[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (2-20-2013)

Back From the Dead Mix

For those of you that are still with me, I salute you and your enduring patience. It's been a long while since I've put together an HDPP, but hopefully this one will fill the gap. There are some exciting albums on the way, and notably, there's some debut LPs dropping that you should check out - Atoms For Peace's Amok on February 25 (via XL) and Cayucas' Bigfoot on April 30 (via Secretly Canadian). Also, feast your ears on the Local Natives newest album Hummingbird (via frenchkiss) if you haven't already.

Stream the playlist below (or by clicking here).

:: Hump Day Power Play (2-20-2013) ::
01 ::"Breakers" – Local Natives
02 ::"Cayucos" – Cayucas
03 ::"Speaking In Rounds" – Grizzly Bear
04 ::"Judge Jury And Executioner" – Atoms For Peace
05 ::"Swin and Sleep" – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
06 ::"Revival" – Deerhunter
07 ::"High School Lover" – Cayucas
08 ::"Windshield Smasher" – Black Moth Super Rainbow
09 ::"Fingers Never Bleed" – Yeasayer
10 ::"Take It Easy" – Surfer Blood
11 ::"Exactly Nothing" – Real Estate
12 ::"The Base" – Paul Banks

:: Get Spotify ::

[review] Local Natives @ Showbox (9-24-2010)

Local Natives play to their home away from home

When guitarist/vocalist Taylor Rice professed his love for Seattle as the band's favorite concert destination, the eruption of cheers from a very energetic crowd made it seem like The Local Natives were playing to their home crowd. And to then tell us Paseo was their favorite tour food in the entire country, I was almost convinced that these dudes were truly locals...

Last night, the Showbox hosted a sold out performance from a trio of harmonizing indie folksters. The evening began with a fantastic performance from The Union Line. If you haven't heard these guys, check out their MySpace page and their Daytrotter session. I picked up a copy of their Cernido Sonidos EP at the show, and it's been on constant rotation all morning. Following up with another quality caliber set was NC's The Love Language. It really got the sold out crowd excited for the Local Natives.

But the main event proved better than any reviewer can try to put to words. The Local Natives kicked off their set with a very powerful rendition of "Camera Talks" and immediately captured the crowds' energy. Based on the viewer reaction, it's amazing that the band only has one album to their name. However, when you don't have a weak song on your debut, it's not a problem to play your entire album for a show. And that is exactly what the Local Natives did, shuffling the order of Gorilla Manor's track listing.

And whether they're playing instrument roulette or switching between the band's dual lead singing capabilities (either Taylor Rice or Kelcey Ayer), to see these dudes live is a real treat. The three-part harmonies made possible from guitarist Ryan Hahn only add to the amazing live experience. And the rthym Highlights of the night included the performances of "World News," "Wide Eyes," "Shape Shifter," and "Airplanes." After a quick encore, the band returned with "Cubism Dream" and a very wild, crowd participating "Sun Hands." Overall, I was very impressed and pleased with the show, and highly recommend catching these guys live in a city near you. A set list is posted below.

Set list - Local Natives (9-24-2010):
Camera Talks
World News
Warning Sign
Cards & Quarters
Sticky Thread
Wide Eyes
Shape Shifter
Stranger Things
Airplanes
Who Knows Who Cares
Encore
Cubism Dream
Sun Hands

[reminder] Local Natives @ The Showbox (9-24-2010)

Friday Night!

Autumn has officially commenced, so go and celebrate the coming of rain by staying indoors! There's two great shows going on in Seattle tomorrow night: The Blakes @ Sunset Tavern ($10) and Local Natives @ The Showbox Market ($16). Sadly, you can't go to both, but at least you've got options. I'll be at the Showbox, rocking out to such songs like the one above and below. Details for both shows:

Friday - September 24, 2010

Local Natives @ The Showbox Market
Doors @ 8:00pm
w/ The Love Language and The Union Line
Tickets: $16 (here)

The Blakes @ Sunset Tavern
Doors @ 8:30pm
w/ Mal De Mer and Kids and Animals
Tickets: $10 (here)

[video] Crime Bustin' Local Natives - "Airplanes"

Local Natives and Yours Truly Fight Crime While Rocking Out

The Local Natives performed a few songs live for Yours Truly, but before the band could break into the lovely chorus of "Airplanes," the song was interrupted by a near-by mugging. In the first minute of the video above, you can see the mugger run by with a lady's purse in hand. What the criminal didn't count on was the quick legs of a fellow Yours Truly dude, who apprehended the assailant and reclaimed the lady's stolen purse. It's probably the best possible feel-good introduction to "Airplane," which is played after the break. Check it out above.

Also, don't forget to catch the Local Natives' amazing live act at the Showbox Market when the boys swing through in September.

Who :: The Local Natives
When :: September 24, 2010
Where :: Showbox Market, Seattle, WA
How :: $16 (Tickets)

[concerts] Seattle Shows to Look Forward to (2010)

Good music on the way

So there's a bunch of great shows every week here in Seattle, but I wanted to showcase the ones I'm most looking forward to. This is a dynamic list, so expect it to grow with more dates as more announcements are made.

July 23-25 // Capitol Hill Block Party // 10th and Pike
July 26 // Wolf Parade // Showbox
         (w/ The Moools)
July 28 // The Toadies // Showbox
July 31 // Phosphorescent // Crocodile
         (w/ J. Tillman)
Aug 4  // Joanna Newsome // Moore Theater
         (w/ Robin Pecknold!!!)
Aug 21 // No Depression Fest // Marymoor Park
         (w/ Cave Singers)
Aug 29 // Vampire Weekend // Marymoor Park
Aug 25 // Wavves // Neumos
Sept 4-6 // Bumbershoot // Seattle Center
Sept 11 // The National // Marymoor Park
         (w/ Okerville River)
Sept 24 // The Local Natives // Showbox
         (w/ Love Language)
Sept 25 // The xx // Paramount
         (w/ Warpaint)
Oct 14 // Telekinesis // Showbox
         (w/ Teenage Fanclub & Superchunk)
Nov 2 // The Black Keys // Paramount

[video] Local Natives - "Airplanes" on Craig Ferguson

For those of you who missed the Local Natives' awesome Thursday-night performance of "Airplanes" on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, here you go. One of my favorite albums thus far in 2010, Gorilla Manor is one of those instant classics that ceases to wear out. Below is another video of their KEXP live rendition of the Talking Heads cover "Warning Sign." Enjoy.

Buy :: Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

[tour dates] Local Natives - US Winter Tour

Local Natives Commence US Tour

Beginning this month, Local Natives will kick off their US winter tour in support of their fabulous debut album Gorilla Manor. With their first stop at SXSW, the band will eventually make their way up to the Pacific Northwest in May. Sadly, the only show they'll be playing in the Seattle area is Sasquatch!, which is still cool, but I think I'd much rather see them at a venue like the Crocodile (just my opinion). Hopefully they'll do a secret show or a record store appearance when they're in the area. We'll just have to wait and see. More dates posted below.

If you still haven't listened to Gorilla Manor, check it out below. Lately, I just can't get enough play out of this record - it's so good.

Local Natives tour dates:

Mar 18 2010 8:00P - SWSX Austin, TX

Mar 19 2010 8:00P - SXSW Austin, TX

Mar 20 2010 8:00P - SSXW Austin, TX

Apr 18 2010 3:00P - Coachella Indio, CA

Apr 20 2010 8:00P - Solar Culture Tuscon, AZ

Apr 22 2010 8:00P -The Cavern Dallas, TX

Apr 23 2010 8:00P - Emo’s (inside) Austin, TX

Apr 24 2010 8:00P - Mango’s Houston, TX

Apr 26 2010 8:00P - Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack Little Rock, AR

Apr 27 2010 8:00P - Thirsty Hippo Haittesburg, MS

Apr 29 2010 8:00P - Cafe 11 St. Augustine, FL

Apr 30 2010 8:00P - The Basement Nashville, TN

May 1 2010 8:00P - Masquerade Atlanta, GA

May 4 2010 8:00P - Local 506 Chapel Hill, NC

May 5 2010 8:00P - DC 9 Washington DC

May 6 2010 8:00P - Bowery Ballroom New York, NY

May 7 2010 8:00P - Kung Fu Necktie Philadelphia, PA

May 8 2010 8:00P - Great Scott Allston, MA

May 11 2010 8:00P - Beachland Tavern Cleveland, OH

May 12 2010 8:00P - The Basement Columbus, OH

May 14 2010 8:00P - Schubas Chicago, IL

May 15 2010 8:00P - Rock Island Brewing Co. Rock Island, IL

May 17 2010 8:00P - 400 Bar Minneapolis, MN

May 18 2010 8:00P - The Mill Iowa City, IA

May 19 2010 8:00P - Mojo’s Columbia, MO

May 21 2010 8:00P - Larimer Lounge Denver, CO

May 22 2010 8:00P - Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT

May 25 2010 8:00P - Empyrean Spokane, WA

May 26 2010 8:00P - Neurolux Boise, ID

May 27 2010 8:00P - Mississippi Studios Portland, OR

May 28 2010 8:00P - Media Club Vancouver, BBC

May 30 2010 8:00P - Sasquatch! Seattle, WA

Jun 3 2010 8:00P - Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, CA

Jun 10 2010 8:00P - Bonnaroo Manchester, TN

Jun 15 2010 8:00P - Shepherds Bush Empire London

[new music] Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

Local Natives New Album Tomorrow

All redundancies aside, Local Natives' debut album Gorilla Manor is nothing short of excellence. Expansive, dreamlike jams comprise the 12-song long player, complete with folky vocal harmonies, rowdy campfire backing howls, clangorous drums, and crunchy guitars which all equate to a record fit for multiple spins. Gorilla Manor drops tomorrow via Frenchkiss Records and should be available at all good (and probably some bad) record stores. To get an early sample, NPR is streaming the album in its entirety (go here), and if you act fast, you may still manage to nab a 7" copy of "Sun Hands" if you pre-order the LP from Insound now (go here). Below, you'll also find video for "Airplanes" and a few other tracks for your listening pleasure.