Kexp Live Performances Podcast

The title of Jay Som’s latest record, ‘Anak Ko,’ is a term of endearment in the Filipino language of Tagalog, and translates to “my child.” Songwriter and frontwoman Melina Duterte describes the title as “a warm blanket over the record,” which finds her rooted in the personal while maintaining a bright, dream pop punchiness. Duterte and her charismatic band join Cheryl Waters in the KEXP Live Room for four songs and an interview on her approach to the record, her many collaborators and the importance of “me time.” Recorded 09/19/2019. 4 songs - Anak Ko, Peace Out, Superbike, Get Well.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zimbabwe's Mokoomba merges traditional Tonga rhythms with modern Afro-fusion for a brimming sound that's at once energizing and emotionally evocative. The six-piece band joins Wo'Pop's Darek Mazzone in the KEXP Live Room to perform four new songs and discuss eleven years of touring together and the meaning behind their songs. Recorded 04/26/2019. 4 songs - Nyansola, Njawane, Manina, Ndipe.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On her dynamic debut LP, 'Miss Universe,' Nilüfer Yanya manages to exceed the hype of her alluring earlier releases. Breaking down boundaries of genre and expectation, the London artist bounces between floating falsetto, anthemic power, head-banging rock and spare jazz arrangements, all interspersed with short skits of the fictional WWAY HEALTH, a satire on self-improvement industries. She joins DJ Abbie in the KEXP Live Room for this performance of four songs followed by an interview on her early creative influences, the comfort of the unknown and more. Recorded 09/26/2019. 4 songs - Golden Cage, Paradise, The Unordained, In Your Head.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shana Cleveland is best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist of surfer-rock group La Luz, but her solo music stands wholly on its own. Inspired in part by Afro-futurist Sun Ra, her second solo album, 'Night of the Worm Moon,' explores UFOs, the cosmos, and alternate dimensions. With her acoustic fingerpicking and moody melodies gliding on a bed of ambient drones, the record serves as the perfect vessel for mind wanderings. Recorded 04/10/2019. 4 songs - Face of the Sun, In Another Realm, Don't Let Me Sleep, Invisible When the Sun Leaves.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Perth-based psychedelic rock outfit gets bigger with every release. With crunchier guitars, heavier riffs and more hypnotic melodies, their much anticipated 2019 LP, 'And Now For The Whatchamacallit,' does not disappoint. The band joins Cheryl Waters in the KEXP Live Room to perform four songs. Recorded 09/13/2019. 4 songs - Hymn For A Droid, Bill's Mandolin, Cubensis Lenses, Cornflake.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LA-based duo Girlpool's third LP, 'What Chaos Is Imaginary,' demonstrates their continued need for expansion and experimentation. While at the heart, it's still driven by the crafty and infectious melodies characteristic of their previous releases, the record is bursting with new harmonies, instrumentation and textures. Cheryl Waters hosts the band in the KEXP Live Room for four new songs and a conversation on songwriting and the captivating title of their album. Recorded 04/12/2019. 4 songs - Hire, Pretty, Minute In Your Mind, What Chaos Is Imaginary.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The five members of Portland-based No Kind of Rider have been making music together since their teen years in Oklahoma, drawing influence from jazz, post-punk, R&B, shoegaze and electronic. Their 2018 debut full-length, 'Savage Coast,' strikes an intricate balance between these varied genres, resulting in a sound that evokes no comparison. Audioasis host Eva Walker welcomes the band to the KEXP Live Room for four songs from the record and a discussion on how music heals in times of grief. Recorded 09/10/2019. 4 songs - Intermission, Dark Ice, Sophia, Autumn.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooklyn-based Alsarah & The Nubatones encompasses the diverse influences of its members in what they describe as "East-African retro-pop.” With a range of backgrounds including Sudanese, Egyptian, Armenian, American, French and Togolese, this group proves that music with soul has no borders. Alsarah's calm yet vibrant vocals lead the way in four stunning songs and an enlightening interview with Wo'Pop host Darek Mazzone. Recorded 04/11/2019. 4 songs - Men Ana, Habibi, Alforag, Fulani.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wilco frontman and indie rock icon Jeff Tweedy stops by Rainshadow Recording on his birthday for this live session during the THING Fest 2019 broadcast. After releasing two gorgeous, stripped-down solo records and a memoir in the span of a year, Jeff is back on the road with Wilco to promote their 11th studio album, Ode To Joy. Along with playing a few songs, old and new, Tweedy talks with KEXP's DJ Morgan about grief, album titles, his memoir, and free cantaloupes. Recorded 08/25/2019. 4 songs - An Empty Corner, White Wooden Cross, Family Ghost, Impossible Germany.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Molly Burch's sophomore LP, ‘First Flower,' is an intimate self-portrait that lays bare her insecurities alongside her triumphs. Accompanied by dreamy electric guitar, her sultry vocals take center stage to tell her story. Cheryl Waters hosts the band in the KEXP Live Room as they play songs from ‘First Flower’ and the new 7” single. Recorded 08/28/2019. 4 songs - First Flower, To The Boys, Your Party, Only One.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iceland's Júníus Meyvant joins KEXP for another energy-packed live performance, this time from Rainshadow Recording during THING Fest 2019. Meyvant's captivating sense of melody and crooning vocals are elevated by the rich backing arrangements of his band. He plays songs from his two 2019 releases, the ‘Across The Borders’ LP and ‘Rearview Paradise’ EP in this session hosted by DJ Morgan. Recorded 08/24/2019. 4 songs - Love Child, Draw The Line, Until The Last Minute, Ain't Gonna Let You Drown.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A staple of the 90’s indie rock scene, Versus is back after a nearly decade-long hiatus with the LP ‘Ex Voto.’ Pared down to subtly highlight the harmonies of Richard Baluyut and Fontaine Toups, the music remains tinged with nostalgia even as the songwriting continues to evolve. Cheryl Waters hosts the band in the KEXP Live Room to showcase four songs from the new album. Recorded 08/29/2019. 4 songs - Gravity, Moon Palace, Baby Green, Atmosphere.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aussie psych-rock favorite King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard continually impresses its die-hard fanbase, from ambitiously releasing five albums in 2017 to effortlessly genre-hopping through experimentation. Most recently, the seven-piece band (which includes two drummers) has gone metal to convey a message about the human race’s hand in climate change. They join Cheryl Waters in the KEXP Live Room to play five songs from the new record, ‘Infest the Rats’ Nest,’ and answer questions from fans. Recorded 08/18/2019. 5 songs - Mars For The Rich, Venusian 1, Perihelion, Venusian 2, Hell.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First-generation Colombian-American quartet Combo Chimbita made an impression in 2017 with their debut LP, ‘Abya Yala,’ in a style they described as “tropical futurism.” Their new album, ‘Ahomale,’ borrows its name from a Yoruba term meaning ‘adorer of ancestors’ and channels the spiritual wisdom of their ancestral past through a variety of musical influences, from Afro-Latinx rhythms to metal and soul to psychedelia. They share their enlightenment on a breathtaking performance for El Sonido hosted by DJ Chilly. Recorded 05/21/2019. 5 songs - Sola, Ahomale, Testigo, Santo Fuerte, Esto Es Real (8100mg).Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifteen years and seven albums in, The Hold Steady (as their name suggests) remains a fan-favorite after their latest effort, ‘Thrashing Thru The Passion.’ The fresh line-up highlights frontman Craig Finn’s masterful storytelling with raw and uplifting instrumental backing. On this Midday Show session, the band performs five songs from the record and speaks with DJ Cheryl Waters about their unique new approach to touring. Recorded 08/15/2019. 5 songs - Denver Haircut, You Did Good Kid, Blackout Sam, Entitlement Crew, T-Shirt Tux.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On their fourth album, Can't Tell Me No, Portland's Summer Cannibals get confrontational about their past. The result is chock-full of empowering anthems that are as catchy as they are punk. DJ Abbie hosts the band in the KEXP Live Room for a shredding performance. Recorded 07/26/2019. 4 songs - One Of Many, Behave, Like I Used To, False Anthem.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In her music, avant-garde artist Lido Pimienta incorporates sounds from her indigenous Wayuu culture, traditional Afro-Colombian percussion, and textured electronic soundscapes. Among these varied influences, her voice manages to continually pierce through with intensity and sincerity. Cheryl Waters hosts this session at the Kex Hostel in Reykjavik during 2017's Iceland Airwaves. Recorded 11/04/2017. 6 songs - En Un Minuto, Quiero Que Te Vaya Bien, Fornicarte Es Un Arte, La Capacidad, Para Quererte, Quiero Jardines.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leading with his hypnotic electric guitar and soulful vocals, Tuareg musician Mdou Moctar is a powerful force in contemporary Saharan music. Hosted by DJ Rhythma on Wo'Pop, Moctar performs 3 songs from his 2019 album Ilana (The Creator), as well as one original song from the Tuareg-language film he produced and starred in based on Prince's Purple Rain. Recorded 05/25/2018. 4 songs - Tada Dounia, Wiwasharnine, Tarhatazed, Kamane Tarhanin.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Portland-based Katherine Paul, also known as Black Belt Eagle Scout, blends the moody atmospheres of post-rock and the power of Riot Grrrl punk with the musical and spiritual influences of her upbringing in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. On her latest record At the Party With My Brown Friends, she aims to uplift and inspire other queer and indigenous voices. DJ Morgan hosts this live performance from THING Festival in Port Townsend, Washington. Recorded 08/24/2019. 4 songs - At The Party, My Heart Dreams, Loss & Relax, You're Me and I'm You.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The music of Sudan Archives is an ethereal blend of R&B and experimental electronic, built on a foundation of Sudanese folk. DJ Morgan hosts this exclusive session from KEXP's live broadcast of the first-ever THING Festival in Port Townsend, Washington. Recorded 08/25/2019. 4 songs - Nont For Sale, Come Meh Way, Limitless, Did You Know.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.