UK indie pop trio London Grammar have been causing quite a stir lately, and the fact that they don’t even have a record out in the United States yet didn’t deter a single member of the full house they met Monday night at the Crocodile. Their debut LP, If You Wait, has soared towards the top of the …
Nearly 35 years in music and Bob Mould shows no signs of slowing down! From his early punk roots with Hüsker Dü in the 1980s through his alternative pop years with Sugar in the 1990s, and in the years between and afterwards with his ten solo albums, the veteran songwriter has explored a variety of …
If volume is your only musical qualifier, then there is probably only one band on your best of 2013 list. San Francisco metal duo Deafheaven dropped Sunbather last month, a seven track sonic masterpiece that relentlessly pulls at your heartstrings and threatens hearing damage for 60 minutes. The al…
Musician, songwriter, author, actor, producer... in whatever he does, country rock living legend Steve Earle is uncompromisingly in his art and an outspoken critic of what's wrong in our country. On his many albums -- fourteen, not including his many collaborations, compilations and live releases -…
One thing I've noticed over the years I've been writing these blog posts is that I should really know more about the English city of Birmingham and its music. While it might not have the name recognition of Manchester, Liverpool, and London to those of us outside of the UK, Birmingham has produced …
With roots that stretch back to carefree two person jam sessions at Gasworks Park, the well-rounded Seattle septet Hey Marseilles has grown in the last nine years not just in size, but in the power and scope of their songwriting and performance. In this KEXP live in-studio performance they show wh…
A very cool piece of Northwest history has emerged today. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie has shared a recording of their very first show in Bellingham at a house venue called the Pacer House from November 22, 1997. Gibbard's friend Trevor Adams had the foresight to record the gig on his dictap…
Perennially nice guy Mac DeMarco has put four test pressings of his 2012 EP Rock and Roll Night Club up for sale via Discogs. Each pressing is unique, featuring different doodles and signatures by DeMarco. And proceeds will go to benefit Waves for Water, a Caribbean hurricane relief initiative. (D…
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. This week, we are featuring Christmas…
Philadelphia band The War on Drugs return with the fourth album. KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls it, "an excellent set of expansive, '80s-steeped rock. Beautifully produced, the band's music has never sounded better than it does here with a bliss-inducing combination of expansive guitar leads, …
In light of the tragic passing of Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog), KEXP has decided to dedicate an additional 12 hours of programming to celebrate the life and music of Chris Cornell. Six Degrees of Chris Cornell will place Cornell's music within a larger musical context,…
Can you believe there was once a time where Reggae wasn’t a word everyone recognized? In the musical world you have to really be in awe of how a sound from a tiny island in the Caribbean has propelled itself into the Global Consciousness. The legendary Reggae singer Winston Jarrett can clearly reme…
What does Erik Blood think about when he wakes up in the morning? When did he feel most satisfied? The music producer - who seemingly has worked with everyone in Seattle - tells KEXP the answers to these questions and more during a few free moments between working with more world class musicians.
Like the wily vikings who first settled there, Ballard has risen victorious, staking their claim in KEXP's Hood-to-Hood Challenge with their fifth win in the nine years we've held the competition. Join us this Friday, May 30th as we toast their 'hood with an all-day party throughout the neighborhoo…
Phantogram will drop their sophomore album Voices on February 18, and today they've shared the track "Nothing But Trouble." This song is a dazzling, spectacle that has all the elements of a summer hit. [Stereogum]
Happy Thanksgiving! Or, "Thankskilling," if you ask Morrissey, who has penned an open letter to President Obama accusing him of laughing "as 45 million birds are horrifically abused." Read the whole thing online here: [Pitchfork]
Malcolm Young, co-founder and guitarist for influential rock band AC/DC, has passed away at the age of 64. Young had been battling dementia for several years. A statement on the band's website reports he "passed away peacefully with his family by his bedside." On Facebook, his younger brother and f…
Noah Gundersen’s music is often personal – even confessional. In Gundersen’s latest album, Lover (Cooking Vinyl), he again turns his focus inward, but with more self-awareness. Sound & Vision host Emily Fox spoke with Gundersen about his new album and how aging has affected his music.
A new group has been chosen to take over Seattle's Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival. Co-organizer Steven Severin talks about how they want to make tickets more affordable, less dependent on big name headliners, and they want the festival to go beyond just Labor Day weekend.
KEXP is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a radio station this year. To honor that celebration, each week we’re looking back on one year of music during the past five decades. This week, we’re celebrating the year 2005 with Jack's Mannequin's "Dark Blue," a song that actually has never been playe…
