Live on KEXP

On the show this time, it’s New York indie rockers Been Stellar. Been Stellar formed when Michigan high school buddies Sam Slocum and Skyler Knapp decided to be in a band together. In the tradition of bands like the Dandy Warhols, Trashcan Sinatras, and Gnarls Barkley they named themselves after a celebrity, here it's (duh) actor Ben Stiller. As Skyler put it in an interview with NYU's student paper the Washington Square News - “How’ve you been? Well, I’ve been stellar thank you.” Since they made the move to New York they’ve managed to build a solid audience in the Brooklyn scene. They’ve also filled out the band with some superb players, recording and touring as a 5 piece. Their 2nd, and latest album is called 'Scream From New York, NY' and is available on Dirty Hit Records. Recorded September 19, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it’s New York indie rockers Been Stellar. Been Stellar formed when Michigan high school buddies Sam Slocum and Skyler Knapp decided to be in a band together. In the tradition of bands like the Dandy Warhols, Trashcan Sinatras, and Gnarls Barkley they named themselves after a celebrity, here it's (duh) actor Ben Stiller. As Skyler put it in an interview with NYU's student paper the Washington Square News - “How’ve you been? Well, I’ve been stellar thank you.” Since they made the move to New York they’ve managed to build a solid audience in the Brooklyn scene. They’ve also filled out the band with some superb players, recording and touring as a 5 piece. Their 2nd, and latest album is called 'Scream From New York, NY' and is available on Dirty Hit Records. Recorded September 19, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the Japanese art-punk rock trio TsuShiMaMiRe. TsuShiMaMiRe is a triple-punch-kick of a rock band, celebrating their 25th anniversary together. Their latest album is called “Mizumono” translated as “the band is like water”. The trio made up the phrase to describe themselves - they say “It roughly means that being a band is a gamble; a matter of chance, unpredictable and out of anyone's control. No one knows what the future holds!" The album is available on Bandcamp and their imprint Mojor Records. Recorded September 26, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the Japanese art-punk rock trio TsuShiMaMiRe. TsuShiMaMiRe is a triple-punch-kick of a rock band, celebrating their 25th anniversary together. Their latest album is called “Mizumono” translated as “the band is like water”. The trio made up the phrase to describe themselves - they say “It roughly means that being a band is a gamble; a matter of chance, unpredictable and out of anyone's control. No one knows what the future holds!" The album is available on Bandcamp and their imprint Mojor Records. Recorded September 26, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul slap some bass and get downright funky. Cultural appropriation and racism. Social media vanity. Post-colonialism and political correctness. These are not talking points that you’d ordinarily hear on the dancefloor but Charlotte and Bolis have ripped up the rulebook with their debut record. All four songs from this set come from the album, which came out earlier this year on Deewee Records. It’s called “Topical Dancer”—and that’s not a typo. The album is as danceable as it is topical. KEXP DJ Larry Mizell Jr. put it this way: Adigery and Pupul “deal with colonialism and race with unsparing wit. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul slap some bass and get downright funky. Cultural appropriation and racism. Social media vanity. Post-colonialism and political correctness. These are not talking points that you’d ordinarily hear on the dancefloor but Charlotte and Bolis have ripped up the rulebook with their debut record. All four songs from this set come from the album, which came out earlier this year on Deewee Records. It’s called “Topical Dancer”—and that’s not a typo. The album is as danceable as it is topical. KEXP DJ Larry Mizell Jr. put it this way: Adigery and Pupul “deal with colonialism and race with unsparing wit. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, we replay our vaguely holiday-themed traditional episode - the dual-drum druid jazz of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. The Melbourne, Australia based psych-rockers released five albums in 2017, and played at the KEXP studios in support of the releases: “Polygondwanaland” and “Gumboot Soup." Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, we replay our vaguely holiday-themed traditional episode - the dual-drum druid jazz of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. The Melbourne, Australia based psych-rockers released five albums in 2017, and played at the KEXP studios in support of the releases: “Polygondwanaland” and “Gumboot Soup." Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, from Bogota, Columbia - the birthplace of Cumbia - it's the energetic joy of Frente Cumbiero. Frente Cumbiero has been making cumbia music since 2006, bringing their nuanced take on the music of the Latin-American people all over the world. They’ve worked with dub magician and producer Mad Professor. They’ve worked with avant-classical string players the Kronos Quartet. More recently they made a record with Japanese folk revivalists the Minyo Crusaders. All this to say, these are musicians musicians, who can play with anyone, and who always bring the party with them. Their music is available on Bandcamp. Recorded September 13, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, from Bogota, Columbia - the birthplace of Cumbia - it's the energetic joy of Frente Cumbiero. Frente Cumbiero has been making cumbia music since 2006, bringing their nuanced take on the music of the Latin-American people all over the world. They’ve worked with dub magician and producer Mad Professor. They’ve worked with avant-classical string players the Kronos Quartet. More recently they made a record with Japanese folk revivalists the Minyo Crusaders. All this to say, these are musicians musicians, who can play with anyone, and who always bring the party with them. Their music is available on Bandcamp. Recorded September 13, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the warm dreamy grooves of New York band Cults. New York indie-pop band Cults return with their 6th full length, 'To The Ghosts.' It’s been 14 years since Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivian formed the band. A playlist of music from filmmaker John Waters that they popped in the deck on a road-trip revealed a shared love of 60s girl groups. Organically, that led to them making music together. They recorded with young producer Shane Stoneback, a relationship that continues to this day, and to this new album. 'To The Ghosts' is available on Imperial Records. Recorded August 13, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it's the warm dreamy grooves of New York band Cults. New York indie-pop band Cults return with their 6th full length, 'To The Ghosts.' It’s been 14 years since Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivian formed the band. A playlist of music from filmmaker John Waters that they popped in the deck on a road-trip revealed a shared love of 60s girl groups. Organically, that led to them making music together. They recorded with young producer Shane Stoneback, a relationship that continues to this day, and to this new album. 'To The Ghosts' is available on Imperial Records. Recorded August 13, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indie rockers and former Tacoma locals Widowspeak released their sixth studio album The Jacket in Spring 2022 as a semi-concept album loosely telling the story a chain stitcher turned New York rocker. Vocalist Molly Hamilton relayed to Cheryl Waters in this episode of Live on KEXP the story behind the album before launching into four dreamy tracks off the record as well as professing their love for radio (which we don’t mind one bit). Recorded 07/28/2022. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indie rockers and former Tacoma locals Widowspeak released their sixth studio album The Jacket in Spring 2022 as a semi-concept album loosely telling the story a chain stitcher turned New York rocker. Vocalist Molly Hamilton relayed to Cheryl Waters in this episode of Live on KEXP the story behind the album before launching into four dreamy tracks off the record as well as professing their love for radio (which we don’t mind one bit). Recorded 07/28/2022. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, a talented producer meets the right singer and magic happens - the psychedelic soul of the Black Pumas. It seems unbelievable that the Black Pumas are just now releasing their second studio album. Their first self-titled album came out in 2019, and became an instant classic. It just feels like that record has existed since the 1970’s. The new offering is titled 'Chronicles of a Diamond.' It was co-produced by Adrian Quesada and Eric Burton and producer John Congleton, and was mixed by Shawn Everett. 'Chronicles of a Diamond' is available on ATO Records. Recorded August 12, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, a talented producer meets the right singer and magic happens - the psychedelic soul of the Black Pumas. It seems unbelievable that the Black Pumas are just now releasing their second studio album. Their first self-titled album came out in 2019, and became an instant classic. It just feels like that record has existed since the 1970’s. The new offering is titled 'Chronicles of a Diamond.' It was co-produced by Adrian Quesada and Eric Burton and producer John Congleton, and was mixed by Shawn Everett. 'Chronicles of a Diamond' is available on ATO Records. Recorded August 12, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it’s the joy and heartbreak R&B of Shannon & the Clams. Shannon & The Clams formed when bassist Shannon Shaw met guitarist Cody Blanchard at the California College of the Arts. The band is rounded out by Nate Mahan on drums and Will Sprott on Keys, and for this performance Victor Franco on percussion. They play unapologetically weird pop - a sometimes surfy blend of psych-rock, doo wop, and R&B. They released their 7th album in 2024, a vivid, intense tribute-to, and celebration-of Joe Haener, Shannon’s fiance, who died in a tragic car accident in 2022. The record is called The Moon is in the Wrong Place and is available on Easy Eye Sound. Recorded July 24, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it’s the joy and heartbreak R&B of Shannon & the Clams. Shannon & The Clams formed when bassist Shannon Shaw met guitarist Cody Blanchard at the California College of the Arts. The band is rounded out by Nate Mahan on drums and Will Sprott on Keys, and for this performance Victor Franco on percussion. They play unapologetically weird pop - a sometimes surfy blend of psych-rock, doo wop, and R&B. They released their 7th album in 2024, a vivid, intense tribute-to, and celebration-of Joe Haener, Shannon’s fiance, who died in a tragic car accident in 2022. The record is called The Moon is in the Wrong Place and is available on Easy Eye Sound. Recorded July 24, 2024. Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it’s the whip-smart emotional storytelling of Indonesian singer-songwriter - NIKI. NIKI is Nicole Zefanya, born in Jakarta Indonesia, now based in the USA. She started making music pretty young, teaching herself to play guitar at the age of 9. She had a pretty happening Youtube channel going, playing her own songs from home, and then she won a contest at the age of 15 - unbelievably - to open for Taylor Swift for the RED tour in Jakarta. She moved to the states to go to college at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. She connected with the management company and record label 88rising, who would release her first singles. Her latest album is called 'Buzz' and it is available on 88rising. Recorded June 27, 2024. Tsunami Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it’s the whip-smart emotional storytelling of Indonesian singer-songwriter - NIKI. NIKI is Nicole Zefanya, born in Jakarta Indonesia, now based in the USA. She started making music pretty young, teaching herself to play guitar at the age of 9. She had a pretty happening Youtube channel going, playing her own songs from home, and then she won a contest at the age of 15 - unbelievably - to open for Taylor Swift for the RED tour in Jakarta. She moved to the states to go to college at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. She connected with the management company and record label 88rising, who would release her first singles. Her latest album is called 'Buzz' and it is available on 88rising. Recorded June 27, 2024. Tsunami Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.