Seattle Subsonic - April, 2010
Liars @ Neumos on Saturday
Remember back in the day when Liars were dropping albums left and right and they were a little spastic and deranged, maybe that is just my personal take on the albums… I don’t think I could hang with the whole art-punk situation very well. But I tried, I think I told people that I liked They Threw Us All In A Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top, but really I didn’t appreciate it. I’m just being honest here.
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So recently gave Sisterworld a good listen and it wasn’t at all like the Liars old stuff that I remember ( isn’t this one of the reasons why we dig the Liars, their incredible ability to change their style between albums, and yet still retain that recognizable sound). Sisterworld was a change indeed, there was a consistency throughout this album that I hadn’t heard before on their previous albums, I really liked it. So I am stoked to see, and you should be too, that Liars will be at Neumos on Saturday, May 1.
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A few reasons why you cant miss this show… 1) I saw the Liars live once, which where I come from is amazing because bands on this level would rarely tour there, and they were quite a show. I don’t remember thinking their sound was amazing, but I blame the venue’s rotten acoustics for that situation, but I remember they put on a hell of a show. You could hardly tear your eyes from Angus Andrew because he was just enthralling to watch. 2) The secrecy of Fol Chen is intriguing, so why not check them out… 3) Sisterworld is good. I really dig the album, and what do you do when you want to support an artist’s newest album? You see them live, obvio. 4) This is normally the point where I would say: “what else have you got to do on a Saturday?” howevs, this is Seattle and there are probably about 16 other live shows going on, so instead I will ask: “are any other of these shows going to be as good as Liars?” mull over that one… 5) I will be there (this doesn’t mean shit, however ending at the number 4 is just awkward.)
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Where: Neumos
Doors at 8pm
13$ Advance
21+
The National's New Album Is Muy Bueno
I want to give The New York Times a big high-five right about now, for streaming The National’s new album, High Violet, until April 27. The time is ticking on that one, I suggest anyone who is minorly interested in The National to race over and take a listen. So the album is out on May 10, and yea you could wait until then to hear it, but this is free… and man I love free.
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I haven’t paid much attention to The National in prior years. I enjoyed The Boxer, and “Fake Empire” made it into my regular rotation (this refers to the shuffle that holds about 150 songs that is permanently attached to my ears). But this new album takes the cake, my attention was immediately caught from the start. The first few songs immediately evoked some thought and emotion, to hear Matt Berninger’s voice croon “I don’t want to get over you” on “Sorrow” gave me the chills. I mean c’mon, the guys voice is like butter, so smooth and goes good over anything.
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I am no Miss Cleo, so I cannot make any proclamations about where the band is going and how this album will get them there. But I will be so bold to state that High Violet is great, amazing even, and I am hoping that this album will give The National some well deserved attention.
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So to wrap it up, on my Mexican Rating System, which goes from a “Muy Bueno” to a “Mal” meaning: “I loved it and it will go into regular rotation” to “I will most likely never listen to it again” respectively, The National’s High Violet gets a muy bueno for sure.
Party with Head Like a Kite
I had a chance this past week to join the members of Head Like A Kite (HLAK) and a few others for a pre release listening party of their new album Dreams Suspend Night. The setting was the back room of Via Tribunali on Capitol Hill. It was a great backdrop to get my first listen of the new record. While snacking on some amazing pizza and sipping glasses of wine I kept finding myself bobbing my head to the soundtrack they were providing. The new album is a total party record.
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It’s a great next step for HLAK. They cross a lot of music genres setting up each song like a single and it works. You could pull any one of the twelve tracks off for a single. Blending Hiphop and Electronica with a dash of Funk and a sprinkle of Rock and you find yourself dancing your ass off. They brought in a bunch of guests like Boom Bip, Her Space Holiday, members of the Long Winters, Swervedriver & the Saturday Knights to help them get you going. My favorite track is “Director’s Cut” with my man Tilson dropping mad rhymes (Tilson needs his own record as well!) It’s hard not to compare this track to older Gorillaz. It’s also the track that they pulled the album’s name from ” I close my eyes so I can watch the dreams suspend night”. This record will truly get a party started. Even if it’s just you dancing in your chair as you listen to it at your desk. If you want to hear more KEXP has the new album as well. Call or email and request! Official CD release is May 18th but you can get the MP3 version from iTunes starting April 27th which is this Tuesday!
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Also you can catch HLAK Album Release show @ Neumos on May 21st (8pm; $10) DJ Terry Radjaw will be there getting the crowd warmed up.
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And here’s a sneak peak of the first video single “Director’s Cut”:
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More album info here! http://www.headlikeakite.com/
My Volvo
Only in the Northwest will you find a white guy lovingly rappin’ about his Volvo. But as a Seattleite who grew up riding around almost exclusively in the four-wheel Swedish Pig (taking my mom’s jet black turbo-charged wagon to prom made me feel like Michael Knight), I can get down with this. Grynch on the mic:
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Sleepy Eyes of Death @ Chop Suey
One of my favorite experiences was happening upon Sleepy Eyes of Death when they opened for Foals at a free show at Chop Suey a couple years back. I hadn’t really heard much from them and had no idea what to expect.. let alone the complete and utter sensory submersion that occurred next. They have an overwhelming synth-rock sound that when coupled with their smoke and light show will astound and amaze.
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SLEEPY EYES OF DEATH
SLEEPY SUN
Wilildlife
$8adv/$10dos
8pm Doors / 21+
Thunderheist @ Chop Suey
Thunderheist, the powerpop duo from Toronto, wrote what might possibly be one of my top 5 ass-shakin’ist tunes of all time. Jerk It came out last year on their self titled release which was riddled with lots of other dancable hits full of rhythm, flow and neck breaking beats. Should be an intense show in such a tiny venue. Enjoy!
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THUNDERHEIST
(last show!)
The Tempers
JuLavee & Friends
Sap’N
$15adv
8pm Doors / 21+
Dyno Jamz @ Chop Suey
Winners of the 2009 Sound Off! competition, Dyno Jams, will be showing off their unique hip-hop-jazz fusion blending horns, beatboxin, and an MC frontman. These guys absolutely killed it during the Sound Off competition and I can only hope they still bring the same excitement to the stage. Who knows, they might even be old enough for me to buy them a drink.
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DYNO JAMZ
THE STAXX BROTHERS
Theoretics
10th & Commerce
w/ Djs Ayo & Holiday
Chop Suey, Thurs Apr 29th
$8adv/$10dos
8pm Doors / All Ages / Bar w/ID
Small, Intimate Show Alert
In case you hadn’t noticed, lately I’ve been kind of swept up in some of Seattle’s prevalence-gaining electro-introspectors. I told you about Cock & Swan‘s witchy new album Unrecognition and it’s buzzing, austere sincerity. I told you about U.S.F. and their set at Chop Suey supporting Ryan McPhun & the Ruby Suns (their original name; makes more sense, huh?). U.S.F.’s watery tribal-trop record Ocean Sunbirds is one of the most deftly composed and interest-piquing records I’ve heard all year. I told you about the electronic vagabond White Rainbow—who’s Adam Forkner is from Portland, actually—and his rare box set available to download. WR’s stretched, spartan anti-songs are both adventurous and baffling, leaving the listener wanting more but unsure what exactly ‘more’ is.
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But have I mentioned Big Spider’s Back? I think I have, but circumstances demand a reminder. Yair Rubinstein is the man behind the name and you’ve likely heard his “hit” “Perfect Machine” on KEXP sometime in the last six months. The loop-master’s composition is comparatively more inclined to the catchy and surf-pop side of things, but can be just as pensive and experimental as his billmates (Merriweather Post Pavilion is an adequate reference point). As our climate starts to (sloooooowly) warm, consider these glowing bands at North Capitol Hill gallery Cairo for your Saturday night mind meld.
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Perfect Machine (U.S.F. Remix) – Big Spider’s Back.mp3
Girl Trouble to play on (well.. near) the silver screen
For over 25 years the Tacoma-based band, Girl Trouble, have been perfecting their version of punk rock. They have released tons of albums on almost as many labels, staying true to their garage band sound throughout the explosions of Grunge, Hip Hop and any other tidal wave of music passing through the Northwest. Still the Tacoma rockers are pressing on their way to the ultimate pinnacle of fame. But if they’re not bound to get ON the silver screen.. how about in front of it?
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Girl Trouble will be taking the stage at the Grand Illusion’s Biff! Bang! Pow! movie festival, playing a set after the film The Knack… and How to Get It. It’s all mods and rockers in the the throws of sexual revolution. What better backdrop for Girl Trouble can you ask for?
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Sat, Apr 24th
Grand Illusion Theater – U District
Movie starts at 7:30
Cost… whatever it is, it’s worth it.
Girl Trouble @ Grand Illusion
For over 25 years Girl Trouble have been honing in their mod-rock sound. After tons of albums on tons of labels, the Tacoma rockers are still working their way to their ultimate pinnacle of fame. And if not ON the silver screen.. how about int front of it?
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Girl Trouble will be taking the stage at the Grand Illusion’s Biff! Bang! Pow! movie festival, playing a set after the film The Knack… and How to Get It. It’s all mods and rockers in the the throws of sexual revolution. What better backdrop for Girl Trouble can you ask for?
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Sat Apr 24th
Movie starts at 7:30
Cost… whatever it is, it’s worth it.
