Seattle Subsonic - September, 2009
Visqueen at the Tractor Tavern on 10/24; Doors open @ 8pm
I never really paid that much attention to Visqueen in prior years however their latest release Message to Garcia has made a big blip on my music radar as of late. Their newest album is a collection of songs that is a loving homage to front woman Rachel Flotard’s father who passed away from cancer earlier this year. It’s filled with power pop guitar riffs while leading lady Rachel Flotard’s unique voice is apparent singing straight from the heart and rocking at the same time. An eclectic cast of musicians lent a helping hand–Neko Case, pedal steel wizard Jon Rauhouse, The Fastbacks and The Long Winters–to create an extra-special electricity that resonates throughout the album.
Hand Me Down
[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/01-Hand-Me-Down.mp3]
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Visqueen will be playing at the Tractor Tavern on October 24th with Shonen Knife. Doors open at 8pm
Visqueen at the REVERB Festival (4pm) and the Crocodile (9pm) on Saturday 10/3
I’ve mentioned this in a comment or two on Seattle Subsonic how much I enjoyed the REVERB Festival last year. Now I’m making it official in a blog post. There was just something about it that brought back memories of old Seattle. It had a feel of “big town” Seattle: super mellow, non-pretentiousness, no lines, lots of colorful character and good music. Maybe that feel had something to do with the gray day and that I was there way before the onslaught of 10pm bar-hoppers showed up in Ballard. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited to go again this weekend. One band in particular I’m looking forward to is Seattle’s Visqueen.
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I never really paid that much attention to Visqueen in prior years however their latest release Message to Garcia has made a big blip on my music radar as of late. Their newest album is a collection of songs that is a loving homage to front woman Rachel Flotard’s father who passed away from cancer earlier this year. It’s filled with power pop guitar riffs while leading lady Rachel Flotard’s unique voice is apparent singing straight from the heart and rocking at the same time. An eclectic cast of musicians lent a helping hand–Neko Case, pedal steel wizard Jon Rauhouse, The Fastbacks and The Long Winters–to create an extra-special electricity that resonates throughout the album.
Hand Me Down
[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/01-Hand-Me-Down.mp3]
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Visqueen will be playing an all ages/early show/record release party this weekend at the REVERB Festival. They’ll be at the old school Ballard Eagles (where time has stood still for who knows how long) at 4pm. Or if that’s too early for you, they’ll be at the Crocodile later in the evening for a continuance of their CD release party.
Visqueen at the REVERB Festival This Weekend
I’ve mentioned this in a comment or two on Seattle Subsonic how much I enjoyed the REVERB Festival last year. Now I’m making it official in a blog post. There was just something about it that brought back memories of old Seattle. It had a feel of “big town” Seattle: super mellow, non-pretentiousness, no lines, lots of colorful character and good music. Maybe that feel had something to do with the gray day and that I was there way before the onslaught of 10pm bar-hoppers showed up in Ballard. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited to go again this weekend. One band in particular I’m looking forward to is Seattle’s Visqueen.
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I never really paid that much attention to Visqueen in prior years however their latest release Message to Garcia has made a big blip on my music radar as of late. Their newest album is a collection of songs that is a loving homage to front woman Rachel Flotard’s father who passed away from cancer earlier this year. It’s filled with power pop guitar riffs while leading lady Rachel Flotard’s unique voice is apparent singing straight from the heart and rocking at the same time. An eclectic cast of musicians lent a helping hand–Neko Case, pedal steel wizard Jon Rauhouse, The Fastbacks and The Long Winters–to create an extra-special electricity that resonates throughout the album.
Hand Me Down
[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/01-Hand-Me-Down.mp3]
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Visqueen will be playing an all ages/early show/record release party this weekend at the REVERB Festival. They’ll be at the old school Ballard Eagles (where time has stood still for who knows how long) at 4pm. See you there.
Jet Sparks, formerly Emily Sparks
Did she change her name in honor of our own Jet City, Seattle? Maybe readers of this blog would like to think so, but the most likely reason from my perspective is that ‘Jet’ is the nickname of Bridget Mullen, the singer/guitarist/keyboard-player of Jet Sparks. How did she get the nickname? Well, you’ll just have to see her at REVERB Fest this Saturday, maybe she’ll tell you!
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The soothing acoustic guitar of Jet Sparks, along with her ever-rotating cadre of musicians will be the perfect way to start what promises to be a loud and exciting day of local music in Ballard. Speaking for myself, sometimes the eardrums need to be broken in a bit before rocking out. Jet Sparks brings the sound of a busker street guitar along with a soft voice that perfectly captures the lyrics so melancholy that it has to be blended with an upbeat melody, ensuring the listeners will be carried away to an introspective state of mind. Not only will you be treated to a great guitar performance, but chances are Jet Sparks will perform a few songs on the keyboard, all while you experience the full array of musical and songwriting talent that has made her a favorite among many diverse audiences. Her music has been described ‘quiet music for those who like it loud’, and although I like to get warmed up a bit, I think this is loud music that will be the perfect way to do so.
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Jet Sparks will be the first performer taking the stage at 4:30pm at Hattie’s Hat this Saturday for REVERB Fest, so be sure to check her out.
Rain Machine @ Neumos
And I ain’t talkin’ no weather pattern. You’re familiar with Kyp Malone, lead guitarist for TV on the Radio and winner of LeDoux’s illustrious Top Beard’s of 2008 contest, right? Good. And I’m sure you’ll recall the excellent record (cool it, haters) he and his bandmates put out earlier this year, not to mention TVOTR’s other acclaimed albums? Great. Well, the man with the careful fingers and the urgent, warbling falsetto has a side job now, one that he’s dubbed Rain Machine. One where he plays nearly all the instruments and whose self-titled debut was recorded in California, including Malone’s former Bay Area stomping grounds. At first glance, it purports to be a daring, emotive venture into the spacious confines of jazz, blues, rock and afro-beat.
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I haven’t heard the entire record, so I can’t expound on its likely creative breadth and varied nuance, but given Malone’s previous output, you can rest assured that it’ll be anything but boring. “Give Blood”, the first track released, is evocative of a grungier TVOTR song, with a few odd changes, frantic lyrics and a primal male/female refrain. Malone even goes so far as to inject a verse inspired (hopefully) by Stevie Wonder’s “Part Time Lover”. It’s good, but I like the other available track more. “Smiling Black Faces” unwinds slowly, with a heartbeat and a hovering guitar. The crescendo is slow, but the climax is exultant.
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In the fairly interesting Rain Machine bio put out by Anti-, Malone says, in relation to his TVOTR duties, “there’s a different freedom that comes with doing something by yourself, and I think this album reflects that.” As someone who’s a fan of TVOTR’s expressive liberties, and innovative weirdos in general, I can certainly appreciate the change of direction. See him and his band defy objection at Neumos, October 1st.
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Live performance of “Smiling Black Faces” on YouTube
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With Diane Cluck
Doors at 8 pm
$12 adv
Advance tickets on sale now at: www.ticketswest.com, Moe Bar, select QFCs, Rudy’s Barbershops
Rain Machine Coming To Seattle
And I ain’t talkin’ no weather pattern. You’re familiar with Kyp Malone, lead guitarist for TV on the Radio and winner of LeDoux’s illustrious Top Beard’s of 2008 contest, right? Good. And I’m sure you’ll recall the excellent record (cool it, haters) he and his bandmates put out earlier this year, not to mention TVOTR’s other acclaimed albums? Great. Well, the man with the careful fingers and the urgent, warbling falsetto has a side job now, one that he’s dubbed Rain Machine. One where he plays nearly all the instruments and whose self-titled debut was recorded in California, including Malone’s former Bay Area stomping grounds. At first glance, it purports to be a daring, emotive venture into the spacious confines of jazz, blues, rock and afro-beat.
.
I haven’t heard the entire record, so I can’t expound on its likely creative breadth and varied nuance, but given Malone’s previous output, you can rest assured that it’ll be anything but boring. “Give Blood”, the first track released, is evocative of a grungier TVOTR song, with a few odd changes, frantic lyrics and a primal male/female refrain. Malone even goes so far as to inject a verse inspired (hopefully) by Stevie Wonder’s “Part Time Lover”. It’s good, but I like the other available track more. “Smiling Black Faces” unwinds slowly, with a heartbeat and a hovering guitar. The crescendo is slow, but the climax is exultant.
.
In the fairly interesting Rain Machine bio put out by Anti-, Malone says, in relation to his TVOTR duties, “there’s a different freedom that comes with doing something by yourself, and I think this album reflects that.” As someone who’s a fan of TVOTR’s expressive liberties, and innovative weirdos in general, I can certainly appreciate the change of direction. See him and his band defy objection at Neumos, October 1st.
.
Live performance of “Smiling Black Faces” on YouTube
.
With Diane Cluck
Doors at 8 pm
$12 adv
Advance tickets on sale now at: www.ticketswest.com, Moe Bar, select QFCs, Rudy’s Barbershops
Telekinesis! Making the Rounds
Jeez… Where has the year gone? I walked past Bartell’s downtown and the jack-o-lanterns and skeletons dressed up in pirate garb were on display (not to mention the fun-sized candy has shown up in the office). And when the Halloween stuff comes out of the closet, my mind automatically jumps to “it’s almost Christmas” and when I get to the Christmas thought, I automatically start thinking about the next year <insert impending stress here>. I know, I know, I really should just take one day at a time and concentrate on the present but I already started to think about my top music picks for 2009. However, do I have any? Well, yes, I have one for sure and that’s Seattle band Telekinesis! but what else, hmmmm… I got nothing, I think. I really struggled so far this year finding anything that really struck my chord as awesome. Good news is I have 3 months left so, come on music, wow me!
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At any rate, I digress, this post is about Telekinesis! who has been making their rounds and is now off on a European tour. The multi-instrumental-talented Michael Benjamin Lerner (the heart and soul of Telekinesis) earlier this week played on NPRs All Songs Considered: Tiny Desk Concert. It’s really quite picture perfect and makes me wish I was there sitting at the tiny desk with them.
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However since I wasn’t invited, I’ll have to fondly hold onto my memories of catching them at Bumbershoot a couple of weeks ago. I signed up for KEXP’s secret show and if you haven’t been to one (KEXP’s secret show) before, I highly recommend it. We got there somewhat early and were able to sit in the front row. KEXP’s set up was pretty much what any concert go-er would ask for. Not only was Telekinesis! up close and personal but the band played a super tight show and the sound was right on. A friend of mine who has not only been in several Seattle bands but also composes music for video games said the drum sound (MBL was on drums) from that show was so good that it felt like we were actually on stage, in the band. All day we kept saying that Bumbershoot would be downhill after the 1pm show with Telekinesis! because nothing could really top what we got to be a part of –and we were right.
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Foreign Room
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So if you haven’t made Telekinesis! part of your album collection yet, you should. In my humble opinion, it’s one of the best of the year. And with just 3 months left of 2009, I’m really hoping there will be more than just one band on my list! I’m sure I’ll be able to dig up a few more by the end of the year. Dan Auerbach’s was released this year, right?
Seattle City of Music Gala @ Showbox
Seattle City of Music, Seattle’s effort to celebrate and enhance the city’s renowned music culture, announced yesterday that it will honor Quincy Jones, Fleet Foxes and radio and online music hub KEXP at the inaugural Seattle City of Music Awards on October 14, a spectacular evening of entertainment at the Showbox at the Market.
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The evening will include performances by alt-country band The Maldives; indie folk outfit Pearly Gate Music, led by Zach Tillman; and a one-of-a-kind big band tribute to Quincy Jones from players from the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. Opening the Awards will be local young artists from the Seattle Theatre Group’s More Music @ The Moore teen music program. Tea Cozies, one of the Seattle bands featured in Lynn Shelton’s $5 Cover: Seattle, will play the aftershow, to be held at the Showbox immediately following the Awards.
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To receive a ticket, RSVP to filmandmusicoffice@seattle.gov and include your full name, mailing address, phone number and email. Two ticket limit per person. Tickets will also be made available to independent music retailers Easy Street, Everyday Music, Silver Platters and Sonic Boom Records on Friday, September 25. The Awards show is free of charge and open to all ages.
Fleet Foxes, Quincy Jones and KEXP to be honored at Seattle City of Music Gala
Seattle City of Music, Seattle’s effort to celebrate and enhance the city’s renowned music culture, announced yesterday that it will honor Quincy Jones, Fleet Foxes and radio and online music hub KEXP at the inaugural Seattle City of Music Awards on October 14, a spectacular evening of entertainment at the Showbox at the Market. Honors will be presented in three categories:
- Quincy Jones will receive the SEATTLE CITY OF MUSIC Outstanding Achievement Award. This is the premier award of the event. Mr. Jones is being honored for a lifetime of accomplishments that have helped put Seattle on the map as SEATTLE CITY OF MUSIC.
- Fleet Foxes will receive the SEATTLE CITY OF MUSIC Breakthrough Award, which honors an artist for overwhelming success in the past year.
- KEXP will receive the SEATTLE CITY OF MUSIC Impact Award for service related to music that has made the community a better place.
The evening will include performances by alt-country band The Maldives; indie folk outfit Pearly Gate Music, led by Zach Tillman; and a one-of-a-kind big band tribute to Quincy Jones from players from the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. Opening the Awards will be local young artists from the Seattle Theatre Group’s More Music @ The Moore teen music program. Tea Cozies, one of the Seattle bands featured in Lynn Shelton’s $5 Cover: Seattle, will play the aftershow, to be held at the Showbox immediately following the Awards.
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To receive a ticket, RSVP to filmandmusicoffice@seattle.gov and include your full name, mailing address, phone number and email. Two ticket limit per person. Tickets will also be made available to independent music retailers Easy Street, Everyday Music, Silver Platters and Sonic Boom Records on Friday, September 25. The Awards show is free of charge and open to all ages.
Kinski @ Lo-Fi
The last Kinski appearance for awhile is happening this Friday Sept 25th in Seattle.They ‘re playing as part of the Escalator Festival at the Lo Fi Gallery on Eastlake. It’s a tiny space where the performers hit it right thereon the floor with you and there is a great little overlook balcony. They’re going to be doing something kind of different that may involve 3 keyboards. That’s all the info I have so you’ll just have to come check it out.
Friday Sept 25th $12 – 21+
Escalator Festival
Lo Fi Gallery
w/ Lumerians 12:30 – 1:30
Jackie-O Motherfucker 11:30 – 12:15
Kinski 10:30 – 11:15
Purple Rhinestone Eagle 9:45-10:15
Treetarantula 9:00-9:30
