10/17/2009 8 PM
Neumos, 925 East Pike St., Seattle WA 98122 http://www.neumos.com/
Cave Singers - http://www.myspace.com/thecavesingers
Feral Children – http://www.myspace.com/feralchildrenseattle
Shane Tutmarc - http://www.myspace.com/shanetutmarc
Ages 21+
Tickets $14. Advance tickets on sale now at: www.ticketswest.com, Moe Bar, select QFCs, Rudy’s Barbershops
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.
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So, in my mind, probably the best thing about the much-maligned/praised (depending on your sphere of influence) KEXP is their role in showcasing new local talent. Audioasis, the station’s weekly Pac-NW-only show, is really the program they should be playing every night from 6-9 pm, given the depth, breadth, and variety of music being made locally here in our fair green corner of the country. I, of course, contribute to a locally-themed music blog, and am admittedly biased towards a suggestion of this nature. And it’s not without its narcissism. For one, I’d be able to listen more frequently, as Saturday nights are not—however romantic it may sound—often spent in front of the old Philco radio. And for two, there would be…let’s see…SEVEN times the airplay and exposure for the myriad bands that deserve it. This, most likely, will never happen, but it was in my mind when K. leDoux and our female cohorts decided to make our way to an early show at the High Dive this past Saturday (3/1). There Audioasis was set to broadcast one of the bright, chaotic spots of the Seattle scene: Feral Children.
Last time I saw Feral Children’s percussion-heavy, angst-ridden noise rock was on the Showbox stage for KEXP’s Yule Benefit (yes, this band has benefited from the station-inflicted ‘HRS’—Heavy Rotation Syndrome, but don’t let that deter you, it’s warranted), where they opened for nüe-hippy outfit Yeasayer. Their set was good, it was passionate, and they were the most popular act on the bill (judging from the crowds); but their cohesiveness was a bit off. It seems the group has used their recent Best coast tour and recent signing to local label Sarathan Records to hone their reckless, dual-drumming approach and impulsive vocal tradeoffs, because they sounded tight and on point. The musical bedlam that has become their signature, however, was thankfully in tact.
Their set consisted of seven songs—five off last year’s Second To The Last Frontier and a couple older tunes from an EP released in 2006: Eternity Emergency. STTLF is a great record because it sounds spastic and noisy at the same time as it sounds atmospheric and moody. Each member brings something defiantly unique to the stage, and this is where the live music flourishes. There is the primary vocalist and resident beat-keeper Jeff Keenan, who uses a tom-kit while standing (read: bouncing) to offset his often wordless, falsetto choruses. Bassist-cum-vocalist Jim Cotton pounds out spiky, disjointed bass lines to complement his own hollering. There’s guitarist Josh Gamble, who seems bent on exacting revenge upon his own guitar. On more than one occasion, I had to crane my neck, only to find him hunched over on his knees seemingly performing surgery for maximum racket. Drummer Bill Cole plays his kit with an ardent staccato clamor, feeding energy to the rest of the players by driving it into his snare. But it’s the keyboards that ultimately stand out for me. Sergey Posrednikov adds a texture to Feral Children’s music that ranges from electronica to new wave to piano-rock, creating both a backdrop and a focal point to their petulant and shadowy catalog. In short, it’s totally awesome.
However, these roles are not succinctly defined, as Keenan played guitar at one point, Cotton shed his bass guitar for a time, and Gamble did his best to hammer away on the keg-drum for a song. At one point, Keenan remarked that the last time they played the High Dive, he had a fever. No, not for more cowbell, you dummy, but a real fever. Turns out this time, his fever was for the rock ‘n roll.
I think I dig this band because they have a relatively unique sound, they do their own thing and they seem infectiously passionate about their music. Hell, their set put me in a great freakin’ mood for the rest of the night, so that’s really all the convincing I, or you, should need. They’ll be in Austin for SXSW in a few weeks, and at the Cha Cha Lounge (huh?) April 13th. Catch ‘em while you can.
P.S. You can listen to the broadcast here—but only for the next 2 weeks!
This March, Seattle has a huge lineup of great bands to continue where February left off. This month, again, I’d have to say that the High Dive in Fremont probably has the best schedule going – and beyond that – they’re GIVIN’ it away. Two free shows. One on St Patrick’s Day and another on March 8th with the Blakes and the Detroit Cobras! Other highlights of the month include the finals for Seattle’s SOUND OFF! the under 21 battle of the bands raging on at the EMP for the past month, Tiny Vipers at the Triple Door, and a rockin night on March 20th at Seattle’s newest venue, King Cobra. As always, I’ve got links to all recommended bands as well as some MP3’s hooked up so you can check out what we’re going on about.
KEXP AUDIOASIS 6:00 show
Holy Ghost Revival
The Feral Children
$ 7
KEXP AUDIOASIS 9:00 show
The Feral Children
Sirens and Sailors
The Femurs
$ 7
Another of our favorites, Feral Children will be on twice tonight with the KEXP Audioasis Broadcast- a Monthly event designed to showcase local bands and support local charities. All Proceeds will benefit Parent Trust for Washington Children
I’ll be honest, I was a bit under whelmed by a few of the performances during the KEXP Yule Benefit this past Saturday night (12/8). The 5th annual installment of the holiday show took place at the Showbox after three consecutive years of being held at Neumos; and frankly, the venue might have been a bit too large for the lineup the listener-powered radio station chose to feature. Either that, or they botched it by not booking Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings (who sold out up the hill at Neumos the same night). And for all the brazen self-promotion listener-powered KEXP continuously doles out over the airwaves (seriously, do they have to push Live At KEXP during every freakin’ airbreak?), you’d think they could at least drum up a bigger headliner.
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I’ve been keeping an eye out for the biggest and best events happening for New Years 2008. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the best things going down in the Seattle area.
(All events happen Dec 31st)
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Hey, just wanted to trump the other lame “blogger” who did the first round of recommended December shows (I kid, I kid). Keep an eye or an onion peeled for these bands playing around in the next four weeks—I DARE you:
Partman Parthorse @ Wild Rose 12/7 with the Intelligence – We’ve kinda beaten this horse (heh, heh) to death, but who knew they were having shows at Seattle’s one-and-only lesbian bar? (what’s up with that sitch, anyway?) I didn’t, and I’m usually behind the curve. So it makes sense. Anyway, these guys rock.
Juhu Beach (w/ American School of Warsaw & the Oswald Effect) - I’m a new convert to the fandom of this band, and I’ve heard the Blue Moon isn’t quite the urine-scented dog kennel it used to be. Don’t know much about the other two bands, but hey, if you can’t get into the Yule Benefit (or refuse to get into it), this might be worth yer nickel. Actual price may vary. Saturday, 12/8 @ the Blue Moon Tavern.
Voyager One – Big lineup for the Loveless Records Holiday Party also happening Saturday Dec. 8th @ the High Dive: Other bands include local darling Carrie Akre, electroclashers The Girls (no girls in group!), the Blank Stares, & the Beltholes. I’m pushing for Voyager One on this one, who’ve made their living locally playing amazing ambient rock, while mesmerizing their audience with a dizzying array of video projections. And how.
The Purrs – Local psych-poppers the Purrs are celebrating their second record, The Chemistry That Keeps Us Together, steeped in 60’s guitar nostalgia and twangy self-deprecation. While I haven’t heard the entire disc, the tunes they’ve made available are pretty right-on, and their debut album was superb. For fans of Velvet Underground, Luna, & the Flaming Lips (Lady!). @ the High Dive, Dec. 14th with Brent Amaker & the Rodeo.
Pleasureboaters – I’ve only seen this band once, and I thought it was tremendously radical. Enough so to recommend a night with them @ the High Dive 12/20 with PWRFL POWER (!). Apparently, the High Dive is the place to be this month.
The Heavy Hearts (w/ the Whore Moans, Boss Martians & Wir) – The Comet Tavern hosts a Christmas Bash with one of my favorite local rock bands in existence: the Heavy Hearts. They bring the rawk with slicing guitar, in-yer-face-bass, and call-response dual vox. Since they’re dropping a new album in early ‘08, new songs are sure to abound. The Whore Moans will be in rock attendance as well. December 22nd @ the Comet!
Feral Children & the Trucks - Wow, the Comet hosts another bad-ass show on New Year’s Eve. Local buzz band (worth it) Feral Children play with electro-brats the Trucks, who always put on a great show. If you can’t catch FC at the Showbox on the 8th, be sure to show up for this one. Additional guest TBA.
That is all.