photos by Jim Bennett

From originally forming to play a labor protest to becoming U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors, urban-Latin crew Ozomatli is truly the living, breathing voice of L.A. For more than fourteen years, the band has made more than just music, taking part in every social and political facet of their city from putting on “hip hop ghetto plays” at inner-city elementary schools to overseeing city fundraisers and activist events. The seven-piece (up to ten live performers) has even gone global, gaining an international fan base with their unique mash of hip hop, dancehall, Jamaican and Indian ragga, funk and merengue. With four albums full-length studio albums to back them up, the pro-peace bad boys are walking, talking, justice-seeking time bombs.

And they dropped hard on Gibson Showroom in Austin during KEXP’s broadcast from SXSW:

photos by Jim Bennett

Canadian new-wavers You Say Party! We Say Die! are back in the U.S. after a transforming three-year hiatus. Since bassist Stephen O’Shea was banned from the states until 2011 for improper identification at the border over three years ago, the five-piece found themselves stretched thin from overtouring and lack of inspiration. After touring Japan and China in 2008, You Say Party! discovered all they need is love and each other, and set out to channel their freeing revelation into a new and third album, XXXX (2009) (hit single “Laura Palmer’s Prom” featured on KEXP’s Song of the Day). The group has since gotten back in the game, playing at the 2010 Olympics, embarking on an extensive North American tour (after pulling some strings) and even snagging the SXSW stage. It’s about time America gets its Brat Pack-worthy dance-punk music back.

View more photos here!

“I cannot wait anymore, without you coming here. I cannot wait any longer… So carry on.”

Pigeonhed, one of those elusive, untouchable bands who you love but have never seen play.  In a city filled with mega-talented rock bands, my heart can’t help but gravitate to the Prince-ified falsetto of Shawn Smith in this vintage Seattle electronic band.  Since I found their CD “The Full Sentence”, dusty in the stacks on my night shift at KCMU, they have been my favorite local band.

Not just Shawn’s voice grabs me, but the keys and loops (credited to both Shawn Smith and local musical legend Steve Fisk) have a grainy darkness. The beats are cut roughly and each has a suspended, plodding hit…

There’s a stunning lightness to Shawn Smith’s voice when it enters the electronic urbanscape of these instruments.  Their music calls to me like a grainy black and white photo taken in a blackened basement, just after someone has thrown open the door at the top of the stairs.

The lyrics.  I can’t even tell what all of them are. But the chants hit me somewhere visceral.   The polished ruffness of the sound makes it even more real.

Shawn Smith is one of this city’s finest singers.  His work with Brad (a rock band with Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard), Satchel and his solo stuff are all top-notch, but Pigeonhed is by far my favorite.   He seems less as if he’s watching himself.  In these songs he lets it all go.

Much as I love this band, I was resigned to never seeing them live. They broke up in the early 00s.   We have their very last CD in the record library here at KEXP. It says “For KCMU”, written in Sharpie.  And it has one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard – “Mirror Mirror” on it.  This 5-song disc was never sold in stores.  On Shawn Smith’s website it says that there were signed and unsigned versions of this limited edition CD (50 copies worldwide) that were given away to the first 50 people to order Steve Fisk’s album “999 Level of Undo” from Sub Pop.

The most popular song Pigeonhed has is “Battleflag”, most likely because of the Lo-Fidelity All Stars remix that appeared on many soundtracks, including the “Sopranos”.

I’m hoping that they play the original, not just cause it’s an amazing song, but also I can’t wait to see Shawn Smith drop all these mf bombs.  (Parental discretion is advised.)

They’ve been my favorite local band for over a decade. So I am thrilled to tell you that  Pigeonhed is reuniting for “Tips for Tap” a benefit for U.N.I.C.E.F. this Sunday at Neumo’s!  Wayne Horvitz is headlining.  Since it is a “school night” I got the set times for you.  Like Lightning plays at 9, Volcano Diary at 9:45, Wayne Horvitz at 10:30 and Pigeonhed at 11. With secret guests after that…

When I found out my favorite local band was reuniting, I knew there was no way I’d miss this show. But it made it even better to hear that proceeds from this concert go to bringing clean drinking water to developing countries.  So I’ve offered to MC the show and will see you there…

Michele Myers spins on KEXP 90.3FM every Saturday from 3-6pm, and on our sister NPR station in NYC – WNYE 91.5FM on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-9am.  She also produces and writes KEXP Documentaries.

As major labels continue to exist behind the times, artists and labels with little capital and lesser reputations are producing some of the most innovative, interesting, and inspiring music. Whether it’s creating a new niche in digital technology or looking to once obsolete formats, Agitated Atmosphere hopes to pull back the curtain on a wealth of sights and sound from luminaries such as Does Your Cat Know My Dog?.

At first glance, it may be hard to completely sell anyone on the notion of Does Your Cat Know My Dog as some complete vision of avant art. A quick glance at the track list and you’ll notice some rather comforting names. But sandwiched inbetween tracks from Will Oldham and Sonic Youth, there hides treasures from some of the most talented and elusive musicians of our day.

Does Your Cat Know My Dog is the second compilation released from fledgling Paris outfit, Three:Four, and much like the label’s first–Err on the Good Side–the mix of well worn names, newcomers, and unknowns seamlessly blend to create a proper album rather than just a chunk of mixed songs. Of course, as with any good compilation, there will be a few standouts that rise above the flow to stand out. Look no further than “I’m Washing Your Feet” from Your Fault. The dual female voices have an airy, yet dark quality; as if Jarboe was channeling Peter Murphy. The subdued piano melody accompanying the pair does little to lift the funeral pall that hangs over the simple but effective track. The form of minimalism wrought by Your Fault continues as a fragile string holding the compilation together. The mellow piano of “Gold Smatter,” by Joe Galen sheds its soft exterior, however, in favor of transforming into an electronic blitz of syncopated rhythms not far removed from Thom Yorke’s cyborg, The Eraser. Yet the fragility of the track is unfazed by the mounting tempo and pulsating rhythms.

Those looking to Does Your Cat Know My Dog? for a challenge must look no further than “Not Every Chamber Has a Door” from Sum of R. The murky track is a mesh of low-end bass, stoic cymbal crashes, and screeching strings slowly clawing itself out from the primordial sludge of creation. When paired with Sunn O)))’s behemoth, “Isengard,” “Not Every Chamber Has a Door,” only spreads its darkness among the compilation, breaking the fragile collection into fragmented pieces of doubt and remorse. The effect is well received and lends Does Your Cat Know My Dog? the weight needed to be a continued draw.

Justin Spicer is a freelance journalist who also runs the webzine, Electronic Voice Phenomenon. He writes the Monday News Mash-Up for the KEXP Blog. You may follow him on Twitter.

photo by Matthew Thompson

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 deliver songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Sadie” by Fences from the 2009 GIVE Seattle compilation.

Fences’ Chris Mansfield writes quiet folk pop that belies his salty punk veneer. His tattoos, which cover parts of his face, arms, and body, are the result of his experiences growing up in Boston and provide a kind of armor to protect his more thoughtful and shy nature. It’s this part which shines through his music. He invites you into his world via deeply soulful and intimate lyrics accompanied by sparse arrangements. He often plays shows with only an acoustic guitar but sometimes (and more frequently lately) is joined on stage by others including members of Hey Marseilles. Today’s song “Sadie” is a selection from the Give Seattle compilation and hopefully gives us a taste of what’s to come. He recorded his first full-length album (a follow-up to the Ultimate Puke E.P.) with Sara Quinn (of Tegan & Sara) which is due out sometime this year.

You can catch Chris on April 22nd at Chop Suey with Nico Stai. More dates and info can be found on his Myspace page but his blog is also worth checking out if you’re a fan. In the meantime, here is a video for “My Girl the Horses” directed by City Arts’ Brad Curran.

photos by Jim Bennett

First CMJ and now SXSW, Choir of Young Believers must have a mountain of frequent-flyer miles considering Copenhagen, Denmark is called home. Without a doubt a choir of sound, many are surprised to discover the wonder pop group is in fact the work of Jannis Noya Makrigiannis, who records and performs either solo or with as many as eight musicians (Caecilie Trier is included in the lineup of the U.S. tour). Between his chilly Nordic, full-length debut, This Is For the White in Your Eyes, and recent win of the Danish Grammy’s “Best New Act,” Makrigiannis is slowly, but surely getting the young and old believing in his ethereal ambience.

For today’s session, Makrigiannis brought the “medium-sized” Choir (four members on stage), adding whole new layers to his previously stripped down performance on KEXP, making them almost seem like entirely new songs, and performing or KEXP listeners yet another stunning set.

View more photos here!

photos by Jim Bennett

Stalwarts of the Portland indie rock scene, ex-husband and wife team of Sam Coomes (vocals, guitar, keys, and formerly the “rocksichord”) and Janet Weiss (vocals and drums) have been showing the kids a thing or two about how to rock since 1993. Now on their eighth album, American Gong, Quasi continues to put out new releases that surpass their old. Their overall sound is a bit more full now, thanks to the addition of touring bassist Joanna Bolme as a regular member. Today’s in-studio session at Gibson Showroom in Austin during our broadcast during SXSW was full of blues riffs, endearingly off-kilter harmonies, and clever lyrics.

photos by Jim Bennett

Colombian hip hop group Choc Quib Town are mix and mash masters. The 2-guy, 1-lady outfit fuses electro-doused American hip-hop, Jamaican reggae and traditional Caribbean rhythms to create undeniably danceable beats. With almost a decade of music-making under their belts, the trio is finally gaining notice with their Latin Grammy nominated 2010 debut U.S. album, Oro (featured on KEXP’s Song of the Day). Like many hip-hop based groups, emcees Tostao, Goyo and Slow are about more than just having a good time, with each performance bringing them closer to their objective of not only exposing their country’s culture and music to the world, but to the people of Colombia.

Fans of another Colombian KEXP favorite, Bomba Estereo, will love Choc Quib Town’s bumping set live from the Gibson Showroom in Austin during our SXSW broadcast:

photos by Jim Bennett

SXSW is getting its healthy dose of thrash ‘n’ roll today with Nashville brother duo JEFF the Brotherhood. Rebelling against their Tennessee honky tonk destiny, guitarist/vocalist Jake, 23, and drummer Jamin Orrall, 21, created their own record label Infinity Cats (founded by Jake in 10th grade), and spent eight years playing small gigs and rooftop party before breaking into the world of big-time music. Their sixth album Heavy Days (self-titled track featured on KEXP Song of the Day) may have been mistaken for their debut, but the guys aren’t complaining since it landed them opening acts in 2009 for giants like Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Ty Segall, and renowned Japanese rockers Shonen Knife.

Smoke machine at 11:30 in the morning? We’ve had earlier, actually, but none that have rocked as hard! Check out JEFF the Brotherhood’s psychedelic blast:

• We are sorry to report that songwriter/frontman Alex Chilton, of Big Star and other bands, passed away yesterday in New Orleans at the age of 59. He began his career when he was just 16 years old as the lead singer of the Box Tops. They had a No. 1 hit with “The Letter” in 1967. The most recent incarnation of Big Star also features Jon Auer, Ken Stringfellow, and Jody Stephens.

• There continues to be announcements about this year’s Record Store Day. Check out Monday’s News Mash-Up for some of the previously released highlights. We can add today that Modest Mouse’s masterpiece, “The Moon & Antarctica,” is being re-released on vinyl. There will also be a DVD release of Mountain Goats frontman John Darnielle sitting around and playing every song from his album, The Life of the World to Come.

• Another interesting collaboration has been announced. David Byrne is teaming up with St. Vincent’s Annie Clark for some kind of project. Apparently, they’ve got “eight or so” songs put together and it involves a brass ensemble. Score.

• Speaking of collaborations, it’s been nearly a year since that Nas and Damian Marley record was originally supposed to come out, but now it’s theoretically actually coming out. The pair is in Austin now for SXSW and will be heading on tour to support the release of Distant Relatives on May 18th. Also, Lil Wayne makes an appearance.

• Another one! Jack White told British GQ he just collaborated with Jay-Z: “We did a song together a few weeks ago. It was incredible. I played him something that I’ve been kicking around for a while and he immediately came out with words for it. It’s unbelievable-sounding.” Huh.

• Jimmy Fallon’s show will be dedicating the week of May 10th’s musical performances to the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street, which is being reissued on May 18th. Billboard reported as-yet-unnamed big acts will cover Exile songs each night; the Stones themselves are not confirmed guests.

• The National have announced the tracklist for their fifth full-length record, High Violet. The album will be out May 10th in the UK and May 11th everywhere else via 4AD. Catch them at Sasquatch! May 29th.

• A bunch of people who weren’t before, are now part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Stooges, Genesis, Abba, the Hollies, and Jimmy Cliff joined in this year’s ceremony.

• This Week in WTF: Ryan Adams is seriously releasing a metal record. A ’serious’ metal record, in fact. The alt-country artist said, “We’re going to begin pressing ORION — my most legit METAL record — on vinyl next week.” Check his website for more.