John Richards

San Fermin performed live in the KEXP studio October 31, 2019. They opened with this track. www.youtube.com

KEXP Presents: TORRES with Ariana & The Rose in a 21+ show at 8PM on Monday, Sep 27 at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle! Tickets: tinyurl.com Kevin Cole selected 'Thirstier' as part of his latest Weekly Mix podcast, "Best Laid Plans" -- check it out: www.kexp.org Recorded at Middle Farm Studios in the U.K. during the pandemic in fall 2020, 'Thirstier’s' tracks are tailored for “post-plague celebration.” “I wanted to channel my intensity into something that felt positive and constructive, as opposed to being intense in a destructive or eviscerating way,” Mackenzie Scott said in a statement. “I love the idea that intensity can actually be something life-saving or something joyous.” bit.ly

The Guardian ranked PJ Harvey's "50 Beset Songs" - they put 'You Said Something' at #23: "Harvey was at pains to suggest that Stories From the City … was not her “New York album”. For all its geographical references to Manhattan, You Said Something sounds weirdly British – there is a distinctly folky lilt to the guitars – making it the perfect summation of the album’s Englishwoman-abroad theme." bit.ly

Loma’s Dan Duszynski says of the song, “Songs are like cats—sometimes they just pick you. Emily and I first heard "Going Out" while we were playing at a record store in Austin a few years ago. I went to the counter to ask who it was, and the album (Dinner’s Three EPs) is still in rotation at our home/studio. We couldn't resist making our own version because it always cheers us up. Who doesn't need that right now?" - lomamusic.bandcamp.com

In 1989, Liza Minnelli covered the song for her album Visible Results, which was produced by The Pet Shop Boys. Tikaram told Songfacts she is "deeply honored that Liza Minnelli sang that." Tanita added that she thinks that Minnelli, "understood the song in an American way," as "sobriety has a very specific meaning in America, about recovery... and alcohol." However as a Brit, the word had a different connotation to her, meaning "just to be very serious and sober in your behavior." www.songfacts.com

"An intensely personal document, the Tennessee singer and guitarist’s third album examines the realities of being a Southern Black LGBTQ+ woman in songs both defiant and vulnerable." Read the full Pitchfork review of Wary + Strange: pitchfork.com

Good morning John! Hope you're having a wonderful Thursday! Any chance we can hear that My Morning Jacket song from last week? :) Lina in Seattle ============== My Morning Jacket have announced their ninth studio album and new single 'Regularly Scheduled Programming'. --- They play the Paramount Theater on Friday, Oct 1 & Saturday, Oct 2nd! www.mymorningjacket.com

Heading back in to teach my first day of middle school in person. Would it be too dark to request This Year? Thanks! Sarah ============= We will make it through this year... --- www.mountain-goats.com

Morning John and team, Thank you for this PJ Harvey. If you have time today, could you play Roberta Flack’s “Compared to What”? I want everybody in Texas to know that they are not alone! Thank you for everything you do… your show is always a lifeline for me; I listen every day from the Hudson Valley 😊 Love to all, Gen at the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York ============ The first single off her 1969 debut album, which saw a deluxe 50th anniversary reissue in April 2020: bit.ly Flack also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award this year: bit.ly www.robertaflack.com

When Marvin Gaye addressed pollution in his 1971 single "Mercy Mercy Me," he became one of the first R&B singers to ever address environmental issues in a song. Part of his desire to address broader topics can be attributed to a traumatic event. On March 16, 1970, just months after collapsing in Gaye’s arms, Tammi Terrell, the singer’s longtime collaborator, died as the result of a brain tumor. Her death sent shock waves through the deeply spiritual Gaye, who refused to tour for several years afterward. Learn more about this song: ultimateclassicrock.com Marvin Gaye’s iconic album 'What’s Going On' is presented as a visual album for its 50th anniversary. Here is the visualizer for "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)": youtu.be

With all the sh** going on in Texas (and the rest of the world), would you kindly play Aretha's version of "Respect"? Be safe and well. Cheers, Stacie from Colorado == "Officially, “Respect” is a relationship song. That’s how Otis Redding wrote it. But love wasn’t what Aretha Franklin was interested in. The opening line is “What you want, baby, I got it.” But her “what” is a punch in the face. So Ms. Franklin’s rearrangement was about power. She had the right to be respected — by some dude, perhaps by her country. Just a little bit. What did love have to do with that?" Read More about the song at the New York Times: tinyurl.com

'A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 2)' is a continuation of Common’s 'A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 1)', which was released last year. The Emmy/Grammy/Academy Award winning artist has teamed up with Black Thought and Seun Kuti on this new single from the forthcoming release. The full album will include contributions from artists like Brittany Howard, Markus King, PJ and more, and will be released September 10th.

"Far In" comes out in late October. heladonegro.com Helado Negro: "When I sing Outside the Outside, it's about being a part of communities of outsiders. My family came to this country as outsiders looking for and finding community. People would come to our house & bond through music, food, dancing. Growing up experiencing this, I yearned for this. I was an outsider amidst my family's community as much as I belonged... I found space through music, outsiders finding each other, and making concentric circles through sound. This song is a reminder of that memory of growing up with my family's community and making my own. It's a song about intimate partnerships and long-loving friendships." twitter.com

Good morning. How are you John? Doing well I hope. Please play Dirty Vegas "Days go by" for my lovely wife Heather. Anniversary was Monday. 24 years. Thanks John. Judd =========== Happy anniversary!

This is a cover of Jay-Z's song from his 2003 "The Black Album." Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band are a "mysterious steel pan band" from (where else?) Hamburg, Germany. On sale now at their Bandcamp: bacaorhythmandsteelband.bandcamp.com

Hi John, When the pandemic started and I was stressing out, you played this beautiful symphony cover of Doves - There Goes The Fear. I found it extremely comforting. I have not been able to find it anywhere online. If you could find and play it, I feel like I really need it today. Thanks for reminding me that I am not alone. Your Friend Omar ============== Thanks Omar. You are not alone!

This slowed down, more sultry version of the Pixies classic is prominently featured in the 1990 cult classic film Pump Up the Volume, starring Christian Slater : youtu.be

"There is a lot going on in this song, and somehow it all fits seamlessly together. The end result doesn’t sound like any other Doves song; it sticks out even on the diverse 'The Last Broadcast'. But it doesn’t matter one way or another. It remains a monumental achievement and an anchor for any appraisal of Doves’ work." This song is part of the list of Doves; best songs: www.stereogum.com

Hi John & crew. I'm feeling very angry & sad today with the recent abortion law implemented here in TX...on top of everything else that's going on! Can you play something really loud from IDLES? I need to scream some things out! -Courtney in f*cking TX. =========== IDLES will play the Showbox on Tuesday, November 9th, 2021 -- This is their cover of the Metallica "Black Album" classic.: www.guitarworld.com -- The "Metallica Blacklist" – a gargantuan, 53-track tribute to Metallica's self-titled 1991 LP (better known as The Black Album)--will be out on September 10th.

Bikini Kill are Olympia, Washington punk rock feminist heroes and part of the riot-grrl of the 90’s! bikinikill.bandcamp.com -- The song is an American Anthem. Enjoy this interview with Kathleen Hanna about "fascination, friendship, and desire": www.npr.org

The Go-Go’s have announced a short run of concerts in celebration of their upcoming induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the release of their new documentary film The Go-Go’s. The West Coast tour includes a short five-date late December/early January tour with stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas (two nights), and San Diego.: bit.ly

The Linda Lindas comprises sisters Lucia and Mila de la Garza, their cousin Eloise Wong, and close friend Bela Salazar. -- Enjoy KEXP's feature on The Linda Lindas, who have "the most fun job in the world. www.kexp.org -- See their colorful video for "Oh!": www.youtube.com

Missing Persons was founded in 1980 in Los Angeles by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, vocalist Dale Bozzio, and drummer Terry Bozzio. Dale and Terry Bozzio met while working with Frank Zappa during sessions in 1979 for the album Joe's Garage.

EERA is Anna Lena Bruland, Norwegian singer/songwriter, back with her first new track in three years. Recorded following a tour with Mitski and Ghostpoet, the new album will be out December 3rd on Just Dust Recordings. Here’s what Brelund had to say about the most recent single: “’Ladder’ is a song about opportunity and about trying to make someone else see that they have a lot to be grateful for, which they may not realize themselves; pushing down the ladder signifying sabotaging oneself.” www.eera.co.uk

The Parrots say of Dos, "Most of the album was recorded in Wilton Way Studios in Hackney in periods between summer 2019 and the start of 2020. Because of lockdown, it ended up getting finished in Madrid with Harto Rodriguez. Recording at home was really nice because it meant we could call on some of our very talented friends to join us in the studio. Most of the record was written before the lockdown but that unexpected pause in all of our lives made us rethink some of it and finish bits off in a different way. Also, when we knew we couldn’t go back to London to finish it, we decided to invite a lot of our friends back home to the studio. That made recording feel almost like a celebration. Everyone we knew was fine; even with the global pause we could still find the bright spots and stay together." theparrots.bandcamp.com

Debut album by The Jim Carroll Band, led by Jim Carroll, who is notable for publishing the 1978 memoir The Basketball Diaries

This morning seems like a good day for Spoon....The Underdog James from Olympia ========== Off Spoon's sixth studio album, 'Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga,' released in 2007. Spoon played "The Underdog" live on 'Late Show with David Letterman': youtu.be

Ever notice that there are no drums in this song? That's because the version you hear was intended as a demo, with hand claps providing the drum beat. Diamond recorded the demo with Barry and Greenwich on backing vocals and Artie Butler on piano and Hammond organ. When they recorded the song in an official session complete with horns and drums, they couldn't capture the exuberance of the demo. The drum and horn version was included on Diamond's 1996 anthology In My Lifetime. www.songfacts.com

"Über Alles" is a German phrase meaning "above all else." It was part of the German national anthem until the end of World War II, and is closely associated with the Nazis. This song envisions a Nazi regime in California, with Jerry Brown as the Führer. In 1984, the Dead Kennedys released a sequel to this song on their album In God We Trust, Inc. about then-president Ronald Reagan, who preceded Brown as Governor of California. This update - which is done in jazz/lounge style for most of the song - is called "We've Got A Bigger Problem Now." In a Songfacts interview with Dead Kennedys lead singer Jello Biafra, he said: "I realized I was wrong about my conspiracy theory about Jerry Brown. Sure, I'd made it up all by myself and it turned out not to be true, so it was updated with Reagan lyrics until 'We've Got A Bigger Problem Now,' and the jazz version we goofed off with at sound check wound up becoming a staple of that record and the live show." bit.ly

Cover of the Dead Kennedys track from the group led by Michael Franti

"The first change that takes place is in your mind. You have to change your mind before you change the way you live and the way you move. The thing that’s going to change people is something that nobody will ever be able to capture on film. It’s just something that you see and you’ll think, 'Oh I’m on the wrong page,' or 'I’m on I’m on the right page but the wrong note. And I’ve got to get in sync with everyone else to find out what’s happening in this country.'" -Gil Scott-Heron bit.ly

"If you're a young black person, your only role models are athletes and entertainers. You see these people used by the corporate system to make money, after which they're thrown on the scrap heap. they're disposable heroes... the name Hiphoprisy deals with the fact that, inevitably, there is hypocrisy in all of our lives, including mine." Group formed by Michael Franti in 1990.

"Hey World" is a call to roll up your sleeves, to shake off apathy: "I didn't come here to chill, I came here to rock ... You got to let go of the remote control." Watch an inspiring music video about civic participation, set to the backdrop of Jamaican reggae rhythms of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.: www.youtube.com

The gentle "Guided by Angels" is the new single from this Australian band's sophomore album, "Comfort to Me," out on September 10th. -- In the video, Amy Taylor dances around and belts the song in various locales — a field, a storage unit, the ocean — as her bandmates stand cooly by.: www.youtube.com

Sleigh Bells will be at The Showbox on Thursday, October 28th, 2021. -- "Locust Laced' was the Song of the Day!! www.kexp.org

This was one of Rick Rubin's early productions. Slayer were signed to Rubin's Def Jam label, which also had Beastie Boys (that's how Slayer guitarist Kerry King ended up doing the solo on "No Sleep Till Brooklyn"). Def Jam's output was distributed by Columbia, but they refused to issue this one, so Rubin turned to Geffen, which handled the distribution.

Four bars of bellicose guitars sampled from the intense “Angel of Death” by American thrash metal band Slayer underpinned with sharp metallic samples and purposely muffled TV snippets construct the atmosphere for Chuck D’s contextual assault theconversation.com

Chuck D speaking about this track: "Once again, regardless of what anybody thinks, pushing the musical envelope is what hip hop is all about. It's about making the unpopular move as much as it is the popular move." www.mtv.com

"... forgotten in the shadow of Kent State, police killed two black students at Jackson State in Mississippi. The incident spurred The Isley Brothers to record “Ohio/Machine Gun.” Fusing Neil Young with Jimi Hendrix, The Isleys re-framed the narrative of the song around rising racial tensions, bridging the cultural gap between the two songs as a deliberate statement: music was one of the few forces that could bridge the racial divide and bring people together - cultural connective tissue for a divided world." - jperiod.com jperiod.bandcamp.com

50 years after it was written and recorded, Neil Young’s “Ohio” remains one of rock’s greatest protest songs. Over the decades, it’s been covered and resurrected by the Isley Brothers, Devo, Paul Weller, and, three years ago, the combo of Jon Batiste, Leon Bridges, and Gary Clark, Jr.

Happy birthday to Lyrics Born! 49 today. Check out this live KEXP performance and interview with Cheryl Waters from 2009 here: www.youtube.com