Friday on My Mind: Runner Powered Podcast Volume 4!

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.

I couldn’t be more excited that Volume 4 of our Runner Powered Podcasts is launching today. I absolutely love curating these podcasts, and hope that all of you enjoy it whether you’re a runner or not. Running is beneficial for so many reasons that go beyond the physical. Time and again, the positive impact of running on multiple parts of a person’s life have been clearly documented. A person’s brain and mental well being benefit so ridiculously much from a regular regimen of running, such as fresh nerve cells generated in your grey matter and brain cells that are on the verge of dying out have been proven to be saved all as a result of aerobic exercise, particularly running. Running also proves to be effective in helping people overcome anxiety and depression. Antidepressant drugs like Paxil and Zoloft work by keeping serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters in the brain’s synapses longer. This then leads to a better overall mood in a depressed person. Aerobic exercising does the same exact thing...so theres that. And I believe that music also provides all of these benefits so, which is a makes music and running a match made in heaven and a great reason to curate a podcast solely for the purpose of running. And remember, you can still join us next Thursday May 14th as a part of our 2015 Runner’s Club.

And so for this week, we’re looking at songs featured within 4th volume of the Runner Powered Podcast...Explosions In The Sky - Your Hand In Mine (Live in Sydney)

Some of our favorite exports from the state of Texas is the one and only Explosions in the Sky. They are probably one of the more recognizable bands in the world of post-rock. The closing track to their 2003 album, The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place, “Your Hand In Mine” has helped to gain them notoriety, since being used as the theme song to the NBC series Friday Night Lights. Here is Explosions In The Sky performing 'Your Hand In Mine' live at Metro Theatre in Sydney back in December of 2011.

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

The Go! Team - The Scene Between

Ian Parton is the main and original mastermind behind the moniker of The Go! Team. While the band has since been whittled down to a one person operation with Parton as the sole member. The brand new album, The Scene Between is the first in four years from The Go! Team. It was after the release of the 2011 full length, Rolling Blackouts that Parton decided to set the other members free and go it alone. Whether a one man show or a large group, The Go! Team's sound continues to be some of the most uplifting and motivating music around. Check out the official video for "The Scene Between" here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw_F3tzI3NM

Ivan & Alyosha - All This Wandering Around

Ivan & Alyosha have just released their second album, It’s All Just Pretend, May 4 on Dualtone Music, home of KEXP friends Shovels & Rope as well as The Lumineers. The band stopped by our studios earlier this week to perform and couldn’t have been nicer. As well, the band just released an official music video for the album’s lead single, “All This Wandering Around”. Check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv9rQy410eI

Honorable Mentions:

Django Django - Reflections

The latest and second full length album from Scotland’s Django Django was just officially released this past Tuesday. Born Under Saturn was recorded during Winter months, but you would think otherwise by the sound of this album, which will serve as a fitting soundtrack for the Spring and on through this Summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxK7yP8NPSQ

Crocodiles - Crybaby Demon

“Crybaby Demon” is from the album Boys, which was recorded in Mexico, and is set for release on May 12, 2015.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X631ovnTBdQ

Dan Deacon - Feel The Lightning

Another brand spanking new song, this one is off of the new album, Gliss Riffer, from Dan Deacon. Released this past February, all pre-orders of the album came along with red vinyl limited to 777 pressings with a 12″ inflatable hand from the album cover. While it may be shocking to believe, the main female sounding voice for this song, is actually Dan Deacon himself. If you haven’t had a chance to experience Dan Deacon live, it is like no other live show you’ve ever seen before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK-1axSGkXc

Eternal Summers - Together or Alone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ475fTxvmY