[concert] Gorillaz @ Key Arena! (11-2-2010)

Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour 2010

Just announced via P4K, it looks like the Gorillaz will finally be taking their show through Seattle. And what venue could possibly accommodate such a large, orchestrated production? Looks like only Key Arena can contain such an extravagant show. Other dates are posted below, but make sure you mark November 2 and 3 on your calendar if you happen to live in the Northwest. Gorillaz hit Seattle on November 2, and Vancouver, BC on November 3. Tickets go on sale to the general public on August 20, but if you're a member of the Gorillaz fan club (sign up here), you'll get early access to some good seats.

Gorillaz tour dates:
10-03 // Montreal, Quebec // Bell Centre
10-05 // Wallingford, CT // Oakdale Theatre
10-06 // Boston, MA // Agganis Arena
10-08 // New York, NY // Madison Square Garden
10-10 // Camden, NJ // Susquehanna Bank Center
10-11 // Fairfax, VA // Patriot Center
10-13 // Detroit, MI // Fox Theatre
10-14 // Toronto, Ontario // Air Canada Centre
10-16 // Chicago, IL // UIC Pavilion
10-17 // Minneapolis, MN // Target Center
10-19 // Houston, TX // Toyota Center
10-20 // Dallas, TX // Verizon Theatre
10-22 // Austin, TX // Frank Erwin Center
10-24 // Denver, CO // Wells Fargo Theatre
10-26 // Phoenix, AZ // Dodge Theatre
10-27 // Los Angeles, CA // Gibson Amphitheatre
10-30 // Oakland, CA // Oracle Arena
11-02 // Seattle, WA // Key Arena
11-03 // Vancouver, BC // Rogers Arena
11-11 // Dublin, Ireland // O2 Arena
11-12 // Manchester, England // Evening News Arena
11-14 // London, England // O2 Arena
11-15 // Amsterdam, Netherlands // Heineken Music Hall
11-17 // Birmingham, England // NIA
11-18 // Brighton, England // Centre
11-21 // Berlin, Germany // Velodrom
11-23 // Paris, France // Zenith
11-25 // Antwerp, Belgium // Lotto
12-06 // Perth, Australia // Burswood Dome
12-08 // Adelaide, Australia // Entertainment Centre
12-11 // Melbourne, Australia // Rod Laver
12-16 // Sydney, Australia // Entertainment Centre
12-19 // Brisbane, Australia // Entertainment Centre
12-21 // Auckland, New Zealand // Vector Arena

[concert] Toadies @ Showbox Market Tonight (7-28-2010)

Toadies Return to Seattle

After having finally completed the thought-to-be-lost Feeler album, the Toadies have put together a mini-US tour with a stop tonight in Seattle. Tickets are still available (here) at the Showbox, and if you want to prime yourself for some of the tunes you'll be hearing, Amazon is selling Feeler digitally right now (here).

If you'd like to sample a couple of the tracks off this new LP, head over to Spin and AOL to listen/download the tracks "City of Hate" and "Mine."

Don't miss this show, it's going to be a blast.

[review] Wolf Parde @ Showbox (7-26-2010)

Wolf Parade delivers the "Royal Mix"

Last night Wolf Parade treated Seattleites with another fantastic show at the Showbox. To give a little historical significance, my first Wolf Parade "live experience" occurred at the Showbox in August of '06 - WP had just released Apologies to the Queen Mary and were touring with Frog Eyes and Whale Bones on the "Spiritual Animal Tour." During that show, I remember feeling that WP was on the verge of something big. It would take a few years of insane touring and numerous side projects before Wolf Parade garnered the respect and notoriety that the talented five-some deserved. In that time, other WP appearances in Seattle occurred in '07 with Holy Fuck, followed by the surprise show after the Sub Pop Fest in '08 with Foals.

So after what felt like a long drought, WP finally made their way back to Jet City in support of their 3rd LP Expo 86. For some reason, it seemed very fittingly to be back at the Showbox. The set list is posted below, and I'd have to say I was very happy with the tunes they showcased last night. A few songs into the set, lead singer/keyboardist Spencer Krug informed the audience that we'd be getting an even mix of old and new songs, which lead singer/guitarist Dan Boeckner dubbed as the "Royal Mix." The old tunes still had that new song smell to them (revamped and rejuvinated), and the new tunes were full of energy which kept the night fresh. Highlights of the set included the very well-received "Ghost Pressure" (which featured Krug on omnichord), "Fine Young Cannibals," and the rarely performed "In the Direction of the Moon." What struck me most was how amazing each song from At Mount Zoomer sounded in concert. I really wish Zoomer had been recorded live like Apologies and Expo; hearing those songs performed at a show sound so much better than the studio cuts.

And the band was really on fire last night. Boeckner as always looked like a Fraggle rocker on steroids - full of energy and spastically churning out the hits. Krug was a young Beethoven-incarnate, complete with wild hair and his ear only inches from the keys. At some point in the night drummer Arlen Thompson must have called upon the thunder gods, which invoked a dance party with his skillful stick-play, and Dante DeCaro kept the rhythm section together by filling in the missing space left behind after the departure of Hadji Bakara.

All in all, those who attended last night's show left with smiles on their faces. The encore set contained one song from each of the band's three LPs. I was thrilled to hear the classic "You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son" followed by "Yulia," and the night ended with an unabridged performance of "Kissing the Beehive" in all its 11 minutes of glory. As always, Wolf Parade did not disappoint.

Wolf Parade set list (7-26-2010)
Soldier's Grin
What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way)
Palm Road
Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
Ghost Pressure
Cloud Shadow on the Mountain
Fine Young Cannibals
In the Direction of the Moon
This Heart's On Fire
I'll Believe In Anything
Pobody's Nerfect
California Dreamer
Encore
You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son
Yulia
Kissing the Beehive

Photos :: courtesy of Laura Musselman

[new music] Plains - "Stuck In The Night"

Plains - "Innovator" b/w "Stuck In The Night"

Plains, the one-song-sensation from Miami, Florida, is set to release their very first 7" single. Only 100 limited copies of "Innovator" b/w "Stuck In The Night" will drop sometime this August via Discosoma Records. To hear the band's second song/b-side, go to their MySpace page (here). It's not as catchy as "Innovator," but it's still a quality track. Of course, to hear "Innovator" or watch the very cool video, look below. Good things are going to come from these guys.

[concert] Wolf Parade @ Showbox Market Tonight (7-26-2010)

Wolf Parade tonight!

Just a reminder: tonight is the night for Wolf Parade's sold out concert at the Showbox Market. Doors open at 8pm, and stage support includes the Moools.

If you haven't listened to WP's new LP, go here and get yourself a copy.

Buy :: Wolf Parade - Expo 86

Oh, and here's the first single off Expo 86, which you'll definitely hear tonight if you go to the show:

Wolf Parade - "Ghost Pressure"


UPDATE :: The show is no longer listed as sold out. Tickets are still available.

[mp3] Spoon - "Something To Look Forward To" July Bonus Track

New Tunes From Spoon

Well, it's been over 6 months since we were last treated with some Spoon bonus tracks, but you can now visit their website for a new track for the month of July. This month's offering is an early demo version of Kill the Moonlight's "Something To Look Forward To." Check it out below.

MP3: Spoon - "Something To Look Forward To" (early demo)
(July Bonus Track)

[news] Plants and Animals to tour with Frightened Rabbit

New tour dates announced for P&A

Seattle is going to get a double dose of Plants and Animals this fall. First at Bumbershoot 2010 on September 4 (along with The Budos Band), and now on October 7 at the Showbox. The latter date includes stage support from Scotland's very own Frightened Rabbit. Both shows are bound to great since I've seen P&A absolutely kill at both the festival setting and the intimate club setting.

After Bumbershoot, Plants and Animals will head across the Atlantic for a number of EU shows before returning in October to complete their US leg. Check them out in a city near you (more dates posted below) and if you still haven't listened to their newest LP La La Land, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy today.

Buy :: Plants and Animals - La La Land

Plants and Animals tour dates:

July 30
Aug 1
Aug 5
Aug 6
Aug 7
Aug 9
Aug 10
Aug 11
Aug 14
Aug 15
Sept 4
Sept 9
Sept 10
Sept 15
Sept 16
Sept 17
Sept 18
Sept 19
Sept 23
Sept 24
Sept 25
Oct 7
Oct 8
Oct 9
Oct 10
Oct 13
Oct 14
Oct 15
Oct 16
Oct 17
Oct 19
Oct 20
Oct 21
Oct 22
Oct 23
Oct 26
Oct 28
Oct 29
Oct 30
Nov 1
Nov 2
Nov 3

Chattanooga, TN
Chicago, IL
London, UK
London, UK
Standon, UK
Potsdam, DE
Dresden, DE
Darmstadt, DE
Preganziol, IT
Cesantico, IT
Seattle, WA
London, UK
Dorset, UK
Rees-Haldern, DE
Utrecht, NL
Berlin, DE
Paris, FR
Tilburg, NL
Manchester, UK
Glasgow, UK
Leeds, UK
Seattle, WA
Vancouver, BC
Portland, OR
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
San Diego, CA
Anaheim, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Tempe, AZ
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
New Orleans, LA
Gainesville, FL
Athens, GA
Philadelphia, PA
Boston, MA
New York, NY
Washington, DC
Pittsburgh, PA
Detroit, MI

Nightfall Series at Miller Plaza (tix)
Wicker Park Festival
The Lexington w/ El Guincho (tix)
The Brixton Windmill (tix)
Standon Calling Festival (tix)
Lindenpark* (tix)
Beatpol* (tix)
Centralstation* (tix)
Macaco in the Country
Retro Pop Live
Bumbershoot Festival (tix)
Bush Hall (tix)
End of the Road Festival (tix)
Haldern Pop Bar
dB's
Introducing at Magnet
La Flèche D'or
Incubate Festival (tix)
The Ruby Lounge+ (tix)
King Tut's+ (tix)
The Brudenell Social Club+ (tix)
The Showbox~
The Vogue Theatre~
Wonder Ballroom~
The Fillmore~
Mayan Theater~
House of Blues~
House of Blues~
The Beauty Bar~
The Clubhouse~
The Loft~
Stubb's BBQ~
Walter's on Washington~
Tipitina's~
Common Grounds~
40 Watt Club~
Starlight Ballroom~
Paradise~
Terminal 5~
9:30 Club~
Diesel Club~
Magic Stick~


* w/ Portugal. The Man
+ w/ Shout Out Louds
~ w/ Frightened Rabbit