Seattle Subsonic - November, 2009
Free Live Pixies Doolittle EP!
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? Got it? Anyway, it’s all very personal and confusing—I hold this band in higher esteem than any other (!). I really could expend all sorts of energy waxing and waning flax golden tales of blistery, bizarro, Bostonian punk rock and its unprecedented impact on my musical and cultural psyche. But that takes A LOT of time (have you blogged before??), and I’m not sure I’ll have it. Who knows, maybe I will; or maybe I’ll just relay, post-coital, the Pixie-gasm I plan to have at the show next Friday. I can pretty much guarantee I won’t find anything wrong with their performance (sorry in advance).
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As luck would have it, however, there is one thing that I might be able to add to our little SSS community here. The band has released a free live EP of 4 Doolittle songs (ok, one’s a B-side to the “Monkey Gone To Heaven” single, but who cares). I know, right?! Download it now, you giddy little schoolboy. “Dancing the Manta Ray”, “Monkey Gone to Heaven”, “Crackity Jones”, and “Gouge Away”.
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Additional note: can I take the opportunity here to purge a Pixies-related pet peeve? Thanks. Please, whatever you do, omit the preceding “the” in any and all correspondence of the band’s name. It’s not there, it doesn’t exist. Check your LPs, or CDs or whatever you have. Do this in the name of conformity, that oft-maligned quality which can in fact provide something positive once in a while.
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Head Like a Kite @ Croc
| Saturday, November 21, 2009 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
KEXP is sponsoring this festive evening at the Crocodile on Saturday, Nov. 21 with HEAD LIKE A KITE, FOSCIL (members of Truckasauras), and ANIMALS AT NIGHT (cd-release party). Should be a blast.
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Halloween was like amateur hour compared to this costume party. Armed with more fog machines than an exterminator, the big beats and analog growl of HEAD LIKE A KITE will cap the dual CD release celebrations. Both FOSCIL, who have taken some time off from their busy Truckasauras schedule to complete a new gem of a record fusing their love for jazz, hip hop and electronic music, and Graig Markel’s ANIMALS AT NIGHT, cork their new albums for the masses. Expect lots of guest appearances on the Croc stage full of confetti and fuzzy bedtime stuffed animals dancing to monster beats and copious electronic-infused copulation.
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KEXP Presents
Saturday, Nov 21
HEAD LIKE A KITE
ANIMALS AT NIGHT
FOSCIL (members of Truckasauras)
Electric Tickle Machine @ Comet
| Monday, November 9, 2009 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
This morning I got wind of a random Monday night Seattle show happening at the Comet on Nov 9th. Monday night is not normally an evening I even humor for going out but something about this band struck me as worth the Tuesday-Thursday pains that will inevitably insue. The band is NYC’s Electric Tickle Machine. Now the name might get you alone, but check this, they’re an indie psychedelic garage pop band with an amost country swagger. The only way that could be a more jangled description is if you just threw “gay republican” 
somewhere in there.
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They played a live set on KEXP while they were in NY in April that I somehow missed, but I’m glad to have heard it now. Electric Tickle Machine’s music is a blur between technology and humanity. They put out a vibe similar to Seattle’s Invisible Eyes who are steeped in 60′s psychedilca. If you get a chance I suggest you check them out.
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Here are a couple tracks to get you “phych”-ed ”
[audio:http://www.electricticklemachine.com/blewitagain.mp3]
Gimme Money
[audio:http://www.electricticklemachine.com/gimmemoney.mp3]
[audio:http://electricticklemachine.com/partofme.mp3]
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monday
november 9th @ comet tavern
electric tickle machine
w the tempers
Random Recommendation – Electric Tickle Machine
This morning I got wind of a random Monday night Seattle show happening at the Comet on Nov 9th. Monday night is not normally an evening I even humor for going out but something about this band struck me as worth the Tuesday-Thursday pains that will inevitably insue. The band is NYC’s Electric Tickle Machine. Now the name might get you alone, but check this, they’re an indie psychedelic garage pop band with an amost country swagger. The only way that could be a more jangled description is if you just threw “gay republican” somewhere in there.
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They played a live set on KEXP while they were in NY in April that I somehow missed, but I’m glad to have heard it now. Electric Tickle Machine’s music is a blur between technology and humanity. They put out a vibe similar to Seattle’s Invisible Eyes who are steeped in 60′s psychedilca. If you get a chance I suggest you check them out.
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Here are a couple tracks to get you “phych”-ed ”
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monday
november 9th @ comet tavern
electric tickle machine
w the tempers
Atlas Sound and Broadcast on Halloween
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 him) organic set of guitar rock. “Bet you thought this would be more spooky”, Cox said in the middle of the show. “Me too”, he continued, “but I can only be myself. I was born spooky.” He then went on to lament how he’d become less spooky recently, shopping at the Gap and Whole Foods. He’s a funny guy, and his mock glorification of dub music—using his pedal to broadcast an echoed voice and a short little riff—was hilarious. Was I bummed the music wasn’t more Halloween-y? No, not at all. I was too busy enjoying my buzz and letting the altered sounds of Logos saturate my head. Hey, I was in costume, and so were a lot of other people. I’ll admit to a little dissatisfaction when his reply to my shouted request for “Washington School” came back, “that’s a good song! …but I can’t play it.” Didn’t bring the glockenspiel, I suppose.
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Getting into the spirit, Cox continually called up some lucky, costumed folks to the stage for spotlighting throughout the night. He gave a girl dressed as an apple with a worm coming out of it (clearly homemade) her choice from the merch table, the same with a tall, goth-looking blonde bride, who he said reminded him of himself. I half expected a dress or costume of some sort from the guy once known for his cross-dressing ways on stage, but oh well. In one of the more spontaneous moments I’ve witnessed at a show, a guy–Kristof was his name—dressed like a Peruvian (or something) and wielding a small hand-sized flute was invited up to jam with the band. Only, it wasn’t one of those cutesy 30-second jams, rather it was a 3-4 minute long quasi-song that actually sounded pretty good once the rest of the guys figured out their parts. Everybody stopped jamming before the “flutist”, but it was right entertaining.
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Cox started with “My Halo”, then played “Coffin Trick“, “Criminals” and a nameless somber tune. Trish Keenan, of billmates Broadcast, entered the stage next and assisted with the vocals on “Walkabout” (no Noah Lennox, obviously). The two, amidst much gushing from Cox, then collaborated on Broadcast’s slow and sparse “Tears in the Typing Pool”. He played “Shelia”, the bridge sounding just as strained and heartfelt as on record, and the lone song from Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel, “Quarantined”, which was sped up significantly. He closed with “Kid Klimax” (which was probably the most climactic) and “Attic Lights”.
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Depending on your mood, Broadcast either mesmorized or bored you. Touring in support of their recent collaboration with their dj Julian House, Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age, it wasn’t rockin’ or rollin’, but it was an interesting and holiday-appropriate display nonetheless. The duo, planted on opposite ends of the stage and book ending a large projection screen, wandered, moaned and skittered their way through mostly non-linear soundscapes of witchy proportions. Keenan haunted the stage at times, allowing her white robe to both impede and advance the abstract imagery up on the screen. Her voice is a force to reckon with. A few conventional tracks from Tender Buttons were played, and I shot a pretty solid video of an eerie, reggae-inflected tune that I really liked. Check it out.
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More pics—including some Moe Bar Halloween revelry—here.
The Raveonettes and the Crocodiles @ Neumos
| Friday, November 6, 2009 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
By now, you’re either a Raveonettes fan or you aren’t. 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 and L.A.), has concocted four increasingly addictive albums that don’t differ terribly from one single-dose narcotic formula. That formula, for those caught unawares, is essentially created by dissolving an infatuation with lovesick, pre-hippie American pop into a trashy, drug-and-sex induced obsession with 80′s shoegaze storms. Maybe my favorite piece of trivia, in case you haven’t yet unearthed this little fact, is that their name is a combined salute to Buddy Holly‘s version of “Rave On!” and sweetie-pie 60′s girl group the Ronettes. Their name wins copious style points, let alone the leather-jacket-wearing, motorcycle-riding, pinup-loving image they played up in their early years. Read more/listen here.
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Catch the band at Neumos next week, Friday November 6th, with Crocodiles, a dirty, slightly groovy scuzz punk band from San Diego. I think it’ll be good. Get tickets.
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8PM Doors
$15 ADV
Click Here to Buy Tickets
21+
Free Tix for Mountain Goats @ Showbox MKT
The Mountain Goats are coming to play a Seattle concert next Tuesday (Nov 10th) at The Showbox MKT and we’ve got a pair of free tickets for one of you lucky Billies or Nannies. They are currently touring in support of their latest release “Heretic Pride”. A culmination of all the musical sophistication, wild storytelling, and mental imagery they could muster – contained within the confines of 13 songs. If you’d like to attend the hootenanny (and it is goinng to be a hootenanny) send me and email (info at seattlesubsonic.com) with Billy or Nanny in the title (you choose). Winner will be notified Friday Afternoon.
As a taste, I’ve included is a video for Sax Rohmer #1 below. Enjoy
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Tuesday Nov 10th Sealed With A Kiss and Wake Up present
THE MOUNTIAN GOATS
Final Fantasy
$20 adv here
All Ages/Bar W/ID
8pm doors.
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UPDATE – Congrats to Tim for winning the tix!
Hardly Art Album Sampler – Download Now
Ever Since Hardly Art formed in early 2007, under parent label Sub Pop, they have had a rock solid track record for signing great bands leading to even greater albums. Their quiver already includes several of our favorites both local and nat’l including Dutchess and the Duke, Talbot Tagora and Le Loup to name a few.
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Much to our delight – and I’m going to guess yours as well – they have produced a thing that will be known as their very first label sampler! It had to happen eventually, eh? – and you can find it now in digital form on their site right here. It contains most of the mp3s they’ve offered up as free downloads thus far in the history of Hardly Art, plus a few unreleased goods tacked onto the end from the likes of the Pica Beats, the Dutchess & the Duke, and others. Enjoy!
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Track listing after the jump Read the rest of this entry »
David Bazan
This very Saturday (Nov 7th) @ Neumos David Bazan and his band will be playing songs from his new Album “Curse your Branches” It’ his first full-length he’s released under his name. On it Bazan describes his recent struggles with faith and addiction in language that makes it clear how far he’s traveled since dissolving Pedro the Lion in 2005. If ever there was a spokesman for those suffering from the God-sick blues, David Bazan is it. Since the demise of Pedro the Lion, Bazan has been touring as just a man and a guitar, but for this record he took the initiative to record all the instruments himself, adding an unexpected layer of emotional complexity to a collection of songs that are already strikingly autobiographical and frank.
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For this tour His new band is a northwest supergroup of sorts with Eric Elbogen of Say Hi (also playing), Andy Fitts of Aqueduct, Casey Foubert, and Blake Wescott.
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After breaking in a new band, first at a couple of Edmonds house shows, then the following weekend up at Doe Bay Music Festival on Orcas Island, and touring over the last few weeks. I am sure that they will be ready to play a sort of home coming show for Seattle.
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Get your tickets soon. There is a very good chance that this show will sell out.
Neumos Presents: David Bazan, Say Hi, The Sea Navy :: Doors at 8pm :: $13 ADV
- © hayley young
David Bazan @ Neumos
| Saturday, November 7, 2009 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
David Bazan with full band playing tracks from his new album “Curse your Branches”
need i say more..
Neumos Presents: David Bazan, Say Hi, The Sea Navy :: Doors at 8pm :: $13 ADV
Seattle Rock Orchestra Plays Arcade Fire @ Fremont Abbey
| Tuesday, November 17, 2009 | ||
| 7:00 pm |
This is a rare occasion when the announcement of a funeral is a good thing. It is a night when the event will represent a rebirth rather than death. On, Tuesday November 17th the Seattle Rock Orchestra is deconstructing The Arcade Fire’s iconic album “Funeral” and recomposing it in it’s entirety to be performed by 50 piece orchestra at the Fremont Abbey. Not only is this a great opportunity for the chance to to dip into the classic side of Seattle’s music talent pool, but “Funeral” also lends itself perfectly to the genre with it’s hugely theatrical makeup.
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On stage will also be a backing band and a laundry list of guest vocalists including Matt Bishop (Hey Marseilles), Ian Bell (Black Swedes), Jima (the Purrs), Alessandra Rose (The Kindness Kind), Matt Shaw (With Friends Like These), Jasen Samford & Danny Oleson (Exohxo) & Shenandoah Davis.
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Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm.
Fremont Abbey – 4272 Fremont Ave N.
All Ages
Presale tickets can be purchased online on the Fremont Abbey blog for $12 (general) and $10 (students/seniors), or for $15 at the door. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended as past shows have sold out and tickets have not been available at the door.
Grand Hallway, Maldives Puget Sound Benefit @ the UW HUB
| Saturday, November 7, 2009 | ||
| 7:00 pm |
