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. While You Wait The Drive True Blue...

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. While You Wait The Drive True Blue...

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,...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

On the show this time, it’s the loud bark and deep bite of Philadelphia rock band Mannequin Pussy. Mannequin Pussy is a punk rock band from Philadelphia, originally formed by school-friends Thanasi Paul and singer “Missy” Dabice as a drums and guitar duo back in 2010. Reforged and remade, the current lineup makes intense meaningful music, powered by a full band commitment to the sound and the show, ignited by Missy’s voice, and augmented by the ears of producer John Congleton. Their latest...

On the show this time, it’s the loud bark and deep bite of Philadelphia rock band Mannequin Pussy. Mannequin Pussy is a punk rock band from Philadelphia, originally formed by school-friends Thanasi Paul and singer “Missy” Dabice as a drums and guitar duo back in 2010. Reforged and remade, the current lineup makes intense meaningful music, powered by a full band commitment to the sound and the show, ignited by Missy’s voice, and augmented by the ears of producer John Congleton. Their latest...

On the show this time, it’s the Cambodian psych rock of Los Angeles band Dengue Fever. Dengue Fever was formed in 2001 in Los Angeles by brothers Ethan and Zac Holtzman. They had both fallen in love with Cambodian psych-rock music, one while traveling there, the other through the record store he was working at in San Francisco. They recruited musicians from the Los Angeles scene who shared that passion. The final lucky stroke was meeting a star - Cambodian singer Chhom Nimol in a nightclub...

On the show this time, it’s the Cambodian psych rock of Los Angeles band Dengue Fever. Dengue Fever was formed in 2001 in Los Angeles by brothers Ethan and Zac Holtzman. They had both fallen in love with Cambodian psych-rock music, one while traveling there, the other through the record store he was working at in San Francisco. They recruited musicians from the Los Angeles scene who shared that passion. The final lucky stroke was meeting a star - Cambodian singer Chhom Nimol in a nightclub...

On the show this time, it’s the Guembri driven Moroccan rock of Bab L’ Bluz. Bab L’ Bluz is at its core a duo - Singer / guitarist Yousra Mansour and producer/ guitarist Brice Bottin. They met through music, and a shared love for Moroccan Gnawa music led them to learn how to play the Guembri - a kind of 3 stringed bass instrument - and its smaller relative the Awisha. They started composing music together, the idea being, they would make a rock band, playing rock music, but with these...

On the show this time, it’s the Guembri driven Moroccan rock of Bab L’ Bluz. Bab L’ Bluz is at its core a duo - Singer / guitarist Yousra Mansour and producer/ guitarist Brice Bottin. They met through music, and a shared love for Moroccan Gnawa music led them to learn how to play the Guembri - a kind of 3 stringed bass instrument - and its smaller relative the Awisha. They started composing music together, the idea being, they would make a rock band, playing rock music, but with these...

On the show this time,  it’s the good-times shake-your-booty belongingness of Sinkane.Sinkane is the large band solo project of Sudanese-American musician Sinkane, née Ahmed Gallab.  The music incorporates flavors from multiple genres, but always lands squarely in the danceable zone. A meaningful message rides shotgun in the party machine, with positive vibes, inclusivity, supportiveness and hope flowing out into the world.  His latest album is We Belong, available on City Slang Records. ...

On the show this time,  it’s the good-times shake-your-booty belongingness of Sinkane.Sinkane is the large band solo project of Sudanese-American musician Sinkane, née Ahmed Gallab.  The music incorporates flavors from multiple genres, but always lands squarely in the danceable zone. A meaningful message rides shotgun in the party machine, with positive vibes, inclusivity, supportiveness and hope flowing out into the world.  His latest album is We Belong, available on City Slang Records. ...

On the show this time, it’s the mesmerizing post-punk shoe-gaze of Brooklyn band DIIV. DIIV is a heavy, thinking-person’s rock band formed by Zachary Cole Smith in Brooklyn NY back in 2011. They released 3 albums on Captured Tracks and survived member changes, stints in rehab, almost calling it quits, and a reorganization to a more democratic structure to get to this point. They have released a new full-length album, 'Frog In Boiling Water,' which is available on Fantasy Records. Record...

On the show this time, it’s the mesmerizing post-punk shoe-gaze of Brooklyn band DIIV. DIIV is a heavy, thinking-person’s rock band formed by Zachary Cole Smith in Brooklyn NY back in 2011. They released 3 albums on Captured Tracks and survived member changes, stints in rehab, almost calling it quits, and a reorganization to a more democratic structure to get to this point. They have released a new full-length album, 'Frog In Boiling Water,' which is available on Fantasy Records. Record...

On the show this time, - flip that indie pop on its head with the music of Camera Obscura.Camera Obscura is an indie Scottish band from Glasgow.  They’ve been making music together since 1996, though they took some time away from the band following keyboardist Carey Lander’s illness and eventual death from cancer. They reunited in 2018, to play a festival -cruise show - the Boaty Weekender - with fellow Glaswegians Belle & Sebastian.  A few years later, they announced some new music and a...

On the show this time, flip that indie pop on its head, with the music of Camera Obscura. Camera Obscura is an indie Scottish band from Glasgow.  They’ve been making music together since 1996, though they took some time away from the band following keyboardist Carey Lander’s illness and eventual death from cancer. They reunited in 2018, to play a festival -cruise show - the Boaty Weekender - with fellow Glaswegians Belle & Sebastian.  A few years later, they announced some new music and...

On the show this time, the Miki Berenyi Trio plays some classic Lush songs and some brand new music too. Miki Berenyi is a founding member and the eventual lead singer of the legendary shoegaze band Lush. She wrote a book about her childhood, and her life leading up to forming Lush, as well as the unvarnished reality of playing in a band in the 90s. Thanks to the book, and being continually asked to play music at book events, she formed a trio. They have a single, “Vertigo,” out on Bella...

On the show this time, the Miki Berenyi Trio plays some classic Lush songs and some brand new music too. Miki Berenyi is a founding member and the eventual lead singer of the legendary shoegaze band Lush. She wrote a book about her childhood, and her life leading up to forming Lush, as well as the unvarnished reality of playing in a band in the 90s. Thanks to the book, and being continually asked to play music at book events, she formed a trio. They have a single, “Vertigo,” out on Bella...

On the show this time, when drummers collide, the music of Lol Tolhurst and Budgie. Lol Tolhurst is a founding member of the band The Cure, playing drums and later keyboards. Budgie is a founding member of The Creatures, along with Siouxsie Sioux, after playing with Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees for 9 albums and 17 years. Together with Irish producer Jacknife Lee they have a new project, and an album titled 'Los Angeles' available on PIAS Recordings. Recorded 06/04/2024. Los Angeles...

On the show this time, when drummers collide, the music of Lol Tolhurst and Budgie. Lol Tolhurst is a founding member of the band The Cure, playing drums and later keyboards. Budgie is a founding member of The Creatures, along with Siouxsie Sioux, after playing with Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees for 9 albums and 17 years. Together with Irish producer Jacknife Lee they have a new project, and an album titled 'Los Angeles' available on PIAS Recordings. Recorded 06/04/2024. Los Angeles ...