Cave Singers Invite Us In, Hit Whale Bong

It seems the homegrown folk-trio comprised of Pete Quirk, Derek Fudesco, and Marty Lund—also known as the Cave Singers—has developed quite a following in the past several months. Headlining their own show before embarking on a two month long Anglo-Saxon-Franco-Scando tour supporting the big ol’ Band of Horses, Neumos was packed to the gills this past Saturday evening (1/26) to properly send them off (I saw one member outside receive a plate of homemade cookies…sike!). The mood and enthusiastic fervor of the audience were quite different from a show they played back in October with Vancouver, B.C. druganauts Black Mountain, and their performance flourished as a result. Back during that autumn concert, which was on a Saturday, the crowd was sparser and less familiar with their fledgling catalogue, but this time around, the spectators appeared to have quite a bit more appreciation and knowledge of the band and their bona fide roots music. The threesome has been cave singing (publicly) for a little over a year now, but their popularity has undoubtedly been inflated by the October release of their brilliant debut, Invitation Songs, which crept itself into the top 5 of my favorite records last year.

What are YOU listening to today?

So if you are like me, working away in a cube, you’re probably sitting at your desk attached to your headphones listening to some music while trying to get some work done. Others may be out running errands, taking it easy, doing whatnot… or you could be like mrlevitan, who is probably in homework mode right about now. Just wondering what you’re listening to… I’ve been switching back and forth between Velvet Underground and David Bowie (Hunky Dory — I’ve been hooked ever since I saw The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou). The old stuff with the static, low fi sound seems soothing and fitting for a gray Seattle day wishing it would snow so I could go “work” from home.  Ok, your turn. Go!

P.s. Hope for snow. Tomorrow has the potential to be our “work” from home snow day. I love Seattle that way.

Is “Your Vegas” your Vegas?

So I got invited to got to a private viewing of a UK band Your Vegas Universal Republic was show casing last night at the Gibson showroom down by Quest Field. Which BTW, did anybody else know on the second floor of 159 Jackson in Pioneer Square there is a Les Paul/Gibson showroom which has just about every badass Gibson or Epiphone made handing on the walls like a frigg’n shrine to Les Paul? Really nice set up.

Anyways, I ran into the bass player Jon Langford right off the bat before they went on and chatted it up with him. We seemed to hit it off and he told me their from Leeds, UK and their on tour with the Bravery for about a month or so. Which is cool. And that they toured all over Europe for a while before they all moved to the states. And that they lived in NY for a bit and gave a demo to an entertainment attorney which in turn slipped it to a Universal exec who told him “if I like it, I’ll call you tomorrow, if I don’t you’ll never hear from me”. He must have like it cuz he called the attorney the next day. He also told me that when they showed up that afternoon to the Gibson showroom they had no guitars with them and they were told to pick whatever they wanted off the walls… Holy shit… So the band has had some good luck right, most bands from the states don’t get picked up at all much less to get Universal to sign them within the first couple years, so I figured it was probably going to be pretty good.

Fleet Foxes – the Pharmacy at Vera Project

Continuing along with the soft-rock theme…Recent Sub Poppers Fleet Foxes will soon be embarking on their first (I think) North American tour with labelmates Blitzen Trapper. Before then, however, you can catch them performing for under-age folk at the Vera Project Fri, Feb. 15th. Now, I’m of age, but all these cool bands are playing all these all-ages shows! Yowza! Fleet Foxes are gonna blow up here pretty soon, so get it while the gettin’ is good. The Pharmacy—another solid band—plays also with Steel Tigers of Death and Android Hero.  $7, yo.

Smore Shows for February

An Evening with Crack Sabbath
Friday, February 1st
High Dive

May sound like a jam band, but that’s an insult. Crack Sabbath is Skerik (saxophones; more projects and activities than can be mentioned summarily), Ron Weinstein (organ; Suffering Fuckheads), Keith Lowe (bass), Mike Stone (drums) with manic appearances from B.R.A.D. (Master Musicians of Bukkake, the Accused, Asva, Burning Witch, Apes of Wrath) bringing some demented party vibe. Skerik’s sax playing is a manipulated mass that must be heard. You’ll never miss the guitars. Look out for classics like “Bar Slut,” “Bukkake Ducate,” Nirvana covers and dead on versions of the Tom Jones’ classic “It’s Not Unusual.”

Six Organs of Admittance
Climax Golden Twins
Sunset Tavern
Thursday, Feb 15th

Ben Chasny’s Six Organs of Admittance have just put out their furthest reaching record to date. Away from the 4-track solo guitar meditations, the newest record, Shelter from the Ash veers into climactic noise destructions, simple folk, and good ol’ down home psych freak outs. Recently played a free solo show at Capitol Hill’s Sonic Boom. Unsure if he’ll bring more electrsized force. Openers Climax Golden Twins put out on of 2007’s best records, Five Cents a Piece and have been performing shows with A-Frames under the moniker AFCGT. Sure to frizzle the tuned in neurons.

Lesbian
Bloodhag
Shat
The Funhouse
February 21st

Lesbian released their debut on Holy Mountain (Six Organs of Admittance, Mammatus, Wooden Shjips) early last year (or late the year before? — doesn’t matter) and it’s a fine slab of guitars, guitars, and more guitars. Adapting many forms of metal at will, over the last year they seem to have been progressing beyond the movements of Power Hor. Heavy Heavy domination.

Diminished Men
Happy Birthday Secret Weapon
Blue Moon Tavern — FREE
February 29th – 10 p.m.

Diminished Men are grand theater, psychedelic, Spaghetti Western music presented under the tonalities of surf rock. Explodo-free jazz-groove drumming, deceivingly insane electric guitar, and swanky sax from your wildest Reeperbahn dreams.

Grand Archives – Sera Cahoone – S at Triple Door

The Triple Door is the kinda place where you might see the phrase “a special acoustic evening with” or “a delightful concert with” in the venue’s advertisements. Barf. Just gimme the lineup, dude.

But I will definitely be in attendance for one of the two (that’s 2) shows on Wed, Feb 20th. Grand Archives, who are celebrating a debut release under Sub Pop, headline both shows, with labelmate and fellow ex-Band-of-Horser Sera Cahoone. She has a backing band. She’ll also be playing lots of new cuts from her upcoming sophomore album, Only as the Day Is Long.

If you like dreamy, harmonized guitar pop or low fi, nostalgic country-western (or perhaps you secretly hope Ben Bridwell will unexpectedly show up for a few reunion tunes), then make this show a priority. First show is all ages; $15

The Hands – Whoremoans – Earaches at Chop Suey

Fri Feb 29th
THE HANDS (CD Release)
The Whoremoans
The Earaches
9:00 $8 @ Chop Suey
…folk music for kegger folk… The Hands are finally releasing a new album. These guys will be like a bag full of cats if they’re half as excited about that as I am…

Invisible Eyes at The Comet

Thurs Feb 28
The Invisible Eyes
Golden Boys
1970, Johnny O’Do
8:00 $5 @ the Comet
I saw the The Invisible Eyes at a random show at the High Dive about a year ago. They were the “w/guest” part of the night and I was bummed their set only lasted the 40 min they were alloted. Tonight they headline and we all get a hefty dose of whatever the hell these guys are on. Brilliant psychedelic rock that sounds like a ’70s movie soundtrack gone terribly… right.

Vince Mira with the Roy Kay Trio at Triple Door

Tues Feb 26
VINCE MIRA the young Johnny Cash “CASH CABIN SESSIONS” CD RELEASE PARTY
w/ THE ROY KAY TRIO
LONESOME RHOADS
7:00 and 9:30 $14 @ Triple Door
I’ve said enough about this show here. You’re gunna want to see this for yourself.

Mountain Goats at Neumos

Sat Feb 23
Mountain Goats
Jeffery Lewis and the Jitters
8:00 $16 @ Neumos
Just give the Mountain Goats a listen if you’ve never heard of them. If you like this, you’ll love the live show. VERY different from what’s happening across the street at the Comet that weekend.

Thee Emergency at The Comet

Sat, Feb 23
THEE EMERGENCY
WAllpaper, +Guests
9:00 @ The Comet
Another long time fave, The Emergency will make short work of moppin up the busted ass stage left behind by Friday Night’s show. This makes for back to back to-see-shows at the Comet this weekend. you ain’t gots to ever leave.

MONOTONIX!!!-The Valley at Comet

Fri Feb 22
THE RETURN OF MONOTONIX!
with The Valley,
Black Eyes and Neckties,
and guest
9:00 $??? @ the Comet (probably cheap!)
The Valley are another band that I can’t seem to say enough about. I you haven’t gotten a chance to see them yet, squeeze your ass into the Comet and prepare for the wall of sound. And not to undermine my own statements, but the treat to catch tonight is headliner, Monotonix. A bass-less progressive rock trio rumored to stage a show you’ll never forget. Hailing from Tel Aviv and sporting a hard-on for hijinx. Drum kits on fire, custard pies, moshing with the crowd for an ENTIRE set…Just have a peek at their myspace page and you’ll see exactly what I mean. GO!

catfish Haven at Nectar

Tues Feb 19th
Catfish Haven
Redwalls
junkmail
8:00 $8 Nectar
Catfish Haven brings a sound from south of the Mason Dixon and plops it straight into a Seattle Garage. Great rock with heart and soul. Check these guys out.

FOALS!!! at Chop Suey

Sat Feb 16
FOALS (New Sub Pop Records signing)
The Heavenly States (CD Release)
w/ Special Guests
8:00 FREE! @ Chop Suey
Sub Pop’s newest prodigy, FOALS, hail from Brighton. They’ve been describes as a “storm-in-a-teacup” and are destined for higher things. They have 2 US dates planned so far. NY and Seattle. I’m just glad Sub Pop lives here so we get the Foals for at least one show. Check out any of the videos listed on this page to see what you’re in for. Oh, and it’s FREE!

The Purrs – Feral Children at High Dive!

This is an awesome one-two punch (with apologies to 3rd band Stella by Starlight). Two of my favorite Seattle bands right now are the Purrs and Feral Children—both of whom released stellar records in 2007. The more I listen to The Chemistry That Keeps Us Together, the more I appreciate Jima’s cynical yet sugary lyricism and the band’s ability to create shoegaze pop songs (whaaaa?). Feral Children’s dark and chaotic debut has enough emotion pouring out of it to warrant a visit to your local head-shrink. Go see these two divergent bands rock n’ sock (see what I did there?) the High Dive on Friday, Feb 8th.  $7, 21+, 9pm

Blakes at Chop Suey

Fri Feb 15th
THE BLAKES
Magic Bullets
w/ Special Guest
8:00 $10 @ Chop Suey – All Ages
I’ve certainly touted the Blakes over and over here on the blog. If you haven’t seen them, you’re truly missing Seattle’s next greatest thing. They are off touring again on a west coast stint with the San Fran’s 6 piece, the Magic Bullets.

Cops – Central Services – et al at Nectar

Thurs Feb 14
Dancing On The Valentine 3: A 1985 Valentine’s Day Dance featuring…
Central Services
C’mon C’mon
The Cops
The Femurs
Hotels
Bre Loughlin
Ms. Led
Peter Parker
8:00 $10 @ Nectar
Good God, another pile of killer bands to sweeten up your Valentines Day. Fremont is for Lovers this year (did I just say that?)

Partman Parthorse – Lake of Falcons-et al at High Dive

Thurs Feb 14
Partman Parthorse,
A Gun That Shoots Knives,
TV Coharan,
Lake Of Falcons,
Keg,
Megasapien,
Branden Daniels and Everyone Gets Laid
Darlins
8:00 $5 @ High Dive
Wow… what a lineup. Grab your sweetie and ditch those lame fukin dinner reservations at Canlis. This is way better than 80 dollar steak.