Friday on My Mind: SMooCH 2014!

It’s time again for Friday on My Mind. Our weekly blog post where we look at videos centered around one common theme. This is a collaborative effort between KEXP and King 5 News.

As the busy month of December approaches, there is a lot going on around town to see and do. One of the many events taking place just around the corner is SMooCH. SMooCH, a.k.a. Seattle Musicians for Children’s Hospital, is an annual benefit concert as well as a silent auction that benefits Seattle Children’s Hospital. All proceeds for SMooCH go directly towards Seattle Children's Hospital uncompensated care program. Every year, 60% of the 100,000 patients who receive treatment from Seattle Children’s Hospital are unable to pay for their medical expenses. Seattle Children’s Hospital makes sure that everyone and anyone can receive medical care regardless of their financial situation. This show will take place on Saturday, December 6th, at the Showbox at the Market. Tickets for SMooCH can be found here. As if you need more reason to go, here are the artists who will be performing:Band of Horses - No One’s Gonna Love You (Live on KEXP)

One of the artists kind enough to perform this year is Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses. Band of Horses was formed in Seattle by Bridwell along with Mat Brooke out of the ashes of their former band, Carissa’s Wierd. Brooke has since left to focus on his other band, Grand Archives, while Bridwell, along with the other members of Band of Horses are now based in their hometown of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Ben Bridwell will be giving a special solo performance for this year’s SMooCH benefit. Ben and Band of Horses have always been friends to KEXP and have graced our airwaves with their music a few times. Here is footage of their live version of “No One’s Gonna Love You” as performed during our remote broadcast from Gibson Studios in NYC for CMJ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoQy_p3vNb8

Iron & Wine - Woman King (LIVE on KEXP)

We are very pleased to announce that Iron & Wine will also be a part of this year’s SMooCH lineup. Sam Beam, a.k.a. Iron & Wine, wears many hats in this life. He is a father of five with a background in film. Here, he is performing his song “Woman King” from Austin during KEXP’s remote broadcast from SXSW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MCKb4UkLKU

THEESatisfaction - QueenS

Seattle’s own THEESatisfaction will also be a part of the SMooCH evening. THEESatisfaction is made up of the duo of Catherine Harris-White and Stasia Irons. Here is the official music video for their most recent single, “QueenS”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGWFBt_IPOg

Honorable Mentions:

Shabazz Palaces - Free Press and Curl (LIVE on KEXP)

Shabazz Palaces consists of Ishmael Butler and Tendai “Baba” Maraire. To many, Ishmael's voice may sound familiar since he was formerly was a part of Digable Planets. In 2009, Shabazz Palaces became the first hip hop group to be signed to Seattle’s Sub Pop Records. Shabazz Palaces gave one of the most mesmerizing in studio performances here at KEXP. Here is their performance of "Free Press and Curl" off of their 2011 debut, Black Up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br2pvioqusU

Maraire is the son of Mbira master Dumisani Maraire. The mbira is an African musical instrument consisting of a wooden board (often fitted with a resonator) with attached staggered metal tines, played by holding the instrument in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumbs.

Stag - Sister Lee (LIVE on KEXP)

Stag played the SMooCH benefit in 2012 with Brad, Rachel Flotard, The Chris Friel Orchestra, Pete Droge, Zach Davidson and Carrie Akre, The Sangster Family Band, & The Young Evils.

Members of Stag have been in other Seattle bands including That Petrol Emotion, Alcohol Funnycar, Sanford Arms, Burning Rivers, Jackie on Acid, Kingsly, and Red Jacket Mine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaUxb8qWOso

Macklemore - Otherside (remix feat. Fences) (LIVE on KEXP)

And who can forget the surprise SMooCH headliner from 2013, Macklemore?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs3jDlrVZQY