Live on KEXP

On the show this time, we replay our vaguely holiday-themed traditional episode - the dual-drum druid jazz of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. The Melbourne, Australia based psych-rockers released five albums in 2017, and played at the KEXP studios in support of the releases: “Polygondwanaland” and “Gumboot Soup." 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, we replay our vaguely holiday-themed traditional episode - the dual-drum druid jazz of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. The Melbourne, Australia based psych-rockers released five albums in 2017, and played at the KEXP studios in support of the releases: “Polygondwanaland” and “Gumboot Soup." 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, from Bogota, Columbia - the birthplace of Cumbia - it's the energetic joy of Frente Cumbiero. Frente Cumbiero has been making cumbia music since 2006, bringing their nuanced take on the music of the Latin-American people all over the world. They’ve worked with dub magician and producer Mad Professor. They’ve worked with avant-classical string players the Kronos Quartet. More recently they made a record with Japanese folk revivalists the Minyo Crusaders. All this to say, these are musicians musicians, who can play with anyone, and who always bring the party with them. Their music is available on Bandcamp. Recorded September 13, 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, from Bogota, Columbia - the birthplace of Cumbia - it's the energetic joy of Frente Cumbiero. Frente Cumbiero has been making cumbia music since 2006, bringing their nuanced take on the music of the Latin-American people all over the world. They’ve worked with dub magician and producer Mad Professor. They’ve worked with avant-classical string players the Kronos Quartet. More recently they made a record with Japanese folk revivalists the Minyo Crusaders. All this to say, these are musicians musicians, who can play with anyone, and who always bring the party with them. Their music is available on Bandcamp. Recorded September 13, 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 warm dreamy grooves of New York band Cults. New York indie-pop band Cults return with their 6th full length, 'To The Ghosts.' It’s been 14 years since Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivian formed the band. A playlist of music from filmmaker John Waters that they popped in the deck on a road-trip revealed a shared love of 60s girl groups. Organically, that led to them making music together. They recorded with young producer Shane Stoneback, a relationship that continues to this day, and to this new album. 'To The Ghosts' is available on Imperial Records. Recorded August 13, 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 warm dreamy grooves of New York band Cults. New York indie-pop band Cults return with their 6th full length, 'To The Ghosts.' It’s been 14 years since Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivian formed the band. A playlist of music from filmmaker John Waters that they popped in the deck on a road-trip revealed a shared love of 60s girl groups. Organically, that led to them making music together. They recorded with young producer Shane Stoneback, a relationship that continues to this day, and to this new album. 'To The Ghosts' is available on Imperial Records. Recorded August 13, 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.

Indie rockers and former Tacoma locals Widowspeak released their sixth studio album The Jacket in Spring 2022 as a semi-concept album loosely telling the story a chain stitcher turned New York rocker. Vocalist Molly Hamilton relayed to Cheryl Waters in this episode of Live on KEXP the story behind the album before launching into four dreamy tracks off the record as well as professing their love for radio (which we don’t mind one bit). Recorded 07/28/2022. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indie rockers and former Tacoma locals Widowspeak released their sixth studio album The Jacket in Spring 2022 as a semi-concept album loosely telling the story a chain stitcher turned New York rocker. Vocalist Molly Hamilton relayed to Cheryl Waters in this episode of Live on KEXP the story behind the album before launching into four dreamy tracks off the record as well as professing their love for radio (which we don’t mind one bit). Recorded 07/28/2022. 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, a talented producer meets the right singer and magic happens - the psychedelic soul of the Black Pumas. It seems unbelievable that the Black Pumas are just now releasing their second studio album. Their first self-titled album came out in 2019, and became an instant classic. It just feels like that record has existed since the 1970’s. The new offering is titled 'Chronicles of a Diamond.' It was co-produced by Adrian Quesada and Eric Burton and producer John Congleton, and was mixed by Shawn Everett. 'Chronicles of a Diamond' is available on ATO Records. Recorded August 12, 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, a talented producer meets the right singer and magic happens - the psychedelic soul of the Black Pumas. It seems unbelievable that the Black Pumas are just now releasing their second studio album. Their first self-titled album came out in 2019, and became an instant classic. It just feels like that record has existed since the 1970’s. The new offering is titled 'Chronicles of a Diamond.' It was co-produced by Adrian Quesada and Eric Burton and producer John Congleton, and was mixed by Shawn Everett. 'Chronicles of a Diamond' is available on ATO Records. Recorded August 12, 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 joy and heartbreak R&B of Shannon & the Clams. Shannon & The Clams formed when bassist Shannon Shaw met guitarist Cody Blanchard at the California College of the Arts. The band is rounded out by Nate Mahan on drums and Will Sprott on Keys, and for this performance Victor Franco on percussion. They play unapologetically weird pop - a sometimes surfy blend of psych-rock, doo wop, and R&B. They released their 7th album in 2024, a vivid, intense tribute-to, and celebration-of Joe Haener, Shannon’s fiance, who died in a tragic car accident in 2022. The record is called The Moon is in the Wrong Place and is available on Easy Eye Sound. Recorded July 24, 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 joy and heartbreak R&B of Shannon & the Clams. Shannon & The Clams formed when bassist Shannon Shaw met guitarist Cody Blanchard at the California College of the Arts. The band is rounded out by Nate Mahan on drums and Will Sprott on Keys, and for this performance Victor Franco on percussion. They play unapologetically weird pop - a sometimes surfy blend of psych-rock, doo wop, and R&B. They released their 7th album in 2024, a vivid, intense tribute-to, and celebration-of Joe Haener, Shannon’s fiance, who died in a tragic car accident in 2022. The record is called The Moon is in the Wrong Place and is available on Easy Eye Sound. Recorded July 24, 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 whip-smart emotional storytelling of Indonesian singer-songwriter - NIKI. NIKI is Nicole Zefanya, born in Jakarta Indonesia, now based in the USA. She started making music pretty young, teaching herself to play guitar at the age of 9. She had a pretty happening Youtube channel going, playing her own songs from home, and then she won a contest at the age of 15 - unbelievably - to open for Taylor Swift for the RED tour in Jakarta. She moved to the states to go to college at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. She connected with the management company and record label 88rising, who would release her first singles. Her latest album is called 'Buzz' and it is available on 88rising. Recorded June 27, 2024. Tsunami 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 whip-smart emotional storytelling of Indonesian singer-songwriter - NIKI. NIKI is Nicole Zefanya, born in Jakarta Indonesia, now based in the USA. She started making music pretty young, teaching herself to play guitar at the age of 9. She had a pretty happening Youtube channel going, playing her own songs from home, and then she won a contest at the age of 15 - unbelievably - to open for Taylor Swift for the RED tour in Jakarta. She moved to the states to go to college at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. She connected with the management company and record label 88rising, who would release her first singles. Her latest album is called 'Buzz' and it is available on 88rising. Recorded June 27, 2024. Tsunami 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 loud bark and deep bite of Philadelphia rock band Mannequin Pussy. Mannequin Pussy is a punk rock band from Philadelphia, originally formed by school-friends Thanasi Paul and singer “Missy” Dabice as a drums and guitar duo back in 2010. Reforged and remade, the current lineup makes intense meaningful music, powered by a full band commitment to the sound and the show, ignited by Missy’s voice, and augmented by the ears of producer John Congleton. Their latest album is called 'I Got Heaven' and it is available on Epitaph Records. Recorded July 11, 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 loud bark and deep bite of Philadelphia rock band Mannequin Pussy. Mannequin Pussy is a punk rock band from Philadelphia, originally formed by school-friends Thanasi Paul and singer “Missy” Dabice as a drums and guitar duo back in 2010. Reforged and remade, the current lineup makes intense meaningful music, powered by a full band commitment to the sound and the show, ignited by Missy’s voice, and augmented by the ears of producer John Congleton. Their latest album is called 'I Got Heaven' and it is available on Epitaph Records. Recorded July 11, 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 Cambodian psych rock of Los Angeles band Dengue Fever. Dengue Fever was formed in 2001 in Los Angeles by brothers Ethan and Zac Holtzman. They had both fallen in love with Cambodian psych-rock music, one while traveling there, the other through the record store he was working at in San Francisco. They recruited musicians from the Los Angeles scene who shared that passion. The final lucky stroke was meeting a star - Cambodian singer Chhom Nimol in a nightclub in Long Beach. Their latest album is called 'Ting Mong' and it is available on Tuk Tuk Records. Recorded 07/17/2024. 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 Cambodian psych rock of Los Angeles band Dengue Fever. Dengue Fever was formed in 2001 in Los Angeles by brothers Ethan and Zac Holtzman. They had both fallen in love with Cambodian psych-rock music, one while traveling there, the other through the record store he was working at in San Francisco. They recruited musicians from the Los Angeles scene who shared that passion. The final lucky stroke was meeting a star - Cambodian singer Chhom Nimol in a nightclub in Long Beach. Their latest album is called 'Ting Mong' and it is available on Tuk Tuk Records. Recorded 07/17/2024. 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 Guembri driven Moroccan rock of Bab L’ Bluz. Bab L’ Bluz is at its core a duo - Singer / guitarist Yousra Mansour and producer/ guitarist Brice Bottin. They met through music, and a shared love for Moroccan Gnawa music led them to learn how to play the Guembri - a kind of 3 stringed bass instrument - and its smaller relative the Awisha. They started composing music together, the idea being, they would make a rock band, playing rock music, but with these instruments taking the place of bass and guitar. They recorded their first album 'Nayda!' and released it in 2020. Their latest is called 'Swaken', and it is available on Real World Records. Recorded 07/30/2024. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it’s the Guembri driven Moroccan rock of Bab L’ Bluz. Bab L’ Bluz is at its core a duo - Singer / guitarist Yousra Mansour and producer/ guitarist Brice Bottin. They met through music, and a shared love for Moroccan Gnawa music led them to learn how to play the Guembri - a kind of 3 stringed bass instrument - and its smaller relative the Awisha. They started composing music together, the idea being, they would make a rock band, playing rock music, but with these instruments taking the place of bass and guitar. They recorded their first album 'Nayda!' and released it in 2020. Their latest is called 'Swaken', and it is available on Real World Records. Recorded 07/30/2024. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.