Seattle Subsonic

Seattle Subsonic - February, 2010

Thee Oh Sees, the Urinals, and Unnatural Helpers Totally Fuckin' Killed It

Dudes, I’ve been totally dying to get some of these pics up from the Funhouse last Friday night (2/19). It was easily one of the best shows I’ve been to the last few months (check the Show Critic tag, there are some doozies), as it was a garage rawk fest for the ages. Or at least the age that contains the last few months. Unnatural Helpers opened up for the Urinals who opened up for Thee Oh Sees, and all three totally fuckin’ killed it.

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I showed up just in time to catch Unnatural Helpers, as their dark and dirty Stooge-grooves turned out to be the perfect catalyst for a raucous sold out show (if you don’t frequent the Funhouse, then you’re missing out; no kiddin’). As you’ve likely heard, the band has an LP coming out on Hardly Art pretty soon, and all I can say is that I hope they were able to capture on record the gritty punk spectrum that the they so easily tread on stage. They’re not breaking ground, obviously, but they’re doing their damnedest to stomp all over it just for the hell of it. Led by Dean Whitmore on drums/vocals, this is a motley crew of shredders playing feel-good, drop-kick garage-punk. Sounded like they might lose another player (guitarist Brian Standeford; Kimberly Morrison has already been replaced on bass), but if Charles Leo Gebhardt sticks around, they should be alright.

That’s Thee Oh Sees founder John Dwyer up there, and it was a hoot watching him play guitar. My knees were against the stage for this set, so it was the perfect setting to finally see these popular San Franciscan swamp-punkers. Dwyer is a caricature on stage: tattoos and tank top, shoving his beat up Burns Double Six high into his armpit and shifting freakishly on his toes as if he were Wile E. Coyote on one of those ACME high wires. He plays like a maniac and his music shows it. I love the vocal interplay between he and Brigid Dawson, drenched in echo and retro sass. The rest of the band, it’s apparent, has to work at keeping up with the main man. Drummer Mike Shoun was front and center and played as if his life depended on it (it probably doesn’t). Petey Dammit plucked his Fender in the background like an old-timer, content to lay rhythm. They were all great, though, and you can see a couple (high quality) videos I shot here and here.

MORE PICS HERE

Ravenna Woods

If you were in a cult and you wanted a soundtrack for your seaside bonfire and kool-aid party, I would recommend you hire Ravenna Woods. Only don’t pay them in punch, we are going to want them around for a while.
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The most notable element of this band’s recent release “Lakes and Demons” is rhythm. Everything revolves around the rhythm. I immediately recall the Dodos’s use of all things percussive. Singer/guitarist Chris Cunningham’s guitar work is also noteworthy; his playing is equal parts rhythm and melody, if not more of the former. The guitartistry invokes the thought of a Jose Gonzalez LP spinning at 45 rpm. This record is ambitious, full of thought and craftsmanship that deliberately toes the line of lo-fi/overproduction. The backup vocals ubiquitously flow in and out of audibility, and for me, it’s working. This record has energy. The more I listen, the more impressed I become that this is only three people. It’s like the organic brand of Menomena. It’s an album that can be enjoyed in full, although “People in High Places” and “Ghosts” are garnering the most plays. They make the most of their sonic canvas (via healthy doses of xylophone) and I really hope they can translate this live…
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I arrived at Chop Suey to find that these twat-bots left me off the list… no matter, I’m absolutely willing to support this band and I’m curious to see the trio in a live setting. Am I a sucker for a crazy looking dude jumping around, pounding on some floor toms? The answer is yes, I am, and they have one of those. I’m also a sucker for a guitarist that plays without a pick. They have one of those too. Most of the vocals are done in two-part harmony and are drenched in delay. The third song they played, “Devil’s Coming,” made it apparent that these two gentlemen have been singing together for sometime. There is a lot of “whoa”ing. So if you’re someone who likes lot of “whoa”s, to you I give the green light. As for me, the ambition heard on the record was being delivered. I liked it, a lot. After the show, my verdict was this: the folly of creating a record you can’t replicate live does not claim this band.
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The first night I spent in Seattle I went to see a friend-of-a-friend’s band… some local upstart that was part of a bill that was drawing about 30-40 folks on a Friday at Chop Suey. At one point during the show the guitar amp quit and the singer did an acoustic song while the problem was being resolved. It was a song called “Icicle Tusk.” Since I was new to the city, and so as not to appear naïve, I wanted to disguise how impressed I was with this guy. “Is everyone this good?” I wondered. I probably offered my buddy some insightful bit of critical analysis such as “fuckin good, man,” but secretly I was thinking to myself, “These guys are not going to be playing to this small an audience for very long.” And they didn’t. I got a similar feeling at the Ravenna Woods show. File under “Band to Watch” and hope they stay together.
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For fans of: The Dodos, Bon Iver, Yeasayer, Sea Wolf

Music on the Ferry

Seattle Weekly has begun doing a music series called Music on the Ferry. It’s a showcase of local musicians performing acoustics sets with a backdrop of the Puget Sound. Already the series has featured the Dutchess and the Duke, the Moondoggies and Crying Shame.  The lastest installment has catchy-as-hell Seattle pop quartet, M Bison, ditching their keyboard and electric guitars for a Melodica (my favorite instrument by the way) a stand-up bass and an acoustic guitar. The sound, paired with “the Sound” is well worth the price of a ferry ticket.
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You can check out M Bison’s performance below and see all the other bands on the Weekly site here.
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HER Magma Festival 2010

Hollow Earth Radio (HER) is curating its popular 3rd Annual Magma Festival next month, and will feature the online radio station’s signature hyper-eclecticism of local earthed (Dylan Carlson of Earth!) and unearthed (Emeralds!) acts. The “festival” is spread out over the four weekends of March (easy to keep track of, no?) and across several different locations touting varying degrees of renown. The Vera Project, The Fremont Abbey, the Healthy Times Fun Club, and the Henry Art Gallery are among the more prominent venues, while the Mine, 20/20 Cycle, The In, Kenyon Hall, and Shafer Baillie Mansion are among the less reputed.

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So, local music-loving geeks, whatever your schedule or taste, you’re likely to find something here to suit your fancy. Might I suggest (obviously) the inaugural lineup at the Vera Project on March 5th? Folk-rockin’ frontwoman Thao Nguyen plays with local one-man sonic tribalist Alaskas, Deception Pass, and Grr. Or might I suggest the Eruption Show at the Mine on March 27th with an absolute crap load of bands that I know little about but might favor for a joyous time? Good, thank you.

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The poster’s type is kinda small, so click it for largeness or visit the site for more links and details. Show prices range from $6-$15, but you can buy a $50 pass that gets you into all the shows. Proceeds will benefit the radio station in specific and the DIY community in general.

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SUPPORT IT OR THEY WILL ABORT IT! (I just made that up.)

Free Show: Swollen Members @ Neumos (Thursday)

Vancouver’s got those Olympics, but Thursday night we’ve got Vancouver’s, Swollen Members, for FREE! Apparently, there’s also Stoli and Sailor Jerry Drink Specials all night = another wild night at a free Neumos show.
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Swollen Members has been making high intensity albums since the late 90′s, with big name collaborations, and just released a new album after a 3 year break. Tight lyrics, intriguing samples, and distinct voices from the two MCs, Mad Child and Prevail, are a given.
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It seems a loss not have their on/off MC Moka Only in the mix; but that’s how it goes. Instead we get the accompaniment of several acts from up and down the west coast: potluck, Cool Nutz ,and Jay Barz (from Tacoma).
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You may not have heard of Swollen Members; but I couldn’t get into a mid-day indoors show at the last Bumbershoot because the line wrapped around the building all the way until the end of their set.
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Thursday Feb. 18 :: Doors at 8pm
FREE SHOW!!! :: 21+ :: Feat. Stoli and Sailor Jerry Drink Specials all night

Talkdemonic Played the Mars Bar

Here are a few pics of Portland drum and viola duo Talkdemonic. They headlined the final day of the Cumulus Festival this past Saturday night (2/13) at the Mars Bar on Eastlake. I couldn’t believe that it had been close to five years since I last saw them live.

The lush, laptop-aided instrumental jams of this band sounded a bit thin for the first half of the set; turns out they were trying out some new tunes on us guinea pigs. Lisa Molinaro, the violist, said they were about 75% finished with their fourth record. My bet is that they’ll improve with repetition. The last part of their performance was more on par with what fans can expect. Heavy, skittish skins from Kevin O’Connor, elegantly aberrant mini-symphonies from Molinaro, precisely placed electro touches and the beautiful feeling of temporary, atmospheric paralysis. I don’t think I heard any songs from Beat Romantic, but I could be mistaken.

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Talkdemonic will next entertain Seattle as part of Sleepy Eyes of Death‘s record release show on April 30th at Neumos.

Sasquatch! Lineup Is Nice, But Maybe Not For The Price

In case you missed it, the lineup for the 2010 Sasquatch! Festival was released Monday night during a concert at the Crocodile (I was unsuccessful in my attempts for those coveted free tickets). Here’s the day-by-day schedule:

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Saturday, May 29th
My Morning Jacket / Vampire Weekend / The National / Deadmau5 / Broken Social Scene / OK Go / Wale / Public Enemy / The Hold Steady / Miike Snow / Z-Trip / Brother Ali / Minus The Bear / WHY? / The Very Best / Portugal. The Man / Mumford & Sons / The Lonely Forest / Nurses / The Middle East / Patrick Watson / Morning Teleportation / Laura Marling / Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros / Fool’s Gold / Garfunkel & Oates / Dam-Funk / Shabazz Palaces

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Sunday, May 30th
Massive Attack / Pavement / LCD Soundsystem / Tegan and Sara / Kid Cudi / Nada Surf / Dirty Projectors / The xx / The Long Winters / Simian Mobile Disco / Midlake / Girls / Vetiver / The Tallest Man On Earth / YACHT / Booka Shade / Caribou / Avi Buffalo / City and Colour / Cymbals Eat Guitars / A-Trak / Fruit Bats / tUnE-yArDs / Local Natives / Freelance Whales / Jets Overhead / Rob Riggle / Luke Burbank

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Monday, May 31st
Ween / MGMT / Band of Horses / She & Him / Passion Pit / The New Pornographers / Drive-By Truckers / Boys Noize / Camera Obscura / The Temper Trap / Dr. Dog / Neon Indian / No Age / The Mountain Goats / Phantogram / Quasi / Japandroids / Mayer Hawthorne & The County / The Low Anthem / Fresh Espresso / Hudson Mohawke / Telekinesis / Past Lives / Yes Giantess / Craig Robinson

Pretty solid, no? Yes, I agree; but while this is certainly a better than average group of bands, musicians, and comedians, it doesn’t set my heart aflutter like in years past. Personally, I’d say Sunday is the best mix (mostly due to the headliners) but I see how any random person might prefer any of those three days. But here’s my deal: it’s difficult to not view the price of this thing as somewhat of a rip-off. It seems to get pricier and pricier every year and is the biggest reason I haven’t attended in a long time (well, that and the state of the “campground”).

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Let’s do some math: $170 3-day pass + $15 (estimated) ticket fees + $99 for all-weekend camping (no single day campground prices) + $100 for food/drink/water + $50 for gas = $434! Good lord, that’s a lotta dough. Sure you can maybe split the camping, sustenance and gas amongst friends, but that $100 for food and drink could easily be $150, and if you only want a single day ticket, that’s $80 a day ($70 if you buy early, $86 if you buy late). Now, I’m no miser, but I do prefer to spend my money wisely. Is $300-400 worth it? I dunno, but if the prices keep going up, how can this be A) sustainable and B) desirable?

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I also forgot to mention that the 3-day passes are only available for 2 days starting Feb. 20th. Geez louise.

Intro for New Seattle Subsonic Writer: Radiohead, Band Meeting, No Pillows, God Dammit

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“God dammit!”
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He wasn’t quiet in the way he said it. It just came out natural for him, the way it might when stubbing a toe or spilling a full beer. Radiohead’s A Punchup at a Wedding had just started on the jukebox. I was happy. I’d put the money in for the tune, but the bartender didn’t like it. He said it again, “God damned Radiohead!”
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That was last week. Earlier that same day, one of the writers for Seattle Subsonic called to ask me to write for this site. As I often am, I was in a Starbucks when I got the call. I looked around, I sipped my coffee, French Roast, yum, stared out the window for a bit. It felt good. She’d liked the voice I had on my other blog. She thought it would fit well here. So after a moment of consideration in which there wasn’t really much to consider, I paused for effect and then said, “Sure.”
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And so that night with Seattle Subsonic still on my mind, my band had meeting over at the Monkey Pub with Radiohead on the juke and a pissed off bartender. The band had just signed on with a new manager and needed to gather for a kick off, a strategy session, an assessment, and of course a few rounds of beer. They had $1.00 PBR drafts, but even at that price I had to decline. That stuff reminds me too much of high school in Ohio and the $4.21 we used to pay for a twelve pack of Busch, another “fine quality” beer. No, there would be no PBR in my glass. I opted instead for Mannys, the lone Mannys of the group as we all got our drinks and got settled at a table next to the jukebox. Radiohead’s Reckoner was playing then. Good tune. Someone at the bar asked for singles for the jukebox. “Just don’t play any of that God damned Radiohead,” the bartender said as he placed some ones on the bar. The guy took the money and went to the jukebox. He put in a few bills, chose a few tunes, and went to the back of the bar and sat down. Reckoner finished and Weird Fishes/Arpeggi began. Another good tune. Another Radiohead tune.
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“God dammit!” I heard from the bartender.
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Past Lives Record Release @ Black Lodge

You can still listen to Tapestry of Webs over here. TOLSATD and Naomi Punk are cool, too.

The Cave Singers and The Dutchess and the Duke @ Showbox

Do I really need to tell you why you should go to this show? Two of Seattle’s BEST folk acts playing a show together. BE THERE.
No Depression, KEXP 90.3 and Easy Street Records present

The Cave Singers
with The Dutchess and the Duke and Feral Children

Day: Sat, Mar 6, 2010
Days until show: 18
Doors open: 8:00 PM
All Ages to Enter, 21 & Over to Drink
Ticket Prices: $15.00 ADV