Shane at the Tractor ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

[Editors Note: Long-time Seattle musician and Easy Street employee Shane Tutmarc will be leaving his hometown and heading for the home of his heroes. As a record store employee he's been a professional appreciator of music for some time, and as a person who's been an active contributor and personality on the scene for over a decade, he's been well positioned to keep a pulse on the best in local music as it is happening. We're sad to see Shane go, but happy that he'll have a better opportunity to bring his music to a larger audience. We wish him the best of luck on his new journey and hope to be reporting big news from Nashville soon. -Josh]

Tomorrow I will be embarking on a road trip across the country.  Unlike most road trips, though, there is no circle to the route.   Taking more of an “L” shape, my trip ends in a town called Nashville.  The musical mecca where so many of my heroes have lived and worked, and the backdrop for so many great songs.  As I am preparing to leave Seattle, my birthplace and home, I am reflecting on a great year of local music.  In my last year as a resident, I probably listened to more NW music than ever before.  And what a great year for Seattle music!  The growing success of the NW’s’ very eclectic country and folk scene kept me entertained with the Maldives, Moondoggies, Jesse Sykes, Sera Cahoone, Brent Amaker & the Rodeo – and the great local songwriters like Barton Carroll, Levi Fuller, Tiny Vipers, and Josh Ottum.  I’ve narrowed my list down to 5 albums by Seattle artists I anticipate will be on heavy rotation as my road-ready iPod provides the soundtrack to my journey across the country.

1.  The Dutchess and the Duke – Sunset/Sunrise

For starters, I admit that I really didn’t pay attention to their first album.  It came and went and seemed of little or no consequence to me.  What I heard, which was not very much, was a garage-y 60s throwback, indie rock with light folk elements.  Obviously I wasn’t listening close enough.  You could easily describe the new album that way, but that would not so easily describe the songs that I have fallen in love with in 2009.  As a songwriter, I’ve never been shy of exposing my influences, in folk and pop music no one expects you to reinvent the wheel.  This record reminds me of the good bits of 1965 British Invasion bands, with a darker modern edge.  They combine middle period Beatles-folk (“Baby’s in Black”, “I’ve Just Seen a Face”), with Keith Richards’ style guitar counter-melodies (“Paint it Black”), and with lyrics like a less verbose Leonard Cohen.  Although boy-girl vocal swapping keep it interesting throughout the record, the lyrical voice is singular.  I’m looking forward to what comes next for these two.

2. Cave Singers – Welcome Joy

When the first album came out, I remember feeling a strong affinity with their simple three-piece set up while I was getting my three-piece family group, the Traveling Mercies, off the ground. Their stomp and guitar groove on “Dancing On Our Graves” totally made sense to me as we had just recorded “Across the River” which has a similar, if less aggressive, feel.  Welcome Joy continues their groovy minimalism, but also hints at more experimentation down the road. While most of the album flows together like connecting pieces of a puzzle, “At the Cut”, probably my favorite song, has a fervor not unlike Plastic Ono Band’s most tortured moments.   These droney and celebratory meditations on life will be perfect for the long stretches of American desert and swampy terrain crossing the southwest and into the Delta.

3. Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers – Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers

Zoe Muth seemed to come out of nowhere.  I was introduced to her music through Greg Vandy’s KEXP roots show, The Roadhouse.  I love her voice.  It’s strong and confident, while still maintaining its femininity.  Her writing is equally confident.  “You Only Believe Me When I’m Lying” and “Hey Little Darlin’” are both songs that I’ve taken the time to write out the lyrics and learn the chords to play for my pleasure.  When I really love a song, I can’t resist breaking
it down to see how it works.  Another album I anticipate cranking while driving across the country.  Please visit Nashville, Zoe!

4. David Bazan – Curse Your Branches

I’ve known Mr. Bazan since I was a teenager, just starting to play around town.  He’s been a towering figure in local music since around the time I got my first band together.  He was actually slated to play drums on the first Dolour album, but at the 11th hour fate stepped in and Bazan stepped out.  I’ve always admired Bazan’s songwriting, he’s a great storyteller.  My only complaint over the years was that I wished he’d write more autobiographical songs.  Maybe because I don’t know how to write fictional stories the way he does, I wanted to see how David would write about himself.  So this is the record I’ve longed for him to write for years.  Of course, you never know with David, whether it’s a new character or his true inner-self, but I love that his songs make you question those things about him and about yourself.  I always found him one of the best writers dealing with spirituality and the big existential questions, and after releasing my own “crisis of faith” album, Shouting at a Silent Sky, it was fascinating to see how Bazan tackled similar issues.  “Please, Baby Please” is on my shortlist for favorite songs of 2009.

5. Star Anna & the Laughing Dogs – The Only Thing that Matters

This is the record for people who bought her first album after seeing a live show but were confused by the breezy, bluegrass feel of her debut.  Since releasing that first album, her band has evolved into a heavy country-rock band, while retaining its pop hooks.  She is undoubtedly, one of the northwest’s greatest talents.  She is peerless when it comes to gut-wrenching, soul bearing ballads, and she can bring the house down when she sings a rocker.  With her Lucinda Williams-esque, world-weary voice, there are times her, very proficient band, could step back a bit, and let her soak up more of the spotlight.   But anyone that’s seen her live can attest - the spotlight is completely hers.

Thanksgiving is all about coming to the homeland and taking time with family, and this year many of our town’s recent favorites and up-and-comers are doing just that by joining forces to keep a usually quiet weekend very entertaining.

Black Friday at the Showbox at the Market is a doosie of an all-ages triple bill, with Anacortes based Lonely Forest headlining the venue for their first time, but certainly not their last. From the side of the stage at Bumbershoot, a fellow long-time respected music writer told us that the local adoration for and momentum behind the Lonely Forest reminded him of the buzz behind an early Nirvana. Joining the Lonely Forest will be Telekinesis, the Merge Records-supported band led by Seattle’s Michael Lerner, and fellow Burning Buildings Records signee’s the Globes. This group of bands is in a way a summation of this years list of the best young pop bands from our area, so you can’t go wrong hitting this one up.

Saturday at the Showbox at the Market might be an equivalent bill to excite another set of taste buds, tapping the list of Seattle’s strongest Modern American players. I think people are starting to get that the currently-recording Moondoggies are more than a bunch of slightly dorky, talented, flannel lovers. With their late-night blues jamming and repetitive lyrical themes they’ve struck a chord that now brings people out of the woodwork to dance and hoot and shout in enthusiasm at their shows, always. Local institution Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter along with Star Anna & the Laughing Dogs have the pleasure of warm-up duty, so treat a lady right, show some respect and show up early.

Friday November 27th at the Showbox at the Market
The Lonely Forest
Telekinesis
The Globes
All Ages, 8pm, $10 + fees at Ticketmaster

Saturday November 28th at the Showbox at the Market
The Moondoggies
Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Here After
Star Anna & the Laughing Dogs
All Ages, 8pm, $14 + fees at Ticketmaster

Looking for a place to lose the in-law blues? The Crocodile’s Saturday show is an all Seattle band bill that’s an event in its own right due to the one night reunion of pop powerhouse the Lashes. Though they’ve been away you can be assured that Ben Lashes will have a gag or two up his sleeve and that you’ll leave with at least one Lashes melody stuck in your head even if you didn’t know it before. Because really that’s what this band is all about: infectious, person-to-person, fun. Thee Emergency, who knows a thing or two about how to entertain a crowd, and Curtains for You will both be opening, and considering our long time endorsement of the former and our recent endorsement of the latter, you know we’ve got an opinion about showing up late.

Saturday November 28th at the Crocodile
The LASHES for one night only!
Thee Emergency
Curtains for You
21+, 8pm, $10 via the the Croc

In recent years Seattle has called itself home to a number of stellar producer/wordsmith duos participating engaging collaborations: Blue Scholars and Common Market who’ve been holding it down for ages, last year’s White Van Music via Jake One, and this year’s breakout act Fresh Espresso all quickly come to mind. For this year’s list it looks like we’ll need to add the latest collab between Seattle’s Macklemore and producer/filmmaker Ryan Lewis, called Vs. The first single “Otherside” weaves a RHCP bassline into a horn section backing a Macklemore rhyme that takes me back to the early days of Slug & Abilities. Looking at the lineup for tonight’s two show EP Release party at the Nectar, you can count on this being the hip-hop center of gravity this weekend.

Friday November 27th At the Nectar Lounge

The VS. EP Release Party! featuring:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Early All Ages Show w/
Hella Dope
The Next Door Neighbors
Kung Foo Grip
DJ Sabzi
Hosted By Grynch
All-Ages, Doors at 5.30pm, $8 adv. at TicketWeb

Late 21+ show w/:
The Physics
Symmetry
Xperience
The Next Door Neighbors
DJ Terry Radjaw
Hosted by El Mizell
21+, Doors at 10pm, $8 adv. at TicketWeb

In short, this really complicates my usual post turkey day sleep schedule.

The Maldives (inspire Air Banjo) ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

This should just be subtitled: The Maldives edition. This week, Seattle’s favorite Wrangler headbangers are going to be everywhere. The band is celebrating the release of their new album Listen to The Thunder with three nights at The Tractor Tavern. We wouldn’t blame you if you caught all three shows. Not just because the band is that good live (they are), but they’ve created three nights of stellar local line-ups. Each  night should have a completely unique feel and show a facet of the many different sides of The Maldives. Plus, few folks know how to put on a party than The Maldives, so if whiskey and dancing is your thing…we recommend you catch at least one of the multiple Maldives events this week.

Monday - August 24th:

Who: The Maldives - “Listen to the Thunder” Listening Party
Where: Hattie’s Hat
How (Much): Free. But buy a drink for the band and tip your bartender.
Why: Get a listen to Listen to the Thunder so you can sing along on whichever (or all) of the three consecutive nights of Maldives shows you see at The Tractor Tavern later this week. After you get a listen to soon-to-be Seattle Twang classics like “Goodbye”, “Time is Right Now,” “Cold November” and “Tequila Sunday,” the men from The Maldives will be spinning their favorite tunes. Expect an evening of stiff drinks,  a plethora of beards, and eclectic but enjoyable tunes.

Equally Awesome Alternative:
Eyede & Abilities - Nectar

You have Tuesday off…

Wednesday - August 26th:

Who: Jay Reatard
Where: Easy Street Records (Queen Anne)  - 7pm
How (Much): Free
Why: To see if all the blog buzz is worth it without spending a dime.

Thursday - August 27th:

Who: Final Spins, Battle Hymns
Where: The Comet Tavern
How (Much): At least 5$, but Less than 10$ (no price listed anywhere!)
Why: To celebrate the Finals Spins debut EP and to hear a few songs from the forthcoming Battle Hymns release. Because you’re tired of all of your favorite local rock bands have broken up and you need to discover a couple of great new bands.

Equally Awesome Alternative:
The Pretenders, Cat Power - Marymoor Park
The Maldives, North Twin, 17th Chapter - Tractor Tavern
Jay Reatard, Sonic Boom Records (Ballard) - 7pm
The Spits, The Cute Lepers, The Ononos - Chop Suey

Friday - August 28th:

Who: The Maldives, The Moondoggies, Zoe Muth
Where: The Tractor Tavern
How (much): 11$ (and going to sell out)
Why: Because there is no more perfect musical pairing in this city right now than The Moondoggies and the Maldives. Add the sweet country stylings of Zoe Muth to the bill and you have one of the best local line ups of the year.

Equally Awesome Alternative:
Carousel Festival - Various DIY Venues
The Avett Brothers - The Paramount
Mad Rad, Chk Minus, Darwin - The Comet Tavern
Harvey Danger (Last All Ages Show Ever) - Vera Project

Saturday - August 29th:

Who: The Ironclads, We Wrote The Book On Connectors, Doctor Doctor
Where: The High Dive
How (Much): 7$
Why: It’s The Ironclads last show before a very long hiatus and there are few places in Seattle more electric, dynamic, or exciting than the front row of an Ironclads show right now…especially if you know the choruses to a few of their songs. And the downer of the last Ironclads show will be handily balanced out by sets from two of Seattle’s most enjoyable and over-the-top performances, We Wrote the Book on Connectors and Doctor Doctor. If you want to dance, laugh, or sing along to your favorite new band you may never see again…this is the show for you.

Equally Awesome Alternatives:
The Maldives, Thee Emergency, Shim, Pickwick - Tractor Tavern
Carousel Festival - Various DIY Venues
The Purrs, Black Nite Crash, Blood Red Dancers - Sunset
Harvey Danger (Last Show Ever) - The Crocodile
Star Anna, Gin Betty - Triple Door

Sunday - August 30th:

Who: Carousel Festival
Where: a few of Seattle’s Finest DIY Venues
How (Much): 5$ for one show/8$ for one day (proceeds benefit Hollow Earth Radio and the Urban Rest Stop)
Why: To celebrate an integral part of the Seattle scene and some great local bands in a more intimate setting than you’ve ever seen them before…and all for a couple of great causes. (Beyond DIY music)

Equally Awesome Alternative:
The Lost Episode, Ambulance - Skylark

Iron & Wine ::: Photo by Brandrew Dice Clay

[ Editors Note: A local musician offered to write up his trip the No Depression festival on Saturday, and we accepted his offer. For now he and his photographer are using nom de plumes. -josh ]

By Sebastian Rootwell

It was a sunny and sticky Saturday afternoon at Marymoor Park for the brand-spanking debut of the No Depression Festival. Named after a current blog online music community and recently defunct magazine, the festival seems like a genius plan to spark some life into the now fourteen year old enterprise, what with the blossoming alt-country scene in Seattle. The crowd tends to be thirty-something and composed, a plastic cup of micro-brew affixed firmly in hand. We step over babies, blankets, and beers on our way to a spot front and center of the stage, where we would spend a majority of the next seven hours.

I arrive at 2PM with my partner in crime Brandrew Dice Clay. We missed out on Zee Avi’s set but arrive just in time for the No Depression All Star Revue, which is like a fantasy country rock team, put together by coach Don Slack. Mr. Slack is music director at KEXP, host of Swingin’ Doors, and an ubiquitous feature on the local music scene; a man whose tastes are bedded in a exhaustively deep knowledge of anything country and honky-tonk. Each song featured a different vocalist, ranging from the wounded, stark warble of Zoe Muth to the high-octane jug-thumping twang of the Maldives. The star of the set had to be Star Anna, pride of Ellensburg, Washington, and her rendition of “Joy” by Lucinda Williams. Note to whoever took the joy away from Star Anna: please, please give it back. She is quite incensed over the whole matter, and I fear for your life, and in fact, everyone’s life.

Jessica Lea Mayfield from Kent, Ohio was next to take the stage. I had heard her described as a hybrid between the alt-country and hipster scenes, and judging from their look and sound, I wouldn‘t disagree. She starts strong with the single “Kiss Me Again,” a song with lovely and detached ‘ahh ahh ahh ahhs’ in the chorus and outstanding guitar work by Jessica’s brother David, who gets both bass and guitars sounds as well as a formidable, mood-setting wash of reverb and feedback. But overall, her relentless apathy and clichéd lyrics suck the life from the stage. This is especially apparent when she plays a couple of songs alone, exposing some uncomplicated little ditties delivered with no particular charisma. We retreat to the shade.

Coming to the rescue was Nashville’s Justin Townes Earle, who’s got the kind of pedigree you can hardly shake a stick at. A no.2 pencil wrapped in a stone gray suit, a greaser’s hair and sunglasses, JTE’s swagger and style was pervasive from the moment he sauntered to the middle of the stage. Smiles abound as he absolutely rips through the set of honky-tonk tunes, keeping the energy piqued with his finger-picking, sing-along choruses and sly banter. Here is a born performer, an entertainer, a seducer, a story-teller. He is joined on stage by Cory Younts, mouth-harper extraordinaire, and their chemistry is unforced and fun, a beautiful thing to watch. A high point comes near the end of the set, when JTE remarks that his thumbnail is being held on by super glue. He recalls a phone-call with festival staff, where they asked whether he needed anything for the show. “Guitar strings, and, uh….super glue,” he says, grinning. And to us, winking, “That’s a good one, eh?”

Read the rest of this entry »

Star Anna is Bad-Ass. She could likely kick your ass in an alley if need be, just as easily as she could seduce you with her whiskey-soaked voice. If she sang me some of her sweet country tunes after, it might just be worth getting punched in the face.

 
Star Anna ::: photo by Abbey

A Needle in the Hay is our Bumbershoot Artist Profile series for 2008, provided to help you sift through the daunting schedule at our town’s flagship festival. In it were seeking provide insight into the diversity of great local talent being showcased and give you a few good bands to structure your schedule around. In other words: these are our recommendations for who to see at Bumbershoot.

Artist Name: Star Anna
Hails from: Ellensburg, WA
Gets her kicks playin’: Americana, Alt Country, just Country, or whatever YOU want to call it
Latest Release: Crooked Path
Other Bumbershoot acts you might know that she’s akin to: Neko Case, Lucinda Williams

Since the release of her album, Star Anna has been kicking around this side of the mountains quite a bit, sometimes solo, but just as often with her trusty band the Laughing Dogs in tow. My happenstance encounters with her performances over the past year have been downright pleasant and each time I come away more impressed with her singing and her band leadership. Injecting enough modern attitude and pop sensibilities into her music to not simply be any old country songstress, Star Anna’s voice is still filled with reverence for the tradition of the endeavor. She sings with intent and attention to detail, and is without question part of the vanguard of our area’s emerging alt-country scene, a list of bands that also includes another Bumbershoot act: the Maldives (who you’ll hear about next).

Here is the video for her single “If Wishes Were Horses:”

Star Anna plays on Sunday August 31 at the Mural Amphitheatre stage from 12 noon to 1pm.

Photo by Josh

Last night Shane and his fellow Tutmarcs brought along a few friends for their free in-store performance at Easy Street Records on Lower Queen Anne. Ellensburgian Star Anna with whom Shane had played earlier in the week at the Fremont Abbey, joined him on vocals for a Hank Williams cover, while Noah Weaver of U.S.E. and Ryan Richter joined the band for the whole set on Wurlitzer and slide guitar respectively.

A recording of last night’s rendition of “Lost Highway” up on the Mercies myspace (already!), so you should head over and check it out. There are also a few more pictures in the flickr set linked below.

Flickr: Shane Tutmarc and the Traveling Mercies at Easy Street Records, April 18, 2008

… 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.

In the earliest days of the this blog, when we called Fremont Ave. home, just down the street from us was this old church that had been converted into an performing arts center. I wasn’t really sure what that meant but I think this Tuesday’s event at the Fremont Abbey might be my reason to finally find out what’s up with this place.

The event is called “The Round” and features three different musicians trading off songs for a couple of hours. The poster also advertises poetry and painting, so maybe there is a bit more to it that I don’t know about yet. This week features Eric Howk, principal songwriter for Palmer, AK and also guitarist for the Lashes, Shane Tutmarc of now retired Dolour and his new band The Traveling Mercies, and Star Anna, who last month celebrated the release of her new album called Crooked Path at the Tractor Tavern. Here’s her decidedly country lead single “If Wishes Were Horses”: