Live on KEXP

On the show this time, it’s jazz, it's Afrobeat, it’s KOKOROKO. KOKOROKO is a big band - 7 musicians - brought together by trumpeter and vocalist Sheila Maurice-Grey and percussionist and co-musical director Onome Edgeworth. They started the band partly because they both believe in the importance of Afrobeat. It encompasses a cultural legacy of politics, activism, community, and also serves as collective memory. It’s extra important to the children of dual heritage, to the Africans living in London, and to all the people who yearn for connection to their roots. Their track “Abusey Junction” blew up on the internet after its release on a compilation of new London jazz. Their latest release is the EP Get the Message, available on Brownswood Recordings. Recorded October 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 jazz, it's Afrobeat, it’s KOKOROKO. KOKOROKO is a big band - 7 musicians - brought together by trumpeter and vocalist Sheila Maurice-Grey and percussionist and co-musical director Onome Edgeworth. They started the band partly because they both believe in the importance of Afrobeat. It encompasses a cultural legacy of politics, activism, community, and also serves as collective memory. It’s extra important to the children of dual heritage, to the Africans living in London, and to all the people who yearn for connection to their roots. Their track “Abusey Junction” blew up on the internet after its release on a compilation of new London jazz. Their latest release is the EP Get the Message, available on Brownswood Recordings. Recorded October 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 a throwback to the 1990s, with the absolute smash hits of Minnesota rockers Soul Asylum. Soul Asylum formed in the 80s, and put out five albums on two different record labels, before they captured a moment perfectly on the album Grave Dancers Union, released in 1992 on Columbia Records. Now with the only original member Dave Pirner still at the helm on vocals and songwriting duties, they have released a brand new full-length, Slowly But Shirley, available on the indie label Blue Élan. Recorded October 7, 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 a throwback to the 1990s, with the absolute smash hits of Minnesota rockers Soul Asylum. Soul Asylum formed in the 80s, and put out five albums on two different record labels, before they captured a moment perfectly on the album Grave Dancers Union, released in 1992 on Columbia Records. Now with the only original member Dave Pirner still at the helm on vocals and songwriting duties, they have released a brand new full-length, Slowly But Shirley, available on the indie label Blue Élan. Recorded October 7, 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 sample-friendly indie-pop of Spirit of the Beehive. Spirit of the Beehive has been making music together since 2014. They got their name from the legendary 1973 Spanish film directed by Victor Erice. Their sound is highly original, using samples, noisy punk guitars, grooves from a wide variety of influences and thought provoking lyrics. They describe their recent music thus - “our last release, 2023’s 'i’m so lucky,' explored the breakup between guitarist Zach Schwartz and bassist Rivka Ravede, setting the stage and emotional territory for the band’s fifth record, 'YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING.' It is a continued meditation on the end of relationships and the unsteadiness that follows. It is available on Saddle Creek Records. Recorded October 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 sample-friendly indie-pop of Spirit of the Beehive. Spirit of the Beehive has been making music together since 2014. They got their name from the legendary 1973 Spanish film directed by Victor Erice. Their sound is highly original, using samples, noisy punk guitars, grooves from a wide variety of influences and thought provoking lyrics. They describe their recent music thus - “our last release, 2023’s 'i’m so lucky,' explored the breakup between guitarist Zach Schwartz and bassist Rivka Ravede, setting the stage and emotional territory for the band’s fifth record, 'YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING.' It is a continued meditation on the end of relationships and the unsteadiness that follows. It is available on Saddle Creek Records. Recorded October 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 Rock n' Roll Cumbia of Chuck Prophet. Chuck Prophet is the quintessential independent artist. The San Francisco native has been working since the 80’s with rock band Green on Red. He went solo in the late 90’s, and had a bit of a hit with the song “Summertime Thing” in 2002. He’s consistent too, putting out a record every 2 or 3 years. His latest is a collaboration with the cumbia band Quiensave, and it's called 'Wake the Dead.' It is available on Yep Roc Records. Recorded October 22, 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 Rock n' Roll Cumbia of Chuck Prophet. Chuck Prophet is the quintessential independent artist. The San Francisco native has been working since the 80’s with rock band Green on Red. He went solo in the late 90’s, and had a bit of a hit with the song “Summertime Thing” in 2002. He’s consistent too, putting out a record every 2 or 3 years. His latest is a collaboration with the cumbia band Quiensave, and it's called 'Wake the Dead.' It is available on Yep Roc Records. Recorded October 22, 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 multi-genre dance music of London’s Ibibio Sound Machine. Ibibio Sound Machine is one of our favorite bands. We met them when they first played on our live broadcast for International Clash Day from London. They are high energy, multi-cultural, groove focused and danceable. They bring the fashion; they bring the fun. Their latest records are the 'Black Notes' EP and their full-length 'Pull the Rope,' both available on Merge Records. Recorded October 10, 2024. The Chant (Iquo Isang) 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 multi-genre dance music of London’s Ibibio Sound Machine. Ibibio Sound Machine is one of our favorite bands. We met them when they first played on our live broadcast for International Clash Day from London. They are high energy, multi-cultural, groove focused and danceable. They bring the fashion; they bring the fun. Their latest records are the 'Black Notes' EP and their full-length 'Pull the Rope,' both available on Merge Records. Recorded October 10, 2024. The Chant (Iquo Isang) 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 New York indie rockers Been Stellar. Been Stellar formed when Michigan high school buddies Sam Slocum and Skyler Knapp decided to be in a band together. In the tradition of bands like the Dandy Warhols, Trashcan Sinatras, and Gnarls Barkley they named themselves after a celebrity, here it's (duh) actor Ben Stiller. As Skyler put it in an interview with NYU's student paper the Washington Square News - “How’ve you been? Well, I’ve been stellar thank you.” Since they made the move to New York they’ve managed to build a solid audience in the Brooklyn scene. They’ve also filled out the band with some superb players, recording and touring as a 5 piece. Their 2nd, and latest album is called 'Scream From New York, NY' and is available on Dirty Hit Records. Recorded September 19, 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 New York indie rockers Been Stellar. Been Stellar formed when Michigan high school buddies Sam Slocum and Skyler Knapp decided to be in a band together. In the tradition of bands like the Dandy Warhols, Trashcan Sinatras, and Gnarls Barkley they named themselves after a celebrity, here it's (duh) actor Ben Stiller. As Skyler put it in an interview with NYU's student paper the Washington Square News - “How’ve you been? Well, I’ve been stellar thank you.” Since they made the move to New York they’ve managed to build a solid audience in the Brooklyn scene. They’ve also filled out the band with some superb players, recording and touring as a 5 piece. Their 2nd, and latest album is called 'Scream From New York, NY' and is available on Dirty Hit Records. Recorded September 19, 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 Japanese art-punk rock trio TsuShiMaMiRe. TsuShiMaMiRe is a triple-punch-kick of a rock band, celebrating their 25th anniversary together. Their latest album is called “Mizumono” translated as “the band is like water”. The trio made up the phrase to describe themselves - they say “It roughly means that being a band is a gamble; a matter of chance, unpredictable and out of anyone's control. No one knows what the future holds!" The album is available on Bandcamp and their imprint Mojor Records. Recorded September 26, 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 Japanese art-punk rock trio TsuShiMaMiRe. TsuShiMaMiRe is a triple-punch-kick of a rock band, celebrating their 25th anniversary together. Their latest album is called “Mizumono” translated as “the band is like water”. The trio made up the phrase to describe themselves - they say “It roughly means that being a band is a gamble; a matter of chance, unpredictable and out of anyone's control. No one knows what the future holds!" The album is available on Bandcamp and their imprint Mojor Records. Recorded September 26, 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, Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul slap some bass and get downright funky. Cultural appropriation and racism. Social media vanity. Post-colonialism and political correctness. These are not talking points that you’d ordinarily hear on the dancefloor but Charlotte and Bolis have ripped up the rulebook with their debut record. All four songs from this set come from the album, which came out earlier this year on Deewee Records. It’s called “Topical Dancer”—and that’s not a typo. The album is as danceable as it is topical. KEXP DJ Larry Mizell Jr. put it this way: Adigery and Pupul “deal with colonialism and race with unsparing wit. 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, Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul slap some bass and get downright funky. Cultural appropriation and racism. Social media vanity. Post-colonialism and political correctness. These are not talking points that you’d ordinarily hear on the dancefloor but Charlotte and Bolis have ripped up the rulebook with their debut record. All four songs from this set come from the album, which came out earlier this year on Deewee Records. It’s called “Topical Dancer”—and that’s not a typo. The album is as danceable as it is topical. KEXP DJ Larry Mizell Jr. put it this way: Adigery and Pupul “deal with colonialism and race with unsparing wit. 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, 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.