Technology is great….
I don’t care what everyone else says, vinyl is expensive. Sure it sounds great, but it’s inconvenient. Yay for technology!
Loaded for Bear
Come check out Portland, OR’s Loaded for Bear at Plan B in Portland Feb. 4 or at the Skylark in Seattle on Feb. 5. The music is moody piano-based rock with baritone vocals backed by guitar, rhodes, bass, drums, and violin. The songs range from playful and dancy to mellow and melodic to sometimes just plain raucous. Here are three focus tracks from Loaded for Bear’s debut album ‘A Following Sea.’
http://www.loadedforbearmusic.com/Srait-Jacket.html
Unthrown Stones:
http://www.loadedforbearmusic.com/Unthrown%20Stones.html
http://www.loadedforbearmusic.com/Sleep%20Machine.html
For more info go to:
www.loadedforbearmusic.com
www.myspace.com/loadedforbearmusic
The Collective to debut at Club Motor 1/28
Newly Assembled Performance Collective Debuts at Club Motor
Seattle, WA — 1/19/10 — Not only is there safety in numbers, but there is raucous fun to be had as well.
The Collective is a group of Seattle-based performers who have bonded together as one whole bookable unit, and will be debuting its first performance January 28 at Club Motor. Members of The Collective in this performance include Sue Quigley, Dream On, The Juliettes and Nancy Frieko.
The show will be emceed by comedienne Cathy Sorbo.
Sue Quigley
Performers
Sue Quigley has been featured in Rockgrl Festival, Chick-singer Nite at The Bitter End in New York and performed at The Seattle Storm’s half-time show. She has shared the stage with such notables as Brandi Carlisle and Sera Cahoone, and has performed at The High Dive, The Tractor Tavern and The Crocodile.
Dream On is an (almost) all-girl Aerosmith tribute band fronted by Jen Ayers who has been singing, playing piano and writing music since the age of five and has performed thousands of shows all over the U.S. fronting the Seattle-based, pop/rock band Honey Tongue.
more››
This time, something to actually think about….
Portland Music Today
Well, first I think I’d like to say that I’m glad that I found nwmusicblog.com. It seems to be a real liberating place for real music discussion, that’s REALLY related to local music.
I read two blogs recently, one from New York, and another in England. They were both referring to the “Portland Scene” specifically. The blog was intentionally addressed to Portland as a separate entity from Seattle… I found this first attribute to be laughable. The next attribute was their aesthetic descriptions of the Portland scene… I had no idea what they were talking about, and I’ve been playing the Portland scene for 6 years now. No such environment exists that they were describing.
I won’t go on to elaborate, but I think it’s quite comical how hard people are trying to hold on to a dying idea. The Portland music environment is quite an anomaly. Here’s my observation:
Bands from afar look at the NW as a mecca for musical development. The bands that have so much CURRENT success from the area (Modest Mouse, The Decemberists), have convinced the bands that come here that this is the music that we all make here in Portland. Therefore, they all come to Portland with this lame music, and say it’s Portland music.
This is what I believe the people in the media are talking about. They say it’s the, “Portland Music Scene”.
The G Word
I would make the argument that this is definitely not the case, but a very different idea is true. Those that I grew up with here in Oregon, are all fans of heavy GRUNGE music. OOOOHHH NOOOOO, I said it! Not that word! UGGGHHHH, HISSSSSSSSS!!! That’s right GRUNGE. Or, should I say instead, punk rock. Bands like, Tad, Napalm Beach, Dead Moon, The Wipers, or the more esteemed counter parts, Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.
I can attest to the TRUTH that this area is infamous for it’s DIY movement. I would suggest that this value still exists, and best identifies this scene to this day. And I should ALSO suggest that the sound is grungier and nastier than ever.
Here’s another simple truth…
NO ONE GOES TO HEAR THE MUSIC
That’s not to say there’s people going to the shows. I definitely think that’s going on, but in my observation, it’s all a conglomeration of the dance party, night life scene. NOT the rock and roll, liberate your minds idea. However, there’s defintely something to say about the metal movement. There’s definitely kids going to the Satyricon to hear the metal bands, but we’d all have to start METAL bands to fit in with this. My theory is that this is an extension of the Californian exodus (Californian corporate investors moving in on Oregon). Plus, it’s still more bands that AREN’T from Oregon.
Do I have a problem with this? Absolutely not. I think it’s great that people are making music that they love. however I think the world that we live in today music gets everywhere, and people get everywhere at a rate unlike any other. The “Portland” scene doesn’t exist. It’s really the “American” scene and it just happens in Portland, because they’re people from all over the country that make their way into Portland because it’s the new, “Indie” L.A. …. might I suggest that it’s because there’s so many people moving here from L.A.?
I’m pretty much rambling here, but I thought I’d get off to a start with speaking my mind. Is there great music in Portland? Absolutely!
I guess I’m just looking for suggestions on how we can start getting people to care about it…
I’m PROBABLY wrong. Tell me your experience has been different.
Another song for freedom…
This is the only other song I’m gonna post. I promise.
[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/04-Unholy-4.mp3]
Unholy
A Labor of Love
This being my first post, I have no reservations for whoring myself. Therefore my conscience is clean in that regard.
Listen to this mp3, and tell me what you think. I won’t tell you how I feel about it.
[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/01-LOE-The-Lack-Of-Empathy-for-others-1.mp3]
Stealing Seattle Away…
Saturday January 23rd, the all female creep-pop trio Fancy Bandits from Eugene, Oregon will return to Seattle. With influences like Rasputina, The Eurythmics, Brazilian Girls, and Mazzy Star, Fancy Bandits’ original music has been described as a Tim Burton Circus, a broken down gypsy caravan, and a derelict amusement-pier. Music reviews of the trio (comprised of bass, drums, and keyboards, with two vocalists) focus on the band’s ethereal harmonies, eerie keyboard-stylings, and the refreshing absence of guitar. They released their debut album, Stealing Away, in Summer 2009.
Fancy Bandits will play at Skylark Cafe, 3803 Delridge Way SW. They take the stage at 9pm sharing the bill with Seattle’s own Nine N Out and Sugarsmacks.
**********************************************************
“These women push pop music’s boundaries with vocals that lean heavily on ethereal harmonies, which are accompanied by eerie, klezmer-influenced keyboard stylings. It’s like going to a Gothic circus. And in an unusual, refreshing twist, this band contains NO guitarist...”
- Sara Brickner, Eugene Weekly (Nov 26, 2008)
“…influenced by that Victorian steampunk trio. Dainty parasols and lacy tops complete the visual image, but it’s the haunting melodies that really give color to the picture. And if Rasputina is commonly known as “cello rock,” you might just tag these girls with “keyboard rock.” ”
- Vanessa Salvia, Eugene Weekly (Aug 20, 2009)
- Sara Brickner, Eugene Weekly (Nov 26, 2008)
“…influenced by that Victorian steampunk trio. Dainty parasols and lacy tops complete the visual image, but it’s the haunting melodies that really give color to the picture. And if Rasputina is commonly known as “cello rock,” you might just tag these girls with “keyboard rock.” ”
- Vanessa Salvia, Eugene Weekly (Aug 20, 2009)
Sounds like….A broken down gypsy circus. Or, as one fan described it: “Fancy Bandits makes one think of a black and white photograph of a derelict amusement- pier, a circus performed behind a blood red camera lens, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weil’s “The Three-penny Opera”, Berlin in the early 1930’s, a special screening of “Rebel Without A Cause” in Hell, unheard music from “Eraserhead”, and the highly succesful soundtrack to some long lost, deeply missed, experimental musical drama.
All Ages: 5 area bands @ The Wagon Wheel
The Wagon Wheel
Google Maps Link
As You Are Entertainment has lined up 5 area bands for our entertainment with an early start time in South Prarie, WA, (near Puyallup) launching at 4:45PM at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant and Lounge. If you live in Seattle’s southern burbs, or Pierce County, you may want check this one out.
The Fun Police (http://www.thefunpolicemusic.com)
Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel (http://www.myspace.com/brotherhoodoftheblacksquirrel)
10 Miles of Bad Road (http://www.myspace.com/tenmilesofbadroad)
Blacktop Nightmare (http://www.myspace.com/blacktopnightmare )
Big Wheel Stunt Show (http://www.myspace.com/bigwheelstuntshow)
Jay Reatard Dead at 29
Memphis musician Jimmy Jay Lindsey Jr., better known as Jay Reatard, was found dead in his Midtown home this morning, according to family and friends. He was 29.
Memphis police have opened a death investigation, spokesman Jennifer Robinson said. Lindsey was found around 3:30 a.m. at his home, Robinson said.
“Yeah, it’s true,” said Alicja Trout, a friend and former bandmate. “I don’t know much about it yet, because I haven’t been able to get in touch with the police.”
He played the Block Party a couple years ago. Blood Visions is really good.
BirthDIYfest 2010!
BirthDIYfest is an annual one-night all-ages concert & party, which celebrates everyone who has a passion to help the Northwest Do-It-Yourself creative community thrive, everyone with a passion for developing a unique and family-like local music scene – we’re all in this together!
There will be NW bands, promo tables for local DIY record labels, artists, organizations, all ages venues. Plus balloons, prizes, surprises, & more!
http://www.myspace.com/BDAYFEST
Guest artists:
Boat
Kay Kay & his Weathered Underground
Feral Children
Kids and Animals
The Nextdoor Neighbors
Feral Children release a new album, “Brand New Blood” on Jan. 19, so be sure to arrive in time to catch their new tunes live!
Also, download a free song from “Brand New Blood” here! – http://sarathan.com/feralchildren/free/
Machu Picchu Mother Future debut on vinyl!
MPMF!
While on an east coast tour in November of 2007, CONIFER (Important Records) and LESBIAN (Holy Mountain) drove to Richmond, Virginia arriving at 5a.m. and ended up crashing at the Sound Of Music recording studio for two nights. There to play a show with SOUVENIR’S YOUNG AMERICA (Crucial Blast) at the Nara Sushi, all three bands (11 members total in one live room) entered the studio on very little sleep and recorded roughly two hours of improvised music… very loosely structured and minds somewhat altered… These sessions birthed what will be known as “Space Mountain Forever.” France’s MusicFearSatan label presents a beautiful 12″ red vinyl recording of MACHU PICCHU MOTHER FUTURE!!
Grab it here! http://www.musicfearsatan.com/fr/reference/6051.html
Two Loons for Tea @ High Dive!
High Dive – 513 N 36th Seattle WA 98103
2/3/2010 8 PM
Check out this fantastic lineup!
Asaus
Two Loons for Tea
Sound Dialog
Two Loons for Tea will be playing songs from their first three records and debuting material from their upcoming 4th LP!
Download a free song from Two Loons for Tea’s 3rd album here! -
http://www.sarathan.com/free/twoloonsfortea/
Tickets $6