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We’re All In This Together: Waxahatchee and Hurray for the Riff Raff play an empowering set at Union Transfer

Waxahatchee | photo by Michelle Montgomery for WXPN | michellemontgomeryphotography.com

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 →

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Just Announced: Waxahatchee will open for Courtney Barnett this October

Waxahatchee at Union Transfer | photo by John Vettese for WXPN

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 →

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Pre-order Live at the World Cafe Volume 43 featuring The Districts, Maggie Rogers, The War on Drugs, Waxahatchee and more

Live at the World Cafe Volume 43

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 →

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Waxahatchee teamed up with Kevin Morby to record a Velvet Underground cover

Waxahatchee | photo by Cameron Pollack for WXPN

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 →

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Get lost in a spectral haze with Waxahatchee’s new “Recite Remorse” music video, made with Klip Collective

Waxahatchee | from “Recite Remorse” music video

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 →

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After the storm, Waxahatchee debuts Out Of The Storm at Union Transfer

Waxahatchee | photo by Cameron Pollack for WXPN

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 →

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Free at Noon Flashback: Waxahatchee brings Out in the Storm to life

Waxahatchee at WXPN’s Free At Noon Concert on 7/14/17 | photo by Emma Silverstone for WXPN

The relentless summer rain was no deterrent for the crowd that turned up en masse at World Cafe this afternoon, and for good reason: today is all about Katie Crutchfield’s Waxahatchee. Her excellent fourth record Out in the Storm dropped today on Merge Records, the full band performed for WXPN’s Free At Noon, frontwoman Katie Crutchfield will be a guest DJ on John Vettese’s show What’s the Frequency at 7 p.m., and the day caps off when Waxahatchee plays a hometown show at Union Transfer with Cayetana and Snail Mail to begin an extensive US tour.

Fifteen minutes before Free At Noon began, the front row of the World Cafe stage was already claimed and the rest of the crowd was slowly trickling in, shaking off umbrellas and grabbing a drink. Five minutes before, the floor was packed and the anticipation palpable when Waxahatchee made their entrance (featuring #ladysuits) to begin a set that showcased entirely new tracks.

Opening with my personal favorite from the new album, the burning “Recite Remorse,” Crutchfield’s voice echoed around World Cafe to create an ethereal, chills-inducing sound that built to an anthemic conclusion. The catharsis found in the lyrics was tangible, finding release and relief for singer and audience alike. Continue reading →

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Need to Feel Your Soft Sounds in the Storm: New Sheer Mag, Japanese Breakfast and Waxahatchee on the Indie Rock Hit Parade!

Sheer Mag
Sheer Mag | photo by Marie Lin | courtesy of the artist

A jam-packed Indie Rock Hit Parade is coming your way tonight, and there’s no way to stop it! Listen at 11pm ET on XPN (that’s right after What’s The Frequency??? with John Vettese, ya know?) for a full two-hour show that features not one, not two, but THREE spotlights on new releases from three very different bands out of Philly. We’ll hear from Sheer Mag‘s incendiary debut, Need To Feel Your Love, the dreamy sophomore album from Japanese Breakfast, Soft Sounds From Another Planet, and (of course) the latest from Katie Crutchfield’s Waxahatchee, Out In The Storm. Also in the mix, you’ll hear new tracks from Speedy Ortiz, Cults and Parquet Courts singer A. Savage! Preview some of those below…

Continue reading →