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December 14, 2011

Abbey’s Favorite (Almost Entirely Local) Songs of 2011

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Bryan John Appleby Cataldo Charles Bradley Curtains For You Dan Mangan David Bazan Dolorean Fleet Foxes Gold Leaves Grand Hallway Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground Kelli Schaefer Lemolo My Goodness Pickwick Quiet Life Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside Shenandoah Davis The Head and the Heart Zoe Muth Radiation City Dude York Wild Flag

 

Kelli Schaefer ::: photo by Dylan Priest

 

 

Having fallen deep down a used-vinyl sized hole this year, I managed to completely miss most of the national blog buzz bands and mp3s making the press release copy&paste rounds of 2011, those things that so often fill end of the year lists. But considering the immense output from our little corner of the country, I don’t feel I suffered or starved for new songs to keep me company. These are the forty songs from 2011 that were my soundtrack and that I played on repeat. I’m not bold enough to say they are the best songs of 2011, but they are my favorites.

While this list is not enumerated, my very favorite song of the year, Kelli Schaefer’s heart-aching-to-the-point-of-breaking “Gone in Love,” is at the top with some other absolute favorites. “Gone in Love” is a song that has not lost its emotional wallop despite hundreds of listens and many live performances over the last 12 months. And every time I see Kelli sing it, I can’t stop my chin from quivering. “Gone in Love” isn’t just one of my favorite songs of 2011, it is one of my favorite songs.

That’s hardly true for every song on this list. Every year has its one-hit wonder and I have no shame in saying I played the hell out of 2011′s. Whether its a song that stays with you for decades or a song you only blast until the end of the year, I hope you might discover a new favorite of your own by taking a listen to some of mine.

 

 

“Gone in Love” – Kelli Schaefer “Before the Night is Gone” – Zoe Muth and Her Lost High Rollers “Montezuma” – Fleet Foxes “Letters” – Lemolo “I’m Not Leaving” – Big Sur

“I Found You” – Alabama Shakes “I’m Losing Myself” – Robin Pecknold / Edward Droste | download “Father’s Clothes” – Grand Hallway “Leaves, Trees, Forest” > “Rows of Houses” – Dan Mangan “Boys” – Bryan John Appleby

“The Round” (From the Basement) – Pickwick “Park” – Radiation City “Twins” – Gem Club | download “Mute” – Joshua Morrison “My Silver Hand” – Case Studies | download

The rest of my favorite (almost completely local) songs of 2011 (more…)

October 19, 2011

Recommendations: City Arts Fest on Thursday

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The second annual City Arts Fest gets the weekend started early this Thursday with something for just about everybody: punk rock at the Comet, a soulful sold out show at The Triple Door, some of Seattle’s finest songwriters at the Showbox, a dance party at The Paramount and more.

We’ll be sharing our daily City Arts recommendations with you for the rest of the week. First, Thursday.

Long Winters, Campfire OK, Cobirds Unite, Cataldo at The Showbox:

Even if this weren’t The Long Winters only show in 2011 (it is), this show would still come with the highest recommendation. Not only is it a four-band bill of headliners, its also a showcase of some of Seattle’s most skilled wordsmiths. There’s a reason folks have been patiently anticipating The Long Winters next album for five years. John Roderick’s wit, wisdom and penchant for penning pop songs that burrow in your head and heart are worth waiting for. I’m particularly pleased with the pairing of Cataldo with The Long Winters, as Eric Anderson’s songs have filled my need for smart melodic melancholy in between spins of Roderick’s contemporary classics like “Shapes,” “Carparts,” and “Cinnamon.” Campfire OK, who is better every time I see them, and the power duo of Rachel Flotard and Rusty Willoughby as Cobirds Unite, only sweetens the bill. (Abbey)

Strong Killings ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

The Cops, Birthday Suits, Nazca Lines, Strong Killings at The Comet:

Yeah, I know the Cops are “headlining” and everyone in Seattle everyone who pays utility bills can rally around the idea of Free Electricity. However, I’m here to give you the lowdown on what’s really shaking cool cat. Can you dig it? Don’t tell your friends, this is on the q-t, very hush hush Grab your muskets and prepare for a midnight ride to the center of the blogosphere. By the time we’re through, your fingers will be covered in gunpowder and blood (by hyper-tweeting and Facebook “liking,” of course). Onward young soldier, brace yourself what is about to come.

Strong Killings! Scream it from pit of your burning stomach. Possible “Album of the Year”?! Possible “Song of the Year”?!? Did I already mention this band is a “Live Performance of the Year” nominee? These are not requirements to perform on any stage of Seattle, let alone this cool festival. Yet Strong Killings have earned these purple hearts with years of practice and a blue-collar work ethic by eating the flesh of lesser bands and growing stronger from their unimpeeded cannibalism. ARGH. This is the best band that you don’t listen too, what the fuck. I can’t wait until your grubby hands are Tivo’ing their performance on Saturday Night Live while I’m homeless in an alley in some unnamed city, sucking dick for heroin but still managing to yell from the side of my mouth, “This blogger told you fuckers! Strong Killings!” Birthday Suits didn’t get here by cannibalism. No folks they got here by living in a van down by the river and living in a van and then living in a van again. Every time I wake up and walk down to the corner to grab a cup of coffee, this band is back in Seattle on-tour. I commend them, whatever vehicle they use to circumvent the earth and whatever is missing them back in Minneapolis. Who said that a two-piece can’t do what four-piece rock outfits can? Psshhhh. Now is not the time for Local H jokes, we’re in a war-zone soldier. If you like the Cops, the Blind Shake or any guitar driven rock with a danceable groove, this is your band.

Show starts at 9pm. (Phil)

Allen Stone ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Allen Stone with Fly Moon Royalty at The Triple Door:

Single tickets for this fun & funky night at The Triple Door have already soul’d out, so you’ll have to have a wristband to attend. Considering The Triple Door may be the smallest room you see Allen Stone perform in for years to come (and the rest of the Fest line-up), we urge you to do so.

“Allen Stone cultivates a thick-rimmed suave, his toothy grin comes easy and he’s very interested in making sure everyone is getting “funked up.” His overwhelming enthusiasm is just that, overwhelming, and since it’s all in service of having a good time, it consumes the room in the best way possible.”

Other Excellent Thursday Night Options:

Robyn ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Robyn with Yacht at The Paramount

The Felice Brothers, Shelby Earl, Gabriel Mintz at The Crocodile

Hedwig and the Angry Inch Movie Sing Along at SIFF Cinema

School of Rock: Live Laser Grunge Show at Seattle Center Laser Dome

April 13, 2011

Yellingham Festival 2011

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Do you remember that scene in Death to Smoochy when Edward Norton is dressed up as the purple rhinoceros known as “Smoochy” and he is playing campfire songs to a group of children? During this scene, along with many other scenes in the movie, Norton is riding on a teeter totter that is dangerously close to the brink of insanity. He tells the kids in order to release their feelings they must howl at the moon. The children are not as clairvoyant as you would think, not a single one tells Mr. Norton that they are shooting on a sound-stage. What happens next is the most riveting, primal experience in the history of American film. This is the scene that inspired what is now known as Yellingham Festival.

I’m kidding but I wish I wasn’t. Yellingham Festival is a musical event that takes place in Bellingham, Wa. of all places. Strange, I thought they pulled that name out of a hat. There are 40 bands, split into a 11 different shows over the span of 72-hours. You have your riot-starters of the pacific northwest rock scene (Helm’s Alee, Grenades) alongside your “What do you call rock and roll that has a violin?” (Baltic Cousins, The Solvents) Paired with your “What do you call that, punk?” bands (What What Now, Monogamy Party). There are also other familiar acts like Shelby Earl and Karl Blau, if name recognition is something that you get off on. I think there are two really cool things about this festival:

1) There are a ton of bands that I’ve heard about but never actually seen. Surely, I’m not the only person in Western Washington that feels this way.  Cat From Hue, Mountainss, Footwork and Wildildlife are just a few names that I’ve seen on posters or heard on the lips of strangers but have never witnessed for myself. Maybe you’ve seen those bands but haven’t seen one of the other three dozen bands that are rocking this weekend. Now is the best time to do so. Is there anything better than a good house show? The correct answer is no.

2) Yes, this entire festival takes place in houses all over the Bellingham area. I implore you to use your manners at all times. Don’t be a dick. Don’t trash someone’s house because you are caught in a moment of rock and roll passion. I don’t speak for those who are opening their houses for this event, but if someone fucked up my house after I was kind enough to let them in…guess who is grabbing a large kitchen knife and giving you a child-like three count to get-the-fuck-out? That would be me, your generous now incensed host. The hosts of this event are not making any money so don’t pretend to use that as a motivator to act unruly. The suggested donation is $5 per show. No booze. No drugs (smoke pot in your own damn car, hippie). All-ages.  Shows will be taking place on April 15th, 16th and 17th.

March 7, 2011

My Most Played: February 2011

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Charles Bradley – No Time For Dreaming The Band – Music From Big Pink Reilly Partridge – “White Knuckle” Youth Rescue Mission – s/t Baltic Cousins – For The Hell Of Us Figurines – When The Deer Wore Blue Kelli Schaefer – Ghost of the Beast Bryan John Appleby – “Honey Jars” and “Noah’s Nameless Wife” Macklemore – “My Oh My” Tony Kevin Jr. – “Poverty” The History of Northwest Rock Vol II (1979) AgesandAges – Alright You Restless Shelby Earl – Burn The Boats Elliott Smith – “Twilight” Smokey Brights – Demos

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The Cover of The History of Northwest Rock Volume II

February 4, 2011

My Most Played: January 2011

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Pickwick Kelli Schaefer The Moondoggies Whalebones Carissa’s Wierd Joshua Morrison Shelby Earl
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My life changed in December when I got my first functioning record player since I lived with my parents. And in the past month I’ve turned into the vinyl equivalent of Jon Stewart’s character in Half Baked. “Yeah, but have you done it ON VINYL?” I know, its annoying and I’m sure the obsession will fade. Well, at least my wallet hopes it will … during the month of January I tripled my record collection. At least twice. So, while you’ll see some new tunes here in my “Most Played” January countdown, a lot of them are oldies but goodies from the dollar bin. (To help with confusion I’ve *’d the vinyl … )

Field Recordings from Alan Lomax’s “Southern Journey” – I’ll Meet You on That Other Shore * Karen Dalton – Its So Hard To Tell Who’s Going to Love You The Best * Kelli Schaefer – Ghost of the Beast Joshua Morrison – Builder Pickwick – Myths Vol I and II * Carissa’s Wierd – Ugly But Honest * Cahalen Morrison and Eli West – The Holy Coming of the Storm Whalebones – s/t The Doe Bay Sessions Audio and B-Sides George Harrison – All Things Must Pass * The Moondoggies – The Terreberry EP and Live Set From The Earl The Jackson 5 – Anthology * Sharon Van Etten – Tour 7” * Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits (Blame/thank the Petty Party) Shelby Earl – Burn the Boats AgesandAges (playing our SOTS Presents show, March 4th)