Blog Archives

July 13, 2012

Win Tickets to the Triple Doors New Songwriter Showcase with Cloud War, J Wong, Cathedral Pearls and Apartment Lights

by

Tags
Goldfinch The Triple Door

Starting next Wednesday, The Triple Door is opening their doors and seats for a monthly showcase highlighting up-and-coming singer-songwriters. The stage, arguably the swankiest show setting in Seattle that doesn’t find you at the Symphony or Opera, is usually reserved for only the most established local acts, but partnering with local singer-songwriter J. Wong the Triple Door will be giving promising Pacific Northwest bands the same treatment.

For their inaugural showcase locals Cloud War (formerly known as Brother Bear), Apartment Lights (Grace Sullivan formerly of Goldfinch), Cathedral Pearls (from Spokane) and the evening’s organizer, J. Wong will be performing sets July 25th. The second showcase, scheduled for August 26th, will feature performances by Shannon Stephens, Tomo Nakayama (of Grand Hallway), & Yet and again, the evening’s organizer J. Wong. The four band bills are just $8.

Both bills highlight some of the most promising and praised songwriters in Seattle, the second bill especially, features established names Stephens and Nakayama, while the first showcase is highlighting some bands and voices you might be familiar with in new arrangements. Cloud War was previously known as Brother Bear and their fastidious costumes and narrated concerts. They’ve recently changed their name to reflect their roots and aspirations, to be psychedelic story-tellers on par with songwriter Barry Uhl’s encyclopedic knowledge of any song that evokes paisleys or fractals. Grace Sullivan, formerly singing sweetly in Tacoma’s Goldfinch, has stepped out on her own and is calling her new project Apartment Lights. The project presents unvarnished sad songs on piano, Sullivan’s angelic voice still tearing your heart out in a minor key. Cathedral Pearls was recently named by Paste as one of “12 Washington Bands you Need to Listen to Now,” making them the only band from the East side of the mountains to make the list. Front woman Karli Ingersoll, sounds like First Aid Kit being backed by a taut indie rock band — whether you’re a fan of Land of Pines or Kaylee Cole, there’s something in this project for you to be drawn to.

We’re giving a way a pair of tickets to the first Song Writer Showcase for Wednesday July 25th and we hope you’ll discover a new favorite there. To enter, just leave a comment sharing your favorite singer song-writer on this post with your real email address. We’ll notify the lucky winner Tuesday morning!

And here’s a chance to listen to Apartment Lights and Cathedral Pearls:

December 27, 2010

Our Year in Photos 2010: Hounds of the Wild Hunt [and win tickets to see them on NYE!]

by

hounds2

Hounds of the Wild Hunt ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

2010 has been a momentous year of change for The Hounds of the Wild Hunt. The band started and spent half of 2010 as the Whore Moans, playing a completely different and much beloved catalog of songs after having spent five years sweating and proving themselves as one of Seattle’s most promising punk bands.

Well, some things haven’t changed that much. The Hounds of the Wild Hunt are still on of Seattle’s most promising punk bands and they’re still sweating and proving themselves night-after-night on stages across Seattle. They’ll be capping off this momentous year with a New Years Eve performance at Columbia City Theater, where they played their final show as The Whore Moans and resurrected themselves as The Hounds, and we have two pairs of tickets to give away to some lucky readers.

Just leave a comment on this post and you’ll be entered to win two list spots for the Hounds of the Wild Hunt’s New Years Eve Celebration with Dyme Def and Night Train at Columbia City Theater. We’ll choose two winners at random at noon on Thursday.

And if you haven’t yet, read my interview with Hounds of the Wild Hunt all about the decision to change their name, its one of my favorite pieces I shared with you all this year.

Hounds of the Wild Hunt ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

June 18, 2010

Win Tickets to See April Smith & The Great Picture Show

by

April Smith & The Great Picture Show ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

In the process of writing Sound on the Sound, I’ve discovered I am a total sucker for the following: pedal steel guitar, modern bands that employ a fiddle and accordion player, and bawdy female singers who sound as if they’re from another era, most especially when they’re backed by a kick-ass band and a stand-up bass.

MP3: “Colors” by April Smith & The Great Picture Show from Songs for a Sinking Ship

The latter explains my enthusiasm for April Smith & the Great Picture Show, whose rollicking retro circus will be pulling into town at the Sunset next Wednesday. When we saw her open for Fanfarlo back in February, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand and attempting to swing dance … at the Crocodile. The crowd might have come for Fanfarlo’s sweet orchestral pop, but it was April’s swinging set and her rich and rowdy belting that stole the show.

April doesn’t just sing, she performs — instantly transforming any stage she’s on into an impromptu cabaret. She radiates cheeky confidence, controlling the crowd with a wink and coy smile, more spunk than grace and truly infectious charm. With her tutu skirts and throwback sound April could easily venture into a realm of “too cutsie,” but while the material toes that line, her feistiness never allows it to cross.

April Smith and The Great Picture Show are playing the Sunset Tavern June 23rd (Wednesday) and we’re giving away a pair of tickets.

Drop a comment below by Monday June 21st at 5pm and we’ll pick a winner at random to have their name on the list plus one. And if you do win, be sure to bring your dancing shoes!

December 7, 2008

Win Tickets to KEXP’s Annual Yule Benefit

by

Thanks to our friends over at KEXP, we’re happy to be offering a big old ticket give-away to next weekend’s KEXP Yule Benefit Concert. If you’ve been hiding under a rock or for some strange reason don’t listen to KEXP, we’ll share the good news with you.

Next Friday Decemebr 12th KEXP’s Yule Benefit is rocking Neumo’s with three stellar bands: Grand Archives, Shearwater, and Sound on the Sound favorites The Dutchess and The Duke.

The Dutchess and The Duke ::: photo by Abbey

On Saturday December 13th KEXP is keeping the holiday party going with Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, Shearwater, and Cancer Rising.

 Cancer Rising ::: photo by Abbey

Sound on the Sound has One Pair of Tickets to give away for Friday Night’s Show and Two Pairs of Tickets for Saturday’s stellar show. 

Comment on this post and tell us which night you want to attend and why you deserve this holiday treat. We’ll let the lucky winners know by the end of Tuesday December 9th.

Get to commenting and we hope to see you there next weekend, dear readers–celebrating KEXP, local music, and the holidays.

April 12, 2007

Win Tickets to see Limbeck this Saturday

by

Thanks to the fine folks at Filter Magazine, we’re offering a pair of tickets to go see Limbeck this weekend with Hot Rod Circuit at El Corazon. You’ll also get a cd of Limbeck’s new album.

The first person to send me an e-mail will get the tickets and cd, it’s an All Ages show, so our give away is as well. Also, while it’s great to winning anything… if you can’t go or it’s a secondary plan, please don’t rush to e-mail me. We need you on the guest-list by 2pm tomorrow, so I need to hear from you wonderful folks before 1pm, Friday the 13th.