Spoils, Wah Wah Exit Wound, Friday January 18th, Blue Moon Tavern, FREE

SPOILS

The best rock & roll qua rock & roll band in Seattle. Existing in a realm void of the pre-requisite irony or blaspheming idolatory of which infects current popular music propagation.

Extracting themselves from their various other constituencies (Master Musicians of Bukkake, Earth, Asva), Milky Burgess, Diamond Vincent, and Don McGreevy rock free.

Primordial electric finger-picking, supergruv rhythm section, and vocalizations emanating from some being’s core.

Doped-up, sexed-up, and fog-imposed tributes to the pure romance of the hedonsitic side of things.

WAH WAH EXIT WOUND

The naysayers of progressive rock only indicate their unprogressive minds. Progenitors of progressive rock who use the term should operate with caution as well to avoid semantic pitfalls.

Compositions designed to frighten and challenge within pre-existing languages. Presented from the realms of ADD denial and dreams of schizophrenic absolution.

Funk in 9, drunken pirate sing-alongs, odes to solary ocular organs, and a complete musical thesis on one interpretation of Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations.

“Her eyes were the color of the sun!”

As always, the show is free. Because the Blue Moon is a free venue. And bands still get paid. Funny how that works. Required attendance for anyone who claims to have interest in the archaic musical tool known as “guitar.” Phenomenological demonstrations of various methods.

Only two bands on the bill so everyone gets to open up a little bit.

10 p.m.

Popularity: 44%

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: 45%

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: 49%

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: 31%

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: 32%

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: 27%

FREE SHOW - These Arms are Snakes, Thurs 11-29

For those of you who were on the fence about checking out the TAAS show, this past Wed the 14th, those who just plain missed it or more deserving, those who loved the show and want more… I’ve got a treat for you.

Popularity: 30%

MORE Recommended Nov ‘07 Shows

While Kevin did a fantabulous job with this month’s upcoming shows, there were a few more that I wanted to call out:

The Ponys - I know, I know, this was already included, but for the love of god, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE support this band!  They’ve put out three (3) solid albums to date and their infectious garage rock—embellished with pop sensibilities—is sure to please.  Their latest release Turn The Lights Out is awesome, but check out the previous LP, Celebration Castle, for the real goods.  TONIGHT @ THE CROCODILE ($10).

Grand Archives (w/ Helio Sequence & Minus the Bear) - This show goes down at the Showbox (ugh, “at the Market”) Saturday Nov. 10th.  With three solid local bands on the bill, this will no doubt be good.  While Helio Sequence and Minus the Bear have received plenty of high marks before (and rightly so), it’s Grand Archives that whets my whistle.  Mat Brooke (of Band of Horses and Carissa’s Wierd fame) fronts this recently signed Sub Popper. $16 Adv / $18 DOS All Ages

These Arms Are Snakes - This band is so awesome, not even the fact that their name is just the 2nd most awesomest band name ever can diminish their awesomeness.  For fans of local post-hardcore (that just means it’s LOUD and AWESOME).  Part of ISIS’s 10-Year Anniversary Tour.  Wednesday Nov. 14th @ Neumo’s;$15 Adv All Ages.

Lake of Falcons - So, in case you were wondering, this is the band with the best name ever.  EVER.  Just think about it: A lake…of FALCONS.  Fashioning a “throwback” grungy sound with crunchy monster-guitars and dual vocals, it’s a pleasure to see them still booking shows.  They’ve been around on fantastic DIY label Beep Repaired for some time, but haven’t got their proper due.  A great chance to support the hard-hats of the local scene: Wednesday Nov 21st @ the Crocodile ($6).

Les Savy Fav - This is another of my favorites…Art-rockers from Brooklyn celebrate their first release in three years.  The bass lines will slice you into pieces, the guitars will make you squeal and you just might get some sort of ambiguous liquid thrown on you by satiric frontman Tim Harrington.  I love this band.  Friday Nov. 30th @ Neumo’s ($18 Adv)

The Cave Singers with Fleet Foxes - Can’t say enough about the beautiful, macabre folk of Seattle’s Cave Singers and the 70s AM radio-inspired musings of Fleet Foxes.  Check them out while they’re still under the radar. Friday Nov. 30th @ the Crocodile ($10)

That is all.

Popularity: 49%