John Richards

Hi John, Writing you from "worst case scenario" of Northern Italy, used to play KEXP the whole day while searching to live a normal life in my apartment. Music seems to be the perfect antivirus :). Would like to listen "Like before you were Born" from DIIV, me and my friends lost their gig due to this fxxxxxg quarantine. Thank you guys, our thoughts for you all in the US. Peace Andreas

This is from the album 'Songs For Australia'; an album made to raise money for organizations in Australia who are working towards creating a better future for the country and helping to rebuild during and after the bushfire crisis. ‘Songs for Australia’ will be digitally released Thursday, March 12 through BMG.

B.B. King sample from 1964's "How Blue Can You Get" in this one. Primitive Radio Gods recently played a show in California with Toad the Wet Sprocket, which are a bunch of words you probably haven't heard together since 1996

Morning, John! Thank you for helping us all not feel alone. I tuned into your archive shows this weekend and it made all the difference. If there’s a slot available, can you please work some Ghostland Observatory in to help my shelter shuffle? Be safe up there and take care. Thanks! Peter

Released on this day, yesterday, 27 years ago.

They are doing a live stream every day at 3p Pacific time. Log onto KEXP.org for more info.

Thk yu 4 all yr doing and remind people how fun it is to actually talk on phone with one another....gives immediate gratification with laughs...comraderie... sharing of present moments ... hearing each other's voices now is a joy for all -Suzy in Vaughn, WA

andy tweets @loserboy i just heard my grandad has been rushed to hospital and there's nothing I can do because of the virus. can't explain how much more than ever I appreciate the music and @kexp community this morning.

Portishead’s Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley spoke via Skypw with KEXP DJ Morgan on the 25th anniversary of "Dummy." It's a great read. www.kexp.org

I’d like to recognize your station’s strength and resilience for being live on air...you and your staff are bad asses. I can’t thank you enough for the sliver of normalcy KEXP is providing right now. Love you all. Brian

JonZ writes, "Good morning thank you for so much positivity that this radio station provides (especiallyin these times of uncertainty). As a cancer survivor, I really like that program but I do love all of your special programs. Your extensive genre's of music has expanded my already fairly diverse appreciation."

For Michael, a hero driving a bus. Sammy tweets: "playing “One” right now caught me off guard so much. needed this...we get to carry each other.

For Jason in Madison, Wisconsin.

great note from Alison: You inspired me. On Friday, my big intervention for today with the Diabetes clinic staff was to have them share what would their impromptu dance party song be to reduce stress. It was delightful to see the recommendations provided from I Will Survive to I Like Big Butts to Dancing In The Streets to Gimme Shelter to Baby Shark to music from Bollywood films. For cool down? Across the Universe. Eight years of schooling, training and a license to practice was behind that life changing intervention. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

Good Morning John and Owen! don't we all need a little of New order this morning? Mike

I'm a GenX introvert so I've been training for this my whole life, but after a week of working from home I am surprised at how much I miss my coworkers. KEXP is my coworker now. Thanks for keeping the lights on out there. John in Orange County, CA

Good morning @loserboy can I please request some @tedleo & the Pharmacists? Celebrating 7 months since he officiated our marriage at their show in DC! Stay well @kexp I'm Derek, my partner is Christy

So grateful for you John, and KEXP - I just donated today, because I couldn’t live without KEXP, and wanted to express my appreciation. I wanted to share my story in hopes of possibly helping in some way: Last week, I ordered all my employees to stay at home, and work the best that they could and continue paying them. Meanwhile, in order to tie up as many loose ends as possible for anticipated shut-down, I continued going into our NYC office to try and transition my business. I had quit taking the subway weeks ago, instead walking both to/from work -about a 14 mile round trip daily from Brooklyn to midtown Manhattan. I also did all CDC guidelines and following: •never left home or work without wearing a mask or gloves the entire time •crossed streets to avoid people •washed my hands about 200 times a day Additionally, I have an advanced degree in Germaphobia. I’d never met a toilet handle, I couldn’t flush with my foot. And thus because of all this, I NEVER get sick. Despite all the above, a few days ago I came down with all the symptoms of the virus, and now my husband too. We are otherwise healthy and will recover, but this thing isn’t fun to have. As we’re locked into our quarantine, listening to you and working from home, I just wanted to share to all listeners: PLEASE STAY HOME. Do not go out. You don’t need to exercise outside, you don’t need to go add to your stockpile of Nutella. This thing is SO contagious and you are jeopardizing your health and the health of others every single time you step out. It is NOT worth the risk. Be well, John. Thank you for being there for all of us today and always. If you have a moment, can you play “ISOLATION” by Ty Segall? -Leanne in Brooklyn, NY

I would like to request For Tomorrow by Blur (in honor of Damon A's birthday). Here in Atlanta we have the 4th highest rate of cases and most people aren't leaving their homes. Taking it day by day, but hoping for better times ahead...tomorrow...Anyways, thanks for all you do and for keeping us company with the awesome music. Perfect playlists for every occasion, even the sad ones. Music is my therapy. -Amy from Atlanta.

Thanks for being there for us! Just settling into the ‘new norm’ here in New York State. Please play "Better Things" by The Kinks. -Dawn in New Paltz, NY

Hi John, I just got back from Target with my bulk toilet paper and clorox wipes. Can you play "Life During Wartime" by the Talking Heads? It describes how I fell today. Thanks, Dave in Tukwila

John, Thanks so much for providing community for so many of us, especially in these times. I just binge watched High Fidelity and it got me nostalgic for the days of spending hours in record shops and discovering that perfect record. So, could you play “who’ll dry the rain” by Beta Band? Thanks. You are not alone Brian in Binghamton NY

Oh boy! Kian, my 9 year-old is asking if we could request Cosmic Dancer by T-Rex. I have a feeling he's going to request a song every day for a while, so I apologize in advance. Thanks for everything you do! ❤️❤️ -Shireen

Thank you for all you do and for always being the soundtrack to our lives. You are never alone with your morning faithful. Meg in Vermont

Good morning John. Thank you for helping keep so many people sane right now, myself included. It's my birthday today and was looking forward to seeing Wilco tonight in Portland, but it's not to be. Can I dedicate Jeff Tweedy's song 'You Are Not Alone' to the worldwide KEXP family today? It's amazing how powerful those four simple words are. Much love. Jay in PDX

In honor of spring, will you please play Mr. Blue Sky by ELO? Thanks for your work keeping our spirits up! I'm listening from Knoxville, TN. Am lucky enough to be able to work from home, and listening to KEXP is helping me feel connected despite my solitude. -Hailey

For Derrick in Florida