I Heard This: Zeppelin's 'Kashmir'

What: Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir"
When: 1:30 p.mish
Where: Coming from a mid-'90s, white Ford Explorer; 4th and Pikeish
The Story: I try and only listen to "Stairway to Heaven" once a year. I got my fill as a teenage, and I feel the same way about "Kashmir." This is about the best possible way to hear it. This middle-aged dude with a Costanza haircut is blaring it, and I'm walking down the street at the same pace as his car. It felt like my personal soundtrack.
The Irony: I was carrying a violin.

Topics: I Heard This

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Interview: Honeycut

Granted, there's about 749 bands vying for your attention at Bumbershoot this weekend, but if you get a chance I highly recommend checking out the up-and-coming soul/rock/groove band Honeycut at the Esurance Stage on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. I caught the Bay Area band — which is signed to Quannum (home to DJ Shadow, Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, etc.), and released its debut album, The Day I Turned To Glass, earlier this year — this past April at the Showbox and they were dynamite. Musically, they cross the slinky Brit-rock of the Stone Roses/Primal Scream/Kasabian/etc. with creamy soul that recalls everything from vintage Motown to Shuggie Otis. They're also primo entertainers, especially French-born keyboard whiz Herve "RV" Salters, who can jam on the keys like Bernie Worrell while simultaneously leaping and dancing around like Bez from the Happy Mondays. A couple of days ago, I chatted with the gregarious Salters over the phone from Golden Gate Park. Check out some of that interview after the jump.

Continue reading "Interview: Honeycut"

Topics: Interview

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Roky's Coming...

Yeah! It's Bumbershoot time, y'all. Can you feel it? I know I can...and I'm not even gonna be here for two-thirds of it! I'll be in Eastern Washington (I can sense your jealousy). But goddammit, I'll be back in time for this guy right here! For me, next to Fergie, this year's Bumbershoot is all about Roky Erickson! You can read all about my love affair with this mad genius/psychedelic pioneer in our Bumbershoot guide. Here's a clip of him playing this year with his band the Explosives. For those of you who've been following Roky's troubled career, did you ever think you'd see him like this again?

Topics: Bumbershoot 2007

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The Essential Bumbershoot Planning Tool

Aside from SW's Bumbershoot page, there is one tool every attendee should equip themselves with before going into this long festival weekend.

The One Reel peeps have rolled out a CitizenPod clickguide for the festival. 

Download it to your iPod, and you've got schedules, audio samples, and basically every else you'll need, aside from wet naps.

Topics: Bumbershoot 2007

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She's Crafty

For those of you who think the craft tents at Bumbershoot exist solely to obstruct bed-wetting Fergie fans from making it to the stadium on time, we present Exhibit A for the defense: the Crafty Devils' adorable litlte handbags. I tote one around town myself, and get compliments from all the girls at the salon when I'm getting my hair did. One of the Devils actually visited my treehouse in Pigeon Ridge last night for ribs, tequila, and a cornmeal dish known in some circles as "The Pentuple Bypass." Her name is Angie Bowlds. She is super close friends with former Fine Young Cannibals frontman Nicolae White, and is attractive enough to pass for Gina Gershon back before she allegedly started fucking Paul Allen. Bowlds' bags are part of the Urban Craft Uprising near the big fountain.

Topics: Bumbershoot 2007

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Ben Gibbard talks Kerouac

In this week's issue of the SF Weekly, former Seattleite (now SF Weekly Music Editor) Jennifer Maerz gets in some QT with BG, talking all-things Kerouac. The Death Cab/Postal Service frontman is spending two weeks alone writing songs in the Big Sur cabin where the author penned, you guessed it, Big Sur.

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The Boognish Returns!

 Ween fans are obsessed. I know, I'm one of them. In 2003, I went to great lengths trying to get them to attend my backyard BBQ/Cinco De Mayo party the night they're playing in town. But my motives seemed legit. After all, the band prefers receiving home-cooked meals from their fans and the band was playing ten blocks away. Unfortunately, sound check and prearranged dinner engagements (not to mention a late start on the grill) prevented Ween from coming over to hang with us before their show. Oh well. I just know they would've loved the sight of my female dog basically humping my leg when my holiday-themed band, Elf Punishment, performed. Although, if the "family" photo on the inner sleeve of Pure Guava is any indication, it probably wouldn't have been the worst they have seen.

But I was delighted to find out this morning that New Hope, Pennsylvania's favorite acid-fried brothers-from-different-mothers, have announced a fall 2007 tour that brings them to The Paramount on November 13. Their shows are legendary, filled with drunken tomfoolery, esoteric nonsense, and musical grandeur. Tickets are currently available for pre-sale here.

Looks like I have a reason for throwing a party and firing up the grill, yet again.

Topics: Happenings

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Tom Phalen, R.I.P.

We've just confirmed that Tom Phalen, held in high esteem by many as the Seattle Times' "Ace of Clubs" columnist, passed away earlier this week. Times Arts & Culture editor (and former Weekly A&C editor) Lynn Jacobson reports that a full obituary will appear soon in the Times. Tom (who wrote a Ray Davies profile under the name Thom in 2006) was also an occasional contributor to the Weekly's music pages over the years. He was a dear friend to the Seattle music scene, and will be deeply missed.

Topics: News

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Fleet Foxes are Spin's Band O' the Day!

Just look at those handsome lads, the Fleet Foxes! They've been chosen as Spin's Band of the Day for August 30, and coincidentally it happens to be a day as sunny and lovely as their music. The band, led by guitarist/vocalist Robin Pecknold (brother of our Aja), has a debut in the works, but listen to the highlighted song, "White Winter Hymnal" on their page or Spin's, and tell your friends! After hearing them open for the Black Angels last year, Fleet Foxes became one of the few Seattle folk/rock bands I'll get out of the nightclub for. The shit is as good as that Crosstown Rebels mix I've been playing since March, and that's no hay.

Topics: Grapevine

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Tickets to Sold-Out Dino Jr./BOH Show

Neumo's just sent out an email blast (below) with a way to score tix to the (obviously) already sold out Dinosaur Jr. and Band of Horses show on September 11:

Do you want to come see Dinosaur Jr. and Band of Horses for Free?

Come to Moe Bar tonight from 9-11pm and pick up a pair from a Camel rep. Tickets are sold out to the general public, so this is your last chance to get in to the show!

Moe Bar is located at 1425 10th Avenue, next door to the Neumos Box Office. Tickets are sold out to the general public, so this is your last chance to get in to the show!

Topics: Happenings

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I Heard This: Apocalyptica Plays Metallica By Four Cellos

Heard: Apocalyptica Plays Metallica By Four Cellos

When: All day yesterday, except when I was in class. 

Where: Various locations on the University of Idaho campus, including the office of The Argonaut. 

Thoughts: Sifting through the mess that has become Idaho senator Larry Craig and remembering that I had to leave the office one day due to an e-mailed bomb threat made me need something hard, loud, and fast. Normally this would mean Metallica but I was not in the mood to hear James Hetfield's vocals or Lars Ulrich's drums.

Apocalyptica has neither of those. Instead, it has four Scandinavian long hairs shredding away on their classically made cellos. Yes, they do indeed shred, competing with the best Kirk Hammet riffs and often outdoing the bass lines of Cliff Burton or Jason Newsted (the new guy doesn't count, sorry).

This album includes four songs from the Black Album, two from Master of Puppets, one from ... And Justice For All, and one from Ride the Lightning. Later albums would see more tracks from Metallica's first two albums, including a kick ass version of "Fade to Black." The best track on this album is "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" with "The Unforgiven" a close second.

Metal and classical are a great match and this record proves it. next time you are in the mood for some Beethoven with your Beelzebub, pick up Apocalyptica instead of Metallica's S & M.

Apocalyptica are head bangers through and through. Watch this video and you'll see. 

Topics: I Heard This

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Re: What Is A Pink Floyd?

Brian, I had a similar reaction to the cover of Dark Side of the Moon, though I think it was the inside of Iron Maiden's Piece of Mind that really did me in (the backmasking before "Still Life" didn't help matters).

Topics: Aesthetic

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September Sound

One reason to scoop up a copy of this months Seattle Sound magazine: Eli Chuckovich (pictured above) of The Hands. Enough said. Look for their long-awaited, denut full length out (fingers crossed) before the year is up.

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What Is A Pink Floyd?

In this week's Rocket Queen, Hannah Levin says this: "Most children of the '70s and '80s can remember getting lost in record covers, theorizing about the meaning behind the imagery or just marveling at its strangeness." I grew up to the sounds of Pink Floyd. The album artwork for Dark Side of the Moon is burned into my memory. Much like Hannah says, I used to stare and stare at the cover while those bizarre sound bled out of the speakers. Clocks ticking, British men screaming, Black women wailing, spacey guitars, strange conversation snippets between men, footsteps down a hallway. The record sleeve holding my parents copy of Dark Side of the Moon had no pictures of the band, no tracklisting, it didn't state the name of the band or the album title anywhere. As a kid, I had no idea what Pink Floyd even looked like. And I remember believing very vividly they weren't human, that those sounds were coming from inside that weird triangle/prism thing on the cover. That fucks with a kid, lemme tell you. So, yes...as Hannah said, R.I.P. awesome album artwork...little kids sure could use some fucked up shit to look at these days.

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This Week in the Short List Podcast

This week, in Seattle's definitive local music podcast, we've got:

- Potlucks
- More from Vitamin D
- PDXplore
- And why Aja's about to take a breeze. 

Topics: iPod

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Hilly Kristal Found Dead

The man who founded legendary NYC club CBGB's has passed away.

Thanks to Andrew for the tip. 

Topics: News

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Bumbershoot Memories: Beck '97, and the Angry Mob

I don't want to say things have gotten worse since 1997. But, they haven't gotten better. I paid something like $9 a day to get in, the lineup was remarkably more intriguing, and I was a teenager. But, frankly, I've never put much stock in the Bumber lineup as an indicator of the quality of the festival. The highlights of the festival, at least for me, have always been in the events that were not on the schedule.

Take, for instance, Beck's end-of-evening set at Memorial Stadium in '97. He was on his "Odley" tour, and was the reason I had even paid Bumbershoot any attention. Problem was, Cake was playing on a side stage at close to the same time (they went on 15 or 20 minutes sooner), and one member of our party was all about Cake. So, we compromised, which every Bumber party must do at some point. We decided we'd hit the first half-ish of Cake's set, and show up late to Beck's.

Now, in 1997, there were no Technicolor wristbands required for entry in the the evening sets in the stadium, as there are now. And, as we made our way toward the entrance, we heard a few mumbles from patrons walking upstream: "you're not going to get in."

True. We weren't going to get in. There were no less than 500 angry people outside the gates when we arrived. Stadium was at capacity, and security wasn't letting anyone else in. But, like I said, I was a teenager, had yet to discover beer, instead favoring adrenaline. So, we made our way to the front of the crowd, crawling through planters, and squeezing between our considerably older colleagues.

Just as we made it to the front, which, was on the verge of mosh pit, we heard someone yell, "Just go!" And at that very moment, about 50 or 75 of us did just that, and as a few larger individuals tussled with security, my friend and I walked through the gates, just as the man of the hour launched into "Devil's Haircut."

Wow, now that I think about it, that was the first of two times I've had to weasel my way into that stadium to see Beck. But, that's another story altogether.

Topics: Bumbershoot 2007

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Clutter From My Download Bag

As I was cleaning out my bag from Saturday's Download 2007, I found a few odds and ends I'd meant to have posted earlier.

In addition to a portion of a somewhat painful Thermals Q&A with The End's DJ No Name and a few members of the crowd, I came across these photos of the Gorge.

You'll notice lots of empty lawn space. For the few of us who hit the show, it was a very comfortable experience. Though, I'm sure it wasn't so cushy for whoever threw down the cash for this thing.

Topics: Happenings

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Mmmmmm Drop!

New Buffalo (above) releases Somewhere, Anywhere, out today in the U.S.

Get 'em while they're hot.

Aesop Rock, None Shall Pass

Entertainment Weekly gave this Def Jux release an A- and those who snagged the record from Amazon also purchased: Sage Francis' Human the Death Dance, Monster Maker by C Rayz Wallz & Sharkey, Atmosphere's Sad Clown Bad Summer Number 9 and Brother Ali's The Undisputed Truth.

Catch him next: Down in PDX on September 6th for Musicfest NW, or if you don't want to make the trek, at the Showbox on October 28th with Black Moth Super Rainbow and Blockhead.

Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Lifeline

This release is number eight from Mr. Laura Dern. Categorized on Myspace as folk/rock/reggae, studies of this artist's work have shown that a copy of 1995's Fight for Your Mind can be found in 8 out of ten dorm rooms and that when it's in a player, the majority of girls tend to skip ahead directly to "Burn One Down." And subsequently put it on repeat.

Catch them next: November 14th and 15th at the Paramount Theatre.

VHS or Beta, Bring on the Comets

These Astralwerks-signed indie rockers hail from Louisville, Kentucky (as does Band of Horses bassist, Rob Hampton). Watch the "making of" the record on Youtube, here! Includes highlights like full band breakfasts and exciting details like snare drum placement.

Catch them next: September 10th at Chop Suey with Walter Meego and The King's English.

New Buffalo, Somewhere, Anywhere

Somewhere anywhere is New Buffalo's-aka Sally Seltmann- sophomore release and according to her label, she's a "soft-spoken songstress" from Melbourne, AU. She'll also likely be rolling in some green soon: In addition to her own work, she wrote Feist's slam dunk hit "1234." She's saved some gems for her own record as well, which she wrote in large part on a piano that's been in her family for over a century.

Catch her next:  Sadly, no stateside tours have been announced as of yet.

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Cate Blanchett As Dylan

So, check it out...this is a clip from the soon-to-be-released Bob Dylan biopic, I'm Not There. That's Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan, and David Cross as the one-and-only Allen Ginsberg! Awesome.

Topics: Bob Dylan

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Oatesmeal

A couple years ago, I conducted a phone interview with John Oates which featured the following exchange:

Seely: Why'd you shave off that fabulous moustache, and have you caught shit from your fans in the law-enforcement community for doing so?

Oates: I shaved the moustache because I am no longer the guy who had the moustache.

Seely: Who was that guy, then?

Oates: He was a guy playing rock star and not paying attention to more important things, like real life. In terms of law enforcement, I'm too short to be a cop.

Last night, the guy who used to have the moustache took the stage alongside Daryl Hall in front of a very enthusiastic McCaw Hall crowd. Had you told me at the time I conducted that interview that Hall & Oates would play two encores before a nearly-full concert hall, I'd have bet my life savings against you. But now that it's again become culturallly acceptable to dig the Philly duo's unique brand of Caucasian-soul-meets-synth-pop-meets-ass-rock (some prefer to refer to this multi-dimensional package as yacht rock, I call it versatility), there H&O were, throwing used guitar picks to screaming middle-aged female fans, never out of touch, never out of time if the crowd screamed for one more ditty.

While what looks to be a few too many Botox injections has frozen his pretty face, and he can't pull off all the vocal acrobatics he once could live, the tall, skinny Hall still has a gorgeous head of hair, moves like a white James Brown, and croons like a white Usher. It's hard to imagine Robin Thicke or Justin Timberlake being possible without him. He is the center of attention to the point where you wonder why the band isn't simply called "Hall."

Now stop to consider Oates. Hall threw him a scrap of meat early by letting him sing lead on one tune, but other than that, Oates was in the background, vocally and instrumentally. One could argue that he is, at best, the fourth most important member of Hall & Oates, as his rhythm guitar is constantly outshined by the duo's Neil Young-disciple lead guitarist and a flamboyant, silver-maned sax man whom Hall introduced as "Mr. Casual."

Throughout the performance, 'Lil Oates seemed content to focus on his frets, to chip in with precise backing vocals, and to show as little emotion as possible onstage. He is, in this capacity, the anti-Hall, which, if you stop to think about it, could be exactly why he's so essential to the duo's success. If Hall were allowed to indulge his every diva-like theatrical impulse throughout the course of any given show unchecked, it might send things over the top. The only counterbalance balance for such a queen is the epitome of bland: Oatesmeal.

Topics: Guilty Pleasures

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Yo! Majesty is Coming to Seattle...

Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto wasn’t the only lady of stature stripping down and making de facto political statements at this year’s South By Southwest Festival. The self-avowed lesbian, feminist, Christians (yes, you read that correctly) who comprise Yo! Majesty performed topless during their set at the Beauty Bar, conjuring an electric atmosphere of admiration and fear. These three bad-ass, black butches from Tampa are no novelty act, however, thanks to fierce flow, infectious, R&B-flavored beats, and their deft fusion of humor and smarts. They'll be at Chop Suey on September 15. For a taste of just how awesome they are, check out the clip below (but watch out for the NSFW moments, should you lack privacy):
 

Topics: Happenings

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The Hipster Olympics

Via Ultragrrl:

Topics: Blog Watch

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Moscow Rock City

So instead of doing homework, I went to Hastings, our local music/video/book retailer.I've been there a lot this week, more than I should have. Such is life.

Today I found a copy of Detroit Rock City, the 1999 comedy following a group of young KISS fans, in the bargain bin.

Score one for me. While this isn't the best movie ever made, not even as good as Wayne's World or the ultimate rock/stoner movie Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, it does have its moments. And for six bucks, how could I pass up this opportunity?

Too bad I won't get to watch it for a few hours. Not only do I have that homework to do (Donde esta el bano?), but I have work on my own paper to do. College life is what it is and I'm here for a while still.

Good thing I have cheap, stupid movies to keep me company. Here's a clip for you. 

Topics: Letters from Moscow

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Leisure Lads

How should I put this? Something magical happened to me this past Saturday night. For the first time in oh, five or six years, a punk band impressed me, freaked me out, really hit my core. Hannah's been on the case for some time, and she rightly called them one of the most "viscerally thrilling" bands on the local garage-punk circuit. She wrote that their inspirations were Fugazi, Birthday Party, early SY, and I can hear all of that, plus Refused's insolent energy and the vocal power of At the Drive-In's Cedric Bixler. At the Implied Violence fundraiser in some grimy Belltown loft, the punk-appreciating side of my personality was truly raised from the dead. I felt like I'd been told a secret. I wanted to write their name on my hand. So what's their goddamn name already?

Pleasureboaters! 

Go see them on September 21 @ The Funhouse.

Topics: Weekend Review

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Arthur's Comeback

Check it out, everyone! The new issue of Arthur, which will hit the streets anyday now, is available for viewing in PDF form at Arthur's website. I! Am! Thrilled! Be sure to pick up the Weekly this Wednesday for my celebration piece on Arthur's return.

Topics: Arthur Mag

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Download Festival: Or How I Didn't Learn to Stop Hating Incubus But Still Love the Thermals

Download Festival with Modest Mouse, Incubus, Presidents of the USA, Nada Surf, The Thermals, The Heavenly States, Arthur & Yu and Back Door Slam

Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA

Saturday, Aug. 25

Better Than: A DMB three-night stand (I would know).

Not Better Than: Some other, Incubus-free Download festival line-ups. (Snoop Dogg! Band of Horses! The Shins! Anyone but Incubus!)

Personal Bias: Anything involving Modest Mouse, the Thermals and Philly cheese steak can't be all bad.

Overheard (too many times) in the Crowd: "Incubus is a burn-out band from the '90s. They don't fit the bill at all."

Destination Download: A UK-born sponsor driven interactive festival that's made it's way to the states this summer with shows in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and our own George, Washington.

En Route

Triple X Drive-In's Cameo 55 

There's not a much better way to begin a trek to see Modest Mouse east of the mountains than at the Triple X Drive-In, just off of the Front Street exit in Isaac Brock's former Issaquah stomping grounds. It's something I was first introduced to via the band's song "All Night Diner" (The sign said Triple X/But they were talkin' about rootbeer) and has been a routine stop ever since. The drive-in on a hot summer Friday night was crackin'- parking spots packed with classic cars and kids running around like crazy, half dressed in various sports uniforms. It might as well have been 1954. Watching the size of the burgers and sandwiches coming out of the kitchen, we opted to share the Cameo 55, a Philly cheese steak sando piled with peppers, onions, pineapple chunks (!) and special sauce served atop a heap of fries and a banana chocolate milkshake to split. And a diet coke. Yin, yang. It was a ridiculous amount of food, even for two people- but the perfect base of fuel needed to keep us satiated until Ellensburg, the stopping point for the night.

Pulling into the Best Western parking lot, we passed an ominous looking armored vehicle conspicuously labeled SWAT with fatigue wearing soldiers hovering around it. Next to it, members of Nada Surf piled out of a white mini-van, looking like the giant truck's antithesis.

SWAT Team at the Best Western. 

The hotel recommended we hit The Tav (guess what it's short for) as a nightlife option so we headed on to the college town's (it’s home to Central Washington University) main drag to find it. Our reward came in the form of beer only- but that was fine, because everyone else in the place seemed to have had no problem reaching an elevated level of intoxication without the hard stuff. Nearly every square inch of the wooden tables and benches was carved with initials and expletives and the lighting was last-call bright, even at midnight. The beer was cold and cheap, a cowboy kind of nightcap (if no whiskey can be found) in a cowboy kind of town (if you really want to see how they do it, the Ellensburg Rodeo is this weekend).

On the Scene

A few short hours of sleep and a handful of miles later, cut to Gorge arrival. I've never seen fewer cars leading the way off of the amphitheatre exit. But, it was still early. If you were to asses who the fans were there to see based on the music blaring from cars in the parking lot, it would seem evenly split between the warring sounds of Incubus and Modest Mouse (though not one note from any record prior to Good New for People Who Love Bad News was heard). The ratio of guys to girls was Montana style, which doesn't get it's nickname, Mantana, for nothing.

Continue reading "Download Festival: Or How I Didn't Learn to Stop Hating Incubus But Still Love the Thermals"

Topics: Weekend Review

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Downloads From Download 2007: Thermals, Arthur & Yu, Back Door Slam

Modest Mouse. Photo by Chris Kornelis. 

The seven best things about attending an extremely undersold concert at the Gorge.

-The line for the John is as short as the line for $4 water.
-You see the same people over and over and begin to feel like family.
-You spend hours thinking of bands that you'd rather see than Incubus.
-Leaving early's not an option, because you feel bad for the last band.
-You can roll down a the amphitheater's hill all you like without worrying about running into people.
-Naps
-Getting out of the parking lot is easier than getting out of Ikea. 

I've been to a good number of Gorge shows in my day, but none of them were as empty as Download 2007.

I'm guessing you weren't there, either, so here are a few mp3s from the festival for you to munch on while you sit on the $66 dollars you didn't spend on a ticket to see Modest Mouse, Incubus, PUSA, and others.

-The Thermals, live at Download 2007
-Arthur & Yu, live at Download 2007
-Back Door Slam, live at Download 2007 

Topics: The Morning After

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I Heard This: Waylon Jennings' Honky Tonk Heroes

Heard: Waylon Jennings' Honky Tonk Heroes

When: Right now

Where: My office.

Thoughts: "So, it's so long Californee/ reckon I'll be a-movin' on/ I'm leavin' even if I have to crawl." So sings Waylon Jennings in "Omaha", one of the definitive numbers in the outlaw country songbook. What's more outlaw than a song about an ol' boy leavin' his hometown of Omaha, hitchin' rides to Californee, gettin' work in the Bay Area, gettin' tossed in jail for sumpin', and headin' back to Omaha with his tail between his legs? Easily one of the finest story-songs ever written...and the sonofabitch is only 2 minutes, 30 seconds long. It's the keystone track of Jennings' Honky Tonk Heroes LP, his 1973 masterpiece. With the exception of closing track "We Had It All", the record is all covers of Billy Joe Shaver songs. Shaver is a remarkable writer, and when his bare-bones, road-weary lyrics are delivered by Jennings, they reveal remarkable shades. He lends a jazz-like flavor to the title track, and his take on "Old Five and Dimers (Like Me)" is both romantic, humorous, sad, and self-pitying. With "Low Down Freedom" and "Ride Me Down Easy" he paints a gorgeous landscape of the pre-Wal-Mart American highway, dusty and desolate. It's a modern-day cowboy record, and it could be argued that, besides Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger, nobody made a better one. Hell, Jennings himself couldn't even top it.

Topics: I Heard This

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No Cure for You

This just in from Live Nation: The Cure are postponing their fall tour- which means no go for their Seattle date which was scheduled for October 8th at Key Arena. Band statement from the release:

With all apologies for any inconvenience or disappointment it may cause, we have made a decision to move the September/October 2007 North American Cure shows to April/May 2008.

The schedule as it stands only gives us a couple of weeks to finish our new double album before we hit the road again, and we know this just isn't enough time to complete the project to our genuine satisfaction.

We also want to create a new live show for North America, and incorporate new songs... and we need time and focus to do this.

So although we can agree it is a great shame to move these dates - believe us we have been looking forward to them more than anyone!

 we honestly

feel that in the bigger picture we are making the right decision.

All tickets held for all 2007 North American Cure shows will be valid for the re-scheduled 2008 shows, and of course anyone who seeks a refund will be able to get one.

All refund/rescheduling details will be announced very soon.

Once again, our genuine apologies to anyone who is upset by this announcement - please be encouraged by our promise:

The spring 2008 Cure shows will be even better than the fall 2007 ones would have been!!!

See you all soon...

Love

Robert, Simon, Jason and Porl - The Cure 23/8/07

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This Week in the Short List Podcast

Aja and Brian are back for another run through Seattle's musical landscape.

This week, Brian confesses his love for Nancy Ann Wilson, and Aja reveals the lineup of her fantasy dinner with Seattle's music elite.

Check them out every week!

CORRECTION: This post has been corrected to better reflect the sentiments of one of the parties involved. SW Music Editor Brian J. Barr actually professes his love for Ann Wilson, not Nancy, in this week's podcast. Not that Mr. Barr has anything against Nancy. Stay tuned for next week, when Brian talks about the other Wilson sister.

Topics: iPod

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Love on the Rocks

Diamond, left, in the blue jacket, at Winterland.

I knew it would only be a matter of time before my evisceration of Neil Diamond's performance and inclusion in the Band's final Winterland concert would hit his fan base, lovingly known as Diamondheads. Here's Tony from the NYC, who evidently attended the Last Waltz, taking me to task: "You're an asshole. I was there. Diamonds performance ROCKED THE HOUSE...Maybe you should consider another profession because you SUCK as a critic."

I'm not sure how such a methodical ballad could ever technically "rock" anything, but Tony's passion has compelled me to clear the air about my true feelings for Neil. I actually like Neil Diamond when he's in his own element: solo, in a glittery shirt, full of cheesy machismo, and bringing me to tears every time he sings "Love on the Rocks" in concert (I've seen him thrice). But at Winterland, dude was a square peg. He shouldn't have been there; it wasn't his scene. For another example of a fine performer detracting from other fine performers' performances, read my critique of Bill Frisell's sit-in stint with Lucinda Williams. Frisell is an amazing musician. But with Lucinda live, he was a fly in the ointment. These things happen.

Topics: The Morning After

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Last Night: Wilco at Marymoor Park

Click the image for a slideshow of the concert. All photos by Marcella D. Volpintesta.

By Hannah Levin 

Wilco
Marymoor Park
Aug. 21
Better Than: Anything I saw at the eSurance Capitol Hill Block Party 
Personal Bias: I still wished they had played "Heavy Metal Drummer."

In a recent interview with Glen Hansard, the frontman for Irish band the Frames told me he believes Wilco are role models for any band wanting to achieve broad success on their own terms. "To me Wilco have the best business model going for the modern band," he said. "They make the records they want, deliver them, tour when they want, and always come out on top."

Jeff Tweedy and company effortlessly embodied Hansard’s observations throughout their triumphant and graceful performance last night at Marymoor Park. Not only were they going above and beyond the call of duty as players, every environmental element was working in their favor: the sound was immaculately mixed at a reasonable volume (though I could have stood for it being a hair louder), the clear sky and cool temperature was ideal for an evening show, and the pale yellow slice of half-moon rising elegantly behind the stage was the perfect cinematic touch. I’m generally no fan of Eastside ambience and attitude, but both the crowd and the atmosphere were so pleasing that I found myself wishing I had gotten there earlier with a picnic basket in tow like so many other attendees.

There was a slight and understandable emphasis on their most recent release, Sky Blue Sky, but the band’s survey of their back catalog was generous and thoughtful. The MVP award definitely went to guitarist Nels Cline, who nearly stole the show at moments, deftly dividing his time between commanding a wild assortment of effects pedals, and adding crucial degrees of texture and depth with his acrobatic guitar work. Among the many highlights were exceptionally lush and detailed renditions of "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart," "A Shot in the Arm," "I’m the Man Who Loves You" (the song that closed their set prior to a pair of encores, complete set list is below), and the dedication of "Jesus, Etc." to Les Brewer, a recently deceased friend of Wilco bass player John Stirratt. Major props to photographer Marcella D. Volpintesta for capturing such gorgeous images.

Continue reading "Last Night: Wilco at Marymoor Park"

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When Bad Things Happen to Really, REALLY Good People

Photo of Jenny Jiménez by Ryan Schierling 

Monday afternoon, local music photographer Jenny Jiménez called me with some devastating news. The North Seattle house she owns with her fiancé was burglarized. Jiménez, who also plays with Night Canopy, lost virtually every last piece of photography equipment she owns to the thieves, including both her laptop and desktop Macs. Adding insult to injury is the fact that she lost over half the digital photography work she's done over the last four years, along with more than 1,000 wedding photographs she had taken just 2 days prior (she shoots weddings as well as musicians). Oh—and all the jewelry (including her mother's wedding band) she was supposed to wear when she gets married next month was stolen as well. Home owner's insurance will cover less than half of the estimated $20,000-plus loss.

Jenny Jiménez is easily one of the most talented photographers in town. I have worked with her regularly for several years, and we've documented many moving moments together, from the final Sleater-Kinney performance in Portland to a Merle Haggard and Neko Case double-bill last year. She has a truly unique, incisive gaze, and an extraordinary ability to capture musicians at rest and in motion in ways that brightly convey the weight of their work.

To say that this makes me sad and angry is a mammoth understatement, so I am posting the list of her stolen equipment here with the hopes that someone who knows something might come forward. We are also canvassing local pawn shops and trolling Craigslist. King 5 covered the story last night (you can watch the story here), and Q13 did a piece that will air tonight at 10 pm. If you have any information about Jenny's case, please contact the Seattle Police and reference case number 07-343-009. The list is after the jump. 

Continue reading "When Bad Things Happen to Really, REALLY Good People"

Topics: News

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Tall Birds Break Up

 Well, son of a bitch. Hannah Levin was just in here yesterday and mentioned that one of my favorite locals groups, the Tall Birds, broke up. This sucks...big-time. In my opinion, when it came to psych-flavored garage rock, the Tall Birds had no equal. I wrote frontman Brian Standeford to see whhat happened. He says he doesn't really know, just that in a matter of two days' time, everything fell apart. Well, we'll miss ya, T-Birds. But it probably won't be long before those guys start some other projects. In the meantime, Standeford says he'll be concentrating on his poster design work. He's been making some serious headway in this department (as evidenced above). Look for more on Standeford and his posters in an upcoming issue.

Topics: News

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Right Wing Folksingers

"There's never been a good Republican folksinger." I read this statement last night in Joan Didion's, "Where the Kissing Never Stops", an essay on Joan Baez. I'm not much of a Baez fan, but apparently she'd been quoted saying that a few times in the 60s. Naturally, it got me thinking. Are there any good Republican folksingers? I mean...besides Bob Roberts (pictured above), of course! Obviously, Merle Haggard wrote great conservative anthems, but can't really be classified as a "Republican". When I think of other conservative songs, I think of cheeseball shit like Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American" and whatever Nashville puked up in the wake of 9/11. But I say we take a poll...is Baez accurate when she says "There's never been a good Republican folksinger"? Let's duscuss...

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The Lost Interrogation

As some readers fail to grasp, we're often limited by space in the dead tree edition. Case in point: my piece on Gordon Lightfoot today. Sometimes, you start riffing on a given theme (in this case, Lightfoot's strange omission from the Band's famous final concert), and before you can come up for air, you've burned through your allotted column inches without culling more than one measly quote from a lengthy phone interview. This is exactly what happened with the Lightfoot piece, and this is why I've decided to post the full transcript of my interview with the greatest AM voice of all time, in all its unfiltered, confusing (i.e., Lightfoot loves Celine Dion, doesn't know who Lucinda Williams is) glory. The questions are mine, the quotes are Gordon's.

What Canadian songwriters do you admire? "I like Sarah McLachlan a lot. I like Tom Connors. I like Leonard Cohen, Bryan Adams and Celine Dion. The first time I heard Celine Dion, I swear to God, was 25 years ago. She was just starting out and barely spoke any English. She had to learn the whole language. That's hard. If somebody asked me to learn French, I couldn't do it. And I took it in high school, too. Leonard Cohen is completely bilingual."

(Here, it's worth noting Lightfoot has never heard of Lucinda Williams, whom I compared him to in the context that both penned hits for other artists well before becoming stars as performers. He pledged to go out and buy one of her records.)
 
You still in touch with Dylan? "Not really that much. I hung out with them more around Rolling Thunder time. From 1965 until 1980, I used to see quite a lot of him. We had a driver that we used [in Toronto], Lou Goldblatt — he was responsible for bringing Dylan to a couple of my parties, when he was driving around town."

Has Dylan ever asked you to tour with himi? "I was asked to do a duet with him at one point. But I don't know. Maybe it's because we still play capoed music. A lot of people like to play capoed music in their living rooms. I still do it that way, and it's quite an art because of the intonation. And it also gets your keyboard man in some pretty strange keys, too. A lot of people like to come and see how we do that. The best thing to do is never use them at all, but it just happens that some of the very best songs I wrote were written capoed. So people have had a hell of a time transposing some of my tunes."
 
Do you feel more appreciated today than you did when you fell ill? "Maybe so. I don't know why, but I get that sort of a feeling. It may have created some more interest. We have a good place in the pecking order, but there's a lot of competition out there. Right now, we're going 'til the end of 2009. THere's no point in stopping, as long as it's paying it's own way. we're not playing these gigantic hockey rinks like some of the other acts, so we have to be a little more frugal."

One of Johnny Cash's last acts was making a cover of "If You Could Read My Mind." What do you think of his version? "It felt like it was coming from the soul. As well organized as they were, I'm sure they thought ahead about it, but I never knew that it was being done. If somebody does one of my songs, I like it."

You turn 70 soon. What keeps you out on the road? "It's to keep the organization together. There are quite a few people involved who like to work, including myself. Some of the examples of longevity that we see around, such as Willie Nelson, he never stops. It's fun to do and it's kind of a discipline, too. You've got to try to keep it together and stay in shape. It's not so much fitness as it is a stirring of energy.
 
Do you feel like it would have been more appropriate to include you instead of Neil Diamond in the Band's Last Waltz? "I was there as a spectator. I was asked to do it, but I don't think I was prepared to do it at that time. I didn't feel I had the confidence to do it. Robbie came out before the show and asked me. I wish I had, but I just wasn't prepared."
 
What is your idealistic vision of the entire man, and how do you feel you've succeeded in pursuit of that goal? "It's been a bit of a roller-coaster to me. It's how you handle situations as they come along so they don't put you into any sort of emotional trauma. To be able to fight that off is a good thing to be able to do. It's hard to get these women to hang in there sometimes. I've seen both sides. I've left and I've been left and all that sort of stuff. Can you rise to the occasion of starting over, for instance. I wouldn't be writing songs like that now at 68 years old. If I were to practice what I preach at this point, I'd be rewriting my estate. It's all in the songs."
 
Do you feel that Canada is the true land of the free? "How can somebody make a broad statement like that? We live in a free society in North America. We're cousins. We have our ups and downs."

Topics: Interview

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Surprise! Arcade Fire Tickets Are Still Available

Photo by Renee McMahon. Click the photo for a slideshow of the band's set at Sasquatch!

I was sure this sucker would sell out within minutes. Shocker: as of right now, there are still tix available. If you've never seen the band's blistering set, you're in for a surprise.

Arcade Fire
UW's Hec Ed Pavilion
Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m.
$39.50 via Ticketmaster

Topics: tickets

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Celebrating Strummer's Life at Hazlewood

Image by inimitable Billy Perry

I still can't quite get over the fact that such a magnificent human being as Joe Strummer was taken from us so soon. Today would have been his 55th birthday, had he not died of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect in December of 2002.

There have been quite a few good books and documentaries about Joe, but my favorite is definitely Let's Rock Again, which is showing this month on the Sundance Channel. It's a beautiful, loving piece of filmmaking by one of Strummer's dearest friends, Dick Rude. It's both inspiring and tough to watch, simply because it was filmed so close to his death, yet the man seems to be living life to its fullest and is kicking out some of his best live performances in years. Here's a sample:

Tonight the good folks at Hazlewood (many of whom are avowed Clash and Strummer fans) will host a little birthday celebration in recognition of the man. Nothing fancy, just a chance to listen to lots of Clash and Strummer classics (and rarities), and knock back cocktails with fellow fans. I have to head out to see Wilco shortly, but plan on hitting Hazlewood afterwards.

Topics: Happenings

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Mmmmmm Drop!

Get 'em while they're hot:

 
Minus the Bear's Planet of Ice

According to Pitchfork's 7.2 review "The most striking thing here is how serious the band has become since its days of song titles such as "Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco® Twister". They're still likable guys, but they've gone moody."

See for yourself at the laser show set to the record tonight at the Pacific Science Center!

Akimbo's Navigating the Bronze

Just watch this for a tongue-searing taste of what these boys bring:

Catch them next: This Friday, August 24th at the Comet Tavern

Jeremy Enigk's The Missing Link

Former Sunny Day Real Estate/The Fire theft singer Jeremy Enigk's The Missing Link is out, soft and soothing, sounding a little like Colin Meloy on quaaludes. It's been 11 years since he released a solo album, and in case you want it in writing, you can get a signed copy at Sonic Boom, Sleazy Street and Silver Platters.

Idiot Pilot's Wolves 

Repping B-ham is the Warped tour-worthy Idiot Pilot with their new record, Wolves, out on Reprise. In a nod to the above, they list Sunny Day Real Estate as an influence.

Catch them next: Stay tuned- other than a whole slew of dates kicking off in October, nothing's slated yet for Seattle.

The New Pornographers, Challengers 

The New Pornographers quench thirsty fans, with Challengers their Matador released follow up to 2005's Twin Cinema. They really are in bed with their label: Singer/guitarist and redhead Carl "A.C." Newman just tied the knot with Matador's marketing manager Christy Newman.

Catch them next: September 14th and 15th at the Showbox (at the market).

More records that hit stores today:

17 Songs of Praise and Worship, by various artists may turn into what folks in the biz call a "heat seeker" - there are only five copies left! On Amazon at least. Hurry! "In the Presence of Jehovah" is the jam.

Air Supply's Best of Air Supply: Perfect Collection an import, I'll most certainly be adding to my collection, if not only for the cover art. Here's the product description from Amazon:

Product Description
Japanese-only compilation from the Australian Pop & Easy Listening duo. 19 tracks including two versions of 'Lost In Love' (Original and Acoustic) plus 'Even The Nights Are Better', 'The One That You Love', 'All Out Of Love', 'Making Love Out Of Nothing At All' and many more.

There are more, yes, but really what more could you need than God, bears, wolves, pornographers, qaaludes and Air Supply?

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Into the Wild

Photo courtesy of Paramount Vantage 

Upon receiving my note yesterday afternoon that I'd be cutting out early to attend a screening of the Sean Penn-produced film Into the Wild, based on Jon Krakauer's book based around the story of Christopher McCandless's adventures that end tragically in the shell of a school bus in the Alaskan wilderness, editor Mike Seely had this to say in an email: 

"That movie looks soooooo hit or miss to me. on the one hand, killer book, and vince vaughn and catherine keener are in it. on the other hand, sean penn's pet projects can be super pretentious; and emile hirsch is super-annoying, like leo dicaprio lite."

He was spot on. Killer book, yes. Vince Vaughn (as a colorful grain harvester who McCandless meets during his travels) and Catherine Keener (as one half of a free floating "rubber tra