Since I’ve received a number of notices of the local music community coming together to have benefit shows where the proceeds are going to the humanitarian effort in Haiti, I thought I’d put together a super post of posters and dates of the various events going on. I love that the local music community isn’t shy about holding benefits for it’s members and causes of substance, and considering the number of shows coming together for the cause of Haiti, this disaster seems to have really brought out Seattle’s inner compassion like I haven’t yet seen. One show is happening at Neumos tonight. The Tractor Tavern show happening the 31st features the elusive Whalebones on the bill. All the shows are bills worthy of your time.

January 28th at the Moore Theater
Seattle Helping Haiti Benefit Concert & Auction with
Sweet Water, Vince Mira, Mike Herrera of MxPx and Tumbledown, The Maldives, The Classic Crime and The Memphis Radio Kings.
See more information and get tickets for $15 via STG Presents.
“All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross’ relief efforts in Haiti. “

Wednesday, January 20, 2010
NEUMOS PRESENTS:

Kore Ionz
Bakra Bata’
Big World Breaks featuring Gabriel Teodros, Yirim Seck (of Black Aries) and B-Flat (of GodSpeed and Hi-Life Sound System)
Tudo Beleza
DJ Tomas

$12 ADV : Doors at 8PM : 21+
ALL TICKET PROCEEDS DONATED TO HEARTS WITH HAITI AND ART MATENWA

January 21st
Navigator vs. Navigator - laters
Panther Attack /\
Eighteen Individual Eyes \/
Wah Wah Exit Wound - earliers

Starts promptly at show o’clock……..Comet Tavern - 922 E. Pike St.
“100% of merch and our door earnings from this show go to UNICEF (http://www.unicefusa.org/) to help the children of Haiti.”

1/28 - Hattie’s Hoot for Haiti
Performances by Kevin Murphy (The Moondoggies), Zoe Muth, and More
Cover: $10 - %100 of proceeds go to the American red Cross

1/31 - Luvin’ Haiti @ the Tractor Tavern
THE TRIPWIRES
THE CUTE LEPERS
WHALEBONES
EUGENE WENDELL & THE DEMON RIND
Cover: $10 suggested donation ~ 100% of proceeds go to Haiti Relief and Development
Time: 8pm

Feb. 4 at Neumos
Common Market, The Physics, Sol, and Dyno Jamz, and hosted by Khingz.
$10 Adv.
ALL MONEY FROM THE DOOR IS GOING DIRECTLY TO DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS.

No rest for the wicked or at least for the music lovers of Seattle this weekend, even on that most traditional day of rest, Sunday. 

This Sunday’s show choices read more like a stacked Friday or Saturday night in Seattle. Even though it will mean dragging a little bit of ass on Monday morning, there are too many good shows going on Sunday night for you to sacrafice a little sleep for what are sure to be some great shows.

May we recommend you check out one of the following:

 Horse Feathers, Cataldo — Tractor Tavern (show starts at 8:30 sharp)

 Swollen Members, Common Market — Neumos

 Headlights, Anni Rossi, Pomegranates  — The Sunset Tavern

 Dinosaur Jr., Lou Barlow & The Missing Men – Showbox

 Rufus Wainwright with the Seattle Symphony — Benaroya Hall

 DEVO, Reggie Watts - The Moore

Common Market ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Common Market’s Sunday afternoon set at the Fisher Green stage was characterized by a peculiar tension. Initially word had it that this could be Common Market’s last set. Unable to snag RA Scion himself, I tested out this assertion on a number of people until finally finding a member of the live band backing who assured me that it was not the last, but the future would be bringing a change in focus for RA Scion to a new project.

Aside from that bit of unconfirmed rumor winding its way around, what was well known was that this performance was advertised to be unlike any other of Common Market’s performances previous. A giant silver “machine” was planted at the corner of the stage with no apparent musical purpose. As a dressed up live band entered the stage (members of Vunt Foom/Theoretics), instead of picking up their instruments, they proceeded to pull out newspapers in front of their face. Then flanked by trio’s of chained zombie dancers, RA Scion entered the stage himself. As the dancers progressively doffed their chains, they then became slaves to the machine, dancing in aid of the “machine” and struggling in fear of the Man.

Now Common Market’s lyrics are already a bit heavy to be starting a party with, but this completely unexpected visual accompaniment only made it seem more so (which I suppose is a credit to the dancers). Despite the continuous stream of out of place crowd surfers, the people around me seemed rather unsure of how to react to this display. A few people mouthed the words and bopped along, but the mood overall seemed particularly somber given the other acts the stage was playing host to.

One final thread of unveiled joy did shine through though when after the end of the set, the fairy ballerina who had ushered everyone from the stage was honored with a hearty round of Happy Birthday. She, it turned out, was RA Scion’s daughter, and it was her thirteenth birthday.

Birch dropping in for business as usual… or is it? ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Chains ::: Photo by Marcella Volpintesta for Sound on the Sound

An encounter with “The Man” ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Zombies ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Struggle ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Common Market’s Birthday Ballerina ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Flickr: Common Market at Bumbershoot 2009

Holy Fuck ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

If the first day of Bumbershoot reminded me of a renaissance festival, then the second day reminded me of last-minute shopping at your local mall. The day felt a bit odd because there was noticeably less people than on Saturday, but somehow it felt more crowded. Blame it on the rain that came down so aggressively, but at one point I felt like I was back in the southeast. I was in a state of befuddlement. The press room conjured up memories of freshman year in high school, as I paced the carpeted corridor trying my best not to make a fool of myself. Barely seen, definitely not heard. Just give me a plate of pita chips, a cup of coffee and a quiet corner and I’m good. It was funny seeing people with Rolling Stone and Spin press passes. They reminded me of sailors who were getting ready to board the Titanic, I didn’t have the heart to tell them their ship was going to sink. Worst part is, at least in the two aforementioned cases, they were boarding ships that sank more than a decade ago. Tragedy.

For the record, concert goers look at people with press passes like vestibules to the rockstars. Whenever I journeyed beyond the guardrail, I saw many eyes that said “How come you get to do that?” like some small child feeling injustice for the very first time. It was a weird dynamic that I’d never experienced before. When asked I would tell them the truth, only the self-involved can hang with the like. They understood.

Despite the afternoon torrential downpours and the bitter winds that came in the evening, the spirit of the music didn’t suffer one bit. I missed Cold War Kids for the umpteenth billionth time but didn’t really care. I missed the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s in favor of Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band, which may or may not have been a mistake. I’ve heard mixed reviews on the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s set on Sunday, but when I saw them a couple of years ago they were majestic. Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band have become local darlings since their cryptic YouTube videos debuted a while back. I’d never seen them before but after Sunday, I’ll keep one eye on them, the other eye closed.

After years of being a fan, I finally got to see the transcontinental jam connection that is Extra Golden on the Fisher Green Stage. They were astonishingly crisp and tight. From now on, every LP they release should be a live recording. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way but the Fisher Green Stage was easily the best stage the entire weekend. Dyme Def and Common Market were great on that stage. Every live set I witnessed seemed to be energetic with good crowd participation. Maybe the Vivian Girls would’ve been better served if they moved their set from the Broad Street Stage to Fisher Green. Then again, probably not. I must say that the Vivian Girls are the most boring and rehashed group to ever play music. Ever. Yes, I said ever. While I enjoyed their voices, I think they need to put down their instruments immediately. Shame on any media heads that have given kudos to this band. You’re inexplicably boring or you’re being paid off, you’re definitely a dick that’s for sure. Cut it out. Seriously.

Sleepy Eyes of Death are sonically the completely opposite of Vivian Girls and they put an impressive show at the Sky Church. Sleepy Eyes’ intro was crazy, it sounded like cicada’s with synth strings serving as their marionette had suddenly entered the room. Lights became the curtain and photographers bloomed in the press pit. Big rock n’ roll. I could see them scoring computer generated scenes from “human body” specials on the Discovery Channel for sure.

Holy Fuck lived up to their name. They were magical, my favorite set of the weekend. I was happily convulsing on the side of the stage. It was weird because I felt the Broad Street Stage had some sound issues during Mt. St. Helen’s and U.S.E. The sound, accompanied by the outdoor setting kind of fucked up U.S.E’s enjoyable set. But Holy Fuck sounded immaculate, I wonder what happened? They had me, as well as everyone else, moving like snakes being charmed. By the time they were done, I was done as well. I decided to be that guy and rock a track jacket and a trucker hat instead of a nice warm hoodie. The cold turns me into a coward. Never again will I accidentally trade fashion sense for comfort. Knowing what I know now, I should’ve stayed for Raphael Saadiq, I heard his set was really good.

Bumbershoot 2009 ::: Photo by Marcella Volpintesta for Sound on the Sound

The Dutchess and the Duke ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

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The Whore Moans ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

12:45 - Everest (Broad Street)
2:00 - Hotels (EMP)
2:30 - Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head (Broad Street)
3:00 - Flatstock (decide what poster is worth putting myself in debt this year)
4:00 - Mayer Hawthorne (Fisher Green Stage)
5:00 - Akimbo (EMP)
6:30 - Whore Moans (EMP)
8:00 - Telekenesis (EMP)
8:30 - Elvis Perkins (Northwest Stage)
9:30 - Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground (EMP)
- OR -
The Long Winters (Broad Street)

* The Whore Moans garage soul punk extravaganza, which should turn the Sky Church into a 60s soul circus.
* Elvis Perkins’ lyrical heartache and the musical merriment that is Dearland.
* Taking a trip with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground.

Sunday and Monday’s Schedule are After the Jump…

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