Fortunately, I found some really great videos help me remember childhood memories or create fantasy ones, understand the difference between good and bad and to start considering what I want to be for Halloween, birthdays and other random things!

So let’s go!

Lemonade - Lifted
A band out of Brooklyn that captured a couple things in this video, cute kids exploring, feeling free and curious and… I just want to go there. The song is rad too and… it makes me happy.

Jonsi - Go Do
Ok, so this is the first video from Sigur Ros’ lead singer solo record titled “Go” that’ll be released this month! This video is beautiful. He looks beautiful. He is a fictional dreamy character. He is love and singing in english! He also looks like a bird and is hanging out with a lot of them.

Bowerbirds - In Our Talons
You can’t ask for anything more than a dancing crab, a dancing crow and fighting grasshoppers! Well…I’m sure you can, but I’d like to provide a beautiful stop animation music video instead.

Miles Kurosky - Dog In The Burning Building
This is the lead singer of the former band Beluah. I watched this video over and over… I still don’t know what happened. Anyway, it’s a euphoric rush and everyone likes those!

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - Baby
This song is rad. This video makes me think of a massacre. I’m not sure how “rad” and “massacre” relate, except for this video.

Ravenna Woods - Into The World
I think I fantasized this video as a birthday dream. A band I like and Fire Dancers!

Makeout Videotape - Heatwave
Boys are cute. Girls are cute.

Vampire Weekend - Giving Up The Gun
Oh Vampire Weekend. Why, do you please me? Yep, its another video full of cameos… but I’m pleased and you might be too ;)

Sunset Rubdown - Dragon’s Lair
Oh Canada, I’m glad you won the Olympic Hockey game. I’m also really glad that you have a band called Sunset Rubdown who understands that this is what we needed to see for this song. This is everything… everything… all 10min.

Honorable Mention:

Maroon 5 - If I Never See Your Face Again
I realize that you may have never heard a Maroon 5 song on KEXP, but this video is directed by Eric Wareheim of “Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show Great Job”. He’s also directed videos for Major Lazer, Depeche Mode, Flying Lotus, MGMT and more. I recommend exploring him further. I recommend watching them all. He is an epic journey of Music Videos. He is god. I love him.

Dan Deacon - Woof Woof
This one is weird, but its also pretty funny. Let me know if you want to make a bet after you watch it.

Islands - No You Don’t
no, you don’t… and you shouldn’t! …but you kinda want to anyway. Features Michael Cera!

These New Puritans - We Want War
Beautifully epic made video for an epic song. These New Puritans record is due out on Domino in March and I can’t wait. So I watch this video a lot.

The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
I love Ezra’s smooth dance walk, the boombox and the dancing ladies! I dedicate this video to Cheryl Waters whom I’d like to reenact this whole video with.

Rainbow Bridge - Big Wave Rider
The images fit to the lyrics of the song perfectly. So much fun and memorable to watch. Hurry up Summer!

The Drums - I Felt Stupid
Do boys still show off for girls? Well if they don’t, they should… and then dance later!

Boat - 100 Calorie Man
Stop animation or kitties? I’ll take both please! Oh, I love Boat.

Hey Marseilles - From A Terrace
I’ve been asking my friends if they want to see something perfect. So, do you want to see something perfect? Watch this lovely video :)

Dark Time Sunshine - Doom/Go Team/The Wrong Kids
Great, GREAT video for 3 combined awesome songs and with tons of local luv. The shots in this video are fantastic and I also love the lyrics.

Beach House - Silver Soul
This song is sexy enough, but while I was watching the video, I actually felt like I was in SEX education… Silver Experience!

The Sea and Cake - Sound and Vision
This is how my head works sometimes.

Honorable Mention of the Month

Mum - Sing Along
#1 - Mum written in fire is hot.
#2 - Playing with a dead deer that you found floating from the sky… and he sings… that’s hot too.
#3 - Dying from accidentally hammering your thumb, not hot
#4 - Burning the already dead dear, pretty hot… in temperature of course!

In no particular order, here are my favorite videos of 2009:

…and this wouldn’t be a top 10 list without honorable mentions!

^{Feral Children, Audioasis @ High Dive 3/1/08
photo by Rustee Pace}

Tonight on Audioasis it’s your chance to show KEXP how much of a local music enthusiast you are. It’s pledge drive time and you the KEXP listener are invited to give your support to your favorite radio station that makes local music a priority!

Audioasis is the longest running local music show with two in-studios each week and DJ’s who live and breathe the NW music scene.

The Audioasis portion of the Summer Membership Drive is pleased offer CD packs, a VIP High Dive Package where you and three of your buddies can enjoy VIP seating the July 5th Audioassis Live Broadcast, and a Vera Project performance package.

Be sure to tune into Audioasis and pledge your support, not only to KEXP, but to the station where local music matters!

photo by Christopher Nelson

interview by Sharlese Metcalf

On Saturday, April 5th, Audioasis will broadcast live from High Dive for our monthly benefit show. This month, we are spotlighting the Seattle Public Library Foundation. KEXP is proud to put on a benefit show for this worthy cause and with a little help from our friends, The Transmissionary Six, we plan to get KEXP listeners excited about this show!

Audioasis Assistant Producer Sharlese Metcalf asked frequent Seattle Public Library user Paul Austin from The Transmissionary Six a few questions:

Where is your favorite library branch?

Wallingford, because it’s closest to our apartment. Shout out to the W-Ford Library Scientists! They’re really nice there, and never get mad when I pick up thirty holds at one time using shopping bags. The restrooms close at five p.m., so I should also mention that my favorite Shell station is the one across the street from the branch. Shout out to my buds at Shell!

At your favorite branch, what section do you go to first?

The magazines. I can never bring myself to buy the Star, People, and US Weekly, but I’m as concerned as anyone if Lindsey is off the wagon, or if Angelina is still dissing Jen at fundraisers. Plus, I’ve got an informal pool going on which celebrity cracks and shaves their hair off next. My money is on Heather Locklear but I’ve got Larry King on a longshot as well. Beats the ponies.

How often do you go to the library?

I’m there now. Does that answer your question?

If you could create your own section in the library, what would it be?

It would be all photography collections, and they’d be shelved — here’s the good part, right? — in an actual working photo booth. I’ve put this in the suggestion box, but they haven’t done it. Apparently photo booths are cost prohibitive.

Do you have a favorite librarian?

I do, although she’s at a neighboring branch. I sit and wonder what kind of music she listens to. She seems like a Joanna Newsom fan, but I like her anyway. Let’s just say I’ve had a few fees waived in my time after a bit of friendly banter about her new hemp blazer.

What is the strangest or most interesting book you’ve looked for or checked out?

That would have to be ad#kt dk%xg kv&@ [name removed by editor to protect the innocent]

What are you reading now?

I always keep two going. Right now I’ve got the newest Thomas Pynchon and a Peanuts anthology. They go together really well. You could pretty much grab any Pynchon quote and put it in the panel where Linus is talking, and it fits great.

What is your perfect reading weather?

A sun-dappled table outside a fashionable cafe, where I can buy pastries with obscure French names. Good for celebrity sightings, too. I always bring my field glasses, because I’m stalking John Roderick.

Do you have any overdue fines? Do you pay them off or keep a running tab?

I’ll die with my boots on and my debts paid.

What advice would you give to first-time library users?

Make sure you know where the nearest Shell station is! These new restroom rules ‘n’ regs can be a buzzkill if you don’t have a contingency plan.

Hardcover or paperback?

Paperback; they nestle comfortably in my man-purse for the #16 bus ride downtown. Hardcovers are unwieldy and ostentatious. Nothing should be hardcover except for Winston Churchill autobiographies. Good doorstops.

Dewy Decimal or Library of Congress?

www.spl.org!

If your album was a book, what section would it filed under?

Large Print.

Join us live at High Dive on Saturday night for a live broadcast of Mono in VCF (6PM) and The Dimes (8PM), with a showcase following of The Transmissionary Six, A Gun That Shoots Knives, Cancer Rising, and Mono in VCF with an encore performance. Proceeds benefit The Seattle Public Library Foundation.

In the meantime, here are four things you can do right now to get involved with the Seattle Public Library:

1. Get or renew your library card!
2. Attend All Ages Arts Night, Friday May 2nd 4 - 9 P.M.
3. Go to any branch and ask for something good to read.
4. Subscribe to our weekly calendar to find out about all our great events!

Thanks to Gary Reynolds and the Brides of Obscurity and Bre Loughlin for playing Audioasis last Saturday. Audioasis would like to say good luck to Bre as last Saturday was the last performance from her solo project. Be sure to check out the Streaming Archive if you missed the program, and check out Christopher Nelson’s photos from the night here.

Today, Audioasis Assistant Producer, Sharlese will step in to play the jams of the Northwest including anticipated performances from NW bands Your Heart Breaks at 6pm and Wallpaper at 8.

Holy Ghost Revival @ High Dive
photo by Rustee Pace [view more]

Last week Audioasis was live from High Dive in Fremont for our live broadcast and benefit show. Thanks to Feral Children, Holy Ghost Revival, The Femurs, and Sirens and Sailors for playing our 3rd Anniversary High Dive showcase. For more information on the February charity of the month, Parent Trust for Washington Children, visit www.parentrust.org.

Tonight, Audioasis DJ Hannah Levin will have Ben London at 7pm, and a in-studio performance from Calvin Johnson at 8PM.

Pacific Northwest Chapter Executive Director, Ben London, of the Grammy Recording Company will be stopping by to chat about Low-Cost Health Care options for local musicians. This will be valuable information for all local musicians and a great way to learn about local resources in the Northwest.

Calvin Johnson at First Amendment, Minneapolis 6/28/07
photo by Sharyn Morrow

Calvin Johnson, founder of K Records, musician (solo and formerly of Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System, The Go Team and The Halo Benders), mixtape maker, former disc jockey, storyteller, and all around DIY extraordinaire, will treat KEXP listeners an exclusive performance on Audioasis. Calvin is always good for an engaging discussion and will likely play from his career-spanning album released last year, Calvin Johnson and the Sons of the Soil. This man embodies NW music history, so make sure to tune in!

Mural of Calvin Johnson at the Department of Safety in Anacortes
photo by Steve Schroeder

March marks as our 3^rd anniversary of Audioasis benefit shows, which not only treat KEXP listeners to an array of local music live from High Dive and other showcases, but they also give back to our NW community one charity at a time.

A few KEXP shoutouts to all of those who help make these events so successful over the last 3 years: Melissa Collett, Amy Bauer, John Richards, Hannah Levin, Abe Beeson, Lisa Wood, Amy Lindsey, Greg Garcia, Eric Poll, and to all you KEXP listeners and attendees!

This Saturday, Audioasis broadcasts live from High Dive in Fremont with Feral Children at 6:30PM and Holy Ghost Revival at 8:30PM.

KEXP listeners were last able to see local experimental rock favorites Feral Children at the KEXP Yule benefit this last December. Once again they volunteer their music to the monthly Audioasis benefit show for Parent Trust for Washington Children.

Holy Ghost Revival Holy Ghost Revival will be making their KEXP debut. Signed to 1965 Records, a label out of the UK, and currently working on new music, they are sure to treat us to listeners to their classic rock sounds.

The show will continue along at 9:30PM with The Femurs, Sirens and Sailors, and an encore performance by Feral Children.

Net proceeds of this show will benefit Parent Trust for Washington Children, working to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect.

Team Gina live on Audioasis 2/16
photo by Nathan Feder

This Saturday Audioasis will kick off its portion of the 2008 Spring Membership Drive. Audioasis DJ Lisa Wood and Assistant Producer Sharlese will be asking for gifts to support KEXP. Your gifts go a long way to support all the great things you love about the station and Audioasis.

Already this year Audioasis started with a huge bang! We’ve had incredible, and sometimes hilarious, in-studios by bands that are playing great music around the NW. It’s only February and we’ve had Team Gina, Partman Parthorse, and Police Teeth. Within the next couple months, Calvin Johnson, Awesome, and The Heavy Hearts will playing live.

Live at High Dive at the beginning of every month, Audioasis supports Northwest non-profits by putting on a benefit featuring local bands and artist. Grayskul, Sky Cries Mary, and Feral Children are just a few of bands that have not only volunteered their time to play music but also gave back to their own community.

For the spring drive, Audioasis will have special pledge packs that were hand selected by Audioasis DJ’s to give you a special insight into what they’re listening to. Each pledge pack contains 5 CD’s of awesome local music donated by the bands themselves and can be your gift with your support.

Give your gift to KEXP and support local music.

photo by Mike Blankenhorn

Thanks to Grayskul, Branden Daniel, Branden Daniel, Half Acre Day and Grieves for helping to make another benefit successful with this months non-profit Arts Corps Arts Corps receiving the donations.

This Saturday, Audioasis and host Hannah Levin present two live in-studios featuring The Tripwires and Schoolyard Heroes.

At 6 o’clock, The Tripwires kickoff the show with their power and pop. The group is rich in local music history, banding together members of The Model Rockets, Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands, Screaming Trees, Young Fresh Fellows and Dear John Letters. Their latest release, “Makes You Look Around” released on Paisley Pop Records. Get ready to sing-along!

photo by Justin Renny

At 8pm, macabre-punksters Schoolyard Heroes debut on KEXP with their third and most recent record Abominations. Hide the kids when they play tracks from this much-talked, controversial 2007 release.