Monday night the Showbox Sodo was where the hip people were hanging out. After three plus years Boston’s legendary Celtic punks The Dropkick Murphys finally returned to Seattle. This crowd was ready for them and proved that the Murphys were not forgotten. After two decent openers, the crowd grew restless and started singing, “Hey Ho, …
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It’s the last Friday of September and the place to be is Slim’s Last Chance in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. Northwest legends Girl Trouble are headlining a show. Hailing from Tacoma, Washington, Girl Trouble never puts on a disappointing show. GT front man, KP Kendall is the ultimate showman, often making spontaneous jokes, this time it …
Sunday September 21, 2014, people in many municipalities around the world gathered to protest climate change and push for clean, renewable energy sources. When I arrived things were already in full swing in downtown Seattle’s Westlake Plaza. I was quite surprised to see so many gathered in the one acre park. People stood or sat …
It’s Sunday night and Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood is teeming with night life. I’m hanging at the Nectar Lounge where The Skatalites are headlning. Skatalites are pure reggae ska. Although they list Jamaica as their hometown, the members hail from all parts of the globe. And with various guest performers joining them from time to time, …
The Real McKenzies, from Vancouver, BC, ventured into Seattle for a hell raising show at El Corazon. After some rebel rousing from four opening acts, the Real McKenzies, all wearing green plaid kilts, hit the stage sans their lead singer, Paul McKenzie. They led the audience in several chants for, “Paul! Paul! Paul!” to no …
Saturday night, August 23, was a date I looked forward to for some time, for this night a rare reunion concert of the Posies was to occur at Seattle’s Triple Door. The lineup consisted of what was the original Posies, that is Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow. The two formed The Posies while still in …
On a hot steamy Tuesday night, Seattle’s Neptune hosted the legendary Mighty Mighty Bosstones. It’s been more than a decade since the Bosstones played this area, but like a good wine, they’ve aged well and this eight-piece from Boston was in top form. They came on stage all wearing matching read coats and black trousers …
Thursday night in Seattle the Triple Door hosted LA punkers X for an acoustic show. Interestingly, they were playing under the name X and not their acoustic alter egos, The Knitters. Whatever the name, X never disappoint whether they’re acoustic or hard punking. Exene Cervenka can still do her charming little dances while belting out …
It’s Friday July 25th. It’s stifling hot and El Corazon has no ventilation. But Arizona’s Andrew Jackson Jihad are playing to a packed crowd and are not to be missed. AJJ is the only band I know of who combine melodic folk songs combined with a harder edged punk drive. To add to this, their …
It’s Saturday morning and I’m still on a high from Thursday night when I ventured to Seattle’s Showbox to witness the glorious, long-awaited return of the Aquabats. Like the Phenomenauts, they infuse elements of ska, punk rock and corny kids’ science fiction into one fun filled show. Celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band, the …
It’s a warm Sunday night in Seattle and the Neptune Theater is hosting LA’s ska masters, Fishbone. Fishbone, although primarily a ska band, play a variety of musical genres from fusion, to rock, and even some rap poetry tossed in. Sax player and main vocalist, Angelo Moore never stays in one spot very long before …
This coming Sunday and celebrating twenty-five years as a band, legendary LA ska masters Fishbone finally returns to the Pacific NW with a show at the Victoria Ska Fest on July 4 and a show at Seattle’s Neptune Theater on July 6. Fishbone play a variety of musical genres from the aforementioned ska to some …
Thursday evening June 26 approximately three hundred teachers and public school support personnel gathered in Seattle’s Westlake Center to hold a rally against the new Common Core Standards (CCS) before marching one mile to the Gates Building and holding a rally and protest there for over an hour. Common Core Standards was created by corporatists …
On Monday night, June 23, I had the utmost pleasure of witnessing the legendary Robyn Hitchcock perform a concert. This was my first time in the Columbia City Theater in Seattle’s south end. Seattle Theater Group recently acquired it. Columbia City Theater is very small, so very intimate, but loaded with character. The beginning of …
Sunday was Father’s Day and also the evening of an acoustic solo performance from one of the finest female vocalist of modern times, Johnette Napolitano. The former lead singer from Concrete Blonde blended original songs (with a couple exceptions) with humorous anecdotes and poetry she’d written. Johnette came on stage to raucous applause, and used …
God Help the Girl would be more aptly called God Help This Movie. This film begins with a young girl walking through Edinburgh sinnging, but I had no idea why. Then she’s in some sort of mental hospital for what appears to be an eating disorder. But again, we don’t know why. Half an hour …
My third movie as part of Seattle International Film Festival was an utmost treasure. Lady Be Good: Instrumental Women In Jazz was a documentary by Director Kay Ray, and co-producer Cathy Wadley. Lady Be Good reveals the lost stories of female jazz musicians from the early 1920s to the 1970s through archival footage and interviews …
It’s Thursday night, but that doesn’t stop the night life from hopping on maximum overdrive on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Chop Suey hosted one of my all-time favorites, Camper Van Beethoven. I first saw CVB in the fall of 1987 and I’ve seen them a couple times since. I believe this show was the fourth time. …
Last Tuesday I watched my second movie as part of the Seattle International Film Festival. This one, called Razing the Bar was about the rise and fall of the beloved punk club called The Funhouse. Through interviews with employees, owners and local musicians, this film is mainly about Brian Foss who took over running The …
Strictly Sacred is a documentary about Seattle band Girl Trouble. Girl Trouble has been a Seattle institution for about twenty-five years, but have never received the notoriety they so deserve. That is until now. Isaac Olsen (who is the nephew of two of the members of Girl Trouble) directed this excellent introspective on the life …
It’s Sunday night of the Memorial Day weekend 2014 and Studio Seven is hosting the Tenth Annual Psychobilly Brawl, featuring Koffin Kats and lots of great openers. Koffin Kats have a new guitar player. That being Johnny Kay and he is amazing! The only time he stood still was when he was singing harmony. Otherwise …
Thursday night May 15 marked the second time I’ve seen the Chop Tops and I think they were even better this time around. This trio from Santa Cruz plays a mixed bag of rockabilly and psychobilly and consists of Sinner (whose name is tattooed across his chest) on vocals and stand up drum kit, Shelby …
It’s Saturday night in Seattle’s thriving Ballard neighborhood and I’m at the Tractor Tavern to see folk singer Sarah Jarosz headline a show. Although calling Sarah Jarosz folk is not exactly accurate. She’s part folk, part bluegrass and a little country tossed in. She’s one hundred percent child prodigy. She’s turning 23 later this month …
It’s Tuesday night in Seattle and do you know where your punk rocker is? Most likely at the Showbox watching Teenage Bottle Rocket followed by Pennywise ignite a firestorm of unadulterated punk rock! It’s been nearly a decade since I’ve seen Pennywise. When they finally hit the stage, it was like someone poured gasoline all …
Johnette Napolitano is best known for her role as lead singer & bassist for Concrete Blonde. When I sat down to do a phone interview with her recently I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I discovered is how easy she was to talk to. I felt like I was calling an old friend and …
Friday night on Seattle’s happenin’ Capitol Hill, the Highline hosted the 11th Annual Seattle Ska Fest. Two of my favorite locals, The Georgetown Orbits and Natalie Wouldn’t were headlining. Tres bliss! The Orbits were the last band to play, and again, many seemed to have left before the end of the show. What is it …
On April 9 I bore witness to five bands at El Corazon who were beyond fabulous. Though the headliner was Creepshow, from Toronto, there really were two headliners — the other being The Phenomenauts. Hailing from the East Bay area, The Phenomenauts are part corny fifties TV sci-fi show, part comedy troupe, part rock band …
On Friday April 4, Seattle band Poke Da Squid played a concert to celebrate the release of I Honestly Had Higher Expectations (click to see my earlier review of the CD). Poke Da Squid is a young band. I’m positive all members are under the age of 30. They’re also adorable and ooze charm from …
Friday night, March 7, Seattle’s El Corazon hosted five explosive punk bands headlined by the infamous Richie Ramone, the third drummer for the Ramones (1983 to 1987). Richie began the set behind a large drum kit, but switched to being the front man with a mic while rhythm guitarist Ben Reagan (and probably the most …
Poke Da Squid’s new release, I Honestly Had Higher Expectations, is a very poppy album with heavy ska elements and even some harder rock. “Two Drunks Make It Write” starts things off. This song has some Blink 182 and a bit of Less Than Jake influences with catchy guitar hooks and even catchier harmonies. “I’m …