What was it like to discover The Replacements and surprise them with a record deal? Or hear John Peel talk about your label? Or hear the first Ramones album before 99.9% of the world? One guy, Twin/Tone Records co-founder Peter Jesperson can, and does, answer all those questions posited by KEXP pro…
It was a pact Vic Chesnutt held with Kristin Hersh, his long-time friend and frequent tourmate: "Don’t suck, don’t die." The two prolific songwriters shared not only the stage, but struggles with major labels and with mental health. But, sadly, Chesnutt did die, from an overdose on Christmas 2009 a…
Upstream Music Fest + Summit returns to Pioneer Square for its second year on June 1-3. As festival goers may remember from last year, one of the most unique parts about Upstream is its utilization of guest curators to build out their club stages. It's a tradition they'll cement this year with a ro…
Welcome to Review Revue, where every Thursday I dig through the KEXP stacks to share DJ reviews and comments written on the covers of LPs (and occasionally CDs) in the ’80s and ’90s, when the station was called KCMU, the DJs were volunteers, and people shared their opinions on little white labels i…
It's worth reminding ourselves that the recent heady days are by no means the first wave of Seattle hip-hop, or even the first time Seattle hip-hop has made it big on the national scene. Of course we all know Sir Mix-a-Lot, but it's not like he just appeared out of nowhere. There were other artists…
Eddie Cuscavage, a.k.a. Kadeejah Streets, is one of Seattle's most loved and trusted DJs in the local dance community as well as a co-founder of the Innerflight Music party crew and record label. While he's a diverse DJ that's able to seamlessly handle multiple genres, his exclusive live mix for Mi…
Welcome to Review Revue, where every Thursday I dig through the KEXP stacks to share DJ reviews and comments written on the covers of LPs (and occasionally CDs) in the '80s and '90s, when the station was called KCMU, the DJs were volunteers, and people shared their opinions on little white labels i…
There are a number of amazing releases featured throughout the Sub Pop catalog, but there's no question that our favorite catalog number so far is SP0217, Iris Parker-Pavitt, daughter of label founder Bruce Pavitt. KEXP chats with her and her dad in this exclusive interview.
Northwest artist/musician Geneviève Castrée lost her battle with pancreatic cancer this past Saturday. Castrée recorded music under the names Woelv and Ô Paon for local labels K, Marriage Records, and her spouse's label, P.W. Elverum & Sun. She was an accomplished artist, releasing her debut g…
Local label Sub Pop Records has issued an apology for this week's Father John Misty release. It appears the fancy diorama featured in the deluxe vinyl edition of I Love You, Honeybear is affecting the vinyl. The label explains on their site, "In short, the extra, bulging thickness of the pop-up ar…
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…
Born and raised in New York, Aesop Rock originally emerged from the city's indie hip-hop world, releasing his breakthrough album Labor Days in 2001 on Definitive Jux, the label ran by El-P (Run the Jewels). But, Aes (real name: Ian Matthias Bavitz) moved to Portland in 2008, so after nearly a decad…
With Independence Day right around the corner, it's great to see so many new releases out this week on independent labels! Highlights include the debut album from former Late Of The Pier frontman Sam Dust (aka LA Priest). KEXP Music Director Don Yates describes it as "a fine set of eccentric, psych…
Not sure if it's a compliment to be called a "thinking man's metal band" (or at least, it's not so nice to the other metal bands), but long running alternative metal band Helmet have always made smart music that never loses its punch. Vocalist/guitarist Page Hamilton founded the group back in '89, …
It's been an exciting couple years for Chinese record label Modern Sky. Not only did they just sign rock stalwarts Miserable Faith for their first ever U.S. tour - they've also expanded their hugely successful music festival into two U.S. cities in the span of just as many years. While Modern Sky h…
The more or less random selection of Tucson band Naked Prey's third album from the shelves at KEXP was something of a blessing for me - and hopefully for you - as it led me to the web site and Bandcamp page of Frontier Records, a label whose tastes seem to have been wide open and ranging as their n…
The alias of Georgia native Ernest Greene, Washed Out burst on to the music scene in 2009 with his defining and refreshing chillwave sound, and he's been a staple on KEXP's airwaves ever since. His style has evolved over the years, exploring various shades of dreamy and psychedelic electronic pop. …
When you're a band as big as Pearl Jam, do you really need to do interviews? Nah, probably not. What if you've got a new album titled Lightning Bolt, due out October 14th on their own label Monkeywrench? Well, okay, fine then.
LoneLady is the music project of British vocalist/guitarist Julie Campbell, an artist heavily inspired by the post-punk and leftfield-disco movements of the early 1980s. She's tweaked these influential, groovy sounds to her own liking over two albums released on the esteemed UK label Warp Records a…
As record companies 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 At…
