It's one of those touchstones of rock that if you don't have in your collection, you're likely to add immediately on first hearing. Big Star's Third never reached the commercial success it deserved upon its release, but over the years it grew into a cult favorite frequently name-checked (and cribbed from) by all sorts of indie bands to follow. Two decades after the Big Star's demise, singer/guitarist Alex Chilton and drummer/vocalist Jody Stephens joined Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies to continue the band's legacy. Sadly, Chilton died shortly after they reconnected (singer/guitarist Chris Bell had already passed), and bassist Andy Hummel succumbed to cancer months later. The light of Big Star's songs burned bright, though, so much so that The dB's Chris Stamey, a former bandmate and friend of Alex Chilton, pulled together an amazing collaboration — part tribute, part continuation — to relive the cult classic that should have been a hit. To perform as Big Star's Third, Stamey gathered artists from his native Chapel Hill, NC, home with Auer and Stringfellow, and remaining Big Star, Jody Stephens. We were thrilled to feature the entire group live on KEXP from the Music Lounge before their star-studded set at Bumbershoot last month, and even more delighted that they were joined by the Seattle Rock Orchestra. You can read more about their amazing performance here and watch the entire session below:
Usually, you'd want to hustle the riff raff out, but when it comes to the New Orleans band Hurray for the Riff Raff, you want them to stick around. That's why we featured them three times this year: in our studio, at our SXSW showcase at Mellow Johnny's, and during our broadcast over Labor Day week…
Though much of the latest Cymbals Eat Guitars album is about loss – of a childhood friend, of innocence, of easier days – frontman Joseph D'Agostino has turned LOSE into an emotional gain, for himself and his listeners. Often tumultuous, sometimes anthemic, always melodic, the new songs are the ban…
While his previous release, Temple Beautiful, looked backwards, particularly at the storied past of San Francisco, Chuck Prophet's latest, Night Surfer (out today!), looks brazenly forward. But even if the future isn't always bright on this, his 13th album, the songs are characteristically punchy, …
You won't find a more kicked-back band than Nada Surf. Their relaxed demeanor, easy banter and effortless performances make you think they're the kind of guys you just want to hang out with. During their recent acoustic session, live on KEXP from the Bumbershoot Music Lounge, it was like the entire…
