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A Golden Weekend In Seattle!
This coming weekend, it’s like we’re back in the 90′s again and Seattle is being invaded by zaney Californians wishing to flock to the #1 city to live in the world…except this time we will be welcoming them with open arms. That’s right, for once, we all need to go out and let Californians know how much we love them. “Which Californians,” you ask? None other than harcord/punk band The Golden Hour.
TGH first formed back in 2005, and as time has gone on their sound has become more and more refined. Somewhere between punk rock and hardcore, the band brings the melodious guitar chops of Hot Water Music coupled with the driving sound of a Strung Out. Throw in the ocasional angst of Strike Anywhere and you have a band ready to follow in the well-travelled footseps of Rise Against to your local wherehouse venue and radio airwaves.
So go out and hear them live this Saturday, March 5th:
Saturday March, 5th
Ghost Power!!!
The Golden Hour (CA)
The Shots
@ The Galway Arms (5257 University Way)
9PM — $5
Here is their brand new music video!
And hear more of their songs check out their website: http://www.thegoldenhourmusic.com
It's Gonna Get Hot Tomorrow Night at Cafe Fusion!
You all love KEXP, right? Well then here’s a show you won’t want to miss! Tomorrow, Saturday, August 7th, indie surf pop darlings The Hot Toddies will be performing at Fusion Cafe, a little known, yet wonderful, all ages venue in the heart of downtown! If you’re in the know, then you’ve already been here to see one of the numerous national touring artist that has performed here in the last year and a half. But if not, here is your chance!
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For all you avid KEXP listeners our there, you’ll remember The Hot Toddies from back in 2007 when their last album was released and they got major airplay on the station. In fact, they even did a great live in-studio performance (that you can listen to here). I think that the band’s bio gives the best description I have heard of them yet: “Oakland’s sweethearts,The Hot Toddies, mix 1950′s beach pop with indie rock riffs, a bottle of whiskey and a dry sense of humor.”
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Along with the Toddies, a bunch of other great local bands will be performing. There will be great acoustic sets from Chris Crusher (of Smokejumper, who were recently named one of the next 5 Seattle bands to get signed), Jefferson Death Star (Ryan Koreski from the Damage Done, another band who was also on that list mentioned above), MT148 (melodic singer/songwriter indie with inspirations ranging from the Weakerthans and Apple Seed Cast to the Murder City Devils), and Arms Like Cables (two guys playing together that sound like Chuck Ragan)! In short, it’s a show you don’t wanna miss. And do note…IT STARTS EARLY! 7PM.
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So, be sure to come out out if you love bands that “[blend] 60′s pop, doo-wop, and beautiful harmonies,” or local music. Either way, you will not be disappointed!
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Saturday, August 7th
The Hot Toddies (http://www.myspace.com/thehottoddies)
Chris Crusher (of Smokejumper)
Jefferson Death Star (http://www.myspace.com/therealjeffersondeathstar)
MT148 (http://www.myspace.com/mt148)
Arms Like Cables
@ The Fusion Cafe (909 4th Ave)
$6 – 7PM
Greg Attonito et al @ Healthy Times Fun Club
It seems of late that it has been all the rage for rock artists to pick up an acoustic guitar and tour small DIY spaces and venues. While not everyone can pull it off, there are a select few who have flourished at it. And, somehow, we are lucky enough to get three artists of that ilk on one bill this coming Thursday.
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Thursday, April 1
Vic Ruggiero (of the Slackers)
Greg Attonito (of the Bouncing Souls) w/ Shanti Wintergate
Kepi Ghoulie (of the Groovie Ghoulies)
Jefferson Deathstar (Ryan from the Damage Done)
Megabog
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$5, 8pm, at Healthy Times Fun Club on Capitol Hill! ALL AGES!
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You’ll notice that Vic Ruggiero wasn’t on the flier, but he has been added to the group of touring bands, so we get the opportunity to see another great artists on what was already a great bill!
Come Save Amos at the Funhouse!
Tonight at the Funhouse, Smokejumper, Save Amos, Go Fight Win, and Ol Doris will be performing their own brands of rock n roll! +Smokejumper formed out of the ashes of Dateless, Go Fight Win came about after the break up of The Heatrays (and are ahem far far better) and Ol Doris is a Seattle Punk Rock band that while I have yet to see, I am more excited to see them than I have been of any other local band in a long, long time. Who is Save Amos, then? A power pop turned punk rock band based out of San Diego, CA who will leave you astonished by their sugary sweet melodies and thrashing guitars. I love it.
The Funhouse Mon, Feb 15@ 930pm
Save Amos
Smokejumper
Go Fight Win
Ol Doris
$5/ 21+
Alkaline Trio and Cursive together at Neumos
It is not every day that you can find a show of this caliber at a venue the size of Neumo’s. But, on February 20, 2010, Alkaline Trio and Cursive, two bands that regularly sell out the Showbox at the Market, will take to the stage at Neumos to rock our faces off. Fresh off of starting their own record label (Heart and Skull), a joint venture with Epitaph, Alkaline Trio sets out on this tour to support that release, This Addiction, which actually comes out three days after this show. Alkaline Trio started out on Asian Man Records in 1998, home of other such bands as Less Than Jake and Skankin Pickle. On the strength of two popular full-lengths, they moved on to Vagrant Records, where they began to receive wider acclaim. With the release of 2003′s Good Mourning, they reached a mainstream audience and had a single on the radio and MTV. As they moved away from their straight forward punk origins, and moved more towards a sound full of lyrics about death and the occult, their fame grew bigger and they became one of the biggest up and coming mainstream punk bands around. After a short stint on Epic Records, they find heir new home and hope to move closer to their roots, combining the production and themes that lead to their new found fame with the stylistic flair of the past. This makes their concerts even better, as they play the old songs with better musicianship and greater enthusiasm.
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Alkaline Trio – This Addiction
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Alkaline Trio – Goodbye Forever
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Omaha indie rock darlings Cursive join the bill, on tour to support their latest release, Mama, I’m Swollen. After several records on Saddle Creek that stormed the college charts, Cursive broke into wider acclaim with the release of 2003′s The Ugly Organ. The sullen, introspective story of an organist and the perils throughout his life, told in a daze of discordant musical genius, drew many new fans and exploded Cursive into a wider fan base. After their next album, Happy Hollow, fell flat, they stormed back on to the music scene with 2009′s Mama, I’m Swollen. It is back on top that they team up with Alkaline Trio for this tour.
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This is going to be a great show, and it is not very often that we get a show of this caliber in the more intimate setting of a smaller venue, so come on out and enjoy a great night of music!
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Saturday, February 20th @ Neumos
Door at 7 / All Ages, $20
Alkaline Trio and Cursive at Neumos!
It is not every day that you can find a show of this caliber at a venue the size of Neumo’s. But, on February 20, 2010, Alkaline Trio and Cursive, two bands that regularly sell out the Showbox at the Market, will take to the stage at Neumos to rock our faces off.
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Alkaline Trio – This Addiction
[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/01-this-addiction.mp3]
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Alkaline Trio – Goodbye Forever
[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/01-goodbye-forever.mp3]
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Cursive – From the Hips
[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/cursive-from-the-hips.mp3]
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Cursive – The Recluse
[audio:http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Cursive-04-The-Recluse.mp3]
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Saturday, February 20th @ Neumos
Door at 7 / All Ages, $20
Ben Russell Memorial Benefit Show!
It wasn’t all that long ago that I lost a close friend. Some of you may have known him…Ben Russell. You may not have known his name, but it seemed like he was at every show in Seattle. It is not an exaggeration when I tell you that he had to be going to shows five or six days per week. Whether you were into punk, indie, or hip hop, somehow he was always there. I’d see him at Success! at the Funhouse. Or Mad Rad at Chop Suey. Or maybe even Requin at the Comet. It didn’t matter where you went, somehow he was always there. And to top it off, he was a great guy.
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That is why his death has left such a large impression upon so many in the Seattle music scene. For this reason, I felt it was only natural to put on a memorial benefit show in his honor at his favorite bar with some of his favorite bands. Yes, I know that it is a busy night, but all of the money from this show goes to help pay the costs that are incurred when one passes away. Also, we will be collecting “Winter” items like blankets/ sleeping bags/ coats/ beanies/ sweatshirts/ tarps/ scarfs/ gloves/ shoes/ socks etc. etc. to pass along to our neighbors within the homeless community within the city of Seattle. If you have anything you can spare, please bring it along!
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Friday, December 4th
Ben Russell Memorial Show
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Dragstrip Riot (special acoustic set)
Like Claws! (solo acoustic)
DJs Dan 10Things (of 10 Things Zine!!) and Bobcat (of Sleestak)!
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@ The Funhouse, $5, 21+, 9pm
The Devil is in the Details!
It was almost 25 years ago that Daniel Johnston first appeared on MTV, finagling his way into a live performance and interview on a show based upon the thriving Austin music scene at that time. Johnston is a singer/songwriter/artist who rose to underground cult status while battling crippling manic-depression that may in fact fuel his genius. Thus, we are lucky that Daniel Johnston is playing this Friday night at Neumo’s, gracing Seattle with one of the greatest musical geniuses we have seen in quite some time.
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His life-long battle with depression and schizophrenia was the basis for the 2006 documentary film, The Devil and Daniel Johnston, a chronicle of the artist’s life from his youth through being offered the most artist-friendly contract in major label history to bouts of depression that landed him in institutions. For those out there that are not familiar with Johnston’s music, at first listen you might exactly wonder what is happening…the chords are sometimes a little off, the voice resembles a childlike sing-a-long, and the songs themselves aren’t always the most intricate pieces of work. But once you start listening to the songs through the lens with which Johnston writes, once you can truly hear how amazing the songs really are, Johnston’s true genius comes through. Because of that, this is a show you certainly do NOT want to miss. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned that Kimya Dawson (yes, the Kimya Dawson who did the Juno Soundtrack, is also playing…) Here are a couple of tracks if you aren’t convinced yet:
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Friday, September 5th
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Neumo’s, 8pm, 21+ $18 adv
The Grendel Birthday Bash – Fri, June 12
That’s right friends, you don’t want to miss the Grendel Punk Rock vs. Hip Hop Birthday Bash tonight at the Morgue (5901 Airport Way So. in Georgetown). A few quick notes about the show…Type (of the Let Go) will be performing a solo set and the BBQ has regrettably been canceled. But the good news is now the show is only $6 or $5 with a non-perishable food item.
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So, if you are looking for something to do…COME ON OUT!!
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Friday June 12
Grendel Birthday Bash
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Smokejumper (myspace.com/smokejumperseattle)
Type (myspace.com/themctype)
Suburban Showdown (myspace.com/suburbanshowdown)
Shakes
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ALL AGES – The Morgue (5901 Airport Way So. in Georgetown)
Magma Fest Wraps Up This Weekend
A great month of music wraps up this weekend, as Hollow Earth Radio’s Magma Fest finishes it’s first annual month long music festival! Each show thus far has been spectacular (my review of last weekend will come soon, as I have been feeling sick, but you can read my others here), so i urge you to come out. Tonight’s will be especially great!
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March 27: Fremont Abbey:: 8:00 pm
Seattle Phonographers Union, ST Rainbow, Sweet Potatoes. A night of field recordings & found sound. BRING A PILLOW AND BLANKETS – $8
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March 28 : Ballard Warehouse District (THE MINE): 5113 Russell Ave NW – 7:00 pm
EARTHQUAKE! VOLCANO ERRUPTION. w/ Pierced Arrows, Strong Killings, Victoria Galinsky, 1985/Matt Fuller, Yellow Hat Band, Orkestar Zirconium, Douglas Filkoe & Iji. Hosted by Duet-To-It.
