Sep 22, 2011

Yesterday afternoon, I had to get some large items from Queen Anne, so I decided to rent a Zipcar for a couple of hours. When I got in the car, I fired up the engine, turned on the radio, then immediately turned the volume knob to zero. The previous driver had tuned the radio to some kind of dance/autotune affair, and it just wasn’t my thing. Not feeling...

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...

Sep 21, 2011

The Kindness of Pearl Jam Strangers: http://www.seattlerex.com/the-kindness-of-pearl-jam-strangers/

Aug 24, 2011

Last Sunday was a busy day for yours truly. In addition to Cal Anderson Park, Big Mario’s, and the 12th Avenue Festival, I also spent two hours at the “Freeway Park Noon Tune Concert for Kids”. This was a concert for Seattle city kids, and it featured two bands — Brian Vogan and His Good Buddies and Recess Monkey. Download...

Aug 15, 2011

Today, the second annual 12th Avenue Festival was held in Pike/Pine, and after hanging out in Cal Anderson Park, I walked over to check it out.  Here is the release: http://12thaveseattle.com/festival.php Join us for the second 12th Avenue Neighborhood Festival this August! This unique community Festival features your favorite restaurants offering...

Aug 7, 2011

Pike Place is ground zero for buskers in the Pacific Northwest, and standing in front of the original Starbucks on most summer days is one of my personal favorites, “The Only Black Guys I’ve Ever Seen at Starbucks”. At least that’s what I call them. I’m sure the group has a real name, but I’ve never tried to interrupt them to...

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 26, 2011

‘My Goodness’ is probably my favorite “new” Seattle band. They’ve got a White Stripes meets Black Keys meets Mudhoney thing going on, and if they aren’t a household name in Seattle (if not wider) within the next few years, I’ll be surprised. A couple of other bands that have the potential to save Seattle from folk and video game music are the...

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 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 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...

May 15, 2011

Since yesterday, I have had the same song stuck in my head. It just keeps playing over and over and over and over. While at the Cannabis Rally in Volunteer Park, I caught one of the rap acts, and I just haven’t been the same since. Every corner of my brain has been reverberating with the same loop. If you watch this video, perhaps you will suffer a...

Apr 20, 2011

Today, auditions for the FOX show “The X Factor” are being held at the Key Arena, and I dropped by this morning to see if I would be amused by anyone in the crowd. Unfortunately, most of the contestants were fairly laid back and quiet, at least until the network cameras panned over them. What struck me the most about this event were the security...

Apr 18, 2011

Apr 18, 2011

From 1991 to 1994, Nirvana ruled the airwaves, Seattle became the capital of the universe, and the world hasn’t been the same since. In my opinion, it’s been all downhill from there. A video at the EMP this weekend said something to the effect of “There hasn’t been another geographically based music genre to emerge since grunge. We’ve all been...

Apr 16, 2011

An article with many photos from Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses.

Apr 10, 2011

I spent the day today following a flash mob all over the city of Seattle. Why? Because it was there … and a couple of friends were in it. The action started at 11:00am at the Cal Anderson Park ballfields for a final rehearsal. When practice was over, the mob headed down to the Space Needle where the first performance was scheduled. Once there, a couple...

I took this video at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill about an hour ago. Download Video: MP4

Apr 10, 2011

At Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill: Watch live rehearsal video here: http://www.seattlerex.com/seattle-glee-flash-mob-rehearsals-video/ Read about and view final flash mob performances throughout Seattle here:...

Apr 5, 2011

Today is April 5th. Minor holiday for Nirvana fans around the world. After a well-deserved nap today, I decided to head over to Lake Washington Boulevard and see how the festivities were shaping up. I hopped on my scooter, rode up to the forbidden gas station (which has ironically become my primary filling station), and filled up my tank; all .9 gallons of it. ...

Apr 3, 2011

The Melvins, the most important band of the last 30 years, will be playing The Crocodile on Friday May 13th and Saturday May 14th. On Friday, they will perform the entirety of records Lysol, Eggnog, and Houdini. On Saturday, they will perform the entirety of Bullhead and Stoner Witch. Tickets are only 25 bones, and all proceeds will go toward hiring a...