We caught up with Nila K Leigh and Sam Ford of Goodbye Heart to converse about some new projects, gain a little insight into the band's history and, of course, discuss their fascination with Tina Turner. The Seattle-based synth-pop duo just recorded an album, Restless Nights, with Shawn Simmons at …
Happy Sibling Day, everyone! In today's Video Roundup, KEXP is bringing you a slough of bands comprised of brothers and sisters. Our list includes: HAIM, The Jackson Five, The National, Kings of Leon, The Bee-Gees, Radiohead, CocoRosie, and First Aid Kit. It's a wonderful demonstration of the poten…
It's no wonder people can't help but use fiery rhetoric when describing Angel Olsen and her new album, Burn Your Fire For No Witness. Whether they're referring to the heated passion of her lyrics, her smokey voice or occasionally scorching melodies, listeners can't help notice the bright quality sh…
Last week, we suggested Pickathon as a must-do this summer. The Portland-area festival is announcing its 2014 lineup this month, revealing just a few bands each day. This morning, they've announced the return of Parquet Courts, a favorite of KEXP listeners and DJs in 2013, and one of last year's hi…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 song, selected by DJ John …
Who said the Northwest can't get funky? The eight members of local group Cascadia ’10 play afro-funk music together using a variety of horns, electric guitars, percussion instruments and a sense of slow-burning soul. Formed in 2010, as their name might suggest, the members of Cascadia ’10 also play…
After 14 years together, San Fransisco band Thee Oh Sees have announced an "indefinite hiatus." They've been consistently turning out loads of fresh material over the last five years, but things recently got hectic when frontman John Dwyer decided to move from San Fan to Los Angeles. Their manager…
Listening to The Lonely Forest is like looking up at the Northern Lights. On a crisp evening, a river rushing behind you, pine trees spotting the landscape, the shimmering aurora borealis hypnotizes. This is what it’s like taking in the grand, pleasantly wavering vocals of Lonely Forest lead singer…
Australian electronic experimentalists Severed Heads officially called it quits in 2008, after almost thirty years, but they are the first band I've covered in this series that not only has a functioning, relatively up to date website, but has their own Bandcamp page where you can buy their entire …
This week we celebrate the 15th year of one of Seattle’s favorite hometown labels: Barsuk Records! Since its birth in 1998, Barsuk has helped create a platform for dozens of great bands, from the Pacific northwest and otherwise, to get off the ground and put forth incredible music. Even in the deca…
This week we celebrate the 15th year of one of Seattle’s favorite hometown labels: Barsuk Records! Since its birth in 1998, Barsuk has helped create a platform for dozens of great bands, from the Pacific northwest and otherwise, to get off the ground and put forth incredible music. Even in the deca…
This week we celebrate the 15th year of one of Seattle’s favorite hometown labels: Barsuk! Since its birth in 1998, Barsuk has helped create a platform for dozens of great bands, from the Pacific northwest and otherwise, to get off the ground and put forth incredible music. Even in the decade and a…
After 17 years of existence, The Helio Sequence could easily kick back in comfort as a fixture in the Pacific Northwest music scene with their successful signature indie-rock sound. Instead, the duo has been ushered into a new, full-grown style on their fifth full-length album, 2012's Negotiations,…
Given the number of groups to perform at the Bumbershoot music festival and to pass through the KEXP halls, you’d think we’d seen everything. Well, it still comes as a surprise to see a band featuring a belly dancer balancing a jug on her bejeweled brunette head while doing the splits. And that is …
Few Seattle bands put on as energetic and frenetic of a live show as Kithkin. In keeping with the fantastical woodland creatures they're named for (from Magic: The Gathering), the group is even known to decorate the stages they play with fir trees and other forest paraphernalia. They are slated to …
Sunday at Bumbershoot 2013 was just about as good as it gets at Seattle’s hometown festival. Beginning with Kithkin’s tribal hair-cutting and ending with an incredible turnout in Key Arena for Death Cab For Cutie’s 10th anniversary performance of Transatlanticism and packing pretty much everything …
If you're not spending your lunch time downtown, you're missing out. On Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, the Metropolitan Improvement District in cooperation with Downtown Seattle Association presents the Out to Lunch Summer Concert Series, featuring a diverse lineup of bands and artists performing …
Hey, guess who I'm going to see next week in Seattle? Just guess! You'll never - oh, wait, you totally guessed My Bloody Valentine, didn't you? Dang it. Well, it's true. Some might say I'm at least 20 years too late to be seeing this influential, semi-reclusive band for the very first time, but rep…
UK post-punk band The Vaccines took a more somber turn last year with their excellent album Come of Age. After their pitch perfect indie rock masterpiece of a debut, Come of Age was a surprise to most – a melodic turn towards introspection and harsh reality rather than reckless lust for youth. With…
KEX Hostel, our friendly hosts for KEXP's Iceland Airwaves broadcast each year, are throwing a party tomorrow honoring our ongoing collaboration. The aptly named KEXPort features a marathon set of 12 bands in 12 hours, barely scratching the surface of the available talent in Reykjavik, and includes…