The Trucks Finale ::: photo by Josh

The holidays are over, we’re back to our day jobs, and it’s still snowing…all things that make us sad. But nothing compares to the woe we feel about a number of our favorite local bands calling it quits during 2008.  We thought 2007 was brutal for our favorite bands (and it was!) but 2008 kept the brutality going–taking The Trucks, Hopscotch Boys, Iceage Cobra, Das Llamas, and Ms. Led to the big gig in the sky.

We were lucky enough to catch each of these bands finales (well, we will see Ms. Led’s final show on 1/23/09) and each and every one was bittersweet. On one hand we were seeing a show of one of our favorite bands that never dissapoint, on the other, it was the last time we’d ever see them share the stage (to our knowledge). So, we figured today, when you’re suffering the post-holiday hangover and wishing you were anywhere but work…we’d share with you some of the great losses of 2008.

Hopscotch Boys Finale ::: photo by Josh

Brad Kaufman singing Acid Pony at the Cobra Finale ::: photo by Josh

Das Llamas Finale ::: photo by Abbey

Ms. Led at GMF ::: photo by Abbey

See More Photos from these bands final shows by clicking the links below:

Hopscotch Boys
Iceage Cobra
The Trucks
Das Llamas

Ice Age Cobra at the Key Bar at SXSW ::: Photo by Abbey

Some bands defy words. This was one of them. Ice Age Cobra, you will be dearly missed.

I’m still not ready to write about Iceage Cobra’s final (until the reunion tour) show at The Blue Moon last week. My ears have only recently stopped ringing and I’m not ready to synthesize what the evening meant and felt like. I will say, that Iceage Cobra proved one last time to be Seattle’s hardest rocking band…for the nearly two hours the band was on stage, they didn’t take a single breather or slow down for a second. It was a show for the ages and without a doubt, an incredible high note for Cobra and the bands devoted fans to end on.

Jords of Iceage Cobra ::: photo by Abbey

Mitch ::: photo by Abbey

Ben and Jords ::: photo by Josh

Cobra Communion ::: photo by Abbey

Iceage Cobra Finale ::: photo by Abbey

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

Mitch ::: photo by Abbey

Jords and Butterfly Knife ::: photo by Abbey

Ben Harwood ::: photo by Abbey

Cobra Kick ::: photo by Abbey

From Cobra’s epic and strange show at Bob’s Java Jive in Tacoma–with a cameo from yours truly!

Fucking fuck.  While being one of my favorite bands is sure to get you a lot of press and photos on the site, it just might doom you to an early end. At least, that’s what it’s starting to feel and look like. Next band facing a possible demise? My beloved Iceage Cobra.

From a just posted myspace bulletin (posted 9pm sunday night)

We want to let all friends of Iceage Cobra know that we have named our 9/12 show at The Blue Moon as our last show. We’ve all had other opportunities cross our paths that we want to pursue; Jordan will be starting a new band, Ben is working on a concept album (possibly with Jeff of Vindaloo) and Metch will be going back to school in Spokane. We’re all still great friends so the idea of playing/recording together as Iceage Cobra isn’t out of the question. We’re not breaking up but we’re taking a much needed break and with all of us being in separate cities and doing other things, we won’t be performing for at least a couple of years.

We hope to see all of our Portland friends and Spokane friends at those shows and to our Seattle peeps YOU BETTER BE AT THE BLUE MOON! We wanted to do a free show at the best dive in the world so we could all get freaky together one last time! Thanks to everybody all over the country for all the memories! 

Thunderbird Motel ::: photo by Abbey

Ice Age Cobra ::: photo by Josh

Ben of Ice Age Cobra and Elise ::: photo by Abbey

Monday evening’s event at Neumos featured the Pagliacci Pizza community coming together for three bands, a silent auction and a live auction, all to benefit Pagliacci employee Elise Kinnamon who early this year was diagnosed with an inoperable form of cancer and has considerable medical bills. Fellow Pagliacci employees who were in bands volunteered their services, and those who weren’t offered to be pied in the face in a live auction. The pie-ing rights to the Broadway Pagliacci manager sold for an impressive $500, and for that lofty sum as many of his location’s coworkers got to pie him as wanted to. A disappointing two people appeared, though enthusiastic they were. Near the end of the night it was announced the silent auction alone had netted over $17,000, with beer and door proceeds yet to be counted, so the event was a major success by all accounts. We went for the music and ended up being won over by the love in the room.

I call the below photo series “Taking it like a Champ.” He did. See a few more on our Flickr .

Photos by Josh.

Flickr: Benefit for Elise: Pies and Rock! with Thunderbird Motel and Ice Age Cobra

Tonight at Neumos continues the time honored tradition of holding a rock show as a fundraiser, and this evening’s beneficiary is super special. Members of each band playing are day-jobbers at Pagliacci Pizza and the night’s proceeds go toward fellow coworker Elise Kinnamon who’s been diagnosed with an inoperable form of cancer. Ice Age Cobra puts on one of the best shows around, so you won’t regret contributing to the hat, and Thunderbird Motel are finishing up a two week west coast tour, so they should be on the ball as well.

Ice Age Cobra ::: photo by Abbey

… 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.

Ice Age Cobra and been on the down low for a little while but their hibernation will come to an end as of tomorrow. Jordan and Mitch, with new bassist Ben will be swinging through the west for the rest of the month. Here are tour dates (swiped from myspace):

Jan 11 2008 9:00P
Tonic Lounge w/The Fast Takers Portland, Oregon
Jan 12 2008 8:00P
ThreeThreeSix House Eugene, Oregon
Jan 13 2008 9:00P
The Vista Eureka, California
Jan 14 2008 9:00P
Nick’s Night Club w/Georgous Armada Chico, California
Jan 15 2008 9:00P
The Mint Bakersfield, California
Jan 17 2008 9:00P
Charlie O’s w/The Ghost Lullaby Los Angeles, California
Jan 18 2008 9:00P
Scolari’s Office w/The Living Deadbeats San Diego, California
Jan 19 2008 9:00P
Plush w/Provocative Whites & Deludes Tucson, Arizona
Jan 20 2008 9:00P
Mia’s Lounge Flagstaff, Arizona
Jan 21 2008 9:00P
Double Down Las Vegas, Nevada
Jan 23 2008 9:00P
Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, Utah
Jan 24 2008 9:00P
The Bouquet w/Midline Boise, Idaho
Jan 25 2008 9:00P
The Badlander w/Victory Smokes Missoula, Montana
Jan 26 2008 8:00P
The Empyrean w/Mickie Slippers and Mistress & The Misters Spokane, Washington

If you go take a look at the tour dates that they have posted in full, it seems they will be in Texas right around SXSW, but only a Houston date is posted. Hmmmmmm.