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December 27, 2011

A Tip of the Hat – Our 2011 MVPs

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Allen Stone Bryan John Appleby Charles Bradley Pickwick
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Pickwick ::: photo by Christopher Nelson

 

We had another incredible year here at Sound on the Sound and it was in large part thanks to the following MVPs and, of course, you guys reading this. These were the artists, albums, labels, festivals and well, your dancing, that inspired and impressed us most and these are the people that remind us every day why we wouldn’t trade our local music scene for anywhere else in the world.

MVP Local Live Act: Pickwick

When a friend sent me an mp3 of “When Rosa Speaks” last summer saying he’d found my new favorite band, I wondered what on earth he was thinking. When Josh and Ty said they were going to film a new video series and start with Pickwick, I told them it was their time they were wasting. When Josh asked to book Pickwick for our 30th birthday show, I agreed begrudgingly. And when Pickwick took the tiny stage at The Blue Moon that January night, limbs and instruments and energy over-flowing, I proceeded to kick myself for the rest of 2012 for being so daft. That friend, Josh, Ty, they had been so right, and I had been so, so wrong. And to make up for that error I saw every remaining local Pickwick show of 2011, including the night I had surgery. I never once wished I was anywhere else seeing any other band. Because Jay Cox was right last August, he had found my new favorite local band and as evidenced by sold-out show after sold-out show, one of your favorite new bands too.

Pickwick simply puts on a hell of a show. They defy expectation with their sound, their Star Wars-centered banter, by getting Ballard Ave (and beyond) to dance, and the pipes on Galen Disston. Dark doo-wop and call-and-response songs about death and destruction both physical and spiritual, often inspired by musical heroes of the band (Sam Cooke, Michael Jackson, Richard Swift) — Pickwick writes smart songs and put on performances that manage to appeal to my two month old niece, my nearly 70 year old parents, Seattle’s alt-weeklies and the managers from all over the country who clamored to sign them this summer. On the strength of these shows, hooks for miles, and the broadness of that appeal, Pickwick has gone from opening shows to 30 people to being asked to summer festivals and headlining a sold-out 1,000 person Neptune Theater, in just a year. In 2012, with their first major tours on the horizon and their debut full length to be released (likely on whatever label is lucky enough to be chosen by the band), I foresee the same pattern playing out all over the country … only skipping that whole playing to 30 people in towns they’ve never visited and it happening much, much faster. (abbey)

 

Charles Bradley ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

 

 

MVP National Live Act: Charles Bradley

It’s hard to explain the true affects of a live Charles Bradley performance, much less three in the span of a magnificently hot September week, other than to say I will come back to these different nights of performances as some of the most personally valuable musical moments I’ve ever experienced. Unearthed by Daptone Records and matched with a time-tested soul outfit in an age of copy-and-paste pop, Bradley is a rare breed of performer with a life of loss, “heartaches and pain” behind him to provide a valuable perspective that’s coming from a place of pure love and will for a better world, no bullshit. “Why is it so Hard” chronicles his life story culminating in the tragic death of his brother whom he was living with at the time, and at this point it’s hard not to tear up as Bradley himself seems to do at turns while performing. With glistening eyes he’ll turn around, doff his sparkled stage coat and stun the audience during “Golden Rule” or another upbeat number with a series knee-drops, mic-swings, the occasional worm, and of course some scream-inducing hip-thrusting for the ladies. James Brown would be proud of the hip-thrusts but also the performance as whole I think. Various luminaries have come out of performances claiming this is as close to Otis Redding as we’re likely to see and I’m hard pressed to argue. Though I’m not sure Otis ever danced quite that well. (josh)

 

Wild Flag ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

 

 

MVP Performer (Female): Wild Flag

You have seen a band perform the same songs three nights in a row, what do you want to:

a) never see that band again b) see that band sometime next year c) see that band every night for the foreseeable future.

If you’ve answered c, lucky you, you’ve just enjoyed three nights with Wild Flag.

After three nights with Wild Flag this November, my only wish was for more. Why hadn’t I gone on the entire tour? Why wasn’t this the beginning of the tour, not the end? Wild Flag, despite releasing their debut record this year, are road-warrior veterans with a first class indie and punk pedigree: Sleater-Kinney, The Minders and Helium and with their forces combined, this foursome is unstoppable on stage. Wild Flag are masters of their instruments and craft, not “for girls” (even if this category is gender based), but for anyone. Janet Weiss’ drumming recalls the greats, Carrie Brownstein is an iconic rock vocalist with a knack for writing songs that sound familiar and forward-thinking at the same time, Rebecca Cole’s piano adds a spooky psychedelic edge that elevates the band and Mary Timony is Wild Flag’s not-so-secret weapon, she straight up (yet somehow subtly) shreds with riffs that will be stuck in your brain for months. It was she who I couldn’t keep my eyes off of night after night.

The real joy of watching Wild Flag though is not just the band’s technical chops, but how much fun they seem to be having. The kind of chemistry the band shares on stage isn’t something you can practice. It’s either there or it’s not, and watching Wild Flag you feel like you’re watching four talented friends have the time of their life. And you can’t help but want to join in.

Extra Bonus Points: their cover of Television’s “See No Evil” was my favorite cover of the year.

Emeritus: Kelli Schaefer

 

Allen Stone ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

 

 

MVP Performer (Male): Allen Stone

Allen Stone’s flagrantly funk visage calls Seattle home, and though 2011 is the year he became a cover-boy and prime-time name, he’s been making small moves nationally for years now. Splitting his time between New York, LA and Seattle Stone built up a quality collection of tracks recorded with some soul heavyweights and waited for over a year to release his self-titled second record until the timing was right. Early in the year with the addition of an ace touring band representing as much young personality as Stone himself does the 25-year old Chewelah-bred pastor’s son was able to tour, capitalize, and make it all come together so that when Bumbershoot, City Arts Fest, and then Conan came calling he was prepared. Stone’s thick glasses and northwest-sheik aren’t exactly uniform attire for a classic soul sound, exemplifying that neither is his approach, but the bottom-line is he and his band have no trouble getting entire rooms dancing and the finer sex screaming. In a recent conversation Stone remarked about the new found attention, “It’s crazy. Less than a year ago I was playing the High Dive.” Having to add a second show because your first ever time headlining a 1000 cap room sold out a month of time says it all. Kinda like what happened to our previous winner of this MVP Macklemore did just about this time last year (eventually adding a total of three Showbox shows). (josh)

Emeritus: Macklemore

Read the rest of our MVPs including festival, debut album, 6th man & every writer’s personal MVP of 2011 (more…)

December 23, 2011

North of Northwest: Top 10 Canadian Albums of 2011

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Handsome Furs – Sound Kapital

In a year filled with stories of oppression and uprising in the Near East and the simply near, this album inspired by the political situation in East Asia began to feel very close to home. The lyrics articulate the creeping fears of the disenfranchised, while the angsty beats help dance those cares away.

Dan Mangan – Oh Fortune

In a year of growing-up albums, this one stands a growth spurt head and shoulders above the rest. The introspections of Oh Fortune are as unflinching, apt, and often hilarious as the societal observations Mangan’s previous release, Nice, Nice, Very Nice, while Mangan’s growing musical confidence offers him more varied and nuanced ways to express emotion.

 

 

Bry Webb – Provider

The erstwhile Constantines frontman finds his inside voice on this quiet, heartfelt collection of songs about marriage, parenthood, and other things that happen when you stop going on tour and start making (long term) plans. The delicacy is a surprising contrast to the bruised and bruising loudness of his work with the Cons, but also a remarkable success.

The Rural Alberta Advantage – Departing

The Rural Alberta Advantage bring an adult’s wisdom and weariness to their sophomore release, examining the past with a mix of relief and affection and bringing sophistication to both their narration and sound. The raw dance-folk that made 2008′s Hometowns such a striking debut is tempered with quiet moments and bursts of delicate orchestration. But though the medium is slightly changed, the message remains the same: who we are is where we come from, and no matter where we go, we can never really leave those old haunts behind.

For the rest of Brittney’s Top 10 Canadian Albums of 2011 (more…)

December 9, 2011

Brittney’s Second Annual Not-Entirely-Canadian Ten (of the) Best Songs of the Year

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Adele, “Rolling In The Deep”

It was astonishingly ubiquitous (okay, overplayed), but every time I hear this I’m still astonished at how good it is. Adele’s voice finds its perfect showcase, hitting pleading high notes and low, dirty growls. “You’re gonna wish you / Never had met me,” the backup singers chirp ominously, as the kick drum pounds a threat. And through it all “Rolling In The Deep” remains ridiculously catchy, inspiring daily earworms and a million ill-advised sing-alongs (most of which were mine).

Bry Webb, “Rivers Of Gold”

Rivers of Gold by Idée Fixe Records

In this love letter to a a carefree moment in time, Webb extols the virtues of living just the way I’d like to: “free of fear and full of love.”

Camp Radio, “The Girl Who Stole My Motorbike”

This fuzzy powerpop charmer is so catchy that it gets stuck in my head every time I so much as see a motorcycle parked on the roadside.

Handsome Furs, “Serve The People”

Though inspired by the oppressive governments of east Asia, this song hits literally and figuratively closer to home since the recent wave of police brutality in response to the Occupy movement. “You kick ‘em in the head and you kick ‘em when they’re down / You don’t serve the people.”

Hawk and Steel, “Telephone Calls”

This beautifully mournful Americana piece swells to a tortured climax with heavy guitars and the rising lament of vocalist Peter Gardner before fading to a last sad whisper: “The telephone’s ringing down the hall / I wonder who you’re with tonight.” “Telephone Calls” finds the pathos at the heart of the traditional country song and presents it without devolving into caricature the way so much modern country does. This is the simple, prosaic sadness of the stranger next to you at the bar, expressed in five minutes of sonic poetry.

Take a listen on their Sound on the Sound introduction.

See the rest of Brittney’s Second Annual Not-Entirely-Canadian Ten (of the) Best Songs of 2011 (more…)

June 27, 2011

North of Northwest: Handsome Furs

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The future will need dance music too.

Daft Punk has the corner on the Disney version, with their shiny round helmets and their Tron appearance. But in the darker, dystopian, Blade Runner edition of the future, Handsome Furs will rule the dance floor.

The husband-wife duo, comprised of Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry, will release their third album, Sound Kapital, June 28. Inspired by travels in East and Southeast Asia, continues exploring the themes of 2009′s Face Control: alienation, oppression, and the lingering remnants of totalitarianism in a post-Soviet world.

Here comes the future, it’s violent and bright.

The screeches and beeps of “Serve the People” repeat like an alarm, setting all your systems to alert. “Kids are making noise when the generator’s on / And the cops said move along.” A keyboard screeches an alarm. “You kick ‘em in the head and you kick ‘em when they’re down.” Among Perry and Boeckner’s travels was a trip to famously oppressive Myanmar. This is the music of fear and flight.

Boeckner brought a characteristic anxiety to Wolf Parade, but without Spencer Krug’s moderating influence, the feeling is stronger here. The imagery is everywhere: reference to “an army of bees” in “What About Us,” in the above-quoted lyric from “Memories of the Future.” But it’s even more prevalent in the music itself. The beats are fast-paced and move forward at a rush, often just a tiny step ahead of the vocals and ready at any moment to run off altogether. Boeckner’s voice tends to tighten at the bridges, seeming about to crack under the strain of pressure and fear.

A similar feeling of discomfort is brought by the duo’s homage to the Chinese experience of “rennao” – essentially, cacophony. Perry and Boeckner strive to recreate the experience of walking through a crowded night market, strangers brushing past on all sides, neon flashing, bubbles blowing, and megaphones blasting music and advertisements in interfering patterns. Closing track “No Feelings” erupts suddenly halfway through into an irregular hum of static and fuzz, just after Boeckner proclaims “All my life I’ve always found / It returns, returns to sound.”

But Sound Kapital is not merely a work of fear and resignation. “Cheap Music” is in fact an ode to the future of underground music, to the “thousand lonely kids making noise in a basement.”

Because it sounds right, now that the money’s gone Because we need it just to get along It’s the heartbeat, little heartbeat.

If the future is dark and oppressive, these kids in basements in China and Vietnam, in Moscow and Myanmar will be the rock’n'roll superheroes that save us from it all. And maybe we’ll have Handsome Furs to thank for it.

One final note: my original plan for this column was to discuss my struggle to enjoy Handsome Furs in the wake of the breakup of Wolf Parade, a band I loved very much. As it turns out, there is no struggle. Sound Kapital is an excellent work, and I would have enjoyed it had I never heard of Wolf Parade. And besides, as Boeckner himself sings, “Nostalgia never meant much to me.”

____ Sound Kapital is streaming in its entirety on Spin.com. It will be released by Sub Pop on June 28. Handsome Furs play the Capitol Hill Block Party on July 23. _____

December 31, 2010

North of Northwest: 11 Things to Look Forward to in 2011

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Dan Mangan ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

The New Year is possibly my favorite holiday. For a few hours every year, everyone in the world reserves the right to turn to his neighbor, share a high-five, and say “Fuck yeah! We did it! One more year survived.” It’s a fine sense of accomplishment, and a great excuse to drink champagne.

The flip side of the new year is also great: the delicious sense of possibility that develops as you gaze wide-eyed ahead into the unknown expanse of the next twelve months. For a few brief moments as the clock turns over, you stare down nothing but untouched hope and joy. We have everything abstract to look forward too; here are eleven concrete things, too.

1. Native Speaker, the debut album of shimmery electro from Montreal band Braids. Listen to preview track “Lemonade” here.

2. The Rural Alberta Advantage’s sophomore release, Departing. It drops March 1, but you can download the lead single, “Stamp,” right now for free.

3. A second album from The D’Urbervilles , the synth-rock band fronted by John O’Regan, now better known as Diamond Rings. Recording is said to be finished, though no release date has been set. (The band is also said to be changing its name.)

4. A new project from Forestry guitarist Peter Gardner, which he says will lean “a little more towards the country side of things.”

5. Japandroids taking a pause from their constant touring to recorded a much-anticipated second album.

6. A new Dan Mangan album, already at least partially recorded. No release date is set, but Mangan says that he’s “thinking Fall 2011.”

7. Wolf Parade offering a temporary reprieve from their hiatus by playing Sasquatch in May.

8. Additionally, a “late Spring / early Summer” release from Wolf Parade singer Dan Boeckner’s side project, Handsome Furs.

9. A new album from Ontario folk talent Basia Bulat. Though no date has been offered, Bulat says she “has nearly all of it written.”

10. The eternal hope and possibility that the Constantines’ Bry Webb will offer the world something, anything from his solo project, the Harbour Coats. We’ve been subsisting on a Vimeo video and an infuriatingly dead-end webpage for far too long.

11. Justin Bieber in 3D.

March 9, 2009

New Handsome Furs

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It’s fair to say that sincewe featured this song back in January, the new Furs tracks that have been floating around prior to this week’s release of Face Controlon Sup Pop Records have been in constant rotation. That now the newly released video is just as edgy as those songs is pleasing. After watching this you’ll inspect every bowl of punch you meet just a little more closely…

MP3: “I’m Confused” by the Handsome Furs from Face Control courtesy of Sub Pop Records

Face Control is out everywhere tomorrow Tuesday March 10. You can stream the whole record on the Handsome Furs myspace right now. Pre-order the record from Sub Pop and get a limited edition live EP too. Currently the Handsome Furs don’t have a Seattle date scheduled.

January 14, 2009

The Daily Choice: Handsome Furs – I’m Confused

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I met Dan Boeckner outside of a Handsome Furs show once.  He smoked a cigarette and I sort of drunkenly inquired as to just why in the world Handsome Furs were opening for an absolutely shit band like The Teenagers.  He told me, with the type of conspiratorial lean-in you don’t expect from rock stars, that in all truth, he didn’t have a clue either.

I’d had a special spot in my heart for the sort of droning electronica of Handsome Furs’ Plague Park before, and after this little spin around the gossip mill with their lead singer, well, I was a complete devotee.  Thus, the arrival of a brand new single off their frighteningly canine new album Face Control is at least a minor reason for celebration.

It’s pretty typical sounding Handsome Furs, dark and moody, cut down the middle with Boeckner’s anguished holler.  What exists more this go around is a sort of noodling guitar sound that rests amongst the layered levels of organ, giving the duo a more excited, even happy sound.  Perhaps after the sort of gloomy enchantment of Plague Park, they’re looking to spice things up a bit.

Nonetheless, color me excited for this entire album.

Handsome Furs – I’m Confused

Handsome Furs Myspace Page

April 20, 2008

The Teenagers came, Handsome Furs conquered

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the teenagers at neumos

Do you like my many faceted headline that manages to capture the evening so aptly?

For this well attended all-ages concert Gasworx started the night out and kept the energy high between acts admirably. Jared and Ellen and the rest of Man Plus featured much of their latest release The Hungarian Suicide Songbook in their short set. To cap the it off, during “My Kind of People,” Jared turned an aborted attempt at a crowd surf, which clearly no one was expecting, into an impromptu dance party in the crowd.

The Handsome Furs are the truly dynamic duo of Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry out of Montreal. Boeckner is probably better known for his other project Wolf Parade, and I’m here to say that shouldn’t be so. Perry is dancing at the helm, setting drum beats, adding swell, and bringing some electronic flavor all around while Boeckner spectacularly handles his guitar. Boeckner’s unique voice cuts through everything though and, at least in my mind, feels like the element these songs hinge on. This night Boeckner didn’t miss a beat and unexpectedly convinced a previously unconvinced party, me, that Handsome Furs is indeed a rad band who I, and you, should pay attention to.

Seattle was the first U.S. stop on the first North American tour for The Teenagers and by the time they took the stage, Gasworx had everyone ready to move. They appropriately began the night with what I suppose is their theme song “Feeling Better” which contains the almost subliminal instruction to “dance” at one point. Following up with freakishly catchy and bouncy “Love No,” (or was it “Starlett Johansson”?) Michael, Dorian and Quentin had the front rows right where they wanted them.

While the Teenagers certainly did a good job, I didn’t get the crazy energy I thought the album and songs suggested. The Klaxons did it. A visit to Emeril wouldn’t be a bad idea. Handsome Furs on the other hand? Money. Cash Money. (Canadian Cash Money.)

April 19, 2008

Tonight! The Teenagers!

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The Teenagers

Sexy European men singing sweet nothings into your ear while shaking your groove thing? Check.

A Mysterious Canadian experimental twosome? Check.

A Local brother-sister band with an attitude? Check.

A show brewing to be an All-Ages dance party? Definitely check.

You really want to be at Neumos tonight.

Sound on the Sound Presents…

the Teenagers w/ Handsome Furs, Man Plus

April 19 at Neumos, Seattle All-Ages! $12 adv. Buy Tickets!

April 18, 2008

The Weekend is nigh…

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skylark

… and it is hailing up here on Broadway.

A few thoughts about where you might end up this weekend.

Tonight (Friday):

Shane Tutmarc and the Traveling Mercies w/ Star Anna and Guests Queen Anne Easy Street In-Store (less than 1 hr from now!)

Just Across the easy street on lower QA and beginning not long after the In-Store will be the Tiny Vipers, J Tillman show at the Vera Project. This is pretty much a must see local bill right now.

Also very worthy of your love would be the M Bison and Thunderbird motel are playing a $FREE$ show at the Skylark in West Seattle. They have a rad poster (see above).

Saturday

The Teenagers with be stirring up the house at Neumos along with the Handsome Furs and Man Plus.

Black Eyes and Neckties will be the entertainment between entertainment as across the street King Cobra is hosting Semi-Pro Wrestling.

If Fremont is more your style than Capitol Hill, but you still want your rock, head over to the High Dive where The Valley will be holding it down with Ice Age Cobra and the DTs.

Sunday

Rilo Kiley at the Showbox SODO. You can hate on Rilo Kiley all you want. I will always harbor an irrational crush on Jenny Lewis. Which means I will always find Rilo Kiley endearing.

If your not already heading to behold Jack White at Neumos with his Raconteurs, you should find the time to hit up Chop Suey where MGMT will be trying to make it not feel like a week night.