Waxahatchee released its latest EP Great Thunder, named after Katie Crutchfield’s side project with former Swearin’ bassist Keith Spencer. While that band was dense and overdriven, Great Thunder is introspective and earnest, the songs threaded together by soft, bare-boned piano. Crutchfield’s folk-tinged vocals pull the listener into her sacred space, offering a moment of quiet solitude. Continue reading →
Waxahatchee has announced the release of Great Thunder, an EP named for Katie Crutchfield’s now dormant project with Swearin’ bassist Keith Spencer featuring re-imagined versions of their songs. Following the release of her anthemic 2017 album Out in the Storm, this EP will be based more on Crutchfield’s folk and country influences. “I would say that it is a complete 180 from the last record: super stripped-down, quiet, and with me performing solo, it’s a throwback to how I started,” Crutchfield says in a statement. “Overall, the EP is a warm, kind of vibey recording.” Continue reading →
Co-headlining shows can be a tricky business. For the audience, it adds an air of mystery and unpredictability — who will go on first? How long will each set be? A good deal of planning has to go into it on the artists’ end, too — how do they settle it? Perhaps a coin toss?
For Waxahatchee and Hurray for the Riff Raff, though, none of these questions seemed to be an issue. Some quick sleuthing seems to indicate that the two headliners, currently on tour together, have been alternating the order they play each night. That way everything’s perfectly fair and amicable — as the stage backdrop that framed the powerhouse acts read, “We’re All in This Together.”
This worked out just fine for last night’s Union Transfer audience, who was equally excited to welcome back hometown hero Waxahatchee and XPN Fest alum Hurray for the Riff Raff. Continue reading →
Just announced as opening support for Courtney Barnett’s Fall run of U.S. shows is local-favorite Waxahatchee, which includes a stop at Fishtown’s Fillmore on October 23. The announcement comes the day after Waxahatchee rocked Union Transfer, and we couldn’t be more excited for the pair of rockers’ show in October. Check back in to The Key later this afternoon for our recap of Waxahatchee’s set at last night’s co-headlining gig alongside Hurray For The Riff Raff. Continue reading →
Kevin Morby and Waxahatchee‘s Katie Crutchfield just released two covers of Jason Molina songs. They chose one of his longer, and more popular songs “Farewell Transmission” and a shorter hidden gem in his catalogue “The Dark Don’t Hide It.” Continue reading →
The latest compilation of live performances from NPR’s World Cafe is available this spring to XPN members — and it’s a fantastic collection.
Ranging from rock and folk vets Bob Weir, Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul, and Suzanne Vega to new voices Maggie Rogers, Sweet Spirit, and Phoebe Bridgers, Philly rooted artists The Districts, The War on Drugs, and Waxahatchee, Live at the World Cafe Vol. 43 is an expansive release. Continue reading →
Okay, Union Transfer, we see you. One of Philly’s fave venues just announced a bill for April 16th featuring the powerhouse, inspiring, invincible storytellers, Waxahatchee, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and Bedouine. All three. Geez oh man, what a steal. Continue reading →
In between a crazy months-long tour that took Waxahatchee across the US and Europe this year, and with a fall tour that kicks off in just a few weeks, Katie Crutchfield found time to record a cover of The Velvet Underground’s “After Hours.” Crutchfield is joined by singer-songwriter Kevin Morby on the recording; the duo toured together last spring.
“After Hours” appeared on The Velvet Underground’s 1969 self-titled album. Crutchfield posted the home-recorded cover on her Tumblr, and tweeted, “the world is a dark place. here’s a cover of ‘after hours’.” Listen here. The Waxahatchee bandleader’s familiar voice takes center stage on the stripped-down version, and Morby chimes in to sing a verse. Continue reading →
Waxahatchee released their fourth full length album Out in the Storm on July 14th (when the band also celebrated the release with a Free at Noon show and opened her tour with a hometown show at Union Transfer), and in the short time since, frontwoman Katie Crutchfield has received endless deserved praise and critical acclaim both of the record and her live interpretations of the powerful tracks. Continue reading →
On Friday night, after an immense storm descended upon Philadelphia, a tour for the ages opened up on Spring Garden street.
Waxahatchee sent their fourth album, Out In The Storm, out into the world, and, both live and on the record, itʼs very simply Katie Crutchfield at her best. Earlier in the day, she played a short set at XPN’s Free at Noon concert, and both performances were raw, and emotive, pulling us deep into her own experiences and machinations, ones that many of us can relate amply to.
Songs like “Recite Remorse,” the live setʼs opener, and “Sparks Fly,” a deeper cut on the record, beg to be sang angrily in the car with the windows down, and before too long, theyʼll be sung back at Crutchfield at live shows too. Continue reading →
