Seattle Subsonic

Seattle Subsonic - Seattle Music Scene

Grand Hallway – “Blessed Be, Honey Bee”

This one’s been making the rounds, so I thought I’d throw it up here; mostly because it’s probably the best song on Grand Hallway’s record Promenade. Depending on your opinion, of course.
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The soft-rockin’ chamber-folk ensemble kicks off their spring tour tomorrow night at the Doug Fir in Portland, and includes a stop at SXSW next week. The band’s homecoming is April 8th at the Crocodile with Friday Mile.

New Liars – Sisterworld

Here’s the new (and deliciously disturbing) video for “Scissor” by the freakazoids in Liars:
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The rampant drone-rock trio will play Neumos Saturday May 1st with Fol Chen. You can listen to the new album Sisterworld, released yesterday on Mute, over on the band’s myspace. So far, so good. If you like it, I’d recommend picking up the special 2CD version, complete with a visually unique folding-style package and remixes/reinterpretations of the album’s songs by Thom Yorke, Tunde Adebimpe, Devendra Banhart, and Bradford Cox, among others.

Balkan Beat Box Beckons March 17 @ Neumos

The uber-eclectic world band, Balkan Beat Box, has a new album out later this month, Blue Eyed Black Boy; and for those who can’t wait, or have been waiting patiently since 2007, you can experience the new material live March 17^th at the Showbox.
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Few modern acts are as undefinable, moving, and in constant transformation as Balkan Beat Box (Beirut and Beck also come to mind). Their music is a fusion of traditional Jewish, Gypsy, Arabic, and Balkan music with modern hip hop beats, dub, and electronics. The globally acclaimed first album, self titled (2005) featured Mediterranean influences; and the second album, Nu Med (2007), changed it up with Arabic and Spanish influences. By creating harmony, seamlessly combining the music of different regions, they hope to raise political awareness; promoting peace, unity, and the elimination of political borders.
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On stage, the three person band (Ori Kaplan, Tamir Muskat and Tomer Yosef ) expands to a full seven live performers from around the world, bringing diverse musical influences to the show. Balkan Beat Box set out to update traditional music, which they had personally grown up on, and ended up with a highly danceable sound with global appeal; worthy of concert hall or dance club.
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Day: Wed, Mar 17, 2010
Doors open: 8:00 PM
Ages: 21 & Over
Ticket Prices: $17.50 ADV-$20.00 DOS
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Listen to the track, “War Again”, from the upcoming album here
Watch the “War Again” music video here

We Were Promised Jetpacks [from Scotland] @ Neumos Tonight! (3-2)

Last year Scottish band, Frightened Rabbit, came to Neumos with another great Scottish band, We Were Promised Jetpacks, opening for them. Now, We Were Promised Jetpacks returns to headline; and they deserve it! As an added bonus, local phenomenons, The Lonely Forest, will be opening.
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First off, We Were Promised Jetpacks has a great name and secondly, have an atmospheric yet intense sound, coupled with the lead singers deep moving voice and Scottish accent; its good. Real good. And they traveled this far from Glasgow; just to see you!! (It would cost a lot more to fly there to see them).
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Read more about the Lonely Forest, who won last year’s Sound Off competition here: http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/2010/02/16/the-lonely-forest-neumos/ . Everytime I miss them at a festival or show, I have to kick myself, because afterward I have to hear how they were one of the best shows of the night.
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We Were Promised Jetpacks
The Lonely Forest, Bear Hands
doors at 8pm
$15 adv

Show Review: Swollen Members

It took an extra bit of effort to see Swollen Members perform at Neumos free last week; but it was well worth the wait. Of the opening bands, I thought Tacoma’s, JAY BARZ were a little too self-deprecating and self-promotional, with lines like “F*ck JAY BARZ”, to gain my interest. The group, Potluck, didn’t perform; but Cool Nutz , from Oregon, did a decent job of warming up a full house with more of an old school flow and some danceable stuff. THEN the wait started, at 11PM on a Thursday night, for Swollen Members. No announcements.
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By the time Swollen Members hit the stage at 12:15AM (their scheduled end time) much of the crowd had left and the band offered little explanation other than Canadian border problems. Is this a common delay for bands in Seattle; I’ve heard it several times before, but isn’t that something you would normally account for? I read they performed for the Olympic Village the previous night (being from Vancouver).
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My frustration faded quickly as the band fully invigorated the shrinking crowd. Rarely do you see a whole Neumos crowd jump around for a solid hour. My friends were unfamiliar with the songs, but had no problems getting into it. The sound was perfect (the sound guy had a long time to prepare I suppose). The fun energetic vibe that came from the stage did not seem to represent the gangsta tone of their last album. The MC’s moved around the whole time, into/onto the crowd, and even allowed the audience onstage to breakdance or sing along. The lyrics were crisp and the beats loud, original, and moving; better than the actual albums (which I admired for those same reasons). Prevail laid down one of the best and longest freestyles of the whole night with a lot of respect for Seattle.
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I left very sweaty (who’s sweat?), very tired, and feeling pretty good. Often I’m disappointed by bands which I started listening to ten years ago and finally get a chance to see them perform; this was not one of those times.

$5 Cover – Seattle Premier At SIFF

Speaking of music and movies (they go well together, no?), this Monday March 1st at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) Cinema—located inside McCaw Hall—you can catch the screening of the much-ballyhooed Seattle version of MTV’s $5 Cover. It’s an hour long and tickets are (ironically) $10. First come, first served; no advance tickets available. Starts at 7pm.

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If you missed this little endeavor, basically it’s a stylish profile of 13 Seattle bands as they wade their way to varying degrees of success. Director Lynn Shelton, who made the Sundance hit “Humpday”, is a local gal herself. Bands who have a shot at larger fame include Thee Emergency, TheeSatisfaction, the Moondoggies, Champagne Champagne, the Lights, the Maldives, the Spits and more.

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The trailer gives the movie a sort of docu-drama feel, hinting at a sort of semi-reality (it is MTV, after all), which I’ll admit is kind of a turn off. I don’t watch MTV and I prefer regular ol’ documentaries. But the bands Shelton and Craig Brewer (“Hustle & Flow”) chose to work with are all solid and representative of just how varied our enclave is. Seattle (and the NW) is pumping out some cah-razy shit these days. Trailer below:
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Under Great White Northern Lights

The much-anticipated White Stripes documentary screens at the Northwest Film Forum this weekend, for two nights only. Friday (2/26) and Saturday (2/27) at 9pm. Looks pretty righteous, but I hope they address that darned brother/sister/girlfriend/boyfriend thing (jk!).

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I saw another documentary with Jack White not too long ago. Huh, fancy that.

HER Magma Festival 2010

Hollow Earth Radio (HER) is curating its popular 3rd Annual Magma Festival next month, and will feature the online radio station’s signature hyper-eclecticism of local earthed (Dylan Carlson of Earth!) and unearthed (Emeralds!) acts. The “festival” is spread out over the four weekends of March (easy to keep track of, no?) and across several different locations touting varying degrees of renown. The Vera Project, The Fremont Abbey, the Healthy Times Fun Club, and the Henry Art Gallery are among the more prominent venues, while the Mine, 20/20 Cycle, The In, Kenyon Hall, and Shafer Baillie Mansion are among the less reputed.

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So, local music-loving geeks, whatever your schedule or taste, you’re likely to find something here to suit your fancy. Might I suggest (obviously) the inaugural lineup at the Vera Project on March 5th? Folk-rockin’ frontwoman Thao Nguyen plays with local one-man sonic tribalist Alaskas, Deception Pass, and Grr. Or might I suggest the Eruption Show at the Mine on March 27th with an absolute crap load of bands that I know little about but might favor for a joyous time? Good, thank you.

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The poster’s type is kinda small, so click it for largeness or visit the site for more links and details. Show prices range from $6-$15, but you can buy a $50 pass that gets you into all the shows. Proceeds will benefit the radio station in specific and the DIY community in general.

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SUPPORT IT OR THEY WILL ABORT IT! (I just made that up.)

Free Show: Swollen Members @ Neumos (Thursday)

Vancouver’s got those Olympics, but Thursday night we’ve got Vancouver’s, Swollen Members, for FREE! Apparently, there’s also Stoli and Sailor Jerry Drink Specials all night = another wild night at a free Neumos show.
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Swollen Members has been making high intensity albums since the late 90’s, with big name collaborations, and just released a new album after a 3 year break. Tight lyrics, intriguing samples, and distinct voices from the two MCs, Mad Child and Prevail, are a given.
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It seems a loss not have their on/off MC Moka Only in the mix; but that’s how it goes. Instead we get the accompaniment of several acts from up and down the west coast: potluck, Cool Nutz ,and Jay Barz (from Tacoma).
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You may not have heard of Swollen Members; but I couldn’t get into a mid-day indoors show at the last Bumbershoot because the line wrapped around the building all the way until the end of their set.
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Thursday Feb. 18 :: Doors at 8pm
FREE SHOW!!! :: 21+ :: Feat. Stoli and Sailor Jerry Drink Specials all night

Sasquatch! Lineup Is Nice, But Maybe Not For The Price

In case you missed it, the lineup for the 2010 Sasquatch! Festival was released Monday night during a concert at the Crocodile (I was unsuccessful in my attempts for those coveted free tickets). Here’s the day-by-day schedule:

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Saturday, May 29th
My Morning Jacket / Vampire Weekend / The National / Deadmau5 / Broken Social Scene / OK Go / Wale / Public Enemy / The Hold Steady / Miike Snow / Z-Trip / Brother Ali / Minus The Bear / WHY? / The Very Best / Portugal. The Man / Mumford & Sons / The Lonely Forest / Nurses / The Middle East / Patrick Watson / Morning Teleportation / Laura Marling / Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros / Fool’s Gold / Garfunkel & Oates / Dam-Funk / Shabazz Palaces

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Sunday, May 30th
Massive Attack / Pavement / LCD Soundsystem / Tegan and Sara / Kid Cudi / Nada Surf / Dirty Projectors / The xx / The Long Winters / Simian Mobile Disco / Midlake / Girls / Vetiver / The Tallest Man On Earth / YACHT / Booka Shade / Caribou / Avi Buffalo / City and Colour / Cymbals Eat Guitars / A-Trak / Fruit Bats / tUnE-yArDs / Local Natives / Freelance Whales / Jets Overhead / Rob Riggle / Luke Burbank

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Monday, May 31st
Ween / MGMT / Band of Horses / She & Him / Passion Pit / The New Pornographers / Drive-By Truckers / Boys Noize / Camera Obscura / The Temper Trap / Dr. Dog / Neon Indian / No Age / The Mountain Goats / Phantogram / Quasi / Japandroids / Mayer Hawthorne & The County / The Low Anthem / Fresh Espresso / Hudson Mohawke / Telekinesis / Past Lives / Yes Giantess / Craig Robinson

Pretty solid, no? Yes, I agree; but while this is certainly a better than average group of bands, musicians, and comedians, it doesn’t set my heart aflutter like in years past. Personally, I’d say Sunday is the best mix (mostly due to the headliners) but I see how any random person might prefer any of those three days. But here’s my deal: it’s difficult not view the price of this thing as somewhat of a rip-off. It seems to get pricier and pricier every year and is the biggest reason I haven’t attended in a long time (well, that and the state of the “campground”).

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Let’s do some math: $170 3-day pass + $15 (estimated) ticket fees + $99 for all-weekend camping (no single day campground prices) + $100 for food/drink/water + $50 for gas = $434! Good lord, that’s a lotta dough. Sure you can maybe split the camping, sustenance and gas amongst friends, but that $100 for food and drink could easily be $150, and if you only want a single day ticket, that’s $80 a day ($70 if you buy early, $86 if you buy late). Now, I’m no miser, but I do prefer to spend my money wisely. Is $300-400 worth it? I dunno, but if the prices keep going up, how can this be A) sustainable and B) desirable?

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I also forgot to mention that the 3-day passes are only available for 2 days starting Feb. 20th. Geez louise.

Piecora’s Pizza Is Now A Music Venue, Too

Raise your hand if your favorite memory of Piecora’s Pizza on E. Madison St. is post-grade school soccer game grub fests. Yep, me too. CYO, BABY! The long-standing New York-style pizzeria has decided recently (I think) to get into the music biz. Why not? Everyone else is doing it. It’s not like there’s a dearth of bands out there to occupy your calendar with. Chop Suey is just a few blocks down the hill and makes for some nice competition.

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It’s called Piecora’s Back Room and shows are presented by Radio Free Seattle. Here’s the current schedule:

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Next Weekend Should Totally Rock

Though there’s a lot of cool stuff going on this weekend (Head Like An Espresso Truck, Cumulus Festival, Vivian Girls at the High Dive, etc.), I just wanted to give you all a heads up on next weekend, which should be prove to be just as attractive. Friday night (2/19) at the Funhouse will feature fuzzed out garage-rock label nomads Thee Oh Sees and Unnatural Helpers. I’ve been really jonesin’ to see both of these bands, especially Thee Oh Sees, who tour through Seattle all the time. I’ve described their music as a “gruff, snarky burst of discordant melodies, a cracked homage to the early punk bands of the 50s and 60s and the culmination of all the crud swimming around in John Dwyer’s head.” YES. Local racketeers Unnatural Helpers have a new 7″ (that there’s the cover art) scheduled for release through Hardly Art on March 30th, as well as some fantastic momentum following years of stunt-inducing lineup changes and little recognition. THE TIME IS NOW. Together with the crusty punk poetry of late 70s SoCal stalwarts the Urinals, this is a match made in a crazy place somewhere.

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Saturday at the Comet (2/20) should be a doozy as well: veteran punk musicians in new punk bands. Mike Jaworski’s new outfit, Virgin Islands, has been rabidly booking shows left and right; seems he couldn’t just stand idly by while the town lacked a rowdy, indignant Joe Strummer-style shit-kickin’ rock band. They pretty much sound like the Cops, only better. Little Cuts, comprised of Drew Church (the Cops) on bass, Dave Hernandez (the Shins, saw him play with Kinski once) on guitar, and Curtis James (the Old Haunts) on drums. They’re kind of reminding me of the Ponys or the Wrens right now. Groovy, dirty, exuberant. They also play tomorrow (2/13) at the Wildrose. Western Hymn, Craig Extine’s new band, is on the bill too. His former band, the Old Haunts, broke up last year, but he’s still strokin’ that snaky swamp gee-tar with intriguing results.

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Here’re the first four (4) tracks off of Help, Thee Oh See’s 2009 LP, just for good measure:

Enemy Destruct

Ruby Go Home

Meat Step Lively

A Flag In The Court