Live on KEXP

On the show this time, it's the futuristic rock drama of Guadalajara band Descartes a Kant. When Guadalajara-based group Descartes A Kant created their most recent album, 2023’s  After Destruction , they actually made something much bigger. They built an entire concept and universe in which humans struggle to remain human in the face of relentless simulated reality. Their music is post-...

On the show this time, it's the futuristic rock drama of Guadalajara band Descartes a Kant. When Guadalajara-based group Descartes A Kant created their most recent album, 2023’s  After Destruction , they actually made something much bigger. They built an entire concept and universe in which humans struggle to remain human in the face of relentless simulated reality. Their music is post-...

On the show this time, cha cha cha with the 60’s and 70’s Latin rock of Mexican band Enjambre. Enjambre started in California, but now hail from Mexico City. The core of the band is family - the Navejas brothers handle bass, guitar, keys, and vocals. They released their eighth studio album  Noches de Salon  in 2023 through De Gira, which leans heavily into a romantic, 70s, vi...

On the show this time, cha cha cha with the 60’s and 70’s Latin rock of Mexican band Enjambre. Enjambre started in California, but now hail from Mexico City. The core of the band is family - the Navejas brothers handle bass, guitar, keys, and vocals. They released their eighth studio album  Noches de Salon  in 2023 through De Gira, which leans heavily into a romantic, 70s, vi...

On the show this time, it's Ólafur Arnalds, and Janus Rasmussen making music together as Kiasmos. Kiasmos make experimental electronica, born in the cold geography of Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Ólafur Arnalds is a composer and producer, known for his work combining electronic beats and loops with organic string and piano sounds. He’s made 5 solo albums and created music for...

On the show this time, it's the punk rock marimba of Son Rompe Pera. Son Rompe Pera was formed in 2017, by brothers - Kacho and Mongo Gama.  They built up their skill on their father’s marimba, playing the streets, the markets, and weddings.  The “Pera” in the band name is from their mother’s name “Esperanza.” They hail from the suburbs of Mexico City...

On the show this time, it's the belligerent bombast of Brooklyn dance-punk rockers, Gustaf. Gustaf is an exciting, dance-your-cares-away, punk rock band, with the additional benefit of being stylish, sophisticated, and occasionally downright funny. The 5-piece group is based in Brooklyn, and signed to Royal Mountain Records. Their latest is called “Package Pt. 2". Recorded November 6, 2024 S...

On the show this time, it's the belligerent bombast of Brooklyn dance-punk rockers, Gustaf. Gustaf is an exciting, dance-your-cares-away, punk rock band, with the additional benefit of being stylish, sophisticated, and occasionally downright funny. The 5-piece group is based in Brooklyn, and signed to Royal Mountain Records. Their latest is called “Package Pt. 2". Recorded November 6, 2024 S...

On the show this time, it's the punk rock marimba of Son Rompe Pera. Son Rompe Pera was formed in 2017, by brothers - Kacho and Mongo Gama.  They built up their skill on their father’s marimba, playing the streets, the markets, and weddings.  The “Pera” in the band name is from their mother’s name “Esperanza.” They hail from the suburbs of Mexico City...

On the show this time, it's the punk rock marimba of Son Rompe Pera. Son Rompe Pera was formed in 2017, by brothers - Kacho and Mongo Gama.  They built up their skill on their father’s marimba, playing the streets, the markets, and weddings.  The “Pera” in the band name is from their mother’s name “Esperanza.” They hail from the suburbs of Mexico City...

On the show this time, it’s the sexy 60’s and psych of the Mystery Lights. The Mystery Lights are inspired by 60s and 70s psychedelic music, but not defined by those old styles.  They also pull from their original Salinas, California punk rock scene, and from DapTone style R&B, country, and Hip Hop.  Now based in New York, the band has embraced working with Daptone alumnu...

On the show this time, it’s the sexy 60’s and psych of the Mystery Lights. The Mystery Lights are inspired by 60s and 70s psychedelic music, but not defined by those old styles.  They also pull from their original Salinas, California punk rock scene, and from DapTone style R&B, country, and Hip Hop.  Now based in New York, the band has embraced working with Daptone alumnu...

On the show this time, it’s the Mercury Prize winning indie-rock of English band, English Teacher. English Teacher is an English Band from Leeds and Lancashire - both in the north of England and about 2 hours apart. They sort of re-formed from an earlier version of the band in 2020, and released the single “R&B” featuring a shout out to a certain radio station in Seattle. &nb...

On the show this time, it’s the Mercury Prize winning indie-rock of English band, English Teacher. English Teacher is an English Band from Leeds and Lancashire - both in the north of England and about 2 hours apart. They sort of re-formed from an earlier version of the band in 2020, and released the single “R&B” featuring a shout out to a certain radio station in Seattle. &nb...

On the show this time, it’s the propulsive poise and complexity of Nilüfer Yanya.  Nilüfer Yanya is a British singer-songwriter, from an artistic family with Turkish and Barbadian heritage.  She writes pensive songs, centered around her breathy contralto and her original guitar style.  You could sit and think about the equivocal lyrics, or you could get off...

On the show this time, it’s the propulsive poise and complexity of Nilüfer Yanya.  Nilüfer Yanya is a British singer-songwriter, from an artistic family with Turkish and Barbadian heritage.  She writes pensive songs, centered around her breathy contralto and her original guitar style.  You could sit and think about the equivocal lyrics, or you could get off...

On the show this time, it’s the emo-math, jangle-pop of Wuhan band Chinese Football. Chinese Football is a 4 piece indie-rock band formed in 2011.  The name was indeed inspired by Midwest legends American Football, and the 2 bands have even played together.  Their music has elements of emo, math-rock, indie-rock and punk.  Their latest release is “Win or Lose”...

On the show this time, it’s the emo-math, jangle-pop of Wuhan band Chinese Football. Chinese Football is a 4 piece indie-rock band formed in 2011.  The name was indeed inspired by Midwest legends American Football, and the 2 bands have even played together.  Their music has elements of emo, math-rock, indie-rock and punk.  Their latest release is “Win or Lose”...

On the show this time, it’s jazz, it's Afrobeat, it’s KOKOROKO. KOKOROKO is a big band - 7 musicians - brought together by trumpeter and vocalist Sheila Maurice-Grey and percussionist and co-musical director Onome Edgeworth.  They started the band partly because they both believe in the importance of Afrobeat.  It encompasses a cultural legacy of politics, activism, comm...

On the show this time, it’s jazz, it's Afrobeat, it’s KOKOROKO. KOKOROKO is a big band - 7 musicians - brought together by trumpeter and vocalist Sheila Maurice-Grey and percussionist and co-musical director Onome Edgeworth.  They started the band partly because they both believe in the importance of Afrobeat.  It encompasses a cultural legacy of politics, activism, comm...

On the show this time, it’s a throwback to the 1990s, with the absolute smash hits of Minnesota rockers Soul Asylum. Soul Asylum formed in the 80s, and put out five albums on two different record labels, before they captured a moment perfectly on the album Grave Dancers Union , released in 1992 on Columbia Records. Now with the only original member Dave Pirner still at the helm on vocals and...

On the show this time, it’s a throwback to the 1990s, with the absolute smash hits of Minnesota rockers Soul Asylum. Soul Asylum formed in the 80s, and put out five albums on two different record labels, before they captured a moment perfectly on the album Grave Dancers Union , released in 1992 on Columbia Records. Now with the only original member Dave Pirner still at the helm on vocals and...

On the show this time, it's the sample-friendly indie-pop of Spirit of the Beehive. Spirit of the Beehive has been making music together since 2014. They got their name from the legendary 1973 Spanish film directed by Victor Erice. Their sound is highly original, using samples, noisy punk guitars, grooves from a wide variety of influences and thought provoking lyrics. They describe their recent mu...

On the show this time, it's the sample-friendly indie-pop of Spirit of the Beehive. Spirit of the Beehive has been making music together since 2014. They got their name from the legendary 1973 Spanish film directed by Victor Erice. Their sound is highly original, using samples, noisy punk guitars, grooves from a wide variety of influences and thought provoking lyrics. They describe their recent mu...

On the show this time, it's the Rock n' Roll Cumbia of Chuck Prophet. Chuck Prophet is the quintessential independent artist. The San Francisco native has been working since the 80’s with rock band Green on Red. He went solo in the late 90’s, and had a bit of a hit with the song “Summertime Thing” in 2002. He’s consistent too, putting out a record every 2 or 3 years....