It’s always interesting when you learn about an artist’s path to recognition – and it’s even more captivating when it involves details and arcs you’d never expect. This is the intriguing life of singer-songwriter Laura Veirs: she was raised in Colorado in the 70s, where she studied geology and Mandarin Chinese. She didn’t pay close attention to music until her 20’s, when, in college, she joined an all-girl punk band called Rair Kx before eventually taking up acoustic folk song writing (and she wrote lyrics while living and working in China). Then, in 1999, Laura Veirs released her self-titled album, opening the musical flood gates, culminating in 2005 when the New York Times chose her album Year of Meteors for a “critics choice” award. All of this twisting and turning led Veirs recently to Seattle (three-hours north of where she lives now in Portland, OR) for a stop at KEXP to perform an in-studio with Cheryl Waters, which you can see here. Watch it now before she embarks on another adventure.
Full performance:
On her tenth full-length album, the Portland singer/songwriter explores issues of safety and security through the imagery and beauty of her songwriting.
Once again, Sub Pop and KEXP are teaming up to present a very special Record Store Day release! In 2012, we offered the now out-of-print and highly-coveted Shabazz Palaces: Live at KEXP EP. And, now, in 2014, we will offer: Mudhoney On Top: KEXP Presents Mudhoney Live on Top of the Space Needle LP.…
London quartet Yuck left a big impression on us with their ‘90s-inspired sound of squalling guitar riffs combined with boy/girl vocals. Unfortunately, KEXP left an impression on frontman Max Bloom, too, when he accidentally leaned against a wall of wet paint... d'oh! Thankfully, a KEXP t-shirt look…
Our broadcast during Iceland Airwaves isn't always about the Iceland bands. While we do enjoy spotlighting groups that KEXP listeners might not otherwise hear, we also love to share with our Nordic friends some of our own favorites, like NYC's Caveman, whose lush, dreamy indie pop sound translates …
I never thought the day would come that Miley Cyrus would make the KEXP Blog, but I also never thought she'd perform with The Flaming Lips, like she did this past weekend at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Apparently, Cyrus told the crowd, "I hope I can inspire you guys as much as The Flaming L…
