Grynch (King of Ballard) ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Today the announcement of the final lineup and set times for Seattle Weekly’s locally-focused music festival REVERBFest was made with many of the usual suspects apart of the annual one day, nine stage, Ballard neighborhood take-over. The Maldives will be doing a midnight set at the Tractor, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground will be doing a late set at the Sunset and amidst the four all-ages venues the event is offering, a who’s who of local hip-hop will be invading the Fashion Academy. Last year we were introduced to Black Whales at this fest; who knows what we’ll come back excited about this time.

Get $8 advanced tickets for the fest from the Weekly, and peep this year’s complete lineup below the fold.

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Photo by Josh Lovseth

Via myspace bulletin the expansive rock orchestra have announced the completion of their second LP along with the lyrics to each and every song. You can already hear one of the songs, “My Friends All Passed Out” on the band’s myspace page and on Friday they’ll be streaming the record at that same location.

Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground play the EMP at Bumbershoot on Saturday September 5th at 9.30pm. This week though, the band will being doing a special set at the Moore on Thursday in memoriam of Tom Pfaeffle.

It’s clear Tom Pfaeffle touched many a person in this town, directly and indirectly, through his musical ear, his mentorship, and his friendship. Starting at 5pm on Thursday August 13th, the Moore Theater will be a place where those who knew him can celebrate a life well lived. There won’t be tickets, however donations will be accepted and go towards a fund in the name of the family.

Head to pinkonvinyl.com/tom-pfaeffle for more details about the event.

Tom Pfaeffle ::: photo courtesy of Jay Cox

We were deeply saddened to hear that local sound engineer and teacher Tom Pfaeffle was tragically killed Friday night.

Tom manned the boards and mics at Tank Studio in Black Diamond, WA where local bands and Sound on the Sound favorites like Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, The Sea Navy, and Wild Orchid Children recorded their records. Bands and students of sound flocked to Tom not only for his expertise, but because by all accounts, he was an absolutely wonderful guy who was passionate about perfectly capturing the sound and feel of a band.  When Tom wasn’t recording at The Tank he was teaching the future sound technicians of Seattle as an audio production instructor at The Seattle Art Institute.

Tom’s death is a huge loss to the local music scene, and to his family, friends, students, and bands that worked with and loved him. Our deepest condolences to them all.

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground ::: Photo by Josh

We went out to the new Croc for the first time last Friday to The Builders & The Butchers sold out show. Actually, I think the crowd was at it’s biggest and most devoted for the Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground set. So many people were singing along! That’s new. Bets were flying about whether lead singer Kirk Huffman’s wife Rachel who sings backup and was very pregnant would have her water break while they were on stage. It didn’t, but not for any lack of her trying. Each time I see them, the band swells, and the new additions of multi-instrumentalist Jacob and bassist Laurie from Ships seemed natural picks. Nate Mooter even played an accordion tune as an intermission. Openers Dr. Helicopter seemed to impress the bro-heavy crowd with their heavy swamp rock, while into the night The Builders & The Butchers lead singer Ryan Solle presided over the crowd as few lead singers can. The “New Croc Buzz” was in definitely in full effect.

My first thoughts on the new Croc were mixed though after only one show so I’ll keep them to myself for now and give things a chance to work themselves out. The one thing I will note though is that new the Croc no longer a scrappy rock n’ roll bar with years of built up character and little details that make you smile. That little area in the back corner that was a step above so the short people in the back could see… gone. The opportunity to step away from the music to have a breath, a beer and a seat… also gone. (The new Tribunali being closed was a huge bummer for a party with a person on crutches). No more is it a stubborn misfit in a neighborhood that is rapidly changing and becoming more affluent. Instead it seems to have taken on the neighborhood’s modern aesthetic, becoming a large square room with exposed beams and high ceilings (so Seattle!). Instead of feeling like the Croc, it feels like just another modern dark club in the city. Of all the issues I might have with the new digs, this is what I was most disappointed about. I feel like it might just be pointless bitching at this point, but these little things are part of what made the Croc a special venue in my minds aside from all of great shows and memories that I have there.

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground have just announced a summertime nationwide tour starting in Portland in late June and ending on the east coast in mid-July. The dates are at the band’s new website.

[P.S. Sorry about all the B+W photos. We prefer color, but the Croc was really red for most of the night; so red it made the pictures better to look at in B+W. -josh]

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, “Orchestra Land” ::: Photo by Abbey

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground ::: Photo by Josh

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground ::: Photo by Abbey

The Builders and The Butchers::: Photo by Josh

The Builders and The Butchers ::: Photo by Josh

Flickr: The Builders & The Butchers, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, Dr. Helicopter at the Crocodile

Elvis Perkins ::: Photo by Abbey

* The Local Natives - Daytrotter Session 
I think these guys are the next big thing out of Silverlake. Dreamy Fleet Foxes harmony with more modern pop-sensibilities and songs you can listen to over and over again. Believe me, I have.

* The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns
Postal Service-y electronic tunes with an alt-country twist…why didn’t someone come up with this before?

* Elvis Perkins In Dearland - Elvis Perkins In Dearland
Like I wasn’t going to be listening to one of my all-time favorite’s new album a ton. Happily, it’s an amazing record, which explores new territory for Elvis. But don’t let the upbeat melodies and arrangements fool you, listen beneath those layers and there is still tragedy and heart break.

* Shane Tutmarc - Dark Circles
I still can’t get enough of this record or Shane Tutmarc’s classic song-writing sensibilities.

* Vetiver - Tight Knit
A great album to herald the beginning of spring with, covers a lot of ground despite staying within the parameters of pleasant pop. A dream spring line up for me would include Vetiver and The Fruit Bats, maybe add a little Local Natives in their for good measure.

*Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
One of the most astounding voices in music today, Neko can do no wrong in my book.

*BEADS - No One Knows
So much better than The Blakes. It’s a softer throwback sound, which focuses less on riffs and more on mood, and for the most part it really succeeds.

* Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground - Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground
Somehow this album gets better with every listen. And with each listen I find something new to be in love with about it.  I also love how the band’s new tracks (featured on their Myspace) are taking a little cue from Kirk’s other band, another Sound on the Sound favorite, Wild Orchid Children.

Thomas Hunter::: photo by Abbey

Tonight we’ll be checking out The Wild Orchid Children at a warehouse venue in town. While we are always excited to see Wild Orchid Children, one of our favorite live acts in town, we are both bummed and excited that their expressive, deightful, and ridiculously talented guitarist Thomas may not be there tonight.

Turns out that Thomas, who also often plays guitar for Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground and The Saturday Knights, was in Australia this Monday playing with Saves The Day. And here’s the YouTube video to prove it:

Thomas is doubtlessly one of the most talented musicians in Seattle and it’s great to see that bands all over are aware of that.

 
Here it is folks, the end all and be all…our Top 25 Northwest Albums of 2008. While numbers 6 through 25 were highly contentious, there was unanimity as to the Top 5 Northwest Albums of 2008 and their order. There’s no doubt in our minds, that no band deserves the accolades more than The Moondoggies. Their album Don’t Be A Stranger is an instant classic in the vein of Music from Big Pink. We expect 2009 to be even bigger than 2008 for The Moondoggies, and we can’t wait to see what comes next from them, as well as the other great bands that made this years list.

1. The Moondoggies - Don’t Be A Stranger |myspace|
2. J. Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues |myspace|
3. Wild Orchid Children - S/T EP |myspace|
4. The Dutchess and The Duke - She’s The Dutchess, He’s The Duke |myspace|
5. Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground - S/T LP  |myspace|
6. Fleet Foxes - S/T LP |myspace|
7. See Me River - Time Machine |myspace|
8. Whore Moans - Hello From the Radio Wasteland |myspace|
9. Starfucker - S/T LP |myspace|
10. Jake One - White Van Music |myspace|
11. Blind Pilot  - 3 Rounds and a Sound |myspace|
12. Thee Emergency - SOLID |myspace|
12. Sera Cahoone - Only As The Day Is Long |myspace| 
13. Horse Feathers - House with No Home |myspace|
14. The Pica Beats  - Bring Back the Claws |myspace|
15. Throw Me the Statue - Moonbeams |myspace|
16. Das Llamas - Class Wars: K-12 |myspace|
17. The Builders and The Butchers - S/T LP (re-released nationally 7/08) |myspace|
18. Saturday Knights - Mingle |myspace|
19. The New Faces - S/T LP |myspace|
20. Damien Jurado - Caught In Trees |myspace|
21. Bark Hide and Horn - National Road |myspace|
22. Grand Archives - S/T LP |myspace|
23. Hey Marseilles - To Travels & Trunks |myspace|
24. The Hands - S/T LP  |myspace|
25. A Gun That Shoots Knives - Future of Love  |myspace|

Here is my list of what I consider to the be the “best” releases I’ve heard this year, full albums and EP’s, local and not, self-released or with a label. Regular readers probably won’t find too much surprising but there are a few that we may have not featured very much, probably because I just didn’t have too much to add to the already existing narrative. Most notable among that list is my number one choice From Emma, Forever Ago, by Bon Iver, AKA Justin Vernon. Each listen of this debut LP proffers a new detail to my ear and generates a renewed catharsis within my soul.

Before I start opining any further and get out of control (we’re saving that for next week’s official Northwest-themed lists), here are my favorites from the past year…

Josh’s Top 25 Releases of 2008

1. Bon Iver - From Emma, Forever Ago |myspace|
2. Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball |myspace|
3. The Moondoggies - Don’t Be A Stranger |myspace|
4. J Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues (Digital Release Only) |myspace|
5. The Whigs - Mission Control |myspace|
6. The Dutchess and the Duke - She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke |myspace|
7. Wild Orchid Children - S/T EP |myspace|
8. Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground - S/T LP |myspace|
9. Starfucker - S/T LP |myspace|
10. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours |myspace|
11. The Notwist - Devil, You + Me |myspace|
12. Noah and the Whale - Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down |myspace|
13. Land of Talk - Some Are Lakes |myspace|
14. Fleet Foxes - S/T LP |myspace|
15. The Dodos - Visiter |myspace|
16 See Me River - Time Machine |myspace|
17. Jake One - White Van Music |myspace|
18. Whore Moans - Hello From the Radio Wasteland |myspace|
19. The Pica Beats - Bring Back the Claws … |myspace|
20. Thee Emergency - SOLID |myspace|
21. Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off the Lavender Bridge |myspace|
22. The Saturday Knights - Mingle |myspace|
23. Army Navy - S/T LP |myspace|
24. Horse Feathers - House with No Home |myspace|
25. Crystal Stilts - Alight of Night |myspace |

The album I listened to the most that was actually from last year but didn’t discover until this year…

The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism |myspace|

You’ll notice TV on the Radio, Of Montreal, Portishead, and Deerhunter aren’t in there. Nor Lil Wayne. I’m sorry (but not that sorry) to say I’ve listened to all of these records and they just didn’t do it for me. Dear, Science is certainly an innovative record, but I didn’t connect enough to warrant the repeated listens of those listed above. Vampire Weekend’s record is another that fits that profile, a well realized album that unfortunately for me is without any lasting impact. And I’ve diligently searched for the quality in the Deerhunter album that has everyone shouting, but I’m just completely missing it.

Today you can buy the MP3 album of Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago from Amazon for 5 bucks. After my ringing endorsement, and at that price, you have no good reason not to go get it.

Since there were so many incredible local releases this year, it would’ve been negligent to not have a solely local Best Songs of 2008 list. I expanded the idea of ‘local’ to go beyond Seattle and include our musical neighbors to the south, Portland. Hope you enjoy my first Best of list of 2008, more lists coming soon!

1. The Moondoggies - Changin’

2. Wild Orchid Children - Birth of a Cabin

3. The Dutchess and The Duke - Resevoir Park

4. Kay Kay and His Weathered Undergound - Night of The Star Child’s Funk

5. The Whore Moans - Nerve Tonic!

6. J. Tillman - Steel on Steel

7. The Fleet Foxes- Mykonos

8. Sera Cahoone - Only As The Day Is Long

9. See Me River - Don’t Pray For Blood

10. The Hands - Praying Hands Make Fist (Or Be Chopped Off)

11. Blue Scholars - Butter & Guns

12. Bark Hide and Horn - Trumpeter Swan

13. Thee Emergency - Hopped Up For The Git Down 

14. The Builders & The Butchers - Bringin’ Home The Rain

15. A Gun That Shoots Knives - Stay in School

16. Shy In Sunshine - Recognition

17. We Wrote The Book on Connectors - Mimosas

18. Starfucker - Pop Song

19. The New Faces - Impulse

20. Hey Marseilles - Rio

(p.s.) According to my Itunes, my most listened to local track of 2008 is Kay Kay’s: Night of The Star Child’s Funk.