Song of the Day: Naomi Punk - Television Man

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part 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, featured on The Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Television Man” by Olympia band Naomi Punk from the 2014 album Television Man on Captured Tracks.

Naomi Punk - Television Man (MP3)

You gotta give 'em credit for advertising their own genre in their band name, but Naomi Punk don't really play punk music anyway, at least not the way most people know it. But "Naomi Post-Punk" or "Naomi Art Punk" would sound pretty stupid. The truth is, the Olympia, WA, trio resist easy classification as much as they defy nodding concert-goers the ability to predict tempo changes at shows (believe me, I've watched!). But there's an undeniable raw aggression in their unconventionally recorded song, which, despite their DIY aesthetic, seem purposely produced. Beneath the muffled dirges of guitarist Neil Gregerson and drummer Nic Luempert and the distorted vocals of singer/guitarist Travis Coster are some truly haunting melodies. It could be their shared Olympian connection, but Naomi Punk may be the next, best band to dig beauty of the dirt since perhaps the most legendary of NW bands – so yeah, Naomi Punk is about as "punk" as Nirvana, which is to say, pretty fucking punk.

Check out the title track to Naomi Punk's new album, Television Man, featured as today's Song of the Day podcast, and watch them perform the song live at KEXP below. You've missed them in the Northwest for now, as they played a handful of Seattle shows last month around the release of their album, and are now touring the East Coast. But look for their next stop here.