photo by Shelly Corbett

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 “Look At It This Way” by The Tripwires from their album House to House on Spark & Shine Records.

In perfect timing with DJ Rachel’s Cartographic Study of Musical Incest, we bring you a song off The Tripwire’s second album House to House. For those who may be unfamiliar with The Tripwires power pop with a flair musical stylings, you may recognize the contributions to Seattle music (and beyond) made by the individual members of this Seattle super group. To list their resumes here would be stepping on Ms. Ratner’s toes but highlights include: The Minus 5, Model Rockets, Stumpy Joe (John Ramberg), The Fastbacks, The Young Fresh Fellows, (Jim Sangster), Mudhoney, The Briefs, The The Whoremoans, The Posies, (Johnny Sangster/producer), Screaming Trees, Truly, Nirvana, Neko Case, The Dusty 45’s, and of course Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands (Mark Pickerel).

With this combined experience, it’s no surprise that The Tripwire’s songs are well crafted, hit all the right notes, and make for a fun live show experience (especially when you add in their dapper attire and Mark’s trademark pompadour which entertain and impress). You can tell that this quartet has nothing but mutual respect and affection for one another which accounts for the ease they fall into the harmonies in today’s song “Look At It This Way.”

Following their recent in-studio (check the KEXP Streaming Archive for their 3PM performance on 11/6), frontman/guitarist John Ramberg and fellow John and guitarist Johnny Sangster gave us some insight into the inner workings of The Tripwires.

You all are currently involved in various other projects, what is it about The Tripwires that brings everyone together?

John Ramberg: “For me, it started as a way to play my songs live. I’d spent the previous ten years doing my thing in The Model Rockets. I was nearly finished with the album that ended up being the first Tripwires album (Makes You Look Around) when I asked Johnny and Jim if they’d like to put a band together. They invited Mark along. Once we’d played together for a few months, we decided to re-record about half the tracks with the band, because we kind of developed into this other thing, more than the sum of its parts and all that. I really believe it’s a world-beater of a group, I’m so pleased to have these chaps to bounce ideas off of!”

Johnny Sangster: “Firstly, it’s that John writes great songs. Next is that we really enjoy the cacophonous sound our playing makes when we all do at the same time. And we get to dress up.”

How long have you all known one another? Do you remember how everyone met?

JS: “Jim’s my brother. We’ve known each other for a while. I remember John asking me if I wanted to play some music with him around the time that the Dear John Letters were wrapping up. I believe he asked Jim soon thereafter. I’d met Mark through Steve Turner (Mudhoney) and Barbara Mitchell (noted rock writer) and in fact we all had a trip to Spain and England together that still gets dragged out with the war stories. I’d asked Jim and Mark to be rhythm section for a Colin Spring record I was producing and we were all so enthused that we told John that Mark had to be the drummer of our new band. Of course this was right after Mark had told Jim and I that he wasn’t going to be joining any new bands, he was going to be concentrating on his songs and just doing sessions, and so on. But how could he say no? He didn’t really have a choice. I think by then Jim and I had already joined Mark’s band — but then again I’m terrible with historical fact…”

JR: “I met Jim when I was 19 or so, about 1989. I was a huge Young Fresh Fellows fan, and they were all very kind to me and the other guys in my first band, Stumpy Joe. I heard about his brother Johnny, at that time living in Denmark and playing in a band called The Sharing Patrol. He re-appeared in the Seattle area in the mid 90’s and ended up producing some Model Rockets stuff. It was clear right away that we were coming from a similar place as far as music goes. I think I met Mark doing a solo show at SXSW in the early 2000’s, but I was a huge Screaming Trees fan back in the old days, especially ‘Invisible Lantern’.”

How do you approach songwriting? Does it start with one person bringing material or is it pretty collective?

JS: “The songs are all John’s except for the 113 covers we’ve learned. John makes demos and they inspire us to play the things we play to his songs. Sometimes we make a suggestion and it helps to better the song. Sometimes.”

JR: “Sweet inspiration strikes, I record a demo at home, play it for the guys, and they help me polish it up. these guys all have piles of great ideas and are used to playing together in Mark’s band as well as various other recording projects; they hammer stuff out good and fast! They’re quick studies. Would ‘Quick Studies’ have been a batter band name? Too cocksure?”

Can you tell me anything about today’s song “Look At It This Way?” What’s the story/inspiration behind it?

JR: “Some phrases just stick in my head. That particular day ‘look at it this way’ Struck me as a ridiculous thing for someone to say, like when people preface a statement with ‘listen’. It sounded self serving and sort of bullshitty. I started imagining the worst kind of thing someone could try and use that phrase to justify. In this case, I imagined a couple of stock brokers justifying a career’s worth of shady trades and stuff.”

JS: “I’ll share this little production tidbit. The slide guitar that you hear throughout the second half of the song is played on a special guitar that John and Kurt Bloch dreamed up and then implemented. You take a guitar and string it up with all the same gauge string, and then tune all of these strings to the same note. You can then use a slide across all six strings and move it around to play a pretty little tune. The beauty of the all-one-string-guitar is the natural chorusing that occurs when these six strings are only almost exactly in tune with each other.”

What’s next for The Tripwires?

JS: “Well, were losing our practice room 1st of December so I think were gonna practice a whole bunch next week so it will last us for a while. Know of a good cheap room?”

JR: “As Johnny said, we need a practice space for starters! We’re planning a tour down the coast in February. We’ve had a few bites in places like Germany and Japan. We’re hoping those pan out!”

We wish you luck on both counts!

House to House is currently in stores now in CD form but is soon receiving the vinyl treatment. You can purchase the vinyl version for yourself at their Vinyl Release party at The Funhouse on Dec 5th with The Fucking Eagles and Virgin Islands. Check out their website for more info about shows and their myspace page to listen to more tracks from the album.

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 “Que Viva El Rocanroll” by Spider Bags from their 2009 album Goodbye Cruel World, Hello Crueler World on Birdman Records.

A twangy rock band with a name referencing packages of heroin is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when visualizing a place called Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Yet, the quaint East coast town is home to the Spider Bags who are best known for “Waking Up Drunk” and their sloshy punkesque shows. With the release of their second album, Goodbye Cruel World, Hello Crueler World, these self-taught drunk rockers have proven themselves solid, surpassing the vast sea of “underground” college radio bands and faceless kind-of-country, kind-of-rock groups of the early and mid 90s.

The album’s fourth track, “Que Viva El Rocanroll,” comes off as another silly tune about girls, jukeboxes and drinks at first listen. But, by dissecting the sing-talk lyrics of Dan McGee alongside their pure American rock instrumentals, one will realize that this song is in fact about learning to appreciate the small moments in life. Opening with clean and steady guitar (think a more upbeat, jangly version of The Animals’ cover of “The House of the Rising Sun”), the song quickly builds in passion with layers of clashing cymbals and brotherly “ooo’s”. The only thing missing is a group of intoxicated, close friends with arms around each other, bellowing along in front of a campfire.

Unfortunately, the Spider Bags don’t have any shows lined up on our side of the States any time soon. Until they do, check out their MySpace page for live performance videos and to hear songs from Goodbye Cruel World, Hello Crueler World and A Celebration Of Hunger.

photo by Chad Syme

Every Monday thru Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs and and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we deliver songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Exotic on the Speaker” by Chuck Prophet from his 2009 album ¡Let Freedom Ring! on Yep Roc Records.

¡Let Freedom Ring! is the latest collection of roots-rock come Americana from San Francisco local Chuck Prophet. While Prophet has been fine-tuning his no frills westerly brand of heartland rock for some time now this latest release (on Yep Roc) marks a particularly interesting checkpoint in the travels of such a seasoned artist. Never much for political music per se the summer of 2008 found Prophet writing an album of “political songs for non-political people.” Inspired in part by the early stages of this lovely economic turn we now find ourselves ass-deep in ¡Let Freedom Ring! veers left toward the kind of fiery material its title might suggest. Conscious of the departure Prophet sought to extend his perspective to the next level — laying down his examination of the American Dream outside the confines of his native borders. Recorded in a 50’s era Mexico City studio under the tutelage of Greg Leisz (Wilco, Beck, Emmylou Harris), ¡Let Freedom Ring! gropes for blue collar commonality and truth in self-imposed exile.

“American Man” wears its influences right there on the sleeve: Bob, Elvis (Costello) and Jonathan, to name a few. This track defies singular classification instead mashing together elements of country twang, classic rock simplicity, and backbeat rhythms.

Chuck Prophet is currently touring the East Coast (in Winston-Salem, NC, tonight), but he’ll be over on the west side early next month. Look for him at the Tractor Tavern on December 10th and head over to his MySpace page for other dates. For now, check out the trailer for an upcoming documentary on Chuck Prophet’s trip to Mexico City to record the album:

Soulico at KEXP (photo by Leilah Stehman)

Every Monday thru Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs and and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we deliver songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Exotic on the Speaker” by Soulico from their 2009 album Exotic on the Speaker on JDub Records.

Starting with just a random collection of mix tapes, Tel Aviv’s DJ collective known as Soulico have created music that is truly unique and well known among their dance-craving countrymen. You could say they’ve done quite well for themselves in Israel. A mix of old and new styles, the four DJ’s (Sabbo, Rob, Shimmy Sonic, Wildo) use Israeli folk songs fearlessly alongside more traditional Reggae and Disco beats, yet still manage to blend it all seemlessly. You could call it International hip hop. To complete their sound on the new album they also managed to enlist the help of Ghostface Killah (Wu Tang), Del tha Funkee Homosapien, and 19 year old MIA protege Rye Rye (who does a lovely job on our featured Song of the Day). If you’re looking for something to jump around to, look no further.

The band just finished touring in the States but you can still catch up with the band and listen to additional tracks on their MySpace page as well as their entire in-studio performance at KEXP from our Live Performances Archive here. For now, check out this very recent performance of “Queen of Hearts” from the Empty Bottle in Chicago with MC Zulu:

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 “Dragon Chasers” by Wax Tailor from the 2009 album In The Mood for Life on Le Plan Music.

There is a general mystique to solid trip hop tracks that many producers attempt to capture but ultimately fail to create. It’s not just drums with a bit of echo and a few Bollywood samples thrown in but something more that artists like french-born producer Jean-Christophe Le Saoût really seem to understand on a fundamental level regarding orchestration, pacing, and ambiance. Operating under the nom de plume Wax Tailor, Le Saoût returns this fall with his third LP, In The Mood For Life, on Le Plan Music.

On the opening track, “Dragon Chasers,” Le Saoût paints a vivid soundscape that evokes more than just the opium dens and thick vapor that the name suggests. As longtime vocal collaborator Charlotte Savary spins a lyrical web around the cut and paste percussion and vibrato-laden guitar the song starts to take full shape in your mind. “Dragon Chasers” transports you directly to that smokey tent in just over three minutes and will have you hitting “repeat” to get back in again and again.

Wax Tailor played Nectar Lounge in Fremont last month and continues his tour with extensive dates in France as well as supporting dates in Switzerland, Germany, and Luxembourg. For more information and updates on Wax Tailor’s European tour be sure to check out his MySpace profile. While you wait for him to return to Seattle, please enjoy this video for “Say Yes,” also from the new album:

photo by Tara Slosberg

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 featured selection, chosen by Midday Show Host Cheryl Waters, is “Long Time” by Betsy Olson from her self-released debut album Lonely Woman Blues.

Fans of KEXP’s specialty show The Roadhouse (Wednesdays 6:00pm-9:00pm) have no doubt heard of today’s artist. From the start, “Long Time” takes you back to another time with its traditional blues rifts and smooth, yet powerful vocals. Olson’s voice is perfectly suited for her brand of gritty, soulful, blues which often incorporates elements of Classic Rock (who can argue with a little Zeppelin and Hendrix thrown into the mix?).

Betsy is often accompanied by local drummer and vocalist in her own right Sera Cahoone and the two have toured together in support of Betsy’s album which came out last month. They recently played live on KEXP (11/4 if you’re searching the archives) and Betsy took a moment to fill us in on how the two started working together and what’s next for her.

You’re originally from Billings, Montana, right? What brought you to Seattle and when?

I’m from Billings and have been in Seattle for 8 years. I moved out here for the music scene-there are more opportunities (musically) here.

How did you and Sera meet and start playing together?

I’ve been friends with Sera for several years in Seattle and have always been a fan of her music. I was without a drummer for a show at the Tractor last winter, and Sera jumped in. We’ve been playing together since then. I think we complement each other really well. She’s a great drummer!

How do you approach songwriting? Are your songs pretty autobiographical?

My songs usually start with a guitar riff that I end up molding into a song. My lyrics aren’t necessarily autobiographical, but I certainly pull from different experiences I’ve had, people I’ve met and feelings I’ve had over the years.

What’s the story/inspiration behind today’s song “Long Time?”

“Long Time” kind of came out of nowhere. It’s the most recent song I’ve written. I tried to write the lyrics to match the bluesy, gritty and driving mood of the song. I had The Doors in my head when I wrote that one.

Where did you record this album? Anything special or challenging about the recording process?

I recorded with Jason Kardong (who also plays pedal steel for Cahoone and The Beautiful Confusion among others) and Brandon Busch at Soundhouse Recording here in Seattle. The recording went pretty smoothly because a lot of preparation had gone into it. The most challenging thing about it was getting everything down in a span of 5 days. That’s how long we had the studio booked. (I was on a self-released budget)

What’s next for you? Are you planning to do any touring in the near future?

I hope to line up a West Coast/Mountain West tour sometime in the spring… and of course, I’ll be working on some new songs!

Thanks, Betsy!

Though she doesn’t have any shows currently scheduled, keep an eye on her MySpace page for future dates.

Here’s a video of Betsy and Sera performing Jimi Hendrix’s “Red House” live from the KEXP studios:

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 featured selection, chosen by Midday Show host Cheryl Waters, is “Made Up Of Tiny Lights” by We All Have Hooks For Hands from their 2009 album The Shape Of Energy on Afternoon Records.

Like the perfect caramel latte made by a true coffee-drinking, non-Star Bucks Seattle barista, low-key indie pop band We All Have Hooks For Hands is the perfect combination of salty and sweet. With their soon-to-be released third album The Shape Of Energy, the sextet maintains their distinct stripped-down sound (probably influenced from growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota) while upping their off-kilter musical voltage.

The album’s third track, “Made Up Of Tiny Lights,” is a perfect example of the delicate balance between brash and beautiful. Opening with uppity bop guitar, Eli Show cuts in almost immediately with his whiny, wailing voice, throwing off what would have been a simple and sweet tune. With the introduction of rolling drums and epic keyboard, the song shifts from a melodic simmer to an uncontrollable boil. Between the overwhelming vocals, nearly detuning guitar riffs and overall instrumental brawl, there are times when the song feels on the brink of structural catastrophe. Yet, some way or some how, the young brutes are able to contain the monstrous madness insides themselves, bringing the song back down to a fantastic, victorious stability.

Whether you’re hooked or not, We All Have Hooks For Hands is definitely worth seeing live. In addition to a KEXP in-studio performance on December 8 at noon, these bad boys will be playing Nuemos later that night. To get a hold of their latest album before it hits stores November 17, or learn more about these DIY boys, check out Afternoon Records. For now, enjoy and take in the homemade, in-studio video of “Made Up Of Tiny Lights”:

photo by John Adams

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 featured selection, chosen by Midday host Cheryl Waters, is “Funeral Singers” by Califone from their 2009 album All My Friends Are Funeral Singers on Dead Oceans.

Once ironically self-describing the project as an “easy listening” solo project, Califone frontman Tim Rutili and company — Jim Becker (violin/banjo), Joe Adamik (drums) and Ben Massarella (various percussion) — have been cobbling together thought-provoking thematic sounds for over a decade. Born from the blues-rock ashes of Red Red Meat, Chicago’s Califone has assumed a sonic personality that could never be equated to anything easy. Doing the same thing over and over? Easy. Adhering to formulaic song-structures? Easy. Using the usual instruments? Easy. No, Califone has done none of these things. Instead, over the years the band has released upon the world a catalog of records that serves to remind us of music’s oft-overlooked virtue and connection to other art forms. Concept album exploring the nature of recurring dreams? Yes (Heron King Blues on Thrill Jockey, 2004). Two compelling instrumental film scores exploring the connection between silent-era storytelling and music? Yes and yes (Deceleration One and Deceleration Two on Perishable Records, 2002 & Thrill Jockey, 2003).

All My Friends Are Funeral Singers (on Dead Oceans) marks the next step in Califone’s uniquely cinematic journey to the other side of rock ‘n’ roll. This much anticipated followup to 2006’s Roots and Crowns (on Thrill Jockey) acts as a companion piece and soundtrack to the Rutili-written and directed feature film of the same name. The album, written in conjunction with the screenplay, uses much of the same imagery as the film: A lonely psychic woman’s life is turned upside down when the ghosts trapped inside her house forcibly try to escape.

The music itself is a densely packed atmospheric narrative housing nearly every single instrument you could ever imagine -– layers of guitar, banjo and violin are buoyed by steel drum, ukulele, optigon, loops and a variety of horns (from bass clarinet to French horns). Perhaps not the best example of the aforementioned orchestral skill, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers’ (sort of) title track is an excellent showcase for Rutili’s vocal prowess. Stripped to acoustics, banjo and gritty blues intonations, the song breathes deeply with sincerity and strength. The exhale comes toward the end of the song with lightly mixed electric guitar and ghostly tape loops. I take it back — this is the perfect example of what Califone is capable of.

You can witness it for yourselves in Seattle on December 3 at the UW HUB Ballroom. Sure, it’s an odd place to see the band, but this won’t be your ordinary rock show. Rutili and the band will perform the soundtrack live to the movie. Check out the brief trailer of the movie below and head over to their MySpace page for more dates in the Northwest. You’re going to want to see this twice!

photo by Jim Bennett (more here)

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 featured selection, chosen by Midday host Cheryl Waters, is “Hanuman” by Rodrigo y Gabriela from their 2009 album 11:11 on ATO Records.

Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero are the pair known as Rodrigo y Gabriela. Both classically trained (and extremely gifted) flamenco guitarists, the pair have been enjoying great success far from their Mexico City roots. Strangely enough, in 2005 the band relocated to Dublin, Ireland, to pursue a more “artist friendly” community, and were quickly embraced by a whole new host of European listeners.  U.S. audiences may actually be more familiar with the band from appearances on MTV, Monday Night Football, and even a track on the soundtrack for Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.  On 11:11, the long anticipated follow up to their impressive 2006 self-titled album, the duo pay tribute to 11 musicians and bands who have inspired them along their career — and the range is surprising, from Jimi Hendrix to Astor Piazzolla to Dimebag Darrell! It shouldn’t take long for listeners of today’s Song of the Day, “Hanuman,” to recognize the nods to fellow Mexican guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana as the inspiration. Sit back and enjoy this combination of classic rock, traditional flamenco music, and a whole lot else.

The band is currently on a lengthy world tour. You can find out more about Rodrigo y Gabriela on their MySpace page or read more on their website. While in Seattle this past September, Rodrigo y Gabriela performed an electrifying in-studio. Here’s “Hanuman” from that session:

photo by Julian Murray

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of 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 featured selection, chosen by Midday Show host Cheryl Waters, is “The True & Living (feat. Raekwon and I Self Devine)” by BK-One from the 2009 album Rádio Do Canibal on Rhymesayers Entertainment.

After years spinning for Brother Ali, DJ BK-One breaks out with his debut, Rádio Do Canibal, an album that takes at heart the spirit of Brazil, both musically and culturally. Teamed with producer Benzilla, BK-One samples exclusively from Brazilian music, providing a consistent base of samba, bossa nova, and other tropical styles. But lest you think the subject too limiting for an entire album, BK-One and Benzilla drop original beats and bring in guest vocalists, including Slug (Atmosphere), Murs (Living Legends), Black Thought (The Roots), Brother Ali, and many others. And the fact that Brazilian music, by nature, is fresh and diverse is not lost on BK-One, who has himself traveled extensively in Central and South America. The album title itself refers to the country’s spirit of cultural absorption — its cannibalistic tendency to draw American, African, Caribbean, European and many other styles into its arts, dance, music, and language — while BK-One draws from his own past classical and jazz training as well as his years of record collecting experience.

Today’s Song of the Day, “The True & Living,” featuring Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon and former Micranots frontman I Self Devine trading vocals, is a great example of the typically chill grooves on Rádio Do Canibal. The samples are so flawless incorporated with the beats and rhymes that the fact they’re “Brazilian” is irrelevant compared to how dope they sound.

BK-One is currently on tour with Rhymesayers’ Fresh Air Tour, featuring Brother Ali, Evidence of Dilated Peoples, and Toki Wright, and DJing for all three artists. They’re up in the Northeast tonight, in Burlington, VT, and will work their way back to their hometown Minneapolis for the rest of the month. Check BK-One’s MySpace page for more dates and to preview more music. For now, enjoy the warm flavor of “Tema do Canibal”, recorded with the 9-piece Hypnotic Brass Ensemble: