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!

Popularity: 17%

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…

Popularity: 24%

!!! - 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.

Popularity: 14%

Ross Beamish @ Trabant Chai Lounge 3/9

If you even remotely like acoustic solo performances, you should see Ross play. I know him outside of the music scene, and when I saw him play 6 weeks ago I was astonished at his subtlety and power. His singing voice is great, made more so by the fact that I only knew his speaking voice.

Popularity: 8%

This Saturday

I’d go to this (Man Plus, Optimus Rhyme, Smoosh, Shorthand for Epic, Tim Seely, and Gabriel Teodros @ High Dive) if it wasn’t for this (Black Crabs are opening for Deke Dickerson @ Tractor [late show]).

Popularity: 11%

Two Ends of a Spectrum

Exactly seven days apart, I saw MTV-friendly Tenacious D at the Paramount, and a small noise/experimental show at the Lobo Saloon. To say they were dissimilar would be like saying tidal waves are moisture filled.

Guess which one this is?

Popularity: 23%

What’s Catching My Ear Lately

Larrikin Love — touring Great Britain through February (see below) — check out their music here (hover over the upper right bird on the TV set :-))

Popularity: 15%

Monolators and Upskirts

Lobo Saloon saw a superb lineup last Friday with LA band the Monolators and Seattle’s The Upskirts plastering the Lobo’s tight quarters with bushels of tight punk-pop. Check back here for reviews on these bands.

Popularity: 15%