Kexp Live Performances Podcast

After a seven year break, the members of Broken Social Scene felt compelled to reunite, not just for new music, but to underscore the personal bond that runs through the Toronto collective. Performing songs from their new album, Hug Of Thunder, and a BSS classic, the band join Stevie Zoom in the KEXP Live Room for a four-song performance and a remembrance of Gord Downie. Recorded 10/04/2017 - 4 songs: Stay Happy, Skyline, Protest Song, Sweetest KillSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between their first session at KEXP in March 2015 to their return trip three and a half years later, Wolf Alice toured the world two or three times over and became one of the biggest bands of their generation. Visions of a Life, their sophomore record, meets the hype - it's ambitious and grand and vivid - and three of those songs (along with a Wolf Alice classic) are performed in a stripped down session with DJ Cheryl Waters. Recorded 10/12/2017 - 4 songs: Sadboy, Space & Time, Bros, Don't Delete The KissesSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Baba (Arabic for “father”), Happy Orchestra producer Tarik Abouzied created a vibrant, joyous record that doubles as a tribute to his late father. Performing on Audioasis as part of the Earshot Jazz Festival, Abouzied and the rest of sextet work through four kinetic jazz tunes and talk about how the project came to be. Recorded 10/04/2017 - 4 songs: Room 358, 55, Step How You Like, BabaSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You must set an example - to be a good person, you must be a good person.” The English translation of Ladilikan, Trio Da Kali's 2017 LP, has some weight to it, but the trio of musicians from the Mande culture of Southern Mali have so much life in their music. Joining Darek Mazzone on Wo' Pop, the Malian trio perform five songs and expand on their artistic vision in conversation. Recorded 10/4/2017 - 4 songs: Dissa, Ladilikan, Kanimba, Eh Ya Ye, GuedeSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caitlin De Marrais, Kaia Fischer, and William Kuehn originally stepped away from the influential emo outlet Rainer Maria in 2006, but fate led to their return nearly a decade later, first as a performing band, then as a recording one. S/T, their first record in a decade, is full of the passionate turbulence that drove their best work, and three of its songs - along with a RM classic - appear in this session with DJ Cheryl Waters. Recorded 10/05/2017 - 4 songs: Suicides And Lazy Eyes, Lower Worlds, Artificial Light, Forest MattressSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the seminal shoe gaze group Ride reunited in 2015, a new record was just a matter of when, rather than if. Weather Diaries, the band's first record in over two decades, channels their textural tension with a mature, reflective set of songs that shows few, if any, signs of rust. The band that closed out KEXP's old studio returns to the New Home in this heavily anticipated session with DJ Cheryl Waters. Recorded 9/24/2017 - 4 songs: Lannoy Point, Vapour Trail, Cali, Weather Diaries, All I Want, Leave Them All BehindSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To name her newest record, Halo, Argentina's Juana Molina sorted through her lyrics word by word before deciding “halo” was the correct way to describe this collection of rhythmic, kinetic electronic music. Joining Darek Mazzone on Wo' Pop, Molina and her band return to KEXP to perform four songs from Halo and discuss the difficulty of naming the record and being one of a kind.  Recorded 9/26/2017 - 4 songs: Cosoco, Estalacticas, Paraguaya, Sin DonesSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Influenced by the year he spent on the road while writing the record, Simon Green's latest record, Migration, is Bonobo's most progressive album to date, with a wider spectrum of sounds bursting into his electronic compositions. Joined by a full band in his return to KEXP's Live Room, Green joins DJ Kevin Cole to play four Migration tracks and discuss how perpetually traveling impacted the record. Recorded 9/19/2017 - 4 songs: Migration, Break Apart, No Reason, SamuraiSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Benjamin Booker's second album, Witness, finds the musician rallying his blues rock sound to call for respect and justice in troubling times while retaining the sharp musicianship that made his debut stand out. On his return to the KEXP Live Room, Booker joins Troy Nelson for four Witness songs and a conversation about writing songs in Mexico and visiting Third Man Records' headquarters. Recorded 9/11/2017 - 4 songs: The Slow Drag Under, Carry, Believe, Right On YouSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The North Carolina musician Sarah Shook had been buzzy for the past few years, but with Sidelong, her 2017 album, her profile appropriately raised with the collection of twangy, burning country songs. In fiery form, Shook and her band the Disarmers join Don Slack on Swingin' Doors to play four songs and discuss the origins of the group, . Recorded 9/27/2017 - 4 songs: Keep the Home Fires Burnin', Dwight Yoakum, Heal Me, The Bottle Never Lets Me DownSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In between playing seemingly countless shows and becoming one of Seattle's worst-kept-secrets, DoNormaal found time to craft Third Daughter, her second full-length and a stunning addition to her catalog. On her return to the KEXP Live Room, DoNormaal performs four tracks from Third Daughter and discusses the last year and her favorite poets with Stas THEE Boss. Recorded 9/21/2017 - 4 songs: Buckle, Magic Donormarl, Emotional, Plugged InSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's one of America's most consistent journeyman songwriters, but Conor Oberst's 2016/17 companion albums Ruminations and Salutations are some of his best and most harrowing work yet. Performing four songs from those albums with a band, Oberst's songwriting is placed front and center in this session with Troy Nelson. Recorded 9/2/2017 - 4 songs: Barbary Coast, Afterthought, Mamah Borthwick (A Sketch), Till St. Dymphna Kicks Us Out  Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cigarettes After Sex is an evocative moniker, and it's brilliant that the El Paso, Texas group's sound is as vaporous, alluring, and nocturnal as they suggest. Joining DJ Morgan in the KEXP Live Room, Greg Gonzalez and co. perform four tracks from their self-titled debut. Recorded 9/8/2017 - 4 songs: K., Sunsetz, Sweet, ApocalypseSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Considering the members' other projects, Filthy Friends' collective resume is completely stacked - having Corin Tucker, Peter Buck, and Scott McCaughey in your ranks will do that - but it's remarkable how loose and low-stakes this performance of ripping guitars and pounding drums sounds. Joining DJ Morgan in the KEXP Live Room, the Portland, Oregon group show off their chemistry as friends and musicians with four songs from their 2017 self-titled debut. Recorded 9/8/2017 - 4 songs: The Arrival, Despierta, Ides October, BrotherSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pieces of Sky, Tomo Nakayama's latest record, is one of the Seattle veteran's most delicate and powerful works, reflecting on the nature of traveling and going through life during chaotic times. Backed by a full band in this session on the Morning Show with John Richards, Nakayama and his group play four songs and discuss the nature of playing gigs in airports and using music to stay positive in tough times. Recorded 9/7/2017 - 4 songs: Bright and Blue, Fourth of Julivar's, Undying Light, Pieces of SkySupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Named after the informal moniker of the musicians who helped him make the record, Floating Harmonies is one of Júnrus Meyvant's finest records, living up to its title's description of aqueous, serene melodies. Performing a stripped down set in the KEXP Live Room, Meyvant and his band play three tracks from the record (and an unreleased tune) and tell DJ Morgan about their year after the record's release. Recorded 9/2/2017 - 4 songs: Dwelling Side By Side, Mr. Minister Great, Floating Harmonies, Neon ExperienceSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's hard to think of a local band that's emerged as explosively this year on KEXP as Great Grandpa, but it's not hard to see why. The quintet write crunchy, catchy, and thoughtful songs, of which there are 10 on their stellar debut Plastic Cough. Four of those air during this session with on the Morning Show with John Richards which also features a story about how a band member eating pumpkin seeds led to the lyrics of “Teen Challenge”. Recorded 8/23/2017 - 4 songs: Expert Eraser, Fade, Teen Challenge, Favorite ShowSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I'm just writing to write and to let that be heard.” Luz Elena Mendoza says she processes events and experiences pretty quickly, and it shows in her songs, full of musical ideas with vibrant energy. The Y La Bamba leader clearly has a lot to say, and in this session with DJ Sharlese on Audioasis, she and her band play four new songs and discuss living through the darkness and the light, articulating your experiences, and striving to being nice to everyone. Recorded 8/17/2017 - 4 songs: My Death, Mujeres, 4-Loca, SoñadoraSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Morby has been a KEXP favorite for a few years now, but he's never sounded quite as vibrant and expansive as he does on his latest LP, City Music. Performing a set full of City Music tracks (along with some old favorites) at the Triple Door, Morby and his bandmates run through a sublime 50 minute set. Recorded 8/21/2017 - 4 songs: City Music, Crybaby, 1234, Aboard My Train, Destroyer, I Have Been To The Mountain, Parade, Downtown's Lights, Beautiful StrangersSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“In order to be big, we need a lot of players.” Jungle Fire guitarist bassist Joseph Reina lays it out pretty clear: to be able to create muscular afro funk workouts, the Los Angeles outfit need at least ten musicians. But even with a guitarist missing, the nonet sound bold and kinetic when they joined DJ Chilly on El Sonido for four songs and a breakdown of their story as a band. Recorded 6/23/2017 - 4 songs: Jambú, Cumbia de Sal, Lamento Momposino, FirewalkerSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.