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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.

July 13, 2009

Getting Drunk (for the kids) with Robin Pecknold

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Robin Pecknold and his sister Aja ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

While Robin Pecknold himself may have stuck to water last night at Neumos, it was clear by the end of the night he was one of a bare few. He contributed in his own way though, offering a wry humor and a one of kind night of music made up of some of his favorite traditionals, notable covers and songs from his own band Fleet Foxes. He was even joined on a few of the songs by some of his bandmates.

MP3: Robin Pecknold – “Two Headed Boy (Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)” recorded 7/11/2009 at Neumos in Seattle ( look for the full show download link below)

Grand Hallway opened the night and with a short half-an-hour of fully realized orchestral indie rock, that this time around felt not only practiced but natural, as if in the intervening months since I’ve last seen them, lead singer Tomo Nakayama now truly has as much control of his voice as his ability on guitar or keys displays.

Capitol Hill residents Throw Me the Statue are a band that has grown from a motley crew rambling around doing synthy jangle pop and riding a wave of critical acclaim into a tight cohesive force that is now truly deserving of that acclaim. With plenty of backup these days, lead mind Scott Reitherman seems to be sticking to the guitar for the duration performance, and if anything it gives the band a more consistent sound. If the unevenness of however Reitherman and whomever he had with him decided to play a song on a given day was part of the charm before, Throw Me the Statue is now a full-on band, and the new songs portray that identity clearly. Much of set list were songs from a new album, titled Creaturesque, and out in August on Secretly Canadian.

After the obligatory pass the hat speech, as this was a benefit Seattle’s all-ages haven the Vera Project, Robin Pecknold got down to business. Informing us he was just going to play a jukebox of songs he liked, and maybe a few requests, he began with songs he’s done as his myspace alter ego White Antelope. Then with no warning he dropped a Neutral Milk Hotel cover on us. “Two Headed Boy” no less. He forgot a few words near the end, but I’m sure I wasn’t the only one picking my jaw up from the floor still absorbing a moment that we wanted to never end.

Inviting fellow Fleet Foxes Josh Tillman and Skyler Skeljet to offer a little backup throughout (with Tillman also on comic relief), Pecknold took to the piano for a few songs, and at one point even threatened a Robert Goulet Version of a Fleet Foxes song. Unexpected laughter and humor seemed to be a reoccuring theme throughout the night, thanks to an enthusiastic and progressively intoxicated audience. “Blue Spotted Tail” was the only new song among the bunch, however a few covers did make appearances, foremost the Magnetic Fields’ “The Book Of Love” and an encore of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” with Pecknold sister Aja joining on backup vocals.

For those who missed it, the complete setlist and a full show download link are below the fold. It is highly recommended.

 

Robin Pecknold ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Robin Pecknold’s Cohorts ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Throw Me the Statue ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Grand Hallway ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

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February 15, 2007

The Down Low on the Download

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I just thought I would let you guys in on a few of the great downloads I have seen posted recently in blogland.

Live Postal Service from 2003 at Uberdrivel. Live Postal Service is a rare treat. A full treatment of the album makes it so much sweeter. Jenny Lewis included makes it the pinnacle. Very nice recording.

A set of live songs and an interview with Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel at Aquarium Drunkard. The interview is fascinating, and in it he talks about living in Seattle and having a hard time with life. The interviewer said Mangum had been up for 36 hours straight before doing this but he sounds his usualy self to me. 

Good Weather for Airstrikes has been on fire lately. They’ve just put up a post with songs and introductions to a veritable who’s who of the “it” bands your likely to see in 2007. With the Klaxons, Lily Allen, Cold War Kids and more it’s great primer in what’s hot on the blogs right now that gives you at least two songs from each artist to sample. Last week they put up all of their 50 top tracks of 2006 up for download. This site is a treasure trove of musical discovery and one of the best music blogs out there right now.

December 2, 2006

An invite to Abbey’s November Listening

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A curious sample of what I’ve been listening most to in November. Randomly rounded off at selections from 20 Artists:

“Here’s Your Future” – The Thermals “Sleep Sandwich” and “How’s Forever Been Baby” – Elvis Perkins “Black Wave” – The Shins (from the forthcoming Wincing the Night Away) “Trouble” and the “Raised by Wolves EP”- Voxtrot “All Fires” – Swan Lake “Rotation of Crops” – The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers “I Found A Reason” – Cat Power (velvet underground cover) “Cold Wind” – The Arcade Fire (from the Six Feet Under Soundtrack) “Woman is Nigger of the World” – John Lennon (acoustic) “Girl From The North Country” – Bob Dylan, featuring Johnny Cash “The Trees Get Wheeled Away” – Bright Eyes (live at the Gypsy Tea Room, 10/05/02) “Paint’s Peeling” – Rilo Kiley “Connect For” – Common Market (complete w/KEXP shout-outs, from Live at KEXP, Vol II) “Nature of the Experiment” – Tokyo Police Club “90-Mile Water Wall” and “Mr. November” – The National (from Black Sessions # 230 04/29/05) “Lucky” – Radiohead “Worked Up So Sexual” and “Call, Call” – The Faint “The Eraser” – Thom Yorke “Race You” – The Figurines Neutral Milk Hotel: the near perfect In The Aeroplane Over the Sea. Which, if I can be so bold– is my favorite album of all time.