Seattle Subsonic

Seattle Subsonic Recommends – Seattle Concerts for July 2008

July 7th, 2008

The summer has finally hit Seattle and the obvious place to be for music is outdoors. There are a plethora of festivals pouring into the area this month including the Capitol Hill Block Party-which just might be the end-all-be-all event of the summer- The Pemberton Music Festival is getting squished into Whistler’s little sister town, Pembie BC, and the Sub Pop 20th Anniversary at Marymore Park featuring bands from the entirety of the label’s history.

If you’re getting a little overwhelmed about the logistics and magnitude of these big shows, remember there are still some great concerts cookin in the local digs in Seattle. The Long Winters are playing a free show at Linda’s (don’cha just miss winter?) Wolf Parade is making a post-SP20 (hush hush) appearance at Neumos and on the local tip I gotta recommend Vashon Islands own Venus Verse throwing down a intimate show at the Comet, and Shenandoah Davis and friends playing the Colombia City Theatre

Full July recommendations after the break, and as always there are links to most all the bands’ music so you can check out the whose new to you. Be sure to check out the Concert Calendar for others as well

Wednesday, July 9

Hungry Pines (SEA)
Paper Airplanes (WCHTA)
Biography of Ferns (SEA)
X-Ray Press (SEA)

@ Comet Tavern
8pm
Price? I dunno. Plan on approximately 5 bones
21+

(from Ahndrea)
More Hungry Pines at Comet Tavern (they played Chris Travis’ Birthday Bash at the Sunset the other week as well as Noise for the Needy, also at the Comet). HP deliver sultry female vox over edgy distorted rock. Or freestyle freestyle freestyle according their myspace page. Nice. Visiting from Kansas are Paper Airplanes who sound more than curiously appealing upon first listen…. Other Seattle friends joining the bill: Biography of Ferns and X-Ray Press.

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Wednesday, July 9
The Long Winters (SEA)

@ Linda’s Tavern
9pm
$0 aka FREE
21+

(from Ahndrea)
OK – if you didn’t catch The Long Winters at the Showbox on Saturday (i.e. if you were too cheap to purchase a ticket, or perhaps not interested in hangin’ at a venue as mighty as the Showbox), you can catch Long Winters frontman John Roderick and Nabil Ayers play an all-vinyl DJ set at Linda’s Tavern tonight, absolutely FREE. Solid gig at solid venue. And solid price to boot

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Thursday, July 10
Venus Verse (SEA)
Black Night Crash (AUS)
C’est la Mort (SEA)
Dulce Sky (UT)
@the Comet
9:00

(From LB)
The threesome—made up of Kevin, Stephanie, and Fausto—draw from (somewhat) equal parts 80s British icons The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen (”Dreaming Again”, “Loving Arms”), contemporary Swedish pop invaders such as Shout Out Louds and Lykke Li (”Not Quite Juliet”, “Whisper”), as well as trip-hop pioneers Portishead (”Paris”). Some impressive names, indeed, for a small band from the corner of the Evergreen State to be compared to. And while the band still has the fresh sound of wide-eyed shoegazers, the poppy, ambient, even jazzy excursions their songs take off on make for a charming and captivating listen. You’ll find plenty of synths, machine-like drumming, and precise post-punk guitar work, embellished by wistful and tender lyricism. Lead vocals provided by both male and female, too; that’s always a plus in my book

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Fri July 11
Obits (NYC, Ex-Hot Snakes) -
The Lights (SEA)
Android Hero -(SEA)
9:30pm, $8
@ Funhouse

(from Kevin)
I’m a huge fan of the Lights. Another of Seattle’s own, with a sound vaguely like that of the Fall, but from the 70’s. With 10 years of playing together under their belts, this powerful trio belts out the rock that will be sure to get you trampled in the Funhouse.

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Fri July 11

The Maldives (SEA)
North Twin (SEA)
Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags (PDX)
10pm $8
@ Sunset

North Twin is bringing back the twang tonight in the little Sunset Tavern. If you’re not familiar, NT is composed of members of the now-defunct Lazy Susan and Radio Nationals (RIP) and has been tearing up stages for a few years now. to back up that twang are the beefy beats of the rhythm section and the sheer voltage of rock an roll.

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Sat July 12-Sun July 14

Sub Pop 20th Anniversary
Marymoor Park,
Redmond, WA
Tix (Pre Ticketbastard) $35 (post Ticketbastard) out-fuckin-rageous
Saturday Lineup
Eric’s Trip
Seaweed
The Helio Sequence
Pissed Jeans
Fleet Foxes
The Fluid
Low
Mudhoney
The Vaselines
Iron and Wine
Flight of the Conchords

Sunday Lineup
The Ruby Suns
Grand Archives
Kinski
Foals
Les Thugs
No Age
Red Red Meat
Comets on Fire
Beachwood Sparks
Green River
Wolf Parade
(from Kevin)
So this is going to be an event to remember. You’ll officially be able to say “I was there when…” And there will be PLENTY of flannels telling you how they “…were there when they played (enter The Sit and Spin or the Eye Spy, or my friend’s house party here)” I’m a little (lot) hesitant about going to this event because even though there are some of my current favorites playing, Wolf Parade, Cave Singers, Foals, there are some of my least favorites playing. And while it’s dumb to let the bad overtake the good, well… let’s just say I don’t want people saying “I remember when that guy got his ass beat by Mudhoney”

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Monday, July 14
Joshua Morrison (NSHVL)
FENCES (SEA)
Kristen Ward (SEA)

@ The Triple Door

7:30pm $10 All Age

(from Ahndrea)
Outstanding lineup at the Triple Door on July 14th! While on brief leave from the military, Washington native Joshua Morrison will be back in town to grace us a soulful acoustic gig at The Triple Door. Opening for him are the FENCES, a brilliant new catch on the Seattle music scene NOT to be missed (read SeattleSubsonic’s lil blurb on FENCES here). Also on the bill is Kristen Ward, who I’ve heard quite a bit of buzz about lately….

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Monday, July 14
Wolf Parade (QBC)
@ Neumos
$17 ADV, 8pm Doors, 21+-

(from LB)
Fuck yeah, I recommend this! (Although Monday nights do kinda suck for shows).

Click the wolf for more details….wolves are so cool

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Thursday, July 17

Shenandoah Davis (SEA)
Nick Jaina (PDX)
Molly Rose (SEA)

@ Columbia City Theatre

(from Kevin)
Shenandoah Davis is currently working on a new collection of songs and will be playing an album release show, July 17th at the Columbia City Theater, accompanied by a full band. Supporting Shenandoah will be Nick Jaina and Molly Rose. I’ve seen her play solo before and it was captivating. I can’t wait to see what this night has in store.

For more on Shenandoah, check out the post here

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Sat July 19
The Intelligence (SEA)
Witch Hats (AUS)
Telepathic Liberation Army (SEA)
The Broken Knives (SEA)

@ the Funhouse
$7 – 21+

(from LB)
I briefly mentioned the Intelligence in my post about the Wild Rose’s Pride celebration that took place this past weekend. Due to the surplus of margaritas I ingested, I regrettingly avoided seeing this lo-fi electro-garage band for a second time. I hope to NOT repeat that again (though, for the record, I will never avoid margaritas. NEVAH!).

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Led by Lars Finberg, former drummer of the A Frames, this band churns out quick, spastic pop songs, often drenched in guitar fuzz and decorated with the quirky Mod stylings of a MicroKorg. The guitarist has one of those mustaches and simply dares you to look at him while he’s playing (or maybe he dares you to NOT look at him; I’m not quite sure). If you’re a fan of the Fall, or maybe even Devo, you’ll likely find a place in your heart for this dizzying, avant garde rock band. Finberg sings/moans about a lot of weird shit, but hearing a cultural reference or two on each song that you can “relate” to is inevitable. See this band, they are my new favorite.

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Fri, July 25 – Sat July 26
Mass Bands @ Capitol Hill Block Party

(from LB)
Whether you love this two-day, center-of-the-city’s-music-scene extravaganza (I’m pretty sure I use that word too much), or the logistical nightmare of too many stages and too many people gives you the willies, you can’t deny that this year’s lineup is top-notch. From Les Savy Fav to Past Lives, Fleet Foxes to Chromeo, DeVotchKa to Truckasauras, the Hold Steady to the Physics (and on and on), there’s something for most everyone.

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Plus, (as in Man Plus) there’ll be some of the best people-watchin’ since your ex-brother-in-law dragged you along—quite literally—to the Mullet & Wife-Beater Convention in Greenbo, Alabama where the untold amounts of moonshine you consumed resulted in a freakishly bizarre scenario aboard a garbage barge putzing through the Hudson River. Holy moly.

Daily Lineups here…

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Friday, July 25th
The Watson Twins (LA)
Tim Fite (NYC)
Jenn Wood (SEA)

@ Tractor Tavern
9:00pm
$10 ADV, $12 DOS
21

(from Ahndrea)
If you’re looking for something a little mellower than the CHBP, then check out The Watson Twins at the Tractor tonight. The twins became familiar to all after Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis teamed with them for the release of Rabbit Fur Coat in 2006. On their own, The Watson Twins offer a gentler version of folk-rock, with perhaps a little more country twang, than found on Rabbit Fur Coat. The Twins’ music is obviously stripped of the charming spark that Lewis provided in teaming with them. However, this is not to say they aren’t equally respectable and interesting as a duo on their own, ‘cuz they’re definitely a draw.

Opening are Tim Fite and Seattle singer/song-writer Jenn Wood.

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Friday July 25-Sun July 27

Pemberton Music Festival
Pemberton BC, Canada
3-DAY EVENT TICKET $259.50 CDN (so about the same US)

(from Kevin)
I’ll just give you the hilights for this as it’s a huge monster of a show.
Headliners include (Fri)NIN and Interpol, (Sat) Tom Petty and Flaming Lips (Sun) Coldplay,
Other bands to catch are Wolfmother, Minus the Bear, My Morning Jacket, Sam Roberts, vampire Weekend and many many more. (Full lineup here)
Beyond the massive line-up for this event, there is a 12 year tradition being wrapped into the festival. The Pemberton Barn Dance. Typically a one-day fund raising event occurring in the same weekend as the Festival, the Pemberton Festival and Barn Dance organizers teamed up to bring the event to the festival and expand it to three days, running from noon to midnight each day. Festival campers can get a special sneak peak of the Barn Dance on Thursday, July 24 from 5pm to 11pm. Wheee HAW!

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Wednesday July 30

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band (OMHA)

@ Neumo’s
8pm
$25 ADV
All age

(from Ahndrea)
Conor Oberst is releasing a self-titled album this August. Most commonly known for his work under Bright Eyes, Oberst teamed with a group of musicians, labeled the Mystic Valley Band, to record his solo album last January/February in Mexico. Oberst delivers much of the same here as he has under Bright Eyes: raw, honest, non-fiction poetry and storytelling over quivering vocals. Within his most recent work however, Oberst seems to diverge from the cynical, self-conscious, almost suicidal nature that lingers in much of his Bright Eyes work. “Souled Out!!!”, “Danny Callahan” and “Sausalito” are upbeat alt-country/folk, lacking any sense of darkness. Though I’m a huge fan of his blunt, wry Bright Eyes schtuff, I’m excited to indulge in some happier (relatively speaking) tunes from this brilliant musician/lyricist.

Bright Eyes fans, get your tickets fast. I predict this’ll sell out soon.
And if you’ve got 8 minutes, check out the lil’ clip below:
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

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Tues, July 29
FAIR
The Pale Pacific (B-ham)
Ruth
$8 adv / $10 dos
8pm doors // All Ages / Bar w/ ID
@ Chop Suey
(from Kevin)
The Pale Pacific, formerly The Pale, have been up in Bellingham on hiatus compiling (and I shit you not) a tribute album to Hue Lewis. Guest appearances on the album include good friends and the Long Winters. The hope is that they try some of those hits on us at this show. Forest for the Trees!! New Drug!! study up so you can shout your favorite requests… Oh, and here in the era of the internets, don’t ever call yourself Fair. Do you know how many fairs there are in the world..?

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Thursday, July 31st

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (SEA)
Boat (SEA)
Awesome (SEA)

@ Neumo’s
8pm -$8 – All Ages

(from Ahndrea) This is Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band’s debut. MORE THAN WORTH YOUR TIME TO CHECK OUT. They’ve got a rockin’, upbeat vibe, and plenty fun stuff happening on guitar. Playing alongside are BOAT – a crowd-pleasing, light-hearted indie/pop trio who play happy, catchy tunes that literally, float your boat.

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Got anything else worth mentioning?

Feel free to throw up the details in the comments below.