Seattle Subsonic

Seattle Subsonic - May, 2009

Handsome Furs @ Neumos

Those of you who “know” me know that I would have Dan Boeckner’s child if it were at all possible (on that note, I’ve been watching this documentary about a man who actually gets pregnant—I think it’s called Junior—really fascinating stuff). Not because he’s physically attractive or I got beer goggles or anything like that; it’s because his music astonishes and touches me in ways many others don’t. I’m a cerebral lover. I first learned of Mr. Boeckner via Wolf Parade, a criminally underappreciated band making some of the best music today. He went and got himself a looker of a wife (Alexei Perry) and now they make sweet sweet love, er, music together (have you seen the promo photos, people?).

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People, like me, who were fans of Wolf Parade first and Handsome Furs second will recognize familiar themes in Boeckner’s songwriting: elemental (earth, water, fire—the internal kind) visions juxtaposed with human heartache and modern world lamentations. To call him ‘passionate’ goes as a severe understatement. And while he isn’t the most skilled guitarist around, the man can make few chords sound just as unique as they are familiar. As far as his cohort, she’s bolstered her knowledge of the MicroKorg from last time around, and her opulent exploitation of it has injected a ferocity and swagger into the duo’s sound that will make it, eventually, one of 2009′s best.

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Below you’ll find some rare cuts of the duo performing at Neumos in April of last year (Sub Pop issued a limited number with pre-orders of Face Control). It’s probably as close as you’re gonna get without actually attending. Which you should most decidedly do.

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All We Want Baby, Is Everything

[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/01-all-we-want-baby-is-everything.mp3]

Officer of Hearts

[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/02-officer-of-hearts.mp3]

Legal Tender

[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/03-legal-tender.mp3]

Radio Kaliningrad

[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/04-radion-kaliningrad.mp3]

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w/ the Cinnamon Band

21+; $15 adv; Advance tickets on sale now at: Moe Bar, www.ticketswest.com, select QFCs, Rudy’s Barbershops

Obits, Lights and Unnatural Helpers @ Neumos

There is an unearthly amount of fantastic punk, rock, grit and grime happening at Neumos on Sat, May 16th. Opening the night are Unnatural Helpers, whom some might call a local NW superband made up of Kimberly Morrison (Dutchess & the Duke) on bass, and Brian Standeford (Idle Times, Catheters, Tall Birds) Leo Gephardt (Catheters, Tall Birds) on guitars and Dean Whitmore (The Intelligence, and many others) on durms/vocals.

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This band has been through many, many, incarnations with other Seattle cornerstones such as guitarist Jesse Steinchen, the Lights’ PJ Rogalski, and Kinski’s Chris Martin but their present form has been deemed officially awesome and signed to local lable  Hardly Art.
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Speaking of PJ Rogalsk and the Lights, .. well they’re just #2 of 3 on the night. currently on a US tour with the Obits bringin the Seattle sound to the world. The Lights give a new name to the local garage rock scene. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that they ARE the local garage rock scene. With heavy base lines, Birit-Mod sounding vocals, it’s hard not to be drawn into a twitching mess when their songs like “Setting Sun” explode into true chaos. Easily one of my favorite local acts.

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Oh wait.. therre’s still more! The Obits are headlining the night. You can see Tripel El Es’ write-up on them here.  So-Nuff sed. See you there.

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Obits,
The Lights,
Unnatural Helpers (recently signed to Hardly Art!)
:: Doors at 8 pm :: $10 adv ::

The Obits – Neumo’s May 16

Before the release of their debut album, I Blame You, not much was known about the sound of The Obits. Fans were stuck with a bootleg recording of their first live show that could only be found on their MySpace page, but they wanted more. These veteran indie rockers were willing to take their time experimenting with a three-guitar sound before bringing a bass player into the fold allowed them to move pretty swiftly in creating the album. The result is a band that that describes themselves as not into innovation, but rather play the stuff they like and let the originality take care of itself.
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With the album being described as a straight up rock ‘n roll record, fans of the Rick Frober’s previous band Drive Like Jehu would be well advised to check this show out. I hear it includes a blistering performance of the classic blues staple Milk Cow Blues

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Obits,
The Lights,
Unnatural Helpers (recently signed to Hardly Art!)
:: Doors at 8 pm :: $10 adv ::

Getcho Soul Togetha (and Win Free Tickets!)

Well, whadaya know? It’s that time again…

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What do I mean by ‘that time’ you ask? It’s time for another amazing funk show in this wonderful city we all call home.  If you have read anything I have posted over the last year, you would be fully aware that I am a connoisseur of all things soulful and a lover of funkiness in all its forms (so you should listen to me!).

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Well, I will be rocking the eff out at Neumos this Saturday to a group by the name of Soulive. Soulive is an incredibly dope funk outfit out of upstate New York that has been cranking out feel good jams for a hot minute. Their previous albums are all worth at least a spin or two, and their hip hop infuzed remix album is a work of genre-bending art. They are currently touring in support of their latest effort titled Up Here and it is exactly what I expected…very funky. It’s a little more rough around the edges than some of their previous efforts and this is a great thing. You can almost picture them rocking out in a basement while recording and the hints of grime in the tracks make it a little more authentic and organic. For example: the slightly distorted bass and guitar riffs, along side some super fresh horns, make the cut Backwards Jack sound like a quality bootleg recording at a concert/basement party rather than a fully spit shined studio recording. All qualities of which I am a fan.

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So, go pick up a copy of said cd, and some tickets, then come get down with 400+ of your closest friends this weekend. Buy me a drink while you’re at it.

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OR

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Win a pair of guest list spots by sending us an email (info at seattlesubsonic.com) with “Soulive” in the subject. The winner will be drawn Friday Afternoon.

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SOULIVE WITH RUSSELL GUNN, NIGEL HALL, BLACK SWEDES

SATURDAY, MAY 9th

AE, DonQ and Puerto Rico Rums Present The Icons Among Us Tour
8PM Doors
$15 ADV
Click Here to Buy Tickets
21+
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The Vaselines @ Neumos

I won’t profess to be long on the Vaselines, but I do know that the aged Glaswegian band has undergone a renaissance of late, catalyzed by the 20th Anniversary of the label that helped pioneer their earlier records, Sub Pop (you’ve heard of ‘em?), as well as the resurgence of that genre they helped bring to light back in the late 80s (sloppy and fun garage-pop rock). Perhaps the duo/quatro is best known for, however, being covered by Nirvana (‘Molly’s Lips’, ‘Son of a Gun’, ‘Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam’) and lauded by Mr. Cobain himself. Hmmm, I seem to remember that helping out the Pixies reunion, too.

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There are a ton of bands who’ve looked (unwittingly perhaps) to the Vaselines for inspiration in recent years, from the aforementioned Nirvana, to the Black Lips, Vivian Girls, and the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, to name a few. It’s good to see a band like this getting their due—whatever that entails—as Sub Pop is releasing Enter the Vaselines for good measure. It basically compiles any and all Vaselines music your giddy little heart could ask for. You can bask in the catchy, no-frills jubilation of the band at Neumos, May 12th.

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“Son of A Gun”

[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/sonofagun.mp3]

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w/ Hallways

ALL AGES; $20 adv; Tickets on sale now at: Moe Bar, www.ticketswest.com, Rudy’s Barbershops

Person L

Person L is the brainchild of the incomparable, Kenneth Vasoli. Vasoli, 23, has spent the better part of the past decade building quite a name for himself as the singer and songwriter of the Starting Line. But Vasoli was simply not fulfilled in the melodic punk world that the band helped establish. He became enthralled by different musical genres, building an eclectic horizon that slowly brought him to the realization that it was time for him to leave all he had known and make a change.

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Drawing inspiration from artists such as Drive like Jehu, Animal Collective, James Brown, and Radiohead, Person L was formed in the winter of 2006. He recruited a band with the utmost premier players from the area, including members of The Minor Times, Inkling, The Prize Fight and The Suicide Pact. Vasoli had finally found his vessel for musical escape…and a newfound passion for writing songs that pushed the envelope. Initial, the band’s debut, is the record that not only pushes that envelope – it licks and seals it. It charters new territory for both Vasoli and listeners alike, and is the evolution of a songwriter who continues to raise the bar with each song he writes. ”

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check them out here : http://www.purevolume.com/personl

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Also playing that night will be

Mae, Barcelona, sirens sister :: Doors at 6:30 :: $15 adv ::

With Mae Head lining

Person L @ Neumos

Person L is the brainchild of the incomparable, Kenneth Vasoli. Vasoli, 23, has spent the better part of the past decade building quite a name for himself as the singer and songwriter of the Starting Line. But Vasoli was simply not fulfilled in the melodic punk world that the band helped establish. He became enthralled by different musical genres, building an eclectic horizon that slowly brought him to the realization that it was time for him to leave all he had known and make a change.

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Drawing inspiration from artists such as Drive like Jehu, Animal Collective, James Brown, and Radiohead, Person L was formed in the winter of 2006. He recruited a band with the utmost premier players from the area, including members of The Minor Times, Inkling, The Prize Fight and The Suicide Pact. Vasoli had finally found his vessel for musical escape…and a newfound passion for writing songs that pushed the envelope. Initial, the band’s debut, is the record that not only pushes that envelope – it licks and seals it. It charters new territory for both Vasoli and listeners alike, and is the evolution of a songwriter who continues to raise the bar with each song he writes. ”

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check them out here : http://www.purevolume.com/personl

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Also playing that night will be

Mae, Barcelona, sirens sister :: Doors at 6:30 :: $15 adv ::

Mae is Head lining

UPDATE!! From Person L’s Blog

Lady Sovereign @ Crocodile

You need more Lady Sovereign in your Life. Make your way down to the Crocodile tonight for this show.  You can Also catch her @ Easy Street for an instore appearance at 730.

“A 5 ft 1 pixie with giant passion, ambition and sheer raw talent, if there is one theme running through the magical existence of Lady Sovereign, then it’s that of being a fiercely independent”

Lady Sovereign’s 2009 single “So Human” is causing controversy in the underground music scene due to its use of The Cure’s song “Close To Me”.

check her out her myspace: Lady Sovereign

come out and dance!

Starfucker Has A New EP

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 (“Medicine” and “Boy Toy”), but you can also download “Boy Toy” right here. It’s bouncy, it’s fun, it might remind you of R2D2, and it’s just about what you’d expect from these Portlanders whose main mission is to make you cut a rug (figuratively, of course). That Cyndi Lauper cover I told you about a little while back is also included on the EP.

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Thanks to Filter for the DL.

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Boy Toy

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Northwest tour dates below:

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May 8 2009 ALL AGES Eugene, Oregon
wow hall w/ boy eats drum machine, mt. st. helens veitnam band

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May 9 2009 ALL AGES FREE Portland, Oregon
downtown jackpot instore

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Jun 13 2009 ALL AGES Olympia, Washington
the northern w/ atole

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Jun 14 2009 ALL AGES Spokane, Washington
empyrean coffee w/ atole

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Jun 28 2009 ALL AGES Portland, Oregon
super fest @ rotture w/ nice nice, atole, explode into colors, whats up?

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Jul 24 2009 Seattle, Washington
capitol hill block party

Subsonic’s 1st Birthday Party @ the Sunset!

It’s hard to believe that just 12 short months ago, we published the first post on Seattle Subsonic. It was then we  started a mission to introduce people to the wealth of music of all genres coming out of, and happening in, Seattle. To point out the little guys doing BIG things, the BIG guys doing nothing. We’ve seen the births and deaths of bands and venues around the NW and we covered it with lots of love and hate alike… I think that both people reading back then would agree we’ve stuck to our mission pretty well.
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Over the past year we’ve met some fan-friggen-tastic local musicians and we’re getting three of our favorites together to celebrate our first year. And really, is there any better way to party with a one-year old than with loads of booze and rock and roll? Nay I say!
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So without further adieu, I give you our party! Come on out to the Sunset for a night where you can say… “I saw those guys when…” but be sure to take pictures as you’re bound not to remember.

See you there!

Happy Birthday to US – Let’s Party! Thurs, May 14th at the Sunset!

It’s hard to believe that just 12 short months ago, we published the first post on Seattle Subsonic. It was then we  started a mission to introduce people to the wealth of music of all genres coming out of, and happening in, Seattle. To point out the little guys doing BIG things, the BIG guys doing nothing. We’ve seen the births and deaths of bands and venues around the NW and we covered it with lots of love and hate alike… I think that both people reading back then would agree we’ve stuck to our mission pretty well.
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Over the past year we’ve met some fan-friggen-tastic local musicians and we’re getting three of our favorites together to celebrate our first year. And really, is there any better way to party with a one-year old than with loads of booze and rock and roll? Nay I say!
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So without further adieu, I give you our party! Come on out to the Sunset for a night where you can say… “I saw those guys when…” but be sure to take pictures as you’re bound not to remember.

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The doors will open at 8:00 so come early and hang out before C-Leb and A-Bro hit the stage at 9, followed by true blue Ballard rockers, the Liars Club at 10 and finishing off with the Celebrity Orphans featuring the magnificent stylings of BC Campbell, one of Seattle’s most talented and often underrated musicians at 11. OH YEAH!!

See you there!

You Have To Admit, The Block Party Lineup Is Pretty Fuckin’ Great

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 we’ve seen so far (though I probably say that every year), and if you can’t get behind the iconic Sonic Youth or the celebrated Jesus Lizard as dual headliners, then surely you can get giddy about the slew of other excellent “second tier” bands on the bill: Deerhunter is easily the band I’m most excited to see again, along with the Thermals, the Pica Beats, and Starfucker; the infamous Gossip and the notorious Black Lips are two acts I have never seen live before and am stoked to get the chance. (I guarantee the Black Lips show will be packed.)

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You’ll notice that the fourth (ex-King Cobra) stage has been left out of the mix (maybe they’ll sell fewer tickets?), but, as we saw last year with the Comet, the Cha Cha and others, some “unofficial” shows that you can meander into will likely be a’happenin’ concurrently.

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Some genre-specific notes: the lineup in general has capitalized on the current prominence of lo-fi pop and/or jagged punk bands (Black Lips, Flexions, Past Lives, Mika Miko, Audacity, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, the Thermals, the Gossip, Akimbo, Bow+Arrow, the Blakes); this is absolutely my favorite aspect of the schedule. There is also good representation of Seattle’s softer side (the Dutchess and the Duke, the Moondoggies, Hey Marseilles, the Maldives, the Pica Beats). A smattering of Seattle’s hip hop (though probably not enough) will be showcased with Sportin’ Life‘s prime MCs, the De La-inspired They Live! (featuring Gatsby from Cancer Rising), and SOL. Some electro/dance acts include Starfucker, Hotels, and the Girls, all local. And in the boombastic, head-hurting category, we have Earth, Sleepy Eyes of Death and Truckasauras. More to be announced.

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Early-bird tickets are available now until May 15th ($22/day or $40 for both). Not sure what they’ll increase to (I went ahead and got my 2-day pass already). Say what you will about the crowds, but this lineup reflects the forefront of today’s music scene (not to mention the street-cred-laden bands headlining)—if you aren’t into it, you should probably forget about contemporary music altogether. Full schedule after the jump.

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