Lymbyc Systym and Album Leaf

I took in Lymbyc Systym and Album Leaf and the Bluebird Theatre in Denver two nights ago. Lymbyc Systym was the highlight, playing moody, pretty, driving numbers.

Popularity: 25%

Top 100 RIAA-Free Albums

The 100 highest-selling albums on Amazon that are RIAA-safe.

I was surprised. These aren’t small bands. Here’s a sample:

Popularity: 48%

Beastie Boys at the Croc This Friday

UPDATE: Tickets are to be on sale WEDNESDAY at 4pm. Don’t know why.

A little bird just told me this:

“Beastie Boys are playing at the Crocodile Café on Friday.” Tickets go on sale today at 5pm at
http://www.ticketmaster.com/

Tickets are $25 a piece, limit 2…this show will sell out very fast. From what I hear…just so you know…it’s more of a “rehearsal” for their new album/tour. This weekend they are playing at Sasquatch and I believe it is their first show of their new tour. I also hear it will, primarily, be an instrumental set.”

I can’t make it, so one of you all should. Take some pictures and tell us all about it!

Popularity: 37%

The Festive Season

Summer is coming to Seattle.  Well, if not what most people would consider summer, at least the chance of a few rain free days in succession are headed our way.  And with the summer come the music fests, street fairs, block parties and so on.  Personally, I’m not a huge fan of outdoor stages.  I prefer my live music without the sunburns and baby strollers.  I feel if rock was meant to be played outside, guitar amps would plug into trees.  Rock is born in dark basements and in bedrooms late at night.  Music sounds best, to me, when it entirely fills a small, awkward space.  But I know most people enjoy huge outdoor concerts.  And here in Seattle, we put on some pretty great music festivals.  And while, it isn’t my favorite way to see bands, I still go.  I get pretty excited when the line-up announcements start coming in.  So here are the some highlights of this year’s festival season…

Popularity: 63%

Breaking: The Blakes sign to Light in the Attic

Lovable Seattle locals The Blakes have signed to the fab Light in the Attic Records.

Good work, men, and congratulations.

Popularity: 26%

The Heels @ B.C. Silver Dollar Casino

I was lucky enough to catch the 2nd show of Seattle supergroup The Heels.

In a word, they rockedmysocks.

I strongly suggest you see them if you like loud, punky music avec sass.

The stage presence of these women doesn’t so much wash over you as much as wink, kick your ass, and take your wallet. The music is cheeky, fun and fast, and this band will go far.

Popularity: 27%

Morning Critical… Yet Faithful

Like some of you, I occasionally drop a message to dj@kexp.org. “Great song” or “Thanks for playing ________” or whatever comes to mind. I have done this from my phone most often, I confess.
This morning, I had this request:
“John:
Something I have been meaning to ask for a long time and I know some FAQ out there probably already has stated this 1000 times: What’s that music you play behind the concert calendar? It’s so terrible and hilarious all at once. Sorry if you don’t mean for it to be funny or your mom wrote it or something, but I just find it awful. … It makes me think of “The Price is Right” and I have no idea why.”

And his totally unexpected reply:

“Stewart Copeland wrote it, of the police under the name Klark Kent. It was also the theme to MTV’s The Cutting Edge. 99% of the hundreds who asked about it, seem to love it. Glad someone hates it.”

I LOVE Stewart Copeland! So it makes it that much more enjoyable to hate it.

Popularity: 19%