The Cave Singers - That's Why

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 Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “That's Why” by The Cave Singers from their 2016 self-released album, Banshee.

The Cave Singers - That's Why (MP3)

One of the preeminent Seattle outfits of the last decade, The Cave Singers have consistently maintained their reputation as one of the Northwest's key live and studio bands. The group formed in 2007 after guitarist Derek Fudesco had left the recently-dissolved Pretty Girls Make Graves and met singer/guitarist Pete Quirk and drummer/guitarist Marty Lund to quickly become among the city's standout local artists, regularly gigging inside and outside Seattle. Their first four album run – 2007's Invitation Songs, 2009's Welcome Joy, 2011's No Witch, and 2013's Naomi – all had at least the same quality of any of their peers' records released in the same timeframe, and in 2016's Banshee, they've got a fifth entry into their increasingly growing folk-influenced catalog. Perhaps owing to the swift (six day) recording session that produced the album, "That's Why" is both precise and languid, never sounding anything short of intentional effortlessness. Quirk sashays through a rolling bassline like he's known it for years, tossing off lyrics in his trademark reedy croon left and right. Make no mistake: there's a swagger in "That's Why" that The Cave Singers haven't really tapped into until this point, and although it's a surprising turn for them to move away from their acoustic-carried tunes, it's a gamble that pays off with a fantastic result.

The Cave Singers launched the tour behind Banshee earlier this month at Neumos, and after touring the rest of North America in the next few weeks, they'll return to the Pacific Northwest for the 2016 Capitol Hill Block Party. Keep up with the band at their website and Facebook, and look out for videos from their very recent in-studio at KEXP. For now, watch the official video for "That's Why".