"You don’t have to be anyone if you don’t want to / You don’t have to get a job if you don’t want to" and you definitely don't have to listen to Howler if you don't want to. But that would be a damn shame because the Minneapolis yeehaw boys have returned with their second album of infectious punky pop songs that are too smart for their own good. Lead guitarist and vocalist Jordan Gatesmith, guitarist Ian Nygaard, bassist Max Petrek, and drummer Rory MacMurdo share a philosophy of life that's loose-clothed and carefree, yet their songs are tight are thoughtful, if irreverent, nods to the wide range of bands that inspire them: The Replacements, The Smiths, Hüsker Dü, The Ronettes, and Thin Lizzy, among many others. So throw on your big shirt, small pants – maybe big pants – and join yeehaw boys' way of life with their high energy, fun-filled performance in-studio, live at KEXP:
The lyrics "My fingers have shriveled and dropped to the dirt / and two giant talons have grown where they were" sound like a recurring nightmare, but in Chad VanGaalen's song "Monster," that's exactly what he's looking for. Ramshackler extraordinaire, DIY genius, and honestly weird CVG showcased h…
Buddy Holly-esque bad boy and KEXP favorite Nick Waterhouse returned to the station to perform songs from his new album, Holly. This time around, he brought two saxophonists, a pianist, and a bassist, as well as another vocalist to complement his R&B milieu, giving his entire in-studio performa…