http://www.sonicboomrecords.com/
Sonic Boom Records Capitol Hill:
514 15th Ave E.
Seattle WA 98112
To support his new record, Shelter From the Ash, Ben Chasney aka Six Organs of Admittance will be performing at Sonic Boom tonight around 7 pm. I am not sure if he’ll be solo or with accompaniment, but either way it’s definitely worth checking out and the price is right…..FREE!
While walking down 5th today, I passed the location of the old Nation/I SPY and was a little bummed to see a Notice of Proposed Land Use Action signs attached to front of the building. While this site was many clubs before and since, I recall many a great night there, having seen a Sub Pop Anniversary show there featuring the Glucifer and Modest Mouse and/or Murder City Devils. (It was a long night and many years ago.) One afternoon I witnessed the manic hysteria of meth-rockers Hella and recall that Jeremiah of Modest Mouse was DJing upstairs at some point. Though totally unfamiliar with the lifestyle, I had to catch the b-boy antics of Circle of Fire at I SPY at least once. I got a plus-one for the incredible DJ Krush show there around the time of Code 4109, and I’ll NEVER forget the hilarity of the freakish tour of Lovage: Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By. (How can anyone describe the sensory mash-up of Mike Patton, DJ Kid Koala, Prince Paul, and Dan the Automator with his Giant Snifter of Maker’s Mark?)
Adios, Nation and I SPY.
North Twin announced two killer lineups this weekend. The first at Dante’s in Portland and then at the Tractor in Ballard. Lots of local NW Ass Slappin, Dirty, Grimy, Ol’ timey Twang and Boot Rhumpin Rock’n'Roll! Read on to win tix.
more››
This ain’t no sea shanty show.
The Comet Tavern on Capitol hill is quickly becoming my favorite spot to catch local music. Just the other night when I was immersed in the audio ocean that is JUSTICE, I stepped outside for a breath and found myself wandering over from Neumos to the Comet just to have a listen to the band playing in there. It’s a small, seedy, cash-only venue with decades of signatures and graffiti carved into the tables and honestly the PERFECT place to see some local rock.
If you haven’t been, this Sat night Oct 20th could be a good one to bust your cherry. Local bands Post Harbor and Born Anchors play with Soft Lights and You May Die in the Desert.
Post Harbor is generally referred to as having a sound akin to Sunny Day Real Estate. There has been a lot of positive press about their album and their recent touring. From what what I’ve heard, I’d have to agree on all counts.
http://www.myspace.com/postharbor
Born Anchors formed in March this year and have already had the cohesive vision put out an EP. Their sound is heavy and tight and bound to make thewalls of the Comet ring. Check them out.
http://www.myspace.com/bornanchors
With 18 Marshall Stacks, 2 powermacs, a friggen PILE of electronic noisemakers and enough french cigarertte smoke to mask the fog machine, Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay of JUSTICE served it up huge at Neumos Fiday night. Universally compared to Daft Punk, tho I thought it much heavier – Justice transformed the floor of Neumos into a seething, pulsing maching with relentless beats and the beconing icon from their new album “cross”. I’ve never seen the place so packed, nor have i seen people so glad to have it that full. The crown that usually peters out about 3/4 back at a show was solid straight to the sound board in the back
Props to the band for their energy, and props to the Seattle crowd for responding by dancin their asses.
Check out Justice on their MySpace Page HERE
Or visit http://www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous
A big, bloated post about a big, bloated festival. Before I even get to the Seattle Center, I’m already dealing with the crowds. Not long after I get on the bus, the bus becomes packed with people headed to Bumbershoot. As soon as I enter the gates, I immediately become engulfed by a sea of people who seem to have no idea where they want to be. As with nearly every year, I’m planning on seeing moslty local bands. Bands I would probably see a few times a year even if I skipped Bumbershoot. So as fight my way through the crowd, I’m wondering why I put myself through this. I left my house later than I planned, so there is no chance to see the Cops or the Cave Singers. So I head to the mainstage inside Memorial Stadium to see the Shins.
First I have to wait in a line that wraps around the stadium and stretches to the fountain. I find out the reason for the long wait is because at the entrance to the stadium all bags are being searched. What are they trying to keep out of the stadium? Primarily plastic water and soda pop bottles (which are sold by vendors outside the stadium) and any camera with a detachable lense. I notice many people were able to get glass beer bottles and pot inside the stadium without any problem. So the main point of the search seems to be to make people wait in a long, slow line.
more››
Local post-hardcore rockers These Arms are Snakes to team up with The Sound Team and The Clutters to play a free show this Thursday at Neumos. Doors open at 9:00 and did I mention it’s free!?!
TAAS are notorious for their extremely tight style, intertwining riffs and experimental sound. They are formed from late locals Botch and Kill Sadie. Their latest album Easter, was labeled as “meant to hurt you. ” It’s a good hurt I’m sure.
KEXP darlings SSPU put on a little 50 minute set today at the Triple Door. MC’d by Troy, it was yet another in their VIP Club Show series.
The upside to a quick ‘n dirty show at this venue: you could conceivably put in a half-day at the office and cash in on being a KEXP donor by rocking out at lunch. Not just to any ol’ band, but one that’s commanding $50-$75 through Craigslist for tonight’s show at Neumo’s. Yes, seventy-five dollars for what Tuffy calls the second coming of the Smashing Pumpkins. (Though hot girls could go for a dollar, if you are into this guy)
The downside to the show is more of a criticism of the venue than of the band. The sound there today was, as expected, phenomenal. Seated along the wall on a padded bench, the Nikki’s rolling bass moved you, and Chris’ impossibly-high high-hat was crystal clear. But singer/guitarist Brian affirmed my reservations about the seating-only space when he said the band felt like they were playing a lounge in Vegas. “Thanks to Barbara Mandrell for opening today…” he added.
Had a cocktail server ever come around, the scene would have been complete. (Keeping with sad tradition at the 3D, the bartenders’ sloth made my head hurt more than any hangover in recent memory. We gave up after waiting at the bar doodling rude pictures on the countertop for five minutes.) Las Vegas lounge act, with a Seattle twist: a rock and roll show in a room full of vinyl seats and no standing room, attending by a bunch of head-bobbing, bespectacled office folk (or are they extras from a Verizon commercial?)
But, back to the music, as they say: crisp, in tune and loud. Though they only have an EP and LP to pick from, they played ‘em freshly as if they haven’t grown weary of the limited material. “Future Foe Scenarios”, “Rusted Wheel” with a unique intro, “Common Reactor” with requisite guitar wank, and “Lazy Eye” with EXTENDED fuzzed-out wank.
If you have it in you to be some lonely Renton guy’s date, follow that link from Craigslist. At least the music will be good.
Oh, and to the bar manager at the Triple Door: remind your bartenders that it’s a “for-profit business.” Folks playing hooky at noon have beer money to burn.
Come out, Wednesdays are great. I’m here now.
JimiC and Alias play mostly 80s & indie vinyl, and it sounds great. The spectrum is from indie 80s to obscure 80s to somewhat modern indie. No 80s bubblegum.
Plus the staff and regulars are wonderful.
Jim’s crates of vinyl are seemingly endless; I’ve requested some rare tracks and he’s delivered every time.
See more images here.
Many of us have been outraged at the high “convenience” fees charged by Ticketmaster, but then paid them anyway to get tickets to a show we really wanted to see. When $9.10 and was added to each of the $25 Sigur Ros tickets I bought in 2005, I decided there had to be a better way. At first I was just going to boycott all shows whose tickets were being sold by Ticketmaster. But then I discovered ways to get tickets without paying the Ticketmaster fees.
more››
Went to the Re-bar last night for Harsh, the Re-bar’s experimental music & noise night (third Thursdays). It was actually pretty cool.
The club is dark, the dj’s are very underground, the crowd is nothing if not simply on the far fringe of music fandom. The music is different.
I’ll review the noise artist we saw in an upcoming entry. I have his email address and need to do an email interview. Until then, check out the cool release poster:
The West Seattle Easy Street Records is not your average cafe.
Besides serving breakfast and lunch (“solid grub“), the store features CDs, vinyl and a tickets to area concerts. Oh, and Pearl Jam played there for a surprise 10-year anniversary show on April 29th, 2005, for about 125 people who were lucky enough to show up for a regular party.
