photo by Eleanor Petry
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. Every Friday we spotlight a Northwest band. Today’s selection, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Heavenly Days” by Seattle band Rose Windows from the 2012 self-released album The Sun Dogs.
Rose Windows are a tough band to pin down. Their influences include African band Tinariwen, Turkish musician Erkin Koray, and Frank Zappa. Throw in some folky, Native American flute and a lead singer who could probably do a convincing Grace Slick impression and you’ve got one of the most unusual and original bands to come out of Seattle in recent memory. If you’re fond of meandering sitar melodies paired with feral, Black Sabbath-inspired guitar, we recommend “Native Dreams,” but the appropriately-titled “Heavenly Days” is most representative of what you’ll hear on The Sun Dogs. With its warm harmonies and bright textures, this track will make you feel like frolicking outdoors, imagining that you’re surrounded by “red hills and green islands” instead of fallen leaves.
You’ll have several opportunities to hear and see Rose Windows in the next month. They will be playing live on KEXP’s Audioasis on Saturday, November 24, 8:30pm. Then, they’ll be headlining at The Crocodile on November 26 and will play two shows (at Portland’s Doug Fir Lounge and Seattle’s Showbox at the Market) with the Cave Singers and Poor Moon on December 6th and 7th, respectively. Visit the band’s Facebook page for more information, and watch the video for the non-album track “Summertime” here:
One Comment
Sweet. Just now learning about Rose Window but glad this was posted and still able to be viewed. Great band.