Directed by bandleader Danny Mekonnen, the Boston-based Debo Band take inspirations from 1960s Ethiopian jazz music, elements of klezmer, funk and rock and roll. They combine these into original instrumentation and create a rhythmic, thoughtful, often trans-like musical narrative. Adding to Mekonne…
Arcade Fire has released the new interactive video for "Reflektor". Like previous videos made with director Vincent Morisset, this one pulls you in by asking you to control the reflection and special effects. (Be warned: the video only works with Google Chrome, but is very much worth the effort.) T…
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 Afte…
“One of my dreams is about to come true,” DJ Derek Mazzone said, introducing the psychedelic Brazilian rock band Os Mutantes before their performance live on KEXP's Wo'Pop. The band, part of the Tropicália artistic movement that bridged popular culture with the avant-garde in the 1960s in Brazil, c…
In what might be a MusicFestNW broadcast first, our session with Sonny & The Sunsets inspired both a mini-mosh pit AND a toddler dance party at the Doug Fir Lounge today.
The Thermals may have moved to Saddle Creek Records for their latest album, but frontman Hutch Harris showed some Seattle pride at the Doug Fir, sporting a Hardly Art shirt, which, along with the rest of Harris, was inevitably soaked by the end of their live set.
Midway through The Dodos KEXP session, a chant emerged from the packed audience at the Doug Fir Lounge, eliciting embarrassed grins from the Bay Area trio: "You're our favorite threesome!"
We end our broadcast during Musicfest NW today with another great lineup at the Doug Fir in Portland. Tune in today starting at noon for four great bands performing live on air starting with New Jersey indie punks Titus Andronicus, followed by melodic Bay Area folk-pop duo The Dodos, Portland's own…

In 2018, KEXP celebrated the 30th anniversary of local record label Sub Pop with a four-month retrospective, "counting up" every catalog number in their vast discography of over 1,200 releases. Dig into the archives of our catalog coverage, featuring in-depth coverage on the history of their releases.