Members 182 
Posts 525 
Comments 831 
Words 180,828 

Northwest Music Blog

Indie, Rock, Hiphop & Pop in Seattle, Portland, Olympia & the NW

 

Recommended shows for November 2007

Author Kevin LeDoux   Filed under Music   November 1, 2007  

November is pulling the grey blanket over the city once again and it’s the perfect time to turn your attention back to the concert scene. So throw away your shades (cuz you KNOW you ain’t gunna find them in the spring anyway) and don the rain slicker. It’s showtime!

Click here to check out recommended shows..

Popularity: 24%

 
 

www.inrainbows.com

Author misterlevitan   Filed under Music Politics   October 10, 2007  

This morning I heard about the new Radiohead record being available for download at a you-name-it price.
Immediately, I pointed my browser to radiohead.com but it took me some time to learn that inrainbows.com was the URL where the album could be retrieved, as long as you aren’t running Safari. Ugh.
I am 0:38 into “Videotape”, the final track. A(nother) great record from Jonny, Thom and company. Well worth the five quid I offered.

Nevermind the record industry. So if you are an artist and you have significant notoriety, it seems your reliance upon the traditional structure of the business has been compromised in your favor.
Go Directly to the Internet. Collect $200.

It’s likely that Trent Reznor is next to release an online record now that he has been released from Interscope. Pearl Jam is one album into an independent career; perhaps they could pull it off. Certainly the success of their live shows being available for download mere hours after show (sans artwork and liner notes) is evidence that the demand is there. Nowadays, being a music consumer requires a personal computer as much as money and headphones, so it’s about time that method of dissemination is utilized more fully.

Popularity: 19%

 
 

KEXP BBQ Wrapup

Author matt   Filed under NW Show Critic   August 19, 2007  

Fun!
>>>> Photos here <<<<

  • I missed the Cave Singers and the Blakes, damnit
  • Pela rocked the fucking house
  • Pela’s members are extremely nice guys, eager to talk to fans and autograph shit
  • I bought their CD approximately 18 seconds after they finished their set
  • John Richards is funny
  • Blue Scholars sounded great. They’re a solid band any way you slice it.
  • It was great to be outdoors, and the weather was plesant, if a touch damp
  • Everyone was having a great time. It was a joy to be there.
  • Supporting KEXP gives me the warm fuzzies
  • Cloud Cult wrapped up the night. Perfect choice here.
  • Cloud Cult was also very fucking good, thanks
  • There were some artists doing live art as Cloud Cult played. Cool idea.
  • I’m not on Happy Pills, it really was a great time

kexp_bbq_2007_45.jpg

Popularity: 17%

 
 

Smooth like Buttah…

Author Jules   Filed under Music   July 26, 2007  

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.

Popularity: 14%

 
 

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

Author Kevin LeDoux   Filed under Music, Upcoming   June 22, 2007  

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!

Popularity: 23%

 
 

No More Pretty Girls?

Author misterlevitan   Filed under Music Politics, Upcoming   June 1, 2007  

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?

Popularity: 11%

 
 

The Festive Season

Author Scissorhands   Filed under Music, Upcoming   May 20, 2007  

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…

Popularity: 33%

 
 

!!! - Dance off, Pants off - !!!

Author Kevin LeDoux   Filed under NW Show Critic   May 4, 2007  

!!!

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.

Popularity: 19%