Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 Morning Show with John Richards, is “All This Wandering Around” by Ivan & Alyosha from the 2015 album It's All Just Pretend on Dualtone.
Ivan & Alyosha All This Wandering Around (MP3)
Earnest folk-influenced melodies guide the incandescent indie rock of Seattle's Ivan & Alyosha. Formed by Tim Wilson (lead vox, guitar) and Ryan Carbary (guitar, piano), the project is named for characters in The Brothers Karamazov. A pair of EPs (2007's The Verse, The Chorus and 2009's Fathers Be Kind) grew local hype for the group, and gave them enough momentum to travel to Austin for a successful showing at SXSW 2010. The band's full length debut, 2013's All The Times We Had, only continued the band's upward trajectory, and for their sophomore effort, the band – now comprised of Wilson, Carbary, bassist Pete Wilson, guitarist Tim Kim, and drummer Cole Mauro – entered the studio with Joe Chiccarelli (The Strokes, My Morning Jacket) to create their sophomore effort, It's All Just Pretend. Bolstered by their new member, "All This Wandering Around" is one of the most direct tracks Ivan & Alyosha have put to tape, filling Chiccarelli's grander production with layered instrumentation and palpable energy. A borderline gospel hook ("where I belong/what I believe/I've been looking for something, oh Lord, to carry me") rallies the band across the song's brisk three minutes, moving at a relentless pace. Wilson has said that the song is about "looking for something bigger than yourself", and there's an undeniable radiance to "All This Wandering Around" that makes the song a forward-looking triumph, both in the band's sound and spirit.
Ivan & Alyosha kick off a spring tour behind It's All Just Pretend with a hometown show at Neumos on May 7th. Get tickets and more info on that all ages gig here, keep up with the band at their website and Facebook, and below, watch them play "Be Your Man" during KEXP's live broadcast at Bumbershoot in 2013.
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 Morn…
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Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 Morn…
