Awesome Show, Great Job!

Everyone has always known that musicians are funny.  Even if it isn’t intentional (or even if its the second hand “smoke”), you will usually get more laughs in a rock club green room than you will at a local comedy club.  Lately, artists like Flight of the Conchords are inviting all of us into their world of rock gags by simultaneously having a comedy show on tv as well as a record on a rock label.  Tim and Eric are more subtle than that.  They most likely won’t be showing up on the SubPop roster anytime soon; but they have roped a rock booking agent into put them in rock clubs all around the country.  I saw them last year at the crocodile and I have never been so compelled by two dudes in make up dancing to inside jokes they recorded in GarageBand.  They have really tapped into the most wonderful aspect of things that suck.   If you think they are funny, you will become obsessed.  If you aren’t sure what the fuss is about, you probably never will.  Check out their antics at timanderic.com and if you love a good Kelsey Gramar quote as much as I do, you will be at Neumos tonight to witness this.

Popularity: 23%

The Dollyrots punk El Corazón

Last Tuesday was an interesting night to say the least. I ventured out to review the band The Dollyrots at El Corazón and woke up the next day with a flat tire, a screaming headache, and a Dollyrot’s t-shirt I’m sure I didn’t pay for. And thats how I guess I can describe The Dollyrot’s show, it kicked my ass. On tour to support their latest album “Because I’m Awesome” the band was amazingly receptive and humble, and the Jäger at El Corazón is friggn tainted I swear…

Currently signed to Joan Jett’s label Blackheart Records, “Because I’m Awesome” is super punk-pop with catchy verses and solid hooking choruses. And at first listen (and I’m sure the band is gonna love me for this) it reminds me of Avril Levine meets The Sounds. But that’s because of the high production quality of the album, once you see the band live it all comes together. I talk with my peers all the time about how to capture on recording the ‘live” feel so the listener can “get it” in their car as well as they do at the show. But with The Dollyrots that wouldn’t work, the album is only one-up’d by the live show. The polished poppy recordings are great, and help you get the jist of the songs, but when you see them live, Kelly Ogden’s raw badass vocals with Luis Cabezas guitar and Chris Blacks drumming punch you right in the face and let you know the band is for real, and punk as fuck. It’s a great combination to help them break through the hard-crusted lining that is the major label scene. And along with playing SXSW the last two years in a row, and sharing labels with bands like Green Day, Rancid, Ted Leo/Pharmacists, and Pretty Girls Make Graves the band seems to be on the high road to success.

With all that in mind you’d think they’d be on a tour bus with a ryder like as thick as The Odyssey. But no, they travel in a van with a trailer, eat pink malt balls (sorry Kelly I forgot which brand), stick to the per diem and drink tickets, and keep a level head (unlike me at their show). I was highly impressed with how grateful and humble the band is about being fortunate enough to make a living playing music. I’m not sure how I ended up with a free T (like i said the Jäger at El Corazón is tainted) but I hope they can forgive me cuz I’m gonna have to mail them $15. If you get a chance to see them live, DO IT… compared to the album it’s totally not what you’d expect, proving once again, you can’t judge a Dollyrot by its album cover.

Popularity: 25%

A Diversion with Derby

A week and a half ago, the writers at NWMB had our first ever meeting at King’s in Ballard. This was a big to-do considering many of us have never met each other. I was very excited for this little get-together however a couple of nights before, I was torn on what to do b/c as you see, I found out that my favorite Portland pop band Derby was playing at the same time, same night.

Well, I knew where my priorities were… I, of course, went to go see Derby. They’ve been a favorite for a while, for about 2 years now. I was driving one evening when I first heard them playing on KEXP — I immediately called my friend to look up KEXP’s playlist online to see who this infectious, melodic bundle of sugary pop goodness was. It was Derby. Soon thereafter my friend Christina and I caught an early show at the Sunset to check’em out and they did not disappoint. They were just as good live as the band I loved on the radio. So fast forward 2 years… Christina and I were at the Sunset again for an 8pm show. Now, I have to admit I sort of love the early show b/c I’m awake and in a good mood b/c it’s just the beginning of the evening however I feel sorry for bands that get that slot. Let me set the scene for you… We walk up to the Sunset and I hear Nat Johnson singing one of their catchy pop songs that you just want to play loud and sing along to on a sunny day, driving around in your convertible with the top down. (I take that back, since we do live in the Northwest, let’s say with our windows down instead.) I was so excited. Well after we walked in, the crowd was circled like 8 feet away from the stage and some people were actually sitting on the floor of the Sunset. Huh?!?! Where’s the Seattle welcome that Derby deserves? And jeez, what can you catch from sitting on the floor at the Sunset? The crowd was pretty lame but Derby was the exact opposite. They were still happy to be up there and ready to please, playing favorites from This is the New You while sprinkling in some songs from their new CD due out in June. It was a short set leaving me and Christina feeling like we wanted more however there was no more (so we thought at the time) and we headed over to King’s….

After a few beers and lots of talk about music, the party broke up and Christina, Kevin (editor-in-chief) and I headed out to the Smokeshop. As we walked past the Sunset, I was like “let’s go invite Derby for beers!” So we hightailed it into the Sunset and saw Isaac (the drummer), introduced ourselves and invited him and the rest of the band over. And I’m here to say, that made a recipe for a good time: 1 part Smokeshop, 2 parts Derby, 3 parts Rainer, a bucket of gin & tonic for Kevin and a dash of a little drumming toy bunny that everyone had to sing a tune to (you had to be there…). We talked with Nat and Isaac for a while. We found out they were heading out to play at the Brick (in Roslyn) the next night and were excited how they had some Foreigner and Night Ranger lined up for the set. Also playing an acoustic set at Hattie’s pre-giant fish tank was one of their favorite shows and more. All in all a very fun night! Definitely looking forward to checking out Derby’s new CD and a “later in the evening” show in Seattle. Meanwhile, go to www.derbyrock.com, I promise, they’ll be a new favorite.

Popularity: 22%

8 Bands 1 Day - A Synopsis of SP’s National Record Store Day

“Hey mark April 19th on your calendar as National Record Store day, were going to be having a few bands do in-store performances during the day… are you interested in running sound?” emailed the current Marketing Manager of Silver Platter’s record store to me sometime in February.

“Sure,” I replied, “Just lemme know how many.” Little did I know that the 3 confirmed bands at the time would turn into a 9 band bill for the first annual National Record Store day celebrated by record stores across the country last Saturday. I had the pleasure of mixing sound for most of the 9 acts booked at Silver Platter’s Queen Anne location. One band didn’t show and the headliner brought a hired gun to run sound so technically it was 7, and this is my story.

1:00 - The Mary McPage Band
The whole band showed up about an hour early, hung out, got to know me a little while they set up. And killed it with a terrific blues set. Mary McPage is a seasoned veteran of blues music in Seattle. So much so that The Mary McPage band, Mary McPage herself, guitarist Jevon Powell, and drummer Bill Page were all nominated for best-of category at the 19th Annual Washington Blues Society Awards show at the Triple Door on Sunday. Her band is full of rippers and Mary is full of the blues, a great way to start the day off for sure. They are playing again at Monahan’s in Everett April 25th if you wanna catch em.

2:00 - Matt Jorgensen + 451
You know a jazz player once told me a joke; a jazz musician plays thousands of notes to only a few people, and a blues player a few notes to thousands of people… In this case both blues and jazz had only a store full of peep but the jazz of Matt Jorgensen and 4-5-1 (separate letters as in chord structure) was really good and a nice second up to bat. A sax, drums, upright bass (which I love), and a Fender Rhodes keyboard brought me back to my days at the Lionel Hampton School of Music where jazz was the subject and we all studied it. Nice fills, good transitions, and solid playing with a cocky little jazz attitude to boot made for a good show. Their at the Sunset Tavern on the 23rd.

3:00 - Pat Monahan
Remember Rex Manning day in the movie Empire Records? Well Pat Monahan was Rex Manning on Saturday (although I don’t think any of the staff slept with him). If your not familiar with his work he was the lead singer for the Grammy winning band Train and wrote songs Drops of Jupiter and Meet Virginia. It was like asking The Eagles to play a song you don’t know… impossible. Regardless of my pre-disposition about his top 40 work in the past, the crowd was big and he had a certain magnetism and charisma about him which drew everyone in and laid them out with his ever recognizable voice. And whether you like the music or not, major label songwriters at this level are actually really good at what they do on stage, and he was no exception. His guitarist and keyboard players were badass to say the least, and he separated the pros from the ams in what I will continually reiterate on this blog… the delivery. It was flawless, and that made the show, with 5 fuckin songs… I have no idea where he plays next, you’ll have to look that one up for yourself.

Popularity: 23%

Joshua Morrison at Home

Washington native Joshua Morrison doesn’t have the typical background you might imagine for a singer-songwriter who’s on the verge of making his mark in music. An Iraq war veteran, and still serving in the U.S. Army, Joshua is a young and contemplative musician whose time overseas has shaped his musical output. Eloquent and sincere, seductive and sultry, Morrison’s wispy, soft-spoken vocals and catchy acoustic melodies melt your heart. His full-length debut, Home, is one of the most refreshing albums I’ve heard since its 2007 release. It’s a collection of compassionate diary entries that expose elements of loneliness, solitude, longing and love. His brooding and soulful lyrics are reflective of a man worn down from his displacement abroad and, perhaps, from having no choice but to await freedom and the far-reaching hope of returning ‘home’.

Luckily, home is exactly where Morrison was last Thursday night, if only for a brief stint between his transfer from North Carolina to Kentucky. His presence on stage at the Tractor Tavern contained a grateful and inspired energy. He spoke to the audience between songs and had a giddy enthusiasm and appreciation for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. When he broke into Madness’ ‘when I see your face, it gives me hope’, he seemed to have renewed hope and patience for his inevitable, yet distant, return home. Morrison confesses that he yearns for the day when he’ll return to Seattle for good, most likely in a couple of years’ time. And it’s hard not to root for him, since he’s such a gracious and likeable guy.

Given the lonely, personal and soul-searching nature of Morrison’s songwriting, one would expect him to be quiet and introverted. The truth is, he has a jovial, energetic and down-to-earth nature, and he enthusiastically addressed friends and fans who approached him throughout the evening. A sturdy man in his mid-twenties, one might mistake him for a football player, not a singer-songwriter.

Morrison’s performance at the Tractor Tavern was endearing and enchanting. He was accompanied on-stage by a cellist, bassist and drummer, all of whom were just as smooth and magnetic as he was. Together, they gracefully launched his gentle songs forward. Only a quieter audience and perhaps better sound pickup of Morrison’s whispery vocals would have made the performance perfect.

Morrison plays at Sasquatch Festival on Saturday, May 24th at 3:15 PM. His debut album, Home, is available at your local record store or by clicking here.

Popularity: 24%

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)

Popularity: 33%

Love Is On The Menu

Most of you have probably already forgotten about my Portland-promise from earlier this year to try and highlight more music from our sister city to the south. I almost did myself, so I can’t say I blame you. Luckily, however, I’m here to back it up and expose a bright spot in the Rose City’s art scene.

In what seems like an increasing (but by no means recent) trend in the world of music, musicians these days are more than just simply musicians; they design stylish clothing, they fashion sustainable jewelry, they create visuals for a local concert, or they manipulate photographs for a friend’s gallery. In short, they’re multitalented, versatile and resourceful. At least, many of them are. One such example is Portland folk outfit Love Menu, featuring a crop of designers and musicians working together to bring their innovative ideas to the world. More specifically, the band will be bringing said visions to a trunk show and par-tay at the Last Waltz Boutique in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood on Saturday, April 26th.

Originally the solo project of organic clothing designer Emily Katz, the band has now progressed—and taken off—to include a slew of additional collaborators such as Bobby Smith on guitar and glockenspiel, Steve Kierniesky on the banjo and guitar, vocalist Jeevan Singh, and drummer/designer Emily Baker. Baker, who cloaks herself under the veil of Clever Castle, is a bonafide veteran of the Seattle music scene, sitting behind the drum kit for such bands as Sinestro, Enemy Kite, Via, Panda & Angel, and Touchdown Eagle, among others. Recently transported to Portland in the hopes of improving her chances as a jewelry designer, her body ornaments have garnered much acclaim for their uniqueness, their sustainability, and, of course, their magnetic charm. Now teamed with Katz, she and the rest of the Love Menu gang are taking the west coast by storm with a soothing catalogue of flourishing acoustic folk tunes. Katz’s hauntingly beautiful voice wafts through each of their songs as the players embellish with a flock of instruments, including melodica, autoharp, concertina, and, oh yes, handclaps.

The band will be embarking shortly on a tour through California, Oregon, and Washington in the wake of a successful recording session at the legendary Dub Narcotic Studios (that of K Records founder Calvin Johnson) in Olympia, WA. The party in Seattle will be the final stop. Come out and support local artisans as they weave their homegrown magic.

Post Script: Proceeds to benefit Baahaus, a Vashon Island animal shelter!

Popularity: 21%

Capitol Hill Block Party 2008: Get In Where You Fit In

Aaaaaah, yeah boooooooyyyyys and girlz, the lineup for this year’s installment of the Capitol Hill Block Party has officially been announced (my thanks to the Lady for the scoop). And it’s a doozy. Always a clever mix of local and national acts, this year is no different. The ever-popular Vampire Weekend will headline Friday’s show and the Hold Steady is the current front-runner for Saturday—soon to be usurped by a suprise (!) guest. Who that will be? Your guess is as good as mine, Nostradamus.

Here’s the current lineup, with over 30 more bands and DJs soon to be announced:

Friday July 25
Vampire Weekend
Les Savy Fav
Girl Talk
USE
The Dodos
Jay Reatard
Akimbo
Pwrfl Power
Past Lives
Black Eyes And Neck Ties
Champagne Champagne

Saturday July 26
Surprise guest!!
The Hold Steady
Chromeo
Kimya Dawson
Darker My Love
The Butchers And The Builders
The Hands
Vallela Vallela
The Physics
Man Plus
Little Party And Bad Business

Some personal highlights: Les Savy Fav is a really awesome band to be playing this festival, Girl Talk makes a second straight appearance, ex-Blood Brothers bands Past Lives and Champagne Champagne just keep getting better, Man Plus just released an excellent sophomore album, and Chromeo will certainly get the booty shakers out. Forget about your hang ups with the crowd and their fashion sense, the CHBP is always a tremendous place to hear new and interesting bands.

Presale starts THIS MORNING AT 10 AM (password is BLOCKPARTY). One day prices are a reasonable $18 (though they seem to increase every year) and two-day passes are $34. See below for your ticket buying preference, but note that the links won’t work until 10am, so hold your horses. And check out the Stranger for more info, yo.

Click to buy advance tickets for Friday.
Click to buy advance tickets for Saturday.
Click to buy a two-day pass.

Popularity: 25%