May 13, 2013

Mike McCready once ruined a friendship of mine. This was a shame, because the friend in question was an interesting guy. He wrote a book about his experiences teaching in inner-city LA high schools, worked as a writer/producer on several television shows, and he even won the game show Jeopardy several times in a row. On most Sundays, he and I would grab...

Apr 26, 2013

I have a well-established track record of staking out wildly-unpopular-at-the-time positions, which, sometimes years later … become far more popular positions. When I first started “blogging”, I took a lot of flak for using four-letter words. I was called classless, compared to trailer trash, and people rushed to distance themselves from me. ...

Mar 17, 2013

When I first read the proclamation above, I rolled my eyes. “Overshadowed by male-dominated bands”, I said, “oooh, sounds sinister.” I couldn’t help but wonder, though … what exactly is a male-DOMINATED band? Were the Beatles a male-dominated band? How about Simon & Garfunkel? Were the Go-Gos a female-dominated...

Feb 3, 2013

This was the marquee at the Show Box last night: Here are my tickets, so far, for February’s shows. What year is it again???? A few months ago, Love Battery’s Ron Nine was interviewed by The Stranger, and in the article, he was asked for his thoughts on the “g” word. “Speaking for myself, I always kind of rebelled against the word...

Dec 17, 2012

Last night, I saw Sunn O))) and Earth at the Neptune, along with opening bands Lioncloth and Dead in the Dirt. I went primarily to see Dylan’s band … and they didn’t disappoint. I just wish they’d been able to play for a little longer. Shortly after Earth’s set, Sunn O))) took the stage, and I instantly had my scalp peeled back by...

Oct 4, 2012

“Do you need your cane?” I wanted to kill myself when my wife posed this question to me. Sometimes, I think Kurt had this one pegged. Maybe it is better to burn out than fade away. On this night, I was seriously wishing that I had. This past Saturday, my back went out again. This made it the third … fourth time this year. I’ve...

Sep 6, 2012

I doubt anyone will get the title reference, and actually, I think there may be a few tickets left. Tonight at the Showbox. Hipsters welcome. I guess. Bring...

Aug 26, 2012

Download Video: MP4 I’m hanging out at the Crocodile last night, when a band takes the stage and launches into a set of Soundgarden covers, the previous band having just finished up a set of Pearl Jam covers. The night is billed as a Tribute to Layne Staley, and the crowd is an interesting mix of Belltown yuppies, UW fratboys, pretentious...

May 20, 2012

Love Battery played Lo-Fi last night, and of course, yours truly was in attendance. Now that the ringing in my ears has finally begun to subside, I’ll try to pen a few paragraphs about the show. The festivities kicked off shortly after 10pm, and first up was Summer Babes. This band had kind of a pop thing going on, complete with matching white uniforms...

May 19, 2012

One of the best bands ever to come out of Seattle, and one of my top 10 favorites to come out of anywhere, is playing tonight at Lo-Fi, and I consider it a civic duty to make as many people aware of it as possible. LB does not play very often, so don’t miss out. Tonight, they play with Atomic Bride and Summer Babes, and tickets are most likely in the $10...

Apr 21, 2012

Remember when life didn’t suck? Yeah, me either. I try, though, oh how I try, and lately, I’ve found that there’s something contagious about the boundless optimism that is exhibited within the context of a flash mob. Especially the flash mob I witnessed today. Last year, I recorded the 2011 Glee Flash Mob as it made its way form Capitol Hill,...

Nov 27, 2011

Many years ago, I was born in a small town called Washington, D.C. During those years, I was quite the Foreskin fan, seeing the team play in RFK Stadium on many occasions. Over the last couple of decades, however, I lost touch with football altogether. The chaotic demands of life coupled with a deep-seated cynicism toward corporate sports meant that nearly 20...

Oct 23, 2011

Download Video: MP4 I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again … Love Battery is the most underrated band in the history of music. Over the years, I’ve mentioned this group in my various articles a few dozen times, and in the process, I’ve turned a lot of people on to the band. Not once has anyone been disappointed. Love Battery...

Oct 21, 2011

I’m just a bill, yes I’m only a bill, and I’m posted here on Capitol Hill. Thank God you were, otherwise I would have missed tomorrow night’s Love Battery gig at The Mix. Love Battery is one of the greatest Seattle bands ever. Hell, they’re one of the greatest bands ever, period. There are no advanced ticket sales, which means that...

Sep 21, 2011

About a month ago, when the Cinerama began selling tickets for the premiere of the Pearl Jam 20 movie, I looked at my late September calendar and realized that my schedule would be chaotic. I might be available to see the show, and then again, I might not. Because of this, I decided against purchasing tickets. Not so much for financial reasons (two tickets...

Jul 29, 2011

I know that this news has been out since last month, but I’m just now getting somewhat excited about it. Every now and then, a band comes along that blows your mind, and as you are listening to their albums or watching them live, you wonder “How is this not the biggest band on the planet? Is the world collectively deaf? What the hell is wrong with...

Jul 22, 2011

The Capitol Hill Block Party kicked off one hour ago, and I walked up the hill to check it out. So far, the only thing going on is security folks being kind of obnoxious. No music, no vendors, just guys in black shirts running around saying “you can’t walk here!” and “you can’t walk there!” while glaring at you in their most...

Jul 2, 2011

Yesterday during the Pro Shop opening, Sound Wave, the Seattle Sounders band performed a few songs. I recorded one of them. Download Video: MP4

Jun 22, 2011

I just had lunch in Pioneer Square where I discovered the “Out to Lunch – Summer in the City” concert series. What are the Out to Lunch concerts? I’m glad you asked. Twice each week, there will be free concerts held throughout the city in a variety of locations and genres from Cuban Salsa to Ragtime. Yes, Ragtime. I wasn’t aware...

Jun 12, 2011

Yesterday, while hanging out in Lake Union Park, I observed a flotilla heading south toward Downtown Seattle. I watched as the fleet got closer and closer, and just before they made landfall, I was able to identify their origin. Sure enough, they were Canadian. Oh no! I knew this day was coming, I just didn’t expect it to be so soon. I thought we had...

Jun 1, 2011

I just pulled some video from Folklife ’11 from my camera, and I put together a short piece from Calvin’s performance on Saturday. He starts off the set by answering the question “What do you think of Seattle Rex”, and then segues into a couple of songs. Enjoy. Download...

May 29, 2011

Yesterday, I headed over to the Northwest Folklife Festival at Seattle Center. To be honest, I didn’t head over for the festival as much as I did to catch a specific artist. You see, Olympia’s favorite son, Calvin Johnson was playing a set at the “Folklife Cafe” (which was inexplicably not a cafe at all). This is the same Calvin Johnson who is the...

May 27, 2011

This afternoon, I was walking through Westlake Park when all of a sudden I was attacked by a vicious pack of zombies. Where did they come from? I don’t know. What did they want? Brains, I guess. Not wanting to miss the next season of American Idol, I wasn’t going to go easily. I made a dash for the nearby subway station, and the zombies quickly...

May 18, 2011

The Melvins played a two-show residency at the Croc in Belltown this past weekend, and of course, they killed it on both nights. Both shows were quickly sold out, and the shows were great, but when Monday came around, I found myself nagged by a question. In 2011, why in the HELL am I still seeing The Melvins in venues like the Croc? Don’t get me wrong, the...

May 18, 2011

Has been announced: A lot of hipster bands playing elevator music, but some really good bands too. The Posies TV on the Radio Explosions in the Sky Ghostland Observatory Thurston Moore The Cave Singers Battles Ra Ra Riot Les Savy Fav Handsome Furs Kurt Vile and The Violators Yuck F**ked Up Telekinesis Cults Cold Cave Woods Fences Pink Mountaintops My...