photo by Renata Steiner (view set)

“Are you digging our laid-back vibe?” Band of Horses band leader Ben Bridwell asked the audience during their recent concert at Seattle’s Moore Theatre. Following their recently released live recording, Acoustic at the Ryman, Bridwell and co. chose to perform very loose, rootsy interpretations from their entire catalog, often gathering the core string players — Bridwell, Ryan Monroe and Tyler Ramsey — around a single microphone, old-timey style. “It’s not our usual mode of performing live”, Ben confessed when the one-time locals stopped by KEXP earlier that afternoon for a live session with Cheryl Waters, but the fragility and tension of playing the songs that way was hard to deny... for them and us. Though the method may be older than the dust on your grandpappy’s boots, the result is a fresh take on the band’s songs old and new. Enjoy this homecoming of sorts as Band of Horses return in a way you haven’t heard them before:

Full Performance:

photo by Patrick Crawford

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. Today’s song is featured during the 2014 Spring Fundraising Drive. Your continuing support makes it possible for us to share with you “Head” by Lydia Loveless from the 2014 album Somewhere Else on Bloodshot Records.

Combining the young/sad/high poetic fury of Heartbreaker-era Ryan Adams, the messy earnestness of Paul Westerberg, and a rich, pining voice that was made to soundtrack last call at a Nashville dive bar, Lydia Loveless’ ragged brand of country rock is an (alcohol-drenched) breath of fresh air. Born and raised in rural Ohio, Loveless grew up in a musical family, and while she played in a band with her sisters and father for a while in the 2000s, her solo career began at the end of that decade with the Nashville-polished The Only Man, which was released in 2010 after languishing in development purgatory for three years. Unhappy with the slick sound of her debut, Loveless sought to make a rougher, more honest record. The result was 2012′s Indestructible Machine, an album that lived up to the whiskey-soaked anguish that its cover (a woman drinking from a gasoline can) conjectured. Two years of touring led to the batch of songs that resulted in Somewhere Else, a record that finds Loveless as lovelorn and clever as she’s ever been. (Its opening line is “Well, honey I was just thinking about you and how you got married last June... just thought I’d give you a call.”) Loveless intentionally incorporated more non-country elements into Somewhere Else, and “Head” picks up threads of early ’90s college rock in its ragged jangle and emotional bluntness. The latter point is especially significant because - you guessed it - “Head” is a song about drinking too much, going home, and eschewing any sense of coyness, having someone go down on her. She bookends her choruses with verses describing her longing for her lover (in dreams, bars), but they only serve to emphasize her chorus sentiment: while Loveless may have genuinely missed her lover, she would prefer it he cut the smalltalk and got down on his knees. At first listen, “Head” might come off as crude and that’s because it is. Laudably honest and home to a few of Somewhere Else’s best one-liners, “Head” pulls no punches and is plenty effective at, pun intended, turning heads to anyone who’s quick to write off Loveless as just another country singer.

Lydia will bring Somewhere Else to the Tractor Tavern on April 4th. Get tickets and more info on that 21+ show here, keep up with Lydia on her Facebook and website, and below, watch her play the Indestructible Machine standout “Steve Earle” live in 2012.

photo by Atiba Jefferson

When Bad Brains hit the scene in 1977, they made waves in the DC hardcore scene, at first for being an all-Black group, and then for their irrefutable talent. Bad Brains combined the fury of punk with reggae, and the distinctive sound got them signed to SST Records for the 1986 album I Against I. Over the decades, they’ve broken-up and gotten back together, and band members have come and gone, but they’re still bringing it loud and fast, and released their ninth studio album, Into the Future, in 2012.

Hear Bad Brains and more icons of punk on Sonic Reducer, every Saturday night from 9 PM to 12 AM.

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.

Both the band and the label celebrated their 25th anniversary last year, and we knew the celebration had to be as unique as they are. So, we prodded the band up to the actual roof of Seattle’s iconic and also very tall Space Needle. Due to space limitations up on top, and the obvious safety issues involved, only about 13 people were able to bear witness to this performance (and you can hear each of them, clapping individually between songs).

Kevin Cole, KEXP’s Senior Director of Programming, said, “Broadcasting from the top of the Space Needle had been a personal dream of mine from the day I moved to Seattle in 1998. Pretty much every day I’d look up at the Needle and think about how cool it would be to do my show from up there. So, it was quite a thrill and honor to fulfill my own little dream while celebrating the 25th anniversary of Mudhoney and Sub Pop Records. What an amazing group of people and musicians and what a legacy of releasing groundbreaking independent music and serving the community. And, damn, who knew the acoustics were so good on top of the needle!”

Limited to a mere 2,700 copies worldwide, this 12″ vinyl LP preserves this monumentally historic event for eternity.

That’s not all Sub Pop will be releasing on Saturday, April 19th for Record Store Day: additional releases include a Pissed Jeans The Very Best of Sub Pop 2009-2013: Live at the BBC 12” EP, a Chad VanGaalen “I Want You Back” 7” single, and The Notwist “Run Run Run” 12” single.

Mudhoney On Top: KEXP Presents Mudhoney Live on Top of the Space Needle
LP only / Limited Edition of 2,700
Tracklisting:

1. Touch Me I’m Sick
2. I’m Now
3. The Final Course
4. Into the Drink
5. Chardonnay
6. Who You Drivin’ Now?
7. What to Do With the Neutral
8. I Don’t Remember You
9. Suck You Dry
10. The Only Son of the Widow From Nain

photo by James Bailey (view set)

• Sharon Van Etten has revealed more details about her forthcoming third album, Are We There, coming out May 27th on Jagjaguwar. A press release declares, “It is clear from Are We There‘s opening chords, we are witnessing a new awareness, a sign of Van Etten in full stride, writing, producing and performing from a place that seems almost mythical, were it not so touchable and real.” Watch a trailer for the upcoming release below, and catch her at the Sasquatch Music Festival on Saturday, July 5th. [Consequence of Sound]

• Brooklyn dreampop band The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have also announced a new album, Days of Abandon, out April 22nd on Yebo Records (their first for this new label). Frontman Kip Berman told Brooklyn Vegan, “This album was a chance to step back from that universal style of songwriting to something that was far more personal, more in keeping with my original ideals. I wanted the music to be joyful and full of light, even if the subjects were often dark.” The band have also announced their 2014 tour dates, including a May 3rd stop at The Vera Project with Fear of Men. Watch a teaser for opening track, “Art Smock”, below. [Under the Radar]

• Late last year, we shared that LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy had concocted his own brand of espresso. Named “House of Good,” it is now available online here. They describe it as “akin to the second movement of Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 3 – or, perhaps, to that buzzing, syncopated synth line from ‘Dance Yrself Clean.’” [Pitchfork]

• Last night, St. Vincent made an appearance on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report in support of her new self-titled album. (And, remember: you can keep up with all the late-night TV musical appearances with our column “TV Eye“!) She performed the track “Digital Witness” (which you can watch below) and chatted with Colbert about her hair. [Stereogum]

• Meanwhile, St. Vincent’s Love This Giant-collaborator David Byrne performed last night at a benefit show for Content Creators Coalition-NYC, a group currently petitioning congress for pay-for-play radio royalties for artists. To illustrate the importance of the cause, Byrne took the stage to perform the Biz Markie classic “Just a Friend,” which you can watch fan footage of below. He explained in an e-newsletter: “Mr. Markie didn’t write that tune (although he did probably write the rap). The drum and keyboard loop was lifted from a Freddie Scott recording, but the song was written by Gamble and Huff, the great songwriting team that wrote for The O’Jays and The Spinners. So chances are Biz Markie didn’t see any royalties from all the radio play that song got.” [Consequence of Sound]

• Local musician/producer Scot Porter (a.k.a. Vox Mod) has teamed up with RA Scion for this new track, “Fixed.” Watch the blissed-out spacey track below, and stay tuned for a full-length collaboration from the two. [The Stranger]

El Toro prepares for 2002 Vancouver Marathon

Never underestimate the power of great music to boost your strength and endurance. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been working out, about to “hit the wall,” when hearing Grace Jones, Matthew Dear, or Soundgarden propelled me through one more set of bench presses.

Yesterday morning, KEXP launched its own Running Club as part of the 2014 Spring Fundraising Drive. Some very generous music lovers made gifts to KEXP in exchange for the opportunity to run around Green Lake with KEXP staff and volunteers. Donors who prefer to walk will do so with Morgan, and those who like the rehydration part of running best will meet Troy at a nearby watering hole early. There’s room for all in the KEXP Community.

If KEXP has ever powered you through a challenge — be it training for a marathon or simply sitting in motionless traffic for a record-breaking stretch — please make a donation to keep all that great music and community going strong. Your gift of any amount today will prevent us from hitting the wall.... and falling short of our fundraising goals.

John is going to be making some special workout/running podcasts for KEXP listeners later this spring, too. They’ll feature uplifting songs pepped with inspirational quotes and fitness fun facts and random interruptions from John yelling “RUN FASTER!” and “THEY’RE RIGHT BEHIND YOU!”

Okay, I made up that part about the yelling. But you give KEXP the freedom to do that. Make things up, I mean. YOU are the #1 reason KEXP can be spontaneous and play music that reflects and enriches real life, because your donations keep KEXP commercial-free and listener-powered.

Don’t let KEXP “hit the wall.” Please make your gift today. Give $100 or more and you can look extra snazzy at the gym in our new “Music Matters” T-shirt!

photo by Benjamin Mobley

New Zealand band Ghost Wave blew us away with their hypnotic set of moody psych-rock songs at our CMJ broadcast last year, so we’re especially thrilled to debut the band’s music video for the track “Orb.” The closing track off their debut Flying Nun Records release, Ages, “Orb” finds the group of Auckland youngsters evoking the driving sound of bands like The Jesus & Mary Chain. The driving tension of the feedback-laden song definitely fuels the action on screen.

New York-based directors Noah Conopask and Robert Smyth shared their experience making the video with KEXP. Read on to find out how Ghost Wave almost landed the film crew in jail:

They say necessity is the mother of all invention. Nothing truer can be said about this shoot. We’ve done a lot of “run n’ gun” shoots in New York City but this was the most difficult to execute. From the first listen, we felt that the driving pace of “Orb” dictated an epic chase sequence and we wanted to capture it with chaotic, dynamic body cam shots. It had to be at night and have a sci-fi aesthetic so in order to support a heavy RED CAM, our producer and his team designed and built a homemade body cam which we rigged to our actors from sunset to sunrise. While this allowed us to shoot without a permit in any public space in NYC, something which was central to the concept, it also took a tremendous physical toll on our actors. Essentially, they were actors, stuntmen, and camera operators all in one. We had them running full speed with this rig strapped to their bodies through Times Square, Chinatown, Midtown, into shops and markets, over rooftops, up and down stairwells and fire escapes, through parking structures, and finally onto a footbridge for the final escape moment at 5AM on the final night of shooting. On the footbridge we were approached by a Port Authority representative, told that we were on their property, and must cease and desist or he would call in the police and confiscate our camera and our footage. After some debate, he agreed to give us fifteen minutes to get off the bridge. We had to complete coverage of a sequence which required filming the final action from five different camera angles; two subjective camera positions and three body cam mountings. During the final takes, he radioed for backup. While the cavalry was heading our way, we got the final shot, sent our DIT off running with the memory cards, jumped into a passenger van with our cast and crew and hightailed it out of there at sunrise.

photo by Sean Berrigan

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. Today’s song is featured during the 2014 Spring Fundraising Drive. Your continuing support makes it possible for us to share with you “Small + Lost” by rising Canadian electronic producer Ryan Hemsworth from his debut solo album, Guilt Trips, on Last Gang Records.

Ryan Hemsworth has been in a whirlwind for the last couple years. He’s graduated from bedroom remix artist to full time collaborator, and with time he’s only going to become more of a hot commodity. In the last year, we’ve seen his track with Mad Decent R&B singer Liz “Day N’ Nite“, an excellent DJ set on Diplo and Friends for BBC, as well as remixes of artists ranging from Atlanta hip-hop group Migos to (just a couple days ago) trending synth pop group Wave Racer. Everything this guy touches turns to gold. Even still in his early 20s, Hemsworth has helmed a pretty unique style, combining sampling, slowed down hip-hop tracks, and dance texture to make for a really groovy time. After a range of EPs focusing on specific topics and sounds, Guilt Trips combines the full spectrum of Hemsworth’s world into one 36 minute package. Guest vocalists range from Baths to Tinashe to Kitty - seriously, you couldn’t get a whole lot more diverse than that without sacrificing some continuity. But somehow Guilt Trips never feels unbalanced. It’s a testament to how well Hemsworth balances the wide array of tools at his disposal. As a whole, Guilt Trips is trip after trip of solid production goodness, and it’s a great introduction to the work of Ryan Hemsworth if you haven’t taken the dive yet.

Guilt Trips opens up with “Small + Lost”. Here, Hemsworth barely cracks the door before letting you into the full swing of the action on Guilt Trips. Rather than open with a bang, “Small + Lost” is all atmosphere. Building a castle on a single alternating sample, you quickly get the idea of how massive Hemsworth’s tracks can get, even without a concrete focal point. As Sinead Harnett’s ghostly vocals spiral around the bells and synth lines and drum samples and piano and noise, the listener can’t help but feel a bit of the isolation and loss that the wordless narration hints at. But as light and sound and color kaleidoscopes in between your ears, you’ll realize that the feeling at hand isn’t melancholy as much as it is wonder, accompanied by a desire to explore the vast, cold, bright world out there. In that, it couldn’t be a more perfect introduction to the album, and it’s a great, atmospheric addition to anyone’s winter rotation.

Ryan Hemsworth just wrapped up a U.S. tour that included a stop here in Seattle earlier this year. He’s on his way to Australia next. If he heads back out on the road in this hemisphere again, you’ll know if if you keep up with him on his Facebook page and website, where you can learn more about him and listen to more music. For now, enjoy the official video for “Against A Wall”, featuring Lofty305, another track from Guilt Trips:

photo by Brittney Bush Bollay

KEXP DJ Darek Mazzone is out of town and unable to be on the air, but he still wanted to share his passion for listener-powered radio and his show Wo’Pop in particular. Watch his video below:

If you journey with Darek Mazzone every Tuesday night, help power his show and the music you hear with a gift. KEXP is a global community, and you can help foster it today.

photo by Dave Lichterman (view set)

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 looked great on him as he and his co-horts blasted through a sonic set of singles off their latest album, Glow & Behold, out now on Fat Possum. Watch their melodic set of gauzy guitars and dreamy vocals below:

Full Performance: