"When I was a kid, they didn't allow rappers to reach 44 years old." Atmosphere MC Slug may joke about his middle age ("dad rap - it's what I do now!"), but it belies his sense of pride in the Minneapolis group's two decade career. Joining Kevin Cole in the KEXP studio, Slug an…
Carla dal Forno is an Australian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, currently based in Berlin. Beginning in underground groups F Ingers, Tarcar, and Mole House, Carla has emerged as a distinctive solo artist, releasing her critically-acclaimed solo debut album You Know What It's Like in …
Minneapolis MC, community activist, and KEXP favorite Brother Ali has been a fixture within the hip-hop community for the past 17 years. He debuted on his long-time label Rhymesayers in the year 2000 with Rites Of Passage, the first of six studio albums that have showcased his deeply personal, soci…
For the past 15 years, Dungen has been creating a unique blend of expansive psychedelic jazz prog rock that has made them an important and influential band not only in their native Sweden but around the world. With their latest album, Allas Sak, frontman Gustav Ejstes took a more concerted effort t…
So I had literally just walked from CHVRCHES set at Sasquatch and opened my computer to write about said set when I found out that they had just released "Guns" - an amazingly good track that basically runs pop-synth circles around most other pop that's been released this summer. "Did you feel so c…
DJ Kevin Cole provides your perfect post-apocalyptic ash rain soundtrack with tons of great new music including tracks from Bully, Ghostpoet, Frankie Rose, Jane Weaver, and local bands New Age Healers, The True Loves, and Dot Comet. Let it rain! 1. New Age Healers - Love Is For Free) 2. Alex La…
Monday afternoon may not be the ideal time for a loud, full-force rock show, but it is, however, the perfect setting for a set of winding, country-colored jams, which is what the audience received when Israel Nash and his band took the stage. The Dripping Springs, Texas musician's lush, almos…
The alias of Austin, TX-based musician Spencer Stephenson, Botany is a creator of transportive, free-flowing music that's carried by a strong psychedelic streak. Since his 2011 debut EP, Feeling Today, his sound has evolved from shimmery beats towards a more metaphysical sound that defies simple ca…
This Saturday, March 11th, MoPOP hosts this year's finals of Sound Off!. KEXP will broadcast the competition live on air as part of Audioasis, our local music show. The pairing is perfect, as not only is Sound Off! the Northwest’s premiere 21-and-under battle of the bands, but many past artists hav…
Seattle electronic musician Scot Porter, a.k.a. Vox Mod, has been a local favorite on KEXP's airwaves ever since his breakout 2013 album SYN-ÆSTHETIC showcased his dense, celestial, epic style of spaced-out, synth-heavy electronic/rock jams. Hot on the heels of releasing his new album, Pure Consc…
Florence & the Machine have announced their new summer and fall tour schedule for How Big How Blue How Beautiful. They will hit several festivals like Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits, before their final stop brings them here to Seattle. Key Arena will host Florence Welch and company on October…
UK post-punk band The Vaccines took a more somber turn last year with their excellent album Come of Age. After their pitch perfect indie rock masterpiece of a debut, Come of Age was a surprise to most – a melodic turn towards introspection and harsh reality rather than reckless lust for youth. With…
A warm April Thursday night brought an all-star lineup to the sold-out Moore Theatre in the form of Courtney Barnett and Alvvays. The two groups differ dramatically stylistically, but they are two of the best acts in terms of captivating and connecting with audiences both lyrically and sonically. A…
Swedish singer-songwriter Alice Boman's subtle vocals and delicate instrumentals could get a response from even the chilliest of hearts. The minimalist musician, who released her second EP, EP II, this year, creates such an uncluttered sound that it disguises the fact that she is accompanied by thr…
With all the information passing between people on the internet, I suppose it’s no wonder an amazing band could form via Craigslist – yet, it still comes as a bit of a surprise that JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound came together this way. It’s like hearing the perfect couple met on a dating web site.…
British rock group The Heavy, rumored to be the only band David Letterman has asked to perform an encore on his show, stopped by the KEXP studios to deliver their own brand of rock and soul. The band effortlessly exudes cool, from lead singer Kelvin Swaby’s shades and grey tank top to Chris Ellul’s…
From pop to funk and R&B, Prince is a musician of many genres. I have to say, this raw and amped up version of his hit "Let's Go Crazy" fits him like a glove. He has four shows planned in two nights (April 18 and 19) at Shoebox and if this six minutes of instrumental perfection is any indicatio…
It's a great weekend for FREE, all ages outdoor concerts (the other being tonight's kick-off show of the Concerts at the Mural series, that is): Seattle vintage-clothing/art-gallery/all-ages-venue Cairo is throwing their annual Vibrations Festival this Sunday, August 3rd at the Amphitheater in Volu…
With the fate of Sonic Youth up in the air, founding guitarist Lee Ranaldo has found steady ground with his group, The Dust. Backed by fellow SY orphan Steve Shelley on drums, along with guitarist Alan Licht and bassist Tim Lüntzel, Ranaldo's tenth album, Last Night on Earth, is his most collaborat…
