First and foremost, I need to get this little rant out of the way. It is WAY too early for end of the year best of lists to start. It seems much like Christmas decorations, end of the year lists come out earlier and earlier every year. As if there is some secret competition to be first. So, since I’m apparently creating secret internet agreements, I’d like to create another: no best of lists until the day after Thanksgiving. Preferably not until the first of December.

Seeing that Amazon.com wasn’t privy to this secret agreement and considering the loads of love they gave to local bands, I’ll forgive them for jumping the gun and releasing their Best of/End of the Year lists yesterday. The Seattle based we-sell-everything-site gave a nod to a number of local bands, and we’re not talking Death Cab For Cutie; we’re talking legitimately local bands like The Maldives, The Nightgowns, D. Black, Grand Hallway and Throw Me The Statue.  It was a surprise, albeit an incredibly pleasant one, to see so many familiar names on the lists.

Here are the lists and the Northwest locals that Amazon shouted out:

Best Albums of 2009 

Featuring: David Bazan (86), Point Juncture, WA (81), Brandi Carlile (58), Mt. St Helens Vietnam Band (51), Throw Me the Statue (43), Cave Singers (29)

Best Songs of 2009

Featuring: The Thermals (90), Throw Me The Statue (89), Ramona Falls (88), Mt. St Helens Vietnam Band (82), The Nightgowns (73), Nurses (69), Grand Hallway (59), David Bazan (58), Death Cab for Cutie (54)

Outstanding 2009 Albums You May Have Missed

Featuring: Richard Swift (88), The Maldives (50), D. Black (12), The Dutchess & The Duke (11), J. Tillman (9), Point Juncture WA (5), Mt. St Helens Vietnam Band (2), Throw Me The Statue (1)

The Mural ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

It was packed by the time the TMTS went on at 6pm last Friday, but it was good to see so many people out to enjoy the rock on a nice day. Blitzen Trapper attracted a mass of dancers toward the foot of the stage once the shade had set in on the super hot concrete.

This weekend the free fun continues with some Friday evening hip-hop from Dyme Def and Fresh Espresso, and the all Saturday afternoon KEXP BBQ with Japandroids, Viva Voce, Dinosaur Jr. and more.

Throw Me The Statue ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Blitzen Trapper ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Blitzen Trapper ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Lounging in the Beer Garden ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Photo by Tae Rhee

Considering it was at one point simply a bedroom project, I think it’s fair to say Throw Me The Statue has gained a life all it’s own, taking frontman Scott Reitherman on his own unexpected journey into leading one of Seattle’s most talked about bands. I will completely admit that I was among those who probably overhyped Moonbeams as a diamond in the rough, though with time I think it does retain that something that is unique and notable. On the other hand, Reithermen now seems to have lived up to the initial attention, creating a solid and dependable lineup to tour with, while readying a second LP titled Creaturesque, out August 4th worldwide on Secretly Canadian. The few songs I’ve heard from the record, mostly live, seem to indicate Reitherman and friends have added polish to their pop in the year and a half since Moonbeams, but thankfully never enough to obscure Reitherman’s trademark rhythm’s. This week we’ve been featuring a new free track from the album titled “Hi-Fi Goon,” which given Reitherman’s own proclivity toward analog equipment might be him being somewhat autobiographical.

MP3: “Hi-Fi Goon” by Throw Me The Statue from Creaturesque courtesy of Secretly Canadian

“Ancestors” by Throw Me The Statue from Creaturesque courtesy of Secretly Canadian

Throw Me the Statue is playing the first of the free KEXP Mural Amphitheater shows with Blitzen Trapper tonight beginning at 5pm. Later this August they’ll be touring the U.S. with the Brunettes and Nurses. Tonight’s Seattle Center show is the only scheduled Seattle show they have right now though.

The complete list of Throw Me the Statue tour dates is below the fold.
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Nurses play “Technicolor” on an old piano, and then “In Rhythm” in a backyard, and then “Caterpillar Playground” on the piano courtesy of LEFT|RIGHT

No wonder we couldn’t get them to play our bloggy birthday party later this month. Our Portland fav’s of the moment Nurses just posted a slew of dates in support of their soon to be public album Apple’s Acre, dates which all together make up two national tours over the next few months. First, starting at the end of August, they’ll be spending nearly a month on the road supporting Throw Me the Statue and the Brunettes, and then in October they’ve got another month of shows scheduled with Le Loup. Upcoming Seattle Dates include a September 23rd date at the Vera Project and an October 23rd date at Chop Suey with Le Loup.

MP3: “Technicolor” by Nurses courtesy of Dead Oceans

Apple’s Acre arrive August 4th via Dead Oceans.

The complete list of Nurses tour dates is below the fold.

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Grizzly Bear ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Some notable calendar listings have appeared in the past week or so we thought you might want to be aware of:

Grizzly Bear coming to the Moore Theater, Friday October 16th
$23 - presale starts Thursday July 16 through the Moore. PW: KEXP.

Monotonix coming to Neumos September 19th
$13 - 21+ - Tickets available at Ticketswest

Pearl Jam coming to Key Arena September 21st and 22nd
$68 - Tickets go on sale to the General Public, Saturday July 18 at Ticketmaster.

The Dirty Three coming to the Crocodile September 18th
$15 - 21+ - Get tickets from the Crocodile

Fruit Bats coming to the Crocodile August 20th
$12 - 21+ - Get tickets from the Crocodile

MP3 - “Ruminant Band” by the Fruit Bats courtesy of Sub Pop

KEXP Summer Mural Concert Series at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater
All these shows are free and all-ages, including the BBQ. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Friday 7/31, 5-8pm
Blitzen Trapper
Throw Me the Statue
This week daytrotter posted their session with Blitzen Trapper.

Friday 8/7, 5-8pm
Dyme Def
Fresh Espresso

Saturday 8/8, 7th Annual KEXP BBQ! 2-9pm
Dinosaur Jr
Viva Voce
Cymbals Eat Guitars
Japandroids
Born Anchors
Champagne Champagne

Friday 8/14, 5-8pm
The Dodos
Army Navy
We highly recommend streaming the Dodo’s new album Time to Die at timetodie.net.

Friday 8/21, 5-8pm
Fruit Bats
Johnny and the Moon

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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Throw Me the Statue at Bumbershoot ::: Photo by Josh

Next Tuesday, February 17th, Throw Me the Statue has their four song Purpleface EP coming out on Secretly Canadian, and via MBV they’ve made a track titled “Ship” available for download. Secretly Canadian has also provided a download link for the song which you can use below.

MP3: “Ship” - Throw Me the Statue from the Purpleface EP (via Secretly Canadian)

 
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|

We’re huge advocates of the live experience here and recognize that capturing and presenting a live recording of a band (or solo player) so the music retains it’s vital qualities is no mean task. Below we’ve presented a few of the online sessions that knocked our socks off this year and we think shouldn’t be overlooked.

Bon Iver : Hard to Find a Friend’s Backstage Sessions featuring two songs with Justin Vernon solo: “Creature Fear” and “Flume.” |listen and watch at htfaf|

Fleet Foxes : Hard to Find a Friend’s Backstage Sessions featuring three songs with Robin Pecknold solo: “Katie Cruel,” “Innocent Sun,” and a stunning version of “Oliver James.” |listen and watch at htfaf|

Throw Me the Statue : LA BLOGOTHEQUE featuring all five members busking on the Banbridge to Seattle ferry playing three songs: “Lolita,” “About to Walk” and “My Valuable Hunting Knife.” |listen and watch at la blogotheque|

Starfucker at Rudy’s Barbershop : The Penny Jam featuring the Portland trio stirring up a dance party with casio’s and electric vocals on “Dance Face.” |watch it here|

Damien Jurado Daytrotter Session features four songs: “Dimes,” Gillian was a Horse,” “Everything Trying,” and “Ohio.” |listen here|

The Lonely H Daytrotter Session features four unreleased songs that sound as professionally done as if they had paid a whole lot of money for them: “Mother’s Only Son.” “Goin’ Out West,” “Oh My!” and “Pheonox.” |listen here|

The Maldives KEXP In-Studio on Swingin’ Doors where they play five songs: “By the Wind Sailor,” “Do You Still,” “Tequila Sunday,” “Time is Right Now,” and “Whidbey Island Blues.” |listen here|

Blind Pilot Live at MusicFest Northwest KEXP Podcast featuring a half hour of this Portland duo with a large cast of friends helping out. |subscribe to the KEXP podcast here|

Thee Emergency In the KEXP Studio. We were there so of course it is on our list. |listen to it here|

Photo by Josh

The ubiquitous Seattle band, Throw Me the Statue played their brand of catchy pop at the Broad Street Stage on Saturday August 30th, to an enamored audience.

Photo by Abbey

Photo by Josh