Kexp Live Performances Podcast

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.

Popular Manipulations, The Districts' followup to 2015's breakout A Flourish and a Spoil, is a massive leap forward for the mature-beyond-their-years quartet. Ragged and emotional but with plenty of songwriting sharpness, the band's newest batch of songs goes forth boldly into the KEXP Live Room in this session with Troy Nelson. Recorded 7/7/2017 - 4 songs: If Before I Wake, Violet, Fat Kiddo, Ordinary DaySupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nothing Feels Natural, Priests' stunning 2017 LP, pulls no punches with its shapeshifting punk-damaged songs about fighting against the oppressive forces around you. It's the kind of record that makes the most sense in a sweaty small venue, but a small radio station studio comes pretty close to recreating that experience. The D.C. quartet join Troy Nelson in the KEXP Live Room for four songs and a discussion about running your own label and having Ian Mackaye as a “band dad." Recorded 8/17/2017 - 4 songs: JJ, Pink White House. Nothing Feels Natural, SuckSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doom Wop, the title of Prom Queen's latest album, is just as much of a title as it is a statement of aesthetic. Dressed to the nines and stocked with a wave of girl-group melodies, Leeni and co. joins DJ Sean on Audioasis for a set of smooth, beehive-haired Doom Wop tracks and a discussion of the best prom movies. Recorded 7/22/2017 - 4 songs: Vengeance (Will Be Mine), I Need You, Can't Seem To Cry, BlondeSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Underneath shimmering textures and spiky rhythms, The Drums have always kept their heart on their musical sleeves, with Jonathan Pierce effortlessly dropping sentimental expressions alongside darkly-tinted humor alongside each other. That's no different on the band's latest album “Abysmal Thoughts”, and which gets highlighted (along with some older material) in this VIP Concert at the Triple Door in Seattle. Recorded 7/17/2017 - 7 songs: Heart Basel, Days, Book of Stories, Blood Under My Belt, Money, I Need a Doctor, Head of the HorseSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Considering her earliest DIY recordings and her days in P.S. Eliot, Katie Crutchfield is practically a veteran at this point, so it's no surprise that her fourth and most recent album as Waxahatchee, Out in the Storm, is her most confident yet. In session with Stevie Zoom, the Birmingham-born songwriter and her bandmates perform four Out of the Storm tunes. Recorded 7/24/2017 - 4 songs: Recite Remorse, Silver, Hear You, Never Been WrongSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although the musicians surrounding them aren't always the same, the couple of Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia's impeccable chemistry has kept their Malian rhythms dazzling for more than 30 years. Their first record in five years, La Confusion, is as vibrant as any of their previous work and in this session on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, their danceable songs cut straight to the point.  Recorded 8/9/2017 - 4 songs: Bofou Safou, Filaou Bessame, Beaux Dimanches, La RéalitéSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's an understatement to say The War On Drugs' return to KEXP was highly anticipated, but it's the best that words can do for this sublime session from Adam Granduciel and company. Featuring four songs off the band's beautiful new album A Deeper Understanding, the Philadelphia outfit join DJ Troy Nelson for a quick catch-up on the last three years, the making of their new album, and cold calling engineers through their Geocities site to come work on a record. Recorded 8/1/2017 - 4 songs: Pain, Holding On, Strangest Thing, You Don't Have To GoSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Joint isn't a curse, right?” El-P always asks the important questions, both on his records and in his sessions. This was only moments before he, Killer Mike, and Trackstar the DJ rock the KEXP Live Room with an incendiary (and, impressively, profanity free) session. A quartet of Run The Jewels tunes rocks DJ Kevin Cole and the Jewel Runners in the Live Room audience (“we can't hear you but make some noise”) before a conversation on music, life, and being too high to remember your cameo in Baby Driver.  Recorded 7/21/2017 - 4 songs: Legend Has It, Don't Get Captured, Early, DownSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bringing your backup dancers to a radio session is a surefire way to know someone isn't messing around, so it shouldn't be a surprise that Lizzo's visit to the KEXP Live Room is an immensely fun twenty minutes. Performing a quartet of new cuts and discussing the role of music in activism, Lizzo joins DJ Morgan for a set of charismatic and kinetic hip-hop. Recorded 7/22/2017 - 4 songs: Good As Hell, Phone, Scuse Me, Coconut OilSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kentucky songwriter Joan Shelley's latest album contains some of her richest songs, highlighting Shelley's rich voice and mellifluous guitar playing. Performing four songs from the self-titled record, Shelley and guitarist Nathan Salsburg join Greg Vandy on the Roadhouse for a crisp, beautiful performance. Recorded 7/19/2017 - 4 songs: If The Storms Never Come, The Push and Pull, Where I'll Find You, Over and EvenSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a few years off, Beach Fossils returned earlier this year with Somersault, the band's finest set of songs to date and also the first to be written and recorded as a band. Dustin Payseur and co. bring four new tracks to the KEXP Live Room with Kevin Cole and talk about Somersault, people actually liking authority figures, and being nervous about asking Slowdive's Rachel Goswell to sing on your song. Recorded 7/11/2017 - 4 songs: Saint Ivy, Be Nothing, Sugar. Closer EverywhereSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.