Mac DeMarco brought pure magic to the KEXP studio on September 23, 2025, delivering a stunning 12-song performance that showcased everything fans love about his sound. The full band featuring Daryl Johns on bass, Pedro Martins on guitar, Phil Melanson on drums, and Alec Meen on keys created an incredible sonic landscape. Host Cheryl Waters welcomed the crew for an unforgettable session. The setlist ranged from the gorgeous “Shining” and “Sweeter” to the powerful “Rock And Roll” and closing number “Rooster,” with stops at “Phantom,” “Nightmare,” “Terror,” “Home,” “Nothing At All,” “Punishment,” “Knockin,” and “Holy” along the way.
Neko Case Honors Dexter Romweber of the Flat Duo Jets with Poignant “Winchester Mansion of Sound”
Neko Case shares “Winchester Mansion of Sound,” the most poignant elegy from her upcoming album ‘Neon Grey Midnight Green,’ a tribute to her late friend and collaborator Dexter Romweber of the Flat Duo Jets. Written two years before Romweber’s 2024 passing when Case found herself worrying about him, the piano epic draws musical inspiration from Robbie Basho’s “Orphan’s Lament” and the classic “Down Down Baby” nursery rhyme, creating a bittersweet melody like nostalgia itself. Case describes her connection to Romweber as not romantic love but an all-consuming one, a common thread across her recent memoir ‘The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You’ and her new album.
‘Neon Grey Midnight Green’ marks Case’s first new music this decade, following 2018’s ‘Hell-On.’ More than any past album, this latest work was laid down live with a full band at her Vermont studio Carnassial Sound, with additional sessions in Denver with the PlainsSong Chamber Orchestra and in Portland with Tucker Martine. Case, who identifies as gender fluid and uses she/her pronouns, proudly produced the record herself, calling it her vision, her veto power, and her taste. Her memoir reached No. 5 on The New York Times nonfiction bestsellers list, and she’s currently composing the musical adaptation of Thelma & Louise after being personally selected by original screenwriter Callie Khouri.
Case begins touring in promotion of ‘Neon Grey Midnight Green’ days after the album’s release, starting with a sold-out show at Woodstock’s Levon Helm Studios on October 1. The extensive tour runs through November 2025 before kicking off again in Montreal on January 8, 2026, with support from Des Demonas and John Grant on various dates. Her music teaches listeners about human nature’s cruelty, perseverance, and terrifying beauty alongside the natural world, with a potent voice and evocative storytelling that knows no bounds.
2026 Tour Dates:
January 8 – Montreal, QC @ Beanfield Theatre #
January 9 – Ottawa, ON @ Bronson Centre #
January 10 – Geneva, NY @ Smith Opera House #
January 11 – Burlington, VT @ The Flynn #
January 12 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre #
January 14 – Troy, NY @ Troy Music Hall #
January 15 – Stamford, CT @ The Palace Theatre #
January 16 – Wilmington, DE @ The Queen #
January 17 – Allentown, PA @ Archer Music Hall #
January 18 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Paramount #
January 20 – Louisville, KY @ Paristown #
January 21 – Madison, WI @ Barrymore #
January 22 – Carmel, IN @ Palladium #
January 23 – Champaign, IL @ Virginia Theatre #
January 24 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre #
January 27 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues #
January 28 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City #
January 29 – Jacksonville, FL @ Decca Live #
January 30 – Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live #
January 31 – Miami, FL @ TBA #
w/ Des Demonas #
exPorter Deliver Raw Energy Jolt with Garage-Rock Ripper “Mustash Sally”
Santa Barbara-based indie-rock band exPorter returns with “Mustash Sally,” a nearly two-minute blast of raw energy and irresistible hooks from their ‘New Rubber Girlfriend’ EP, out now across music platforms via maxthedog Records. Driven by gritty guitar lines, propulsive drums, and confident vocal delivery, the track captures the band’s trademark blend of sun-soaked California cool and garage-rock urgency. The production stays crisp yet unpolished enough to retain the grit and charm of a live performance, taking listeners on a joyride from the first chord to its adrenaline-spiked finale. Following previous tracks “Letting Go” and “Southern Kingsnake,” this latest single showcases exPorter’s knack for crafting songs that feel both timeless and immediate. Known for captivating live shows and unapologetic songwriting, the band built a loyal following by combining sharp musicianship with fearless attitude.
Treat Return with Anthemic “Adam & Evil” Celebrating Band’s Origin Story
Swedish melodic rock band Treat announces their return with new single “Adam & Evil,” out now via Frontiers Music Srl alongside a visualizer. The track tells the story about the beginning of the band, a young boy’s dreams and hopes and transformation. Formed in Stockholm in 1983 by singer Robert Ernlund and guitarist Anders “Gary” Wikstrom, Treat emerged as one of Sweden’s most prominent melodic hard rock and glam-metal bands of the 1980s. Their debut ‘Scratch And Bite’ in 1985 featured anthemic tracks like “Too Wild” and “Get You On The Run” that quickly earned national and international attention. The band shared festival stages including Monsters of Rock in Germany in 1988 and opened for acts like Queen in Sweden. Following a breakup in 1993, a surprise resurgence came in 2006, leading to four new studio albums including most recently ‘The Endgame’ in 2022.
Dance Gavin Dance Unleash Funk-Fueled Chaos with George Clinton on “Space Cow Initiation Ritual”
Dance Gavin Dance shares their brand new single “Space Cow Initiation Ritual” featuring legendary master of Pfunk George Clinton, taken from their forthcoming album ‘Pantheon’ out now via Rise Records. The track stands out for its chaotic blend of absurdism and infectious groove, elevated by the iconic cameo from the funk pioneer. Guitarist Will Swan calls working with Clinton surreal, saying it pushed the band to dig deeper into the funk and find a balance between his groove and their post-hardcore edge. The collaboration blends those worlds in a way that feels fresh but familiar. ‘Pantheon’ marks the band’s 11th studio album and first full-length release since 2022’s ‘Jackpot Juicer,’ which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Top 200. The album builds on their signature genre-defying sound with soul-shredding breakdowns, pop-infused melodies, and frenzied screams.
Bioscope Unveil Cinematic Title Track “Gentō” from Debut Collaborative Album
Guitar maestro Steve Rothery of Marillion and electronic composer Thorsten Quaeschning of Tangerine Dream release their second single “Gentō,” the title track from their highly anticipated debut album ‘Gentō,’ out now on earMUSIC. The project began in early 2020 and gradually developed through focused five-day sessions in Berlin and at Rothery’s home studio in Southwest England. Each of the five instrumental tracks draws inspiration from humanity’s enduring fascination with the moving image, unfolding like a film without pictures through soaring guitar themes and sequencer-driven passages rooted in Berlin School electronica. Elbow’s drummer Alex Reeves brings extraordinary rhythmic finesse and musical intuition that adds depth and subtle momentum throughout. The cinematic video was created by Jennifer Rothery. The name Bioscope comes from the Greek bios (life) and skopeein (to look), meaning “a view or survey of life” before cinema existed.
‘Gentō’ Tracklist:
- Vanishing Point (Pt. 1, 2 & 3)
- Gentō
- Kinetoscope (Pt. 1 & 2)
- Bioscope (Pt. 1, 2 & 3)
- Kaleidoscope
BEAT Immortalize King Crimson’s 80s Legacy with Epic ‘BEAT LIVE’ Release
Legendary King Crimson members Adrian Belew and Tony Levin joined forces with guitar virtuoso Steve Vai and Tool drummer Danny Carey to create BEAT, a creative reinterpretation of three iconic 80s King Crimson albums: ‘Discipline,’ ‘Beat,’ and ‘Three Of A Perfect Pair.’ Following 65 standing room only North American shows in 2024 and an expansive Mexico and South America run in 2025, the ensemble releases ‘BEAT LIVE’ out now in three configurations. The collection includes a 3-LP set, a Blu-ray with 2-CDs and 12-page photo booklet, plus a limited collector’s edition containing the Blu-ray, 2-CDs, bonus CD, and 36-page artbook. Belew notes that Robert Fripp once observed the King Crimson quartet was perhaps the best live band in the world during the eighties. Steve Vai calls “Frame By Frame” a miraculous piece of music containing unique death-defying poly-metric guitar parts. Tour Producer Angelo Bundini recalls focusing on these albums because they mark when Adrian and Tony’s fluid virtuosity and Fripp and Bruford’s dramatic precision created a totally unique dynamic.
Rise Against Confront Global Chaos with Urgent New Album ‘Ricochet’
Rise Against releases the title track and final preview of ‘Ricochet,’ their first new album in four years, out now on Loma Vista Recordings. Arriving in a time when lies are inescapable, greed is brazen, and cruelty is shocking, this 12-track collection reaffirms Rise Against’s role as a north star of artful resistance. The album emphasizes collective interconnectedness, dissecting crises with lucid clarity, raw emotion, and a global perspective through the band’s most visceral, urgent, and high-stakes music to date. Lead singer Tim McIlrath explains that we rely on each other whether we like it or not, and everything we do creates one big ricochet effect. The title track emerged from an image McIlrath couldn’t shake: people dancing while bombs and bullets careened overhead, that contrast of oblivious joy against the backdrop of destruction. The album delivers indelible, colossally ripping rock songs that capture the chaos of the moment, articulating complex truths with seismic power.
84 Tigers Transform Grief Into Cathartic Power on ‘Nothing Ends’
Michigan post-hardcore trio 84 Tigers returns with ‘Nothing Ends,’ a towering, emotionally charged follow-up to their acclaimed debut ‘Time in the Lighthouse,’ out now via Spartan Records. The album represents a massive leap forward, leaning fully into their widescreen mix of post-hardcore power, ’90s alt-rock grit, and soaring melodic hooks. Opening track and first single “The Crush of It All” delivers an unrelenting blast of cathartic energy that balances raw emotion with sonic grandeur. Formed by brothers Mike Reed and Ben Reed of Small Brown Bike and longtime friend Jono Diener of The Swellers, the band faced profound loss as the sudden passing of lifelong friend and former bandmate Travis Dopp left them reeling during writing sessions. Mike Reed found his path forward through the mantra “Tears in your eyes. Fist in the air.” The resulting record moves from the aching tribute “Two Rivers” featuring Rocky Votolato to the rousing “Regeneration Days” featuring Aaron Stauffer of Seaweed/Ghost Work.
‘Nothing Ends’ Track Listing:
The Crush of It All
Two Rivers (feat. Rocky Votolato)
Through Centuries
Fathom
Only Light
Regeneration Days (feat. Aaron Stauffer)
Navigator
The Becoming
In Infinite
Everything You Love
WOLFHEART Unleash Cold Northern Fury with ‘Draconian Darkness II’ EP
Finnish melodic death metal titans WOLFHEART return with ‘Draconian Darkness II,’ an ambitious EP out now via Reigning Phoenix Music that deepens their frostbitten legacy. Lead single “Carnivore” sets the tone with menacing riffs and vicious growls that grow in power and grandeur, continuing where the full-length ‘Draconian Darkness’ ended. Founder Tuomas Saukkonen explains the track explores humanity’s darker side, how we consume more than our share and bring fire and darkness where nature brings harmony. This five-track release showcases every facet of WOLFHEART’s trademark sound through two new tracks including orchestral and acoustic versions, plus a crushing live rendition. Saukkonen continues refining his vision with haunting melodies, relentless drumming, and evocative storytelling rooted in Northern landscapes. The EP captures the band’s cold grandeur in both studio precision and on-stage intensity, delivering melancholic, massive, and deeply melodic northern metal.