Son Dulce has a myspace...
This is new: Click here.
3rd Annual Sommy Awards Readers Choice ballot
Here's your chance to chime in on who you think deserves the trophy for best local band of 2007. The deadline to vote is Jan. 7. The winner will be announced at the Sommy Awards ceremony on Jan. 25.
These are the Sominees for Best Band of 2007:Click here to vote.
Mistress and the Misters
Cyrus Fell Down
La Cha-Cha
Joel Smith and the Hands of Plenty
Son Dulce
The JonnyForest
Flee The Century
*Keep checking the blog for more Sommys info.
Best of '07 addendum: Who did I forget?
and...
...and I gotta give it up to Hockey.
Mixtape Monday Vol. 16: Best of '07
I'm not going to do the best-of list that you can read in Rolling Stone or over at Pitchfork. My list focuses on some of the best music to travel through, and already existing Spokane in the last year (I meant to have this up yesterday but I was busy watching my 5-year-old's first acting gig as The Cow in the Jefferson Elementary School production of The Gingerbread Man):
"This Christmas Girl," James Pants: This is Pants' contribution to Stones Throw's Badd Santa compilation. Cop it.
"The Columbia is Lost," Dane Ueland: Easily one of the most exciting new talents in the singer-songwriter genre.
"Van Helsing Boombox," Man Man: My vote for best show of 2007.
"Spitting Venom," Modest Mouse: I love that the live version mashes with "I Came As A Rat."
"Sioux Arrows," Point Juncture, Wa.: This is from PJWA's forthcoming album. You can hear a live version of it on PJWA's live concert stream over at The Hangover here. Just scroll ahead about 19 mins. Or listen to the whole thing. It's lovely.
"Ways to Love," Jason Webley: This was made for you to sing along as loud as you possibly can (if not in the car then most definitely at the live show).
"Lady Luck," Kid Theodore: These guys have the 50s rock-jazz-Latin thing mastered on their 2007 full length release, "Hello Rainey."
"Consuela," Mistress and the Misters: Most improved band in 2007, word to Criminal D.
"Knights," Minus The Bear: I thought "Planet Of Ice" was a great progression for this band.
"It's About Time," Barcelona: Indie-pop bliss.
"North By Northwest," Blue Scholars: Sabzi is bordering on becoming one of the dopest hip-hop producers to come out of the West Coast on "Bayani."
"Dead Ones (remix)," Lifesavas feat. Nas and Fishbone: 777 headliners killed it, yo!
"My Favorite Cinema," The Globes (fka For Years Blue): So sad to lose these kids to Seattle but so happy to see they are slaying them over there.
"Clarity," Danny Weber: Things seem to be getting even better for Requiem, Weber's full-band project.
"The Drunk Hounds," Matthew Winters: Raw talent that is hard to contend with.
"Tic," Loch Lomond: This band is still sooooo slept on.
"The Whim of the Ruling Class," Nick Jaina: Jaina is coming back to town in March after the release of an album of mostly piano-based music.
"Two Times," The Blakes: Get your strut on...
"Black Curtains," Paper Genius: RIP another fantastic local band.
"Unconventional Wisdom," Built To Spill: Guitar god.
"Let's Pretend," No-Fi Soul Rebellion: Always tops live show.
"Do Not Fold/Do Not Bend," Velella Velella: My favorite used-to-be-in-Spokane band.
"Little Machine," Cyrus Fell Down: If you don't know by now...
"Sunlight," Mark Ward feat. Kristen Marlo: Sometimes simple is very powerful. This song reminds of walking off into the sunset. Seems like a great way to close out a look at what, in retrospect, was a truly shining year.
Bonus Track: "Blind World," Aloe Blacc: He hasn't come to Spokane yet, but I had to include this one as an honorary Stones Throw nod.
Seattle's Crocodile closes its doors, sources say
I was just got an arresting email from my friend and fellow music pusher in Seattle Ashley from the Wig saying that the seminal indie-rock venue the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle is closed for good. After a bit of Googling it looks like the word is spreading.
Here's the email from Ash:
Pete Greenberg (the Croc's now-former booking agent) left a few weeks ago amidst rumors that management was a problem, etc, etc. Everybody kind of wondered if something was up, if something would happen, but everyone at the Croc was behind it, said things were cool. Thennnnnnnn yesterday I was at a Christmas party and Snow from the Blakes stumbled into the living room, stunned, to deliver the message. Crazy. Dave Bazan/J. Tillman/Robin Pecknold on Saturday night was the last show...
Here's what appeared on www.seattlepi.com, including reports from Three Imaginary Girls, Line Out and Reverb: Click.
New streaming show with Ben Gordon and London Get Down
Ben Gordon brings it from the heart in a solo set while London Get Down plays a rare acoustic show at Caterina Winery.
Check out the latest live concert streams on The Hangover.
New podcast episode with Justin Knittel
Justin Knittel talks about writing depressing lyrics, breaking out of Paper Mache and recording new song in an interviewed followed by a live performance in the lastest episode of the podcast.
Check it out here: The P.A. System.
Blue Note reveals classic hip-hop material
For all you record diggers and hip-hop scholars out there, Blue Note Records is doing you a huge service.
Since the onset of golden era hip-hop in the late 1980s the secret has been out that the seminal jazz label has been providing choice cuts that reinforced the roots of hip-hop samples for the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Main Source and Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth.
Blue Note is taking it a step further by releasing source material for many of the classics on a compilation called "Droppin Science: Greatest Samples From the Blue Note Lab," due Feb. 12.
Here's the full track list, including bonus tracks: Click here.
Mixtape Monday Vol. 16: Wu-Chronicles
A lot of firsts are coming with the Wu-Tang Clan's fifth album, "8 Diagrams," which is released tomorrow.
This is the first Wu-Tang album after the the death of Ol' Dirty Bastard, the first new Wu album since 2001's "Iron Flag," and the first Wu album with outside production.
2000's "The W" was the first Wu-Tang album to feature non-Wu-Tang guest spots (Nas, Redman, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Junior Reid and Isaac Hayes); 2001's "Iron Flag" was completely ODB-free while ODB was incarcerated.
With all the dynamics of the clan showing industry love and having to still kick it with one leg missing, I put this mix together with the criteria of only using songs which feature Wu-Tang emcees on other artists' work. It gives a good idea of who the clan has worked with most and best and some of the various colors that have been produced with the Wu-Tang killer bees cross pollination.
"Tres Leches (Triboro Trilogy)," Big Punisher feat. Inspectah Deck and Prodigy of Mobb Deep: The Ricky Henderson of rap... you can't easily start a Wu mix without Deck. RIP Pun.
"Above The Clouds," Gangstarr feat. Inspectah Deck
"No Exit (Remix)," Blondie feat. Inspectah Deck, U-God and Mobb Deep: I always think of this song as a joke. I understand Blondie is down with rap. I was there when it happened on "Rapture" in the 80s, but Blondie performing on the American Music Awards with U-God and Inspectah Deck -- two of the most underground emcees in Wu-Tang -- was a day I thought I would never see. Coolio joined 'em for the AMA performance. Prodigy was onstage dropping N-bombs like it was nothing. It was madness.
"The Resurrection," Public Enemy feat. Masta Killa: This first collaboration between Wu-Tang and Public Enemy finds Masta Killa on the "He Got Game" OST. Who? The quietest member of the Wu.
"The What," The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Method Man: Mr. Mef was the only guest emcee on Biggie's debut album.
"Gunz 'n' Onez - Iz U With Me," Heltah Skeltah feat. Method Man: Rockness and Mef -- two of the most golden voices in hip-hop.
"The Worst," Onyx feat. Raekwon, Method Man, Killa Sin and X1: GREAT video.
"Black Trump," Smif-n-Wesson feat. Raekwon: Another Boot Camp and Wu collab.
"Skew It On the Bar-B," Outkast feat. Raekwon: Did Andre have a subliminial diss toward Raekwon's materialism at the close of his verse?
"John Blaze," Fat Joe feat. Big Punisher, Raekwon, Nas and Jadakiss: One of the hottest tracks of the 90s.
"Let's Be Specific," Funkmaster Flex feat, Raekwon, Cool Whip, Tragedy, Freddie Foxx and Havoc of Mobb Deep: I don't know how this happened. Flex fell off after his first couple of mixtapes.
"Nighttime Vultures," Mobb Deep feat. Raekwon: So begins a run of Mobb Deep and Wu-Tang collabs...
"Eye For An Eye," Mobb Deep feat. Raekwon and Nas: The definition of classic.
"Right Back At You," Mobb Deep feat. Raekwon and Ghostface: Rae and Ghost as the Batman and Robin of rap.
"Tha Game," Pete Rock feat. Raekwon, Ghostface and Prodigy of Mobb Deep: Pete Rock needs to stay off the mike.
"The Heist," Busta Rhymes feat. Raekwon and Ghostface: Busta is like an honorary member of the clan.
"The Mask," Danger Doom feat. Ghostface: MF and Ghost.
"He Comes," De La Soul feat. Ghostface: Unexpected, but dope.
"Danger 2004," Blahzay Blahzay feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard: Finally.
"Woo Hah! (Remix)," Busta Rhymes feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard: One of the best performances of ODB's short-lived career.
"Where's Your Money," Busta feat. Ol Dirty Bastard (produced by Dr. Dre): I don't know whatever happened to this track.
"Hip Hop Drunkies," Alkaholiks feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard: Too drunk to show up for the video shoot?
"A Day in the Life," Handsome Boy Modeling School feat. RZA, AG and The Mars Volta: Can't believe this collab ever happened. And AG killed it.
"Whatever Happened," AZ feat. RZA: "Ruler Zig Zag Zig Allah and Alla Zig Zag Zig."
"Third World," Soul Assassins feat. RZA and GZA: Dope production.
"When the Fat Lady Sings," Soul Assassins feat. GZA: You can't easily close a Wu mix without the GZA/Genius.
West, Winehouse grab a grip of Grammy nominations
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards nominations came in today.
The big news is that Amy Winehouse collected six nominations. Kaye West is in there, too, with eight nominations.
Along with Vince Gill, Foo Fighters and Herbie Hancock, Kanye and Winehouse are up for Album of the Year.
Here's a link to full list from www.grammy.com: Link.
Stay tuned for the Sommy Awards nominees to be announced in the coming weeks.
Pants stays on the grind
James Pants headlines a show with Real Life general DJ Yochanan on Saturday at 10 p.m. at The Zombie Room, 230 W. Riverside. Cover is $2. Pants will be playing “weird things” while Yochanan spins “breezy things.” Pants also releases a instrumetal album, “Rhythm Tracks Vo. 1,” next week on Stones Throw Records.
Pants is also being featured in an upcoming issue of XLR8R Magazine.
Download an exclusive mp3 of Pants’ brand new track, “This Christmas Girl,” from Stones Throw's Badd Santa LP:
This Christmas Girl (3.4 Mb mp3)
Rock and Rol Hall of Fame nominees bring in hip-hop
There are a couple hip-hop artists challenging the definition of rock n’ roll as nominees to be inducted to the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year.
The godfather of rap, Afrika Bambaata, and hip-hop anomolies The Beastie Boys are among the list of the nine nominees being considered as Rock Hall of Famers.
The rest of the nominees are pioneering New York Jazz group Chic, rolk rock icon Leonard Cohen, UK 60s rock phenomenon The Dave Clark Five, the queen of pop Madonna, heartland songmaster John Mellencamp, disco diva Donna Summer and – a Northwest nominee – Seattle’s The Ventures.
The five inductees will be announced on Dec. 13.
(Between you and me, I don't think Donna Summer has a snowball's chance.)
Mixtape Monday Vol. 15: Guess who's back
I'm back on the blog after a healthy vacation. In anticipation for the new Ghostface album (due tomorrow), here's a mix of tracks from the Wu-Tang Clan's Ironman and wordsmith extraordinaire. (All songs by Ghost except where noted)*:
"Special Delivery," G-Dep, featuring Ghostface, Craig Mack and Keith Murray: "The rhinestones and my Flinstones look crazy in my sweater."
"Mighty Healthy": "Hit mics like Ted Koppel/Rifle expert, let off the Eiffel/Burn a flag in your grass it's spiteful/Ringleader set it off rap Derek Jeter/Culprit, prince of the game wish you could see us/We lay low glitter wax full bangles/Priceless robes, lay around the God get tangled/Wooly hair, eyes fiery red, feet made of brass/12 men followin' me, it be the God staff..."
"Theodore," feat. Theodore Unit: Promo video clip.
"Beat the Clock": This links to a cover of Ghost's song by a rock/funk group.
"Shakey Dog": Gotta love the youtube fan edits.
"One": Here's a link to live performance.
"Spray Paint and Ink Pens," Lupe Fiasco feat. Ghostface and M. Shinoda.
"Ooh Wee," Mark Ronson feat. Ghost, Nate Dogg and Saigon: This is a BANGER.
"Buck 50," feat. Redman, Method Man and Cappadonna
"Metal Lungies," feat. Sheek Louch of The Lox: Live performance.
"Run," feat. Jadakiss of The Lox: Cappadonna was pissed when his song of the same title flopped in 1998 only to see Ghost create a major street buzz with his take on the whole "run from the cops" anthem.
"Block Rock": ...reminds me of GZA's 4th Chamber.
"Guns N' Razors" feat. Cappadonna, Killa Sin and Trife: This track was produced by MF Doom and first appeared on MF Grimm's 1000 Degrees (plus 15 trivia points).
"Who Are We," feat. Trife and Bonecrusher: Samples Scooby Doo. Well.
"Real Live Sh!t (Remix)," Real Live feat. Ghost, Cappadonna and Killa Sin: This takin' it back a little bit.
"Stand Up," Charlie Baltimore feat. Ghost: I was surprised to see there was a video for this duet.
"Street Opera," feat. Sun God
"Box In Hand (Remix)," feat. Method Man and Streetlife: Unreleased rare jewel.
"Good Times Pt. 2," feat. Superb: Due to sample clearance this one never saw the light of day. Features a sample from the theme song to the black television program of the same title.
*All collabs with Raekwon have been intentionally omitted to show Ghost's strength as a soloist. Raekwon and Ghost mix coming soon. Check next Monday's Wu-Mix for a return to the 36 Chambers.
See Sassparilla in action
Here's the video from Sassparilla Jug Band, which opened the Think Swing! Jazz and Blues Festival last week.
Head over to The P.A. System for the podcast of the live show and interview, then check out The Hangover from more Think Swing! action from Midnight Serenaders.
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Highly addictive
I think the video and live performance are better than the song...
Wu-Watch: ODB Day
To celebrate the annivesary of the death of one its clansman - and one of the most charismatic personalities in music, Ol' Dirty Bastard - Wu-Tang Clan is encouraging fans to demand stations play Ol' Dirty Bastard on the radio.
The problem is, hardly any of ODB's material is radio-friendly.
In other Wu-Tang news, the Ghostface Killah action figure is finally available. Read more about that here: Click.
Also, the Clan has released an official mixtape for the forthcoming and fifth album, "8 Diagrams." The mixtape is available for free download at Loud.com. Here's the track list and details: Click. The album has been pushed back to Dec. 11 (no surprises there).
Check out this two-part interview with the clan (minus ODB, Ghostface, Masta Killa, Capppadonna and Streetlife):
Part 1
Part 2
Mixtape Monday Vol. 14: Gangsta Boogie
Here's an old-school gangsta rap mix for all the heads who know the true definition of "spit game."
Remember, it's only entertainment (in some cases, comedy). Still, this pretty much hits every black stereotype of the late 80s.
"Welcome to the Ghetto," Spice 1
"187 Proof," Spice 1
"Dusted 'N' Dusgusted," E-40 featuring Celly Cell, Mac Mall and Spice 1
"Growin Up in the Hood," Compton's Most Wanted
"Untouchable," Above The Law
"Let The Rhythm Take You," Second II None
"Tonight," DJ Quik
"Who's the Mack," Ice Cube
"Jackin For Beats," Ice Cube
"Nuthin But a G Thang," Dr. Dre
"Dre Day," Dr. Dre
"Original Gangsta," Ice T
"Colors," Ice T
"Bangin on Wax," Crips and Bloods
"Peace Treaty," Kam
"Life Is..." Too $hort
"Gangsta Lean," DRS
Krist Novoselic makes debut on Seattle Weekly blog
If you want people to come to your blog, it helps to be a rock star.
Here's the debut Seattle Weekly blog post from Krist Novoselic: Check it out.
7 questions with Myles Kennedy
I caught up with Spokane native and Alter Bridge frontman and guitarist Myles Kennedy to chat about his band’s new album, his contribution to the songwriting, and rumors of a Creed reunion.
IJ: Is there still any lingering pressure from fans or the media comparing Alter Bridge to Creed?
MK: After the first records we decided people are going to say what they are going to say, we just wanted to make music that’s going to make us happy. We spent a lot of time developing our sound and we sort of lived in a bubble.
IJ: I understand much of the first album was finished even before you joined the band. How were you involved with the songwriting for the new album?
MK: I got involved so late we only had four months to put the first album together. On this album, lyrically is my job to sing about something I’m really passionate about. Mark Morse of Mark’s Guitar Shop passed away. I wrote a tribute to him. He sold me my first guitar when Music World was still downtown. So there’s an element of home on this one.
IJ: You also stepped your role on guitar on the new album.
MK: I’m playing guitar on the whole record. It was a thing for me to sing in a band and not play guitar. To stand on stage and not have that there was difficult. I really never felt comfortable. I’m known as a singer and a songwriter but I was a guitarist first.
IJ: How is it working with Mark Tremonti?
MK: I was quiet about playing guitar. I have tremendous respect for Mark and I didn’t want to step on toes. He knows you have to do what’s best for the song. As established as he is you’d think he’d be more territorial but he’s always pushing me.
IJ: How is your tinnitus?
MK: What?
IJ: Your TINNITUS? How is it?
MK: I try to keep it in check. I keep the volumes low on stage so it doesn’t get worse. There are so many artists that have it. I have the standard amount of hearing loss for someone who has been doing it as long as I have.
IJ: What are you listening to these days?
MK: I went through a major blues phase during a lot of the writing of the album – blues and a lot of pre-war music, Delta blues, Robert Johnson. I’m schizophrenic with my musical tastes… Amy Winehouse, Def Cab for Cutie’s “Transatlanticism” – I love that album, especially the title track…
IJ: A while back I was hearing rumors about a Creed reunion. Is that in the cards?
MK: At this point probably not. Most of those rumors were started by Scott Stapp. We get word of it in interviews. There are no plans of a reunion. We’re content with how things are so I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Guitar hero: Myles Kennedy
Spokane native and lead singer for Alter Bridge Myles Kennedy is known for his powerful vocals.
By the way, he also plays guitar.
Kennedy returns to Spokane with Alter Bridge for a sold-out show on Saturday at Big Easy.
Blood lust
I can't decide which is my favorite title to a Gwar album:
"Hell-O"
"This Toilet Ear"
"Scumdogs of the Universe"
"We Kill Everything"
"Rendezvous with Ragnorak"
"Carnival of Chaos"
"Violence Has Arrived"
"Beyond Hell"
"The Road Beyond Destroyed"
"War Party"
The masters of maggotry come to Big Easy on Nov. 18. Tickets are $17.50, through TicketsWest.
Mixtape Monday Vol. 13: Dogs Day
I found this playlist in my iTunes, but I don't recall its original. Obviously I was on some dog ish.
"Walk The Dogs," Royal Fam and La The Darkman
"Dog on Wheels," Belle & Sebastian
"Doggin' Around," Count Basie Orchestra
"Livin' Like a Dog," Priestess
"Dog It," Digable Planets
"Dog Eat Dog," De La Soul
"Dogs of War," Ghostface
"Dirt Dog," Old Dirty Bastard
"Dog New Tricks," Garbage
"Hot Dog to the Head," Guttermouth
"Dog Paddle," Modest Mouse
"Eat Your Dog," Bad Religion
"Dog Park," Minus the Bear
"Son of Mr. Bull Dog," The Mebusas
"Not In Dog Years," Bratmobile
"Doggy Dogg World," Snoop Dogg
"My Dogz iz My Gunz," Sticky Fingaz
"Underdog," Butthole Surfers
"Underdog," Sly and the Family Stone
Man Man for the eyes and ears
Words don't do them justice so here's video from Man Man's Halloween night performance in support for Modest Mouse live at The Big Easy Concert House (see if you can count all the instruments they use in this segment of the show).
Check The P.A. System and mp3 pages for the Man Man podcast with an exclusive interview and song downloads.
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Junior reporter/Mouseketeer
I guess it's in his genes, but my 5-year-old son Caleb had a blast at his first rock concert, which was Modest Mouse.
About the only time he could take his eyes off of the two drummers was for the crowd surfing and to watch Isaac Brock sing/talk/scream into his guitar.
Here's Caleb's review:
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David Allen Coe is coming
Here's an interesting article about the "Longhaired Redneck" (watch out, there's cuss words).
Mr. "Take This Job and Shove It" comes to Big Easy next week.
