The Mountain Goats are one of those bands we've been championing since back when we were known as KCMU, so we were especially honored when frontman John Darnielle flew into town a day early just to play our KEXP Hood-to-Hood broadcast. (KEXP presents The Mountain Goats at a sold out show tonight at The Showbox.)
Now on their fifteenth full-length — the knock-out (pun intended!) album Beat the Champ, out now on Merge Records — the veteran singer/songwriter tore through a career-spanning set from his deep discography of fifteen albums, going as far back as "Third Snow Song" from his 1994 EP Philyra. With his powerful voice, and just as powerful lyrics, Darnielle powered through an eleven-song set on a borrowed acoustic guitar. Longtime fans and newcomers alike were enthralled by his commanding stage presence, and a sing-a-long broke out during his set closer "Up the Wolves" (a song that even appeared on the television show The Walking Dead!).
A band from Australia is gonna know a thing or two about sunshine, so as the sun beat down on the West Seattle streets, the Melbourne-based band Miami Horror got the party even hotter at the Junction from our Hood-to-Hood broadcast.
Come celebrate West Seattle with us today! We are just about to start our live broadcast from the West Seattle Junction (on the scenic intersection of Alaska and California). Come down for free music and fun at KEXP's Hood-to-Hood Day 2015.