Eclectic Lawrence, KS-based rockers The Appleseed Cast, are coming to Chop Suey tonight. This isn’t any ol’ regular Appleseed Cast show, but a show in which they will play the entirety of the Low Level Owl albums back to back.
The Low Level Owl series is a pair of albums released by the band in 2001, when they were pushing to fulfill their five-album contract with Deep Elm Records. The albums were released two months apart, and marked a departure from their earlier emo-driven work. The albums also contained the first hints of the ambient and post-rock influence that would show up more in tracks on subsequent releases.
Opening for The Appleseed Cast is label-mate Dreamend, a post-rock/shoegazer band from Chicago. The band is the musical project of Ryan Graveface, owner of Graveface Records and guitarist/bassist for Pennsylvania psychadelic band Black Moth Super Rainbow. Dreamend is more up front about their post-rockness, creating music slightly reminiscent of Explosions in the Sky, but more lo fi and with vocals.
Seattle Show Gal has two tickets to give away for this awesome show. To enter to win, click here or send an email to contests@seattleshowgal.com with the subject line “Two Tickets to Low Level Owl City, Plz” and your name in the body of the email.
Below is a video for The Appleseed Cast’s “Steps and Numbers” from Low Level Owl Volume I.
The video “Eyes Down” premiered a few minutes ago on Pitchfork. Last week, SSG got really excited about this song; you can read about it here. As excited as we still are, this video changes things a bit. Not for better or worse, just laterally. Whereas “Eyes Down” evoked feelings of relaxation and soul food before, this video conjures images that mix between M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village, and Cirque Du Soleil. It’s an interesting video. Check it out.
In the mood for the silky smooth acoustic stylings similar to Bright Eyes with a dash of Sufjan Stevens? Well you’re in luck. Once again Drew Victor is bringing just that to the small confines of The Sunset Tavernall the way from the musical hot-bed of Brooklyn , New York. But don’t be fooled, it seems that Seattle is like a second home for him. His ninth album Stand Still Faithful Mountain was recorded here at Litho Studios with his friends from Grand Hallway, and The Maldives. So lets roll out the welcome mat, he’s going to deliver us some special musical goodies.
Speaking of The Maldives, this Seattle mainstay is going to be pleasuring the people with their rootsy-country sounds at The Tractor tonight after kicking off their spring tour last night at The Doug Fir in Portland. These co-stars of the $5 cover series Seattle shot over last summer with countless other Seattle faves are revving up their music prowess to showcase their sound at SXSW next week in Austin, Texas. So be sure to head down, and give them a warm send off tonight.
On the other end of the spectrum, but heading to SXSW as well, Neumos is hosting one of Seattle’s most up and coming metal bands known as Book of Black Earth. If you have some frustrations from the week or just want to let it all hang out, then you need to step right up. These boys evoke the metal gods to each and every show, so I am sure its going to be a rough and tumble night in the pit. Or, you could just stand back and let the vocals of T.J. Cowgills permeate your skin and saturate your pores. NO matter which you choose, this is going to be heavy, but its going to be good.
For more show ideas, please visit our friends over at ReignCity.com
Over the last several years, Danish band Efterklang has been blending post-rock, folk, and pop in new and refreshing ways. Their first studio release, Tripper (2004), had prevalent female vocals and a static-ey Postal Service-esque feel to the instrumentation, which often toed the post-rock line. Efterklang’s 2007 release Parades leaned instrumentally toward the orchestral side of thingswithout completely abandoning their electronic roots. The tightly arranged music was seamlessly blended with downplayed and raw-sounding vocals, making for a beautiful, if not slightly jarring, combination.
Efterklang brings something new to the table yet again with their latest album, Magic Chairs (released Feb. 22nd on 4AD Records). Here the vocals take center stage, accompanied by more real live instruments than electronic ones. The album has a much stronger indie-folk-pop feel that the others, giving it more general appeal and palatability to potential listeners. Efterklang’s set looks very promising. This band of Scandinavian multi-instrumentalists is often ten strong on tour, and it should be fun to see how all of these songs come together live at The Triple Door, Seattle’s classiest venue.
Below is a video of Efterklang performing “Cutting Ice to Snow” (from Parades) with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra in 2008.
Vancouver B.C. is making a name for itself as a home to some really good electronically-influenced pop bands, and You Say Party! We Say Die! is no exception. With their strong combination of bouncy guitars,and throwback 80’s synth riffs, you will definitely pick up on the new wave pouring out of their collective soul. If you still have a soft spot in yours for the 80’s you will definitely want to check these guys out. It’s hard to say exactly what they sound like, because it changes significantly from track to track. There are moments of the Bengals and Joan Jett, a brief Björk moment mixed in there for kicks—but overall, it’s definitely a Blondie Moment. While it is hard to say exactly what they are going for, their music is catchy and easy to listen to.
You Say Party! We Say Die! are on tour, and stopping off here in Seattle before hitting SXSW, then embarking on a European tour that will end in late Spring. They are playing Tonight at Chop Suey with Seattle Show Gal favs People Eating People, and guests yet to be announced. It will be a night of great music, and if you are so inclined, bad 80’s dancing. Be sure to brush up your Carlton and get your behind to this show.
Seattle Show Gal has two tickets to give away for this awesome show. If you’re interested in winning these tickets, click here or email contests@seattleshowgal.com with the subject line “You say Party! I Say Free Tixxxxx!!!” with your name in the body of the email. A winner will be picked this afternoon.
Seattle’s own Georgetown Orbits are a band that knows how to get the entire audience sweating. Vocalist Darryl Grandison spends a good bit of the show moving around, inspiring movement onstage and beyond. Though the Orbits are known for putting a few instrumentals into their set, Grandison’s distinct vocals are always welcome and add character to an already solid performance from a band whose musical chops know no bounds.
Last year the Georgetown Orbits opened for and nearly upstaged the mighty Aggrolites before a sold-out audience at the Croc. Tonight, they’ll rock the crowd while opening for the peace-loving reggae legend Pato Banton & the Now Generation show in what will surely be another memorable show.
For your chance to win tickets, CLICK HERE, or send an email to contests@seattleshowgal.com with the subject: “In the mood for SKA!” Be sure to include the name that should appear on the list at the venue. Winner will be drawn at 3pm! Good luck!
Tim Kasher is getting buckwild. He and his band of merry men, Cursive, have a new song out as a backhanded tribute to The American Indians. Backhanded might sound a bit negative, but the negativity is not towards the American Indians. Rather, it is calling out those who have forgotten or simply do not care about those who ‘discovered’ our country long before Columbus sailed west. With flippant references to the story of our founding fathers and the hostile acquisition co-mingled with current travesties such as murder and the inherent right that some feel they have to take a young woman’s virginity, Tim Kasher sings “Home of the brave. What the f*** was that supposed to mean?” Kasher continues by showing how Native American culture has been used in decorative ways throughout modern day consumerism with little thought.
All of this is not to for people to raise their noses and disgust and go about their business. Cursive is actually doing something about it. The single “Discovering America” is out now, and all proceeds are going towards The American Indian College Fund. More details can be found at www.collegefund.org.
Here is the song “Discovering America.” Please visit Saddle Creek to download.
Summertime is warming right up, and not because of the obvious upcoming festivals and concerts. As the temperature rises in Seattle so do weekday shows. Today is no exception. There is a ton going on tonight in music of every genre, but here are a few of the hottest shows going down and get ready to call in sick tomorrow, unless of coarse your laid off, if which then you’ve got no excuse.
With dissonant female vocals, driving reverb-hall-filled guitars and long soaring instrumentals A Sunny Day in Glasgow pegs ambient-indie to a tee. The style adopted by guitarist Ben Daniels carries a Bjiork/Black Angels sound that reflects a transcendental nature and purity of spirit. Promoting the release of Nighttime Rainbows, which just dropped March 2nd, the group is scheduled to play a whopping eleven shows at SXSW this year.
Opening the night is local artist Perfume Genius whose fragile, airy approach to vocals and songwriting have earned him buzz in NW music. Mike Hadreas has adopted an uncanny approach that reveres post-crooner ambiance layered with song writing depth and balanced with piano and his tender voice to enable the song. This show should be really good, very laid back. Here’s a sample of Perfume Genius.
(Right click, “Save Link As” to download) Perfume Genius – Write To Your Brother
People Eating People, You Say Party! We Say Die! @ Chop Suey | 8pm | $10dos | 21+
This is one of the best lineups in the city tonight–especially for $10. Local stars People Eating People (Nouela Johnston of Mon Frere) are like watching a house burning down, you just can’t stop staring. That’s because they deliver a talent that would be like Amy Winehouse singing for The Dresden Dolls–unrivaled yet undiscovered. SSG has had a heart-on for Nouela (here), and for good reason. It’s only a matter of time before somebody sees this girl and carries her off to be more than just a Seattle star. In the meantime, go see People Eating People while the tickets are still $10!
Closing out the night is Canadian pop-punk You Say Party! We Say Die! and they deliver a 1-2 knockout for tonight’s show. Backing up the February U.S. release of their third album XXXX, they are packed full of energy, huge snyth-beats and ass-shaking songs. It’s actually believable You Say Party! We Say Die! is trying to kill you with their party music. The Chop Suey always has enough low end to drive you out of your Tuesday night shell, and along with People Eating People, you’ll be lucky to make it out alive.
SSG is going to have a giveaway for this show later today. STAY TUNED!!!
The Cool Kids are new prophets of Hip-Hop, dropping beats, samples, and rhymes like N.E.R.D. ate DJ Shadow and puked up the Beastie Boys.Combining old and new school sounds, The Cool Kids recreat one of the sickest styles in hip-hop with seemingly no effort. Listed as Rolling Stones top artists to watch out for in 2008 this show is going to go OFF. Guarantee The Showbox will bring in extra subs just to accommodate the shear apple-bottom-dropping bass that will crush the house into a finely ground powderto snort with a $1000 bill. Backing them up is So-Cal hip-hop brothers Pac Div, and If you got 20 bones this is the show to see tonight, no doubt about it. Here’s a taste of The Cool Kids teamed up with electro group Hey Champ. (Right click, “Save Link As” to download) The Cool Kids / Hey Champ – “We Are Champions”
For more concert ideas, visit our soul sistas at ReignCity.com
The most ambitious undertaking, however, comes courtesy of do-it-all production virtuoso, OC Notes. His Coffee Beans…The Glamour ReWorks is a complete and utter re-imagining of Fresh Espresso’s now seminal debut. Listening to it is like stumbling down a dimly-lit hallway, where sobriety is possibly compromised and every room you pass is a doorway into trip-hop psychedelia and fuzzed-out experimental music of Fresh Espresso’s original Glamour. It’s worth the trip, readers. And best of all, it’s free. Here are a couple tracks:
Seattle Show Gal is in hot pursuit of undiscovered talent! How many great bands are out there that are slipping through the cracks? Seattle is saturated with so much music, it would be nearly impossible to sift through it all to find the good stuff. The Seattle Show Gal staff is not so proud to think that we can bring you all of it, but we are actively pursuing all different types of acts to give you a pulse on what is going on--right here in Seattle! (See more in "About")
