Geoffrey Fischbein - acoustic guitar
Ben Berg - everything else

Pond

On the show this time, it’s the fresh original rock of English band Black Country, New Road.
The London based group make delightful music, catchy but unpredictable, poppy - but with elements of classical music, cinematic scores, jazz, choral music, show tunes, and heavy rock.  And that’s really selling them short.  They play music.  Anything is on the table.  Their latest is called Forever Howlong and it is available on Ninja Tune Records.


Live on KEXP, Episode 503 - Black Country, New Road

On the show this time, it’s the inimitable smart-pop of legendary band - They Might Be Giants.
They Might Be Giants have been making records since the early ‘80s, building a legion of hardcore fans, addicted to their charming, clever, catchy, and completely original sound. Since then, they’ve released a massive body of work. They are now on their 23rd full length album.  Their latest is called Book and is available on the band’s own Idlewild Recordings.

Live on KEXP, Episode 504 - They Might Be Giants

On the show this time, it’s the soul-filling songs of Choctaw Nation story-teller Samantha Crain.
Shawnee, Oklahoma native Samantha Crain is foremost a writer.  She’s got characters to introduce, stories to tell, and an original take on country-folk singer-songwriter music.  She has been making recordings since the mid 2000s, putting out her first EP The Confiscation herself, a collection based on 5 of her own short stories.  Her way with words has united a community of musicians who collaborate and contribute to her sound.  Now 7 full albums in, her latest is 2025’s Gumshoe, available on Real Kind Records.


Live on KEXP, Episode 505 - Samantha Crain

On the show this time, it’s the dreamy psych-rock of Brooklyn band Crumb.
Brooklyn quartet Crumb started as a college band at Tufts University around 2016.  Singer and guitarist Lila Ramani had a collection of songs that pals Jesse Brotter (on bass and vocals), Bri Aronow (on keys and saxophone), and Jonathan Gilad (on drums) just loved. They experimented with playing them together.  They embraced a wide swath of influences, including indie rock, 60s psych, jazz, and Brazilian pop. Their latest is Amama, available on their own Crumb Records.



Live on KEXP, Episode 507 - Crumb

The obnoxiously named Texas quartet, THIS WILL DESTROY YOU, started recording music in 2005 to have something to sell at shows.  Their first record which they were burning to CD-R themselves, was called Young Mountain. They released 4 more records, recorded with the brilliant producer John Congleton.  Musical and personal differences led to members leaving, and eventually to the current situation, where there are two versions of the band, each with one of the original guitarists.  This performance at KEXP features original member Jeremy Galindo, and songs from Young Mountain, S/T, and Another Language.  There’s one song from Jeremy and original bass player Raymond Brown’s new project - You, Infinite, available on Pelagic Records.

Live on KEXP, Episode 508 - THIS WILL DESTROY YOU

On the show this time, it’s the Northwest dream-pop of Sea Lemon.
Sea Lemon is the Seattle-based solo project of musician Natalie Lew. The songs inhabit the deep, lush, reverb-drenched spaces of shoegaze, but carry the bright hooks of true pop music into those depths.  Her debut album Diving for a Prize was released in May of 2025.

Live on KEXP, Episode 509 - Sea Lemon

On the show this time, it’s the ambient norteño of Mexico’s Kevin Kaarl.
Kevin Kaarl combines a potent mix of singer-songwriter indie-rock with an eclectic penchant for traditional Latin music.  Together with his twin brother Bryan, he’s been releasing music since 2018.  His latest is 2025’s Ultra Sodade released independently.

Live on KEXP, Episode 510 - Kevin Kaarl

On the show this time, it’s the HUGE thrash-dub-rock of Venezuelan / Mexican duo  -  Cardiel.
Cardiel is Sam Ambrosio on drums and Miguel Fraino on guitar.  They say “skateboarding is the motor” which drives the band - they are named after legendary skater John Cardiel and were even featured in Thrasher magazine.  Their latest release is a live recording from their studio in Mexico City - Live from Vesubio Grabaciones - available on bandcamp.  

Live on KEXP, Episode 511 - Cardiel

This is a replay of our King Gizzard Holiday episode

Live on KEXP169 Holiday REPLAY 13 Days of Gizz

On the show this time,  it’s the transportive electro-pop of Brooklyn band Nation of Language.
Nation of Language is a trio from New York, Ian Devaney on synths and with “the voice”, Aidan Noell on synths and vocals, and Alex MacKay on bass.  The music recalls the great pop bands of the 80’s, but their captivating songwriting and sonic originality clearly push them forward as one of the great pop bands of right now. Their latest release is Dance Called Memory available on Sub Pop Records.  

Live on KEXP, Episode 512 - Nation of Language

Brie Harthun - vocals
Geoffrey Fischbein - acoustic guitar
Ben Berg - everything else, including acoustic guitar and album design


Pond

Humanboy

Related tracks