[new music] The West - Don’t Make a Sound

The West will rise again!

Formerly known as simply Bob and Anthony, this two part Seattle band, comprised of Anthony Darnell (of the local Satori Group) and Bob Husak (drummer for the Blakes), has added three more members to the line-up and changed their moniker to The West. Last year, Bob and Anthony released their first single "Underground", which made me an instant fan (heard here).

For those wanting more, you'll be happy to learn that The West has just released their first EP entitled Don't Make a Sound. The newly formed group is still crafting the melodic jams heard on "Underground", but there's a little more energy and synth injected into the upbeat sing-alongs, thanks to the addition of keyboardist Adrienne Clark, producer / guitarist Reed Griffin, and songwriter / electronic producer Arthur Ross. Hear it for yourself (the EP can be streamed below).

So go pick up a copy of the The West's 4-song EP Don't Make a Sound - it's the best 4 bucks you'll spend this week. And also check them out in Seattle at the Comet Tavern tomorrow night (9 PM, $7 at the door).

[Mp3] Moonface - "The Way You Wish You Could Live In The Storm"

New song from Moonface

In early August, Moonface (aka Spencer Krug) released his second LP entitled Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped. Apparently, the song posted below, "The Way You Wish You Could Live In The Storm", did not fit in well with the rest of the album and was ultimately cut from the record. It's a good one. Also, Moonface has announced more US tour dates which kick off this month. See below for a city near you. Notably, Moonface has been playing an awesome Fine Young Cannibals cover of "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" (not "She Drives Me Crazy", unfortunately).

Moonface :: "The Way You Wish You Could Live In The Storm" (Unreleased)

Moonface tour dates:

10-07 :: Milwaukee, WI :: Cactus Club
10-08 :: Madison, WI :: U. of Wisconsin (The Sett)
10-09 :: Minneapolis, MN :: 7th St. Entry
10-11 :: Saskatoon, SK :: Amigo’s
10-12 :: Calgary, AB :: Republik
10-14 :: Vancouver, BC :: Waldorf
10-15 :: Seattle, WA :: The Crocodile
10-16 :: Portland, OR :: Doug Fir Lounge
10-18 :: San Francisco, CA :: The Independent
10-19 :: Los Angeles, CA :: The Satellite
10-20 :: San Diego, CA :: Casbah
10-21 :: Tucson, AZ :: Club Congress
10-23 :: Denver, CO :: Larimer Lounge
10-25 :: St. Louis, MO :: The Firebird
10-26 :: Chicago, IL :: Lincoln Hall
10-29 :: Washington DC :: Rock ‘N’ Roll Hotel
10-30 :: New York, NY :: Bowery Ballroom

[Letter From The Editor] Three Colours Is Back

When Will I See You Again?

Well, as you may have noticed, it's been a long while since anything has been posted here on Three Colours. I feel like a I owe someone out there an explanation. Sadly, things must always come to an end, and when I enrolled at the University of Washington for graduate school, I knew that my Seattle stint would be indefinitely long. Conscious of this, I think I really took advantage of all the wonderful music opportunities during my six years in the Emerald City. Hopefully I was able to share some of my favorite moments with readers that stumbled across this humble blog. My goal all along was to talk about the bands that I happened to discover and really enjoyed, exposing those bands to anyone willing to read about them. I'm very happy with how it all turned out. But alas, that story has run its course, and once again, I find myself in a new and unexplored land: Southwest Michigan.

Interestingly, one of the last concerts I attended in Seattle was for Lord Huron at the Tractor Tavern. Those who are familiar with these Michigan folksters have probably heard their beautiful "When Will I See You Again", which concludes their amazing Mighty EP. At the very least, it was an emotional night knowing that I could have been experiencing my last Tractor Tavern show for many years. And when this song began, the lyrics for "When Will I See You Again" became so apt for all my feelings of the night, almost like the song could have been a dialogue between me and Seattle. It so perfectly put everything in perspective and wrapped up a wonderful period in the history of my life.

Lyrics:
If you got what you came for why should you stay?
If you know where you're going why delay?
If you won't be returning don't say goodbye.
Turn you back on the ocean and follow the sun through the sky.

I've already forgotten all of your names.
And I cannot remember when you came.
Grab your things and get going. Don't say goodbye.
Turn your back on the ocean. Go see what's out there to find.

It's time to let go.
Goodbye and so long.
All the best along the way.
Couldn't I keep you another day?

When will I see you again?

I have, in fact, turned my back on the ocean, so to speak, and have made the long journey across the country to my new home. I refuse to say goodbye to land of bumbeshoots and sasquatches, because I'm sure I'll be back some day - keeping my Seahawks season tickets has assured me of that. And while Southwest Michigan may not be the musical hot bed that Seattle is, I'm a quick train ride from Chicago which I've already taken full advantage of since moving here (Pitchfork Fest was sweet!).

So I'm not sure what the frequency of posting will be in the future days here at Three Colours, but I hope to continue to share the bands that I'm listening to and maybe even do a concert review here and there. Until next post...

[pre-order] Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital + Tour Dates

Pre-order now

The Handsome Furs are set to release their 3rd LP Sound Kapital on June 28, and you can now pre-order the record at Insound and SubPop.

Also revealed is the NSFW cover art (seen above).

The band has listed the first leg of their North American tour. Most notable is their July 23 appearance in Seattle at the Capitol Hill Block Party (can we rename it Kapital Hill?). More dates are posted below.

Handsome Furs tour dates:

07-03 :: Des Moines, IA – 80/35 Festival
07-16 :: Regina, SK – The Exchange
07-17 :: Saskatoon, SK – Louis (Univ of Saskatoon)
07-19 :: Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
07-20 :: Calgary, AB – Republik
07-23 :: Seattle, WA – Kapital Hill Block Party
07-27 :: Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
07-28 :: Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Club (Rave)
07-29 :: Chicago, IL – The Bottom Lounge
07-30 :: Detroit, MI – The Lager House
08-01 :: Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern

[review] Fleet Foxes @ Moore Theater (5-3-2011)

Fleet Foxes drop album / wow Seattle

The last time I had seen Fleet Foxes live was back in 2008 when they made their first ever appearance as a headliner at the Moore Theater. At the time, I remember the band was seemingly surprised yet humbled to have filled all the seats in the house. It was almost like they still hadn't bought into their fame, yet. The band even joked about this issue, saying that they'll probably have to play the Moore lobby next year. They couldn't have been more wrong.

After a near-two year hiatus, the Fleet Foxes have emerged from their den with an amazing follow-up to their '08 self-titled LP. According to P4K, their new album Helplessness Blues is rated at a very impressive 8.8 (vs. Fleet Foxes' 9.0). I only mention this because it becomes relevant later in this review. To celebrate the May 3 release of their sophomore record, Fleet Foxes treated Seattle with their very own home show/record release party at the Moore Theater. Unfortunately to some, the concert sold out in mere minutes, which prompted the band to host a second show on the preceding night.

Luckily, I was able to snag tickets for last night's show, and experienced one of the best concerts I've witnessed in my time here in Seattle. Best show? Well for that, you have to have the right ingredients, and for starters, you'd have to make sure the opener is equally loved and adored by Seattleites. The solution? Put The Cave Singers on the bill as stage support. As expected, the night got kicked off right with a 45-minute set from The Cave Singers. They played a lot off their new LP No Witch, and of course the classics like "At the Cut," "Shrine," "Leap," and "Dancing On Our Graves." The Cave Singers sounded as good as ever, and were able to get the home crowd fired up for the main event.

After a quick set change, Fleet Foxes entered the stage with a surprisingly new-found swagger. Something seemed different - maybe it was confidence - but I couldn't help by notice how reinvigorated they appeared. After introductions and quick romp through "The Cascades" and "Grown Oceans," we learned that May 3 not only marked the release of Helplessness Blues, but it also happened to be drummer Josh Tillman's and guitarist Skye Skjelset's birthdays. Last night's rowdy crowd promptly sang "Happy Birthday" upon learning this fun fact. Later in the night, a more formal celebration was performed when cupcakes & candles were brought on stage for the two bandmates, and again, "Happy Birthday" was sung by the 1500 fans in attendance.

As stated, the crowd was really into the show, and the band's in-between-song banter was quality comedy. A memorable moment came when some ass from the crowd yelled "Hey! Pitchfork called and said they want to suck your dick!" Tillman quickly quipped, "They can do that over the phone?" and lead singer Robin Pecknold added his two cents by stating "no, they actually dinged us 0.2 points... it's more like a hand job." The crowd began to snicker, but bassist Christian Wargo was sharp to remind Pecknold of their mothers' presence in the audience, which caused only an eruption of more laughter.

Fleet Foxes sounded simply amazing throughout the night, somehow being more impressive live than on record. Harmonies were in perfect pitch, and the addition of "flutist/bassist/violinist" Morgan Henderson (of Blood Brothers and Past Lives) added all the needed subtleties for the multi-textured FF sound. The band blasted through all the best tracks as if creating their very own live "greatest hits" compilation. Fleet Foxes nearly hit the 2-hour mark and ended the night with an encore performance of their new album's title track. A full set list is posted below, but highlights included older tracks like "Mykonos," "Ragged Wood," "White Winter Hymnal," and my favorite, "Blue Ridge Mountains," as well as the new tunes "Grown Ocean," Montezuma," "The Shrine / An Argument," and "Helplessness Blues."

It was hands-down one of the best shows I've ever seen in Seattle - truly majestic.

Set list: Fleet Foxes @ Moore Theater (5-3-2011)
01 :: The Cascades
02 :: Grown Ocean
03 :: Drops In The River
04 :: Battery Kinzie
05 :: Bedouin Dress
06 :: Sim Sala Bim
07 :: Mykonos
08 :: Your Protector
09 :: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
10 :: White Winter Hymnal
11 :: Ragged Wood
12 :: Lorelai
13 :: Silver Dagger (Joan Baez cover)
14 :: Montezuma
15 :: He Doesn't Know Why
16 :: The Shrine /An Argument
17 :: Blue Spotted Tail
18 :: Blue Ridge Mountains
Encore
19 :: Helplessness Blues

BUY :: Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (for only $3.99! $7.99)

While Fleet Foxes have no beef with file sharing, just buy it - it's 8 bucks.

[review] Lord Huron @ Tractor Tavern (4-10-2011)

Lord Huron Went Wild

One would think a rainy Sunday night in Seattle would bear a tepid crowd at the Tractor Tavern. Not the case. Those devoted fans who braved the weather were more than rewarded for their dedication. The Michigan natives (by-way-of Los Angeles) who play under the moniker Lord Huron performed to an eager crowd last night, and they did not disappoint.

Lord Huron began as a solo project for lead singer Ben Schneider, but to put this show on the road, he enlisted the help of a childhood buddy and three other Michiganders. The effect is quite nice - the live version of the band has a rougher, louder edge. Even by falling victim to the Tractor's poor sound quality, the beautiful soundscapes that appear on the Lord Huron's two EPs Into the Sun and Mighty were transformed into a frenetic romp through the band's small catalog. To date, Lord Huron have seven total songs to their name, yet fans heard every single one of them in all their gloriousness. A set list is posted below, and highlights included a beautiful performance of "The Stranger", as well as "We Went Wild", which closed the set with an energy-driven climax. All in all, these guys are making some exciting tunes, and may be coming to a city near you. Check out the dates below, and be sure to catch this act if you can.

Set List :: Lord Huron @ Tractor Tavern (4-10-2011)
Mighty
Into the Sun
The Problem With Your Daughter
Son of a Gun
The Stranger
When Will I See You Again
We Went Wild

Tour Dates :: Lord Huron
04/09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir*
04/10 - Seattle, WA - The Tractor*
04/12 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*
04/13 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*
04/19 - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room*
04/20 - Denver, CO - Hi-Dive*
04/21 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown*
04/22 - St. Louis, MO - Firebird*
04/23 - Indianapolis, IN - Radio Radio*
04/24 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom*
04/26 - Washington, DC - DC9
04/28 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
04/30 - Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar
05/02 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick Lounge
05/03 - Chicago, IL - Schuba's Tavern
05/07 - Norman, OK - Opolis Coffee
05/08 - Austin, TX - Emo's
05/10 - Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture
05/11 - La Jolla, CA - The Loft at UCSD
05/14 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

* w/ Rural Alberta Advantage

[reminder] Lord Huron @ The Tractor (4-10-2011)

The Return of Lord Huron

Just a friendly reminder - Lord Huron will be playing at the Tractor Tavern this Sunday (April 10) in support of The Rural Alberta Advantage and Land of Pines. Tickets are still available (here) or at your local Sonic boom for a mere $10. Doors open at 8pm. Don't miss Lord Huron. And if you don't know who these bad asses are, watch their video of "The Stranger" above. It's awesome. Also, they earned Three Colours' Best EP honors of 2010, if that means anything to you.

Who? Lord Huron (w/ The Rural Alberta Advantage & Land of Pines)
Where? The Tractor Tavern
When? April 10, 2011 (Doors at 8pm)
How? $10 (here)

[sports] Can Clipboard Jesus Save Seattle?

Charlie Whitehurst to start in place of injured Hasselbeck

Coming off the worst showing of the year and suffering numerous key injuries in the process, the Seattle Seahawks look to forget the beating they suffered from the hands of Oakland, and hope to prevail against the mighty Giants with a new leader. While experts are saying Seattle needs a miracle to take on New York, Hawk fans may have gotten the answer to their Sunday wishes. Known to some as "Clipboard Jesus," Charlie Whitehurst will finally make his NFL debut at Qwest Field this weekend while starting QB Matt Hasselbeck recovers from a concussion.

How does one earn the nickname Clipboard Jesus? Whitehurst's holy resemblance is undeniable, and he's been holding a clipboard on the sidelines as a backup quarterback for the last 3.5 years I'm optimistically wishing for the best, and in honor of Charlie throwing his first regular season NFL pass since he joined the league in 2006, I've picked a classic Soundgarden jam to send him off in style. If only they could play song when he first takes the field...

Soundgarden - "Jesus Christ Pose"

[tour dates] Plants and Animals w/ Frightened Rabbit

Plants and Animals Return to Seattle!

After touring across the Atlantic, Plants and Animals return to the US for another leg of the La La Land tour. Fantastic paired with Scotland's Frightened Rabbit, the tour kicks off here in Seattle this Thursday (Oct 7) at the Showbox Market (tickets here). Don't miss this show, and be sure to catch these dudes in a city near your. A full list of tour dates are posted below.

Plants and Animals tour dates:

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

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

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/ Frightened Rabbit

[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)

[new music] Bob and Anthony - "Underground"

Bob and Anthony's "Underground"

Bob Husak, drummer for The Blakes, is currently working on a new music project with Anthony Darnell, the Managing Artistic Director of The Satori Group here in Seattle. The two are making music under the moniker "Bob and Anthony." So far, I've only heard a couple of their demos, and my favorite has to be "Underground" (which you can hear above). It's an extremely catchy tune and puts me in a good mood every time I listen to it.

Bob and Anthony are currently trying to raise funds to book some proper studio time for their debut album (see video below). The goal is to raise $2,500 - they have some enticing incentives for generous donors. You can essentially pledge the dollar amount for the album now, and after it's finished, they'll send you a free copy. Not a bad deal. Some of the larger pledges obviously get you bigger prizes (e.g., singing telegrams, private concerts, etc). I especially like that if you donate all $2,500, you get to name their band (but it has to be a good one, apparently). Check out the rest of the incentives below, and go here to make a pledge. And speaking of The Blakes, they've apparently just finished a new LP, and they'll be rocking the Sunset Tavern on September 24!

Pledge $1 or more
An exclusive track will be emailed to you when the album is released.

Pledge $5 or more
We'll email you THREE tracks from the album when it's released.

Pledge $10 or more
We'll email you FIVE tracks from the album when it's released.

Pledge $15 or more
We'll email you the ENTIRE album when it's released!!!

Pledge $30 or more
We'll email you the ENTIRE album when it's released. AND, we'll mail you a special thank you gift! Like it'll be an awesome gift.

Pledge $50 or more
We'll mail you a super special signed poster.
(+ ENTIRE ALBUM)

Pledge $100 or more
Signed poster and Anthony will write a humorous song about you.
(+ ENTIRE ALBUM)

Pledge $200 or more
We'll do a singing telegram (must be in Seattle).
(+the ENTIRE digital album)

Pledge $500 or more
We'll play at your party (must be in Seattle).
(+ the ENTIRE digital album)

Pledge $1,000 or more
All of the above, plus the digital album. You're a winner!

Pledge $2,500 or more
You can name our band (has to be a good name...).
Plus, all of the above.
(+ the ENTIRE digital album)

[video] Arcade Fire on The Daily Show

Arcade Fire perform "Ready To Start" and "Month of May"

Last night on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Arcade Fire showcased two new songs off The Suburbs, which also happens to be the number one record in the country. The first song is my personal favorite of the LP, "Ready To Start," and the show was ended with "Month of May," which I think sounds much better heard here live. It's also fun to see just how short Stewart is compared to lead singer Win Butler (aka the kid in high school who protected Stewart from bullies). Check it out.

Also, new North American tour dates were just released, including a Key Arena performance scheduled for September 29! Tickets will go on sale soon.

[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)

[review] Toadies @ Showbox (7-28-2010)

Seattle Loves the Toadies

Seattle has time and again shown their appreciation towards Fort Worth's very own Toadies. It's this affection, expressed in fist pumps and hollers, that creates the perfect environment for an all-around good show.

Wednesday night's concert was no exception. From the moment the Toadies took the stage at the Showbox, an eruption of elation occurred. You have to understand, for hardcore Toadies fans, the idea of a Feeler tour equates to the same emotions brought on by Brian Wilson's SMiLE, or GNR's Chinese Democracy. And feeding off the crowd's energy, the band immediately broke into the classics to get the night moving in a good direction. The Toadies kicked the set off with "Backslider," and lead singer Todd Lewis's voice never sounded so good. But that's what you come to expect at a Toadies show - don't let drummer Mark Reznicek's hair color fool you - these guys sound as young as they did back in '94.

Since the band was promoting their new album Feeler, we got to hear a fair number of hits off the LP, including "Dead Boy," "City of Hate," "Suck Magic," "ATF Theme," "Waterfall," and "Mine." To give a quick back-story behind this ill-fated album, the band originally recorded Feeler in '97 as a follow-up to Rubberneck, but Interscope deemed the record ill-fit for release. The Toadies lost the rights to the songs and had to re-record the entire album, and after 13 years it finally gets its proper release. You could almost see the triumph in lead guitarist Clark Vogeler's eyes as if to say, "yeah, we knew these songs would be liked."

Highlights from the night included the Rubberneck gems "Away," "Possum Kingdom," and "Tyler," and surprise favorites like "Push the Hand" and "Heel" sounded incredible. I was happy to hear some of the stronger songs from No Deliverance ("Nothing to Cry About" and the title track), and I thought all the Feeler jams were excellent. Really my only complaint of the night came during the encore when they covered the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down." It's not to say I didn't like the song, but I felt like they didn't need to throw it in there. If you buy Feeler through iTunes, you get this track as a bonus tune, so I understand why they played it. But I digress...

All in all, this one amazing show from a band that I'm so happy decided to make music again. At the end of the night, Vogeler thanked Seattle for being "the best fucking rock city in the country," and I think he was actually sincere about that comment. Mosh pits were erupting on the main floor, and the crowd was jumping up and down so much the band kept commenting on how the stage was literally shaking. A full set list is posted below, and as you can see, it's loaded with non-stop hits, and it ended with a crowd-favorite, "I Come From the Water."

Toadies set list (7-28-2010):
Backslider
Little Sin
Dead Boy
Away
Nothing to Cry About
Push the Hand
Doll Skin
City of Hate
Happy Face
Suck Magic
ATF Theme
Heel
Waterfall
Mister Love
Pressed Against the Sky
Possum Kingdom
Song I Hate
Mine
Tyler
Encore
Don't Let Me Down (Beatles cover)
I Burn
No Deliverance
Pink
I Come From the Water

[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

[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] Plants and Animals (Live @ KEXP)

Plants and Animals in the KEXP Studio

Before rocking out the Crocodile, Plants and Animals played a four-song set over at KEXP. Well, they've finally released the footage, which can be seen via YouTube. I've attached my two favorite performances: "Celebration" and "Game Shows," but you can also watch the in-studio performances of "The Mama Papa" and "Undone Melody" (as well as the other two songs) in high definition by going here.

In other P&A news, the band will be returning to the Emerald City for the 40th anniversary of Bumbershoot. The line up for the Seattle music and art festival was just posted, and if you'd like to catch Plants and Animals again, go on Sunday, September 5.