Seattle Subsonic - June, 2010
Be Part of Arts Crush! All this October.
Hey Kids!
Bored with playing in the same old clubs all the time?
Tired of hearing your friends’ lame excuses for not coming to your shows?
Want to grow your fan base?
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Shake things up by participating in Arts Crush. During the month of October, arts organizations, artists and musicians from all over Puget Sound will come together to take part in Arts Crush, a festival aimed at bringing art to unexpected places and engaging the public. It is a month-long festival (October 1-31, 2010) connecting artists and audiences with invigorating new experiences at hundreds of events across the region. Nearly 300 arts organizations and innumerable artists from all over the Puget Sound will come together as a united arts community to share arts experiences with people of all kinds. Spotlighting a different discipline each week, the festival features opportunities to participate in theatre, music, literature, dance, visual art and more.
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What to do: Arts Crush is all about community and collaboration so think outside the box: work with a visual artist who could paint while you play or have a dance company provide you with some kick-ass choreography. Ditch the clubs and play someplace different like a theatre, bookstore, museum, gallery, vacant lot, back of a truck, park, neighborhood street corner.
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Want to participate but need help finding a place to play? Drop us a line and we’ll try to hook you up. For more information and participation forms go to www.artscrush.org or email dana@tpsonline.org
Clinton Fearon @ Neumos
| Thursday, June 17, 2010 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
I have never been a legit reggae fan. I mean I dig it, of course I like Bob Marley and I appreciate the lifestyle. But it was never a genre I sought out. So I am super stoked to check out Clinton Fearon on Thursday night, the 17th. Fearon is playing at Neumos and after checking him out, via Google, I am pretty stoked about this show. Fearon has a killer outlook on life, a kind of treat others the way you want to be treated kind of guy, relaying his message through music. I can absolutely get into that.
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For those of you, like myself, who have not paid much attention to reggae this seems like a cool show to check out the situation. And for those of you much more ahead of me in the reggae genre I’m sure you were already planning on being at this show seeing how Fearon’s website proclaims that he is “counted among Jamaica’s most talented musicians by peers and professionals in the Reggae music industry.”
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Fearon is playing Neumos for Haiti on the Hill, a Seattle Reggae Benefit for a Sustainable Haiti. Apparently all the proceeds are going directly to the Haitian people through the Lambi Fund. So come out, hear some good reggae music and support Haiti.
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This sounds like a good idea. See you there.
Doors open @ 8pm
All ages
Tickets are $10 in advance. Available at Moe Bar.
Clinton Fearon @ Neumo’s Thursday Night!
I have never been a legit reggae fan. I mean I dig it, of course I like Bob Marley and I appreciate the lifestyle. But it was never a genre I sought out. So I am super stoked to check out Clinton Fearon on Thursday night, the 17th. Fearon is playing at Neumos and after checking him out, via Google, I am pretty stoked about this show. Fearon has a killer outlook on life, a kind of treat others the way you want to be treated kind of guy, relaying his message through music. I can absolutely get into that.
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For those of you, like myself, who have not paid much attention to reggae this seems like a cool show to check out the situation. And for those of you much more ahead of me in the reggae genre I’m sure you were already planning on being at this show seeing how Fearon’s website proclaims that he is “counted among Jamaica’s most talented musicians by peers and professionals in the Reggae music industry.”
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Fearon is playing Neumos for Haiti on the Hill, a Seattle Reggae Benefit for a Sustainable Haiti. Apparently all the proceeds are going directly to the Haitian people through the Lambi Fund. So come out, hear some good reggae music and support Haiti.
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This sounds like a good idea. See you there.
Doors open @ 8pm
All ages
Tickets are $10 in advance.
SEOD’s New Video For “Data Grave” Might Keep You Up At Night
Seriously. It’s got an occult-ish baptism, an incredible spine-tingling crescendo, well-played actor eeriness, creepy movie speed, and cars driving at night (which, for the record, is, like, the second thing Sleepy Eyes of Death‘s music makes me think of. After cyborgs.) Ingredients for nocturnal nightmares up the yin-yang.
sleepy eyes of death – data grave from Patrick Richardson Wright on Vimeo.
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The engrossing six-song album Toward A Damaged Horizon is out now. You can next check out the band’s fog machine July 6 at Chop Suey.
Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside Is Impressive
Noise for the Needy kicked off last night with 4 bands at Chop Suey. The lineup from start to finish made for a very long show, but Portland band, Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside were worth the wait.
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Like an actress from the Wonder Years, Sallie Ford took to the stage with 60-70s style clothes, glasses, and big hair with bangs; plus her guitar. I really didn’t know what to expect. Her voice was a complete surprise; rough, high pitched and perfect. Possibly one octave away from being super annoying, but it never reaches that point and remains enthralling. Her sound was a mix of the past (20′s-30′s jazz gospel?) with a modern sense and updated lyrics, not afraid to be explicit. This was fun; real fucking fun!
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The dwindled crowd made up for the previously passive crowd and took to all forms of retro dance and swinging each other around. I had been contently dancing near the bar, but I do have to give special mention to the random patron on the dance floor that slowly (and hilariously) reeled us down to the dance floor with persistent hand gestures. While it was a sweaty mess, it was far more entertaining down there (thanks).
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The band supporting Sallie was also amazing. A big portion of the stage was filled with an upright bass, which is a great thing, and was accompanied by a drummer and a guitarist. They made some good music!
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Also, of mention, was the first ever performance (I believe) from Soul Jelly, a 10 or 12 person funk band who filled the stage and pulled off near perfect covers of George Clinton and the Parliament Funks hits. I say near perfect because, while the sound was spot on, P-Funk is all about the funky looks (including the guy in the diaper and whatever has been braided into George’s hair throughout the years). But they’re also about high ticket prices, so maybe Soul Jelly can fill the void for the thriftier folk.
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So, in review: 4 bands, $8 dollars, and the money is donated to Teen Feed (an awesome cause). There’s no downside that.
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Seriously. Go check out a Noise for the Needy show this week!
Noise For The Needy Starts Tonight!
FYI, another repost. I think we all need to know about the noise, no? There’s a need for the noisy, as it were. The needy needs noise! Ok, I’ll stop. Morning Update: a) new poster and b) the festivities started last night at Chop Suey. Oh well!
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Just in case you haven’t seen the Noise For The Needy lineup yet. This is one my favorite yearly music traditions, given the widespread philanthropic nature of the shows. This year’s beneficiary is Teen Feed, which provides homeless youth with hot meals Sunday through Friday in the U-District.
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Per the usual, there’s an absolute crapload of shows to choose from—a-79-bands-&-DJs-and-15-venues type of crapload. Surely you savvy music aficionados can find something to whet your whistle. You can even buy a bracelet this year for all Ballard June 10th shows, the first day of the concert merry-go-round, or a separate wristband for all Capitol Hill shows on June 12th. Those are going for $30, so it’s a pretty righteous deal.
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The lineup itself doesn’t have any reeeeeaaal big headliners like the last few years, but folks with an ear to the ground won’t have any trouble recognizing many a name on the following list. Such as: Tiny Vipers! Animals at Night! Erik Blood! Virgin Islands! Whalebones! Hypatia Lake! Kinski! Butts! Et cetera! I copied the lineup from the NFTN website, with band and ticket hyperlinks.
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THURSDAY, JUNE 10
NFTN BALLARD NEIGHBORHOOD BRACELET
Buy this bracelet and get access to all four
NFTN shows in Ballard June 10th.
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Tractor Tavern
$10/ADV | 8PM | 21+
Noise for the Needy Presents
Horse Feathers
Tiny Vipers
Friday Mile
Goldfinch
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Sunset Tavern
$8 | 9PM | 21+
Noise for the Needy Presents
Animals at Night
Daniel G. Harmann & the Trouble Starts
Erik Blood
Mal de Mer
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Conor Byrne Pub
$7 | 8PM | 21+
Noise for the Needy Presents
Pillow Army
Shelby Earl
Jeremy Burk
Facts About Funerals
Two Bit Saloon
$7 | 8pm | 21+
Noise for the Needy Presents
Neon Nights
Grenades
Shining Ones
The Keeper
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Friday and Saturday lineups after the jump/cut/fold/whatever.
Partman Parthorse – Emerald City Dummies Release Show on Friday
FYI, this is a repost of a calendar entry I did a few weeks back. Just want to make sure we’re all on the same page (and looking at that reaaaaaally long penis together).
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So there’s this poster. What’s going on with that guy’s penis, anyway? It looks like one of those banner advertisements trailing behind a plane (what happened to those, btw?). Is this pose yoga-porn? Factoid: frontdude Gary Smith, who likes getting “fairly nude” on stage, moonlights as a yoga instructor.
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Mash Hall (you know, the rap-rap-rappers who used to be They Live!) and Scraps will be helping PMPH celebrate the release of their 3rd album, Emerald City Dummies. We (I) told you about that shit-talkin’ video the band put out recently, so maybe a brawny beef will break out? Only time will tell, dudes, only time will tell. DON’T FUCK WITH THE HORSE.
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I’ve given Emerald City Dummies a few spins this week, but I’m not ready to give my take on it yet. This song, however, is pretty awesome:
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Friday, June 11, 9:30 pm
$6 / 21+
Paper Astronomer’s New EP
I like Paper Astronomer. They just put out the new Minus the Bear album, and it’s not bad. Okay- that’s harsh. But really the similarities between these two Washington bands’ sound leads me to be lazy when reviewing this album. And by that I mean this: IF you like Minus the Bear for their overall laid back and chill ambient sound; Jake Snider’s voice and singing style; and that perfect mixture indie rock and experimentation, THEN you will like Paper Astronomer’s new EP.
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I feel guilty for saying that, because this band is good. I’m not suggesting that they are macking on Minus the Bear’s sound, I’m just saying Minus the Bear got there first, so whomever is second… well you know. Also, a little side note, if you check out this bands’ website/myspace there is no reference to Minus the Bear, as an influence or supporter or anything at all. Maybe they arrived at this sound without ever hearing Minus the Bear… but I am a little skeptical on that one. Whatever, I am passed that, two different bands having the same sound, cool- it’s out there, moving on.
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Paper Astronomer’s new EP The Things That Cannot Be Moved came out in April (sorry for the delay on this one) and it is pretty good. I am a fan of their style of music so the EP was good to listen to. What I really dug about this EP is the lyrics. There is an obvious story for each song, and I actually really appreciate the blog on the website where singer/guitarist Casey Luport talks about the meaning behind each song. What can I say, I really like when artists’ exploit their life experiences in order to create goods. I mean c’mon, it shows there is depth and meaning behind their work, and that is investment.
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This exploitation works really well on the songs that seem to be the most exposing into the life of Luport. For example: I was certainly a fan of the 3rd and 4th tracks, which, according to the blog, seemed to be more about Luport’s own life experiences than a story from elsewhere. Both tracks also talked about a road trip/car ride of sorts, and I definitely had a moment where I was like “this would be a killer part to a road trip mix.” But that is just the way my thought process rolls out.
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So basically, if you are a fan of this kind of sound, you like a little exploitation with your lyrics, and you are looking for a new Washington (Spokane) band to support, then I would highly suggest checking Paper Astronomer out.
Kinski and Virgin Islands @ Sunset
| Saturday, June 26, 2010 | ||
| 9:00 pm |
Kinski
Red Fang
Virgin Islands
Stephanie
Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m kind of a sucker for the underground, lo-fi pop and punk sounds that seem to be so fashionable these days (the Intelligence, the Lights, Real Estate, etc). Oh sure, some of my favorite bands are as big and polished as the bumper of a ’56 Chevy, but there’s just something alternately magnetic about those coarse and concise unearthed gems that hook an ear and utilize more scratch than sleek. Like most people, I tend towards music often described as “poppy” and “catchy” (for lack of better terms), or with an underlying beat. But that “pop” or that “catch” has to be kind of weird, too. Its face has to be kind of beat up, its voice imperfect and offset, experimental elements mingling with traditional instrumentation. In music, opposite forces working towards a natural, common goal—the yin and yang, if you will—is best represented in a weird, catchy tune.
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It just so happens that the local pop under-maestros in Stephanie feel the exact same way (amazing how that happens!). The quartet—whom I admittedly know little about—has recently put together a short album for the GGNZLA Crew (more on them here), and caters nicely to my little preamble there. Just six songs deep, it’s a valiant effort of lighthearted dramatics, crisp and/or caterwauling guitars, sparkling and syncopated Casio-tones, rough-hewn production, and a deep appreciation for early 80s post-punk rhythms. The lead singer is a bit of an amateur opera man, singing in overt, theatrical registers and going against the grain of traditional rock vocalists. His unique voice, not unlike the Dead Science’s Sam Mickens, won’t appeal to everyone. But perhaps the band’s insouciant art-pop sincerity will.
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The standout tracks for me are “Freak Flag”, which has a Joy Division-meets-Tom Vek thing going on, “Meds” with its warm-blooded pulse and swirling, shimmering keys, and “WASP”, a toe curling, semi-sinister laser-punk tune with an interwoven Rasta beat. Yep. Check out a few of their songs below, and see if it doesn’t grab you. July 7th at the Cairo art gallery is their next scheduled performance.
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Ladies Night 2.0
| Thursday, June 10, 2010 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
Since the original version went over so well, Neumos will have another Ladies Night 2.0 this Thursday, June 10th. Hosting duties will fall upon Ms. Lisa Dank, who played the first version with those crazy cats in Thee Satisfaction and has made modest waves with her flirting, flaunting and frisky electro-dance-pop. There aren’t many local outfits trying to sell what she’s sellin’, and I seriously doubt her role will be exclusively as emcee, but we’ll see.
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Aspiring neo-soul songstress Choklate (who already has two albums under her belt) looks to share headlining duties with electro-folk/trip-hopper Anomie Bell. SSS’s Tom Blog-itt did a nice interview with her in 2009 that you can check out here.
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Ladies Night 2.0
Neumos
Thursday, June 10th
Doors at 8pm / $10 adv
More Expo 86 Tracks (Yes!)
What, you thought I was done with Wolf Parade and their upcoming 3rd album? Not by a longshot, dude. Sub Pop has (kind of surprisingly, really) put another two songs from Expo 86 up on their Soundcloud page for all us lucky listeners to check out. Boeckner takes the vocals on the passionate power ballad “Yulia” and Krug ruminates on scorpions and boat shoes on the propulsive electro-prog of “Cloud Shadow On The Mountain”. I posted a video of the latter a few weeks ago and it definitely sounds to be one of the stronger tracks on the record; if you dig their stop n’ go meandering rock anthems, that is. You can listen and download the other two songs here.
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Definitely check out the newly written bio for the band as well. It’s written by Steve Martin.
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2 songs from Wolf Parade’s EXPO 86 by subpop
