Icelandic heartthrobs Samaris are familiar to KEXP's most loyal fans, but they were clearly a surprise and a radical departure to the newcomers. The trio - vocalist, clarinetist, and beat maker/DJ - had the burden of having to follow-up Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings inside the Gathering Space, but they immediately rose to the challenge.
After having been cooked in the sun dancing to the funky soul, Samaris washed us with their downtempo, ambient trip hop beats, with lilting angelic vocals and long, woody clarinet wails.
It was a perfect compliment to the day's sets, a quirky, electronic touch to a day filled with rock and guitars. People enjoyed a break from the sun, but anyone expecting a break from dancing was surely disappointed.
Bob Mould occupies an important role in the history of American rock, having been behind seminal groups like Hüsker Dü and Sugar and then pursuing a lengthy and varied solo career. So his appearance at our Grand Opening was particularly exciting for rock veterans and the grunge sector. He eschewed …
Strand of Oaks and KEXP have history together, and as they took the stage they were immediately sincere and earnest in their thanks: not being from Seattle can be hard on folks, and they explained that their long involvement with the station, in particular with DJ John Richards, have been what has …
