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January 16, 2012

Phil’s 2011 Live Music Awards

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The stuff that dreams are made of…

C’mon, you didn’t actually think I’d publish my 2011 lists during the actual year of 2011…did you? Now that I have the undivided attention of eight people:

Best Show(s) That I Never Saw

Lightning Bolt at Healthy Times Fun Club (RIP) Soundgarden/Queens of the Stone Age/Mastodon etc. at the Gorge Pig Destroyer at El Corazon Musicfest Northwest Reverbfest Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings with Fly Moon Royalty at the Showbox Market Jon Spencer Blues Explosion at Neumos Matsuri at the Black Lodge Portishead at WaMu Scratch Acid at Neumos

The Lightning Bolt, Portishead, Pig Destroyer and Scratch Acid shows are the ones I’m most upset about. Who knows if I’ll ever have a chance to see those bands in the city of Seattle again (and in some instances, anywhere else). I suppose I could hop on a plane for the sake of noise and nostalgia. Who am I kidding? I’m too poor to do that. Being broke is the reason why I missed that Portishead show at WaMu. I made the conscientious decision to avoid the “Dinosaurs of Rock” show at Gorge. I’m not too ashamed (“shame” is a word I am unfamiliar with) to admit that I still listen to Soundgarden and enjoy their music. This is the exact reason why I did not want to see them play the Gorge. I’m one of those people that likes to leave the past in the past. Which is why you’re not going to see me embracing the reunions of At The Drive In or Refused as much as my inner high school spirit would like to. Mastodon has been dead to me for a couple of albums now. When I heard they were coming to SoDo, I immediately assaulted the first human being I saw (some elderly woman with no legs) and yelled, “This is what happens when good bands put out terrible albums!”

Her hearing aid fell out during the attack. I don’t think she heard me.

I was actually at the Matsuri show when they played the Black Lodge. I went to my car for a second and by the time I got back they were done. I picked up their record “Endship.” It’s pretty great.

The Kool Keith “We Do This All The Time” Live Music Award(s) For Excellence.

There are few winners for the most recognizable award in the music community the award that is inspired by Black Elvis himself. First and foremost, I have to give it up to Spurm. They were the best act I saw at Capitol Hill Block Party, but I never published my post out of crippling writer’s block, oh-my-lanta sheer laziness. Here’s what I wrote (consider the “theme” of those write-ups):

“Of course you’re back in the bowels of Bimbo’s Cantina, the shadowy underworld that is known as Cha Cha. Today, there is hope because it is Sunday. For some reason the only time good things happen at Cha Cha is when the calendar day is Sunday or Monday. What brings you to the Cha Cha? One word: Spurm.

You’ve never been a pervert (unless the lights are off, meow) but Spurm feels so good. They are like a demented version of the B-52′s. You realize that you must rephrase your assessment of Spurm. Whoever is reading your thoughts is already aware of the “bananas” behavior of the aforementioned legendary Athens, Ga. based “New Wave” band. Whereas the B-52′s might tuck their kids in with stuffed animals that resemble Brer Rabbit, Spurm play the part of Anansi and spin webs to ensnare those same children and their pathetic limitless dreams.

Don’t get me wrong, Spurm know how to have fun. But there is a darkness in the presentation my friends.

Weird quirky keyboard that is sometimes defiantly noisy. Punk rhythms. Where did that fucking saxophone come from? That guitarist plays like he used to be in The Pretenders but his personality was licks were too vicious so they kicked him out. A charismatic, matter-of-fact lead singer, who dons a white ship captain’s hat and makes gestures to the crowd that are both exciting and flamboyantly menacing. At one point in-between songs Jordan Adams says something to the crowd but you can’t remember his exact words. You just know that he said something about this particular song being his favorite Spurm song. When the lead singer of a band says that before his/her band plays a song, your expectations tend to grow by the second. To no surprise the song exceeds whatever conjecture you have tied around its neck. At one point Mr. Adams enters the heart of the Cha Cha audience and is swallowed be the most eager jazz hands that the world has ever seen. It were as if ten thousand Richard Simmons just finished an exercise routine and had given the lead singer of Spurm a metacarpus cocoon.”

Man, they were so good. Simply outstanding.

Strong Killings at their Record Release Party at the Rendezvous.

If you were there, you know what I’m talking about. If you weren’t, you missed one of the most magical moments in music history. I’m not kidding. People in Seattle think they can get away with murder every once in a while act proactively dickish and think it’s OK.

“What the fuck are you doing to do about it? Passive aggressive, coffee-drinking, Subaru outback driving, yoga-mat carrying, vibram five-finger rocking, mostly neutral color wearing…”

I don’t remember the exact details of the exchange between the heckler and Nathan (the lead singer of Strong Killings) because too many grains of sand have sunk to the bottom of the hourglass. Did Nathan respond to the drunken heckling with a karate chop? Did the heckler leave the venue after he got the volume turned up on his antics? Gentle readers, just remember one thing the next time you go to a Strong Killings concert….

TALK SHIT. GET HIT.

(Cue “Too Cool.”)

To read the rest of Phil’s live music stand-outs and disappointments from 2011 (more…)

June 3, 2011

My Introduction to Sasquatch: Part 1

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Sleigh Bells ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

I never want to see another 8.4oz can of sugar-free Red Bull again.

Entering through the media gates on Friday evening, I felt the duality of relief and anticipation upon my fist steps upon the festival grounds. Being exposed to musical festivals for the first time is usually something I take extreme delight in. I get sensations similar to being lost. Personally, I think being lost can be fun and educational at times. The unknown will test your resolve, your attention to detail and how well you can pretend you are in control of a situation. There never came a moment at Sasquatch where I was physically lost, (unless you’re talking about when I went running in Ellensburg on Saturday morning) but there were certainly moments where I found myself entrapped in vagaries, completely engulfed by festival-goers wearing neon hats, feathers, flamboyant warpaint, expressing their “individualism” en phenotypical masse and synchromatic celebratory actions. Take me to the chief of all these “fake natives.” (Best possible guesses, Canucks legends Pavel Bure, Trevor Linden or that guy from Foster the People. That’s judging by the sheer number of Vancouver Canucks fans or the ceremonial tomfoolery that was led by the venerable front-man of Passion Pit — Western Division.) I demand to know when he will erect John Henry Music Festival, where everyone is in black-face surrounding the Al Jolson Main Stage.

“Ouch, did you forget your Pacific Northwest political correctness at home dear friend?” No, I take these cheap-shots because Sasquatch and I did not get off on the right foot. Paranoid-about-getting-old feelings aside, the more steps I took closer to my final destination, the older I felt. There was just something weird and unexpected about what was going on around me. I’m not one to dwell on “vibes” or anything of the sort. If you’re that person, you should know that when I tell you something was in the air that night, I’m not talking about a love song.  As soon as I arrived at the Sasquatch Main Stage on Friday evening with Josh and Abbey, I told Abbey that, “This feels weird.” A matter of seconds later, some drunk, shirtless, middle-aged man sits down next to me and says, “I’m feeling racial.” I was polite in my retort but you could see it in my eyes, I was looking for a reason to hurt this drunk bastard.

Welcome to Sasquatch.

Death From Above 1979 ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Friday was an abbreviated experience for the Sound on the Sound crew. In terms of musical performances on the main stage, it was a night of role-reversal. I expected to be wow’ed by my collegiate favorites Death From Above 1979 and unleash a series of mocking, ageist tweets (@eyesoredown) aimed at the Foo Fighters. Death From Above was mostly underwhelming, I felt bad for them. Their music is not fit for the main stage of a large outdoor festival. Those crass bass sounds and nonsensical vocals were being cast in every direction thanks to some angry evening winds. Maybe the festival promoters were too cautious smart to realize that Death From Above in the Banana Shack (think dance tent) would have been the craziest experience of the entire weekend. I’ll also admit that when DFA first started playing, I thought the band members were Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins pretending to be Death From Above. D’oh.

Foo Fighters ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Your dad’s favorite band The Foo Fighters were pretty remarkable. I don’t know how many amps the band had, but it sounded like there at least 60 full cabinets behind every guitarist (there were three, four if you count Bob Mould on “My Rosalita”). I’m not even counting the wattage that bassist Nate Mendel may have had. I wanted so badly to dislike Foo Fighters that night. I have held them in relatively low regard for the past decade. What can I say? I enjoy stepping on the backs of those who are face down in mud who fail to live up to the high standards they created. On Friday night, they rose to the occasion and owned the moment. They played a slightly predictable set (what, no “Winnebago” or “AC320″?) complete with a never-ending version of “My Hero” that I didn’t completely hate. As I watched them play, I fell into a state of disbelief. I never planned on seeing Foo Fighters play live music this late in my life. When I was younger, I vehemently demanded to the powers-that-be that rock and roll have an age limit (30 years old). Now that I’m creeping closer to that age myself, I’m having trouble watching bands I liked during my pre-adolescence play huge festivals with Cryptozoological names.

Read about the Rest of Phil’s Sasquatch Experience (more…)

May 28, 2011

Sasquatch! Night One

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Foo Fighters Crowd ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

We’ll bring you lots of words after the weekend is through, but here’s a little glimpse of what our Day One of Sasquatch looked like … besides a lot of break lights over the pass.

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Foo Fighters ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

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Foo Fighters and Bob Mould ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

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Foo Fighters ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

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The Gorge ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

May 24, 2011

My Sasquatch Storylines

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Fancy Photo for Computer Programmers? ::: Photo by Danny Clinch

The Gorge is something I do, it’s not a place I’ve been before. I almost dropped a mortgage payment on a ticket to see Motley Crue at Cruefest a couple of years ago, I didn’t end up going. It turns out that you don’t get to experience an Iron Man set from the Crue and you have to sit through influential bands like Disturbed and Buckcherry. I’m just going to wait another decade or so until the Crue plays the Funhouse on a Thursday night so I can save some cash. In the meantime, let’s focus on what’s happening at Sasquatch 2011 – the bands, the stages and the bizarre story-lines that only yours truly can create. In no particular order:

Pat Smear will make your band infinitely better than it was.

Welcome back. I could do the journalistic thing and consult interviews with Foo Fighters front-man Dave Grohl on why a Pat Smear/Foo Fighters reunion was necessary, but that would require me receiving a paycheck be boring. Don’t you think it’s strange how the last decent listenable interesting relevant Foo Fighters album prior to Wasting Light was The Colour And The Shape? Pat Smear writes one of the most memorable guitar “leads” of the nineties on the song “Everlong” and then vanishes from shlock rock radio for more than a decade. Gentle readers, it has been 14 years since that album came out! There are Foo Fighters fans that were born after that album was released! They own copies of Wasting Light and have no idea who that guy wearing gloves while playing guitar is. “Dave, what took you so long?” If I see him, that’s exactly what I’m going to ask him. If I see Mr. Smear, I’m going to ask him what’s up those gloves. Mr. Grohl is a hometown hero (Virginia represent) and is literally the first example of why I think a good drummer is the most important part of any band (I’m not talking Nirvana, you hear his drums on Scream’s Fumble? Good lord). Friday 9:30-11:30pm Sasquatch Main Stage

Will the international pop icon known as Robyn wish my friend happy birthday?

If you follow me on Twitter (@eyesoredown — wise decision during festival season), then you might already know I’m on a spectacular quest to get Robyn to wish my friend happy birthday. During the earliest stages of this quest I have also discovered that Robyn has changed quite a bit since we first met (I was 14, listening to Local H. She was 18, singing R&B). This Body Talk trilogy is really good. I’m not just saying that because I am going to send this blog post out into the twitterverse, hoping that she sees it. Ladies and gentleman, this woman built condos on the top of the Swedish music charts for a reason, she owns it. This promises to be one of the best sets of the weekend. Saturday 9-10pm Bigfoot Stage

Who is Death Cab For Cutie? I’m being serious…

Josh, Abbey and I have all decided to do separate interpretations of Death Cab’s set at Sasquatch. This should be interesting. Here’s what I know about Death Cab for Cutie, they have an album called Transatlanticism that I once owned by accident. As far as the music goes, that’s the extent of my knowledge. Over the past four years I have noticed that those who live in the Pacific Northwest have a completely different opinion of Death Cab than those who hail from where I am from. I think it’s time for me to figure out what all the fuss is about. Saturday 9:45-11:30pm Sasquatch Main Stage

Will another couple get caught having sex to the Decemberists?

What an odd choice of music to have public sex to. Lightning rarely strikes in the same spot twice, so I don’t foresee this happening again (unless you want it to. Ladies, twit pic me some bare wrist action  — @eyesoredown — #raycharlesmethod #heroinandlevitra). Copycat “crimes” happen all the time. What performance will inspire two young souls to sexually satisfy themselves (as well as some lonely third party who likes to masturbate to fuzzy videos on the internet while indie rock plays in the background)? I’m going to guess Sleigh Bells (there’s a blue ball joke in there somewhere). Saturday May 28 10:10-10:45pm Banana Shack

(more…)

May 23, 2011

Abbey’s Sasquatch Schedule

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Sasquatch ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

I still can’t believe Sasquatch is upon us this Friday, mostly because thanks to local weather patterns, I still can’t believe it’s May. But whatever the weather has led me to believe, the 10th annual Sasquatch! Music Festival (and the traditional start of local music fans’ summer) does in fact start this Friday and this is my personal schedule day-by-day. Josh and Phil will be sharing their Sasquatch schedules this week, as well as our unmissable sets of the Fest.

See you at The Gorge on Friday!

Friday May 27th

8pm: Death From Above 1979 (Mainstage) 9:30pm: Foo Fighters (Mainstage)

Sharon Van Etten ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Saturday May 28th

12:00: Seattle Rock Orchestra (Bigfoot) 1:15: The Globes (Yeti) 2:15: The Head and The Heart (Mainstage) 2:30: Tig Notaro (Banana Shack) 3:15: Local Natives (Mainstage) 3:30: Dan Mangan (Yeti) 4:00: Sharon Van Etten (Bigfoot) 4:30: J. Mascis (Yeti) 5:30: Wye Oak (Yeti) 7:45: The Thermals (Yeti) 8:15: Bright Eyes (Mainstage) 9:00: Robyn (Bigfoot) 9:45: Death Cab for Cutie (Mainstage)

Mad Rad ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Sunday May 29th

12:00: depending on my morning mood – Smith and Westerns (Mainstage) or Typhoon (Bigfoot) 12:15: Cotton Jones (Yeti) 1:00: Wheedle’s Groove (Bigfoot) 2:00: The Moondoggies (Bigfoot) 2:15: Fitz and the Tantrums (Mainstage) 3:30: Other Lives (Yeti) 3:45: Reggie Watts (Banana Shack) 5:15: Cold War Kids (Mainstage) 5:45: Mad Rad (Yeti) 6:45: Archers of Loaf (Bigfoot) 7:30: Gayngs (Bigfoot) 8:00: Flaming Lips (Mainstage) 10:00: Modest Mouse (Mainstage)

Deerhunter ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Monday May 30th

11:30 – Wavves (Mainstage) 12:30 – Jaill (Yeti) 1:30 – Young Evils (Yeti) 2:00 – Noah and the Whale (Bigfoot) 2:15 – Head Like A Kite (Yeti) 3:30 – Black Mountain (Bigfoot) 3:45 – The Scott Aukerman & Paul F. Tompkins Show (Banana Shack) 4:10 – Stornoway (Bigfoot) 5:15 – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (Bigfoot) 6:45 – Best Coast (Yeti) 8:00 – Decemberists (Mainstage) 9:00 – Deerhunter (Bigfoot) 9:30 – Wilco (Mainstage)

November 18, 2010

Save The Date(s): Sasquatch 2011 Will be Four Days in May

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Sasquatch ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

To celebrate its 10th Birthday, Sasquatch! is throwing its biggest party yet: a four day festival with just announced Friday headliners Foo Fighters. Add May 27th to May 30th to your concert calendars now!

While the last weekend of May probably seems like years away, discount four day passes for the festival go on sale this Saturday at 10am PST on the Sasquatch! website. A four day “all-in” discount pass (includes camping and “service charges”) will run you $285.00-295.00, which seems steep but when divided is under $75 a day, which is indeed a discount. Single tickets will go on-sale for the festival in early 2011 and considering last year’s record breaking sell out time, you should probably grab the early bird deal.

The full Sasquatch! line-up will be announced February 7th.