Seattle Subsonic - January, 2011
Matt & Kim Beat The Crap Out Of Each Other
Seapony
I’m not terribly interested in anything that might be labeled “twee” — a word worse than “indie” — but cuddly local trio Seapony have some cute, carefree tunes that just might cheer up your morning. And while their sound might border on the saccharine, it also has that gauzy buffer we see bands so often cloak their sheen with. As well, there’s a welcome surf aspect to the giddy guitar work that really gives their songs some kick. Jen Weidl sings her lyrics in a flat, flirty and understated way that lends itself really well to the rest of the music. The softness of her voice keeps anything from being too over the top. The Raveonettes and Camera Obscura are good reference points, as well as The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, with whom they play April 22nd at the Crocodile. You can also catch them at Cairo on January 21st. That’s tomorrow, Einstein.
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I’ve embedded their bandcamp players below. You can also check out their KEXP in-studio from back in November.
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In Memory of Trish Keenan…
…a video I shot of her and Broadcast bandmate James Cargill two Halloweens ago. They were investigating witch cults of the radio age at Neumos. Rest in peace.
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A Community Coming Together To Help
The other night one of the NW’s best artists and close friend, Drew Grow was in a car accident. He got pretty banged up suffering from multiple broken bones and requiring surgery. While he will heal, it will take a lot of money to pay for doctors bills as well as finding a new van for him and The Pastors’ Wives to go out on the road with, to distribute their music. Within hours of hearing this news the local Seattle music community came together and set up not ONE but THREE benefit shows and a donation fund to help out one of its own in a time of need. I have never experienced something like this. It is pretty amazing. If you have ever met Drew or been to one of his soul raising concerts and want to help out, please do.
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Update Benefits Information (current as of 1/16/11):
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Donate to Drew NOW via PayPal
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* January 21st – See Me River, Big Sur & Special Guests – The Comet (Drew was originally scheduled to headline this show but a special guest will be stepping in for the Pastors’ Wives)
* February 18th – Portland Cello Project with Shenandoah Davis – The Woods (Portland)
* February 19th – The Maldives, Kevin Murphy (of The Moondoggies), Mychal Benjamin Goodweather (of Campfire OK), Jake Hemming & many more / Plus a Silent Auction – Columbia City Theater
* March 2nd – Benefit Show – Doug Fir (Portland)
* April 1st – Benefit Show – The Comet
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Bootstraps from Dylan Priest on Vimeo.
Alison Mosshart Finally Returns To The Better Of Her 2 Bands (aka, New KILLS Album On The Way)
The image below says it all, AND THEN SOME:
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Via thekills.tv
Check Out Some New Songs From U.S.F.'s New EP/Album
All sorts of new music from local chillwavers U.S.F. The duo currently has a new EP out, Jamaica Plain, on Seattle label Highfives and Handshakes and you can listen/grab one of the mp3′s from that release below (thanks to Pitchfork). As I ardently argued many moons ago, U.S.F.’s sinuous shoreline soundscapes can be the perfect release from THE DREADED LA NIÑA (Spanish for “the Niña“), and this EP is no different. The guys seem to be ever expanding their ever-expanding decoupage of warm, wandering electro-trop. The EP comes in either 12″ vinyl or mp3, by the way, and purchasing would go a long way towards helping the band replace a bunch of gear they had stolen a few months back.
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You can also preview (or buy) the whole thing thanks to the bands’ bandcamp page:
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As well, USF also has their second full-length in the works, The Spray, to be released sometime in 2011. They put up a few tracks in August to preview.
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Damien Jurado, Widower & Tony Kevin Jr @ Columbia City Theater
Friday nights line up at Columbia City Theater (CCT) was the stuff dreams are made of. The night started off right with Tony Kevin Jr. Tony really commands a room with his large folk songs and heartfelt lyrics.
He handled himself well in front of the sold out crowd when he broke a string in his first song with his full band. Having to borrow a guitar, which was then a left handed guitar belonging to Kevin Large. It didn’t seem to faze him at all. Once it was all sorted out the show went on. He was joined for a few songs by Melodie Knight, She is an amazing singer. I have a feeling that she will be one of the singers most collaborated with in 2011.
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Next up was Widower, Which is Kevin Large playing some of the best and saddest country songs you will ever hear. Kevin played an amazing set, even having the lovely Kaylee Cole on stage to help him sing “Come Monday 
Morning” and a few others. When Damien Jurado confessed that the first two songs he played he had just written that day I was blown away. This was my first time seeing Damien and I was completely drawn in by his songs. Playing with his full band, which was just about all of Kay Kay and his Weathered underground, and Sam Anderson. He played through most of his Saint Bartlett album. Damien talked a bit about how nervous he was to be playing for Seattle. “Playing in Seattle is like your first kiss. What if my lip gets caught in her braces?” The rest of his set it seemed like he truly enjoyed it though. Pretty much rocking out from the chair he was seated on.
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The whole night was a testament to the local folk/indie music scene in Seattle right now, it felt like a huge community on Friday, loads of familiar faces and a crowd that was completely respectful of the music. Not a soul could be heard talking during any of the nights three acts. That’s something that very rarely happens.
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See all the photos HERE
Lovers On KEXP
Lovers, the emotional electronic mystifiers from Portland you might have heard about on this here blog and other places, recently traveled to Seattle for the coveted KEXP in-studio session. As luck habit would have it, the radio station filmed all four songs the trio played. Alternatively, if you’re not into the whole moving pictures thing, listen to the SESSION here. Flickr set here.
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Love!
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Related from me:
Dark Light Is The Labor Of Lovers
Lovers At The Swanky Sorrento
