Seattle Subsonic - May, 2008
Blue Scholars refuse compartmentalization
Today on the HUB lawn at UW in front of an audience that was too young to recognize J.J. Fad’s “Supersonic” when Sabzi spun it, MC Geologic waxed poetic on the nature of contemporary hip hop. In answering the hypothetical question “what kind of hip hop do you play?” that might be asked by someone unfamiliar with the sound of Blue Scholars, Geo recalled the good ol’ days when “you could bump NWA and PM Dawn and De La Soul… even Vanilla Ice… and it was all good. Like you can’t listen to Kanye if you listen to 50 Cent. Sure, Kanye’s better, but I listen to both.”
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On one level I was struck with the truth of that statement; *I* had those tapes back in ‘91, ‘92, ‘93. High school days. “100 MIles and Runnin’” EP, “Raising Hell”, “Fear of a Black Planet.” I even had that Vanilla Ice album. (Hey, you did too; don’t lie.) When it was all “rap” to me. Sure, there were plenty of great - and better - artists on their way up, but my memory was that when shopping for hip hop, the average suburban kid like me had very few choices.
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Fast forward to 2008, though. The art form is 30-plus years old. Artists abound. It’s a bit like the categorization of “rock” music - does it matter to me if it’s Elliott Smith or Deftones or The Catheters or The Wellwater Conspiracy or Beck or Viva Voce on my iPod? Nah. They’re all filed under “Rock.” Just like People Under the Stairs, J5, DJ Shadow, Krush, Run DMC, RJD2, Giant Panda, Crown City Rockers or Aceyalone. It’s all hip hop, right? And while it never needed to be accepted to someone like me, think of how important that progress is to the people that are earning a living from it. Today, intentionally or otherwise, the Blue Scholars pointed out that legitimacy to (at least) this listener.
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Confidential to Geologic: Black Eyed Peas was a favorite of mine, too, before *she* came along. Ugh. I’d like to officially declare her the Yoko Ono of hip hop.
Listen to Fleet Foxes Debut LP
So, if you’ve been paying attention, Fleet Foxes have been getting a lot of attention lately, mostly for their stellar EP, Sun Giant, but also for their mesmerizing live performances. The band was even asked to double up at Sasquatch! this year (cuz the National was late, but whatever, it still counts).
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Well, their full length is about to hit stores next Tuesday (6/3), and if you haven’t pilfered it from other sources, you can go listen to it now (all 11 tracks!) on their myspace page. It’s pretty damn good.
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I recommend this.
Man Plus at Old Redmond Firehouse TONIGHT
I like these guys. Here’s why. Read the poster directly above for details. I’ll leave it up to you to discover the other bands.
Exclusively Yours, Molly Shannon, Molly Shannon
Hey there Seattle Subsonic-ites! Wanted to let you know that one of our local favorites, Molly Shannon, Molly Shannon has given us their freshman release You think yr the Doctor, I think I’m the Sheriff for YOU to download for FREE. That’s right, if you wanted to stop by their website (or their no longer existing myspace page), the music is long gone. You can only get it here, exclusively on Seattle Subsonic.
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“Enjoy the album, and be a good friend and share it with those closest to you. ms,ms will be back once their new material is finished, until then great job!” — ms, ms
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If you haven’t heard of Molly Shannon, Molly Shannon before, I wrote a post on them a couple of months back styled as a letter to David Lynch. I thought they were a match made in heaven. Here’s a little teaser from the article to give you a taste of what they’re like: “When listening for the first time, you just might think you’re hearing Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse fronting a very raw lo-fi sounding Radiohead. While other tracks like Alice Liddell, and Debbie ‘Debra’ Gibson have a more ambient and entrancing feel that I believe would greatly succeed in a place where music and sound are featured in enhancing the visual art experience. Whether it be the backdrop to create the tone and mood of an intricate slow moving indie film, such as one of your own Mr. Lynch or possibly Mr. Kubrick’s if he was still around, to the background music at a soho art gallery opening accompanying darker avante garde art to further your perception and understanding of the piece.”
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I’m definitely looking forward to their latest & greatest and am happy that they chose us to serve up to you, this cool gift. So get it now before it’s going, going, gone!
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MSMS Photo by Cory Gustason
Guest/Ghost Vocalist?
Is it just an anomaly of record production, or does it seem like Bono is singing for Kula Shaker, The Kooks, and Sirens Sister?
Sure sounds like it. I just never thought that his “sound” would come around, like the neo-grunge “yarl” of Eddie Vedder was so en vogue with the likes of Candlebox and Creed and all those meow bands a decade ago.
This must make Jules’ toes curl.
3900′ Festival - Hornings Hideout, OR
| Friday, June 27, 2008 | ||
| Saturday, June 28, 2008 |
Come June 27th, tucked back in a little hidey-hole park in Oregon, you’ll find one of the biggest gatherings of independent bands this summer. The 3900′ Festival. This is going to be the feel-good event of 2008. It’s easy on your pocket, easy on the ears, easy on the Earth and just all-around-Oregon-style easy goin’ all the way. The bands being featured here are not national acts, they’re not the names lit up on the marquees. These are the openers, the ones that have to play hard to EARN your love in the 8:30 slots on Saturday nights at Neumos.
For more on the festival click here
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Shirtless Spectacles (and a Disco-Metal Band in Drag)
I don’t remember the weather being particularly warm that night. In fact, I think I wore a jacket. I don’t recall a tubby mayor mandating that, “In addition to my ridiculous noise regulations, all shirts MUST be shed when playing loud music!” Yet, when I left the Comet Tavern last Friday eve (5/23), all I could remember were two distinct masses of sweaty man-flesh hopping, climbing, screaming, writhing and pantomiming their way to one of the freakiest, most entertaining rock shows I’d experienced. (I know, I probably say that a lot, but what can I do? I’m a rock romantic.) One of them even had a gun that shot knives. Er, wait, that was one of the opening bands that plays in drag and sings disco-metal songs about sushi. Or thereabouts.
Exhibits A, B, & C:
I went to this show in high anticipation of Seattle’s PartMan PartHorse, and a legitimate curiosity in the Nebraskan one-man-band of The Show Is The Rainbow. If you haven’t seen PMPH (i.e. Gary Smith, Lisa Smith, Marshall Nall, and Rachel Ratner) throttling a crowd in some divey bar or tavern, then clearly you haven’t lived. At least not a life of a Seattle Music Fan In The Know. I, of course, am being pompous and facetious, but I can’t imagine anyone not being entertained by this band. Not only do they have a celebrity radio DJ in Ratner, who plays bass and keyboard, but their lead vocalist uses a variety of “gymnasium” moves to illustrate his barbed, often cheeky and flirtatious outlook on life. His wife, Lisa, churns out discreet, yet vital snare-dominated drum beats, while Nall is content making his punk and metal-influenced racket over in a corner somewhere. Much of their onstage aesthetic and antic would easily remind Les Savy Fav’s fans of that band’s legendary shows.
Gary was kind enough to hook me up with a copy of their upcoming second record, Year of the Jerk, and the band’s set predominantly featured new songs. They started off with “Significant Bummer”, a carousing electro-metal tune and one of YOTJ’s standout tracks. Smith’s chorus is slightly hilarious, where he says the title with what might as well be slumped shoulders and a droopy bottom lip. “Li’l Dude” and “Disappear”, another highlight off the new record, followed, and it was about this time that no speaker or cabinet was safe. With little to work with inside the Comet, the frolicking frontman did his best to engage the giggling, wiggling crowd by hoisting his monitor aloft and climbing on and off the tables and equipment to the side. More tunes and high jinx ensued.
Champagne Champagne at El Corazon TONIGHT
Continuing on with the hip-hop tip, Seattle’s Champagne Champagne will be playing their first all ages show tonight at El Corazon. Champagne2 is comprised of former Blood Brothers drummer Mark Gajadhar (”Gajamagic“) on beats and Pearl Dragon on vocals. I don’t know where he comes from—probably the 80s.
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You might also be interested to know that Gajadhar is drumming in BB-spinoff Past Lives, a delicious rock outfit quickly making a name for itself (that band will be playing the Nectar June 8th with Truckasauras). He kindly offers drum lessons with regularity. You should take him up on it.
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As for the bubbly group and their rapper, take a listen to a few of their tunes. “What’s Your Fantasy” is an awesome disco-inflected tune Prince would be jealous of, and “Molly Ringwald” will appease many post-pubescent John Hughes fans (obv). Pearl Dragon’s influences:
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Dead Prez meets Mosdef kicked by Kurt Cobain spit on by Outkast shit on by Jimmy Hendrix stabbed by Will Smith blessed by Spank Rock loved on by David Bowie impregnated Ziggy Stardust.
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That sounds freaking awesome. Can I get summadat?
Black, White, & Asian. Coming to Nectar on Friday
Giant Panda has hit the ground running with their sophomore release, “Electric Laser”. It’s getting a first spin here at the home office of Seattle Subsonic and my tappin’ feet are already heading off to Fremont. For Portlanders, catch ‘em Thursday night. The 206 crowd gets a Friday night show at Nectar with Iguales and Godspeed.
The first album was a “Reunion” of memories of beats of the past. It read like a bibliography for this period in “late hiphop“. It wasn’t mired in old school sentiment, but like a guy on his first date, it was on pretty good behavior to woo its audience, lure us in. Producer Thes One’s samples were fresh but not totally foreign to the ears of those had a few People Under the Stairs albums. This “Laser” blasts us from the future, dropping references to robots, (cyber)space, YouTube, the web, right-clicks, instant messaging and raps in Japanese. Shit, Japan is so futuristic it’s literally tomorrow there right now. This project makes good on every hope I had for this trio. Make a date with GP. Nectar. Friday night.
(Does this remind anyone else of the most-recent record covers for Lyrics Born and Lifesavas?)
17th Chapter and Ms Led open for Long Blondes at Neumos
| Wednesday, May 28, 2008 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
Seattle’s 17th Chapter are slated to support the Long Blondes at Neumos on Wed May, 28th. 17th Chapter is often billed as alt country, but they are indeed more like an ALT, alt country band, as in their sound ranges from pop to bluesy to some of the more jangly sounds you’d feel comfortable hearing pouring out of the tractor. Get a glimpse here on their myspace page. They’re worth the listen. Opening the show is Ms. Led, local post-punkers bringing heavy, groovy, angry flavor.
THE LONG BLONDES
17th CHAPTER (10:00)
MS LED (9:00)
NEUMOS
$12 ADV
8PM DOORS
21+
Juhu Beach at the Sunset (Possible Last Show!)
| Friday, May 30, 2008 | ||
| 9:00 pm |
I know you’re out there, Juhu Beach fans, so make sure you try and get to the Sunset Tavern next Friday, for JB’s possibly final show (!).
From a bulletin the band posted on myspace:
So this has been a long year for the beach. Lots of changes going on in everyone’s personal life along with the gradual decay all organic matter has to deal with. We’ve seen children, marriage, job changes, promotions, engagement and a false alarm for a fatal illness. With that said Jeff has decided bow out. He’s an amazing drummer and great dude. So the three remaining members are left to figure out what comes next. With that said next Friday, May 30, at the Sunset may turn out to be Juhu Beach’s final show. It’s been a fun ride and whatever happens we cannot say enough kind things back to all of the music lovers, writers, DJ’s bands and so on from around the country and the globe who have been wonderful along the way. Your benevolence has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.
If you’re able to come out to the Sunset May 30th–we’d love to see you out. We’re playing with our good friends H is for Hellgate as well as a killer band fron Ohio–Mr. Gnome. Who the Hells will be rock’n out (First up) as well.
Thanks and much love,
Juhu Beach
Pretty lame news. Here’s to hoping the dudes can find a new drummer and keep the dream alive.
9pm
21+
$7
Loving Thunder, Lozen, Heavy Hearts, the Valley at the Comet
| Friday, May 30, 2008 | ||
| 9:00 pm |
If you want to check out some of the leaders in hard rock playing in Seattle right now, this is your chance. Don’t screw it up. I recently reviewed Loving Thunder, a radical pounding bass and drum twosome, the Heavy Hearts have recently released their much-anticipated debut LP, A Killer of Snakes, and you shouldn’t need me to tell you about the Valley’s hard-hitting garage-metal. You might need me, however, to tell you that they’ll have a new 10″ EP available for sale.
Lozen is comprised of a couple girls from Tacoma playing black metal and flying far-too-far under THE RADAR. I don’t know who runs that thing, but they should add Lozen to its watch-list thingy.
9 pm
21+
Usually 6 or 7 bucks…
