Hide The Farm Animals

My hat is off to Leon Berman and KEXP’s Shake the Shack rockabilly show for hitting their TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY. It should go without saying it’s the world’s longest running rockabilly radio show. Catch tonight’s milestone show 6-9pm West Coast time.

I’ve met Leon a few times, and he’s a man with a very kind heart that hides behind Leon’s penchant for jr. high humor. The combination is somehow, inexplicably, endearing. But don’t take my word for it, listen for yourself.

Popularity: 5%

Central Services Last Night

Central Service’s pop is nothing if not exuberant. Kevin Emerson’s enthusiastic band saw a decent turnout at Mars Bar, and the turnout saw a fine set of competent, tight indie rock.

Emerson, who volunteers for 826 Seattle, is clearly proud of the Service’s music, and happy to front the band as their front-and-center, blazer-wearing, singing standup drummer.

I prefer my pop in the vein of 1984-era Psychedelic Furs or Army Navy, but this was fine.

The openers Friday Mile (only half of the band) were superb I thought.

Popularity: 6%

Central Services tonight

Going to the Mars Bar tonight to see Central Services play.

Seattle-based Central Services plays pop with a retro-rock sound.

Also the drummer for Seattle indie-pop favorite Math and Physics Club, lead singer Kevin Emerson formed Central Services in 2004 with bassist Jeff Blancato, after ten years of songwriting collaboration.

http://classifieds.thestranger.com/seattle/ViewBand?oid=oid%3A85006

Popularity: 5%

Quick Thoughts

• Just heard a good track on KEXP by a band called Uncut. Track: Understanding the New Violence.
• KEXP’s website is getting a little long in the tooth.
• Did anyone see Wolf Parade at the Showbox back in August? I was out of town, missed it, and considered suicide as a result. Kidding.

Popularity: 5%