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August 17, 2012

We Celebrated Six Years Online with The Hounds Who Have a New Record

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Hobosexual Strong Killings Hounds of the Wild Hunt Columbia City Theater Sound on the Sound Presents Sound on the Sound Presents
Hounds of the Wild HuntPhoto: Josh Lovseth
Hounds of the Wild Hunt

This August marks six years of Sound on the Sound covering the Seattle music scene and beyond, and for the last two years we’ve been sponsoring the first Friday of each month with handpicked lineups at the Columbia City Theater. Our most recent Friday featured a few familiar faces from that time showing in support of the release of Hounds of the Wild Hunt’s new record “El Mago”

Opening in the Bourbon bar, Lonesome Shack’s country blues vamps proved us to be sleeping until now on one of Seattle’s best roots talents, who I’m told was at one point a Cafe Racer Tuesday night regular sporting tacks on his shoes for percussion. Any party with Strong Killings on the bill we’d be pleased to be a part of as they epitomize the irreverent attitude that brought Seattle’s version of rock and roll into view with the Sonics, and then some two-some decades later with Sub Pop’s efforts. Up third, Hobosexual doubled down on that humor, the hair and the skillz to lay their claim as Seattle’s shreddingist two-piece.

With their latest record The Hounds of the Wild Hunt are now fully engrossed in their more pop oriented ego. Though they might have shed some of the punk irreverance I loved so much with the loss of their old name (The Whore Moans), they’ve taken more control of their tones and now display a matured irreverance a la Paul Westerberg’s Replacements. Rock & Roll culture is as much a slick mainstream fashion statement as advertising angle in 2012; now any notion of counter-culture leanings among popular rock music is pretty laughable. The Hounds continue to ignore the memo by remaining a little rough around the edges, and so on their own terms are delivering provocative performances with an anthemic everyman grit.

Hounds of the Wild HuntPhoto: Josh Lovseth
Hounds of the Wild Hunt
HobosexualPhoto: Josh Lovseth
Hobosexual
Strong KillingsPhoto: Josh Lovseth
Strong Killings
Lonesome ShackPhoto: Josh Lovseth
Lonesome Shack
July 20, 2012

Sound on the Sound Presents: Hounds of the Wild Hunt, Strong Killings, Hobosexual and Lonesome Shack

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Hobosexual Hounds of the Wild Hunt Columbia City Theater Sound on the Sound Presents Sound on the Sound Presents

Two weeks from today is a big day for Sound on the Sound and some important people and places in our lives. On Friday August 3rd we’ll be celebrating six years of running this website, two years of business and booking shows at Columbia City Theater and El Mago a brand new album from Hounds of the Wild Hunt. We’ll be doing so with Hounds of the Wild Hunt (of course), Strong Killings, Hobosexual and Lonesome Shack (playing a set in the Bourbon Bar). Its gonna be a night of kick ass rock’n'roll celebrating labors of love. and we hope you can come and raise a glass and a fist in the air with us to celebrate. Tickets are just $8. Here’s a taste of what you’ll be treated to if you attend, including your first chance for a full listen at Hounds of the Wild Hunt new album: Hounds of the Wild Hunt: Strong Killings: Hobosexual: Lonesome Shack:

April 5, 2012

Lonesome Shack Recording Live Album At Cafe Racer This Friday

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Usually I’d be a little nervous for a band preparing to record a live album on reel-to-reel, but there’s nothing usual about Lonesome Shack or their live recordings. I’ve spent more time enjoying Off Tempo’s live recording of the band from the basement of the Greenhouse than any classic live record this year and marveled more than once how it sounds like some long lost Lomax, recorded on the back porch of yes, some lonesome Southern shack. (clicking on the link will take you to a free stream and download of the live recording, and I can’t recommended it enough.)

Lonesome Shack plays the blues. Its gritty and gut-grabbing. It sounds of another era, while remaining timeless, because it is. These songs could easily be a hundred years old, and god and Jack White willing, such music will still be being made a hundred years from now. As of now, Lonesome Shack is one of Seattle’s hidden gems, their dirtiness swept under the mod-Ikea rug of sound-alike Americana, but with Seattle’s ears open and excited about pickin’ and roots music, I’m hoping its Lonesome Shack’s time to shine.

The Lonesome Shack records their next album City Man live tomorrow night at Cafe Racer. The show starts at 9pm and by everything I can find on-line, appears to be free. The show is the band’s last local show before heading ALL the way across the country to Maine and back for a tour, so catch ‘em while you can.

October 28, 2011

Your Halloween Weekend as a One-Sided Conversation

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We Wrote the Book on Connectors as Beastie Boys ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Some traditions die hard should have never been started. Last year I gave you a Halloween weekend preview that was basically a third party eavesdropping on a hipster having a conversation on his cellular phone. This year will be a different. You will hear from a great white shark that has political ambitions that may involve the Oval Office…

Yes, you read that correctly.

The object of man’s darkest water related fears will give a political speech directly related to the blessed conundrum of having too much music to see and only one pair of eyes to experience it with. You come to Sound on the Sound for respectable writing and you get this!?! It’s Halloween, my parents aren’t around and I can do what I want!

[Scene shows a large fish tank at the entrance of Wild Waves. The tank has a spiderweb of microphones hanging above it, the audio machinery is hoping to capture the sentences of this politically savvy deep sea predator. The Sound on the Sound camera pans around the parking lot and spots an abundance of media trucks with its lens. Suddenly the shark stops "pacing" the tank, anchors itself in one place and begins to speak.] Mr. White: Some of you may wonder why I have called this press conference all of you here today and I’m here to answer the question that I’m assuming is on your human mind. I’m here to make a speech that addresses the issues.

[Mr. White stops speaking and does a methodical lap around the tank.]

Mr. White: I’m a shark, when it comes to media relations I am mostly ignorant. Is it proper to call a press conference in order to make a speech? I’m really not sure. All I know is third party candidates don’t have the luxury of debates leading up to primaries and presenting State of the Union addresses to a doting nation. This event is actually paid for by “Sharks Against Campaigns to Give Human Rights to Orcas.” PETA is a fascist organization that does not give equal consideration to sharks. My contentious relationship with that agency is neither here or nor there. Like I said I’m here to talk about the issues.

[Mr. White stops to swim to the surface and to see if there are any PETA protesters in attendance.]

Mr. White: This weekend is Halloween weekend. Many of the events that are taking place and are related to the every day lives of the voters. If you did not realize this, now you do. If you are below the age of 18 I suggest you turn your Ipod off and tune in, shit is about to get real even though you are not old enough to vote. For instance, the Black Lodge is having a benefit show tonight that features Numb and Mercy Ties. I tell you this because I am pro-small business and independent industry. The Black Lodge has done many a service for being a great DIY venue that routinely has all ages shows. If something were to happen to this place, what would you do? Where would you go? You tell me you’d hang out in Belltown but I don’t believe you.  Sharks may not be chimpanzees but we are not dinosaurs either. Literally. Don’t let those other two political parties tell you they are for all-ages shows when I think their record speaks for itself. They are for money and that’s it. Personally I don’t care about monetary symbols, I care about blood in the water. That is my priority and that my friends, is a selfish agenda you can trust.

[Mr. White stops speaking to detect if there is indeed blood in the water.]

Mr. White: Did you see that? I already fulfilled a campaign promise. Also happening tonight is the ten year anniversary show of Glenn or Glennda? happening at the Croc. Individuals like myself that are big-time players in political shuffleboard can appreciate the innovate legacy that the aforementioned act has crafted over the past decade. They took an old idea and twisted gender-bended it into their own creation. They tested the market and passed with flying colors. People want to talk about raising taxes and job creation, what about shifting chromosomes in order to achieve annual entertainment for nostalgic punk rockers? Glenn or Glennda can’t resign just yet, they are a pillar of the ghost and goblin community. I propose another term. I also believe that Strong Killings and Steel Tigers of Death second that notion by offering their support for this anniversary engagement.

[The affable great white stops to contemplate what he meant look like as a cross-dressing member of the Misfits. These are the kind of thoughts that go through politicians minds during media events. Duh.]

Read the Rest of Phil Mr. White’s Halloween recommendations (more…)

October 20, 2011

So, You’re Not Going to City Arts Fest …

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The Head and the Heart Zoe Muth

 

Zoe Muth and Her Lost High Rollers ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

So, you’re not going to City Arts Fest this weekend or at least not all of the weekend. Fear not! There are actually local venues that are hosting non-City Arts related shows this weekend and there’s another festival happening entirely, Earshot Jazz Festival. Here are some recommended options for non-City Arts Fest weekend.

Thursday:

Swingset Showdown, Shitty Dudes, My Posse Don’t Do Homework, VD at The Funhouse Earshot Jazz Festival

Friday:

 

 

Koko & The Sweetmeats at the Benbow Room Lonesome Shack at Cafe Racer Northwest Folklife Presents Spoonshine, Chris Cunningham, Cahalen Morrison & Eli West & more at Columbia City Theater Stickers, Low Headaches, Pony Time at The Blue Moon Earshot Jazz Festival

 

 

 

 

Saturday:

 

 

Zoe Muth and Her Lost High Rollers and Big Sur at The Tractor Tavern Death Cab for Cutie and The Head and The Heart at Key Arena Dyme Def, Hopscotch Boys, The Cold Cold Ground at Sunset Tavern Earshot Jazz Festival

March 9, 2011

The rest of your week in music

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If Godzilla is on your show poster, I will talk about you.

Didn’t I see you at Weedeater on Monday night? Oh, I didn’t? That’s because I was played hooky and wasn’t there. Where I was happens to be none of your business (read: sitting on my bed, fatigued and shoegazing). The underlining point is that I should have been at the Funhouse. Here are some places you should be as well. It’s funny because the title of this post is “the rest of your week in music” but I am the one telling you what to do. I am your mother. I write for a website. This week your maternal figure knows how to dance, rock and get psyched out. The neighbors say I’m a triple threat and they aren’t lying.

Wednesday March 9th

Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour (7:30pm at the Vera Project, All-Ages. $11) – Greetings from the ghosts of indie rock past. Do you remember Olivia Tremor Control, Apples in Stereo and Neutral Milk Hotel? Do you remember CMJ Magazine and hearing about Built to Spill for the first time? Remember when you thought the best thing that Flaming Lips would ever do was “She Don’t Use Jelly”? If you are fond of any of the listed memories and/or items, consider yourself at the mercy of nostalgia. It’s crazy how much things have changed yet stayed the same.

Thursday March 10

Diamond Rings and PS I Love You (7:30pm at the Vera Project, All-Ages. $10) – Do I genuinely enjoy listening to either of these acts? Not really. Brittney wrote a nice live review of Diamond Rings when she saw him at the Vera Project back in December.  With that being said I’ve noticed that you’ve been a bit grumpy over the past couple of weeks Seattle. Until recently there was absolutely no sunlight. You’ve been listening to too many sad songs. You’re heating bill has been annoyingly high. It is with this in mind that I recommend this show to you gentle reader. I want you to go to the Vera Project and dance. Lighten up a bit. It’s good for your soul. People don’t dance enough these days. In the words of my great-grandmother, those who don’t dance are bastards.

Noise for the Needy Kickoff Concert (8pm at Neumo’s. $10 advance. $12 at the door) – Have you ever been to a concert that wasn’t actually a concert but a scene from a graphic novel? Probably not, but this is something you’ve always wanted to do. Thursday night at Neumos is your chance to do it, and for a good cause. Noise for the Needy is having their kickoff show at Neumo’s and it features some heavyweights. Junkie XL, Mad Rad, Truckasaurus and even some Kokon Taiko Drummers thrown in for good measure. If you’re a fan of the graphic novel Shinjuku, come get your book signed by Christopher “Mink” Morrison. Find out happens when the graphic novel world meets the trucker-hat wearing female groupies of Mad Rad. Can you see fantastic cultural orgy explosion? Maybe not, but you can read that sentence and imagine all sorts of weird naughtiness taking place. Perverts like you need to support Noise for the Needy and the Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project. Midday Veil, Datura Blues, Hypatia Lake and Wah Wah Exit Wound (9pm at the Comet. $7) – I missed Midday Veil when they played the Josephine with Lesbian a few weeks back. I was pretty bummed. Gentle reader, now is the time for you to repent for the sins of the author. Go see Midday Veil and in the process expose yourself to some of Seattle’s premiere “psychedelic” acts. While the term “psychedelic” means nothing to me unless we’re talking about fungus, I can promise there will be at least six delay pedals in attendance this evening. You may even see a tye-dye shirt, who knows. Party hard. Strong Killings, MK Speed Dial and Broken Nobles at the Rendezvous – Let’s be honest. Belltown sucks. This is one of the few things that all of Seattle can agree on. Why is this neighborhood even in our city? Let’s attach some industrial strength balloons to various Belltown establishments and float this son-of-a-bitch into outer space. The dream of Up! is possible, this just happened in California. Before I get Mayor McGinn to sign off on that, come see one of Seattle’s best rock and roll acts, Strong Killings. They never disappoint. I also urge you to see MK Speed Dial, probably the best “pop” band that nobody talks about. Shame on you Seattle. I blame this all on your never-ending jealousy of California.

Friday March 11

Lonsome Shack, Curious Mystery and Karl Blau (9pm at the Comet. $8) – When I first moved to Seattle a few years ago, one of the first “local” acts  I saw Lonesome Shack at Cafe Racer. I had been surviving in my car for days, living only on energy drinks, coffee, sun chips and candy bars. My clearly detoriated mental state caused me to think that Lonesome Shack was making music in the 1930′s but somehow they were projecting themselves into 2007. Amazing finger-picking and guitar work, washboard for percussion, vaudeville mustache and attire. I was blown away. I hadn’t seen music like this…ever. Sorry, they don’t make tunes like this in east coast hardcore scenes. Lonesome Shack is another band that I’m surprised doesn’t own all of Seattle. They do this thing sort of thing better than anyone else in this town, at least anyone I’ve been exposed to. I am making a not-so-bold prediction. I am envisioning Lonesome Shack “taking off” during this calendar year. I’m the only music writer on the internet, listen to what I say. Also come congratulate The Curious Mystery on the release of their newest record, We Creeling. It was just came out on Tuesday and was released by K Records. Police Teeth, Grenades, Victory and Associates, Brickbats and Great Falls (9pm at the Black Lodge. $5-7) – I have a confession to make. I am completely jealous of Victory and Associates. They travel from up from Oakland and low and behold, they get to play on this amazing bill on Friday night. Then they wake up on Saturday morning, go to Glo’s for breakfast and play with Helms Alee and Absolute Monarchs later that night. You lucky basatards, many local bands are ripping their hair out at this realization. Not yours truly, I don’t have hair. This is probably the best show happening this month. Police Teeth have a new record dropping later this spring. I’ve got my grubby hands on a few tracks, it’s going to be good. Grenades are the musical equivalent of a Honey Badger, the rock is unique and relentless. I’ve yet to listen to Great Falls but they’ve gotten on some decent shows within the last year so I assume they are respectable.

Saturday March 12

Helms Alee, Victory and Associates, Absolute Monarchs (9pm at the Comet. $8) – I’ve sang the praises of Helms Alee about three thousand times since I’ve been writing for Sound on the Sound. If you have their older stuff and haven’t heard the new material yet, come to the Comet on Saturday night. I don’t know the names of any of the new tunes, I’ve only heard the tunes in a live setting on occasion. I just know that the new stuff is mind-bending and that you’d enjoy it. Absolute Monarchs have been steadily on the rise since last spring. They are on a Patrick Swayze-esque Roadhouse mission to clean up the Seattle rock and roll scene. Cue Pantera’s “Cowboys From Hell”. Don’t thank me, thank Seattle Rock Guy.

The Dismemberment Plan, Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band and The Globes (7pm at Showbox Sodo. $23) – Weirdness. My childhood is coming to the Showbox SoDo. The Dismemberment Plan were always the DC band that never quite fit and I mean that in a good way. There were always other contemporary bands ripping off musical legends of the District of Columbia and here was The D-Plan writing some of the most quirky, danceable stuff that indie rock has ever seen. Yes Seattle, there benefits to being from Virginia. You observe Dischord Records greats as a child and you mutate their sounds accordingly. The Dismemberment Plan’s initial existence really got moving with the album Is Terrified and culminated with Change; long before your President aped that slogan. Personally, Emergency & I, is and always will be my favorite D-Plan album. I still listen to it on a regular basis. It’s fitting that the D-Plan is billed with another group that doesn’t quite fit, the Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band. Once again, I mean that in a good way.

If by some reason you’re too much of a jerk to enjoy all of this good music. May I recommend the Emerald City Soul Club at Lo-Fi on Saturday night. I pray that Motown rhthyms will have a positive effect on your bad attitude. The dance party starts at 9pm. But if you’re smart you’ll get there around midnight.