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. Recorded June 26, 2025. AMAMA Genie Ice Melt Crushxd Ghostride Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Recorded June 26, 2025. AMAMA Genie Ice Melt Crushxd Ghostride Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it’s the sunny 50’s and 60’s movie theme songs of Japanese singer Yuma Abe.Yuma Abe released his second solo album Hotel New Yuma in December of 2024.  It’s a concept album. The music is based on a fictitious variety show at a hotel “on a warm island, somewhere south of the country”, with Yuma himself as the host of the show. The songs on the record are the theme songs for the variety show.  It is available on White Noise Records.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 five of her own short stories. Her way with words has united a community of musicians who collaborate and contribute to her sound. Now seven full albums in, her latest is 2025’s Gumshoe, available on Real Kind Records. Recorded June 27, 2025 Dragonfly Gumshoe Dart B-Attitudes Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 five of her own short stories. Her way with words has united a community of musicians who collaborate and contribute to her sound. Now seven full albums in, her latest is 2025’s Gumshoe, available on Real Kind Records. Recorded June 27, 2025 Dragonfly Gumshoe Dart B-Attitudes Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 who are 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. Recorded June 16, 2025 Moonbeam Rays Ana NgSong Synopsis For Latecomers Let Me Tell You About My Operation Doctor Worm The Darlings Of Lumberland Particle Man Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 who are 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. Recorded June 16, 2025 Moonbeam Rays Ana NgSong Synopsis For Latecomers Let Me Tell You About My Operation Doctor Worm The Darlings Of Lumberland Particle Man Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 kind of 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. Recorded May 26, 2025 Besties For The Cold Country  Happy Birthday  Forever Howlong Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 kind of 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. Recorded May 26, 2025 Besties For The Cold Country  Happy Birthday  Forever Howlong Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show this time, it’s a celebration of connection - to lineage and to land with Black Belt Eagle Scout. Black Belt Eagle Scout is the recording project of Katherine "KP" Paul.  She’s been steadily creating indigenous-Swinomish-woman meets Pacific-Northwest indie-rock-and-punk since her self-titled debut EP in 2014.  Her 3rd full length and latest album “The Land, The Water, The Sky” is available on Saddle Creek Records. Recorded 05/08/2023. Fancy Dance Nobody Don't Give Up On the River Soft Stuf Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.