blake/e/e/e at Comet

Notice, that’s blake/e/e/e (pronounced Blake-EEEEE)
NOT the Blakes.
Very Different. Just listen.
[audio:http://www.freefolkrecords.com/mp3/02_New%20Millennium's%20Lack%20Of%20Self%20Explanation.mp3]
New Millennium’s Lack Of Self Explanation

Sunday May, 11 2008 at The Comet Tavern
w/ The Music Of Grayface, (SEA)
Yarn Owl (Pullman)
Shenandoah Davis (SEA) Another Seattle gem yet to surface

Blake/e/e/e are touring in support of there upcoming full length debut Border Radio (FreeFolk Records). They are very free spirited and almost impossible to classify, thus making them intriguing and interesting to listen to. Some would say it’s folk, but only as much as the Pacific is “some water”.

Blake/e/e/e was born from the ashes of Franklin Delano. After many years, 3 full length albums and hundreds of shows around the globe, Franklin Delano came to its end, having reached the limits of the project as it was. Goodbye Franklin Delano.

Everything is wet in a folky mood, but it is no longer an American folk, it is rather an ancient type of folk, a campfire solitary strumming, there where you can watch the stars at night, and feel the scare of the darkness, generated by the wind blowing in the woods, like trees talking to your ears.

I dunno where that leaves us but I’m on board. It’s a helluva night for a school night but should be worth it. Check out the links above to everyone’s MySpace (esp Blake/e/e/e and Shenandoah Davis) you’ll probably agree.

Update————————-
Here’s a track from Shenondoah Davis
[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/our-favorite-idols.mp3]
Our Favorite Idols

Trunk Fulla Funk at Highdive

Friday – 4/25/2008
ANTHONY SMITH’S TRUNK FULLA FUNK w/
The Electric Jake Rhythm Test
DJ Leopold Bloom

9:00pm (doors 8:00pm)
21 & Up
$8 adv / $10 dos
TFF is a powerful, six-piece ensemble drawing upon numerous funk/rock/soul influences, with all the rock and jam-oriented improvisation you might expect. Trunk Fulla Funk, the product of Anthony Smith’s experience, imagination, and talent as a charismatic band leader, is gaining momentum with a reputation for high-energy, hard-grooving shows. The group attracts both serious listeners and those simply looking for a freak-out, funk dance party.

Autolite Strike CD Release at Blue Moon FREE!

APRIL 19, 2008 9:30
at the BLUE MOON
as always, the Blue Moon shows are free!

Autolite Strike, is punkabilly, garage and skuzzy rock and roll. The power punk trio celebrates the release of their second CD Mohawk Blues. Named after the factory walkout that turned into a melee in lead singer Frankie Stax’s hometown of Toledo, Ohio.

Their sound is a mix of dry, course, Rust Belt and wet, murky, Garage Rock. The soupy mess makes you shake your ass. Have a listen to the samples on their mySpace (link above) and you’ll know what I mean.

King Cobra, Seattle – This Snake’s Got Bite

King Cobra, up on Capitol Hill has officially sunk its fangs into the Seattle music scene. The venue struck at the perfect time-just after the Crocodile Cafe had (un)expectedly closed its doors and Seattle was in the lurch for a venue named after a dangerous animal. Now, only a couple months out of their infancy, King Cobra is booking night after night of fantastic bands. I thought I’d share a couple of the highlights happening over for the next several weeks

Friday, April 18
The Pharmacy, The Pleasureboaters, Strong Killings, Tacocat

Saturday, April 19
9:00pm
Seattle Semi-Pro Wrestling…….. w/ Black Eyes and Neckties

I’ve seen Black Eyes and Neckties scorch the floor at the Comet Just before Monotonix lit the damn place on fire. Paired up with high energy dudes jumping off of fences and yelling obscenities at each other (and the crowd) during Amateur wrestling, this should be a night among nights.

Sat, May 17th 9pm
Thee Emergency (Record Release),
The Hands,
The Valley
Three of Seattle’s Superstars are gathered up here at Capitol Hill’s hottest new digs. Be sure to get here early and stay late. Nothing on this bill is going to disappoint. Thee Emergency is going to be celebrating the release of their new CD Solid due out in May.

Friday, May 30
Emeralds, Cancer Rising, Caves, The Physics
The Physics have been touted here by DJ 100 Proof as Seattle’s best Hip Hop group. Considering that they are opening this bill, I can only expect that this is going to be a lit-up show!
Friday June 25 and Sat June 26
Capitol Hill Block Party

Last but not least, King Cobra will be hosting bands this year at the Block Party. Not clear as to who will playing yet but given the current schedule, it’s going to be soemone worth seeing.

For more of the goings-on on the ‘Hill, you can find the entire King Cobra Schedule after the break (Updated 4-15-08)

17th Chapter CD Release at Tractor

Saturday, April 26th

,
17th Chapter will be playing their CD release party for around the bend and then some, their first full length and a great start. I just came across these guys this week. They’ve got a solid set of sample tunes from the CD on their mySpace page so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into.
They are supporting the Crying Shame who are also hosting their CD release and the Maldives who are headlining.

Lots of good ol’ local music that ain’t your father’s “beard rock”

Black Angels’ Haunting New Album – Directions to See a Ghost

Torn with fury from the dark mud of an ancient jungle comes Directions to See a Ghost, the Black Angels’ sophomore follow up to the 2006 album Passover. Picture a dimly lit, smokey room of an endless warehouse. Stack the Marshall Amps up tall, wrench up the bass and you might get the same feeling that this album gives your soul. The music does not come at you, it comes through you. It lurks in your chest and attacks your ears from the inside. The only thing you can do is to pull your oversized headphones on, kill the lights and let it run its course. Eventually the ceremony will be over and you’ll be set free to continue on your merry way, but you’ll feel primal… almost cleansed.

I heard Directions to See a Ghost for the first time last week and have been playing it through almost constantly for the past 4 days.
[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/downloads/14 Plenty For All (Hot Snakes).mp3] (You On the Run)
From the very first song, You On The Run, which brings a vague image of a perfectly black Cadillac slowly building up speed through an empty town, I was mesmerized. The sound of the Austin Texas band can be described as psychadelic, or industrial shoegazer, droning guitar or gausian blues but it’s really more than all that. It’s alive with sound and feeling. It has strategy in the way it lures you in with soothing bass lines and slowly pumps you full with rhythm and melody like a venom. You are wrapped up, spun into a cocoon, and become overwhelmed with the sound. The third track on the album (and my personal favorite), Science Killer, plays out just like this. Even going so far as to toss in a shuffling maraca charm out the snake.

Throughout this album (and as a general rule for the Black Angels) the relentless kick drum and thundering boom of Stephanie Baily’s mallets on the toms dictate all. It can only be described as hypnotic. When matched up with the band’s dripping bass lines, distant vocals and actual usage of a “drone machine” escape is futile. You must surrender. Even the artwork on Directions to See a Ghost is a head trip. Embossed pink packaging with a spiraling and vibrating green design in utter compliment. It is the portal into the entire experience.

In the final track, Snake in the Grass, Alex Maas’ vocals push through a stormy set of verses spotted with distant and piercing screeches. His voice reaches out of an eerie track played backwards throughout the 16 minute song. It is the sound of the exorcism and recession of the ghost that had possessed me for a solid hour. A perfect finish to a truly haunting album.

Directions to See a Ghost hits stores May 15th, 2008, but if you are aching to hear it for yourself sooner than that, the Black Angels’ label, Light in the Attic, has set up a great deal for you. Beginning this Tuesday, April 15th you can head to your local record store and purchase a unique download card to all the digital files nearly a month in advance. Along with the instant download, you will receive a FREE limited edition Bonus EP featuring unreleased tracks when you pickup your physical copy at your local record store after May 13th. And oooh, is it pretty…
To get the full details and all your questions answered, head to the Light in the Attic site here. In this link is a list of all the participating record stores (nationwide) involved with this highly evolved distribution-part interwebs-part record store. I dig.

The Black Angels are also touring the hell out of Europe right now and are soon to be hitting the the lower 48 as well. I’ve seen them live before, it’s everything the album demands it to be…
They’ll be in our neck of the woods in June – I believe with the Donnas:
06-09 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
06-10 Vancouver, British Columbia – Richard’s on Richards
06-11 Seattle, WA – Neumos
You can check out the rest of the dates after the break.

Bumbershoot ‘08 Sneak Peek

OK, after all the crap that was dished on Bumbershoot last year by myself and many others, I think they finally got the message.

I have here in my hot little hand, the initial lineup for the 2008 festival: Headlining this year… NOT Friggen Lame-ass Fergie (Bumberpoop, you will never be forgiven) … is BECK! Righteous.
Oh, and don’t forget to break a window of the obnoxious and overstated sponsor, Sam-spunk Mobile. Suck it. I can’t wait for your ridiculous advertising to get all in my face for 2 days…

So. without any further griping, here’s the list.. at least it’s impressive.
Beck, Stone Temple Pilots, Lucinda Williams, Neko Case, Ingrid Michaelson, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Jakob Dylan, !!!, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Saul Williams, Joe Bonamassa, M. Ward, The Walkmen, Asylum St. Spankers, Dan Deacon, MIDIval PunditZ, Blitzen Trapper, Bedouin Soundclash, Tim Finn, Dale Watson, John Vanderslice, Final Fantasy, The Fall of Troy, Orgone, Forro in the Dark, Ryan Bingham, Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby, Arthur & Yu, Darondo and Nino Moschella, Pacifika and many more to be announced.

Thee Emergency-The Hands and The Valley at King Cobra

Thee Emergency (Record Release),
The Hands,
The Valley
9pm

Three of Seattle’s Superstars are gathered up here at Capitol Hill’s hottest new digs, King Cobra. Be sure to get here early and stay late. Nothing on this bill is going to disappoint. Thee Emergency is going to be celebrating the release of their new CD Solid due out in May

Mike Doughty at Moore

Sunday, April 27

Mike Doughty
w/ Panderers
Moore Theatre 8:00

Mike Doughty, formerly of Soul Coughing but more recently renown for his folky/rockin solo works.
Tix to this show are a whoppin $45, but if you got the scratch, you won’t be disappointed. Just be sure to stay in the bottom 2 balconies. The top has crap-all for sound.

Exposure Music Fest at El Corozon

$12 Doors at 11 AM show at noon
El Corozone is hosting the Exposure Music Fest featuring 20 Alt Rock and Punk Bands
Unfortunately I don’t have a line-up and thier site www.concertsfirst.com is useless, but frig, a random day of punk can’t be bad.

Scott H Biram at El Corozon

Sat, Apr 19
Scott Biram
Hillstomp
Bob Wayne & The Outlaw Carnies
$10 8:00P El Corazon

Scott IS the dirty ol one man band. His rock and roll is almost as gritty and dirty as he is. By dirty, I don’t mean he sings cheezy songs with dirty words. He’s got tin-can blues/rock that is just plain gutter filthy and good for the soul. This show ain’t gunna be pretty but a little raunch might make your night worthwhile. Here’s one of my faves – Been Down Too Long
[audio:http://www.chimehosting.com/bsr/scotthbiram/private/file_xfer/GraveyardShift/BeenDownTooLong.mp3]

RJD2 at Chop Suey

RJD2
Dalek
Happy Chicheste
$15 adv 9 :00 doors // All Ages @ Chop Suey
Whoa! RJD2 is in SEATTLE! All ages in CS is a close show, but frig. This is gunna be incredible.

NWMB Recommends – Seattle Concerts and Shows for April, 2008

OK, I know I’m waaay behind getting the rock out to you kiddies this month, but I have been so sidetracked with the upcoming Black Keys show at Showbox on the 5th that I just coudn’t come up with any other shows. Regardless, with a little help from LB, I’ve got a great list of shows for April. Highlights are… well the Black Keys of course, but also look for Scott H Biram coming to El Corozon on Sat the 19th, RJD2 on the 12th playing at Chop Suey and my recommended show of the month (besides Black Keys) is Thurs the 1oth at Neumos. Shackletons, The Hands, New Faces and Born Anchors all playing together for $8. YEAH!
Have I mentioned the Black Keys yet? Well they’re playing Saturday night the 5th.
The rest of the recommendations are after the break, full with band llinks so you can listen before you go! Please let us know if there are any others you recommend.

My favorite-est Juke Boxes in Seattle

Every now and again I find myself wanting to spend an entire Sunday afternoon hanging out in the bar rather than catching the ever fleeting ray of sunshine. It’s not because I’m a booze hound or because I need to bend the bartenders ear about the woes of the world. Yet something always pulls at me to hunker down with a good bloody mary or yellow beer, and just hang out. There are always a handful of haunts that I turn to in these times of need and I am beginning to figure out why. It’s all about the Jukeboxes. A bar with a good set of discs is like a bar with an old friend. I love when you walk into a place and you find yourself wanting to sing along with song after song-and eventually do depending on how long you’ve been there. Now if I can just figure out the precise location to throw a Fonzie elbow into these damn things and I could save a load of dough.

So my question to you is this:
Where are your most favorite-est Jukeboxes in Seattle?

Here’s my top 5 rundown.

5) Chupacabra (Phinney Ridge) – Punk, Buttrock, and Burritos
4) 5-Point (Belltown-ish) I can get my laundry done and get my Tom Waits fix
3) King’s Hardware (Ballard Ave) Let the music move you through cheap Sunday Bloodies, righteous Sliders and all the Ski-Ball you can handle
2) The Tin Hat (65th in Ballard) I’ve heard TV on the Radio plugged end to end more than once in here. Makes for a great Pinball soundtrack
and finally…
1) The Pacific Inn (Stone Way in Fremont) Fish n Chips and a side of rock please.

Now if you know these places, you’ll notice that all of the grindboxes listed are the old-fashioned CD-in-the-machine type not the connect-to-the-internet type. (Foze here tells me neither one of those are old fashioned.. Semantics, my friend. Now go “Sit on it”.) It’s my opinion that there is no flavor in the MP3 version. Any non-discerning clod can load any song they wish to the player and you inevitably end up with the one friggen single on every damn album in the list. Screw that. (Arthur agrees fully on this.) The entire point of selecting specific albums is to have a soundtrack for your joint, a consistent backdrop. It also means I don’t ever have to listen to someone’s favorite Jimmy Buffett “song” (read torture device) just because it’s “Yeah..Spring Break… Whoo hoo!” Plus, my tender MTV battered mind only has the attention span to pour over 100 CD titles, MAX. I get frightened and confused when I first have to choose a letter of the alphabet then pick a band, then an album, and then AW, DAMN! they only have the friggen single!!! and wham, I’m curled up on the floor wanting my 10 minutes and $2 back.
Now I suppose if you get a steady crowd of music savvy hipsters loading tunes on a regular basis, you could end up with a pretty bitchin set-up. If you know where this gem resides, lemmieno.

Nancy Frieko CD Release at Mars Bar

Nancy is holding her axe and looking for a place to grind it.
Mars Bar is a great little joint to see it go down.

Check out the CD release party happening at the Mars Bar
8:00 $6.
with
Watch it Sparkle
Amzeah.

3900′ Festival – The Tallest “Green” Festival Around

Today is the first day of spring, and what better thing to do than think about SUMMER! Let’s get it on with the sunshine already, GAW! We’ve already covered Sasquatch, and the Pemberton Festival in BC. Now I give another 2-day event to fill your ears and your summertime weekends.
The 3900′ Festival. The laid-back, lo-budget, festival of the season. This is a fest jam-packed with tons of Pac NW independent artists (not just CALLED indie, the real-deal indie) and bands on independent labels mainly from Seattle and Portland. Bands range from Folk to Country, Rock to Reggae. It seems super relaxed, all about the music, the camping and the hanging out. The promoters have even promised NOT to jack up the prices on food, beers etc. and a 2 day pass INCLUDING parking AND camping is $31 – at the early bird price.
Now to top all of this off, the goal of Union Records and the rest of the people responsible for putting together 3900′ are trying to make this as close to carbon neutral as possible – right down to making a list of suggestions of how individuals can help reduce the footprint.
This isn’t a hugely popular event but they do expect close to 4500 people. I mean this thing is so on the down low it even happens in a place called “The Hideout.” What kinda secret squirel dope sh!t is that? It’s right outside Portland and loaded with sweet campsites, trails, and a natural ampitheater

So here’s the deal,
2nd Annual 3900′ Festival (click for festival samples)
June 27th & 28th
Horning’s Hideout
(North Plains, OR).

Featuring two days of camping, two stages of music, and over 30 independent bands (indie labels and unsigned) from the West, the all ages 2008 3900′

This year’s line up includes: Ian Moore, Two Loons for Tea, Jared Mees, Kurt Hagardorn, Finn Riggins, Echo Helstrom, Ascetic Junkies, the Wherewithals, Outpost, Power of County, McDougall, Acoustic Minds, Trip Like Animals, Ohioan & Native Kin, Reverse Dotty & the Candy Cane Shivs, the Royal Houser, Mercury Tree, No Go Know, Paper Brain, Little Beirut, Shaped Like Sharks, Nick Caceres, Mantis, Double Plus Good and many more.

Advanced tickets are available exclusively at: theunionrecords.net/3900festival for $31.00 until March 30th. After March 30th, tickets will be $53/per person.

Both rates include camping and parking. (DAMN) The Festival is all ages. Horning’s Hideout is located in North Plains, OR just 30 minutes from Downtown Portland off Highway 26.

For more information, please contact: kelly@theunionrecords.net

Be independent! I-N DEP E-N-D-E-N-T… ok that doesn’t really work, but it’s worth a cheer regardless.

Racontuers coming to Seattle – Neumos, Apr 21

For those of you who kinda want to see the White Stripes and kinda want to see Brendan Benson, I give you The Raconteurs

The newest album, and second release, Consolers Of The Lonely is due out next Tuesday, March 25th, almost a full month before they begin to tour. This is a nice change for the people as this way you’ll actually have the music in your hands when they come through town. This way, instead of being dumbfounded by new songs you’ve never heard, you’ll already have your favorites. This is the complete opposite of how album releases usually work and it has been speculated that this will a) get the music to you ASAP (oh, sure, thanks) and b) prevent the 100’s of 1000’s “leaks” of the album that are inevitable in the weeks and months between when a band begins to promote an album and when it actually becomes available. (more likely).
It seems that they are starting the tour to support their album here in the Pac NW with a show in Vancouver, Mon Apr 20th at the Commodore Ballroom. Following the Seattle show at Neumo’s on Tuesday, they head to the Wonder Balroom in Portland for a show Wed Apr 22.

Tickets for the Neumo’s show go on sale Saturday March 22nd at 10am through Ticketswest.com and 3pm in the Neumos’ box office, now located inside Moe Bar.

Special Note to Scalpers!! There will be a two ticket limit. Photo ID will be required to match the credit card of purchase. Once tickets are collected you must enter the venue.

Sharpen Yer Boot and Bludgeon Yer Eye – Live and Rowdy music for St. Patrick’s Day in Seattle

Monday is St Paddy’s Day and the roofs are green, why should your beer be the same? Even more so, once you rub all the luck off your shamrock, you’ve kissed the Blarney Stone and one too many Mollies, there still the rest of the night to fill, ain’t there? So hike up yer cracks and Bob’s yer Uncle. Here’s the git go on the musical happenings in Seattle for St. Patty’s Eve – after the break: