Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session: Madeline Kenney

Madeline Kenney | Photo by Liz Waldie for WXPN

Joining us in the studio for this Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session is an artist who actually visited our building earlier this year when she was on tour with another band. Madeline Kenney caught the ear of Toro y Moi’s Chaz Bear, who produced her first EP as well as her recently released debut album, Night Night at the First Landing. Kenney was traveling with Bear and the Mattson 2 when they recorded their IRHP session in the spring, and it was only a matter of time before Kenney returned for her time in the spotlight.

Kenney is joined in this session by bassist Scott Brown (who also played on the album) and drummer Camille Lewis (an Austin musician on loan from her trio Dead Recipe). The session begins with “Always,” which sets the scene for the pairing of hefty guitars with Kenney and Lewis’ close harmonies. Next is “Big One,” my personal favorite song from the album. The song features impressively dynamic vocals from Kenney, veering between tender and raging. “Waitless” is next, and it’s where the band really get to lock into gear. The song doesn’t feature that many lyrics, so the space is filled with road-honed expertise. Closing things out is “Give Up // On Anything,” which also serves as the closer to Kenney’s album. Using her looping station to layer voice and guitar, Kenney becomes a choir that weaves the title’s mantra in and out of the song.

Check out Madeline Kenney’s Indie Rock Hit Parade session below, along with Liz Waldie’s photos from the studio!