
Live on KEXP
Live on KEXP brings you the very best of KEXP’s world-renowned live in-studio and remote performances. Each week, we’ll bring you a new live session, from emerging artists to well-established acts, spanning styles, genres and cultures. Full video of all Live on KEXP performances available at youtube.com/kexp.
Latest episodes

Jul 18, 2023 • 42min
Los Mirlos [Performance & Interview Only]
On the show this time, it's El Sonido Amazonico with Peruvian psych-cumbia legends - Los Mirlos. Since 1973, Los Mirlos (that’s The Blackbirds in English) have been playing magnificent, energetic dance music - Peruvian music, the sound of the Amazon. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of this band - they originate a sound. They are pioneers of psychedelic cumbia and all cumbia music has changed - or more properly all music has changed because of them. The lineup has also changed, but the group is still going. Like a family, they straddle generations. There are more than 30 albums available on vinyl through Infopesa Records, and on streaming services. Recorded 03/17/2023. Sonido Amazonico La Danza De Los Mirlos El Sonido De Los Mirlos El Poder Verde Lamento En La Selva El Milagro Verde El Escape Llanto En La Selva Un Traguito De Ayahuasca Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 11, 2023 • 24min
Austin TV
On the show this time, it's the unsung legends of post-rock - Mexico City’s Austin TV. Austin TV formed in 2001, influenced by post rock sounds like Mogwai or Explosions in the Sky. Unlike the former they are primarily instrumental with the only words you hear provided by samples. They are heavier than the latter, though equally saturnine. They have not released an album or really been performing live in over 12 years, but now that they are playing again - they rocked the 2023 Vive Latino festival - we are holding out hope for a new record. Their most recent full-length is 'Caballeros del Albedrío' available on Terrícolas Imbéciles Records and Bandcamp. They perform in masks - in accordance with the motto - “No importa tu cara, importas tú.” It’s not your face that’s important - it’s you. Recorded 03/15/2023. De la Orquídea y la Avispa Caballeros del Albedrío Lattice Hasta Las Hifas, Un Micelio Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTubeSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 11, 2023 • 28min
Austin TV [Performance & Interview Only]
On the show this time, it's the unsung legends of post-rock - Mexico City’s Austin TV. Austin TV formed in 2001, influenced by post rock sounds like Mogwai or Explosions in the Sky. Unlike the former they are primarily instrumental with the only words you hear provided by samples. They are heavier than the latter, though equally saturnine. They have not released an album or really been performing live in over 12 years, but now that they are playing again - they rocked the 2023 Vive Latino festival - we are holding out hope for a new record. Their most recent full-length is 'Caballeros del Albedrío' available on Terrícolas Imbéciles Records and Bandcamp. They perform in masks - in accordance with the motto - “No importa tu cara, importas tú.” It’s not your face that’s important - it’s you. Recorded 03/15/2023. De la Orquídea y la Avispa Caballeros del Albedrío Lattice Hasta Las Hifas, Un Micelio Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTubeSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 4, 2023 • 22min
Superchunk [Performance & Interview Only] (RE-RELEASE)
North Carolina’s Superchunk have been ripping since 1989, as one of the bands that helped define the legendary music scene of Chapel Hill in the ‘90s. They recently stopped by KEXP to play songs off their twelfth studio album, Wild Loneliness, released in early 2022. The band chats with Cheryl Waters about the collaborative nature of the record and how the addition of voices such as Sharon Van Etten, Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell, and Mike Mills of REM helped elevate both the album and the band as a whole. Recorded 04/04/2022. Wild Loneliness Refracting Endless Summer Rainy Street Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube This episode originally aired on June 28, 2022. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 4, 2023 • 20min
Superchunk (RE-RELEASE)
North Carolina’s Superchunk have been ripping since 1989, as one of the bands that helped define the legendary music scene of Chapel Hill in the ‘90s. They recently stopped by KEXP to play songs off their twelfth studio album, Wild Loneliness, released in early 2022. The band chats with Cheryl Waters about the collaborative nature of the record and how the addition of voices such as Sharon Van Etten, Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell, and Mike Mills of REM helped elevate both the album and the band as a whole. Recorded 04/04/2022. Wild Loneliness Refracting Endless Summer Rainy Street Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube This episode originally aired on June 28, 2022.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 27, 2023 • 26min
KAINA (RE-RELEASE)
Chicago’s KAINA makes dreamy indie R&B songs that serve as affirmations of joy for the Guatamalen-Venezuelan artist. She released her impressive sophomore record It Was a Home back in March, featuring collaborations with Helado Negro, Sleater-Kinney, and Sen Morimoto. She stopped by KEXP over the summer to play a gorgeous set of songs off the record and spoke with Gabriel Teodros about coming up in Chicago’s youth music programs, the role family plays in her new record, and building a home. As an extra gift, we include a snippet from Sen Morimoto’s KEXP in-studio session from last year featuring KAINA on backing vocals. Recorded 06/20/2022. Anybody Can Be In Love Good Feeling Friend of Mine Golden Mirror Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube This episode originally aired on November 15, 2022.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 27, 2023 • 24min
KAINA [Performance & Interview Only] (RE-RELEASE)
Chicago’s KAINA makes dreamy indie R&B songs that serve as affirmations of joy for the Guatamalen-Venezuelan artist. She released her impressive sophomore record It Was a Home back in March, featuring collaborations with Helado Negro, Sleater-Kinney, and Sen Morimoto. She stopped by KEXP over the summer to play a gorgeous set of songs off the record and spoke with Gabriel Teodros about coming up in Chicago’s youth music programs, the role family plays in her new record, and building a home. As an extra gift, we include a snippet from Sen Morimoto’s KEXP in-studio session from last year featuring KAINA on backing vocals. Recorded 06/20/2022. Anybody Can Be In Love Good Feeling Friend of Mine Golden Mirror Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube This episode originally aired on November 15, 2022.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 20, 2023 • 30min
Mabe Fratti
On the show this time, it's the avant songwriting of cellist Mabe Fratti. Mabe Fratti is a composer and cellist, born in Guatemala and now living in Mexico City. She is a rare bird - a cello player who also sings, who actually sings while playing the cello. Her music is harmonically complex, rhythmically intrepid, and doesn’t shy away from dissonance. Against this backdrop she creates out of the ordinary melody - often surprisingly catchy. She creates honestly, and - very closely with her chosen family of musicians. She would say they work “softly” with lots of room for improvisation and the musical personality of each player, of each friend. Her latest 'Se Ve Desde Aqui' is available on Unheard of Hope records. Recorded 03/15/2023. El Sol Sigue Ahí No Se Ve Desde Acá Cada Músculo Desde El Cielo Creo Que Puedo Hacer Algo Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTubeSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 20, 2023 • 38min
Mabe Fratti [Performance & Interview Only]
On the show this time, it's the avant songwriting of cellist Mabe Fratti. Mabe Fratti is a composer and cellist, born in Guatemala and now living in Mexico City. She is a rare bird - a cello player who also sings, who actually sings while playing the cello. Her music is harmonically complex, rhythmically intrepid, and doesn’t shy away from dissonance. Against this backdrop she creates out of the ordinary melody - often surprisingly catchy. She creates honestly, and - very closely with her chosen family of musicians. She would say they work “softly” with lots of room for improvisation and the musical personality of each player, of each friend. Her latest 'Se Ve Desde Aqui' is available on Unheard of Hope records. Recorded 03/15/2023. El Sol Sigue Ahí No Se Ve Desde Acá Cada Músculo Desde El Cielo Creo Que Puedo Hacer Algo Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTubeSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 13, 2023 • 25min
Viagra Boys
On the show this time, it’s the irreverent satire of Sweden's Viagra Boys. Viagra Boys lead with provocation. (Like if the name “Viagra Boys” doesn’t tip you off, we don’t know what to tell you.) They understand that in times when the patriarchal and fascist elements of society rise, it's essential that someone, something, somewhere - rises in opposition. To critique. To mock. They use exaggerated characters that say outrageous things about the ridiculous and absurd things occurring in this time. In this way they comment on masculinity, shootings, drug abuse and ADD, crime, the failures of “evolution”, monkeys of course, and for some reason - Shrimp. Their latest, 'Cave World,' is available on Year 0001. Recorded on 03/04/2023 Ain't No Thief Troglodyte It Ain't Enough Worms Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTubeSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.