Kinski, Lozen, The Heavy Hearts at the Sunset on Friday May 1st

Tomorrow is my birthday and I am inviting everyone to come out to the Sunset to see three awesome local bands.  The Heavy Hearts have been busy writing new songs and will be performing some of them for the first time at this show, their first in a few months.  Lozen has just put out a new album, Oona.  It is a 5-song, 10-inch, vinyl EP (comes with a download code).  The record release show was in Tacoma last week.  This will be the first chance to pick up a copy in Seattle.  In June, Kinski will be heading off to Japan for several shows.  This show is going to be great.  Don’t miss it!

Pretty Abandoned Quintet @ the Mix (Experimental, Free/Improvisational Music Group)

Thursday, May 14th, 8:30pm

The Pretty Abandoned Quintet will be performing a mixture of improvisational music, compositions and a couple surprises at the Mix on Thursday, May 14th..

Pretty Abandoned Quintet:

Monica Schley – Harp
Janet Utterback-Peck – Violin
Ben Verdier – Double-Bass
Brian Hartman – Alto Saxophone
Shane Peck – Drums

Doors:8pm
Show time: 8:30pm
$6
21+

Performing with the Black Swedes and the Preons..

http://www.myspace.com/prettyabandoned
http://www.myspace.com/blackswedes
http://thepreons.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mixseattle

’80s Invasion @ The High Dive (synth-pop/new wave covers)

Saturday, April 25th

’80s Invasion with Love Vigilantes (New Order Tribute) at the High Dive, Saturday, April 25th

Special Fan Appreciation Early Show
6pm, 21+, $5
513 N 36th Street
Seattle-Fremont, WA 98103
http://www.eightiesinvasion.com/
http://www.myspace.com/80sinvasion
http://www.lovevigilantes.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lovevigilantes
http://www.highdiveseattle.com/

Rainy Dawg Radio Turns 6, Throws Party

The University of Washington’s campus radio station Rainy Dawg Radio is celebrating its sixth birthday with a night of pop-infused underground noise. On Friday April 24th at 7pm Crystal Stilts, Wavves, and Idle Times will play a one-night-only show in the North Husky Den located in the HUB on the University of Washington Campus.

Crystal Stilts are an underground garage punk outfit hailing from New York City. Their debut self-titled EP has garnered praise from numerous review sites, including a Best New Music nod from Pitchfork Media. Their unique aesthetic has given them the buzz of being arguably the hottest band coming out of New York City today.
http://www.myspace.com/crystalstilts

Wavves is the relatively new lo-fi noise/punk project of Nathan Williams, a native of the San Diego. Touring with drummer Ryan Ulsh, Wavves delivers pop songs that are drowned in layers of noise and dissonance. A noise which has also warranted the Best New Music recommendation from Pitchfork.
http://www.myspace.com/wavves

Idle Times is the project of Brian Idle, the Seattle native. Brian Idle self-records all his songs, giving them a genuine touch of imperfection. Idle Times has been acquiring a good deal of press and quite a following. You can find Idle Times’ most recent 7″ on the notable record label Woodsist.
http://www.myspace.com/idletimesband

AFCGT is the baby of two Seattle underground bands: A-Frames and Climax Golden Twins. “AFCGT still throttle conventional rock niceties with white-knuckled intensity, sending the VU needle vibrating into the red like a stressed-to-the-max forehead vein” (Dave Segal, The Stranger).
http://www.myspace.com/afcgt

Tickets are $6 will a valid UW student ID available in the HUB ticket Office. General Admission tickets are available via Tickets West for $10.

information, directions, & need to know

New St. Vincent album Streamed Free Tonight

On April 20, NPR.org will stream the highly anticipated St. Vincent album ‘Actor’ (May 5, 4AD) for 2 full weeks as part of their exclusive “First Listen” series. Hear the entire album.

Starts tonight April 20, 2009 at 11:59 PM ET (8:59 PM).

H2HC this Friday

Free live music all day at Caffé Vita: 6a-6p Black Kids, Mates of State, Say Hi, The Moondoggies, The Maldives and Beads. Then KEXP DJs spin at the Cha Cha Lounge, Grey Gallery and Lounge, Havana, Linda’s, Moe Bar, The Wildrose.

Live showcases at The Comet, Everyday Music and Wildrose: performances from Portland’s the Dimes, Painted Hills, Grand Hallway, The Quiet Ones, The Curious Myster, See Me River, Tacocat and Wallpaper.

More info here: http://www.kexp.org/events/hoodtohood2009.asp

Patrick Watson drops Wooden Arms on May 5

The Montreal-based band Patrick Watson will drop Wooden Arms on May 5. In the meantime, check out “The Storm” and “Close to Paradise”:

May 4 New York, NY City Winery
May 8 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Cafe
May 9 San Francisco, CA Cafe du Nord
May 11 Portland, OR Doug Fir
May 12 Seattle, WA Crocodile Cafe

The Jesus Lizard to Play the Capitol Hill Block Party

Just like that Jesus in the bible, The Jesus Lizard have returned and are hitting the road.  They will be in Seattle on July 24th and will be headlining the main stage of the Capitol Hill Block Party.  It’s an Easter miracle.  Start rubbin’ your nub.  (personally, I’d rather see them at the Showbox, but I’m stoked I will see them at all.  The Scratch Acid reunion show in 2006 was epic.)

The Jesus Lizard

UPDATE:  Does this mean the ban has been lifted?

LPTrax, NW Musician

I go by the name of LPTrax. I started making music when I was in the 7th grade with a Casio keyboard. I would loop the ends of songs to create a instrumental when the beat was naked at the end of songs. I also sampled a Star Wars game from the Nintendo 64 and dubbed the drums over it. I did many bassment recordings. Being that I loved music I started to work with local artists such as Flossy, Peerless Tempo Records, Eastwood of Bossmind Records, Traq Addicc, JMR, Playboy, Da Association, Ajax, StereoTypeGroup (Washington D.C.), Noeledge, Rob, Billy The Kid & The Franchize from my 9th grade year at Garfield High School (Class of 04) to this present date.

I use Fruity Loops 8 XXL Producer Edition & cool edit to chop samples. In the past two years I was apart of 2 mixtapes We Are The Streets & Free N.E.C. I remember going to Guitar Center with my Mini Disc recorder to record drums sounds from the Trinity & Triton’s when I was younger. Now the internet is a major tool to my sound library including VST’s.  I know that I’ve come along way from where I use to be thanks to technology!

I’m unheard of when it comes to production & rapping in the Northwest but i’m patient & I know my time will come! My music is unique and for the soul. I write songs too. I want the world to be touched by my music. Everybody listens to music. Music is the soundtrack to life & I want to contribute to help people going through hard times, happy times, & everyday life!

Free Rock Music April 17 on Capitol Hill

KEXP thanks Capitol Hill donors for their support with an entire day of live broadcasts, member discounts and special events. John Richards, Cheryl Waters and Kevin Cole will broadcast live, all day long from Caffé Vita (1005 E Pike St, Seattle) – featuring live performances from Black Kids, husband/wife duo Mates of State, new-record-releasing Say Hi, The Moondoggies, The Maldives and Beads! These performances will be free and open to the public.

Jens Lekman w/ Tig Notaro @ Crocodile (2 dates)

He says: indie pop.

I say: indie folk-pop.

You cry: splitting hairs!

They say: Sweden’s Jens Lekman emerged from relative obscurity to quickly establish himself as the darling of the global indie pop set, winning widespread acclaim from fans and critics for his uncommonly witty and well-crafted pop songs.

She says: Jens Lekman with special guest Tig Notaro on Thursday, June 4, and Friday, June 5, 2009 at 9:00pm at The Crocodile.

KEXP says: we often play his fine track The Opposite of Hallelujah and here it is from Swedish TV for your enjoyment:

Purty Mouth w/ Starlings @Highway 99 Blues Club

Opening for Seattle’s Purty Mouth is country/folk darlings Starlings. I’d see Purty Mouth for their name alone.

South Tacoma

She Plays Rugby (I Play Hard To Get)

KEXP.org on the Starlings: “The Starlings’ vocal harmonies, acoustic goodness and sweet blend of folk and country set the stage for the band’s storied original songwriting and the compelling presence of vocalist Joy Mills.”

Wednesday, April 15, Purty Mouth w/the Starlings at the Highway 99 Blues Club, 1414 Alaskan Way, Seattle, 206-382-2171. Happy Hour 4-7pm, music starts 8:30pm, cover: $7

Lifesavas, Grayskul, Rudy & The Rhetoric, Mic Crenshaw-Sat Apr 4,2009

Lifesavas and Grayskul at the Nectar…this is gonna be a great show. For those of you unfamiliar with Grayskul-they could be described as minimalist gothic hip-hop, which is better than it sounds. They’re on the Rhymesayers, which is a pretty good indication of a high-quality live show, and hail from Seattle. Lifesavas is a lovely complement to Grayskul’s witty gloom n’ doom…Portland-based, positive, upbeat, funky hiphop. Rudy & the Rhetoric are a UW hiphop duo. They’re all on the bill, as well as Mic Crenshaw, a Portland-based social worker by day, hiphop artist by night who’s an anti-racism activist and slam poet. Sounds promising.

Don’t forget…Nectar Lounge has a great happy hour from 4-7!

Lifesavas, Grayskul, Rudy & The Rhetoric, Mic Crenshaw

Sat, Apr 4, 2009, 9pm doors, $12

Nectar Lounge, 412 N 36th St (in Fremont)

206.6322020