Live on KEXP

On the show this time, it’s the angular psych-punk of Frankie and the Witch Fingers. Frankie & The Witch Fingers are a relentlessly touring, high-bar musicianship, DIY punk band. They originally formed in Bloomington, Indiana, but are now fully ensconced in the burgeoning psych-rock scene in Los Angeles. Their latest album, Trash Classic, is available on Greenway Records. Their own description for it is pretty great, saying the record “plunges into a sewer-slick fusion of proto-punk venom, fractured new wave, and industrial grime. Brimming with wiry synths, angular melodies, and grooves that squirm and bite, it’s all delivered with a sly, playful wink. Recorded July 23, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it’s the angular psych-punk of Frankie and the Witch Fingers. Frankie & The Witch Fingers are a relentlessly touring, high-bar musicianship, DIY punk band. They originally formed in Bloomington, Indiana, but are now fully ensconced in the burgeoning psych-rock scene in Los Angeles. Their latest album, Trash Classic, is available on Greenway Records. Their own description for it is pretty great, saying the record “plunges into a sewer-slick fusion of proto-punk venom, fractured new wave, and industrial grime. Brimming with wiry synths, angular melodies, and grooves that squirm and bite, it’s all delivered with a sly, playful wink. Recorded July 23, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, Thailand meets West Africa through the electrifying drumming of Salin. Salin was born and raised in Thailand. She started out learning music on the piano, but switched to drums partly because the drum teacher was fun, and partly because she was listening to metal. She got good! Good enough to get work as a session drummer for Sony Thailand. She moved to the United States for college. While there she joined a band in Montreal – driving 10 hours along the Great Lakes to go to practice. She learned about new music from her bandmate and fell in love with soul and funk. Her latest album, Rammana, merges those influences with jazz, indigenous Thai, and African sounds for a sound she calls “Afro Thai Funk”. Rammana is available now on Bandcamp. Recorded February 10, 2025 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, Thailand meets West Africa through the electrifying drumming of Salin. Salin was born and raised in Thailand. She started out learning music on the piano, but switched to drums partly because the drum teacher was fun, and partly because she was listening to metal. She got good! Good enough to get work as a session drummer for Sony Thailand. She moved to the United States for college. While there she joined a band in Montreal – driving 10 hours along the Great Lakes to go to practice. She learned about new music from her bandmate and fell in love with soul and funk. Her latest album, Rammana, merges those influences with jazz, indigenous Thai, and African sounds for a sound she calls “Afro Thai Funk”. Rammana is available now on Bandcamp. Recorded February 10, 2025 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the dynamic experimental music of Japanese band MONO. MONO has been making music together since 1999. Their sound is guitar-driven, and anchored by a propulsive, hypnotic rhythm section. The music has the harmonic richness of film scores, and they have played with orchestras over the years. Other influences include minimalism, Sonic Youth style noise, My Bloody Valentine’s shoegaze, and the true-to-the-sound-in-the-room aesthetic of engineer Steve Albini. They consistently remind us that music can convey meaning, without words, so all these labels and comparisons are reductive. When they play, and you listen, you will understand. Any true MONO fan will tell you - you have to see them live. Their latest is OATH, out now through Temporary Residence Records. Recorded December 16, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the dynamic experimental music of Japanese band MONO. MONO has been making music together since 1999. Their sound is guitar-driven, and anchored by a propulsive, hypnotic rhythm section. The music has the harmonic richness of film scores, and they have played with orchestras over the years. Other influences include minimalism, Sonic Youth style noise, My Bloody Valentine’s shoegaze, and the true-to-the-sound-in-the-room aesthetic of engineer Steve Albini. They consistently remind us that music can convey meaning, without words, so all these labels and comparisons are reductive. When they play, and you listen, you will understand. Any true MONO fan will tell you - you have to see them live. Their latest is OATH, out now through Temporary Residence Records. Recorded December 16, 2025 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the Canadian hardcore dance-punk of Death From Above 1979. Death From Above 1979 make a magnificent amount of noise for two people. They released their first full-length album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine in 2004. They then broke up in 2006, citing creative differences. It wasn’t until 2011 that the band officially reunited and played shows together again. Since then they’ve put out three albums, and settled into a new era of working together, knowing what they both need to make the band work. Their latest is Is 4 Lovers available through Universal Music Canada. Recorded January 20, 2025 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the Canadian hardcore dance-punk of Death From Above 1979. Death From Above 1979 make a magnificent amount of noise for two people. They released their first full-length album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine in 2004. They then broke up in 2006, citing creative differences. It wasn’t until 2011 that the band officially reunited and played shows together again. Since then they’ve put out three albums, and settled into a new era of working together, knowing what they both need to make the band work. Their latest is Is 4 Lovers available through Universal Music Canada. Recorded January 20, 2025 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the fairy goth-psych of Swedish band Den Der Hale. Den Der Hale is a Swedish post-psych band, based in Malmö, which is right across the water from Copenhagen in Denmark. There’s an amazing bridge and a tunnel between the cities known as the Øresund Link. Depending if you are translating from Danish or Swedish, the band name means “That Tail” or “The Slippery One.” They play unhurried heavy rock with nods to black metal, folk, krautrock, and whatever Frank Zappa is. For this performance the band played songs from 2024’s Pastoral Light, available now on Fat Cat records. Recorded December 5, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the fairy goth-psych of Swedish band Den Der Hale. Den Der Hale is a Swedish post-psych band, based in Malmö, which is right across the water from Copenhagen in Denmark. There’s an amazing bridge and a tunnel between the cities known as the Øresund Link. Depending if you are translating from Danish or Swedish, the band name means “That Tail” or “The Slippery One.” They play unhurried heavy rock with nods to black metal, folk, krautrock, and whatever Frank Zappa is. For this performance the band played songs from 2024’s Pastoral Light, available now on Fat Cat records. Recorded December 5, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the Jordanian Habibi-Disco of crooner Ziyad Al-Samman. Ziyad Al-Samman is a Jordanian singer, based in London. He makes danceable pop music that combines myriad influences including disco, psych-rock, 50’s rock n roll, and the sounds of the Middle East. He’s not afraid to get romantic with it, inviting us all to dance and flirt, maybe even get a little naughty. For this performance he and his band played songs from his latest EP “Pleasure Complex” available from French label Yotanka. Recorded December 3, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the Jordanian Habibi-Disco of crooner Ziyad Al-Samman. Ziyad Al-Samman is a Jordanian singer, based in London. He makes danceable pop music that combines myriad influences including disco, psych-rock, 50’s rock n roll, and the sounds of the Middle East. He’s not afraid to get romantic with it, inviting us all to dance and flirt, maybe even get a little naughty. For this performance he and his band played songs from his latest EP “Pleasure Complex” available from French label Yotanka. Recorded December 3, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the futuristic rock drama of Guadalajara band Descartes a Kant. When Guadalajara-based group Descartes A Kant created their most recent album, 2023’s After Destruction, they actually made something much bigger. They built an entire concept and universe in which humans struggle to remain human in the face of relentless simulated reality. Their music is post-punk meets indie rock with incredibly intricate electronics. And you’ll want to make sure you check out the video for this one at some point, too. Recorded October 18, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the futuristic rock drama of Guadalajara band Descartes a Kant. When Guadalajara-based group Descartes A Kant created their most recent album, 2023’s After Destruction, they actually made something much bigger. They built an entire concept and universe in which humans struggle to remain human in the face of relentless simulated reality. Their music is post-punk meets indie rock with incredibly intricate electronics. And you’ll want to make sure you check out the video for this one at some point, too. Recorded October 18, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, cha cha cha with the 60’s and 70’s Latin rock of Mexican band Enjambre. Enjambre started in California, but now hail from Mexico City. The core of the band is family - the Navejas brothers handle bass, guitar, keys, and vocals. They released their eighth studio album Noches de Salon in 2023 through De Gira, which leans heavily into a romantic, 70s, vibey groove. Recorded October 18, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, cha cha cha with the 60’s and 70’s Latin rock of Mexican band Enjambre. Enjambre started in California, but now hail from Mexico City. The core of the band is family - the Navejas brothers handle bass, guitar, keys, and vocals. They released their eighth studio album Noches de Salon in 2023 through De Gira, which leans heavily into a romantic, 70s, vibey groove. Recorded October 18, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's Ólafur Arnalds, and Janus Rasmussen making music together as Kiasmos. Kiasmos make experimental electronica, born in the cold geography of Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Ólafur Arnalds is a composer and producer, known for his work combining electronic beats and loops with organic string and piano sounds. He’s made 5 solo albums and created music for soundtracks, and he’s collaborated with bands as varied as Heaven Shall Burn, and Bonobo. Janus Rasmussen is in the band Bloodgroup, and creates his own melodic experimental music in Reykjavik. They started together in 2009, releasing their self-titled full-length in 2014. Their latest album together is simply titled “II” and is available on Erased Tapes. Recorded November 18, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the punk rock marimba of Son Rompe Pera. Son Rompe Pera was formed in 2017, by brothers - Kacho and Mongo Gama. They built up their skill on their father’s marimba, playing the streets, the markets, and weddings. The “Pera” in the band name is from their mother’s name “Esperanza.” They hail from the suburbs of Mexico City and proudly combine traditional music, cumbia, and rock to create their own powerful style of music. They have performed all over the world, from Vive Latino to Coachella. Their latest album is “Chimborazo” available on AYA Records. Recorded October 15, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the belligerent bombast of Brooklyn dance-punk rockers, Gustaf. Gustaf is an exciting, dance-your-cares-away, punk rock band, with the additional benefit of being stylish, sophisticated, and occasionally downright funny. The 5-piece group is based in Brooklyn, and signed to Royal Mountain Records. Their latest is called “Package Pt. 2". Recorded November 6, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the belligerent bombast of Brooklyn dance-punk rockers, Gustaf. Gustaf is an exciting, dance-your-cares-away, punk rock band, with the additional benefit of being stylish, sophisticated, and occasionally downright funny. The 5-piece group is based in Brooklyn, and signed to Royal Mountain Records. Their latest is called “Package Pt. 2". Recorded November 6, 2024 Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.