Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Morning Show with John Richards, is "Stay in the Summer" by Weed from the 2015 album Running Back on Lefse Records.
Weed - Stay in the Summer (MP3)
It used to be that having a name like "Weed" left a band with few options beyond playing the local college campus quad during spring break or joining a roster of rap-rock and jam bands at a "free cannabis" rally. No longer marginalized, thanks to legalization and high tax revenues, "weed" can now, without turning too many heads, do and be a lot of things, like the name of an excellent shoegazing rock band from Vancouver. This Canadian trio (whose members actually prefer the fientive and figurative meanings of the term) debuted in 2013 with an album of noisy, sort of "new grunge" alternative rock, which they've mellowed, somewhat, into their latest LP of densely layered, navel-gazing psych-rock. Whereas Deserve fronted a more Bleach-like veneer, 2015's Running Back takes a more active approach to Loveless adoration. On today's featured song, "Stay in the Summer", the My Bloody Valentine-esque tonal bending is in full effect. Rather than hang gloomily, though, the heavy 'verb clings to a propulsive melody that nods to late 80's versions of Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth. Thankfully, for all its reverence and its punch and fuzz, "Stay in the Summer" remains positively sunny and fresh, a perfect addition to your summer mixtape.
Weed has just finished a short tour into America's heartland and haven't played for a while in Seattle. Let's hope that changes soon. Look out for more show announcements and music on their website and Bandcamp pages. Also, be sure to check out their full performance in the KEXP studio two years ago and watch their most recent video, for "Never Leave", another great song from Running Back:
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Mor…
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Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Mor…
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