Few bands generate as much excitement among KEXP listeners as alt-J. We followed their stratospheric rise from the beginning and even helped stoke the fire of the early buzz by which they burned brightly. The anticipation of their sophomore album was almost unbearable, though, particularly following the departure of bassist and multi-instrumentalist Gwil Sainsbury and the pressures of improving upon such a beloved and award-winning debut. But the wait paid off. In true alt-J fashion, the band defied expectations with a Miley Cyrus sample on their first single and a rocking Black Keys-ian riff on their second, and the album itself is refreshingly unpredictable with its more subdued, organic and atmospheric arrangements. The songs remain distinctly alt-J – quirky, surprising, yet solidly constructed and thrilling to hear. Join us, as we welcome alt-J for the first time to the starry space of the KEXP studio for this very special session.
It's not just because they're young (or high) that brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall consider the "classics" bands like Pixies, Beck, and My Bloody Valentine. JEFF the Brotherhood draw from some fairly obvious influences for their sludgy punk-metal sound, but on their new EP, Dig the Classics, the Orr…
It's not like Conor Oberst needs much help sounding great. The Omaha, NE, native has been writing and performing with various projects, most notably with Bright Eyes, since his early teens, and he is a co-founder of not one but two independent labels: Saddle Creek and Team Love. In other words, we …
