Windy City singer/songwriter Ryley Walker shares his third album this week, which KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls, "his strongest and most sophisticated set to date, combining fluid guitar lines, intricate rhythms and elliptical lyrics on expansive songs that masterfully blend elements of folk-…
It's gusting something fierce out in the dark Reykjavik night. But it's warm and cozy here in Kex Hostel as our live broadcast continues. Our fourth Iceland Airwaves act of the day was rock trio Kimono, heavy, loud, and a bit dark. They formed in 2001 as an instrumental post-rock band, but have evo…
The music of Explosions in the Sky has always lived up to the expectations set by the band's evocative name, and on their seventh studio album, The Wilderness, the Austin, Texas outfit continues to create singular, cathartic, and often breathtaking instrumental compositions. Joining host Tro…
Next on the live video broadcast from Kex Hostel at Iceland Airwaves Music Festival was popular Icelandic rap group Úlfur Úlfur. Comprised of rappers Arnar Freyr and Helgi Sæmundur with a rotating group of musicians, they combine hard rock, post rock, melodic choruses and hard rap. They debuted wit…
On their forthcoming full-length debut, Imaginary People make a very real noise. The NYC five-piece are quick to becoming storied superstars with their unscripted blend of kicking roots rock, moody post punk, synthy electro-pop, and anthemic new wave, which they themselves dubbed "dance Americana" …
Wow, what a way to open our last day of music live at Kex Hostel! We were fortunate to host legendary Icelandic musician Megas. Considered the father of Icelandic rock, Megas is one of Iceland’s most influential rock musicians. He's been working as a professional musician since 1968, when he publis…
A mind-expanding mix featuring some of DJ Kevin Cole's current favorite tracks including afro-beat grooves from Seattle and Icelandic alongside post-apocalyptic-disco and experimental-space-rock. 1. Cumulus - Hey Love 2. Barrence Whitfield and the Savages - The Corner Man 3. Frankie Rose - …
The music of Explosions in the Sky has always lived up to the expectations set by the band’s evocative name, and on their seventh studio album, The Wilderness, the Austin, Texas outfit continues to create singular, cathartic, and often breathtaking instrumental compositions. Joining host Troy Nelso…
Earlier this year, we got a sneak peek at the new alt-J album as the UK trio stopped by KEXP for an in-studio session. Now, the entire LP is out -- a release KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls, "their most adventurous, ranging from catchy prog-pop and solemn atmospheric folk ballads to decidedly o…
Former Bomb The Music Industry frontman Jeff Rosenstock returns with his sixth solo LP, Post-, and maybe the first major album to come out in 2018 with a New Year's Day release. KEXP Music Director Don Yates describes the record as "ranging from soaring, anthemic punk-pop to wistful indie-rock and …
Leading up until the Upstream Music Fest + Summit, a Northwest regionally focused festival with over 300 acts, KEXP will be featuring a new local artist from the lineup with an interview and suggested tracks for where to start. Today’s post features Seattle indie rock songwriter Emma Lee Toyoda, pe…
The biggest surprise of the summer is the latest from veteran Chicago band Wilco, who snuck out their ninth full-length late last week. KEXP Music Director Don Yates describes the album as "a smartly crafted blend of stomping glam-rock, buzzing motorik post-punk, atmospheric space-rock jams, plaint…
The second act up for our live streaming broadcast from Kex Hostel at Iceland Airwaves was rock and post-punk band Börn. They have a darker, gloomier sound influenced by the Icelandic punk movement of the 80s. Lead singer Alexandra is a total badass. She came adorned in black lipstick, a bright gre…
The final day of the KEXP broadcast from Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop in Austin during SXSW. Today’s lineup begins with the legendary and highly influential British psych rock band The Zombies, then up-and-coming 80s-influenced Nashville band Wild Cub, Brookyn-via-Denton post-punkers Parquet Courts, a…
A quick look at the Restorations tour schedule might have your eyes glazing over. After releasing their third studio album (LP3) in only four years at the end of 2014, the Philly indie-rockers have spent most of 2015 tirelessly touring across the U.S., the U.K., and even Jamaica. Or as singer/guita…
Happy backwards, Yppah is the music project of Long Beach, CA-via-Texas producer and multi-instrumentalist Joe Corrales Jr. Over three albums on the esteemed Ninja Tune label, Yppah has become a KEXP favorite with his lush and psychedelically welcoming sound that uniquely blends downtempo, shoegaze…
It's a great week for local music. The latest from Olympia-via-Seattle artist Briana Marela is what KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls, "her strongest set to date of adventurous electro-pop. Co-produced by Juan Pieczanski and Ryan Heyner of Small Black, the album features a brighter, more dynamic …
Rejoice! Indie rock legends The National have announced a new album! Their first since 2013's excellent Trouble Will Find Me, the new album will be called Sleep Well Beast and will be released just in time for the post-summer bummers on Sept 8th via 4AD. Check out the first single "The System Only…
It's scary how many great albums are coming out on this Halloween week! Highlights include the fourth album from Scottish band The Twilight Sad. KEXP Music Director Don Yates says the band, "brings back the loud, shoegazerish guitars that were mostly absent from their last release (2012’s No One Ca…
Seattle super-group Walking Papers played a killer session in the KEXP studio for Audioasis, where they shared three songs off their Mike McCready (of Pearl Jam)-produced self-titled debut from October last year, released on Sunyata Records. Such an assured sound from a band that just released a d…
