photo by Deirdre O’Callaghan
- Earlier this month, we reported on the fantastic pairing of Matt Berninger of The National and Ramona Falls’ Brent Knopf, recording under the name EL VY (pronounced like the plural of Elvis). Today, Berninger explains a bit more about their forthcoming debut, Return to the Moon, out October 30th on 4AD (check out a lyric video for the title track below). In an interview with NME.com, he says he sees the album “almost like a musical,” and the main characters of Michael and Didi are named after Mike Watt and the late D Boon of ’80s punk band The Minutemen. “My daughter’s obsessed with Grease and plays the soundtrack constantly… I think of Didi and Michael as like Danny and Sandy.” KEXP presents EL VY at Neumos on Wednesday, November 4th. [NME]
- Speaking of collaborations, Natasha Khan (better known as Bat For Lashes) is teaming up with producer Dan Carey and the band TOY for the project SEXWITCH. Their self-titled debut album hits stores September 25th via Echo/BMG, and features six covers of ’70s psych-folk songs from around the world. Stream the Iranian track “Helelyos” below. Khan also says a new Bat For Lashes is due for a Spring 2016 release. No SEXWITCH tour dates yet, but Khan says, “I want to take it out live, but I don’t know how much I can do it — I’m suffering from the headbanging!” [Pitchfork]
- In a somber interview with NPR’s All Things Considered, Twin Shadow opens up about the bus accident that left 12 people hospitalized earlier this year. Frontman George Lewis Jr. had to have reconstructive hand surgery, which he says makes playing guitar difficult and painful. Hear an exclusive in-studio session from the band on Friday, August 28th at 9:00 PM PT on KEXP. [Pitchfork]
- Long-running PBS show Austin City Limits kicks off their 41st season with a Hall Of Fame induction show, honoring esteemed artists like Townes Van Zandt and Loretta Lynn. Jason Isbell offers his tribute to veteran singer/songwriter Guy Clark with a cover of his 1973 song “Desperadoes Waiting For A Train,” which you can watch below. The new season of Austin City Limits kicks off on October 3rd; keep watch on KEXP’s TV Eye for future episodes. [Stereogum]