Seattle Subsonic - Recommended Events
Intelligence, the Lights @ Wildrose
| Thursday, August 28, 2008 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
I’m not joking when I say Intelligence is one of my favorite bands playing out and about right now. They’re quirky, they’re catchy, they’re weird, and they’re a helluva lotta fun. Not your average everday band, that’s fo sho’. I haven’t had the opportunity to properly review them (”mmmmm, very proper…hmmmm…yes…quite”), but I just might take this one and run with it. Hell, it’s the kickoff show to their Big American Tour!!
Plus, in bonus news, I was told the band will have some new songs on the set list. Straight from the horse’s mouth—what more do you poor bastards want?!
Plus, in double bonus news, the LIGHTS are playing this show, too!! C’mon, you know you liked Diamonds and Dirt…
Intelligence
the Lights
$7 / 21+
FENCES @ Tractor Tavern (LOCAL)
| Friday, August 29, 2008 | ||
| 9:00 pm |
Friday, August 29th @ Tractor Tavern
9:00
$7
21+
If you missed the FENCES at Neumo’s the other week, catch ‘em tonight headlining at the Tractor. Playing alongside are a slew of other fantastic-upon-first-listen Seattle bands (hello Conservative Dad and Sweet Dominiques).
Venus Verse @ the Skylark
| Friday, August 29, 2008 | ||
| 9:00 pm |
Update: This show has been canceled. Explanation came from Venus Verse follows:
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“Sorry but we had to cancel our Skylark show August 29th. due to IBS. No actually it is for a very good reason …is a private matter involving aliens. Dont worry though , for the thousands who planned on attending, we will be playing again in the fall.“
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Vashon’s Venus Verse, trying their damnedest to get noticed in a city full of bands vying for your attention, are a band more than worthy of this perceived predicament. Upon the band offering up their stellar 5 song EP, Phazes, free of charge, I did a small write up of the band based on their more European influences, so it’s no surprise that they’ve been getting much more attention across the pond than here in their own backyard. The least you could do is check out their show at the Skylark Cafe in West Seattle. Jerk.
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Anyway, should you be too lazy to click on the link above, here’s a portion of my initial impression:
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“The threesome draws from (somewhat) equal parts 80s British icons The Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen (”Dreaming Again”, “Loving Arms”), contemporary Swedish pop invaders such as Shout Out Louds and Lykke Li (”Not Quite Juliet”, “Whisper”), as well as trip-hop pioneers Portishead (”Paris”). Some impressive names, indeed, for a small band from the corner of the Evergreen State to be compared to. And while the band still has the fresh sound of wide-eyed shoegazers, the poppy, ambient, even jazzy excursions their songs take off on make for a charming and captivating listen. You’ll find plenty of synths, machine-like drumming, and precise post-punk guitar work, embellished by wistful and tender lyricism.”
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While sonically it’s not the best venue in town, and many of the bands who play there are still cutting their teeth, the club on Delridge is not without it’s charm. Every show they offer is free, and every Wednesday is Open Mic night. If you are or have friends starting out in the “music biz”, check this place out. And, yes, it’s named after the Buick.
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9pm VENUS VERSE
10pm SAFER
11pm BOMBERMAN AWESOME
FREE! 21+
Bumbershoot @ the Seattle Center
| Saturday, August 30, 2008 | ||
| 12:00 pm | ||
| Sunday, August 31, 2008 | ||
| 12:00 pm | ||
| Monday, September 1, 2008 | ||
| 12:00 pm |
Read all about my craaaaaaaazy recommendations HERE. NOW.
The Universal, Built to Spill @ Showbox Mkt
| Thursday, September 4, 2008 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
Babydollars (PDX)
The Universal (Temporarily in Idaho)
Built to Spill (Idaho)
Thursday, 4 September @ Showbox Market
8PM, $25, 21+
For an opening act, Doug Martsch has borrowed a four-piece outfit called The Universal from the planet Kinktubulonus. While BtS is celebrating their 1997 major-label debut, “Perfect From Now On” by playing it in its entirety, The Universal might round out their set with a cover of The Wellwater Conspiracy’s “Daybed” top to bottom.
Nevertheless, get to the show early to catch the opener. Their craft departs at midnight from the roof of the Westin.
TV on the Radio @ Showbox Sodo
| Saturday, September 6, 2008 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
Saturday, September 6th @ Showbox Sodo
8pm
$23 ADV, $25 DOS
All Ages
Tickets on sale Friday, July 11th at 10am.
Can’t wait to see this cast of talented musicians in action. TV on the Radio stand out in my mind as having taken indie music to another level, in much the same way Kings of Leon stepped up modern rock to represent a whole new meaning.
Strange too how I view both bands as distinctively different from one another, but yet “Wolf Like Me” never ceases to remind me of brothers (plus cousin) Kings of Leon.
TVOTR’s genre is aptly unique, and as a result difficult to pinpoint. Their myspace describes them almost perfectly: A’cappella, Surf and Rap. I actually can’t quite hear the ‘rap’ aspects, and in place hear more heavy jungle instead. This is besides the point though. They’re known for their somewhat distorted, layered sound which, to note, is also distinctly felt in Scarlett Johansson’s recent release Anywhere I Lay My Head. And rightly so since Johansson’s album of Tom Waits covers (which, might I add is quite good) was produced by multi-talented TVOTR guitarist David Andrew Sitek. TVOTR is also notably identifiable by lead vocalist Tunde Adebimpe’s wide-ranging, chord-striking vox that are tightly woven within the dense drone of bass, percussion, and Sitek on guitar. All in all, the quintet produce music that is literally mind-bending. This show is not to be missed.
Does it Offend You, Yeah? @ Chop Suey
| Wednesday, September 17, 2008 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
Does it Offend You, Yeah
with Special Guest
8:00 doors, 21+
Tickets on sale Aug 17th 10:00
I’m guessing $10-$15
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So are you offended by Daft Punk or Death From Above 1979?
How about Arcade Fire or LCD Soundsystem? Justice? B-52’s?
What if you mashed them all up in a giant musical goulash spiced it up with a little 80’s new wave and video game sound effects. Would it offend you then?
Me either. In fact I love them all with a side of toast.
CSS @ Showbox
| Thursday, September 18, 2008 | ||
| 8:00 pm |
Thursday, September 18th @ Showbox (Market)
Doors @ 8
$20 ADV/$22 DOS
All ages
Remember that catchy Apple iPod Touch commercial, ‘Music is my boyfriend…’? Well, the song’s actually called Musk is my Hot Hot Sex, by Brazilian-signed-Subpop group Cansei de Ser Sexy, or C.S.S. (the Portuguese band name literally means ‘tired of being sexy’). Their second album, Donkey, was released last month and they’re touring all over, including a stop at Subpop headquarters of course. Despite having received mediocre reviews, I think Donkey’s a hit. It’s a catchier and more refined spin-off of their previous self-titled release, which was full to the brim thrashy electro-punk-rock. Heavy synth, raging guitar, unrelenting beat, blunt spoken and conversational vox, poppy undertones, and plenty adolescent attitude. CSS is one example of Subpop’s more recent efforts of dabbling into refreshing new territory.
