Smooth like Buttah…

Just had to share that I’m loving the Arctic Monkey’s cover of Amy Winehouse’s “you know i’m no good.” It’s so smooth and groovy*. Every time it plays on KEXP, I love it more and more.  I’m sad it’s not on itunes for me to buy so I can listen to it over and over. It makes me want to wear too much make up,  drink bombay sapphire martinis with lemon twists and smoke cigarettes while sitting in a vinyl high-backed barstool at an art-deco styled bar.  And I don’t even smoke!  Take a listen…

 *First use of “groovy” this year.

North Twin – Local Alt Country Rockers SAT 7/7 $6

North Twin are bringin that smokey tavern and general PBR flavor to the High Dive on July 6th July 7th. These local Alt Counrty rockers may spark familiar with roots sprouting from former Seattle bands Radio Nationals, and Lazy Susan/Kim Virant Band. They are frequently seen keeping the good company of the stage slaying Mike D formerly of I can Lick any SOB in the House.

Having recently released their first full legnth album, Falling Apart (which I HIGHLY recommend) North Twin are planning to film Saturday night for an upcoming video, so shine your spats and getcher hairs did nice. You’re gunna have to be ready for your close-up baby!

They are playing the 7th as part of the KEXP Audioasis show that happens at the High Dive on the First Saturday of every Month. Something to certainly keep an eye on as lots of up and coming local bands play this event each week.

North Twin is billed to end the 6:00-9:00 set with Das Llamas opening. This set is airing LIVE on KEXP’s Audioasis. Joy Wants Eternity, Transfer, Say Hi to Your Mom, and Das Llamas showcase from 9:30 PM – close.

Audioasis is a promoter of local charities as well as local music, The July show will benefit Shoreline Solar Project. Shoreline Solar Project actively promotes the practical application of renewal energy and environmentally responsible practices to enhance the economic, ecological, and social environment of our community.

Tickets are a mere $6 adv $8 DOS for the whole friggen night! So come down, save the planet, shake yer butt, support a nice diesel rocker and maybe get famous!

No More Pretty Girls?

What happened to Pretty Girls Make Graves? I just got a message that Neumo’s is hosting their final performace, to be held next Saturday night. What the heck?

The Festive Season

Summer is coming to Seattle.  Well, if not what most people would consider summer, at least the chance of a few rain free days in succession are headed our way.  And with the summer come the music fests, street fairs, block parties and so on.  Personally, I’m not a huge fan of outdoor stages.  I prefer my live music without the sunburns and baby strollers.  I feel if rock was meant to be played outside, guitar amps would plug into trees.  Rock is born in dark basements and in bedrooms late at night.  Music sounds best, to me, when it entirely fills a small, awkward space.  But I know most people enjoy huge outdoor concerts.  And here in Seattle, we put on some pretty great music festivals.  And while, it isn’t my favorite way to see bands, I still go.  I get pretty excited when the line-up announcements start coming in.  So here are the some highlights of this year’s festival season…

!!! – Dance off, Pants off – !!!

Now either every person in Seattle who has ever danced at a concert (c’mon, you 20 people know who you are) were somehow cosmically shanghaied into gathering at Neumos last night … OR !!! (commonly pronounced “chk chk chk”) actually rocked hard enough to cause a full fledged dance movement. I’d personally like to believe the latter but won’t rule out the cosmic possibilities.

Backing their latest album, Myth Takes, !!! lit up the crowd immediately with the first 2 tracks off of their album, “Myth Takes” and “All My Heroes are Weirdoes”. Granted it was a bit anticlimactic and confusing at first when the lead singers mic didn’t work and there was some finagling involved to get the vocals… BUT, as the night wore on, it became very apparent as to why that mic was mangled. Nic Offer had blown the shit out of it the night before with animalistic yelps and throat ripping screams, an impressive display to say the least, all kept in check with the sultry murmurs truely inspired by Mick Jagger.

…as the night wore on, it became very apparent as to why that mic was mangled. Nic Offer had blown the shit out of it the night before with animalistic yelps and throat ripping screams, an impressive display to say the least, all kept in check with the sultry murmurs truely inspired by Mick Jagger.

Coming through with a sound that was a lot like channeling Pink Floyd through a Disco filter, these guys put on a high energy show that was talented, fuking rocking and most importantly, surprising. Switching up their line-up occasionally to put John Pugh (I think that’s his name) in front made the show for me. He maintained the haunting melodies of “Bend Over Beethoven” and “New Name” then kicked you in the neck by punctuating the peaks of the songs with the most incredible wailings. The killer disco/punk tracks on the album were all turned up a notch for their live event, leaving both performers and crowd exhausted by nights end.
Might be the “cookies” talking, but I’m sold.

Up till 3

I stayed up until 3am last night, trolling the airwaves for fine music to bring to YOU.

Ok, not really. I was post-processing images from a photo shoot on my underpowered MacBook. But I was catching some damn fine music while watching progress bars creep across my screen, and this is the damn fine music I heard:

	8:56pm		Laura Veirs		Saltbreakers		Saltbreakers		Nonesuch
	12:01am		!!!		Must Be The Moon		Myth Takes		Warp
	12:29am		CocoRosie		Japan		The Adventures Of Ghosthorse And Stillborn		Touch And Go Records
	12:46am		Cloud Cult		Alien Christ		The Meaning of 8		Earthology

and one by Seattle band the Blakes that I can’t find on KEXP’s playlist page.

Who’s Killing Internet Radio?

A War on Independence

This country needs more culture, not less, and what is our government doing?

The feds just increased streaming fees for Internet radio stations, and not only that, but made the fees retroactive to 2006.

Plus there’s now a $500 per year minimum. Say goodbye to the smallest broadcasters.

KEXP Yule Benefit Last Night

Cold War Kids, Junior Boys, Ted Leo, Juno at Neumos, Sunday Dec. 10th.

Cold War Kids This exceptionally vocally powerful, ardent, lively band from Fullerton California rocked pretty well Sunday night. They know what they’re doing, and they have the songwriting skills to really make their live work mean something. Rhythmically they moved you from 0-60 at the snap of a wrist. Their start/stops were as sharp as razors. Dynamic and punchy. Perfect.