Blog Archives

December 22, 2011

The Blue Moon’s 8th Annual Christmas Eve Holiday Pageant / Midnight Mass

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The 7th Annual Blue Moon Midnight Mass ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Jason Josephes (Booker at The Blue Moon, member of the Hopscotch Boys and “Jesus” during the pageant.) took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few of my silly questions about “Blue Moon’s 8th Christmas Eve Holiday Pageant and Midnight Mass” by way of electronic mail. Not if, but when you get sick of your family on Saturday night, you know exactly where your annoyed soul needs to go. Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Holidays.

Jason, I have questions about the Blue Moon Christmas Eve Pageant/Midnight Mass.

Jason Josephes (JJ): I am here to answer these.

So, what’s it like portraying the “Son of Man” once a year? Have you done it for the entirety of the tradition? What can we expect from Blue Moon Jesus and Friends?

JJ: I gotta be honest with you, Regis. It gets a little tiring. You’d think being the son of God would help me pull off a successful pageant each year. Ah, but I am merely me PLAYING the son of God. Not a huge difference, if I must be equal parts frank, humble, and full of shit. But if I could be Jesus playing me instead, it would help on the “make sure this all runs smoothly” tip. Therefore, for the first and perhaps only time, I am outsourcing my Christ robe. Jesus will be played by a special guest this year. Don’t worry, it’s not Anthony Keidis.

What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened at this event?

JJ: Hard to say, but it usually involves the midnight mass. Reverend Jenkins is an old school fire and brimstone guy but even the most methodical Methodist should re-up with their pharmacist every now and again lest serotonin levels drop to the single digits. Example: here is a picture of the aftermath of the midnight mass from 2008:

To see the aftermath (more…)

April 13, 2011

Blue Moon and High Dive Celebrate Anniversarys

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Tags
Pickwick Kelli Schaefer Hobosexual Hounds of the Wild Hunt
Joseph Giant

Joseph Giant ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

The North End is home to three steadily open rock venues, and two of them are celebrating the anniversary of that feat over the next couple of weekends. This weekend the considerably older of the bunch, The Blue Moon Tavern, continues to exist as a weathered and predictable churning cog in the works of Seattle’s band-building machinery. Nearly every Seattle group will play here sooner or later on their journey, and like few places in our city, its rude walls and booths have continued to exist unchanged and unrefined while the world around it has decidedly upgraded. This place is a neighborhood bar that’s important to Seattle’s history and musical future and remains one of our favorite places to see a local band play. Happy 77th Blue Moon!

The Blue Moon’s 77th Anniversary Weekend

Thursday April 14th Brothers Balthazar, Daddy Treetops

Friday April 15th Joseph Giant, Low Hums, The Wayfinders, If Bears Were Bees – $5

Saturday April 16th The Satin Chaps (PDX), Rat City Brass – $5

Sunday April 17th Grateful Dead Night w/ Kuli Loach – $5

Shim - CD Release Party - 2/9/08 at The Tractor Tavern

SHIM ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Though only six years in, the ever changing face of the (most-recently funk and dance) venue directly next door highlights how hard it is for a business to remain relevant in the hyper-competitive Fremont area, music venue or not. For six years the High Dive has been hosting everyone from national touring bands to the greenest Monday openers on the stage. It too has had a chance to establish itself a reliable mainstay of rock among Seattle burgeoning band scene, a place where every group and fan will probably set foot in many a time. Though six isn’t particularly special, this years lineup looks like it’s a diamond anniversary.

The High Dive 6th Anniversary Weekend

Friday April 22nd Shim, Hounds of the Wild Hunt, Hobosexual – $8

Saturday April 23rd Pickwick, Kelli Schaefer, The Legendary Oaks -$10

Sunday April 24th Benefit for High Dive Sound Guy Rob Sydow featuring Virgin, The Filthy None, DJ Taco Supreme – $donation

January 21, 2010

Sound on the Sound Presented: The Maldives at the Blue Moon

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Tags
The Maldives Zoe Muth People Eating People Blue Moon Tavern Sound on the Sound Presents

The Maldives at the Blue Moon ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

It’s fair to say we were tempting fate by trying to sneak The Maldives, one of the biggest bands in Seattle (both literally and figuratively), onto one of the city’s smallest and crustiest rock stages. Don Slack, host of KEXP’s Americana show, Swinging Doors dropped hints on his show heavily. Various other bloggers who were in-the-know made only lightly veiled references to a band that matched the secret headliner’s unmistakable description. Really all anyone really had to do was Google their alias “JD & the Schmidty Boys” and the answer would have been obvious. But we did it anyway. Come what may. And the night couldn’t have gone any better.

Opener People Eating People had her own contingent of super fans, ready to stand up at the very front of the stage and set the tone for the crowd from song one. Nouela Johnston sings as if pulling from a deep well of internal conflict and the sheer force of her emotion, accented by a piano she’s been playing for decades, can leave one feeling just as palpably overwhelmed as she must have been when committing these songs to paper. As soon as Nouela finished her set, a line of impressed audience members snaked to buy her debut CD.

If People Eating People is bold, Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers on the other hand, traffics in a more subtle expression of heartbreak and hardship. And the audience was enamored of  every moment, with plenty of appropriate (and some inappropriate) hooting and whistling in appreciation of her long set and her ace accompaniment on mandolin and pedal steel. Zoe took the opportunity to play a full hour and I don’t think a soul left the packed room while it was going on. Since the headliner was a secret, I’d venture to say most of the people who Sound on the Sound didn’t know personally were filling the very packed Blue Moon for Zoe Muth and her Lost High Rollers.

The Maldives didn’t get started until after midnight and, considering they were playing the next night in Portland (and the following night in Bellingham) and it was a set that they weren’t commanding their usual fee for, I fully expected it to be a short and sweet. Instead, they played until 1.45am on the demand of a still healthy crowd at last call.  Not a single solo opportunity was abbreviated or missed. I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever seen that many people in the Blue Moon past 1am. Someone else perfectly described the night as having “a special ‘packed in and we don’t want to leave till the sun comes up’ feeling.” For the night’s show, The Maldives were an eight-piece (sans keyboard) and managed to fit on the stage with just enough room for guitarist Jesse Bonn to get some good follow-through with his Gibson whilst rocking out (though he did knock out lead singer Jason Dodson’s guitar cable mid-song). That these gentlemen decided to shut the bar down, playing our dream Maldives set list with huge smiles on their faces,  when nothing of the sort was expected of them, well, I felt the love. Big time.

In a nutshell, this show set the bar for how we hope all Sound on the Sound Presents… shows can go. That we were able to bring onto a single bill three of Seattle’s most exciting up-and-coming  acts is a privilege and a something we’re continually striving for. We’re blessed to be so appreciated by those same bands we write about and for. We were beyond happy to just find them on our beloved historic Blue Moon stage,  but then the bands all went for broke and held nothing back, like they were headlining a sold-out Showbox.  Surrounded by friends, family and readers, embraced by our community and three of our favorite bands on stage… These moments remind us why we’re doing what we do and how worth all the time and effort we put forth is. I, at least, have got a bounce in my step because of last Friday night, and I suspect it’ll be there for a good while.

Thank you Maldives. Thank you Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers. And Thank you Nouela and Brian. I’ve got a feeling 2010 is going to be a big year for all of you. We can’t wait to share it with you and our readers.

people eating people

People Eating People ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Zoe Muth ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Country Dave ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

The Maldives ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

The Maldives ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

The Maldives ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

The Maldives ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Flickr: The Maldives, Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers, People Eating People at the Blue Moon Tavern, January 15th, 2010

Video: The Maldives, Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers, People Eating People at the Blue Moon Tavern, January 15th, 2010

January 18, 2010

Three Favorites from Our Blue Moon Birthday Bash: Featuring People Eating People, Zoe Muth and The Lost High Rollers, & The Maldives

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Tags
People Eating People Zoe Muth The Maldives Blue Moon Tavern Sound on the Sound Presents

The Maldives – “I Have Found”

We’ve had the whole weekend to ruminate on the awesome treat we were privy to for our birthday Friday at the Blue Moon, but words are still failing us.  Sometimes, especially on a night like Friday, surrounded by family, friends and the community we’ve come to think of as both, we really do feel like two of the luckiest kids in the world. (Of course, now that we’re 29 … we may have to stop calling ourselves kids.)

While the proper words are escaping us, we wanted to share these three videos of a few of our favorite songs from a night that I know both Josh and I will cherish for years to come.  “Thanks” doesn’t cover the scope of gratitude we feel for the Blue Moon for having us, The Maldives, Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers, and People Eating People for playing, and for all of you that came out and celebrated with us, but thank you.

People Eating People – “For Now”

Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers – “You Only Believe Me When I’m Lying”

April 18, 2009

Photographic Evidence As To Why You Must Be At The Blue Moon Tonight

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Beyond the crazy and fun photos I’m about to share with you, there’s really one very simple reason you must be at The Blue Moon tonight: it’s going to be the best party in town. There are no better bands for a rollicking, hilarious party in Seattle than We Wrote The Book on Connectors and A Gun That Shoots Knives–and that’s what tonight is going to be all about.  It’s going to be a spectacle, in the most fantastic of ways.

Junkface:

A brief word about Junkface. Beyond celebrating with two of our favorite Seattle bands, we’re thrilled that Portland’s Junkface will be making the trek north to the Blue Moon. Junkface played Sound on the Sound’s very first sponsored show at The Blue Moon and not nearly enough of you got to see them.  Back then we said: ”Junkface seems built for a place like the Blue Moon. They play scuzzy yet simple and accessible songs that span the spectrum of genres.” Despite the fact the band’s EP is only 7 songs and 19 minutes long, it is an often played favorite, even after two years.

 

  A Gun That Shoots Knives:

 

 

We Wrote The Book on Connectors:

 
 
January 16, 2009

The Daily Choice: Sound on the Sound Birthday Bash #2 @ Blue Moon

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Lord knows, I don’t remember a single person’s face from Wednesday night’s action-spectacular at Neumos.  All I remember is face-shredding prog, fantasy-metal from Wah Wah Exit Wound and the hazy smoke that surrounded the exceptionally costumed A Gun That Shoots Knives.  Oh, and a lonely paper pteradactyl that fluttered above the crowd.

Well, my liver has decreased to its usual medium level of swollen, and I’m ready for another helping of Sound on the Sound Birthday Mayhem.  And lucky for you and me, tonight is the capper of this excessive birthday week.  The headliner of tonight’s event at The Blue Moon in the U-District is so amazingly, er, amazing, we’ve actually been contacted by the government and told not to reveal their names, in fear that their international fan base will actually riot and destroy Seattle.  Just know though, you’re in for a treat from these mysterious Black Power Rangers.

And that’s not all, heavy rockers Vindaloo are reforming for one, magical night of deafening joy.  Also killing it will be The Drug Purse and What What Now, whom I have no knowledge of, thus cannot regale you with their, obvious, many achievements.

Don’t miss this.  You’ll be sad, and far, far too sober.

 

September 13, 2008

IAC RIP

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The Sad Truth:

The Silver Lining:

When my ears aren’t still ringing and I’m in less denial that I just witnessed the last Iceage Cobra show–there will be many more photos and words to share.

September 12, 2008

Iceage Cobra’s Final Show at the Blue Moon Tonight

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Iceage Cobra, GMF 2007 ::: photo by Abbey

Based on Iceage Cobra‘s myspace message — “Bands Breakup Every Day. Deal With It” — it would seem the band doesn’t want us to make a big deal or maybe even mention their final show at the Blue Moon tonight. But whatever the members of Cobra think, it is a big deal to us. Bands do break up everyday–but favorite bands calling it quits isn’t a daily occurance.

Iceage Cobra has been a big part of our Sound on the Sound experience and family. We fell in love, hard, after seeing the band for the first time on New Years Eve 2006/7 in the basement at Chuck Norris. We commented then that Cobra had the sound and skill for headlining sold out arena shows, sadly that doesn’t seem to be in the bands future. After that first show we’ve tried to make it to every local Cobra show and have largely been successful. We were there for the epic Cobra set the evening Jords’ became a father, Brad’s last show with the band and Ben’s first Seattle show. We watched like proud parents as Iceage Cobra attracted passers-by on the street with a gravity defying peformance during this years SXSW. We’ve screamed along joyfully to every rendition of Acid Pony and blasted on repeat Brilliant Ideas from Amazing People, which we still contend is a Seattle classic.

So forgive us for feeling a little sad about tonight and the demise of another great Seattle band. We’ll be there in the front row, soaking in every scream and high kick. You should be too.

Brad ::: photo by Josh

Metch ::: photo by Abbey

Jords and Butterfly Knife ::: photo by Abbey

Ben Harwood ::: photo by Abbey

Cobra Kick ::: photo by Abbey

February 7, 2008

Hopscotch Boys and Yoko Ringo at The Blue Moon

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Groundhog Day just might be my new favorite holiday, thanks to another crazy night at The Blue Moon celebrating the bizarre American tradition of telling the forthcoming weather by a rodents shadow.

Just two shows under their belt, Yoko Ringo is shaping up to be one of the most exciting bands in Seattle. Lead singer, song-writer, and bassist Brad Kaufman seems to be easing into the roll of a front-man. The songs Brad is writing for Yoko Ringo stand in stark contrast to his IAC tunes, eschewing blistering rock for psychedelic heartbreak. And within the first seven songs Yoko Ringo debuted at The Blue Moon, most of them sounded like hits, especially the last song of the evening. By the final notes, Yoko Ringo had the audience singing along and wrapped around their little fingers. An impressive debut indeed.

Hopscotch Boys took their home stage with even more theatrics than usual, treating the audience to a puppet show rendition of the groundhog seeing its shadow. (Because of obscenity laws that’s about all I can tell you about said puppet show.) Somehow, despite the insane introduction to the set, the Hopscotch Boys continued to build the momentum in the room, until it seemed if someone had lit a match, the room would have combusted into inferno. Hopscotch treated the packed Blue Moon to an alphabetical set of their songs, starting with the menacing “A-Ha!” and ending, exhausted and bloodied, with “Whore’s Pearl.” There’s a reason I never miss a Hopscotch Boys show, and the boys proved that again and again on Saturday night…. you really never know what’s going to happen next with these guys.

May 13, 2007

Hopscotch Boys at The Blue Moon

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My ears are still ringing in the best way from last night’s Hopscotch Boys concert. I haven’t been to a rowdier or more raucous show all year. And lead singer of the Hopscotch Boys, David (aka: BlowDog) stole my heart by giving it good to the drunkest part of the mob. Shortly after the below picture was taken, David strattled the kid and sang the rest of the song, screaming on top of him, much to the drunks dismay. Don’t drink and mosh if you can’t handle yourself kids.

Hopscotch Boys

Last night’s show was easily in my top 5 concerts of the year and was one of the best all over line ups I’ve seen. Sick performances by The Resets and Portland’s Junkface. The highlight, however, were the headliners. I had no doubt that the Hopscotch Boys were going to be phenomenal live, but I had no idea just how incredible they were going to be. I’m not missing another one of their live performances if I have any control over it. Amazing.  Electric.  Astonishing.