Blog Archives

July 13, 2012

Win Tickets to the Triple Doors New Songwriter Showcase with Cloud War, J Wong, Cathedral Pearls and Apartment Lights

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Goldfinch The Triple Door

Starting next Wednesday, The Triple Door is opening their doors and seats for a monthly showcase highlighting up-and-coming singer-songwriters. The stage, arguably the swankiest show setting in Seattle that doesn’t find you at the Symphony or Opera, is usually reserved for only the most established local acts, but partnering with local singer-songwriter J. Wong the Triple Door will be giving promising Pacific Northwest bands the same treatment.

For their inaugural showcase locals Cloud War (formerly known as Brother Bear), Apartment Lights (Grace Sullivan formerly of Goldfinch), Cathedral Pearls (from Spokane) and the evening’s organizer, J. Wong will be performing sets July 25th. The second showcase, scheduled for August 26th, will feature performances by Shannon Stephens, Tomo Nakayama (of Grand Hallway), & Yet and again, the evening’s organizer J. Wong. The four band bills are just $8.

Both bills highlight some of the most promising and praised songwriters in Seattle, the second bill especially, features established names Stephens and Nakayama, while the first showcase is highlighting some bands and voices you might be familiar with in new arrangements. Cloud War was previously known as Brother Bear and their fastidious costumes and narrated concerts. They’ve recently changed their name to reflect their roots and aspirations, to be psychedelic story-tellers on par with songwriter Barry Uhl’s encyclopedic knowledge of any song that evokes paisleys or fractals. Grace Sullivan, formerly singing sweetly in Tacoma’s Goldfinch, has stepped out on her own and is calling her new project Apartment Lights. The project presents unvarnished sad songs on piano, Sullivan’s angelic voice still tearing your heart out in a minor key. Cathedral Pearls was recently named by Paste as one of “12 Washington Bands you Need to Listen to Now,” making them the only band from the East side of the mountains to make the list. Front woman Karli Ingersoll, sounds like First Aid Kit being backed by a taut indie rock band — whether you’re a fan of Land of Pines or Kaylee Cole, there’s something in this project for you to be drawn to.

We’re giving a way a pair of tickets to the first Song Writer Showcase for Wednesday July 25th and we hope you’ll discover a new favorite there. To enter, just leave a comment sharing your favorite singer song-writer on this post with your real email address. We’ll notify the lucky winner Tuesday morning!

And here’s a chance to listen to Apartment Lights and Cathedral Pearls:

June 7, 2011

We’re Making Noise for the Needy this Saturday

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Sound on the Sound Presents

 

For five days this week Seattle’s Noise for the Needy festival brings to stages across the city a veritable flurry of local and extra-local talent, all in support of Real Change. Our sponsored bill goes off this weekend with Portland’s Loch Lomond at the helm making their first visit to Columbia City Theater, supported by Big Sur, Goldfinch and The Horde & The Harem.

Early on in 2011 Loch Lomond snuck their new record Little Me Will Start A Storm in under our noses, passing us by until Haley Young’s video for “Elephants and Little Girls” (below) got our attention. The concept is cute, a one-shot marvel of visual trickery that by the end even makes fun of itself a bit, turning out playful in it’s final touches and resolution. Such a production is every bit as intricate as Loch Lomond’s own efforts for just about everything they do. Little Me Will Start A Storm employs a true choir of voices in ways most pop music doesn’t venture, and manages instrumentation more delicate still than fellow Northwest baroque pop powerhouses Grand Hallway and Campfire OK construct.

 

 

With four bands on the bill at the Columbia City Theater, the music will be starting a bit earlier than usual, probably around 9. Entrance is $12. Snag tickets in advance online.

April 26, 2011

Great Bands, Great Cause: Noise for the Needy Line-Up Announced, We Help Present a Show!

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Sound on the Sound Presents
nftn2011

 

 

Every year, Noise for the Needy is one of our favorite local events. A great local festival, for a great cause, this year’s Noise for the Needy will benefit Real Change Empowerment Project, the folks behind Real Change newspaper. Last year’s NFTN raised $25,000 for charity and this year’s fest with 80+ artists playing 21 shows will hopefully be just as successful. Tickets for most of the festival go on-sale Monday (May 2nd) at Noise for the Needy.

This year’s line-up is stacked with favorites: Hobosexual, Drew Grow and the Pastor’s Wives, Builders and the Butchers, Ravenna Woods, Youth Rescue Mission, Smokey Brights, Kelli Schaefer, Akimbo, Fly Moon Royalty and Land of Pines just to name a few. Sound on the Sound is also incredibly excited to be more than fans of the fest this year, as we’ll be presenting a showcase at Columbia City Theater on June 11th with Loch Lomond, Big Sur, Goldfinch, The Hoarde & The Harem and a DJ set from DJ Doo Right (who you know best as Seth from The Maldives).

The full line-up is below, we can’t wait to see you out and about in June seeing some great bands for a great cause.

 

 

Tuesday June 7, 2011

NEUMOS: $13 ADV | 21+ | 8PM

Detroit Cobras Girl in a Coma The Fucking Eagles

Wednesday June 8, 2011

NEUMOS: $22 | 21+ | 9PM

Brendan Perry (Dead Can Dance) Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins)

BUS STOP: Free | 21+ | 8PM

NFTN Preview Party with DJ Toast

THE CRESCENT: Free | 21+ | 9PM

Karaoke for the Needy hosted by Giggles Galore

REBAR: tickets TBA

Comedy Night

Thursday June 9, 2011

THE COMET: $8 | 7:30 PM | 21+

The Golden Blondes Mal De Mer Soft Hills Ivory in Ice World Surrealized

CHOP SUEY: $10 | 9PM | 21+

Drew Grow & The Pastors’ Wives See Me River Buffalo Death Beam The Foghorns DJ Zwickepedia

MARS BAR: $7 | 9PM | 21+

The Ghost of Kyle Bradford The Warm Hardies Slow Skate Assumption, Illinois

Friday June 10th, 2011

TRACTOR TAVERN: $12 ADV/ $15 DOS | 9PM | 21+

The Builders and the Butchers Ravenna Woods Yuni in Taxco

THE SUNSET: $10 | 9:30PM | 21+

Sage Spinning Whips The First Times Modern Athletics

CONOR BYRNE: $10 | 9PM | 21+

Kelli Schaefer Hobosexual Youth Rescue Mission Lizzie Huffman

UNDERGROUND EVENTS CENTER: $10 | 7PM | 21+ | Cash Only

Soft Metals Ononos The Tempers Sports Spurm USF Fly Moon Royalty DJ Gin & Tonic DJ Up Above Floyd Beastie

Saturday June 11, 2011

UNDERGROUND EVENTS CENTER: $10 | 7PM | 21+ | Cash Only

Noise for the Needy and Seattle Rock Guy present

Akimbo Wildildlife Black Queen Princess Vultures 2012 Smooth Sailing Whiskey Tango What What Now DJ Nik C DJ Blazon Stone

COLUMBIA CITY THEATER: $12 | 9PM | 21+

Noise for the Needy and Sound on the Sound Present

Loch Lomond Big Sur Goldfinch The Horde & the Harem DJ Doo Right (Seth from The Maldives)

THE COMET: $8 | 8PM | 21+

TBA Furniture Girls Soul Senate Dyslexic Cascadia 10 DJ Double Agent-O S.O.U.L.

MARS BAR: $8 | 8PM | 21+

Ganges River Band Smokey Brights Corespondents Honeybear Colt Kraft

WILDROSE: $8 | 9PM | 21+

The Pharmacy Stickers Blood Orange Paradise Glitterbang

Sunday June 12, 2011

THE COMET: $8 | 8PM | 21+

Nalgas Bukkake (Members of Master Musicians of Bukkake and Skerik) This Blinding Light Operation ID Midday Veil DJ Veins

CHOP SUEY: $10 ADV/$12 DOS | 9PM |21+

Fresh Espresso Redwood Plan Lisa Dank & Nark Brite Futures DJ Nark

THE VERA PROJECT: $12 | 7:30PM | All Ages

Ramona Falls Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band Land of Pines Kithkin

CHA CHA: $5 | 9PM | 21+

Wayfinders Derek Kelley & The Speedwobbles Koko & The Sweetmeats

January 28, 2011

The Best of BARE II: Aaron Stevens of Goldfinch and Vicci Martinez – “Jolene” (Dolly Parton Cover)

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When it came to our BARE videos, we really did save the best for last.

Aaron Stevens (of Goldfinch) and Vicci Martinez’s (stepping in last minute for Goldfinch’s Grace who had strep throat) performance of Dolly Parton’s classic laid the desperation of Jolene bare with passionate vocal bombast in a way I’m not sure the original ever accomplished. Plain and simple, Aaron and Vicci can SING. The sold out crowd audience sat or stood slack jawed in smiles, toes-tapping before erupting in an ovation just as impassioned as the performance that inspired it.

In a night full of highlights, this was the performance of the night. Which is why I predict I’ll play this video at least once a day for the next year or so. At least.

January 19, 2011

Buy Your Tickets for BARE Now

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The Maldives at BARE ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

We’ve told you multiple times, at basically any chance we’ve had, how beautiful last year’s BARE was. Its a night that exposes your favorite musicians in a manner you rarely see. And I’m not talking full-frontal. Well, not of the physical sort. Though last year’s BARE, which found the likes of The Maldives, The Moondoggies and The Head and The Heart performing without the comfort blanket of their guitars and amplification, did make some of Seattle’s finest musicians so nervous, they might have well have been naked. And musically, they were.

For the follow-up to their hugely successful first gathering, Kevin Barrans has curated another group of brave musicians and some BARE veterans to perform an evening of all acapella songs. This year you’ll see performers such as Sean Nelson, Pickwick, Tony Kevin Jr. and Kaylee Cole like you’ve never seen them before. And returning to the Abbey for their second BARE will be The Maldives, Grand Hallway, Goldfinch, Pablo Trucker and Shenandoah Davis. Some special duets and covers have been planned for the evening and if its half as good as last year, we promise you, its unmissable.

Tickets are already selling fast for BARE and the event will likely sell out before Friday, so if you don’t want to miss out on this special evening, you should buy your tickets now.

Here are a few videos from last year if you need any further convincing:

January 3, 2011

My Most Played: December 2010

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Grand Hallway ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Like most music writers, I spent much of my December 2010 listening to every album deemed important by other music writers I respected as well as personal favorites in an attempt to make lists of the best releases of 2010. Seeing that you have yet to see a Best Northwest Releases of 2010 post so far, you can see how successful I’ve been in this endeavor … then again, part of me wonders if that’s just me trying to hold onto what was an absolutely enchanting year of local music.

But there were some new tunes that managed to steal some of my time and a couple old favorites that came to life on vinyl. That’s the focus of this list about what kept me company during the final month of a pretty amazing 2010.

Youth Rescue Mission – s/t debut Grand Hallway – Ricebelly: Demos, Covers & Rarities – 2007 to 2010 Kevin Large – “Love or Lack Thereof” Drew Grow – “The Comfort Feel” EP Girls – Broken Dreams Club EP (download “Heartbreaker”) Bob Dylan – Nashville Skyline Goldfinch – “Vacant Lot” Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – The Vs. Remixes Tony Kevin Jr. – “Don’t Tell Mama” and “Let You Down” Ted Lucas – The Om Album Carissa’s Wierd – Ugly But Honest on vinyl Melodie Knight – “Comfort and Care” The Moondoggies – You’ll Find No Answers Here EP Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz and “Sister Winter”

December 10, 2010

Our Year in Photos 2010: Goldfinch

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Goldfinch ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Goldfinch traffics solely in heart tuggers and their two new singles “Vacant Lot” and “Elephant,” show the band developing newly nuanced notes to break your heart. Stepping away from the stripped down duets and acoustic guitar of their first record, the new songs highlight Goldfinch’s full line-up and sound. “Elephant” is elevated with the addition of Steve Norman on pedal steel and for me his weeping riffs make the song. Mastered by TW Walsh (who mixed and mastered Dave Bazan’s Curse Your Branches), there is a rich subtlety of embracing layers on “Vacant Lot.” Live, the song sprawls to Sufjanic proportions, but recorded the song is more an aching intimate whisper.

The new songs (available streaming below) are a perfect combination for Goldfinch fans: it fulfills that which is eager to see the band grow and change, as well as satisfying the ache for the simple heartfelt songs that Goldfinch specializes in. The band is celebrating their single release on December 18th at Columbia City Theater, where they’ll be opening for Cobirds Unite.

Goldfinch ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Goldfinch ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

December 7, 2010

Abbey’s Favorite Concerts of 2010

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Zoe Muth The Moondoggies The Maldives The Head and the Heart Shabazz Palaces Fresh Espresso Damien Jurado Columbia City Theater Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival Sasquatch! Music Festival Sound on the Sound Presents
doebaysessions

 

If you hadn’t gathered, we go to a lot of shows here at Sound on the Sound. For the past four years, I’ve been at shows more nights than not and with the surge of amazing music happening in Seattle, I could truthfully go to two or three shows a night and still miss something great. Reflecting on all the phenomenal performances I’ve been treated to in 2010, I feel spoiled and humbled. Knowing there’s still a few weeks left in 2010 and that there’ll surely be at least one more show that would qualify for this list, makes me feel excited.

Knowing that and that I will surely fidget with the order of the list after I hit publish, here are my 20 Favorite shows of 2010. They span festivals and venues big and small and the list, while not enumerated, is in a ranked order with my very favorite at the top. I tried not to include every single Drew Grow & The Pastors’ Wives show I saw in 2010, but it was hard. This list, since its a photographic representation, only includes shows where I was allowed to have my camera, which means hands down one of the best shows of the year is not on it: Shabazz Palaces at Neumos back in January. With those disclaimers, I’m happy to share my favorite shows of 2010. And, of course, I want to know: what was your favorite show of 2010?

See you in the front row in 2011!

hath1st

The Head and The Heart at The High Dive

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Justin Townes Earle at Birds on a Wire – Pullman, WA

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Doe Bay Fest

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BARE at The Fremont Abbey

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Columbia City Theater’s Grand Re-Opening Weekends

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Goldfinch and Drew Grow and the Pastors’ Wives at The Comet

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The Maldives and Zoe Muth at The Blue Moon for Our Birthday

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The Moondoggies Surprise Acoustic Set at Bumbershoot

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Hoquiam at Cairo

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Every Sound on the Sound Presents Show at Columbia City Theater

After the jump the rest of my favorites and a few videos from them: (more…)

November 16, 2010

Happy 5th Birthday to The Fremont Abbey!

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There are few venues in Seattle where I can say I’ve had a universally positive experience. In fact, there’s only one: The Fremont Abbey. Home to The Round and special events like BARE, as well as a community art space, The Abbey is one of the most vibrant artistic communities in Seattle. It not only seeks to be a space for people to perform and share their art, it is a place for people to create and be inspired, its a more holistic approach than other venues that are focused on and driven by the final product of performance.

That’s because The Abbey isn’t just a venue, its a community of volunteers, artists, musicians and neighborhood groups that use the space and they make The Abbey feel like home every time I walk through those old church doors. The heart and intention behind the space is a great inspiration, not just to me, but clearly to the artists who perform there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone have even an off night at The Abbey, I have however, seen many of my favorite artists boiled down to their most basic and beautiful. The Abbey and the events they host encourage musicians to share and challenge themselves in a way that few other live settings do.

For example, two of my very favorite moments from The Abbey:

The Abbey celebrates its fifth birthday tomorrow with an extravaganza of art. Here’s the schedule of events:

5pm: Young Artist Hour for kids (12 & under FREE) & parents (facepainting, making hats, decorating, fun) 6-7pm: happy hour fun for all-ages in the Abbey Cafe with apps by Brett’s Catering & pizza by Via Tribunali 7-9pm main event in the Cafe & Great Hall, auction ends around 9pm 9-10p City Arts Magazine sponsored trivia contest in the Cafe!

Friends of the Abbey will be performing and its sure to be a great night. You can pre-purchase tickets here, but walk-in donations are also welcome. (And don’t forget, The Abbey is a non-profit and your ticket is a tax-deductible donation!)

Happiest fifth birthday to The Abbey and the fine folks behind her! We can’t wait for the next five years!

October 20, 2010

Drew Grow and the Pastors’ Wives – “It All Comes Right” [video]

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We’ve spared no praise when it comes to Drew Grow and the Pastors’ Wives and for good reason. The band is responsible for some of our favorite shows and songs of 2010, not to mention their record which is definitely in contention for the local release of the year. And “It All Comes Right” plays a central role in all of those warm feelings.

You can catch Drew Grow and the Pastors’ Wives next Wednesday (October 27th) in Tacoma with Goldfinch and Kelli Schaefer during an event put on by our friends and Collective partners, The Warehouse. Buy your tickets before you make the drive to Tacoma, because this show will sell out.

p.s. Sound on the Sound’s own Tyler Kalberg (who filmed the Doe Bay Sessions) and our friend and one of our favorite local photographers Dylan Priest apparently shot this video.

p.p.s For those Sound on the Sound and Drew Grow and Kelli Schaefer fans outside of Seattle, you’re in luck! The Tacoma show is just the first on a little west coast tour. Dates are after the jump.

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