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Festivals | Northwest Bands | Northwest News | Photo Essay

Local goodness (and more!) at 2012's City Arts Fest

Now that this year's City Arts Fest is over, I can take a step back and realize that I have been blown away by four solid days of an amazing array of (mostly) local bands, all giving Seattle some truly amazing sets. Each night showcased what the Pacific Northwest had to offer, and it was difficult to decide what venues to hit and who to see. Packing in as much as I could, I witnessed an incredible display of music spanning from pop to country to rock, and of course, took tons of photos.

The David Byrne / St. Vincent show was housed in the most perfect venue, that being the 5th Avenue Theater. The performance was brilliantly theatrical, with a choreographed horn section and Byrne and Clark's synchronized dancing (!!!) it really was entertainment of the highest caliber. It was almost overwhelmingly unreal. Love This Giant is one of my favorite albums that's come out this year and live, and I'm happy to report that the songs are even more over the top than they are on the record. What became clear about St. Vincent's songs -- especially those like "Cheerleader", "Cruel", and "Marrow" -- was how downright grand they became with the addition of an array of brass instuments. The crowd was pretty packed with David Byrne/Talking Heads fans or at least my section was; and yes, "Burnin' Down the House" was played in amazing fashion.

St. Vincent & David Byrne

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Thursday, October 25, 2012
by Imaginary Beth
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Crushes | On The Road | Photo Essay

What I did on my summer vacation

{The following post is courtesy of our new friend and California correspondent, Imaginary Michelle. Take it away, girl!}
 
{Shearwater / by Michelle Hazuda}
 
For my summer vacation, I didn't take a cruise or hit the beach. I didn't go camping or visit a national park. I didn't even go to the movies or visit a single amusement park. Nope, I decided to follow Shearwater on their west coast tour instead. They are my favorite band, after all, and I am nothing if not immoderate in my devotion to music in general (and this band in particular).
 
I had seen Shearwater play tons of shows before, some with the current line-up, many more with the former, but these were easily the best. The line-up that singer Jonathan Meiburg has brought together this year is definitely more rock than previous evolutions of the band, and they are, in a word, phenomenal. Drummer Danny Reisch, bassist Christiaan Mader, and multi-instrumentalists Mitch Billeaud and Lucas Oswald laid down such a storm of sound every night that I would've sworn I could feel it at a cellular level, maybe even a molecular one. But always at the fore was Meiburg's inexorable voice, at turns surging through and soaring above it all. Even though the setlist didn't vary much (each night Meiburg played a different song solo at the beginning of the encore), I never got tired of hearing any of the songs. Everything from Animal Joy, a handful of older tunes, and one absolutely brilliant REM cover killed me every single time. As much as I loved the etherealness of earlier Shearwater records and shows, I am utterly enamored with this more visceral incarnation. It's the difference between sitting on the shore watching the tide come in and running out into the water to feel the waves crash against your chest. In January. 
 
And as if Shearwater weren't enough on their own, Husky and Grant Olsen (of Gold Leaves) opened almost every show and destroyed me a little bit more each night. Both Gold Leaves' The Ornament and Husky's Forever So ended up on my iPod before the week was out.
 
The whirlwind took me from the tour's second night in San Diego, where I braved the ComiCon crowds to catch the band at a dive-y place called the Soda Bar; to a night at the Echo -- probably the best show I've ever seen them play in Los Angeles -- to the show at Bottom of the Hill a couple of nights later (which can only be described as downright magical), where I found myself thinking, "This is it, THIS is how it's supposed to be. It's all happening!" I have never been so exultant after show, so euphoric, so in need of whiskey.

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Thursday, August 2, 2012
by three imaginary...
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Northwest News | Recommended shows

Celebrate the official Neptune grand opening with a week of events!

{Okkervil River at the Neptune / by Victoria VanBruinisse}

Been to the Neptune for a few shows already? Yup. Us too -- most notably that killer night we spent in the front row with Okkervil River back in June! While plenty has been going on there, technically, the venue hasn't been open-open, really, and still isn't yet. But it will be next week, and to celebrate the Real Official Grand Opening, STG will be kicking off a bunch of excellent, free events. Check it out!

Fresh from the press release:

"Through the spring and summer months STG operated The Neptune Theatre with a limited number of events as we continued to make significant improvements to the venue," said Josh LaBelle, STG Executive Director. "Now we're excited to bring you an explosive line up that includes events central to community involvement, beginning with five free public events - you'll also see local artists, concerts, comedy and film at The Neptune Theatre during our Grand Opening season, that runs from fall equinox right into winter solstice."

All events listed below. Doors at 6:30 / show at 7:30, money at no-thirty! It's all free! Seating is first-come, first-served.

Sun., 9/25: Rocky Horror Picture Show
Full frontal festival environment with costume contests, complimentary hair & make-up and props! (Did we mention it's FREE?)

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Thursday, September 22, 2011
by imaginary victoria
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Crushes | Northwest Bands | Recommended shows

All your Fridays {and one Saturday} are belong to KEXP in August!

{The Head and the Heart / by Victoria VanBruinisse}

Summer wouldn't be summer without a sweet lineup at the Mural at Seattle Center during the month of August, and this year is no exception: our friends over at KEXP have put together another killer series of shows for 2011. As usual, it's all ages to rock, 21+ to hit the beer garden, and f-r-e-e FREE. (Although donations are gladly accepted at the KEXP tent, we're sure!) "Doors" are at 5, bands start at 6, and each Friday is hosted by a different DJ. It just doesn't get much better than that. Check out these bands and hosts!

Friday 8/5
Host: DJ El Toro
The Maldives / 
Hey Marseilles
 / Black Whales

Friday 8/12
Host: Troy Nelson
Seapony / 
Gold Leaves / 
Math and Physics Club

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Monday, July 25, 2011
by imaginary victoria
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