Northwest Convergence Zone launches regional music fueled NWCZRadio.com

Northwest Convergence Zone Radio (http://nwczradio.com) will officially hit the web at 5pm today, Friday, Feb 18th! They are looking to bring listeners the best northwest artists, local music news, and great, fun programs!

From NWCZ:
If you are a northwest independent artists (solo, band, etc.) or know some, have them contact us at nwczradio@gmail.com. We’ll let them know how to get their tracks to us so we can get them out there for all of you!

Everyone welcome Raymond Hayden to the NWCZradio fold. Raymond will be hosting a one hour program focusing on the coffee house, open mic and lighter side of northwest independent music. His program will start Tuesday, March 1st at 7:00 pm. Raymond is the head honcho behind Maurice The Fish Records! Welcome Kingfish!!!!

It’s official! The Northwest Music Scene show is coming to NWCZ Radio on Thursday, March 3rd at 7pm. Hosted by Glen, Brian and Shawn…They will be bringing you music and all things northwest music related every Thursday night live from 7 – 9 pm!

Everyone welcome Dave Samson, veteran of KBCS and The Mountain 103.7 to NWCZradio! Dave will be hosting a blues show every Monday night from 7 – 10pm beginning Feb. 21st!!!! Be sure to tune in for the best in northwest blues every Monday night!!!

Everyone welcome Q-Dot to NWCZradio! He will be spinning the best in northwest rap and hip hop on Fridays 6 – 7 beginning March 4th! Guaranteed good times with Q-Dot!!

More shows to be announced soon!

http://www.nwczradio.com/

http://www.facebook.com/nwczradio

http://twitter.com/nwczradio

We are gonna blow the top of off Northwest Radio!

Southern from the Northwest, Popular in Germany

Puyallup five piece SweetKiss Momma plays full-throated Roots Rock on their latest album Revival Rock, which is getting more attention in Europe than here because of… wait for it… better distribution. Agreements with Just For Kicks Music (German), Barchen Records (German) and Sonic Rendezvous (Dutch) have made SKM possibly more popular in Europe than where their, dare I say it?, roots are. <groan>.

There’s no reason for that. Go out and see them.

[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/downloads/Mercy Love.mp3]
Mercy Love

[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/downloads/Son Of The Mountain.mp3]
Son of the Mountain

10/30/2010
The Stonegate w/Big Wheel Stunt Show, Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel, and Vile Red Falcons, Tacoma, 8pm

11/6/2010
Summit Pub, Puyallup,, Washington 9:00 PM

11/19/2010
Jazzbones w/Guns of Nevada and Midnight Salvage Co., Tacoma, Washington 8pm

11/27/2010
Doyle’s Public House, Tacoma, WA 9:30 PM

Bossanova released 20 years ago today

Thanks to John Richards at KEXP we’re reminded Bossanova was released 20 years ago today.

http://www.google.com/search?aq=f&sourc … =bossanova <- you can listen to tracks directly from that Google link, free, from that page. KEXP is playing many songs from Bossanova today.

I bought it 20 years ago today, plus about a week. I had just discovered Doolittle, and was absolutely blinded by this new band.

I saw them on Bossanova tour that December 10th at the Gothic Theater in Denver.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bossanova <- you can listen to “Velouria” on that page, directly. It features a now-rarely used theramin, known for making “ghost” noises in movies and TV shows.

After the Pixies finishing touring obligations for their second album Doolittle (1989) in 1990, band members Black Francis, Joey Santiago, and David Lovering moved from Boston to Los Angeles. Bassist Kim Deal did not initially move with the rest of her band mates due to the amount of tension that existed within the band at the time. Deal ultimately decided to travel out to Los Angeles with the rest of the group.[1] Lovering stated that he, Santiago, and Black Francis moved to Los Angeles because that’s where they intended to record. The three band members lived in the Oakwood apartments, along with comic Garett Morris and members of the band White Lion. Producer Gil Norton also moved into the apartment complex.[2]

my bold, link

Rolling Stone gave Bossanova three out of five stars

The Fun Police Debut Music Video

Follow up to last weeks post. The Fun Police released their first music video at Doyle’s Pub Saturday night in front of a full house. The song is ‘Temporary Lapse of Sanity’ from their debut album, ‘You Better Run’, which was recorded at Egg Studios in Seattle, and produced by Conrad Uno. The video is now available on YouTube, and it would be here, but apparently the only blog that I cannot figure out how to embed YouTube video on is this one. You will have to click the link.

The Fun Police – Temporary Lapse of Sanity Music Video

The Fun Police Debut Music Video Release Party – Doyle’s Pub, Tacoma, Saturday 2/13

The Fun Police are kicking the year off in high gear with plans for a new disc, their first tour, and their premier video release from their 2009 release You Better Run. A surreal adventure that invites existential questions, A Temporary Lapse of Sanity is an appealing, madcap, indie production that is rich in creativity. But hey! Decide for yourself at the video release party at Doyle’s Public House, 9 PM Saturday February 13th. 208 St Helen’s Avenue, Tacoma, WA, or here is a link to a map.

Ever the pranksters, The Fun Police promise good hearted St Valentine’s mischief and if you don’t know The Fun Police, you should know the zaniness is all a part of the fun. Be ready for anything, and keep an eye on their website for future developments on further videos and recording updates.

The Fun Police ‘You Better Run’ Album Review

The Fun Police Website

The Fun Police – Gringo Meringue

[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/01-Gringo-Meringue.mp3]

Die Antwoord – Zef Side

Sorry, not NW related, anything but, but had to pass it on. Check out these South African artists. “Rip rave”.

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.’

Strait-Jacket:

http://www.loadedforbearmusic.com/Srait-Jacket.html

Unthrown Stones:

http://www.loadedforbearmusic.com/Unthrown%20Stones.html

Sleep Machine:

http://www.loadedforbearmusic.com/Sleep%20Machine.html

For more info go to:
www.loadedforbearmusic.com
www.myspace.com/loadedforbearmusic

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]

Spoon’s New

Spoon’s new album Transference streamed here, free, for a week until it’s released.

Combat Video

Following up my post about the absolutely fantastic “Combat” off of Arman Bohn’s debut Bits, here’s the video by the Portland artist:

New Portland Artist – Listen In

Check out this track by Arman Bohn of Portland:

[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/downloads/combat.mp3]
Combat, from Bits

The former bandmate of members of Death Cab for Cutie (they shared a third band back in the day) has no label, and is assembling a band. We’ll have the latest if/when he’s going to play live, and maybe another track. I love this single.

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).

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

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.

[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/downloads/zled.mp3]

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!

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.

[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/downloads/South Tacoma.mp3]
South Tacoma

[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/downloads/ShePlaysRugby.mp3]
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

Olympia’s Letters make Ground

While Olympia’s Letters works on the studio follow-up to last year’s “In Case we Lose What We Have”, they have been releasing various teasers. Last month they had a song on the latest Ball of Wax compilation (#15), a Seattle quarterly compilation put out by Levi Fuller. The track is called “Grand” and features Seattle’s Kieran Harrison-Buehlinger (Corespondents, Hecka Ar, etc) on the one-stringed Chinese instrument, the don bao. A version of “Grand” will be on the new album.

[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/downloads/letters-grand.mp3]
Grand

Last month they also did a cassette tape-only release of improvised compositions called “Insta”; the album uses a ridiculous array of instruments and covers some serious genre ground. “Ground” is among the ground covered.

[audio:http://www.nwmusicblog.com/downloads/letters-ground.mp3]
Ground

Music Press Release Roundup

We get a ton of press releases from all over the country, and do our best to pick through them to find bands from the NW or who are touring the NW. We’ll be doing a sporadic series of posts just throwing the releases out there (here) regardless of origin/desination. Without further ado, here is NWMB Press Release Roundup #1.

The band: Dubious Ranger

The release:

We’re excited to be working with DUBIOUS RANGER (www.dubiousranger.com).  They are a San Francisco-based band with a funky new sound that mixes David Bowie, Pavement, Talking Heads and modern indie rock. We hope you’re excited about them too.  But, so far, we’ve not gotten your feedback.  Hence, this email because inquiring minds want to know.

Our take: Nice tight 80s sound, “Weapon” slightly reminiscent of Duran Duran.

The band: Toubab Krewe

[audio:http://www.shorefire.com/media/Autorail_20090114_170213.mp3]

The release:

Toubab Krewe have added another exciting festival to their summer itinerary. The Asheville-based quintet, which Jambase calls “the next surefire stars of our scene,” are set to play the second annual Rothbury festival (July 2-5), after the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (June 11-14).

Our take: Not our cup o tea, but we “get” why they’re successful.

The band: Born Anchors NWMB Pick

[audio:http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/265319434/In%2BDisguise.mp3]

The release:

The new single Disguise from the BORN ANCHORS upcoming album “Sprezzatura!” is available for free download for a week before its CD release!  Here’s a special link to the fully mastered album, available in full before the official March 23rd street date: http://www.last.fm/music/Born Anchors/Sprezzatura

For more info about the band, here’s last Friday’s Song Of The Day interview at the legendary KEXP Blog: http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2009/03/13/song-of-the-day-born-anchors-in-disguise/

Our take: These new tracks are excellent. Catch Born Anchors at their Record Release Show @ Cha Cha April 5.

The band book: Gooseberries

The release:

What do Silversun Pickups, Rogue Wave, Earlimart and Great Northern have in common?  They’re all featured in GOOSEBERRIES, the new limited-edition book from Sterling Andrews, photographer and mastermind.  This one-of-a-kind collection will be available in a 12″ hand-painted gatefold featuring the 12 individual band portraits along with a bonus DVD of time-lapse videos documenting Sterling’s painting process during the shoots coupled with exclusive artist interviews.

The band: The Juan MacLean

[audio:http://girlieaction.com/thejuanmaclean/OneDayJamesCurdRemix.mp3]

The release:

If ever there was a musical act guaranteed to put a smile on your face, The Juan MacLean is it! In fact, so confident of their intent and ability to bring joy to the world, they actually called their latest dance jam “Happy House,” which nobody could dispute. The track had music lovers like our friends at The Fader “drooling like babies”, and Pitchfork noting that the song’s “dozen never-wasted minutes” were “happy and housey as all get out.”

Our take: The Human League, 2009