Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Bearcub” by Slam Dunk from from the 2011 self-released album The Shivers.
When it comes to making music, Portlander’s are well-known for their strong DIY ethics, and Seattleites for their innovation, but when it comes to our neighbors to the north, where do they fit in? If you were to put Victoria-based Slam Dunk under the musical microscope, you’d be hard-pressed to classify them. This quirky quartet seemed to have thrown The Raveonettes, The Black Angels, The Pixies, and The Ramones into a blender being run by Phil Spector. What came out is at times garage-y, anthemic, surfy, and angsty but all tinged with a sense of humor. One writer described Slam Dunk as “Party Punk” which I guess can work and considering they have quite a storied reputation for putting on one heck of a live show. Unfortunately, we Seattleites won’t get to experience that for some time as they are wrapping up a tour that ends in Vancouver on July 23rd at the Khatsalano Music & Art Festival. Unless a border crossing is in your near future, keep an eye on their website or Bandcamp page to see if they’ll head south.
For now, here they are performing live in a San Luis Obispo, CA, record shop last year:
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NEW SLAM DUNK VIDEO!
http://vimeo.com/28273195