Seismic Rad-Libs: Pearl Dragon of Champagne Champagne
My proudest moment was: And is Kekoa Pearl
The ultimate dinner would be: A pot luck w/ anybody that reads this article. Send your info to Jason’s website I’ll bring the wine and mac salad at Jason’s house for real. We will celebrate the start of his new website and blog. (Save that mac and wine for something more legit in January)
My hair is: BIG, BLACK & LONG
Favorite Seattle bands are: Nirvana, Thee Satisfaction, Kay Kay and Weathered Underground, Yirim Seck, Fences, Brite Futures, anything Nate Mooter makes, I like Buffalo Madonna skills, Kim Warnick/ the Fastbacks, Ty Willman/(green apple quick step) Now im learning to sing. Champagne Champagne, producer Quincy Jones and last but my fave … the king Jimi Hendrix.
On any given night you can find me: Sleeping in a bed.
Molly Ringwald is: Born on my birthday, Feb. 18th.
Writing a song brings me: Pleasure.
Prince is a: 
Inspiration is: Great when it happens.
Being on the road can: Starve you.
On a perfect summer day I: Chill and keep it cool.
Champagne Champagne’s future: Is bright … I’m getting Thomas & Mark Ray Bans.
Seismic Photo’s & Video: Pizza Fest 2010. White Mystery, Diaper and The Shitbags and Funghi Girls.
Seismic Interview: With Kristen Blush
On seismic-sound.com its not only about the music, it’s also about the people who are behind the music. I think the roles that these people play in the music scene can be just as pertinent in the music scene as anything else. It’s kind of a family of sorts; we all basically work together to put Seattle music on the map. That’s why I wanted to spotlight photographer extraordinaire Kristen Blush. She’s been a fixture in the Seattle scene as long as I’ve been hitting it. Lending her talent to everything from house parties to national publications … so I wanted to chat with her and ask her some questions about life behind the lens, a little insight into her youth, and maybe even coax some good juicy tidbits out of her.
Since Blush isn’t your real last name, can you tell us how you came up with it? I had created my brand Blush Photo with a girlfriend in Portland ages ago. The Kristen Blush thing came about when I left Sound Magazine to work with The Stranger last year. The Stranger’s Editor, Christopher Frizzelle, stuck me with the name. I think he wanted me to have some sort of pen name exclusive to the Stranger. My mother once suggested I change my name legally. I don’t think I would ever do that because my actual name has an “X” in it. Which is fucking awesome.
Do you remember your first infatuation with a camera? Not really. I think my dad’s interest in photography sparked mine. My sister has a story about me in the 2nd grade where I set up a portrait of her and her friend Matt Bussman at her 6th grade graduation. I don’t remember that, but it’s a cute thought. I had permed hair.
Was there a definitive moment when you knew you wanted to be a photographer? Kinda, or maybe more like a turning point where I realized I had to pick a career. I spoke with a college recruiter during my junior year of high school (somewhere around 1998), and discussed the possibility of making photography a livelihood. When I reported back to my parents, they were very supportive. In fact, they made it possible for me to attend school at the Art Institute.
What is your prized possession when it comes to camera equipment? My wide-angle lens. A friend purchased it for me years ago when I was broke. He said it was a gift for the sake of art. It was a very generous act, and I think about it a lot.
Was there a certain photographer that profoundly affected your style or simply you? There are so many photographers who have influenced me. Jim Bryant was my mentor when I was a teen. I’d say he has created the most important ripple in my photography world. His wife Amy built me a website for my pictures when I was 16…that was 1997. Not a lot of young people had their own website then. Jim is still shooting in the Northwest and continues to inspire me.
I read you shot Annie Leibovitz while she did a panel at EMP, what goes through your mind when shooting one of the best living photographers in the world? Or could you careless? Not only did I snap her photo, but she insisted I take a copy of her book, and signed a poster for me. When I opened the book, she’d written “Kristen, Keep on.” Fuck, she is so cool. Yes, I cared about it as it was happening, and I still think she’s one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Right up there with Lou Reed and Elton John.
You remember who your first paid shoot was? Jim got me a photo badge for Endfest 2000. The line up that year was awesome…I shot Green Day, Korn, and Deftones- my first concert I ever shot. Not shabby at all. I also got paid for smaller jobs shooting for the local paper and refereeing pee-wee girls basketball. I saved my money and bought my first automatic, film SLR.
I notice at times you just start shooting “guerilla style” while dancing or whatever. You just set it to automatic and go for it? My personality kinda runs the show. It’s usually a blur.
Is music your favorite subject matter or is there something different that we don’t know? I like photographing people. I get joy out of snapping pictures that make my subjects feel sexy and empowered. I think my work speaks for itself in that respect. A lot of my subject matter happens to be music related….but I assume that is because I’m a 20-something living in a music town, and most of my friends are musicians. I imagine this won’t always be the case. Can I call myself a 20-something if I am turning 30 next year?
You’re an opinionated, and strong woman…did that ever interfere with a job while working with some of these large corporations? I believe I am quite open-minded and professional, rather than opinionated. Strong … very. My strength comes from my mother without a doubt, and has gotten me in and out of a lot of shit. I’m really lucky.
Biggest peeve when shooting? Snotty, arrogant photographers. I should publish a book called, “Photo-Pit Etiquette For Dummies”.
Would you agree that learning how to use your camera is like the first time having sex…it’s very much trial and error, and getting to know your “body”? If that were the case, then it would be the other way around. I was 16 when I began shooting, and very much not having sex. At age 29, it’d be funny to talk to a 16-year-old Kristen about sex. She’d probably blush and run away.
What Seattle bands really trip your trigger these days? Macklemore, Mash Hall, Champagne Champagne.
What are Blush’s ultimate aspirations? You’ll hear about it when it happens. Soon.
Seismic Rad-Libs: With John Roderick of The Long Winters
I’m not even going to mince words here. John Roderick, frontman of The Long Winters wit is some of the best and he’s a smart man to boot, so when I asked him to take part in this new and delicious endeavor I was expecting more than average, and needless to say John Roderick is far from from average. J-Rod (as some know him) took Rad-Libs to another level; there is nothing average about him (well maybe a couple things, but those don’t really matter, unless you’re a “catcher“). There is a reason I get a “mind-chub” when he Twats, Tweets or whatever. So let this Rad-Lib be a lesson to all Rad-Libbers before and after … that this is how its done!
Pressure of writing songs for an album makes me: Seek out almost any distraction and accept any offer in order to avoid completing my appointed task, including appearing in low-budget films, producing other people’s albums, and responding to self descibed “Rad-Lib”-style questionnaires.
My gayest traits have to be: I have a very feminine way of thinking in that I tend to be associative. Also, I decorate my house like a fucking Nancy.
A masochistic mind generates: Drama.
GG Allin was: Not my bag, then or now. “Alternative” culture went through a phase in the late-80’s/ early-90’s where it was enthralled with grotesqueries, autopsies, serial killers, bodily functions, circus freaks etc., and although some factions of people will always find this stuff to be amazing and transgressive, I do not share the fascination.
People tend to misinterpret the way: Their pets express themselves.
Tweeting is…just another form of: Writing. The faddishness of it is hopefully wearing off now, which could weed out the chaff. Alot of the people I follow are beginning to use it as a place to curate stuff, posting links to things they find interesting on the internet. I don’t use it that way and, frankly, I think it’s boring. I try to write little 140 character dispatches, and I in that way I think it’s a very interesting format. The people I enjoy following use it the same way. If you want to post a link to your favorite YouTube video, and thats what Facebook is for.
I’m sick of: My neighbors screaming kids. They scream and scream. I’m noticing a lot more screaming kids these days. When I was a kid, if you sat around shrieking for no good reason, some adult maybe not even related to you would feel justified in smacking you and telling you to shut up. Admittedly that was a long time ago, but the result was that kids didn’t shriek constantly in stores and public places. My neighbors ON BOTH SIDES have kids under five shrieking like they are being attacked by wasps. I wish they actually WERE being attacked by wasps.
Buying a house was: a great experience for me. I bought at the almost top of the real estate market, so it wasn’t a terrific financial move on my part, but owning a house has been very relaxing and satisfying. I like going down to my kitchen late at night to get a glass of water. It all feels very solid.
If I were a character of “The Breakfast Club”, I would be: well, this was a topic that was very popular when I was in high school. That movie came out the winter of my junior year, so of course my friends and I identified with it in a major way. Part of the reason is that you could see yourself in multiple characters. I mean, I wasn’t a red-headed snobby brat, but my girlfriend certainly was. I was probably a cross between Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson, with a little bit of Ally Sheedy thrown in.
Sharing a band with David makes: no sense, because it’s really Dave’s band. I’m lazy, and finding musicians to play with is excruciating work. Auditioning people just isn’t that fun. So we snagged the Dave Bazan band because we knew they were good and we didn’t have to think about it. But when it’s really time for the next version of The Long Winters to reappear, we’re going to have a whole new band with a bunch of new dudes.
Guilty pleasures are: A total necessity! I mean, without guilty pleasures what the hell do any of us have to keep us going? I think that, barring a guilty pleasure that’s creepy or lame to other people, we should all indulge our guilty pleasures to the greatest extent possible! My guilty pleasure is long baths.
Favorite bands in Seattle are: Whenever I answer this type of question I usually find out that the interviewer has started an independent record label and immediately runs out to sign the bands I list, whereupon everyone gets rich and I’m left with nothing but my memories. So I’ve vowed only to answer the “favorite bands in Seattle” question in return for $500 American, cash upfront.
Seismic Photos: Langhorne Slim @ Neumos 8/4/10
Seismic Preview: Speed of Sound in Seawater @ The Comet 8/9
This Elk Grove trio (looking for a new bassist), are taking on the road in support of the new 6 song EP Red Version, and thankfully they are making a pit stop at my much beloved Comet Tavern. So props again go to Mamma Casserole and her amazing booking, cause this band is a jewel. Speed of Sound in Seawater (SOSIS) categorizes themselves as pop and no doubt some “math” … and this may be true but they seem to have a secret up their sleeve. The best descriptive way to describe the course of their music, is as if you’re reading a lovely children’s book, and something abruptly goes terribly wrong. It’s like a well-groomed homicidal maniac has busted down the door, and turned this perfect fluffy world upside down. SOSIS have beautiful vocal harmonies, ridiculously fast arpeggios and impressive melodic crooning, but no sooner than you are settling into their very sounds of beautiful and impressive guitar plucking, they turn on you and school you in a crash course of Vocals: Primal Screams 101. With all that said, it’s some of the freshest and most original stuff I have heard in a while, impressive to say the least. So save some steam for Monday night and check this band out, It’s gonna be rad as hell. For a free download of their latest EP click this link.
The Speed of Sound in Seawater- Romanticore
The Speed of Sound in Seawater-Vixen of the deep
Seismic Preview: Emeralds at The Funhouse on 8/7
So if you haven’t heard….well guess what? Now you will; the band Emeralds are making their mark on the Seattle scene with their slightly yet familiar sounds of yesteryear. The song “Hanged Man” on their MySpace page resonates with some subdued Layne Staley meets Ozzy vocals, then just throw in some good vintage 60- 70’s stylings and guitar work, and its got everyone’s ears on point.
Five guys simply coming out to play music and do what they love, has apparently created a buzz within the local music industry. Riding the perfect line with some elements of good old school metal, and some fuzzed out whining and screaming guitars, topped off with some heavy Black Sabbath riffs seems to be a potion for success. So for some good head-banging and fist pumping, go and check out these boys headline The Funhouse Saturday night with openers Higtower from SF and Natur from NYC. I have a feeling we will be hearing a lot more about this band in the time to come.
Seismic Rad-Libs: With Rad Jaw of Mad Rad & Fresh Espresso
If you live in Seattle and you have never heard of Mad Rad or Fresh Espresso, it’s quite possible you live under a rock. Terry Rad Jaw who is one the Captains of the Mad Rad militia and the turntable master for Fresh Espresso has he agreed to give us a little more insight into what does…or doesn’t make him tick. Lets see what he has to say….
Seismic Interview: With Mychal of Campfire O.K.
In the last few months I just so happen to discover the band Campfire Ok for myself … and I was instantly smitten with their vocal harmonies, tight folky sound and fearless yet well thought out instrumentation. So not long ago I was lucky enought to sit down with Mychal (lead singer) to do a interview. Like two besties at a slumber party, we immediately hit it off, made fun of eachother and he spilt the beans. Much more was said that is actually here, and those secrets will remain just that…secrets. But this is what he did have to say.
Campfire O.K.-Strange Like We Are
Seismic Sounds Hillebrity of The Month: Jesse “Blue” Metcalf
For any of you NOT familiar with a “Hillebrity”, these are the people who are seen all over the place, and I mean everywhere in and around the Capitol Hill area of Seattle. Even if you don’t live here, and you frequent a bar in your own neighborhood … you know what I am talking about, shit you may even be one in your own city. They know every bartender, they know all the doormen, and every other fucking person they walk by. The kind that uses the restroom and you see them 1-2 hours later because they were side tracked…yeah those people. So I thought it only deemed appropriate that I give these people the proper respect they deserve. Alot of the times we only know their faces, but here is an opportunity to find out a little more. It’s my honor to kick-off the inaugural edition of Hillebrities with the amazing Jesse “Blue” Metcalf. He is our August representative so buy the man a shot.
Congratulations Blue on being our very first Hillebrity on seismic-sound.com. I think you’ll make a good pin-up girl (laughs). Thanks Jason for having me as the first Hillebrity.
Where are you from? And what do you do? Well I have lived in New York, California, Colorado, Washington and Oklahoma. For my job I work as a transporter at a hospital …. totally boring.
On an average week how often are you out? I would have to say about 5 days a week. I suffer from extreme boredom.
Favorite door man? Thats a toss-up; I like all the guys at the Cha Cha. Tony, Rob and Shane at The Comet.
How much dough do you spend weekly on your “after school activities?” If you mean booze and drugs; Probably $200 a week, not counting other people’s money.
If your penis could talk what would it say? I have to Piss Jesse!
Drink of choice? That would have to be the old whiskey coke double.
Type of girl or boy you’re looking for? Hot Summer babes…
If you can remember…whats your craziest night out? Probably photo-booth foreplay.
Hottest bartender on the hill? Joe Grindo at Cha Cha.
Which bar do you frequent most? The fucking Cha Cha.
Do you suffer from A.D.D.? Nope
Strangest thing you have ever done in a bar? Photo booth foreplay
Do you see retirement soon? Retirement is for the weak.
Who would you nominate for Hillebrity of the month? Thats a hard one … probably my friend David West (AKA) DW. “In case you don’t know, you know”.
Any input on who should be the next hillebrity? Contact us and let us know!
Seismic Rad-Libs: With Mat & Brandon of Viper Creek Club
For any of you who have not heard of the electro-pop sensation Viper Creek Club out of Seattle … I guarantee this won’t be the first nor the last. There is quite a bit of hype being built up around their Aug, 3rd freshmen release “Letters”, and from a personal point of view… it’s quite simply amazing.
Mat and Brandon were nice enough to partake in the seismic-sound.com’s Rad-Libs, so lets see what we can learn about them.
1.Making an album was M: My moment of zen.
B: Creatively freeing and way smoother this time.
2.Best way to clear my head is M: Drinking six vodka tonics…I have a busy head.
B: Playing music, or a long bike ride.
3.The Seattle music scene M: Is severely underrated.
B: Is why I moved to Seattle.
4.Organized religion M: Haunts me. I’ve recently acquired the fear of being mortal, but not sure its appropriate to use organized religion as my crutch into the afterlife.
B: Made my middle-school years hell.
5.Hip-hop is M: My other musical personality. Hopefully someday I will be able to make music in one of those plush vibrating leather chairs thanks to hip-hop.
B: New to me, but I like it.
6.When I’m drunk I crave M: More drinks..(specifically more shots of Patron). Drunk Mat seems to like top shelf tequila when already far gone (NOT RECOMMENDED for so many reasons).
B: Good music, and good beer.
7.Best show I have ever seen was M: Emily Haines at The Crocodile. We were in the front row, and she stared at us the whole time. Although in reality, she probably couldn’t see shit, cause of the lights, but we like to think otherwise.
B: Emily Haines at the old Crocodile, or Friendly Fires and the XX at Neumos.
8.My most bizarre dream was M: Fighting with Diddy cause he couldn’t afford my beats, and then a flash forward/backward where we had reconciled and were shooting an alternate version of Wrekx -N- Effect’s “Rump Shaker” video in the jungle. This was a recent dream, and ever since “Rump Shaker” has been stuck in my head. Needless to say, this was one of my better dreams.
B: Its a toss-up. I had a reoccurring dream in my childhood of walking through a Michael Jackson music video (esque) graveyard with fake fog and upright coffins. My best friend and my kindergarten teacher would try to kill me. I’ve also had a random reoccurring dream of a demon on the end of my bed flipping through an upside down bible and screaming at me.
9.I learned a lesson when M: I quit drinking so much, I was capable of amazing things.
B: We recorded and mixed a record in 30 hours, and didn’t put any effort behind it.
10.I spend too much time M: Worrying about other people.
B: Booz’in it up.
11.I find beauty in M: Easter eggs. Not physical Easter eggs, but the world’s little secrets.
B: The little things.
12.Making an album brings out M: My favorite chunks of time. I used to have a lot of nervousness and apprehension about doing songs in a studio. But now its more anticipation and excitement. More of an empowering process vs. a demoralizing one.
B: My musicianship. I’ve improved ten-fold in the last year.
Viper Creek Club- Eliza
A few things were confirmed at this years CHBP, but one thing in particular is standing out in my CHBP 2010 experience. For the longest time I have known of Mad Rad, and have always “heard” of how entertaining the live stuff is, but this group known as Mad Rad have more than that …although filthy and vulgar (just the way I like it), they aren’t just a live act. Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to stage personality Mad Rad has it, and they have it in spades, but what makes them the all around package, is that everything is seemingly thought out and smooth, and that to me means some good management, from the “uniformed attire” to the guest performers. Nevertheless, this group of bona-fide bad-boys kicked off the festivities on Sunday the way everyday of the festival should have been. Balls to the walls energy! I was thoroughly impressed.
On the other end of the music world we have Book of Black Earth; always wanting to catch a live set, I took the opportunity to escape the sun inside Neumos and select a spot in front. This is undeniably one of the most musically talented bands I have heard in Seattle with their mind bending chord changes, and lighting quick musical transitions … I was completely in awe, but when the bodies started bouncing off each other, I made a hasty retreat. Call me a pussy….I’ll wear the labias with pride.
Talk about three diverse sounds of music …. after all the other acts I had ingested… I was a bit torn about the Hey Champ show, considering they were playing while two of the hottest people on earth were doing their thing on the main stage (Jack White and Alison Mosshart), but I convinced my pack of friends to check out indie-electro act Hey Champ, who had already taken the Neumos stage. We went to the front of the stage, and it was instantly a ball of energy and head nods of approval from my compadres. This three-some from Illinois were invigorating and encompassing on every level. Personally I thought the sound at Neumos for their set was some of the best I had heard. Crisp, clean, and know ones talents over-riding the others. Lead man Sam Hagshenas was what every label dreams about … stage presence, he was all over the stage building the crowds to a crescendoing ball of energy. Not once did I find a lull in their set. Like any genre of music..it may not be your style, but you have to give people credit who are good at their specific art; and this band certainly has a masters hand at creating electro-pop. By the time they had finished, they had infected everyone in the room with their catchy hooks, and invigorous beats! Mission accomplished.
Seismic Video:Live from CHBP 2010. The Head and the Hearts, Hallways, The Drowning Men, Thee Satisfaction and Beach Fossils
Seismic-sound.com scored some pretty amazing video of day #2 and day #3! Check out some of day 2 below…
So there you have it… CHBP 2010 has come and gone. I did a fair job of getting video coverage and taking some pictures (despite forgetting a memory card the 1st day); but the highlights of the weekend were so abundant, its hard to choose even a couple. For someone who takes great pleasure in the Seattle scene as I do, there were plenty of fantastic performances coming from the locals … the biggest surprise coming from Modern Athletics. This band, bar none, exceeded my expectations way beyond belief. Not only do they sound good recorded, but live they blew me away. Tight, well layered, great vocals and executed like fucking pros! Very impressive. Fences mesmerized the crowds with his amazing new material, and I can sense that this next album could be the one that breaks them out big. Just when you think that seeing a band like Champagne Champagne a half-dozen times or so is enough, it turns out that every time you see them, they do it better than the last time. Amazing new songs with slick out of the ordinary beats that are layered with a seemless flow of rhymes; it’s just the kind of stuff that keeps the crowd enthralled till the very end. But I do have to say, nothing made me smile more than Pearl’s hair … it was old school, it was magic! I capped the night off with a genius performance of Chicago’s own Mahjongg, and left on a high note. Here are a few pics from the day… Stay tuned for Day 2 which will be live footage!
Pics-1/2/3/FENCES
Pic-4/Modern Athletics
Pics-5/6/7/Champagne Champagne
Seismic New Music: Gabriel Mintz Ticket Give-Away!
Gabriel Mintz has a need to write songs. Lots of them. It’s like blood or breathing. From his West Village days on Bleeker Street to his Greyhound Bus desert individuations, Mintz has written more than a hundred songs that tell of characters and sketched out scenes. Vocals are a gangly call. Dirtied, but on. Closer to the mic, his lower register becomes unashamed of its beauty. He’s roots type Americana-leaning with a warm spatial drone.
Capturing this sublime aridness, Mintz released Volume One this spring. It documents his first full-length foray and it’s an adventurous one. The expansive beauty of tracks like “Western Days,’ “Atom Bomb” and “Firefly” amble along the mental throughway like brush across a barren Texas highway. These contemplative capsules were destined to accompany the open plains as seen from an auto on cruise control or the dew-tinted window of a passing train. The moods that reverberate on Volume One are many; from the gritty thump of “Safeway” to the 60’s pop harmonies of “Sofa Bed” where Mintz sounds like a cross between Roger McGuinn and Neil Diamond to the majestic “Desert Sky” whose stream-of-consciousness vocal sounds like a channeling of Jim Morrison from his epic ode “The End”.
Anchoring Gabriel’s visceral ruminations are Trent Moorman (Head Like A Kite) on drums and producer Geoff Stanfield (Sun Kil Moon) on bass who both recently joined him for a four-song live session at Seattle’s world-famous KEXP studios. The radio station’s Morning Show host/producer John Richards quipped “This new Gabriel Mintz is pretty stunning stuff, emotional & beautiful music.”
This tastemaker endorsement joined lofty accolades from the cities’ leading publications including Seattle Weekly, SOUND Magazine and the Stranger. Also on board is GIVE Seattle (http://giveseattle.org/) a thirty-plus business and non-profit collective initiated by Seattle coffee roaster Caffe Vita whom hand-selected the song “Safeway” for their 2009 “Best-of” compilation benefitting Arts Corps, Seattle’s largest nonprofit arts educator and a pipeline to local area foodbanks. Alongside Mintz, the GIVE Seattle compilation features artists such as Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes and Visqueen.
Gabe is gearing up for a spate of Seattle-area shows in July before traversing the Southeast in August on a co-bill with his cousin Adam Klein, a singer-songwriter who runs Cowboy Angel Music in Athens, GA. For more info, please visit http://gabrielmintz.com.
Please put Gabriel Mintz in the subject bar to enter contest for tickets, and email: press@seismic-sound.com I will anounce on Monday who won!
TOUR DATES
July 29 – Can Can, Seattle, WA
Aug 04 – Sunset, Seattle WA (w/ Dudley Saunders)
Aug 06 – KEXP Concert at the Mural, Seattle, WA (w/ Elliott Brood + Grand Hallway)
Aug 19 – The Crocodile, Seattle WA (w/ Kate Tucker)
Aug 21 – Wonder Root, Atlanta GA (w/ Adam Klein)
Aug 23 – Lexington Ave Brewery, Asheville NC (w/ Adam Klein)
Aug 24 – WDVX Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, TN (w/ Adam Klein)
Aug 24 – Acoustic Coffee House, Johnson City TN (w/ Adam Klein)
Aug 26 – The Cave, Chapel Hill NC (w/ Adam Klein)
Aug 27 – The White Mule, Columbia SC (w/ Adam Klein)
Aug 28 – Flicker, Athens GA (w/ Adam Klein)
Gabriel Mintz-Desert Sky
Gabriel Mintz-Western Days
Seismic Interview: With Tied To The Branches
Seismic-sound.com just recently did a little preview for the fellas of Tied To The Branches during their recent performance at The Josephine in Ballard. So now we wanted to take a little time to find out how they make the magic happen, and where they draw their inspirations from. Here is a little interview with Marc and Brad.
Tied To The Branches-Ice
Seismic Preview: Tied To The Branches
So no doubt there are times when the music I gravitate to is all about the instrumental and the experimental aspect of things, but band; Tied to the Branches throw in Marc Manning’s hushed haunting vocals and I wouldn’t want it any other way … its magic. Sure you can hear the experimentation within the music, but not so much that you are left confused, but add the 60’s sounding fuzzed out psychedelic vibe and it all makes perfect sense .This duo from San Francisco are rolling into town tonight to support their self-titled newly released EP at The Josephine in Ballard with supporting acts Luna Moth, Big Spider’s Back and Merol Muspi; so if you’re looking for an experimental cosmic sound that lifts your musical senses, go check them out; you’ll be glad you did! This is good stuff … this is really good stuff. Take a listen below
Tied to the Branches-Everywhere you go
Seismic Rad-Libs: With Dita Vox of Thee Emergency
Dita Vox is the quintessential front woman; Charisma, moves for days, attitude, incredible voice, perfect curves and shear magnetism, but it doesn’t stop there. The rest of Thee Emergency is nothing to scoff at..seeing this band feed off each other makes for some amazing shows! And considering the new album “Cracka Slang” is dropping at any moment they will more than likely be booking quite a few gigs in and about town, so make sure to check em out! Now lets see if Dita Vox undulges us with any good morsels, shall we?
1.Food for me is like sunlight for plants. Photosynthesis bitches.
2.The Seattle music community is on fire.
3.My woman crush is none of your business. Because the fastest way to crush a crush is to rush a crush. (Awwww…snap)
4.The most important things in life are not able to be summed up in 3 easy words. (You’re not limited to 3 words girl!)
5.A show I saw in Seattle that changed me would be something to look forward to. And how?
6.A sexy man to me is few and far between. (If you’ve never seen Dita Vox…she can afford to be very picky)
7.My favorite smells in the world are green, brown and red. (It just dawned on me)
8.Clothing gives me a chance to not be naked. ( I expected more from this fashionista, cause in jeans and a tank, she’s flawless … but o.k.)
9.I don’t like it when people forget what it means to be human.
10.My craziest night on Cap Hill was when I found out I can definitely run faster than the police.
Pay attention for next week Rad-Libbers; we have the much buzzed about Electro-Pop duo of Mat Wisner & Brandon Jensen, who make up Viper Creek Club. If you have any Rad-Libs for Mat and Brandon…send them, we will see if they indulge you.
Seismic Rad-Libs: With Andrew Chapman of The Keeper
This is the inaugural version of Seismic-Sounds play on words. Its name taken from the original game of Mad-Libs … you know that fun little game I am sure most of you have played at some point as a wee-little-tot. Except in our case we call it Rad-Libs. I start the sentence (which is in bold) and our guest Rad-Libber finishes it off. Our first guinea pig was “Metal Mouth” Andrew Chapman of The Keeper. Lets find out a bit more:
Seismic Interview: Joe Syverson of Final Spins talks about his personal life, and whats next for the band.
For any of you familiar with the incredibly gifted and relatively new band (2008) Final Spins; you may have been wondering whats been going on with them, or if they have a sophomore album in the works. The answer is a whole lot, and YES! One-fifth of this wonder- band and front man Joe Syverson took the time to explain the direction of the new album (his explanation is short and sweet), his Seattle musical influences, the politics of the “Seattle scene”, surrounding himself with greatness, and most importantly his new-found focus on his brand new and beautiful daughter Poppy.
First and most importantly. Congratulations on fatherhood, Poppy is a doll. How are you settling into that role, Whats it like being a father?
Thank you, yeah she is amazing! Being a dad rules! I always used to hear people say “words cannot describe it” and I would think that was such a cheesy answer, but, it’s totally true! Words cannot describe it!
Are you already finding inspiration in song-writing with having brought a child into the world, and will we see any of those, or will they remain personal?
Yeah, I am not to sure if those songs will come out,but definitely have been writing in that direction…. I try not to think about stuff like “Oh where is my life right now?”, … half way through the writing of “This is then” I flew to across the country to get sober. I don’t put that shit in my Bio… but people seem to thrive off of it! Like the more drama, the better the artist. I don’t really think its true, its like, “That’s great, you’re a crackhead/genius!” Give me a break! Like oh this is his “baby on the way record” barf! Songs are supposed to reflect your life to a certain degree, but that’s the case with everything in life no matter what you do! Are you going to say to your UPS driver?, “Man, thanks so much for the package, keep up the great work with your sobriety & not being homeless, god it’s so cool you’re doing so well!” NO! Life never stops coming at you, ya know?
Speaking of writing….its been about a little over a year since the release of “This is then, That was now.” Are you in the process of writing new songs for your sophomore album? Or how is that progressing?
Its going well.I have been doing lots of demos…. Chris Early and I are back to the drawing board (recording).The next record is going to be all analog! He has a really awesome tape machine & a space in Sodo… we are eager to get things rolling! Chris is such an awesome guy to work with!! He did a great job with the PGM record too!
How difficult is it to juggle family, another album, and also trying to collaborate with the other band members who are out on the road with their other projects, such as Zach;who is finding critical acclaim as well, with Pearly Gates Music?
Everybody was already playing in 5 million bands so it’s no big deal. We practice at my house where I live with my fiancée and her 2 kids and we always play music or have music playing in the house. It’s not a foreign thing like ” oh Joe has to go do this now” she (fiancée) plays drums & guitar… her 10-year-old is learning guitar & drums too!! What else are we going to do? As for Zach, I think it’s so awesome he is doing well with PGM!!! I feel lucky to have people like that guy around, what more could you want?
You’re a fan of The Kinks and your last album was compared to The Kinks in a few press snips I read. Are there any local Seattle bands that you admire that have some sort of influence on you?
I think Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) is an amazing writer as well as Sam Jayne (Love As Laughter) …. Sam is so underrated … one of the best in my opinion. I used to live with Zeke Howard (LAL) and Eric Judy (MM) , both of those guys opened my eyes to a ton of different music! Great people too! Josh and Zach Tillman are sickly prolific !Damien Jurado is awesome!!! The Moondoggies are killer! There are a lot of places that aren’t around anymore that have influenced me more than anything else. Places like Fallout Records, The Breakroom, Rock Candy, The Velvet Elvis, the Ok Hotel, S.U.P. Hall … too many to list!
Evolution and growth when creating music is relative depending on the artist or band. Can you tell us in which way you may see the sound changing or is it going to remain pretty consistent with the first album?
More fuzz!
There is a really strong music scene here in Seattle or Washington for that matter. Why do you think that is Or would you disagree?
Seattle is such a small town. It has such a rich history with music, even before the grunge era. 60’s garage scene was jammin…..We get like, 90 days of sunshine a year?!? I think the weather really either pushes people away to other warmer parts of the world or , it pushes them down into their basement’s or bedrooms to create! The scene here is super high school cliquey, so that gets annoying. You gotta kinda drink with the “right” people and I don’t drink anymore so … there you go! (laughs) Fuck them! Who needs that shit anyways?! (laughing)
So when can the fans of The Final Spins catch a show next….is there an approximate time frame?
Not too sure… we would love to have a night at the Blue Moon… we will see.
Well Joe thank you for your time here at seismic-sound, I really appreciate it…
Thanks for having me, anytime. Sorry for cursing, I can’t help it! (laughs)
Seismic-Sound 