Dear friends from East Portland Blog, what’s up?! 🙂 I’m Labán from Mexico City and I’m presenting the first single from my upcoming album. It’s a protest song, I’m peacefully protesting against corruption, impunity, violence and the extreme disparities of income inequality I often see in my country. I believe that generalized government and private …
Imagine (Bears and) Dragons — the Magic of The Joy Formidable’s Aaarth A review by Peter Dysart For several years now, The Joy Formidable have been one of the hardest working and most enjoyable bands on tour. The places they’ve toured have covered the globe and the places they’ve called home have moved as well. All along the way they’ve acquired a solid and faithful following and some lasting friendships. That exposure to …
This 600 second break song came to me as we were wrapping up last night listening to Simon & Garfunkel LIVE 1969. I hear as Latin in that Incan way that Paul used those indigenous sounding flutes on ‘Duncan’ and another greatest hit I can’t think of right now. I am going change the hook …
It happened. Our very own genuine American buffoon stood before the world’s leaders doing his same routine that our American village idiots and quasi Christians eat up like old tainted seafood at a mid western buffet. And the leaders of the world just laughed. As they should. It’s comedy. The joke is on us. When …
Youtube is alive with fantastic vids of Simrit Kaur performing at various places around the world. The Keeper (below) is a particularly arresting introduction to Simrit’s siren blend of trance-world-classical with alt-folk vocals. This music has texture and, when given voice in the right venue, will ebb, flow and echo around the audience, hypnotizing, beguiling, …
I have a $100 budget. Who is ready to make a memorable show poster out of this image of Eric Struthers to celebrate his first show in Seattle with The Staxx Brothers? The show is Saturday Nov 3rd. We did some standout posters for the nights Ras Jones (Jonezy) came to visit us from England and when Matt Fink (Dr. Fink) rocked …
Greg Roth is going to have a pretty nifty announcement about how I am going to be involved in his debut film. I am excited to do my part to help this beautiful story find its audience. There are a lot of great names there. Bubba Jones, Jason Tang, Michael A Wansley, and Andrew D.B. Joslyn. Great names involved in …
I’ve said this before, but it bears revisiting. My father – who was a “square” in the late 60s, musically – once replied with this when I asked him what the iconic song of his generation was, looking back. I was surprised that he knew this song, to begin with. Though it was recorded in …
I have no photo of me in my brand new jeans because this sweeeeeet old lady that was helping me was being a sweet old lady and accidentally took a photo of herself. She apologized, but I told Elizabeth that this was a much cooler photo than a vainglorious photo of me saying, “Look at …
A long time ago, perhaps 36 years ago, I went to a club with my husband. It was really hot outside and I was wearing a dress that had no shoulder straps. My husband was hanging out with some friends and I was happily talking to another woman when a gang of UW frat boys …
These are some deep thoughts from a rapper in the Philippines. “Born December 5, 1984 in the Philippines, Magnitude 7 aka Alvin Aquino is a natural born creative thinker. From his interest in poetry, he writes his deep thoughts to answer and bring into fruition the juice of knowledge and wisdom into his rapping.” https://www.instagram.com/magnitude7music/ …
With the ethereal, yet powerful vocals of Rama Duke and the trance-inducing production delivered by M.I.K.E. Push, “Frozen” is sure to be heard within the club halls worldwide. This track will surely get you grooving along with the beat and upon deeper listening, you will come to realize that behind all the façade of elegant …
In 1991 my wife and I were living in a townhome type place at 19th and Denny in Seattle across from a house we called the “Rathouse”. The Rathouse was home base for our Ohio expatriate gang. The Gits, 7 Year Bitch, Alcohol Funnycar and DC Beggars all rehearsed in the basement there. This was …
“Whitehorse” is a very personal song about youth, change, letting go. I lived in the Yukon for twenty years. Twenty. Years. I didn’t plan to stay so long. Like most people I met there, I went on a whim one summer and got drawn in. It is an intense, wild, gorgeous, scrappy place and I …
These videos of me singing as customers come are pretty funny. This is my favorite. I was practicing ‘Amazing Grace’ for the last service of all time at Light of the Cross Lutheran Church, Bothell, WA, that is happening this Sunday. …then a very nice Snohomish local walks in. Then this happened. ☆also are a …
I finally got Barbara J Mitchell all the important links to help me with some PR for ‘Free Your Mind’. I am one of those artists that has never had a push from KEXP. I have a gift of gab and words come easy to me, but I can’t really explain how much it would mean right now …
☆ Happy birthday to Eric Struthers. He’s one of New Orleans’ own livin’ and breathin’ true as blue guitar greats. If don’t catch him with Dr. John or playing with one of the Nevilles, you might want to catch him Nov 3rd at The SeaMonster Lounge. He’s flying up to play with The Staxx Brothers and few other artists …
This is pretty much what it’s like recording in Kingston. If I get to cut an album with Reggae Powerhouse Band it’s going to be WILDFIRE. I got bucket of hooks, songs, ideas for a Jamaican album that could be a really hot mix of what Jamaican session musicians are gonna do, and what I am gonna …
I finally get to tell you that Band in Seattle is switching to KING 5! I had to keep that under wraps for a while. This is so big for that show. An NBC affiliate. Conrad Denke has put his heart and soul into that show, and working with him has been one of the experiences of my career in …
I had to go the top of Snoqualmie Pass to meet up with the TV drama legend Jim Charleston to discuss shooting my video for ‘Casino Road’ before I head back to Jamaica. Jim believes in me as much as anybody, save my Viking father Bruce. He said “get 2 g’s and we’ll make my last great …
Whether it is the effortless grace of her melodies, the sweetness of her timbre or the irresistible dash of a Dublin accent, there is something magical in Fields’ alluring voice. Now based in Perth, the Irish native has earned her stripes fronting sweaty, touring rock bands, but is at her most intense when it is …
“Writing songs has always been a way for me to get out of my head and back into my body,” declares Toronto artist Ruby Randall, “It helps me to make sense of things and creates space in me to feel something new.” She’s a great talent. Just listen below. The song is loaded with great …
“We ran away to Amsterdam to try and work it out…” I discovered this bristling, sparkling, punk pop diamond accidentally but love it to death anyway. Give it a listen. The vocals are elegant and the quirky lyrics are more eloquent than I could ever describe. Fightmilk (apparently named after a comic bit on It’s …
Walked through the living room, stopped myself. A commercial on TV. I thought, “Oh my god, they’ve finally made a biography of Neil Armstrong.” And as goofy as it sounds, I kinda got choked up. You gotta understand… I knew who Neil Armstrong was by the time I was four years old, I’m sure. It’s …
My Alma Mater, North Park University (Chicago, IL), used to be a national powerhouse in Division III (non-scholarship) men’s basketball. North Park won national championships in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1985, and 1987. The hoops’ team fell on very hard times after the release of the head coach who guided the Viking ship to the last …
Less of a white flag of defeat than a defiant proclamation of freedom, Seattle artist PSA’s latest video “So Over” is emblematic of the decay and rebirth that comes from leaving a relationship in the past. Stark and emotive, the video explores the strength and power of returning to yourself. Native to the Pacific Northwest, …
East Portland Blog has been around for ten years and for at least 7 of them we’ve employed the motto, “Where East Meets West for All the Best.” It’s a fine principle, guiding us to better things every year. The mighty Peter Dysart is the writer who came up with that theme and he has …
I visited some pear trees I planted seven years ago to find this first fruit on one tree. It was ripe and tasted amazing. Even small, good things can require an investment of years. Best wishes with your efforts. Keep working and expecting great things. – Paul Johnson
Today, Waxploitation announces the reissue of Zoo Animal’s three full-length albums. Zoo Animal: The Complete Recordings contains the collected works of Zoo Animal with new artwork and bonus tracks / remixes. The first single “Gravedigger” is a preview of unreleased material from an amazing, yet underappreciated artist. Singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer Holly Hansen created Zoo Animal in Minneapolis, after moving to the city from the …
What do you think about this sneak peak at my latest song out of Jamaica? I took this back to MY Roots. I have yet to try to sound Jamaican. I don’t see the point. I just have common influences. I feel the African diaspora in my blood. Even if my DNA didn’t come up …