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. Every Friday, we feature a song by…
Portland composer and vocalist Natasha Kmeto dropped by and dropped jaws with her magnificent multitasking performance for KEXP's Audioasis. Surreal and vocally symphonic, Kmeto's songs stretch the boundaries of both contemporary pop, IDM and EDM with percussively intriguing compositions that slide…
The Portland trio Modern Kin seem to be addicts for live performances. After stopping by KEXP for a live in-studio with DJ John Richards, the band set up a streaming concert series – seven shows in twenty-four hours – in Mississippi studios for fans all across the world. “The idea of a live show, i…
Visually, Wampire are a throwback to the 70’s: button-downs with big collars opened at the top, sunglasses, long and wavy hair. If you didn’t know what year it was, you might think the Doobie Brothers just stepped out of the Mystery Mobile. Musically, Wampire proves worthy of their indie buzz. The …
It’s a long way from Toronto, Ontario, to the Doug Fir lounge in Portland, Oregon, but any travel issues the critically-acclaimed Canadian band Austra had to endure didn’t show at their MusicFest NW performance on KEXP. The band, as usual, was composed, in control, and luminous. Throughout their em…
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…
Portland band Battleme are lovers not fighters. Frontman Matt Drenik may have fueled his project's perpetually punchy new LP with hard-hitting beats and muscular rhythms, but Habitual Love Songs is Battleme's billet-doux to '70s-steeped power-pop and glam guitar rock, populated with characters from…
Fresh off globetrotting tours to Australia, Canada, and the U.S., local based surf rockers, Guantanamo Baywatch, stopped by the KEXP live room to share new tracks from their sophomore LP, Darling... It's Too Late. The Portland four piece embody the sounds of summer as they shred through rockabilly …
How does K Records label impresario Calvin Johnson feel about Pink Floyd? DJ Sharlese may not get the local legend to reveal how he feels, but one thing we know for sure is that he loves Portland surf-rockers The Shivas. Not only has he released the young band's fourth album You Know What To Do on …
Last week, we suggested Pickathon as a must-do this summer. The Portland-area festival is announcing its 2014 lineup this month, revealing just a few bands each day. This morning, they've announced the return of Parquet Courts, a favorite of KEXP listeners and DJs in 2013, and one of last year's hi…
If surf rock is making a comeback with the rise of bands like Seattle’s La Luz, then Portland-based band The Shivas may well be ahead of the curve. Their head-bobbing rhythms and cute, airy background vocals envelope the ears like a warm tropical day. The band can rock, too, like on their song “Sta…
There is nothing extinct about The Dodos. In fact, they've been playing music together consistently since 2005 and are continually evolving. While playing, The Dodos are always changing speeds, messing with time, all the while imbuing an unassuming – yes – confidence, as on their recent single of t…
After 17 years of existence, The Helio Sequence could easily kick back in comfort as a fixture in the Pacific Northwest music scene with their successful signature indie-rock sound. Instead, the duo has been ushered into a new, full-grown style on their fifth full-length album, 2012's Negotiations,…
If you're not spending your lunch time downtown, you're missing out. On Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, the Metropolitan Improvement District in cooperation with Downtown Seattle Association presents the Out to Lunch Summer Concert Series, featuring a diverse lineup of bands and artists performing …
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. Today’s song comes from Portland psyc…
David Bazan has announced on Twitter that his beloved late '90s and early '00s Seattle band Pedro the Lion will be reuniting for four shows, two in Seattle and two in Portland this December. A full US tour will follow. Pedro the Lion broke up in 2006, after releasing four albums, the classic being …
This past weekend in Portland, a benefit concert was held for beloved local artist Scott McCaughey, who suffered a stroke back in November. As we mentioned last month here on the KEXP Blog, the two nights (Friday at the Star Theater, Saturday at the Wonder Ballroom) featured an all-star bill includ…
Greg Vandy, host of KEXP's The Roadhouse, previews a handful of artists playing this year's Pickathon Music Festival. Pickathon is an innovative music experience happening August 2nd-4th at beautiful Pendarvis Farm just outside of Portland, Oregon. More info at www.pickathon.com 1. Foxygen - No De…
All this year, KEXP has been hosting a series of unique fun events to raise money for our New Home campaign! Back in October, we hosted a two day showcase in Portland, one at Holocene and the other at Doug Fir. While there, we were fortunate to work with Louie Herr and Aaron Colter of Banana Stand …
Rap Class is the alias of Portland's John Kammerle, a vast resource of knowledge and skills as a DJ, a chameleonic and exploratory electronic producer, a school music teacher, and also a founding member of the beloved Dropping Gems collective. While he's offered up his own productions on releases f…
