Everybody’s favorite masked cowboy visits Cheryl Waters in the KEXP Live Room to perform 4 songs from his breakout album, Pony. Crooning about love and loss in a way that’s entirely his own, Orville Peck can bring any listener to fall in love with country. Recorded 05/20/2019. 4 songs - Turn To Hate, Big Sky, Dead Of Night, Take You Back.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

The Head and the Heart helped define the folk-pop genre with their self-titled debut in 2011. Now, the Seattle band returns to the KEXP Live Room in support of their first record in three years, Living Mirage. Hosted by Kevin Cole, they perform three songs from the new record and one from 2016's Signs of Light. Recorded 05/31/2019. 4 songs - Missed Connection, See You Through My Eyes, Library Magic, People Need a Melody.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Wilco frontman and indie rock icon Jeff Tweedy stops by Rainshadow Recording on his birthday for this live session during the THING Fest 2019 broadcast. After releasing two gorgeous, stripped-down solo records and a memoir in the span of a year, Jeff is back on the road with Wilco to promote their 11th studio album, Ode To Joy. Along with playing a few songs, old and new, Tweedy talks with KEXP's DJ Morgan about grief, album titles, his memoir, and free cantaloupes. Recorded 08/25/2019. 4 songs - An Empty Corner, White Wooden Cross, Family Ghost, Impossible Germany.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Aussie psych-rock favorite King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard continually impresses its die-hard fanbase, from ambitiously releasing five albums in 2017 to effortlessly genre-hopping through experimentation. Most recently, the seven-piece band (which includes two drummers) has gone metal to convey a message about the human race’s hand in climate change. They join Cheryl Waters in the KEXP Live Room to play five songs from the new record, ‘Infest the Rats’ Nest,’ and answer questions from fans. Recorded 08/18/2019. 5 songs - Mars For The Rich, Venusian 1, Perihelion, Venusian 2, Hell.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Greek-Sudanese musician Marina Satti and her ever-present all-female polyhphonic vocal group Fonέs wowed the audience at the La Chapelle by le Studio in Rennes, France during Trans Musicales this past December with their modern take on Greek, Balkan, Arabic, and Middle-Eastern sounds.

After having gone viral in 2017 with her single-shot video for “Mantissa,” Satti has become a beloved figure and inspiration to young people across Greece.

Recorded 12/04/2019.

1. Koupes (Cups)
2. Chichovite Konye
3. Mantissa (Fortune Teller)
4. Savvato Vradi (Saturday Night)
5. Hilii Mastori (One Thousand Craftsmen)

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Indie rock icon Jenny Lewis shines brighter than ever on her latest record, On The Line. From her honest reckoning with past demons to her shimmery 70s aesthetic, the album is simultaneously introspective and vibrant. She joins DJ Kevin Cole in the KEXP Live Room for an electric performance of 4 songs from the album. Recorded 05/21/2019. 4 songs - Heads Gonna Roll, Wasted Youth, Party Clown, Red Bull & Hennessy.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Oh Sees frontman John Dwyer is known for his relentless experimentation across genres, encompassing krautrock, punk, thrash metal, no-wave, and psychedelic. The band is also prolific, with this year's 'Face Stabber' putting them at a staggering twenty-two studio albums. Hosted by Troy Nelson, the band performs three sprawling tracks from 'Face Stabber' as well as two from earlier releases, and discuss Toby Keith, mosh pits, and how Dwyer came across the album's cover art. Recorded 10/05/2019. 5 songs - Nite Expo, C, Snickersnee, Together Tomorrow, Henchlock.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Fifteen years and seven albums in, The Hold Steady (as their name suggests) remains a fan-favorite after their latest effort, ‘Thrashing Thru The Passion.’ The fresh line-up highlights frontman Craig Finn’s masterful storytelling with raw and uplifting instrumental backing. On this Midday Show session, the band performs five songs from the record and speaks with DJ Cheryl Waters about their unique new approach to touring. Recorded 08/15/2019. 5 songs - Denver Haircut, You Did Good Kid, Blackout Sam, Entitlement Crew, T-Shirt Tux.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin brings Cheryl Waters to tears in this live session. Her deeply personal new album, Crushing, exposes both her vulnerabilities and her strengths through honest lyrical reflections and minimally produced vocals. Recorded 08/12/2019. 4 songs - Don't Know How To Keep Loving You, Head Alone, Turn Me Down, Pressure To Party.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard made waves last year with her debut solo record, 'Jaime.' Gliding on instrumentals that blend funk, soul, psych-rock and R&B, her dynamic yet intimate vocals are what make this a powerhouse record and easily one of KEXP's favorites of 2019. Hosted by Cheryl Waters on the Midday Show, Brittany discusses gaining confidence as a songwriter and solo artist, the deeply personal album name, the themes of race and sexuality in her music and touring with her idol. Recorded 11/18/2019. 4 songs - Stay High, Georgia, He Loves Me, Presence.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

The eponymous debut record from Austin-based Black Pumas has been a KEXP favorite since its summer release. The uniquely raw and soulful delivery of singer Eric Burton paired with producer Adrian Quesada's instrumentals, which nod to 70s soul and 90s hip hop, give them a sound that's simultaneously nostalgic and of the future. DJ Cheryl Waters chats with the duo about how they formed the project, what messages they want to convey through their music, Burton's nomadic past and bringing their distinctive spirit to live shows. Recorded 10/18/2019. 4 songs - Black Moon Rising, Fire, Colors, OCT 33.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Recorded 04/02/2019. 4 songs - Crosses, Heartbeats, The Forest, Leaf Off / The Cave.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Kevin Morby's fifth album Oh My God finds the Kansas City songwriter examining mortality and the afterlife. Morby and his band play 4 songs in the KEXP Live Room with DJ Abbie. Recorded 05/14/2019. 4 songs - Congratulations, Hail Mary, Piss River, Seven Devils.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

On their second LP, titled ‘Four of Arrows’ after an inspiring Tarot card pull, Seattle-bred Great Grandpa takes a step back from the playful grunge of their debut record in favor of a more open, introspective sound. Each song is crafted thoughtfully, leaving space for lead singer Alex Menne’s voice to fully resonate, and with perfectly placed instrumental builds that deepen the impact.

Stevie Zoom hosts this session in the KEXP Live Room.

Recorded 01/06/2020.

1. Digger
2. Mono no Aware
3. Dark Green Water
4. English Garden

Watch Great Grandpa's cover of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" on YouTube

Read about Great Grandpa's song "Bloom" on KEXP's Song of the Day feature

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Norwegian artist Marie Ulven, also known as girl in red, is a DIY success story. In 2015, she began releasing music on Soundcloud after writing, recording and producing everything from her bedroom. Fans quickly latched onto her unfiltered honesty about depression, queerness and teenage heartbreak, and soon her music was heard by millions.

Recorded at Kex Hostel during KEXP’s 2019 Iceland Airwaves broadcast, Ulven plays six songs and brings the crowd to laughter between each.

Recorded 11/08/2019.

1. we fell in love in october
2. summer depression
3. bad idea!
4. watch you sleep.
5. girls
6. i wanna be your girlfriend.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

The Bandcamp page housing Kikagaku Moyo’s discography simply describes the band as “feeling good music.” It’s succinct and perhaps reductive to the intricate tapestry of sounds the Japanese band weaves but nonetheless completely accurate.

In November, they made a crowd of VIP donors at The Triple Door feel very good while basking in the haze of Kikagaku Moyo’s free flowing psychedelic folk for KEXP’s VIP Club Concert series.

Recorded 11/29/2019.

1. Old Snow, White Sun
2. Cardigan Song
3. Green Sugar
4. Nazo Nazo
5. Kodama
6. Gatherings

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Known for their impressive live shows, internationally beloved Mexican guitar rock duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela joins fans in the KEXP Gathering Space to perform songs from their new record, Mettavolution. Recorded 07/14/2019. 4 songs - Krotona Days, Electric Soul, Witness Tree, Mettavolution.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Burien’s biggest musical export Travis Thompson has been building buzz since signing a record deal with major label Epic last year to release his latest album Reckless Endangerment.

Filling the KEXP stage with a full band, the young rapper spits his flows gracefully and effortlessly like a seasoned pro. Thompson and Audioasis host Eva Walker chat about their common history of starting out in local arts program Youth Speaks, the joy of making music videos, and working with Macklemore.

Recorded 01/07/2020.

1. The Move
2. Malice
3. Mad Mad World
4. Don't Run

Read KEXP's interview with Travis Thompson

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Last fall, indie chanteuse Angel Olsen unveiled her fourth studio album, All Mirrors. An exercise in grandeur, Olsen is backed by a cinematic orchestra that takes her skilled vocals and introspective lyrics to new heights. While many artists could get lost behind a screen of smoke and satin, Olsen is simply strengthened by her transformation into an old-Hollywood protagonist starring in a movie of her own making.

Olsen brings the string-filled spectacle of All Mirrors to KEXP for this in-studio, hosted by Troy Nelson in the KEXP Live Room.

Recorded 12/11/2019

1. All Mirrors
2. Spring
3. Lark
4. Chance

Read KEXP's interview with Angel Olsen about 'All Mirrors'

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

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.

1. Machina
2. Gamar
3. Marked Safe
4. Intro to Shamstep

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

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.

1. Go As a Dream
2. Door
3. So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings
4. Ocean of Tears

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

A prolific musical force, Georgia Anne Muldrow has released 19 albums since 2006 and has worked with everyone from Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Brittany Howard, and Blood Orange. Her latest release, 2019’s 'Black Love & War,' is a collaboration with husband Dudley Perkins that sees the poetic geniuses explore the funky depths of Afrofuturism. 

Troy Nelson expands on Muldrow’s rich history while presenting a symbolic and timely analogy of the plight of a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly, in which butterflies only appear when the caterpillar looks inside and is ready to change. 

Recorded 11/19/2019.

1. Run It Down
2. Flowers
3. Change
4. Overload

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Check out an exclusive mix the duo crafted for KEXP's 'Midnight in a Perfect World' series

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Instead of releasing a new session today, we are continuing our station-wide pause on new content to hold space for anti-racist education and action. Meanwhile, we are using our platform to amplify Black voices in music.

Today, we revisit one of our favorite KEXP sessions by Seattle group, The Black Tones. Their 2019 debut full-length album, 'Cobain and Cornbread,' is an invigorating blend of blues and punk, produced by Jack Endino of Seattle grunge fame. Their song, "The Key of Black (They Want Us Dead)," speaks to the ongoing fight against police brutality and the violent realities of systemic racism.

Cheryl Waters hosts the band in the KEXP Live Room for four songs from the new album.

Recorded 06/18/2019.

1. Ghetto Spaceship
2. The Key of Black (They Want Us Dead)
3. Mama! There’s A Spider In My Room
4. Welcome Mr. Pink

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Hailing from Portland, The Shivas make surfy psychedelic that takes a massive amount of inspiration from the 1960s. For this episode of Live on KEXP, Troy Nelson draws parallels from artists of that era like the Beatles, Little Richard, and The Kingsmen to the explosive shake-n-shimmy of The Shivas. For the past 14 years, the quartet has charmed audiences with their bombastic live performances and this one is no different. Performing the first four songs off their latest record, Dark Thoughts, the band proves why they continue to shine after all this time.

Recorded 11/13/2019.

1. Gloria
2. Turn Me On
3. Playing On The Radio
4. If You See Me

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

For their sixth studio album, 'Natural Affair,' The Growlers continue their streak of distinctly California-cool rock that effortlessly marries the feelings of both sunny beaches and late-night dance parties. As DJ Troy Nelson puts it, the band is “California as f*ck.” After years of throwing one of the hippest festivals on the West Coast, Beach Goth Party, the band is expanding the brand into a label called (what else?) Beach Goth Records and Tapes, with 'Natural Affair' as their first release.

Troy Nelson goes on to give some background on the history of the Growlers while the band plays a few songs from the new record.

Recorded 10/07/2019.

1. Problems III
2. Try Hard Fool
3. Natural Affair
4. I'll Be Around

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Formed by brother/sister duo Jack and Lily Wolter on a small island called Isle of Man, Penelope Isles channels salty seas and flowing currents for their eclectic and lustrous style of fuzzy dream pop. Now Brighton-based, the band is rounded out by Brighton locals Becky Redford on bass and Jack Sowton on drums.

For this Live On KEXP session, Troy Nelson gives some background on the Isle of Man, which Jack Wolter calls a “special” and “safe” place where “80,000 alcoholics are clinging to a rock in the middle of the Irish Sea,” before the band breaks into a dazzling set of songs from their 2019 debut record, 'Until the Tide Creeps In.’

Recorded 10/30/2019.

1. Leipzig
2. Not Talking
3. Gnarbone
4. Cut Your Hair

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Fourteen years ago, Latin-infused Americana band Calexico teamed up with folk singer-songwriter Sam Beam, better known as Iron & Wine, for an EP called In the Reins. After much delay, the old friends reunited in 2018 to work on their debut full-length, Years to Burn, which was unveiled last year. The chemistry between the good chums is unmistakable during this KEXP performance, recorded at 2019’s inaugural Thing Fest at Fort Worden. 

DJ Troy Nelson takes us through the history of the band and introduces us to the people responsible for the quick and collaborative making of Years to Burn.

Recorded 08/25/2019.

1. Father Mountain
2. Midnight Sun
3. He Lays In The Reins
4. Bring On The Dancing Horses

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

For his third KEXP in-studio performance as Hiss Golden Messenger, folk-rocker M.C. Taylor brought a whole gang of talented musicians to join him. Flanked by Phil Cook, Chris Boerner, Erin Rae, Alex Bingham, and Al Smith, the sextet played a stunning set of songs off Hiss Golden Messenger’s latest record, 'Terms of Surrender.’ 

Recorded 10/11/2019.

1. I Need A Teacher
2. Down At The Uptown
3. Bright Direction (You’re a Dark Star Now)
4. Terms Of Surrender

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Greek-Sudanese musician Marina Satti and her ever-present all-female polyhphonic vocal group Fonέs wowed the audience at the La Chapelle by le Studio in Rennes, France during Trans Musicales this past December with their modern take on Greek, Balkan, Arabic, and Middle-Eastern sounds.

After having gone viral in 2017 with her single-shot video for “Mantissa,” Satti has become a beloved figure and inspiration to young people across Greece.

Recorded 12/04/2019.

1. Koupes (Cups)
2. Chichovite Konye
3. Mantissa (Fortune Teller)
4. Savvato Vradi (Saturday Night)
5. Hilii Mastori (One Thousand Craftsmen)

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Burien’s biggest musical export Travis Thompson has been building buzz since signing a record deal with major label Epic last year to release his latest album Reckless Endangerment.

Filling the KEXP stage with a full band, the young rapper spits his flows gracefully and effortlessly like a seasoned pro. Thompson and Audioasis host Eva Walker chat about their common history of starting out in local arts program Youth Speaks, the joy of making music videos, and working with Macklemore.

Recorded 01/07/2020.

1. The Move
2. Malice
3. Mad Mad World
4. Don't Run

Read KEXP's interview with Travis Thompson

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Are you wondering about changes you've noticed to the KEXP podcasts lately? In addition to the name change (from "Live Performances" to simply "Live on KEXP") and the new graphic that nods to KEXP's iconic Live Room lights, we've got some more exciting updates in store... 

Sit back and let your new host, KEXP's own DJ Troy Nelson, tell you all about the changes that will go into effect starting Tuesday, April 28th.

Here's a summary:

• The publishing schedule will move to once per week
• New episodes will be published on Tuesdays
• We'll feature a short "story-time" before each session to give you some background on the music, including anything from interviews with the artists to band origin stories to drummer jokes

You'll still hear a carefully curated selection of KEXP's one-of-a-kind, world-renowned live sessions. So stay tuned and enjoy!

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

The Bandcamp page housing Kikagaku Moyo’s discography simply describes the band as “feeling good music.” It’s succinct and perhaps reductive to the intricate tapestry of sounds the Japanese band weaves but nonetheless completely accurate.

In November, they made a crowd of VIP donors at The Triple Door feel very good while basking in the haze of Kikagaku Moyo’s free flowing psychedelic folk for KEXP’s VIP Club Concert series.

Recorded 11/29/2019.

1. Old Snow, White Sun
2. Cardigan Song
3. Green Sugar
4. Nazo Nazo
5. Kodama
6. Gatherings

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

This past fall, beloved KEXP show Street Sounds went live with a performance in the Gathering Space from notable hip hop and R&B artists. The first to take the stage was electro-soul duo Soultanz. A collaboration between producer Jared Rubens and singer/producer Shayhan Mashayekh, the two mix samples of samba, bossa nova, soul, classical, and classic rock with Mashayekh’s smooth vocals to make slick, funky, and original grooves. Hosted by DJ Stas THEE Boss.

Recorded 10/11/2019.

1. Give
2. Patience
3. Cherish
4. Serenity
5. Afterthot
6. Bad Theory

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

It’s only been two years since Los Bitchos uploaded their first bedroom recordings onto Bandcamp but they’ve quickly won hearts with their flavorful take on psychedelic cumbia. Currently London-based, the five talented musicians hail from Uruguay, Sweden, Australia, and England.

For this breakout performance at Trans Musicales 2019, the band brings their sun-soaked rhythms indoors to La Chapelle by le Studio in Rennes, France for a blistering set of heavy grooves.

Recorded 12/6/2019.

1. The Link is About to Die
2. 5 Years, 2 Years, 1 Year
3. Pista
4. Bugs Bunny
5. Tripping Party

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Icelandic group Hatari are an experience unlike any other. Almost more performance art than anything else, their music lies somewhere between techno and metal with a sprinkling of pop while their stage show is an artfully curated futuristic BDSM anti-capitalist daydream.

After a big year, where the band sparked controversy with their comments about Palestine before and during their performance in the Eurovision Song Contest, the band returns to Kex Hostel for a one-of-a-kind performance at Iceland Airwaves. Three years after their debut breakout performance at Kex, the band has pulled out all the stops, turning the hostel into a basement warehouse party set in 2054.

Recorded 11/10/2019.

1. Spillingardans
2. Klámstrákur
3. Biðröð Mistaka
4. Klefi / Samed feat. Bashar Murad

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Seattle-based Terror/Cactus bring their distinctive take on psychedelic electro cumbia to the KEXP live stage for this unique performance. As always, the band is donned in masks while showcasing instrumental songs from their 2018 sophomore full-length Impulsos as well as 2019’s Corriente EP.

The band takes DJ Chilly through the decade-long history and formation of the band, which started as Buenos Aires-born musician Martín Selasco’s solo bedroom project and expanded in just the past few years into a full band, as well as Selasco’s collection of new instruments he acquired while traveling through South America that inspired the new EP.

Recorded 11/26/2019.

1. Sapo Enamorado
2. La Quebrada
3. Tambor del Monte
4. La Corriente

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Last fall, indie chanteuse Angel Olsen unveiled her fourth studio album, All Mirrors. An exercise in grandeur, Olsen is backed by a cinematic orchestra that takes her skilled vocals and introspective lyrics to new heights. While many artists could get lost behind a screen of smoke and satin, Olsen is simply strengthened by her transformation into an old-Hollywood protagonist starring in a movie of her own making.

Olsen brings the string-filled spectacle of All Mirrors to KEXP for this in-studio, hosted by Troy Nelson in the KEXP Live Room.

Recorded 12/11/2019

1. All Mirrors
2. Spring
3. Lark
4. Chance

Read KEXP's interview with Angel Olsen about 'All Mirrors'

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

Busan, South Korea’s favorite band Say Sue Me capped off 2019, a year of high highs and the lowest of lows for the good friends, by stopping by the KEXP studios to perform four songs that span their six-year career of making sincere surf-tinged indie rock. Amidst the music, the band chats with Kevin Cole about their 2019 Korean Music Award experience, in which they were nominated in five categories and won two, and how the passing of their drummer Semin Kang has inspired them to “make music for us.”

Recorded 12/13/19.

1. Old Town
2. Good People
3. Just Joking Around
4. Let’s Don’t Say Anything

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

On their anticipated sophomore record, 'Forever Turned Around,' beloved Chicago duo Whitney continue their distinct interpretation of ‘70s AM soft rock that made them a hit on the festival circuit after their 2016 debut Light Upon the Lake. Focusing on themes of relationships, loneliness, and the beauty of friendship, the record is a nostalgic slow-burner that basks in the warm glow of a summer evening.

Joined by five other musicians for their in-studio, Max Kakacek and Julien Ehrlich tell Cheryl Waters about the experience of making the new record and how their bond has led to a natural fusing of brains.

Recorded 10/25/19.

1. Friend of Mine
2. Giving Up
3. Before I Know It
4. Valleys (My Love)

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate