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Friday, May 8 2020, 6AM
"The basic idea was that we were not giving a f*ck if the song works or not. It just felt good to write something beautiful with no other purpose than to let this feeling out." - www.kexp.org
Grateful for this note, and Pooh-idea from Ted: "What a great week, thank you John. Thank you KEXP. Lots of crying, lots of laughter. With love, gratitude, respect, and honor to be a listener. Thank you John, thank you Owen, thank you Lisa, thank you KEXP."
Opening song off the soundtrack for the 2013 film, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"
A new Arcade Fire album is in the works, as confirmed recently by bandmember Win Butler via his Instagram page: "Regine and I have been writing for the last couple of years, and the band was a few months into recording new material when COVID-19 hit…We had been exploring a lot of lyrical and musical themes that feel almost eerily related to what is happening now (we actually have a song called Age of Anxiety written a year ago for Christ’s sake – ha ha ). Needless to say, the writing has intensified, and the work is flowing out… It is challenging as ever, and with just as much purpose. […] For my part, I’m pouring my heart, soul and all of my precious time into the music and recording."
Video for this new one from The Avalanches is dedicated to the late David Berman (Silver Jews, Purple Mountains), who passed away on August 7, 2019. www.youtube.com
"This song makes me want to aggressively play video games at an 80's arcade with this blasting in my headphones and I'm totally fucking winning the game." - Interview with DJ John Richards via Slack on May 8, 2020.
Winner of Best British Single at the 1991 Brit Awards
Fresh new single from the Brooklyn synth band that we can't get enough of right now. Find their full-length debut on May 22nd here: nationoflanguage.bandcamp.com
According to a Twitter post bandmember Stephen Morris made last month, the drums in this one were recycled from Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" - twitter.com
Request for Kevin in NY. Watch the English band performing for KEXP at Bowery Electric in NYC in 2008 here: www.youtube.com
"Ah, the end of another long week in a series of long weeks, days, months...anyway, my first grader’s teacher has generously given us a “free Friday” so no school work today! To celebrate, and to say thanks to all the amazing teachers out there, I would like to request one of my daughter, Madeleine’s, favorite songs: All is love by Karen O. Many thanks!" - Rachel
For Nik from Albuquerque so we hit his breakup trifecta playlist this morning
Request for this one from The Helio Sequence's Brandon Summer, which he wrote with The Morning Show in mind. You are not alone!
I'd love it if I could hear World Party's "Is It Like Today?" It's been stuck in my head. We have had a very difficult 36 hours in Indianapolis (two police action shootings and a pregnant woman hit/killed by an officer driving to work). #YouAreNotAlone
-Devon in Indy
A recently unearthed Oasis song that Noel Gallagher thought was lost forever until he started digging through a pile of unlabeled CDs during a fit of COVID-19 boredom.
"A few weeks ago, my younger sister started to present with symptoms of COVID-19. My mother got sick soon after, owing to our tiny northern Manhattan apartment. Although her illness has been severe, she has been handling it with unmatched grace and strength.
Music has been instrumental in her very arduous healing process—as a longtime listener of The Morning Show, you have provided incredible playlists for her mornings and early afternoons at home. You introduced our family to “You’re Not Always On My Mind” by Quivers, which she has been enjoying quite a bit lately. If I could make a request, I would dedicate this song to my mom, Jeanne...
No matter what, I want to send a song out to all of the mothers who are in our hearts, whatever that may mean. For everyone missing someone right now, just know that you’re in good company. We’re rooting for each other from our respective corners of the world. We have learned such care from all of the good guardians, mother-types, and mothers we’ve been fortunate to know." - Madeleine in Montreal
Wooooowooooowoooowooo! Watch the official video for this one here: www.youtube.com
Jayhawks request! Watch them performing live for us in 2015 here: www.youtube.com
Find this fifth album from Katie Crutchfield’s Waxahatchee here: waxahatchee.bandcamp.com
Though this song was written about female genital mutilation in Africa, Tori Amos once appeared on piano in the 80's in a commercial for Kellogg's Just Right cereal: www.youtube.com
KEXP's DJ Abbie and Emily Fox discuss this long-awaited new album from Fiona Apple: www.kexp.org
On Vega's 1987 album 'Solitude Standing,' and later remixed by the British group DNA in 1990
Watch the London band's session at KEXP from 2015 here: www.youtube.com
"Trying to be as positive as I can today! How about some Fuagzi – waiting room? Thanks for helping us through this!" Matt in Boston
"I’m writing from a sunny London where we are celebrating VE Day - Victory in Europe Day. It’s the 75th anniversary. It’s a national holiday but like everything at the moment one day can feel like another. So, if possible, could you play Bowie's Hero’s in German? To me that song says so much about where we are now thanks to those who battled for us and those who continue to protect us today. I’m heading out for my daily afternoon walk hoping I get to hear this. Fingers crossed. Hope you are all well and keep safe!!!" - You got it, Neil
"We are long time listeners, amplifiers + frequent texters. We love kexp + we especially love your show. Today is my wife's bday. Shes a critical care nurse here in central california but today she gets to sit home with the family + get showered with love. her name is jennifer + she deserves all that love (+ the breakfast feast i am making her right now). Would you play her Sugarcubes 'Birthday'....or any bday song for that matter....we trust your taste!" - Brian, Elliot, & Miles
"Obviously, we're living in very challenging times and I wanted to make a record that acknowledged the darkness. But, also, I wanted to make a record that was hopeful... I think we need new stories at the moment, because a lot of time in the media, obviously, we're bombarded with how crap we are to one another. " - www.kexp.org
"All these big guitar songs have got me in the mood for some Gang of Four. Thanks for another great week of music to help get through these strange days. Enjoy the weekend." - Dave in Chicago
"Over the past couple of months you, Cheryl, Kevin, Abbie, Troy, and the rest of the amazing KEXP staff have been keeping myself and my wife (one of the fiercest immigration attorneys in the world) going through this pandemic. We work in immigration law, particularly detained removal defense, meaning defending detained persons from deportation. My wife works with people forced to remain in Mexico, as well.
The detention center we work in has the most covid cases of any immigration detention facility. Wednesday, we found out that a detainee there had passed away, the first in immigration detention to die from covid19. When I found this out you put on "A Hero's Death" by Fontaines D.C. and I just totally lost it. The power of music is so incredible, and it reminds me that the people in detention do not get to hear music. Ever.
As we sit here confined in our homes hopeful of a better day, it is so important to consider those who sit confined, terrified of one another, with a mask that was given to them with a contract they had to sign to not sue the corporation housing them if they die, as this slow death creeps through their housing unit. John, you and the KEXP family inspire this fight in me and others to keep bashing in that door to get people free so that soon, they may be able to hear that tune that moves their feet while they dance, surrounded by their loved ones.
Fetch the bolt cutters. There you go again. It's like you and I are connected musically. No. We ARE connected musically. KEXP is family.
KEXP, I am surviving this pandemic with many thanks to you." - Dana
"Love listening to KEXP for the last few months, making quarantine bearable in Ohio. Thank you all for doing what you do every day. Could I request a song from a band I haven't heard KEXP play yet? Cincinnati band: The Yugos - "Andopolis"
theyugos.bandcamp.com
"Gus from Fremont here, out for a drive. My husband Blair was laid off this week, so spirits have been low, but we forge ahead. I find comfort in the trippy apocalyptic love letter that is Some Sunsick Day by Morgan Delt."
Jason from Silverdale wanted to hear this one from Michael Penn's debut album, 'March'
"Good morning John and greetings from Dallas. Up until a few years ago I was living in Seattle where my whole family is currently. I normally see them every month and I am feeling the social isolation badly without being able to be near my loved ones. I know I’m not alone in this but KEXP is how I feel connected on the day-to-day to them. I have a particular bond to the show when it comes to my relationship with my big sister who has been a huge fan of yours for as long as I can remember and I have been missing her fiercely the last few days. If you could play Birdhouse in Your Soul by The Might Be Giants so she knows I’m thinking of her that would make my week. Much Love." - Adair
"It's my husband Chris' birthday today and these weird times have been ripping at our seams more than we would have hoped. Would you please play Rock Lobster as a little reminder that somehow the good times are here today and the best are still to come?" - You got it Shelby, happy birthday Chris!
Features guest vocals from Malian actress and singer-songwriter, Fatoumata Diawara
Madrid band's third album 'The Prettiest Curse' will be available on June 5th here: hinds.bandcamp.com
"We shot this video only a few weeks before the pandemic hit with no clue as to what the future held. The fact that we got the chance to do it is damn near miraculous in hindsight..." www.youtube.com
"One of us is singing at the top of their lungs right now" - Owen, who is completely alone in the DJ booth right now.
Title for this album comes from how long it took for the group to get a record contract
Whistle sample from Otis Redding's "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" in this song from De La Soul's debut album
Here's Polyrhythmics performing live at the KEXP studio in 2017: www.youtube.com
Miss Jones take on the Stevie Wonder song from 1970
Off the sixteenth album from Stevie Wonder. His friend and tour director, Ira Tucker, shared this story about the car accident that Stevie was in after the release of this album: "I remember when I got to the hospital in Winston-Salem. Man, I couldn't even recognize him. His head was swollen up about five times normal size. And nobody could get through to him. I knew that he likes to listen to music really loud and I thought maybe if I shouted in his ear it might reach him. The doctor told me to go ahead and try, it couldn't hurt him. The first time I didn't get any response, but the next day I went back and I got right down in his ear and sang "Higher Ground." His hand was resting on my arm and after a while his fingers started going in time with the song. I said yeah, yeah!! This dude is going to make it!"
Watch the full performance from when Brittany Howard stopped in to the KEXP studio in 2019 here: www.youtube.com
"Could you please play "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn? We listen to KEXP every morning- ok pretty much all day- at our house. My students have commented on how much they love the music playing in the background while we work. I've directed them to not only listen to KEXP but specifically your show! Thanks for keeping things in perspective and our house happy and dancing! Much Love." - Sarah
Well, this has been another edition of The Morning Show! Stay well friends, we hope you all have a healthy and safe weekend.