John Richards

Good morning, happy Friday, and welcome to The Morning Show with John Richards! You are not alone. Thank you so much for listening! -- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' first album in nine years comes out in September. This is the first single. -- “To all who have waited, our dear fans, thank you, our fever to tell has returned, and writing these songs came with its fair share of chills, tears, and euphoria when the pain lifts and truth is revealed,” Karen O said of the band’s return in a statement. -- Watch the Cody Critcheloe-directed video for "Spitting Off The Edge Of The World": www.youtube.com

Perfume Genius, aka Michael Hadreas, describes "Queen" as a song inspired by "gay panic", and the power one can derive from knowing their mere being is making everyone around them extremely uncomfortable. -- This great live performance from Seattle's Triple Door, exclusively for KEXP VIP Club members, featured "Queen" as its final song: youtu.be

This was the single that put TV on the Radio on the map en route to the huge success that was their second album, "Return to Cookie Mountain," in 2006. Tunde Adebimpe tells the story of becoming a werewolf as an allegory for the uncontrollable desire that he has for the recipient of the song.: popstache.com

James Murphy has spoken openly of his admiration of David Bowie, worked on his last record Blackstar, and was urged to reform LCD Soundsystem by Bowie. -- He said that Bowie's best advice to him was to play a Supro Dual Tone guitar, because "it's what Link Wray played." -- LCD Soundsystem performed "Emotional Haircut" live in Philly in 2017: www.youtube.com

In 1973, Bowie spoke about this song: "I wanted to get the same sound the Stones had on their very first album on the harmonica. I didn't get that near to it, but it had a feel that I wanted – that '60s thing." -- Don't miss this 1973 live performance: www.youtube.com

Here's a remembrance of Gang of Four's Andy Gill, who "made the marriage of music and politics essential." He died in 2020 at the age of 64: pitchfork.com

Here's an introduction to this West Yorkshire quartet: www.thelineofbestfit.com -- Their debut album, "Tired of Liberty," will be out on August 26th.: www.clashmusic.com

'In the Flat Field,' Bauhaus' debut studio album, was released on November 3, 1980. The album is considered one of the first gothic rock records. Here's a look back at this landmark album, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020: bit.ly -- In a feature for The Quietus, Mick Mercer included "Dark Entries" at No. 4 on his list of "The Thirty Best Goth Records of All Time".

L.A. trio Automatic will perform at Neumos on Saturday and Sunday, September 10th and 11th! -- This week, John selected Automatic's song "Skyscraper" (from the forthcoming full-length "Excess") as a free KEXP Song of the Day. Download it for yourself here: www.kexp.org

Australian new wave band Real Life achieved international success with this single from their 1983 debut album, "Heart Land.": www.last.fm

According to songwriter Mike Peters, the key lines in this song are: "If I run fast enough I can leave all the pain and the sadness behind.." "That's really what that song is trying to communicate," he says. --- Watch the hair in the video for "Rain in the Summertime": youtu.be

Desire is Chromatics mastermind Johnny Jewel’s project with singer Megan Louise. -- “Black Latex" is a spoken word piece in which Louise switches between English and her native French over Jewel’s cinematically ominous synth-pop burbles. -- You shouldn't miss the mesmerizing video for Desire's "Black Latex": www.youtube.com

Just Mustard are a 5 piece band from Dundalk, Ireland.: bandonthewall.org NME calls their second release, "Heart Under," "thrillingly untraditional noise rock": bit.ly

Cranes is a cinematic rock/dream-pop/atmospheric electronic band formed by the brother and sister duo of Jim Shaw (song composer, drummer, keyboardist, guitarist, programmer) and Alison Shaw (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, bassist) in the mid-1980’s in Portsmouth, England.: bigtakeover.com

Trent Reznor was still living in Cleveland when he made the Pretty Hate Machine album with various collaborators, Reznor and his crew spent a lot of time refining the songs, agonizing over them to get them just right. The exception was "Head Like A Hole," which he banged out in about 15 minutes and considered a throwaway. "The fact that it produced this huge reaction really pissed me off because I hadn't agonized over it," he said. --- Both the song name and the band name Nine Inch Nails were inspired by a quote by Al Jourgensen, lead singer of the metal band Ministry: "Listening to Ministry is like having a nine inch nail hammered into your head like a hole."

Death Cab for Cutie will play The Paramount Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday, October 26th and 27th. -- Don't miss the video for this new song: www.youtube.com

The song's music video was directed by Santigold and it sees the singer play a member of an idyllic 1950s American family in a pointed criticism of today's society. Watch out for cameo appearances from Wu-Tang Clan's GZA, Robert F. Kennedy's granddaughter Kick Kennedy and snowboarder Trevor Andrew. -- Santigold explained the clip's concept: "It's about taking responsibility for the state of the world," she said, "and how we can't turn a blind eye because everything is falling apart. It's about the need to sit up and take responsibility for it.": www.youtube.com

Sudan Archives will be at Capitol Hill Block Party on July 22nd, and then at Neumos on Saturday, October 1st, 2022. -- In a statement, Sudan Archives said this song is “about women and the celebration of hair. It’s about representation of different hair textures and embracing all colors and textures of it.” -- See the joyous video, in which Sudan Archives plays her violin upside down on a pole and standing on a roof and dances in the mud with her girlfriends.: www.youtube.com

"The squats we used to party in Are flats we can't afford..." Here are the lyrics: genius.com -- Kae Tempest performed "Perfect Coffee" live in the KEXP Studio in 2017. Watch their full session here: youtu.be

Did you know that the title track from "Ray of Light' was based on an obscure folk oldie, the song "Sepheryn" from English singer Christine Leach?: www.rollingstone.com

It's that time again for me. Ringing in my 45th bday and my 25 year of celebrating with KEXP/KCMU. I appreciate all that you do every day, giving hope and connection through each and every song that you play. Could you play Starfish & Coffee by Prince for me? Thank you!! Love, Kathleen B in Poulsbo -- Cynthia Rose was a real person, but it wasn't actually coffee... Read Susannah Melvoin's account of this song: www.starfishandcoffeeofficial.com

Hot Chip's eight album, "Freakout/Release," due out in August, is their first album in three years. The album features contributions from Cadence Weapon, Soulwax, and Lou Hayter. “We were living through a period where it was very easy to feel like people were losing control of their lives in different ways,” Joe Goddard said. “There’s a darkness that runs through a lot of those tracks.” -- Hot Chip was officially started by vocalists Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard in 2000, but the duo had actually been making music together since 1991.

"Say what?..." --- Matt Berninger of The National notes the positivity Ethan Marunas emanates. "What I like most about Baby Dayliner’s writing is that there's rarely any meanness in his songs; no forced posturing or aggressiveness; and they are loaded with empathy. He sings about flawed and vain characters but with genuine understanding and kindness. The music is catchy, smart, and weird — something beautiful and odd, that only he does. Baby Dayliner is something uncommon in pop music. He’s unique." -- KEXP premiered the video for this infectious song from Baby Dayliner: www.kexp.org

Ahhhh....the Friday song! --- My wife Tina and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary, which sounds crazy now that I'm seeing it in writing. First, please know that KEXP has been a part of our journey all along. I started streaming KCMU around 2000 or so from New York when we were dating, and it's been a part of our lives ever since - the day to day, moving cities, raising kids, changing jobs, all of it. It's the best soundtrack we could have hoped for in so many ways. I honestly don't know what I would do without it, and we feel so fortunate to have found such an incredible community. We have enjoyed so many days listening along the way, especially Fridays, to say nothing of Mom Shows, Music Heals and so many other special shows and DJs and moments. For our anniversary, one song stands out. I first heard it on KCMU/KEXP probably in 2001 when we were living in New York. I bought it in the East Village to listen to it out on the balcony in the weeks after September 11 when it smelled like burning wires when the wind blew north, and I found this to be life-affirming in a way I can't describe and definitely needed. So if it's possible to dig deep into the vaults and find that song, which was "Show Me" by Mint Royale, I would be forever grateful. Best from Chicago, Paul

My birthday is today! I'm turning sixteen and was wondering if you'd play Sixteen by Iggy Pop off his lust for life album. I discovered music this year and love KEXP, THANK YOU GUYS Solan, listening from Lincoln High School in Seattle -- Here' Mr. Pop, performing "Sixteen" at the Royal Albert Hall in 2016: www.youtube.com

Maggie Rogers was nominated for best new artist at the 2020 Grammy awards. This is the second single from her new album, "Surrender," due for release on July 29th. -- “Want Want” also comes with a video directed by Warren Fu, featuring Rogers performing the song in a Koreatown karaoke bar in New York.: www.youtube.com

Read the heartbreaking story of this final album from School of Seven Bells, completed after the passing of member Benjamin Curtis in 2013.: diymag.com

Arcade Fire (with special guest Beck) will play Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022. -- "Lookout kid, trust your heart You don't have to play the part they wrote for you Just be true..." See the official video for "Unconditional (Lookout Kid)": www.youtube.com

The members of Talking Heads – David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison – all contributed to the writing of this song along with the track’s producer, Brian Eno. And “Once in a Lifetime” itself originated from jam sessions. --- Choreographer Toni Basil filled in some details about the choreography for this video: "He [Byrne] wanted to research movement, but he wanted to research movement more as an actor, as does David Bowie, as does Mick Jagger. They come to movement in another way, not as a trained dancer. Or not really interested in dance steps. He wanted to research people in trances - different trances in church and different trances with snakes. So we went over to UCLA and USC, and we viewed a lot of footage of documentaries on that subject. And then he took the ideas, and he 'physicalized' the ideas from these documentary-style films.": www.youtube.com

Happy birthday to singer, guitarist, and songwriter Bill Janovitz, who turns 55 today.: www.allmusic.com -- John was the host when this experienced Massachusetts band played live in our studio in 2018: www.youtube.com

This song was the debut single from Smashing Pumpkins, released in 1991 from the band's first album "Gish." It is one of the few Smashing Pumpkins songs credited to both lead singer Billy Corgan and guitarist James Iha. After this song was released, Corgan took creative control over Smashing Pumpkins and wrote most of the band's music by himself. There are two recordings of this song floating around. The first one was released in 1990 and was recorded using leftover tuition funds that frontman Billy Corgan's grandmother had left him after she passed away. The second version is a re-recording of the first one with a more polished sound. It is this second version that appears on Gish and was released as the band's debut single.

'Carnavas' is Silversun Pickups' debut studio album. The title is an homage to lead guitarist and vocalist Brian Aubert's Greek heritage. bit.ly -- Want to see a recent live in-studio performance by Silversun Pickups?: www.youtube.com

Wet Leg is playing the THING Festival August 26-28, 2022 at historic Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA. They'll also be at Climate Pledge Arena on October 6th (with Florence +the Machine). --- "I don't need no dating app to tell me if I look like crap To tell me if I'm thin or fat, to tell me should I shave my rat I don't need no radio, no MTV, no BBC I just need a bubble bath to set me on a higher path..." Here's the video for "Too Late Now": youtu.be

"It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty delta day," as Billie Joe McAllister jumps off the Tallahatchee Bridge, according to the Bobbie Gentry song "Ode To Billie Joe. --- Bobbie Gentry was born Roberta Lee Streeter on July 27, 1944 in Chickasaw County, Mississippi. In the few interviews that she gave, Gentry touched briefly on her rural upbringing, saying, “We didn’t have electricity, and I didn’t have many playthings.”: www.rollingstone.com

1972 - The Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There" hits #1 as the group makes a successful transition from gospel to secular music. == Stax Records vice-president Al Bell (born Avertis Isabell) wrote this after attending the funeral of his little brother, who was shot to death. Said Bell: "I went out in the backyard in my father's home. He had an old school bus there parked that was not running. I went back there and sat on the hood of that bus thinking about all that was happening. And all of a sudden, I hear this music in my head. And I heard these lyrics: 'I know a place, ain't nobody worried, ain't nobody crying, and ain't no smiling faces lying to the races, I'll take you there.' I heard it, and I heard the music. And it wouldn't leave, it stayed there. kept trying to write other verses, but I couldn't. Nothing worked - there was nothing left to say."

This was Stevie Wonder's first single on which he was listed as producer. It was also his first to win a Grammy nomination. -- His former wife Syreeta Wright co-wrote the song with Wonder and his occasional collaborator Lee Garrett. The song carries an additional co-writing credit for Stevie’s mother, the late Lula Mae Hardaway. He would say later that she uttered the title phrase when she heard him working on the song’s melody.

2020's "Just Dropped in...." was a collection of the late and beloved Sharon Jones' covers of songs by Janet Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder, and others: pitchfork.com -- Watch Sharon Jones' performance in KEXP's Gathering Space during our Grand Opening in April, 2016: www.youtube.com

Happy birthday to the great Curtis Mayfield, born on this date in 1942: www.curtismayfield.com

"Move on Up" was a tribute of sorts to Mayfield's Chicago neighbors, The Staple Singers. "Curtis lived around the corner from us," Mavis Staples told Mojo magazine. "He was like my baby brother. He'd drop by and we'd eat together and he'd talk politics with Pops. One day he came to Pops and said 'I want to write songs like The Staple Singers do, and Pops said 'Curtis man, you're a writer, a poet! Write some of those songs!' The first one Curtis wrote was 'Move On Up' and he came round and played it to us and Pops said, 'That's my boy!'"

Happy birthday to "RTJ4," released on June 3rd, 2020.: pitchfork.com -- Watch Run the Jewels perform "Ooh LA LA" live: www.youtube.com

The Hu will be at White River Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 20th, 2022. -- The HU is a Mongolian heavy metal band formed in 2016. With traditional Mongolian instrumentation, including the Morin khuur, Tovshuur and Mongolian throat singing, the band calls their style of music "hunnu rock", 'hu' inspired by the Hunnu, an ancient Mongolian empire, known as The Huns in western culture. Some of the band’s lyrics include old Mongolian war cries and poetry. n.pr -- Enjoy the music video for "Wolf Totem" by The HU featuring Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach: www.youtube.com

In L.A. in 2018, Al Jourgensen brought former bandmate Chris Connelly and Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro onstage to perform this goth club classic live for the first time in 30 years.: www.youtube.com -- See the cartoon footage that accompanies this song (Dancing skeletons....oh!): www.youtube.com

"There was a neighbour’s VW Golf stalling, and group members Gary Langan and JJ Jeczalik saying “urgh” , and “money”, which we played backwards... " Read The Guardian's in-depth look into the making of this song here: www.theguardian.com

New Order will be at Climate Pledge Arena, with Pet Shop Boys & Paul Oakenfold on Friday, October 14. bit.ly KEXP's Owen Murphy spoke with New Order's Bernard Sumner on COVID-19, growing up in Manchester and the show that changed the world: www.kexp.org Watch New Order perform "Restless" live at Maida Vale 2015: youtu.be www.neworder.com