All during Labor Day weekend, KEXP has been broadcasting on the grounds of the Bumbershoot Music and Arts festival. Joining us live from the secret Music Lounge stage are 15 amazing bands including Fitz and the Tantrums, Shabazz Palaces, Vusi Mahlaselah, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Grant Lee Buffalo, Pickwick, Mad Rad, and many others.Read more...
Shabazz Palaces is fronted by a real poet in his 40s. That in itself is a contrarian blast to the mundane whims of regular pop, rock, or rap music. The fact that Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler chops and drifts out rhymes you will never forget -- even something as bitter bone-home as “We believe in ourRead more...
review by Andrew Hall I’m certainly not the first to say it, but it’s clear that Shabazz Palaces is starting something; better yet, the world is, to my great delight, taking notice. Beyond Black Up itself -- a rap record from Seattle released on a storied superindie that sounds worlds removed from not just theRead more...
There’s a good reason that Seattle group Shabazz Palaces is receiving national critical acclaim (including an 8.8 from Pitchfork!): there is just nothing like them. The semi-mysterious hip hop project was first credited to Palaceer Lazaro, who, over time, was revealed to actually be Ishmael Butler, once known as “Butterfly” of Digable Planets. And justRead more...
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 MiddayRead more...
Although singer/songwriter Gillian Welch hasn’t been totally quiet over the past years, having performed and recorded with bands like The Decemberists, Bright Eyes, Solomon Burke, Steve Earle, Ralph Stanley, Ryan Adams, Alison Krauss, and many others, and of course supporting her long-time collaborator David Rawlings’ also first solo release in 2009 -- but she hasn’tRead more...
