photos by Paige Walter and Rachel Del Sordo
Indie Rock Hit Parade host Eric Schuman revisits his favorite in-studio sessions of 2022
Indie Rock Hit Parade live sessions are like my children in that it pains me to choose a favorite. Each performer that we welcomed to our studios in 2022 brought unparalleled creativity. Some were making the radio rounds for the first time, while others have been recording sessions for decades. Despite my better judgement, here are six of my favorite Indie Rock Hit Parade session moments of 2022.
“The Greatest” by SASAMI took the top spot on my list of favorite songs of 2022. Helping to secure that accolade was this thunderous live version that the Los Angeles mainstay performed in our studio while on tour with HAIM over the summer. [LISTEN / READ MORE]
Since the late ’70s, Robyn Hitchcock‘s witty and surreal pop songcraft have made him a cross-generational favorite. Mainly showcasing his latest album, Shufflemania, in his IRHP appearance, Hitchcock took the time to grace us with solo renditions of a few classics including “Madonna of the Wasps.” [WATCH / READ MORE]
One of 2022’s most acclaimed albums is Save the Baby, the debut from Tacoma-based quartet Enumclaw. The band stopped by to premiere a set of new songs while touring with Toro y Moi a full season before the album arrived in October. These early glimpses show off the up-and-coming band’s confidence and skill. [WATCH / READ MORE]
The magic of this performance comes from the harmony (both in vocals and movement) between Barrie Lindsay and her bandmates backed only by an electric piano. Interpretive dance doesn’t really translate to the radio, but the synchronized routines are as eyecatching as the songs are heartwarming. [WATCH / READ]
I’ve been a fan of Philadelphia musician Kristine Leschper ever since her time fronting the group Mothers. Now recording under her own name, Leschper brought an imaginative collection of instruments (and members of Great Time and Palberta to play them) to bring selections from The Opening, or Closing of a Door to life. [WATCH / READ]
Mere hours before hopping on a plane back to England to attend the Mercury Prize ceremony, Yard Act visited our studio for a session that served as a victory lap for the Leeds band. Their early 2022 debut, The Overload, has remained a thrilling and essential listen all year long. [WATCH / LISTEN]
