The Toasters, Poorsport, Juice, Poke Da Squid and Life Afterlife Wow An Enthusiastic Crowd at Seattle’s El Corazon, By Holly Homan

Last night, February 4th, 2012, I once again headed to Seattle’s El Corazon where ska legends The Toasters were headlining a show. When I arrived, the opening band, Life Afterlife, was just starting. Life Afterlife is a five-piece from the Tacoma area who play a mix from pure punk pop to some harder core punk …

Portland’s Awful History of Human Trafficking Revealed in Network of Underground Tunnels Downtown

This is just awful. I don’t want to live here anymore. KGW’s lovely Abbey Gibb files an informative news feature on just how Portland’s awful history of human trafficking is revealed in a network of underground tunnels downtown: http://www.kgw.com/entertainment/Sha-138610174.html Thanks to Ben Easher for this 1999 article from Anodyne Magazine Online which includes such tidbits …

M.I.A. – Bad Girls and Give Me All Your Luvin’ with Madonna and Nicki Minaj, By Mike Hughes

I’ve just been looking at MIA’s new Bad Girls video. It’s real. I mean she’s always the deal, 100%, despite what anyone might say. You can smell the smoke on this one. I’m still not sure about that other video with Madonna. Can’t help feeling Maya and Nikki are fuelling Madonna’s magpie tendencies. http://www.miauk.com/ – …

Dada – Moon, By Ron Swanson

Let’s talk about Dada. Best known for “Dizz Knee Land,” their album Puzzle is really quite good. The song “Dim” is first rate (reminds me a bit of Flake – whatever happened to them?) and I go back to “Moon” from time to time as the perfect song for certain moods… – Ron Swanson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aJgdok_iRc

Tommy Keene – The Parson Red Heads – The Riffbrokers – Jan. 28 – The Sunset, Seattle, By Steve Stav

Seattle maintains an open marriage with roots music, and has been noted for its dalliances with grunge and hip-hop. However, the Jet City has held pop music — jangle-pop, folky pop, avant-garde pop, power-pop — dear to its heart for quite some time. It’s a reliable mistress. Seatown seemed a fitting stop, then, for eternal …

Stone in Love Journey Tribute Band to Rock the Neptune Theatre in Seattle, 2/11 and the Star Theater in Portland 5/19

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrpBTIAWDBM Stone in Love, the West Coast’s foremost Journey tribute band is based right here in Portland. They will perform at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle on February 11 at 8pm and the Star Theater in Portland on May 19 at 6pm. Just watch the videos here or listen to the sound clips on their …

Punch Brothers Release New Album, Perform in Portland March 7 and Seattle March 6

Punch Brothers, the best post-bluegrass band out there today, are releasing a new album, “Who’s Feeling Young Now?” on Valentine’s Day and will be touring through Portland’s Wonder Ballroom on March 7 and Seattle’s Neptune Theater March 6. See the dashing lads and their tour poster here. Punch Brothers – “Clara” Who’s Feeling Young Now? …