Bee Simonds has got the Skillz

In the plethora of male dominated performing artists here in Seattle, there are only a handful of female performers on the scene. And even though by ratio there are far more impressive female musical artists than male, good looks don’t always make up for talent. Lucky for Bee Simonds, she has both.

Her performance at Neumos last Friday night was nothing less than pro. One would think that an opening slot to a full house would create a flinch of nerves or doubt in the rising artist but that’s not the case. Her Linda Perry approach to vocals and aggressively confident guitaring stole the night as she commanded the crowd smoothly from song to song. Even if you had never heard her songs before she instantly made you a believer of her life trials through her soulful vocal delivery. Her backing band was solid to say the least and emanated her already charismatic energy throughout the set.

And after the show, you didn’t find her in the greenroom with all the other bands that played that night, you found her at her merch table chatting it up with the people who like me, were so impressed with her show.

Her next gig is at The Nectar Lounge in Freemont on the 27th of January and if you haven’t heard of Bee Simonds, well neither had I. But if she continues to put on shows like the one last Friday she’s guaranteed to be a name everyone will know soon.

Popularity: 24%

rbally.net - Live Music Feast - Redux

About a year ago, NWMBlogger, Matt, wrote us about rbally.net
rbally.net features a collection of (free) MP3s from neumerous bands’ live recordings. Sadly, the site closed down last year but has since reopened for buisiness.
Now this isn’t just a mish mosh obscure prague rock and antiquated grunge. rbally features lots of current music that made it into our Top whatever listings of 2007. Just off the front page today I see Steve Malkmus, Radiohead, and Sonic Youth recordings ranging from 2005 to 1992.
Jennings, the papa of rbally admits he probably won’t be as prolific as he was about posting in the past but thinks it will be reasonable to expect a couple new listings a week, so keep your eye on it.

Popularity: 11%

NWMB Recommends: Seattle Shows for January 2008

This month, the choices range from tributes for the “King’s” birthday to experimental rock at the Sunset. The highlights come from the High Dive in Freemont. The weekend of the 11-12, the High Dive stretches it’s musical range with 2 great lineups. 1 Hip Hop 1 Alt country. Jan 16th at the Funhouse smashes 4 worthwile bands into one night for a measly $5
(NOTE: New Years Eve recommendations can be found by clicking here. For the rest of the month follow the link below..)

Popularity: 28%

Unscrew The Crocodile Employees Benefit Show - Sun Dec 30th

As you may have already read, Crocodile Cafe owner Stephanie Dorgan closed the club a week before Christmas, leaving all her employees a voice mail telling them, in a way as gentle as getting bent over a keg in the back, that they were all jobless-and thus “screwed”.

The local music community is rallying to support them. Former Croc booker Pete Greenberg (now booking Chop Suey) has put together an incredible bill to benefit the former Croc employees with performances by members of
Fleet Foxes,
Peter Parker,
the Pale Pacific,
Siberian,
Triumph of Lethargy
Skinned Alive To Death,
Dave Terry (of Aqueduct),
Siberian,
Pleasureboaters,
J.Tillman,
Damien Jurado,
and David Bazan.
With DJs Kristoffer K and Roy (Rooha-that’s Canuk for Roy…).

This is a chance to hear some great local music and support the team that brought us so many nights of debauchery.

Chop Suey–1325 E. Madison St.

Sun-Dec 30th
7pm $10 21+

Popularity: 18%

Helms Alee at the Comet on 12/28 (tomorrow!)

This is a slow time of year for good shows, but tomorrow night at the Comet is a show that is not to be missed. Helms Alee is easily my favorite new band of 2007. They are loud, heavy and intense. They sound like sledgehammers in a thunderstorm, but still remain beautifully melodic.

Popularity: 18%

The Showbox, The Crocodile and The Comet.. OH MY!

There is a rift in the Seattle music scene this month. Like the entire society that controls our nightly musical experiences is on a giant purge session.

First the Showbox is sold off to AEG, sure, sure they placate us with promises that the original booker and talent scout will remain in his position, but everyone just knows Celine is coming to town. It’s inevitable. This is a company concerned with nothing but the bottom line and they’ll throw any Clear Channel shit at you to make that dolla.

THEN, the Crocodile just up and closes it’s doors. Apparently, this was a long time coming. Stephanie Dorgan (owner) was reportedly brought to court after her first year for keeping shoddy accounting records. Her husband and partner in the Croc, Peter Buck-of R.E.M. fame, pulled out after their divorce last year. So I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. And every club is first and foremost a business. Yeah, right, I get it. But these are the places we revolve our social lives around. The places we go to see that little band from Albany we’ve been tracking all year. Of course we’re up in fucking arms about them being bought out by giant promoters and buttoning up shop.

Now, it’s rumored that the Comet Tavern is up for sale. The Stranger pulled a posting from Craigslist stating the following
——————————-
Seattle’s oldest bar - $400000
Seattle’s oldest tavern/bar, centrally located in Capitol Hill. Very established. Possible Class H and pull tabs. NDA required. DO NOT TALK TO EMPLOYEES. ——————- Check out the post here

Just when it was becoming a standard in the Seattle Music Scene. I mean. I’m pretty sure pull tabs AND punk rock can coexist, but damn! What the hell is going on here? Are we on the turn of a new music revolution? Or is Seattle Music just going to be systematically wiped off the face of the Pac NW?

UPDATE————-
The Comet Tavern HAS BEEN SOLD!!! The Seattle Times reports that the comet Tavern was sold TODAY - Wed Dec 19th. It is said that all will remain status quo with the venue/bar. Whew!

you can check out the short article here

Popularity: 25%

“We, like, heart U, Seattle”: Les Savy Fav Show the Emerald City Some Love

Brooklyn legends—yes LEGENDS—Les Savy Fav made an inconspicuous appearance at Neumo’s this past Friday night (11/30)…oh wait, it wasn’t inconspicuous at all. Not only was the show sold out, but other bands with shows that night (Fleet Foxes, I’m talking to you) were proposing an exodus to the LSF set following their very own. And, of course, front-freak Tim Harrington put on his usual ridiculously entertaining spectacle. I hate to say ‘usual’ because it implies a humdrum quality, but the result is quite the contrary: what he may lack in vocal or lyrical clarity during a live performance, he more than makes up for in animated high jinks, silly, sometimes unintelligible banter, and a flair for dress-up beyond anyone’s good expectations.

Exhibit A (god, I wish I had a picture): As the band opens with “The Equestrian,” Harrington, donned in a cape and striped shirt, snakes his way through the crowd and hops up on stage to reveal a unicorn for a head. A UNICORN.

Popularity: 18%

Win Tix for New Years Bash w/ The Blakes and The Saturday Knights

The Seattle Wolves FC, kick off New Years with an all-star line up. The quickly expanding Football Club is throwing down on their home turf at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. The evening features local Seattle hip hop stars the Saturday Knights opening for NWMusicblog favorites, the Blakes (PDX).

Tickets for the New Year’s Party start at $35 and are available through www.SeattleWolvesFC.com. A limited number of hotel and VIP packages are available for the event as well. Event happens at Starfire Sports and Entertainment Complex, 14800 Starfire Way, Tukwila, WA 98188

To Win 2 Tix on the Guest List email us here with your full name.
Winner will be selected randomly and announced Friday Dec 21st

Popularity: 15%