Live on KEXP

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L'Eclair Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

Swiss six-piece L’Eclair make eccentric grooves inspired by an eclectic combination of sources including dub, funk, krautrock, ambient, and prog. A jam band at heart, the Geneva band can stretch sets out for hours at a time, if the audience so desires. Which, they usually do.

We hop the pond for a dash of European culture on this week’s Live on KEXP. Witness Troy Nelson attempt to educate listeners on the history of and difference between L’Eclair, the band, and eclairs, the French pastry, while reciting Charlotte Brontë. Imagine him with a wood pipe in hand, if necessary. “I could not go in: too resistless was the delight of staying with the wild hour.”

Recorded 12/08/2019.

Dallas
Coke Mountain
Castor MacDavid
Disco Dino / Suite / Suite No. 2

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The Joy Formidable Aug 18, 2020

Show notes

Welsh band The Joy Formidable have spent the past decade making stadium-ready indie rock opuses that sound larger than life itself. In 2019, after releasing four great albums, the band celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their debut EP, 'A Balloon Called Moaning,' with a deluxe re-issue and a major tour behind the album. That’s when the band found themselves amongst the glimmering lights of KEXP’s in-studio session room to play four songs.

Troy Nelson details the history of the band, from the hallowed halls of KEXP in late 2019 to their roots as a band called Tricky Nixon, while also weaving in some education on the history of impeachment amongst American presidents. Kierkegaard said “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."

Recorded 12/17/2019.

The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade
Y Bluen Eira
While The Flies
Passerby

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Matthew Dear Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

Veteran electronic producer Matthew Dear is a self-described “tinkerer” and “loop-obsessed” musician who is known for crafting eclectically varied and mesmerizingly strange sounds under a number of various names including Audion, False, and Jabberjaw alongside his government name. Dear’s most recent album, 2018’s Bunny, was described by KEXP (aka myself) as having “moments of buoyancy that verge on sheer pop (granted, a twisted and discombobulated type of pop).”

Things get weird on today’s Live on KEXP, as Troy Nelson seemingly veers wildly off-topic to delve into the science behind sleep, a couple of toy makers who appreciate it, and the drugs that impair it. But trust us, there’s a point here (I think) that connects to Matthew Dear, who was quoted as saying, “Hey old man, why aren't I rested? Why's your boy so damn tired? Where's the music?” In response to not having put out music under his own name in 6 years. It’s been hard to sleep recently huh? Gang - we have to get some rest.

Recorded 12/18/2019.

Modafinil Blues
Bad Ones
Echo
Deserter

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Joey Quiñones & Thee Sinseers Aug 04, 2020

Show notes

Time warp with us to a year that’s *not* 2020 to settle into the sultry sounds of Joey Quiñones and Thee Sinseers. The East Los Angeles band takes their inspiration from the soulful ‘60s of SoCal to bring some seriously sexy heat. Despite having only released a string of singles, Thee Sinseers are one of the most popular groups in SoCal, in-demand for parties up and down the California coast. Singer, songwriter, and man-who-can-play-any-instrument Joey Quiñones’ extraordinary vocals make a strong argument for “future household name” and, if our YouTube comments are to be believed, is considered “the gem of the Chicano music community.”

Ahead of their set, recorded at the Transmusicales Festival in France and featuring Bryan Ponce and Adriana Flores from the Altons, Troy Nelson starts the engine and rolls down the windows to cruise back in time, taking us through the many artists that led up to and influenced the sweltering sounds of Joey Quiñones and Thee Sinseers. It’s summertime. SUMMERTIME y’all!

Recorded 12/07/2019.

Give It Up You Fool
Voodoo Man
It’s Only Love Lost
What’s His Name?

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KEXP is a listener-funded nonprofit, and today we’re asking for your help to keep creating podcasts like this one. Donate now to help reach our Summer Fundraising Drive goal!

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High Pulp Jul 28, 2020

Show notes

Just in time for the sun-soaked dog days of summer, High Pulp are here to bring the heat with their jazz-influenced funky, soulful rhythms. The Seattle-based band is a giant collective ranging anywhere between 6 and 11 skilled musicians at any time who believe that collaboration is key.

Troy Nelson details the band’s growth from the basement to Bad Juice and name-checks the local luminaries that have added their flavor to the High Pulp dish. Sometimes you gotta add more hot sauce..

Recorded 01/17/2020.

Serena Williams
Sermon
Nikola
Ezell's

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Michelle Blades Jul 21, 2020

Show notes

Mexican-Panamian artist Michelle Blades brings a vast range of influences to her unique transcontinental post-psych. Born into a family of salsa musicians, Blades has a rich musical history that includes the Arizona-based noise rock band called North Dakota and the French synthpop group Fishbach.

Troy Nelson journeys down “the rabbit hole of French awesome” and digs into her continent-hopping past, present, and, likely, future. Our connection with Michelle Blades has been a tale of festivals.

Recorded 11/14/2019.

Politic!
Mota O Perreo
Ring
His Man

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Emily King Jul 14, 2020

Show notes

For over 15 years, Emily King has been showcasing her gorgeously soulful vocals and prize-winning songwriting on platforms both minor and major. The daughter of two musicians kicked off her career in a major way by signing to J Records, being a featured vocalist on Nas’ 2004 album Street Disciple, and spending the next few years opening for legendary artists like Alicia Keys, Chaka Khan, John Legend, and Erykah Badu.

Now on indie label ATO Records, King still has Major Label Energy which can be seen on 2019’s Grammy-nominated record Scenery and 2020’s acoustic album Sides. Troy Nelson takes us through King’s journey from Nas to Stas (Thee Boss), who hosted King’s KEXP in-studio earlier this year. As a young musician, Emily King was ambitious and eager. She was also confident...

Recorded 01/31/2020.

1. Look At Me Now
2. Already There
3. Distance
4. Go Back

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SONS Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

If fiery fuzzed-out riffs and tireless headbangable energy is your thing then SONS is your band. The Belgian four-piece has spent the past couple of years introducing their brand of blistering garage rock to the world via nonstop touring. This performance of SONS finds them in the wintery wonderland of Reykjavik for Iceland Airwaves, where the band turns the heat up to tropical levels to melt both faces and minds.

Troy Nelson takes us through the short history of the longtime good buds and the making of their 2019 debut album Family Dinner. Sometimes a story is pretty simple. Some friends get together and start jamming.

Recorded 11/07/2019.

Family Dinner
Tube Spit
Waiting On My Own
Do They See Me

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47Soul Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

Palestinian-Jordanian band 47Soul are making waves around the world in a cultish way with their completely unique take on traditional Palestinian street music infused with electronic, hip hop, dancehall, and dabke that they call Shamstep. This trailblazing new genre is named after the province Bilad Al-Sham, with their lyrics focusing on themes of displacement and community.

Troy Nelson takes you through a brief history of life in the Middle East before and after the Arab-Israeli War in 1948, which led to the forced displacement of 700,000 Palestinian Arabs from what became known as Israel, stripping them of their freedom and ease of movement. Egyptian feminist activist Nawal el Saadawi once said “If you are creative, you must be dissident." Here is one such story, of the artist straining against authority.

Recorded 09/23/2019.

Machina
Gamar
Marked Safe
Intro to Shamstep

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Caroline Polachek Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

You may know composer, singer, and producer Caroline Polachek best as the frontperson of the iPod-hawking band Chairlift. But, as Troy Nelson details on this episode of Live on KEXP, the New York-based artist has long been busily churning out music for herself as well as a wide list of artists including the Queen Bee herself. Her latest record, 2019’s 'Pang,' is the first to be released under her own name and is a sweepingly bold proclamation of an artist who’s never been afraid of innovation.

For KEXP, Polachek strips down four songs from the album to just piano and heavenly vocals while Troy explains her relationship to bugs, Beyonce, and “Bruises.”

Recorded 12/18/2019.

Go As a Dream
Door
So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings
Ocean of Tears

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