around a campfire. "Turn Your Colors" showcases the band's ability to create an emotive track that almost relies entirely on their instrumental prowess. The sweeping guitars a…
MGMT is apparently very much interested in collaborating with the "Hobo Rocket" band Pond in the future. Talking about their forthcoming self-titled album, VanWyngarden said it is "less distraught, nervous and paranoid" than the last - and "Your Life is a Lie" is both confident and absurd, allowing…
Imagine if one of the world’s coolest record labels threw a free, all-ages party for you and a few thousand of your friends. Imagine if it included bands like Father John Misty, Shabazz Palaces , Built to Spill and Mudhoney. Imagine there was tons of food, beer. activities and artwork! Now imagine …
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s selection comes from Californ…
For the rest of the year, we'll be spotlighting our KEXP DJs Top Albums of 2012, leading up to our 2012 Top Album Countdown, as voted on by our listeners! Voting ends today, Friday, December 21st, so let us know your favorites right now, and tune in on Friday, December 28th to hear if your picks ma…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Every Friday, we spotlight a Northwes…
DJ Kevin Cole shares some of his musical discoveries from the MENT Ljubljana Festival including bands from Slovenia, Estonia, Macedonia, Slovakia, and Russia! Time to get MENTal! 1. Oligarkh – “Maria Devo”(Saint Petersburg, Russia)2. The Ills – “Waltz On Mars” (Bratislava, Slovakia)3. Persons Fr…
Nothing Feels Natural, Priests' stunning 2017 LP, pulls no punches with its shapeshifting punk-damaged songs about fighting against the oppressive forces around you. It's the kind of record that makes the most sense in a sweaty small venue, but a small radio station studio comes pretty c…
Montreal-formed band Wolf Parade, now mostly based in Vancouver, make up for 13 years of not performing live on KEXP with an extra-long set in our new studio, covering their entire 2016 EP plus two classics harking back to their very first recording. Co-songwriters Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner, d…
Even though there was no explicit goal in mind when Jayhawks frontman Gary Louris started work on the songs that would eventually make up the Minneapolis group's ninth album, Paging Mr. Proust, he ended up with a set of songs that rank among the band's most gorgeous tracks. In their la…
For a glorious sixteen minutes, Boss Hog's garage rock fever barely stays on its rails, with Jon Spencer's guitar twisting and turning at every whiplashed step. Touring behind their first music in 16 years (this year's Brood Star EP), Spencer, frontwoman Cristina Martinez, and the rest of the band…
"Bedrooms and bars... and the road" – that's where the stories that make up Kyle Craft's debut album come from, to quote the Louisiana-born, Portland, Oregon-based musician. With the help of his five-piece band, Craft's singular wail underscores the glammy, melodic edges of the son…
A Deerhunter show is never just going to be Bradford Cox and company playing songs for two hours. This, as they’ve established in the past decade, is just not how the Atlanta band works. The gig might not always be as chaotic as the now-infamous “My Sharona” show and Cox might not run offstage, lea…
It's hard to describe our anticipation for the full-length debut from Mr. Silla. We've featured Sigurlaug Gisladóttir, a longtime member of Icelandic band múm, with her own project for the past few years -- recording her first in her own Reykjavik studio in 2011, then during our broadcast at Icelan…
We've all heard of music's power to heal, but, as everyone who was or knew a rebellious teen in their life understands, it can also isolate, alienate or offend. In Ragnar Bragason's Metalhead (Málmhaus), music can be both a creative and destructive force for young Hera Karlsdottir, who witnessed he…
Canadian synth-pop band TRUST have been doing some phenomenal work in the studio in the past year. When they dropped their debut LP, TRST, back in 2012, the dark, pulsing melodies and cryptic vocals drew quick comparisons to their brooding, gothic counterparts on the scene like Crystal Castles. The…
When it comes to long-lived makers of weird music, Einstürzende Neubauten is a fair match for Pere Ubu. Pere Ubu was founded a couple of years earlier, but as far as I can tell Neubauten has never had an officially inactive period. Pere Ubu is arguably the poppier of the two bands (most of their so…
The sun came out last Friday to set the perfect scene for KEXP and Seattle Center's second in the Concerts at the Mural series. With only the Space Needle and sun overhead, fans came out to see Minneapolis' earth friendly indie rock band Cloud Cult headline the concert. The KEXP favorites took the …
