Seattle via Chicago Music Experiences
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…
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…
I had a blast at the High Dive about a month ago for the Guerrilla Candy (Re)Launch Party! It’s a bummer about the cease-and-desist letter that blogger Travis Hay received, but “Ear Candy’s” relaunch as Guerrilla Candy provided a great excuse to showcase some great Seattle rock bands. Hosted by Brent Amaker, it was a night to remember. Here are my much-overdue first impressions on all four bands that played: MY GOODNESS When you see a duo with drums and a rich, fat distorted guitar killing some bluesy licks it’s… Read More…
Since first buying their album back in August, I can’t stop (and won’t stop) raving about The Head and the Heart and what their music has meant to me. It was one of those special moments where it felt like an album was speaking both to and for me because it came to me at the perfect time. The themes of the album are the themes of this blog, the themes I’ve been thinking and feeling since I moved here. I couldn’t articulate the connection in words but fell deeply… Read More…
This pretty much sums it up: I’m not in the mood for much flowery prose – plus I’m inspired by how freaking short their songs are – so I’m just going to lay out for you. Reasons Why I Like The Young Evils and their Debut Album Enchanted Chapel A Lot: It’s effing catchy. Mackenzie and Troy are effing cute, endearing, and super nice. The melodies are sweet and sugary like a guilty pleasure without any syrupy aftertaste. Every song toes a very fine line between familiar and predictable, but… Read More…
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you snow, you make snowballs. When life gives you ThunderSnow, you invite a bunch of people over the next day to shoot a snowball fight / snow frolicking music video! For those who don’t know, Cobalt & the Hired Guns is the band I played in from it’s origin in 2003 (2002 if you count Tom and I collaborating) until I moved to Seattle this past May. I watched this video with sheer joy this morning, missing them a… Read More…
I’m still pretty new here. I feel like I’ve just started catching on to a lot of the most fantastic music being made in the Northwest. I commonly ask people I meet what regional bands they love, and a name that came up several times in the fall as a must-see was “Drew Grow and the Pastors’ Wives,” but I never made it out to a show. Fast forward to December, when I started to make new friends who are deeply connected to the exciting acoustic music scene around some… Read More…
It seems fitting that as Snowpocalypse 2011 (Snowmageddon, Thundersnow, what have you) hits Chicago this week, I reflect on Seattle’s Snowpocalypse 2010. A few days before Thanksgiving, Seattle got hit with a full day of snow and ice. By Chicago standards, it was not a lot. By Seattle standards, plus black ice on Seattle hills, it was a mess. Natural disaster puns aside, one of the casualties of the storm was The Volcano Diary‘s much anticipate CD release show at Neumos, which was canceled as the buses began to slide…. Read More…
First, let’s all take a personal moment and watch this beautiful acoustic session at KEXP: The band is Campfire Ok. I have not seen this band live at a club yet, but will soon (see below). Yet, thanks to their collaborative creativity, talented friends, and the internet, it feels like I already know them intimately. I found myself humming “Strange Like We Are” every morning walking to work and spending a large portion of my valuable procrastination time watching this and other videos. So I contacted them, set up an… Read More…
There is a certain controlled manic-ness to Ravenna Woods’ music that is uniquely energizing and best experienced live. It doesn’t need to be loud or distorted to be big and movement-inducing. In fact, guitarist Chris Cunningham can’t sit still – either onstage or during our interview – but manages to make this an extremely endearing quality that conveys a sense of urgency which serves the music and lyrics. I also love that everyone usually sits down on stage except drummer Matt Badger. There is something special that happens in the… Read More…
This blog started as a means to explore music communities in Seattle, which was a huge personal success. From here on out it will be more personal – more of a creative outlet to help me dig into music that is affecting me. Thanks for reading and sharing these experiences with me. [Read More …]
