Seismic Video Archive: Vampire Weekend
So as a little tribute to the biggest World-Beat, Pop band around. I thought I would post some older video footage I shot of NYC’s Vampire Weekend when they performed at Neumos on March 26th, 2008. As I am sure everyone knows …. after cancelling their scheduled show last-minute in August, they rescheduled two nights at the Paramount which just wrapped last night. Looking forward to the reviews.
Seismic Rad-Libs: Mike Hadreas (AKA) Perfume Genius
Seattle has a secret … and he goes by the name Perfume Genius. Coined as lo-fi and praised by many. His new LP “Learning” has garnered rave reviews and Matador Records has backed him 100%. Mike Hadreas is about to add more cred to the already established resume of Seattle’s thriving music scene, and will kick it all off here in his home town of Seattle tonight at The Crocodile. Get your tickets now…this could be the talk of the town afterwards…don’t miss out! Let’s read what Mikes Rad-Libs are all about.
I have no time for: Eminem. Why doesn’t he just get a job at Boss Wear, that place in the mall that sells huge t-shirts. If people wanted to hear his bullshit then they could go do it in Boss Wear over an Orange Julius. Ambien? What the fuck? Did you relapse on Lunesta? Were you hella sleepy? Suck it.
Reminiscing about my past makes me: Certain memories can either be really harrowing or hilarious depending on your spiritual condition. A lot of the things I did fucked up fall in to this category.
The Name Perfume Genius came from: Something my friend Caralee said while we were watching an awful movie. She kept squinting at the screen and saying “This guy thinks he is some kind of fucking Perfume Genius.” She would be silent for a minute, then start-up again: “Hey Mike, I wonder what this Perfume Genius will do next.”
I like the way: Shyyyaaamalannnn. Shyyyaaamalaaan. I like the way his last name sounds, I like to whisper it in my boyfriend’s ear really slow. I am going to see that Devil movie tonight, it’s going to be terrible and I’m super pumped. Shyamalan.
Stardom makes me: Man, I have no idea. I can’t answer that! I hope stardom, if it happens, means super high thread count sheets. Thats the goal.
My album “Learning” is: About a half hour-long, which is one episode of Friends including commercials. CHANDLER
Religion: Unclear. I pray a lot, to nothing in particular. Just, you know, God. I guess that’s something.
Gay Marriage is: Gay Marriage is Gay Marriage.
My favorite Seattle bands are: Partman Parthorse! I love Partman Parthorse.
A perfect meal to me consists of: TRUFFLE. Truffle salt, truffle oil, truffle time. I have only had one meal with actual truffles on it and I almost wanted to just save them in a little coke baggie to smell in times of crisis.
Matador: Has treated me really well and has been an incredibly lucky and insane opportunity.
Attention makes me: Recoil and then hope for more.
Seismic Review: Drew Grow and The Pastors Wives at Columbia City Theater.
Written By: Jonathon Olken
During any given concert, there’s always at least one moment, usually several moments if the band is genuinely amazing, that truly captures the essence of the performance. It’s these moments that stay with you, sometimes for days, sometimes for months, and sometimes for your entire life. Drew Grow & The Pastors’ Wives gave us several of these moments at their recent concert at the Columbia City Theater, but there was one moment in particular that has haunted me for the past week and half that I just can’t let go of.
Following a soulful version of “Friendly Fire,” The Pastors’ Wives (Seth, Jeremiah, and Kris) left the stage leaving Drew Grow alone with his guitar. The crowd went deadly silent as Drew launched into a heart-wrenching version of “Premonition.” The song started out calmly, but Drew was soon screaming the lyrics into the microphone from a yard back before completely eschewing the microphone and singing directly to the audience. We all stood there transfixed as Drew poured his heart out about wanting a girl that he can’t have. As the song was reaching its crescendo, an eerie chorus started to fill the theater. It was The Pastors’ Wives, who had lined up along the side of the stage, singing along without microphones. It was an awe-inspiring moment. Everyone in the room was a little teary eyed and weak in the knees as the song was ending. And when Drew finally finished the song, he was greeted with boisterous applause.It’s these types of moments that stay with you, but it wasn’t the only stand out moment from the show. There were also special guest appearances by local artists Kelli Schaefer, singing, and Shenandoah Davis, on the accordion, for the songs “Hook” and “Company.” And who can forget Jeremiah, the drummer, bouncing through the crowd with a tambourine before joining the rest of the band on stage to help belt out the lyrics, with help from the audience, for the set closer “It All Comes Right.”
Needless to say, Drew Grow & The Pastors’ Wives are a force to be reckoned with. Their genre-bending songs have been gaining a lot of momentum in the press recently, and it’s for good reason. They are for real. Go out and buy their newly released record. See them next time they come to Seattle. If you’re feeling a road trip, go down to Portland this Friday night and see them at Mississippi Studios. You will not regret it
Seismic Video: Dead Confederate at Hard Rock Cafe.September 5th, 2010
After a long day at Bumbershoot, I certainly wasn’t sure if I was up to standing for another 3 hours watching music by Futurebirds/Dead Confederate or Surfer Blood, especially when the comfort of my couch was a mere blocks away. I had seen the latter of the two in the past and my feet were killing me, but I was convinced to go otherwise. Now maybe too much time had passed, because I certainly remember being in awe of Dead Confederates performance in the past but this one seemed even more polished than last. It blew my mind, it floored me… in which I had to pick my jaw up off of just that…..the floor! It was in my top 10 shows of the year…and of course still remains that way. So as usual, I recorded some of this fantastic show for you the readers to watch. Enjoy!
Seismic Rad-Libs: Brent Amaker
Who say’s Seattle ain’t got no cowboy’s. Not only do we got em, this one in particular can play a mean a guitar, and has a baritone that makes panties drop, and even some briefs. The beloved Brent Amaker & The Rodeo have a new album called “Please Stand By” coming out on October 19th, and the only proper way to unveil it, is to throw a shindig at the legendary Crocodile Cafe for the City Arts and Heineken sponsored City Arts Festival, that runs October 20th through the 23rd. He doesn’t saturate the Seattle music scene with his great performances, so catch this party before it heads to Europe for a stint, because rumor is, the performances put on by these five cowboys are as entertaining as the songs themselves. Its gonna be the most civilized hoe down in downtown Seattle, or will it? I was able to “lasso” (bad I know) Brent into doing this Wednesday’s edition of Rad-Libs where he gives it to us straight.
Best way to relieve stress is: Head. Getting, not giving.
Blood dripping blood means: The trouble only starts with the first cut.
People might be surprised to know: I make my pie crust from scratch. This is the truth. Ask anyone who has ever been invited to my place for dinner.
Traveling Europe is better with: The Rodeo. Travel is best when you have a mission. Better yet as a cowboy.
A crazy fan: Once tried to give me advice. Do I look like I need advice?
Touch my hat: And assume the consequences.
Favorite part of being in the studio is: Spending time on the couch watching shit go down.
Difference between Western and Country music: Is true grit.
I can’t go to bed without: My daily dose of psyllium husk.
Best way to spend a Sunday is: Doing whatever is necessary to recover from Saturday.
The Rodeo: Perform and record Western music. Give us a listen. You won’t regret it.
Cheers Brent!
Fences!!! September 23rd at The Crocodile Cafe! Don’t Miss it!!!
When starting this music site, I personally said I didn’t really want to get into the business of reviewing albums. One reason being, is that its a lot of work to be quite honest. Secondly its hard for me to criticize anyones expression of creativity, because it’s so important not only to the person doing it, but more importantly it’s like dismissing someones deepest feelings. Sure, there are things that I don’t like artistically, but I try to keep it to myself, or I say “good for them” and move on. Music and art are just that important to me. But with that said, when the good things come along, I want to share them. So…… is this is a plug for an album that comes out on September 28th? yes. Is this also a way of me saying get your ass out of the house on a Thursday night, invite your friends, and come celebrate the amazing musical talents Seattle has to offer?….. Sure is!!! Keep reading and let me explain why.
I’ve seen Chris Mansfield many times about town, as well as the name Fences plastered on walls and electricity poles in and through out the Capitol Hill area; but it wasn’t till 2009 during Sasquatch that I had seen him perform live. I remember getting into the photo pit where he had already started his set, and thinking……is this the right stage? I knew his music was beautiful, but aesthetically I didn’t expect to see someone who looked like he was a member of some California punk band, but on the other hand I found that riveting. I walked away from that show a fan, and ever since then I have spoken praises of this band Fences. From Seattle to the East Coast I have told people that they need to check them out. I have even spoke to Chris on a couple of brief occasion’s (guaranteed I would have to remind him), but maintained cool … we even share a couple of the same friends, maybe even a few? (this small music town is very incestuous).
For me music is a way of life … it’s a passion. Not just the outcome or the final product, but the whole creative process I find beautiful. When a friend sends me a demo that they just finished, I revel in their creative process. I find it important and special. So when I was sent the new Fences album in July by his “people”, I was so fucking stoked to hear it, it would barely down-load fast enough. But what I wasn’t quite ready for was my reaction. Its been awhile since an album as a whole has essentially brought me to my knees(emotionally). When I react strongly to someones music, even one song … it brings it all home as to why I love music so much. But this Fences album provoked a visceral reaction … as well as intrinsic. It profoundly effected me, it actually brought me to tears … it made me think about life, love, friends and even death. I got it! This creative process Chris has been on has finally come to fruit, and I for some reason felt like a proud mother. Maybe it’s because all the gloating I had done wasn’t done in vain, this album was and is brilliant. Vicariously, I feel like I’ve watched some of that process, from in-studios, interviews, tweeting, hear-say and gigging. But nonetheless these 10 songs that Fences hands off to the public on September 28th is a gift, I would honestly argue a weak spot on the album. From the head shaking beats of the radio ready (despite the f-bomb) brilliance of “Girls With Accents” to the heart crushing song “From Roses”. It’s the purest of gifts. I feel as if Chris pulled his heart out of his chest for display on this debut. Bruised, battered and broken for all the world to see, and we reap the benefits of his pain and ultimately his victory, which in turn is ultimately ours. So make sure not to miss the Fences CD release show that is on September 23rd at The Crocodile Cafe, with the amazing openers Campfire OK and Ritchie Young (Loch Lomond). This show kicks off a West Coast tour that wraps up on October 8th with another incredible talent, The Head and The Heart.
Here is some footage I shot at Sasquatch 2009.
Seismic Interview: With Langhorne Slim
If you have never seen Langhorne Slim live, well let me tell you it’s an experience. He is the epitome of what it’s like to be an all around performer. His show at Neumo’s in early August left my head reeling, and my friends as well. His music literally MAKES people move. It’s like a refined un-daunting folky-americana mosh pit, but without all the moshing, and just a whole lot of moving. The New album “Be Set Free” is an another incredible piece of work; a work of growth and progress. I was able to shoot some questions at Langhorne and he was more than happy to indulge seismic-sound with some pretty straight forward answers, and to make things even better, I took some live video footage of his Neumos performance so you can get a feel for his incredible live performance. But trust me…. you truly have to see it to believe it. As of right now, its in my top 10 shows in 2010.
Well first I guess a Happy Birthday is in order. How did you celebrate this “monumental” day? (His Birthday was late August). Thank you. I was fortunate to have some friends and family with me. It was a great way to turn 30!
Seismic Video Archive: Ima Robot (AKA Edwarde Sharpe)
Maybe some of you remember, but in the late 90’s Alex Ebert had a band called Ima Robot that was signed to major label Virgin Records. Despite some limited success, they disbanded for the time being and created a brand new project. This one is called Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, and they have been all over the festival scene, not mention their extensive club tour. I found an old video I took of Alex (AKA Edward Sharpe) as the lead man in his old band Ima Robot at The High Dive in Fremont. Check it out…
Seismic Review in Pics: Bumbershoot Day 1
(From top to bottom)
Pictures # 1-2 Edward Sharpe and the Magentic Zeros. #3 Jamie Lidell percussionist. # 4-5-6 Born Anchors. #7-8 Jamie Lidell. #9-10 Health. #11 Atlas Sound. #12 Idiot Pilot. #13-14-15-16 The Submarines.
For more pics click on my Flickr account
Seismic Rad-Libs: Bryan Giles of Red Fang
Seismic Interview: 10 Years of Purrfect Music with The Purrs.
Interview By: Tilly Rodina
Local band The Purrs, with their dark melodic sounds, edgy guitars, and groovy bass lines, have been a staple in Seattle’s psychedelic pop scene for over the past 10 years. I decided to catch up with them to see how things are going 10 years in.
I arrived at Jason Milne’s house just as the band finishes an intense practice session in the basement. Sweaty and exhausted, the band ascends into the living room, where, after the mood is set with psychedelic wall projections and scotch pours all around, I sit down with them to talk about the band’s 10 year resilience, the kidnapping of Sunset Valley and Little Pieces front man, Herman Jolly, and “pie in the sky”.
You guys just celebrated your 10 year anniversary. When was the actual date … hasn’t it passed?
Jason Miln (JM): I think it was in the later half of 2000 because the first half of 2000 we were kind of a different formation with a different person singing. I think we’re close to that exact 10 year anniversary.
Jima (J): We just don’t know where that specific day is.
Herman Jolly (HJ): If you cut them [in half] and count the rings…it’s about 10.
(Laughter explodes)
10 years is a long time. What keeps you guys going strong when other bands have come and gone?
J: If you don’t pursue the things you’re supposed to pursue during the course of a normal human life. If you can do that, then you can be in a band for 10 years; especially a band that doesn’t pay.
Is that true for all of you?
Craig Keller (CH): I was gonna say that liking the music, and uh… the people…
(Laughter)
JM: Yeah, I think I was gonna say the same thing. I mean, I think we get along and we’re all very much into the music we’re doing, and we have a lot of fun doing it. In fact, if we could do that instead of our jobs, that would be the ideal situation.
J: But if you think of 10 years through a normal person’s life there are so many forces and things they would do in a 10 year span that could easily pull them away from doing music. I mean, there are things that could happen. You could move to another town for another job. You could decide to get married…
So many things could happen in the course of your life to change your direction, and yet that’s what’s so remarkable, because you’ve been together for so long that you’ve maintained it.
J: Right, especially without being paid. I mean, I think it’s a lot easier to be in a band for 10 years if you make enough money that you don’t have to do your day job and pay your mortgage in any honest way, you know? …you have to actually have a stupid job during the day and your band at night.
JM: I don’t know and I think, I’m not sure if I’m speaking for you guys, but I think the band is what we do, playing music is what I think gets me through the regular rut of working the regular job. This is the release. This is the fun. This is what we wish we could always do.
J: I would completely agree with that. That’s how I decided to arrange my life. I try to surround myself with people who have the same sort of goal.
Along those lines, what would you say has been your biggest challenge?
J: Well, personally, every band’s got one position they can never keep filled and ours has always been rhythm guitar. So, our one big challenge is every couple of years we have to slough off the exoskeleton of a rhythm guitar player and grow a new one.
(Laughter)
J: It makes you un-gigable for however long a period of time it takes until you can get rhythm guitar boy or girl up to speed. So that’s been a challenge, cause about every 2 years we tend to get a new one. They decide to do something else with their lives. I mean, people go and do other things with their lives. I completely understand that. I decided I didn’t want that for me. Another thing, which is a big challenge, is to write songs that everybody in the band can get behind. You know? I mean, whatever your song writing process as a group is, it’s gotta be something that everybody can deal with and it’s gotta be there for the long haul…But you gotta put that ego behind you and go, “what’s serving the song better?” typically. And typically that’s what we do. I mean, we don’t jack off a lot on our songs, right?
JM: No, we’re cutting that out. Trying to…
(Laughter)
Speaking of which… (Laughter) Each of your albums has its own feel. How has your music evolved over the years since you started playing music together?
JM: I think part of that’s random. Um, well, maybe semi-random. Based on the songs that come in that we play… we never talk about a certain feel for the next record. Sometimes we say, “Oh, the next one is gonna be all wah or whatever…
J: But it never happens.
JM: No, no. I mean, basically Jim brings in the songs. Over the years we’ve gotten better at learning them, working them together. Figuring out what works and what doesn’t. We’ve become more streamlined in that process of getting ready to record or to play out live. You know, we don’t try to make each record sound a certain way. I think it’s just the way it happens. There’s no master plan that we have.
Herman Jolly has recently joined your line up (temporarily). How were you able to coerce him into playing with The Purrs?
JM: A lot of trickery.
HJ: Have you ever seen those movies where someone comes up behind them with gauze and chloroform? I woke up in a basement.
(Everyone laughs)
JM: We let him up to feed him, then after we get back from work, he gets back up to rehearse and crap in a bucket.(Laughter)
HJ: I knew they were without a rhythm guitarist, harmony singer. I didn’t hear anything about it for a while. Then I got an email saying, do you wanna do that stuff in the band for and I just said yes. My band, Little Pieces, we toured with them and played lots of show with these guys and when you hear them every night and listen to their records you really realize the genius in the music. It’s kinda like I get to be in a tribute band that’s actually the real band, just for a little while, just for this show. And it’s this super cool opportunity. I hope they find someone good to do it permanently. But then when they play down in Portland, where I’m moving in a couple weeks, I hope that I get to jump up and get to sing on ” Loose Talk”.
I hear the next album is already in the works. What can Purrs fans expect and when can they expect it? Maybe next year?
J: We are working on the record. We’re in the middle of six songs right now. And there’s definitely more coming, but we’re sort of taking our time cause we’re looking for our permanent fourth for our next push.
One of your songs on the album is called “Pie in the Sky”. What do The Purrs’ consider to be “Pie in the Sky”?
JM: Quit our jobs and just play music.
J: Yeah, but you’ve gotta have something more concrete behind you other than you just want to go there, right? You gotta do the things that actually get you there. I love our music, I love this band and I hope someday we can… [In the meantime] we’re gonna continue to put out really good records and build on the fan base that we have. Our goal has always been to play bars, as many as possible, as often as possible, and towards that end, I think we’re a total freakin’ success. Quitting our day jobs would be great, but that’s not the goal, the goal is to have as much fun as humanly possible before we’re snuffed out.
I love your latest album and I like that it’s a combination of new songs and rare tracks. There are two cover tracks. You’ve got the 80’s hit “Only Dreaming” by Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and Lee Hazelwood’s” I Move Around”. These are two very different artists. What is it about these songs that made you want to cover them and the influence they’ve had on you?
J: This RLYL song has been in my head since the day I saw it on MTV in like, ’84. There was a video, I can remember this … they had actually taken their video camera to a fairground somewhere and went around one of those spider rides or whatever and just let the lights go around and interspersed that with this guy in a wife beater going, “ughr, ughr, ughr, ughr, ughr…” and that was the whole fuckin’ video. It impacted me greatly [because] there’s this bass line hook in the song and it hooked me forever and I always felt that song was just, so… They just screwed it up so bad, right? Have you ever heard the original? It’s almost unlistenable, it such garbage. I’m like, why would anyone take such a beautiful fuckin’ hooky riff and just flush it down the toilet. Obviously this needs to be done by someone else. It had to be done right. It blows my mind that they couldn’t see the crystalline beauty that was that song and they have to crap all over it with their mediocre bullshit. It has been hanging over my head for like 15 years.
The Lee Hazelwood song was covered for a completely different reason. Have you heard the Lee Hazelwood original? It’s brilliant. There’s no way that song was done wrong. That song fit with our sorta happy sad melancholy happy thing we have going on and it was a good fit for us. That song didn’t need to be redone because it was an incompetent job first time around. I just thought the lyrics were really cool. Only an idiotic band would want to do only songs that were cool. What kind of band does that?
(Laughter)
J: I mean, seriously, you ask a band why they do a song and they say, “cuz it sucks!”. I mean, no one does that.
JM: Except for you with Red Lorry Yellow Lorry!
(Explosive laughter)
J: The song had obvious elements that were so brilliant and they just dropped the ball; and the fact that they wrote those elements is doubly weird. Why?!?! Can you put a link to the original so people know what I’m talking about? Because you’ll hear it. You’ll hear it!
Seismic-Sound.com would like to thank The Purrs for their time. The Purrs play the Tractor Tavern with Shonen Knife and The Pharmacy on Wednesday, Sept. 8th.
Seismic Rad-Libs: Hatch Benedict of Sex With Strangers
I hate it when I am on the road and: none of my bandmates offer me a simple hug in times of need. Two years ago, they were lining up to give me hand-jobs and high-fives after a good show, now they barely look at me. I wish I could take the whole “rise of the night trout” incident back, but I can’t guys.
Canada has the: far superior wildlife. Namely, the puffy-pawed super-predator known as the lynx. “King of the Tundra-Ruler of Felines”.
To hit my “sweet spot” you have to: massage my mind first, then work your way down from there. Or skip my mind altogether. Your call.
Poutine is: critical to gaining weight. It’s pronounced “poo-teen”, which is French for “prelude to the runs”.
The States have the: far superior Taco Bell menu.
Bryan Adams < Cory Hart
Favorite bands in Vancouver are: Guilty About Girls, Twin Crystals, Joyce Collingwood, Humans…too many to mention. Vancouver is on the cusp of greatness right now. We’re all anxious to see who will be crowned the next Loverboy. P.S. Speaking of which, Mike Reno remains the ultimate “husky man’s front-man”.
I hate the way Americans: find it necessary to sell alcohol in every gas station and convenience store across the country. And by “hate” I mean “worship”.
Canadians can be: easily provoked by anyone revealing ignorance about our country. For example, the Texan who asked “Do y’all drive snowmobiles to work up there in the winter?” and “Do y’all get cable TV up there?”
On a day off I: contemplate questions like “If you could go back in time 15 years and start again, would you do it”? and “Will Marcus Trufant regain his Pro Bowl form of 2007”?
My favorite gig was: our show at SXSW this past March. Hands-down the best festival we’ve played to date. It’s like a glorious Disneyland for music-lovers, minus the mascots and the pressure to smile. We played the tiny Austin landmark know as Jaime’s and tore shit up (so we were told). It was there where we cemented our reputation as “a band you want to party with/avoid at all costs” when we rendered The Pack A.D. utterly useless with a dozen margaritas each, prior to their showcase later that night.
Sex with Strangers can be:-at your ass in a game of bocci, anywhere anytime. Consider this a challenge to anyone reading this.
Seattle has the best: Andrew Chapmans
Seismic Sounds Hillebrity of The Month: Jackie Hell
Jackie Hell has pretty much owned “The Freak Scene” on Capitol Hill area for years, and she’s given the people who need to express themselves the safe places to do that. She has created and thrown some of the most outrageous shows on Capitol Hill such as Pho Bang and the newest feast for the eyes “SNACKHOLE”. Not to mention sh-he’s the brains behind the beautiful mess known as Jackie And The Control Tops, which was the over the top punk sensation; releasing singles such as “Expensive” and “Tonight I Kill” on Dirtnap Records. The fact of the matter is you may have seen her holding court on the hill in all off her glory, but if you haven’t yet experienced a Jackie Hell shin-dig, then you ain’t shit. You need to check it out!!!!
Favorite Capitol Hill watering hole?
The Crescent Lounge! It is the epitome of high-class! It’s a place where Counts and Dukes go to meet ladies of the night!
You remember your best night of debauchery on the hill? What ensued?
Sometime back in the late nineties, I was going up to meet a friend before performing at Aerospace (now Neumos). I was walking up East Pike (in broad daylight) looking like Liz Taylor on crack, and this young black guy gave me a really confused look as I passed him. I looked back and he was following me, so I started to get a bit concerned. As I crossed 12th Ave, I looked back and he was getting closer. I got to my friends door and started pounding! I thought I was about to get mugged! I looked to the right, and there he was, holding his hard cock! (he still looked confused) So, I grabbed him by his dick and led him to the nearest parking lot, saying: “come on, mama will take care of you..” Afterwards I had to fix my lipstick, I was a mess!
Your make-up is brilliant..who inspired you?
When I first started doing drag, I was totally into Anita Berber (a 1920’s burlesque dancer from Berlin) So my make-up was very much like hers. Over the years I’ve developed bags under the eyes, added more rouge, you know, made it look more classy.
Is there a Capitol Hill Employee you would like to go down on?
That door girl at the Cha Cha with the long black hair (I think her name is Victoria?)
What drives you fuckin batty about people when you’re out?
When those goddamn blond bitches from the eastside have to get up there and sing “Loveshack” and they’re so drunk, is all they can do is laugh! It makes me want to kill!!!
What is Jackie Hell listening to music wise these days?
Gangster hip hop
Who is Jackie Hell by day?
An apartment manager. Anyone looking for an apartment?
If you could change one thing about the Hill, what would it be?
We need more freaks!
Genital warts or Herpes simplex 1?
Herpes
Drink of choice?
My own of course! “Black Diamonds” (vodka & coke).
What do you think of granny porn?
It’s an alright career, but I’m getting a little tired of it.
Next Jackie Hell soiree??
Seismic Video: Gabriel Mintz/ Kate Tucker/ Campfire OK
Since we here at Seismic-sound.com go to shows armed with gadgets to document. I figured we should show these amazing performances of both musicians local and national. I have hundreds of these videos compiled from different shows, so I hope you will enjoy these sporadic postings of live footage from the archives. These three videos are from amazing local artists.
Seismic Interview: David Frederickson of The Prids
Seismic Interview: Adam Shearer of Weinland
I’ve read that financially the band as a whole put everything into the latest release “Breaks In The Sun”, didn’t that put alot of pressure on you, or was it just a natural decision for everyone?
Nope, nothing natural about it all. I mean, we had to do it no question. In these financially dark times getting someone to pay for your records is even harder than ever. Sure, we have a record label that paid for a lot of the production and promotion costs, but if we weren’t willing to put our own money up the record wouldn’t have been able to come out.. its just a hard time to put out records, but we didn’t want ours to sit, so we made it happen. Two of us put everything we had into it and along with everyone else in the group, spent the entire last year living hand to mouth so we could tour the record. So, I wouldn’t say it was natural.. there are a lot of red flags when you’re deciding to empty your savings for a music project.. but we had to do it. As for pressure? Ya. Loads. On us as individuals, as a group, to our partners and lovers, families. But it was worth it. We’re very proud of the record.
The music video for “Im sure it helps” is incredible, and very well done. Who’s idea was it for the concept, and how long did it take?
The idea was my friend Daniel’s, from Two Penguins Productions. We talked about doing a video and he liked the buffalo on our album cover and conceptualized the video from there. We filmed for one day in The Crystal Ballroom (big thanks to those guys for giving us their giant venue for free!!) in Portland. There was some cool fact like we were the fourth band to make a video there and the other three were like The Shins, Modest Mouse, and The Decemberists or something like that.. i can’t remember. But ya, so one day filming and then Two Penguins spent like 3 months animating it!!! Crazy. But what they did was amazing. We love their work so much. Actually this year I hooked them up with another group I frequently perform with called The Portland Cello Project. Search for their video Denmark to see another Two Penguins concept music video.
LOTS of Buffalo used in your work. Is there a significance?
I found the picture on the cover of Breaks in The Sun in a family photo album. Believe it or not, there is no special effect there.. that is a real picture from my family, taken in the 70s, in a Helena, Montana Museum. I thought it was a cool image for us.. the American Buffalo is such an amazingly large and powerful animal, yet it’s story reminds us of just how fragile we are.
Your coming to play at The Tractor Tavern in Ballard with Grand Hallway, who is a very respected Seatle band, and also The Head and The Heart, who are probably the hottest band in town. You know much about them before the booking?
How often do you get to play up here in Seattle?
Seismic Preview: Ball of Wax @ The Sunset Tavern tonight!!!
No doubt that Levi Fuller is one of the biggest advocates of the Seattle music scene, and once again at the Sunset Tavern he is hosting his Ball Of Wax series in which he brings 9 artist’s together to spotlight their talent. To make this event even more worth while, the ticket prices are set at a VERY affordable $7 (for 9 bands), not to mention you get a copy of the Ball of Wax compilation as well. Levi’s dedication to spotlighting great Seattle talent, not to mention his own musical brilliance is pretty impressive. So gather the posse and indulge yourself in a great night of music. Here are a couple of the performers that you will expect to see.
Seismic Rad-Libs: Trent Moorman of Head Like a Kite
Trent Moorman is Seattle’s very own drummer extraordinaire. Trent can be seen and heard drumming in Head Like a Kite (Duh), Mad Rad, Fresh Espresso and Gabriel Mintz. So chances are you’ve seen him around. I asked him to be our next Rad-Lib guest in which he readily agreed; but due to the high demand of Head Like a Kite, he has jetted off to of all places…. Guam. The band is playing two shows. Head Like a Kite will be playing to their minions, the tens of thousands that will gather at Guam’s local soccer stadium, to experience all the we as Seattleites take for granted. So just to give you a little more insight into to this western pacific super-star, Trent has obliged us with his Rad-Libs.
Impressing me means: Being 18 years old and writing something like this, in 1872: “The lighting comes round to the crown post again. From the two extremities of the room– decorations negligible– harmonic elevations join. The wall opposite the watcher is a psychological succession of atmospheric sections of friezes, bands, and geological accidents. Intense quick dream of sentimental groups with people of all possible characters amidst all possible appearances.” Arthur Rimbaud, Illuminations
Head Like A Kite- We Were so Entangled
Seismic Review: Doe Bay Festival 2010
Written By: Jonathan Olken
As I stepped off the boat at Doe Bay Festival, I was greeted by several people swimming in the cove and the gorgeous sound of the band Fences floating through the trees. It was the perfect entrance to what was going to be an amazing weekend. I gathered my bag and cooler, and as I headed off to the main office to get my wristband and camping pass, I was greeted by more people, strangers and old friends alike, welcoming me to the festival and giving me high fives. You couldn’t ask for a friendlier crowd. It was like we were all friends already based solely on the fact that we were all at the festival. It’s an incredible feeling to step off a boat and be greeted like an old friend. It set the tone for weekend, and everyone shared in the communal vibe that was present throughout the entire weekend. By they time I had set up my tent and made my way to the main stage, Portland Cello Project had taken the stage. As I sat and ate my dinner and drank some beer, I was entertained by covers of “Hey Ya” and “Habanera,” with the band urging the crowd to sing along while they played their classical versions of the popular songs. It was great dinner music, and the crowd seemed to agree as everyone was just lounging about enjoying their beverages and snacks. I couldn’t help but be excited when they announced that they would be joining other bands throughout the weekend. Hey Marseilles, recently back from an east coast tour, followed Portland Cello Project, and at the encouragement of some guy in a hat, the crowd got to their feet and swarmed the stage. We danced and swayed to the melodic music, as the sun sunk slowly behind the trees next to the stage.
With the sun now gone and the main stage closed, the party moved to the yoga studio, where Ravenna Woods treated us to a rocking set full of songs from their unbelievably good debut album Demons and Lakes. Their set was short and sweet and left us all wanting more, but unfortunately there were time constraints and Ravenna Woods, despite my proclamation that I had “People in High Places,” had to leave the stage to make room for the band The Head and the Heart, one of the darlings of the entire festival. I had never heard The Head and the Heart live before, but I was quickly smitten by their folksy country rock and couldn’t wait to hear them again. Thankfully, and unknown to me at the time, I would be hearing them plenty of times throughout the weekend. I dealt with the incredibly packed and extremely hot yoga studio for almost the entire set, and when I emerged from the show, I walked right into a full on party happening in and around The Maldives deck. It was an incredible gathering of artist, industry people, and fans. Everywhere you turned was a friend, current or soon to be, that was more than happy to talk, laugh, drink and chill. After hanging out for a while, I made my way to the beach and was greeted by skinny dippers emerging from the water. Those skinny dippers turned out to be The Head and Heart, and after drying off, they began what was a classic beachside a cappella sing along of “Ice Ice Baby” and other cheesy songs. Upon returning to festival grounds, I realized that the party had moved from The Maldives deck to the campfire. I made my way over there and found another sing along, this time with a guitar and lot more back up singers. It was a great ending to a great first night. I couldn’t wait to see what day 2 had in store for me.
Day 2 started for me with a chill folksy set by Ivan and Alyosha on the small patio stage. It was the perfect music to help heal my hangover while I lounged in the sun. On my way to the main stage to see the Portland based band The Dimes, I was distracted by a volleyball game involving several members of several different bands, including Chris from Fences and every member of The Head and the Heart. By the time I made it to the main stage, The Dimes were in the middle of their set. It was what I can only describe as moustache rock, but with a decidedly historical slant, including a song about a guy with a bullet in his head that made him unable to sleep for 15 years. I spent the next couple of hours chilling with friends and bouncing between the main stage, where Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers and Curtains For You played, and the patio stage, where I got to witness Shenandoah Davis play her piano pop with the Portland Cello Project.
I returned to the main stage for good at the beginning of a rocking set by Drew Grow and The Pastors’ Wives. They had the entire crowd dancing in the sweltering sun as they unleashed a powerful set, topped off by an epic version of “Blister” with the Portland Cello Project. It had the entire festival nodding their heads in approval of the rhythm. I was so hot and sweaty from dancing during their set that I had to strip down to my underwear and go for a dip in the Salish Sea. It was a much-needed break in some icy water before I returned to the main stage for a beautiful set by Grand Hallways. Their infectious folk rock sound got the crowd, including the many children in attendance, dancing in the warm summer sun. It set the stage for a blockbuster of a set from The Maldives, who rocked out with enthusiasm. It was one of the livelier sets I’ve ever seen them perform, with their guitarists taking full advantage of the large stage by doing their best Slash imitations. It’s clear that The Maldives love playing at the Doe Bay Festival, and the crowd loved seeing them there.
As the sun slowly started setting, it was announced that Grand Archives couldn’t make it and were going to be replaced by a band called Drone River, which turned out to be The Fruit Bats minus their lead singer Eric Johnson. It was a very chill set, and when Eric finally joined them onstage, the music turned from chill to rocking. The Fruit Bats delivered a knockout performance; playing a great mix of old and new songs, including a sweet Grateful Dead cover to finish their set. It was a great way to close out the main stage and prepare the crowd for one last night of partying.
The late night sets were once again impressive. Kelli Schaefer started things off in the yoga studio, but I was only able to catch the last half of a song. The next band THEESatisfaction, brought the house down. Their bombastic hip-hop was a welcomed change from all the folk country rock that had been the prevalent genre of the weekend, and it got the crowd worked into a frenzy. After another sweaty night in the yoga studio, the crowd spilled outside to find a porch performance by The Head and the Heart. It was one of the highlights of the weekend, as they played stripped down versions of the songs we had heard the previous night. They were followed by a beachside performance by The Fruit Bats, which was also amazing.
The next day was a much more chill day, with a bulk of the music already finished and most of the crowd leaving early to get a head start on the ferries. I used this lull in the music to leave the festival grounds with some new friends to go to Mountain Lake, where we jumped off a rope swing and swam to an island on an island. For those of us that stayed into the evening, we were treated to two gorgeous performances. The first was by Youth Rescue Mission, a family band with beautiful harmonies. The second was by reluctant rockers Indian Valley Line. They kept the vibe chill by having some of the other artists that were still there join them on stage for backup vocals. It was a fitting end to an incredible weekend.
All in all, Doe Bay was one of the most amazing festivals I have ever been to. This article doesn’t even begin to describe how amazing it truly was. Everything from the setting on a beautiful island retreat to the incredible performances by the artists was truly outstanding. It was like a giant hipster beach party with egos checked at the door. When I was finally boarding the ferry home, there were people on the beach waving goodbye to us. And when we took off, Joe, the owner of Doe Bay who had been front and center for every performance of the festival, stood out on his deck to see us off. There was even people on the cliffs waving goodbye and telling us not to leave. I wish we didn’t have to, but at least I know I’ll be back next year. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
If you went…..tell us what you thought. Would you go again???
Seismic Preview: 1st Annual Linda’s Fest 2010. August 21st
Pull the sack off your leg, and let the hooters dry out because the heat wave is over, and since you’re not going to be sitting on a beach this next Saturday; why not drag all of your friends down to the beer guzzling watering hole known as Linda’s for their “First Annual Linda’s Fest 2010”. Plenty of food & drink specials, and a cheap cover charge to boot (Free!!). But in order to make this a fest, there will be six kick ass bands playing between the times of 5-10 pm. In no particular order we have Seattle’s own, Stickers, Boyfriends, Solarmaster, Exgirlfriends,The Cold Cold Ground (Just added) and the always entertaining The Keeper. Lets do what we can to make this a success, because with cheap beer , rock and roll and some good friends, what could be better? Exactly.
Seismic-Sound 