KEXP is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a radio station this year. To honor that celebration, each week we’re looking back on one year of music during the past five decades. This week, we’re celebrating the year 1982 with R.E.M.’s “Gardening at Night.” Dusty Henry reflects on the band’s debut E…
I know, I know, didn't I just post an R.E.M. album a month or so ago? I guess I kinda did. But I have my reasons! First of all, Fables of the Reconstruction was released 30 years ago next week (and checked into KCMU 30 years ago tomorrow, as you can tell by the sticker on the bottom). Happy birthda…
The versatile drummer passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 from cancer at the age of 59.
R.E.M., who released Reckoning, their second album, almost exactly 31 years ago, were a band for 31 years. They began as a quirky group of Athens weirdos beloved by college radio DJs, and became one of the biggest rock bands in the world, and then they decided to stop being a band, which you have t…
The legendary R.E.M. guitarist discusses collaborating with Joseph Arthur and the choices he’s made to make room for hope in his life.
The deluxe version will have the original album, a remixed version from producer Scott Litt, a CD of previously unreleased demos, and a live album that captures a 1995 show in Chicago.
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.
It's reissue season, and this week brings us deluxe versions of Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger, Tori Amos' Boys for Pele, Ween's live album, and R.E.M.'s now-classic Out of Time, whose deluxe edition features new liner notes, 19 never-before-heard demos, an unreleased 1991 live show, plus eight music…
This past weekend in Portland, a benefit concert was held for beloved local artist Scott McCaughey, who suffered a stroke back in November. As we mentioned last month here on the KEXP Blog, the two nights (Friday at the Star Theater, Saturday at the Wonder Ballroom) featured an all-star bill includ…
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…
It's the end of the year, alright, but I don't know how fine you're feeling. R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe joined Stephen Colbert and actor James Franco for a spirited, updated rendition of the 1987 single "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" last night on CBS' The Late Show with S…
2016 is off to a great start for M. Ward. The beloved Northwest singer/songwriter made a surprise appearance at the Sasquatch! 2016 Launch Party earlier this week, and today, he shares a video for "Girl From Conejo Valley," a single from his upcoming release, More Rain. The clip, directed by Ward …
While we consider all our Bumbershoot Music Lounge sessions "special," there's something undeniably extra-special about this one. When main songwriter Alex Chilton passed away in 2010, followed shortly by the passing of founding bassist Andy Hummel the same year, most assumed we'd never hear from t…
Northwest singer/songwriter M. Ward stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night to share two tracks from his forthcoming full-length, More Rain. Watch a replay of "Confession" and the web exclusive of "Girl From Conejo Valley" below. More Rain hits stores on March 4th via Merge, and f…
Since R.E.M.'s 2011 break-up, we haven't seen much of frontman Michael Stipe. But, last night on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he returned to the spotlight for a haunting performance of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World." He'll likely reprise his cover, or perhaps do a different …
It took nearly six years, but the members of Tuatara finally heard the shaman's call. The members of the collaborative Seattle collective, led by drummer and producer Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees, Mad Season, Walking Papers), gathered once again outside of the plain of their ordinary lives to cr…
Okay, not "exactly" music news, but it's just been announced that none other than Stephen Colbert will take over for David Letterman as the host of CBS' The Late Show in 2015! Letterman announced his retirement earlier this month with a performance from Joseph Arthur, accompanied by R.E.M.'s Mike …
To those of you who might not know, Nirvana will soon be inducted by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The inductees will include Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl. The latter two members will be performing with Pat Smear (who will not be inducted); however, …
Take it from the crackpot behind the annual Big Gay Podcast and the 4AD 4VR blowout—YOU make it incredibly fun to program themed programs and podcasts on KEXP. Did you hear John’s hour-long set of songs about rain on Wednesday? My favorite part was your emails pouring into the DJ booth. They teemed…
Twenty years ago, music had one of its most creatively abundant years of music. 1994 saw strong debut releases in every genre, from Oasis to Outkast. Grunge was at the height of its power with excellent local releases from Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Nirvana released their MTV Unpl…
