Chicago IN Seattle: Matt Ryd / Xoe Wise / Katrina Charles @ Egan’s

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My guy-love for old friend Matt Ryd is well known to longtime MidByNorthwest followers.  I’ve interviewed him, I’ve reviewed his album, and now thanks to his first tour I get to preview his Seattle debut! Ryd is hitting the road with another acclaimed Chicago singer/songwriter Xoe Wise.  That many hours in the car together is sure to produce some stunning collaborations – accenting both Ryd’s endearing guitar-pop and Wise’s dreamy vocal compositions.  It’s a unique experience to see two separate artists come together for their first tour – braving the… Read More…

Interview: Frightened Rabbit

2011.02.22: Scott Hutchison @ Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA

I first heard Frightened Rabbit in 2009 on NPR – one of many Saturday mornings at work staying sane with Car Talk, then Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, then Sound Opinions.  They were Greg and Jim’s guests on Sound Opinions that day, playing acoustic versions of songs from The Midnight Organ Fight and chatting with the guys.  I remember thinking “These songs sound good…”  That night I checked out the studio recordings on MySpace and thought “Wow, this is really great…”  The next day I went down to Reckless Records… Read More…

Capitol Hill Block Party and My Summer of Nostalgia

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Having moved to Seattle last May, this summer has been full of one-year markers and anniversaries. With each annual event I’m forced to reflect on a year ago and I am repeatedly stunned by how much has changed. This weekend, that process is triggered by Capitol Hill Block Party – a weekend-long, nationally-acclaimed music festival smack-dab in the middle of my neighborhood. Last year I bought my 3-day pass the day they became available without any idea who I would go with or what bands I would see. I just… Read More…

Interview: Motopony

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Let’s start with this fantastic new video for Motopony’s first single “King of Diamonds.” The music of Motopony – thanks to the principal collaboration between frontman Daniel Blue and producer/ keyboardist Buddy Ross – expands the possibilities of the singer/songwriter genre in a unique way reminiscent of The Postal Service and Frightened Rabbit. Simple, lyrically driven songs like “King of Diamonds,” “June,” and “God Damn Girl” propel forward with rich, creative backbeats and overdubs, resulting in some striking juxtapositions.  Most of these layers are in warm tones, percussion fills, or… Read More…

Preview: The Gloria Darlings (CD Release) & Lowlands at the Tractor

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Seattle Weekly recently ran an article emphasizing that some of the best music in this town happens on Tuesday nights.  As if to prove the point, a bunch of my buddies from the Conor Byrne open mic are playing a show down the street at the illustrious Tractor Tavern tonight! Up first will be Lowlands in full-band glory.  As a duo, Tom Rorum and Joel Schuman have been one of my favorite acts at Conor Byrne.  Like much of the talent that graces the stage every Sunday night, Lowlands features… Read More…

Interview: Kris Orlowski and Andrew Joslyn

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The story with Kris Orlowski’s upcoming EP, Kris Orlowski & the Passenger String Quartet at the Fremont Abbey, is less about him and more about about the process. A live/studio hybrid tracked in the Abbey’s great hall – mostly live but with limited overdubs – the EP strikes a balance between the loose, spontaneous feel of a concert and the attention to detail of a studio recording. Much like the Fremont Abbey’s nightly arts programming, this EP brings together some of Seattle’s best up-and-coming talent supporting Orlowski’s catchy new songs… Read More…

Seattle IN Chicago: Shenandoah Davis

Photo by Jennifer Lynne Sweeny

It’s a long-ass way from Seattle to Chicago with not a whole lot of major cities in between. So it can be tough for independent musicians to brave the long drives that come with branching out from the West Coast into the mighty Midwest. We should support and celebrate them thoroughly when they take the plunge. This weekend, one of Seattle’s busiest artists – Shenandoah Davis – will be gracing Chicago with her presence. Davis is a beautiful singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a prolific collaborator (see Grand Hallway, Seattle Rock Orchestra,… Read More…

Interview: Abbey Simmons and Josh Lovseth of Sound on the Sound

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Seattle music blog Sound on the Sound does not simply write about great local music; they help create great local music.  They put on sold-out shows, they produce gorgeous music videos, they document magical live music experiences, and they do their damnedest to make sure great music rises above the fray and makes it to people’s turntables.  Most of the bands I’ve interviewed in the last few months have credited much of their success to the support of Sound on the Sound co-editors/founders Abbey Simmons and Josh Lovseth. In most… Read More…

Interview: Tony Kevin Jr.

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When I think of the last three months, I think of going to the Conor Byrne Open Mic every Sunday night. When I think of the Conor Byrne Open Mic, I think of Tony Kevin Jr. He was one of the first people I met there back in January. His three-song set that first night was so good that a few days later it compelled me to schlep down to Columbia City and pay $10 to see him open for two bands I didn’t even know. Those bands turned out… Read More…

Interview: Pickwick

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There is no better introduction to Pickwick than this video by Sound on the Sound as part of their Basement Sessions video series. Take some time with the first song “Hacienda Motel” before reading on…   One of the oft-stated themes of this blog is “transition.”  With most of the bands I’ve interviewed, that meant talking about transitioning from the garage to the stage, or from a local band to a national act.  Pickwick, however, has gone through a much more profound transition.  As you’ll hear below in the interview,… Read More…