For a band that's distinctly Scottish, The Vaselines couldn't be more "Northwest", and now more so than ever. Formed by current members, Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee, the Glasgow group released only one album before breaking up in 1989. That might have been the end for their catchy, quirky, charm…
Everything I've ever thought about MØ is wrong. Well, maybe not all of it – I think she put together an incredible debut LP this year with No Mythologies To Follow, and I think that hard work has put her in league with the leaders of the new wave of indie pop like Grimes, Charli XCX, and others. Bu…
Ever since we caught sight of Rising Mountains, their 2009 release, we've been fans of Capsula. The Bilbao by way of Buenos Aires band always thrills with their glam rock inspired riffs and pounding rhythms, reminding you as much of Sonic Youth as T.Rex and David Bowie. Their stage shows, in partic…
There are few moments in rock 'n' roll as iconic as the opening drum-and-breath line in "Time of the Season." Yet unlike many of their British Invasion co-horts (like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Moody Blues), The Zombies never reached the same level of success. Maybe it was tha…
Early last month, we were thrilled to present R&B musician Cody ChesnuTT at the Triple Door as part of our VIP Club Concert series. His sound is a fresh kind of soul-R&B-rock hybrid that excellently displays his raw, natural talent as an entertainer. ChesnuTT's powerful and expressive vocal…
Another day, another dollar (or is it another krona?). While I'm not quite sure what the conversion rate is for days and poorly-executed metaphors here in Iceland, one thing I am sure of is that we are bringing you another incredible day of live music here at Kex Hostel during Iceland Airwaves Musi…
Brooklyn synth-pop duo Prince Rama ask their audience a simple question halfway through their new LP, Xtreme Now. "When was the last time you had fun?" On the record, it's supposed to be a question about belief, about conviction, and about our response to that in a positive and nourishing manner. I…
Portland's Modern Kin recently released their debut self-titled record, a 12-track rocking album from the booming trio. The band is not afraid to experiment, either, having tried out a seven-show in 24-hours idea, streaming the performances live from Mississippi Studios in their hometown, Portland,…
"Nine Inch Numan" -- it was a comment left on the KEXP Facebook page, and echoed among the audience from our Bumbershoot Music Lounge session. Who knew synthpop pioneer Gary Numan had taken such a darker, more industrial turn in his later career! Even his 1979 new wave hit "Cars" took on a harder…
KEXP returned to the Bunny Glade at Pickathon this year to capture more magical sessions in this forest oasis. Each of the 16 exclusive performances stood out in its own way, but certainly two of the most anticipated ones came from beloved KEXP favorites Andrew Bird and Sharon Van Etten.
The Head and the Heart have dropped their debut single "Shake" from Let's Be Still (out October 15). The flawless harmonies and punchy percussion give me a bit of a Fleetwood Mac vibe. If this is just the beginning, the new album is sure to be amazing. Tune in to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonig…
As we look back on 25 years of Nirvana's Nevermind, we have to acknowledge how even their music videos became influential. Former MTV Programming employee Amy Finnerty has said the clip for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in particular "changed the entire look of MTV." From anarchist cheerleaders to a sp…
Pickathon's 2015 Fall Season continues. Each week, the rustically set, Portland-area festival is running an ambitious program of four new episodes every week through February 2016. Through twelve individual channels of content, you can experience this one-of-a-kind festival in the most intimate of …
Leave it to Minnesota expat DJ Kevin Cole to champion Bully, fronted by former Rosemount-native Alicia Bognanno. A former intern at Steve Albini’s famed Electrical Audio, Bognanno brought the band back there to record their debut full-length, Feels Like, out now on Columbia/Star Time. The result is…
Pickathon's 2015 Fall Season is in full steam. Each week, they're running an ambitious program of four new episodes every week through February 2016. Through twelve individual channels of content, you'll be able to experience this one of a kind festival in the most intimate of ways... you'll go, On…
Last night at the American Music Awards, Seattle's own Macklemore & Ryan Lewis debuted a brand-new track titled "Kevin," which we can only assume is named for KEXP's Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole. (Note: it's not.) Soul sensation Leon Bridges joins them on guest vocals. Stream the single and …
Pickathon's 2015 Fall Season has just begun. This week, they're kicking off an ambitious run of four new episodes every week through February 2016. Through twelve individual channels of content, you'll be able to experience this one of a kind festival in the most intimate of ways... you'll go, On t…
Um, Mr. Malkmus? Correct me if I'm wrong, if you're reading this (and by golly, I sure hope you are!), but you seemed a little uncomfortable the night you performed at the EMP Museum. The show was part of the museum's "Influencers Concert Series," which pairs newer artists with the established acts…
More new music from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis! In this fun video for the track "Downtown," Macklemore takes hip hop pioneers Grandmaster Caz, Kool Moe Dee and Melle Mel on a stroll through the streets of Spokane. (And keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of Mariners' Ken Griffey Jr., too.) The du…
