Song of the Day: The Cairo Gang - Be What You Are

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 Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is "Be What You Are" by The Cairo Gang from the 2015 album Goes Missing on God? Records/Drag City.

The Cairo Gang - Be What You Are (MP3)

It's pretty much a gang of one: multi-instrumentalist Emmett Kelly has been a hired-hand for Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Angel Olsen, Beth Orton, Sonny Smith (of Sonny & the Sunsets), and many, many more, but under the moniker The Cairo Gang, he calls all the shots himself.

On his fifth solo full-length, Goes Missing, Kelly captures the spirit of the '60s in this album of garage-pop goodness. He performs all the instruments himself, with occasional help from of his live band — drummer Marc Riordan and bassist Joshua Abrams. With today's Song of the Day, in particular, he channels the spirit of The Byrds with the undeniable Rickenbacker guitar sound, in a two-minute power-pop-punch. It's no wonder Ty Segall himself chose to release this album on his label God? Records, via Drag City.

The Cairo Gang are heading out on tour, including a September 5th stop in Portland, OR at Mississippi Studios, and a September 7th show at The Biltmore in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Where's a Seattle date???) Follow Kelly at his website and Facebook page, and let's hope they correct that grievous error. In the meantime, watch an older performance from Kelly, playing at the Comfort Station in Logan Square, Chicago.