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 alumnus and super-producer Wayne Gordon.  Always groovy, always high energy - their latest is called “Purgatory” and is available on Daptone Records. 

Recorded November 7, 2024

1. Memories
2. Purgatory
3. Trouble
4. Sorry I Forgot Your Name
5. Can’t Sleep Through The Silence
6. Cerebral Crack

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 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.  The buzz from that got them some radio play, and they eventually released their first EP Polyawkward in 2022.  Their sound has gelled into an original blend of mathy punk, spoken word, and sweeping noise-pop orchestration, in support of the mesmerizing voice of singer Lily Fontaine.

Recorded September 27th, 2024

1. This Could Be Texas
2. Nearly Daffodils
3. Broken Biscuits
4. You Blister My Paint
5. R&B
6. Albert Road

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 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.  The buzz from that got them some radio play, and they eventually released their first EP Polyawkward in 2022.  Their sound has gelled into an original blend of mathy punk, spoken word, and sweeping noise-pop orchestration, in support of the mesmerizing voice of singer Lily Fontaine.

Recorded September 27th, 2024

1. This Could Be Texas
2. Nearly Daffodils
3. Broken Biscuits
4. You Blister My Paint
5. R&B
6. Albert Road

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 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 your ass and dance.  

Her latest is “My Method Actor” - as in she is her own, method actor - sort of learning to be herself by inhabiting herself fully.  For this performance she played 5 songs from the album, which is available on Ninja Tune.  Here’s Nilüfer Yanya - Live on KEXP.

Recorded October 26th, 2024

1. Method Actor
2. Mutations
3. Call It Love
4. Binding 
5. Like I Say (I Runaway)

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 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 your ass and dance.  

Her latest is “My Method Actor” - as in she is her own, method actor - sort of learning to be herself by inhabiting herself fully.  For this performance she played 5 songs from the album, which is available on Ninja Tune.  Here’s Nilüfer Yanya - Live on KEXP.

Recorded October 26th, 2024

1. Method Actor
2. Mutations
3. Call It Love
4. Binding 
5. Like I Say (I Runaway)

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 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”, the 3rd in a trilogy of albums based on a fictitious video game.  The first was “Here Comes a New Challenger?” followed by “Continue?”.  The albums all have killer anime style covers, by the illustrator Space Layout, inspired by Streetfighter 2. The lyrics sort of follow the trials and tribulations of singer Xu Bo’s dream of becoming a rock star, and the band touring the world.  There’s a humility to the lyrics that borders on self deprecation, what they call “the hesitation which follows failure.” Once the band fires up though, there is no hesitation, they deliver tight jangly, intricate riffs, poppy harmony, and a danceable groove.

Recorded October 24, 2024

1. Rafting in the world
2. Awaking Daydream
3. The Last Emo Boy on Earth
4. Blind Men and an Elephant 

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 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”, the 3rd in a trilogy of albums based on a fictitious video game.  The first was “Here Comes a New Challenger?” followed by “Continue?”.  The albums all have killer anime style covers, by the illustrator Space Layout, inspired by Streetfighter 2. The lyrics sort of follow the trials and tribulations of singer Xu Bo’s dream of becoming a rock star, and the band touring the world.  There’s a humility to the lyrics that borders on self deprecation, what they call “the hesitation which follows failure.” Once the band fires up though, there is no hesitation, they deliver tight jangly, intricate riffs, poppy harmony, and a danceable groove.

Recorded October 24, 2024

1. Rafting in the world
2. Awaking Daydream
3. The Last Emo Boy on Earth
4. Blind Men and an Elephant 

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 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, community, and also serves as collective memory.  It’s extra important to the children of dual heritage, to the Africans living in London, and to all the people who yearn for connection to their roots.  Their track “Abusey Junction” blew up on the internet after its release on a compilation of new London jazz.  Their latest release is the EP Get the Message, available on Brownswood Recordings.

Recorded October 23, 2024

1. Higher
2. My Prayer
3. Tojo
4. Ti-de

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 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, community, and also serves as collective memory.  It’s extra important to the children of dual heritage, to the Africans living in London, and to all the people who yearn for connection to their roots.  Their track “Abusey Junction” blew up on the internet after its release on a compilation of new London jazz.  Their latest release is the EP Get the Message, available on Brownswood Recordings.

Recorded October 23, 2024

1. Higher
2. My Prayer
3. Tojo
4. Ti-de

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 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 songwriting duties, they have released a brand new full-length, Slowly But Shirley, available on the indie label Blue Élan.

Recorded October 7, 2024

1. Somebody To Shove
2. Freak Accident
3. High Road
4. Black Gold
5. Runaway Train

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.