If you haven’t seen/heard this yet on any number of other local blogs, please do yourself a favor and download a free mixtape from Mr. P Smoov, local steamrolling hip hop producer extraordinaire. Face Scrunchers, Vol. 1 is thirty-nine minutes of innovatin, stutterin, booty-shakin, [...]
When did this record come out? May? Jeez Louise, it really takes some time to get around to these things. I meant to pick up Viva Voce’s Rose City when it was released, but I never did; and not until after their excellent show [...]
Uhmemba the Cops? That frenzied, Clash-loving, back-alley punk band? They disbanded at the end of last year. I wept (internally). Not one to sit on his laurels, scrappy guitarist/vocalist Mike Jaworski—who also owns and operates local label Mt. Fuji Records—has created a new [...]
I’m not completely sold on Beach House (fanciful Baltimore lo-pop now on Sub Pop), but this new single “Norway” is totally killing me right now. Killing me into LIFE. Sub Pop has handed this here .mp3 for free (that rhymes).
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Teen Dream is set for release on January 26, [...]
Past Lives—that erratic, brooding, temperamental punk band—blogged about their new album, Tapestry of Webs. The name comes from a painting by Ryan Iverson used for the album cover below. Suicide Squeeze Records will be releasing it February 23, 2010.
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You can listen to a new [...]
There was one thing, outside of the actual music, that my mind kept returning to during the Pixies concert on Friday night at the Paramount. I couldn’t stop thinking about how each band member might view this new ‘20th Anniversary of Doolittle‘ reunion. Are they genuinely [...]
Here are some recent videos of Pixies on their current tour. Thought you might want to either prepare or be jealous. They’re on the docket again tonight at the Paramount. Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.
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Dancing the Manta Ray (they’ll be playing some b-sides first)
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Mr. Grieves
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Monkey Gone to Heaven
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Here’s the band’s [...]
The Raveonettes were a blitzkrieg of light, smoke, and sound last Friday night. The sleek, beautiful duo tantalized the audience by starting off with a new song, “Gone Forever”, then followed with a handful of older tunes, including “Lust”, “Black Satin” and “Dead Sound” from Lust Lust [...]
What was word on the cyberstreet yesterday became official today: the War Room is closing its doors on November 30th. Following in the footsteps of King Cobra, which closed this past February, the eclectic concert and dance venue with the coolest rooftop bar around [...]
Has anybody else been listening to Wind’s Poem? It’s the new album from Mount Eerie, or native Anacortan Phil Elverum. Taken by its elegiac, methodical march, the beautiful behemoth has me cradled in its giant palm. I’m compelled to kneel before some sort of Dark [...]
I’m still deciding whether I want to spend a ridiculous amount of time “previewing” the upcoming Pixies concerts at the Paramount next week. I mean, what hasn’t been said? What youtube videos haven’t you already watched? What Black Francis lyrics haven’t you already dissected? I’m stoked, ok? [...]
You never quite know what you’re gonna get with Bradford Cox. Those expecting a spooky replication of Atlas Sound and its dreamy new record might’ve been somewhat caught off guard last Saturday when the band—Cox backed by opening ambient-groove-rockers the Selmanaires—played a fairly straightforward (for [...]
By now, you’re either a Raveonettes fan or you’re not. You’ve either been sucked up into the hurricane or dutifully dodged it. Sounds trite, right? Maybe, but not entirely. Since 2003, the Danish duo (Sune Rose Wagner now spends most of his time in NYC [...]
There’s a transformation that occurs between studio and stage for pretty much every band. Of course, there are those that replicate their studio sessions on stage very well, and vice versa. On the flip side, there are also many bands who have trouble replicating their live sound on record, and [...]
Forgot to post this a few weeks ago. It’s Minus The Bear’s new single, “Into The Mirror” from their upcoming untitled 4th album. You can listen over at imeem. I like the keyboard.
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The album’s press release from Suicide Squeeze after the jump/cut/fold/whatever:
Seattle-based quintet Minus [...]
I suspect—with the aid of several clues, including interviews, records and blog posts—that Bradford Cox has a rampant imagination. The kind of imagination that would make inventive children jealous. And in some ways, the Deerhunter frontman and Atlas Sound wizard still creates his music through [...]
…is Music For Men, by Gossip. And it’s really no contest: I’ve heard every single album released this year (!) and nothing comes close. In particular, these three tracks:
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Last year it was Antidotes, by Foals. Gossip will blow you away at [...]
Watching Grizzly Bear perform Friday night was a bit like the experience of watching a dramatic film. A visually stunning, beautifully crafted, uniquely intricate film. First, you had the audience, watching intently from the shabby Moore Theatre confines and hanging on every breath of the players. [...]
Courtesy of the band’s producer/MC extraordinaire P Smoov, and the fine proprietors over at Winners Circle, you can download two new Fresh Espresso tracks, free of charge. Get it at the blog. The first is a remix of Glamour’s “Something New”, featuring [...]
Hey you! We have to make sure that we don’t just buy digital anymore, people. I’m serious, we have to support the brick-and-mortar record stores, especially the cool ones that sell all the cool music we like. Think about it: what would urban epicenters look like [...]
I guess we figured it might happen with this band, Wolfmother. Honestly, we really should’ve known better. Rewind to 2005: three dudes from Sydney, Australia (that’s in New South Wales, people) unleash an album filled with powerful, 70’s-style metal stoner epics, proudly displaying their shameless [...]
About four months ago, I put on a rather large geek-out party when all I cared to listen to was the plush and magnetic record from Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest. (Solved the issue on the pronunciation shortly thereafter, btw: veck-uh-tim-est). The record was a springtime one, and emitted [...]
Had a chance to see the new guitar documentary It Might Get Loud over at the Egyptian Theatre last night. I’ll start off by saying that, as a white male rock music fan between the ages of 16 and 60, I enjoyed the film. And if [...]
Hey, just wanted to alert you to Sub Pop’s newest free mixtape. It’s offered over at insound.com and is available for download for only seven (7) days, starting yesterday (9/1). Pretty good offering of their current talent:
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“You’re a Target” – No Age
“Seven” – Sunny Day Real Estate
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The Carousel Festival is Seattle’s DIY house-scene annual extravaganza, and it begins today at 3pm. The Green House (run by the affable Natron) and the Healthy Times Fun Club—two of the most prominent house venues in town—will be hosting the event, along [...]
One way you might think about starting off your weekend is heading over to the Funhouse Thursday night for what’s sure to be a raucous, eye-popping musical event. Local mayhem makers Partman Parthorse (Have I mentioned them?) will be opening for like [...]
Matt and Kim, that’s what.
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I Wanna, featuring quite possibly my favorite lyric of the year: “I wanna bring back the BISON / I wanna try!”
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You can watch Matt and Kim streak through Times Square during this song here.
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The power couple [...]
Hey, whaddaya know, this here little web site has 100 SUBSCRIBERS (102, to be exact). Well, shake my leg and call me a horny poodle, I do believe that’s what they call a ‘milestone’!
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While much less significant than, say, making a million dollars, I still think it’s [...]
Dudes, not much time for canoodling, but I wanted to record some thoughts on one of the more awesome shows I’ve seen this year. The KEXP BBQ was actually free this year (the wife remarked that “it was about time” they offered up some goods here [...]
So you’ve decided to procrastinate…
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…well, then, you’re in luck. Sort of. The Friday the 13th show is sold out, as are the floor tickets for Thursday, but as of Tuesday afternoon (12:45pm, to be precise) balcony tickets are still available.' [...]
We arrived at the Seattle Center’s Mural Amphitheatre on Friday in plenty of time for Fresh Espresso’s scheduled 6 pm set. Turned out we didn’t have to compete with anybody for choice lawn spots other than KEXP hardcores, a handful of unsuspecting families, and an [...]
Shins fans: do you remember how cloak-and-dagger the band’s lineup shuffle felt when you first heard about it? Well, the band’s long-time drummer, Jesse Sandoval, also felt left in the dark when he realized no real announcement was coming about the supposed breakup from the band’s [...]
dj100proof touched on this about a month ago, but the sentiment bears repeating: Fresh Espresso’s Glamour is really fucking good. I’m not exactly breaking any news here, so chances are you fly honeys have heard and read all about this record on those other, [...]
Figuring the confines of Neumos would give us a break from the sun, the first band we went to check out on Saturday was local new wave quartet Hotels. From what I’d heard previously, I expected to really enjoy their set, and for the first few [...]
As if drawn by tractor beam, my weekend was spent on Pike St. between 12th and Broadway. Happy, hot, drunk, and drenched is about as good of a four word nutshell as I can offer. The grounds layout was much improved (and appreciated), as the beer garden doubled in size [...]
As if the regular two-day lineup wasn’t enough, geeeezus. Per the usual custom, the Cha Cha, the Comet Tavern, and Chop Suey will all be hosting shows during and after the proper festival this weekend. Chop Suey’s Mad Rad/Macklemore show on Saturday is only 3 [...]
Yesterday, I put up my game plan for Friday’s Block Partly lineup, and today I offer you some thoughts on Saturday. The mainstage—with Sonic Youth, the Thermals, Gossip, and the Pains of Being Pure at Heart all scheduled—is gonna be difficult to leave, but obviously [...]
I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get really excited about the Block Party this weekend. And not just because of the lineup—I’ll get to that in a sec—but because the forecast is sunny, hot and clear, the stage and overall setup [...]
Hey kids, I just wanted to quickly point you to a downloadable live recording of Robin Pecknold’s set at Neumos this past weekend (7/11). Bandmates Josh Tillman and Skye Skjelset joined him on stage. This was the Vera Project “A Drink For the Kids” Benefit. It’s [...]
I really envy musicians like Lars Finberg. As head honcho and clever genius for psycho-surf-punk outfit the Intelligence, he seems to really have it good. Not only does he get to call his own shots (writing, singing, recording), but those shots just keep landing right [...]
I’m not really sure anyone should “hit” anything “up” anymore, but the kids seem to like it, so we’ll go with it. If the gorgeous weather didn’t first clue you in to summertime’s arrival, then surely neighborhood block parties with the words “summer” and “fest” in their [...]
Most of you were probably exposed to quite a bit of MJ-related coverage this past weekend, but since I was traveling to and from Boston for a family wedding, the media inundation on my brain was somewhat muted. I caught some CNN reports here and there [...]
Almost doomed by money woes (”must be the economy”), the Georgetown Musicfest was able to escape death this year by teaming up with a Seattle Weekly event known as Artopia. That’s a clever name. I’d never heard of it until a few months ago, but [...]
I must say, I’m totally crushing on the new Grizzly Bear album right now (those not into soft and weird chamber-pop, feel free to move along). Veckatimest—still trying to figure out which syllable to stress in that one—is the third full-length from the Brooklyn-based quartet, [...]
You can also check out Gossip’s new album over at Spinner, probably through Monday 6/22. (Say, when did they drop the ‘the’ from their name?) The record is titled Music For Men, will be released June 23rd and was produced by Rick Rubin, [...]
The Builders and the Butchers, Portland’s gothic folk rock ambassadors, have released their second full length album, Salvation is a Deep Dark Well (Gigantic) and will be having a good ol’ fashioned CD release party at Neumos this Friday (6/19). I saw them there at the [...]
The Grand Archives/See Me River/Curious Mystery show at the Crocodile this past weekend (6/12) was my first time stepping foot into the renovated Belltown venue, so I’ll begin with some first impressions. I like it. I like the size of it, I like the balcony with [...]
Festival season here in the Puget Sound is kicking into high gear (pedal to the metal, dudes), with all sorts of recent announcements being broadcast over the ether and internets (see: Capitol Hill Block Party, Doe Bay Fest, Decibel Festival, West Seattle [...]
I went to Neumos last night to check out one of my favorite Swedish bands (there’re a lot of those, ya know), Love Is All. In person, the quintet actually sounds cleaner than they do on record, but certainly no less rambunctious and punch-packing. Hailing [...]
They really killed it Friday night, Handsome Furs. The electro-power-rock couple put on a scintillating set at Neumos that had me and everyone else wishing for more. I’ll get my one complaint out of the way: why the truncated set, Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry? [...]
If you hadn’t already heard (we’re a bit slower, er, contemplative here at SSS), the Cave Singers have socialized the album cover and first single from their forthcoming sophomore LP, Welcome Joy. It’ll be out August 18th on Matador Records.
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A few reasons you should [...]
Keeping with the video theme, here’s another *brand-spanking-new* video from Seattle’s own Sera Cahoone. “Baker Lake” is the title and said music video was directed by Ryan McMackin, who may or may not be the drummer for local outfit the Maldives (not to be confused with the prized Indian [...]
Oregon rock guitarist Black Francis has just released a new video for the song “When They Come To Murder Me”. I thought you might want to watch it. The track is from his Svn Fngrs album, which was released in April of 2008 on Cooking Vinyl. That headline [...]
Cool show at the ol’ Healthy Times Fun Club this weekend (5/30), and a cool poster to boot (bison are “pretty much my favorite animal”). The Pica Beats will be playing along with Truckasauras, two stalwart Seattle bands that deserve your attention, if not [...]
Have I professed my love for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs yet? I think I have, but I’m ready to do it again. They are, quite simply, one of my favorite bands working today. I love every record they’ve put out: the booze-and-sweat-soaked sexy savagery of Fever to Tell, the [...]
Maybe you’ve heard this, maybe you haven’t, but über-hip producer Danger Mouse has recently told his record label to fuck off. In what’s being described as an “on-going legal dispute” between industry dinosaur EMI and DM, Dark Night of the Soul will not be put out [...]
I don’t quite remember the first time I heard about The Curious Mystery. I think maybe what happened, as is common with nerdy types who ingest an inordinate amount of music materials from local sources (blogs, zines, radio, telephone poles, etc.), is their presence and [...]
A big “heeeeyyyyyyyyy” to everyone who made it out to our 1st birthday celebration at the Sunset last night. Friends, family, bands, the five regular readers, dudes and dudettes all came together for a collectively fun time. Each band put on such a great set that [...]
The Vaselines, that charming Scottish “buzz” band you’ve been hearing so much about lately, delivered a fantastic set at Neumos last night in front of an appreciative—if slightly subdued—Seattle crowd. Near the end of their rollicking set, Eugene Kelly thanked both Sub Pop and Nirvana for “helping us out”, [...]
If you happen to be a cash-strapped, Helio Sequence-loving Seattleite, today is your LUCKY DAY, my friend: Neumos is hosting a FREE show for the band on June 18th. The occasion is the 5-year anniversary of the popular Capitol Hill venue, and all you [...]
I’ll make this short. Your (and my) favorite bleary-eyed space-dance boy toys in Starfucker have a new EP. It goes by the name of Jupiter and is available with them on their current tour. You can presently sample a couple new cuts on their myspace [...]
So, while I was away soakin’ up some rays and living The Island Life for a few weeks, my favorite mid-summer music extravaganza went ahead and released details of its 2009 incarnation (July 24th/25th). I must say: WOW. This is one of the better lineups [...]
Man, this blog’s been kind of a ghost town lately, huh? Sorry about that, but you know us not-for-profit armchair-blogger types got lots of shit goin’ on out in the non-computer world. Me? I’ve been industriously striving towards a bad-ass nuptial culmination (read: my wedding), going down this weekend with [...]
For some reason or another, I am TOTALLY GROOVIN’ to the debut record from Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head right now. Glistening Pleasure, which I’ve had for quite some time and have superficially enjoyed on many occasions, has invaded another level of my affection. It’s the [...]
As you’ve probably noticed, I like to tell you when you can go over to myspace (or other free online music streamers) and listen to a recent release, in full, of a favorite band. TV on the Radio, Malajube, Handsome Furs have all [...]
…what great big tools Kevin and I are in “real life” (face it, people, the internet is fake), then head on over to Seattle Show Gal’s Sub Blog for a little Q&A with the two of us. If you don’t quickly feel nausea from the general nerdiness—mostly mine, leDoux [...]
Despite having released several records in the past decade-plus (anywhere from 4 to 10 depending on your definition), K Records’ resident governess Mirah first tugged at my heartstrings with her 2004 release, C’mon Miracle. A South American-inspired folk-rock composition with a flock of striking, sanguine [...]
Man, you gotta love the street buskers here in Seattle. I was down at the Market this past weekend and snapped a few photos of Slimpickins. I only stuck around long enough for one tune or so, but it was pretty boisterous. I felt like I’d been transported back [...]
While the two bands could not be more different sounding, Katharine Hepburn’s Voice and PartMan PartHorse are, in fact, quite friendly with each other. They often tour together (such as their upcoming WA/OR/CA trip), and one can often find members of each cheering [...]
As 21st Century music fans, there are artists we come to follow incessantly and hope with clasped hands that some new output is just around the corner. When’s the new record gonna be out? When’s the next tour? When’s the next blog post? It’s all very [...]
I think I just love seeing show posters with the Crocodile as the venue. This one has Head Like a Kite and Wild Orchid Children. No kids. Startled, owl-faced women are always good, too.
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Carry on.
Update: they forgot to mention Sleepy Eyes of Death [...]
The physical release of John Spalding’s posthumous Loveland album, The Beautiful Truth, has finally arrived. Most of you will remember the late musician’s passing this past November after a four year battle with cancer. You’ll probably also recall that his friend and producer [...]
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The first video from Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band containing their actual music. “Cheer For Fate” was conceived, shot, and edited by the band. This is the song that makes you think they sound like Modest Mouse. It also deals with subtitles, longing for love, [...]
Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to stream to Say Hi’s latest album, Oohs & Aahs, prior to last Friday’s CD release show, where the group opened for Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, also releasing their self-titled debut. The record, [...]
Handsome Furs have loaded their new record, Face Control, into their myspace player. It comes out March 10th via Sub Pop. I know I get really giddy about certain shit, especially if it involves Dan Boeckner, but I’m already thinking this might end up being [...]
After my, ahem, madcap evening on Friday, a group of us headed out for a more subdued experience watching the Pica Beats at the Comet Tavern. I was the DD even though we didn’t drive. You can see a few pics of it [...]
So, my buddy and I headed down to Kirkland last Friday to catch a pretty attractive lineup of two Seattle rap outfits and one electro-rock beatmaker. Party-crashin’ hip—don’t call it ‘hipster’—hop trio Champagne Champagne was headlining the show, with the buzz-worthy Mad Rad taking their [...]
Honestly, this has to be one of the finer weekends music-wise of this young year. If you can’t find something to whet your whistle, well, then, maybe you shouldn’t be whistling. I will admit, however, that choosing a show (or two) this weekend will be a difficult task. That’s why [...]
Who sez they don’t make crazy rock-show posters, anymore? Case in point:
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Should you have trouble reading Crazy, fuzzy noise-rock overlords Kinski will be drowning the Comet in din with the post-apocalyptic punk weirdo-dirge of AFCGT, a local “supergroup” of sorts comprised of the [...]
Do you remember when I told you about Middle Cyclone, the new album from that broken-hearted redhead from Tacoma, Neko Case? Do you also, per chance, remember when I told you about NPR’s First Listen Series? (Mostly in the context of Merriweather Post [...]
Not sure if you people check the calendar or not, but here are a few attendance-worthy shows this weekend that didn’t quite make it up there:
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Tonight (2/19):
FREE Show @ Chop Suey
Billy The Fridge
Jay Barz
Cancer Rising
DJ Marc Sence
9 pm / 21+
My recommendation is that you get [...]
Oh, you haven’t seen this yet on ten billion other blogs? Good, cuz now you got it.
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I dunno, this lineup looks pretty solid. Jane’s Addiction? WTF? I guess Satellite Party didn’t do so well. But also, the Yeah (fucking) Yeah Yeahs! Animal Collective! The Wrens! M83! [...]
In an effort to extend our coverage of the Murder City Devils to levels of absurdity, I’ll too give my take on Wednesday’s MCD show. (Grendel gave his already; perhaps misterlevitan can later tell us about tonight’s show.)
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In recent interviews leading up to the latest [...]
The Old Haunts, one of the more intriguing bands to come out of Olympia in recent years, have broken up. Not necessarily the most popular outfit around, their raw, swamp-rock punk-boogie garnered my attention a few years back, leading to an exciting show-viewing at the [...]
I think I’ll preface this with the fact that Pixies are my No. 1 Favorite Band Of All Time. Basically, in my eyes, Black Francis can do no wrong (outside of his tiff with Kim Deal, but they’re both crazy, so, really, whose fault was it?). [...]
Hey all you Helio Sequence lovers. Should you be living on the “fringes of society” in such far-out, enigmatic places as “Spokane”, “Bellingham” or “Salem”, today is your lucky day. The percussion-heavy, electro duo is bringing their excellent catalog to the outskirts of the Pac [...]
So, this isn’t really local-related, but seeing as how I love this band, I don’t really care. You might recall the laundry list of albums I was looking forward to from a few weeks ago. Montreal pop/rock/punk/whatever band Malajube was featured due to their [...]
Modest Mouse announced some new tour dates today, with the first date being February 21st in Eugene, OR, the last in New York, with none in Seattle in between. Bummer—if you’re a huge fan living in the Pac NW, you might have a road trip in [...]
I got nothin’ but shitty pictures.
