One Super Important Question For Matt ‘Spek’ Watson
Monday, June 20, 2016 11:24 — 0 Comments
Matt ‘Spek’ Watson is a rapper, musician, producer, internet comedian and Facebook yeller. He’s also one of the most important voices in Seattle art and culture. He has a new record out this week, which he’ll be celebrating at Barboza in Capitol Hill on Thursday. We thought we’d catch up with Spek and ask him one super important question about music and the community in the Southend he calls home. JU: You’re just coming off what looks to be a super successful Station Block Party gig with tons of Southend artists celebrating Beacon Hill and the community there. What […]
Three Songs To The Head vol. 41
Saturday, May 14, 2016 12:19 — 0 Comments
Hello and welcome back to Three Songs to the Head where we share three songs that moved us, three songs we love, three songs we can’t get out of our heads! Today, we’re featuring King Khazm, Goodbye Heart and Mississippi Jones. Enjoy! The productive bleakness that leaps out of the new video for “Dear Diary” from Seattle rapper King Khazm is heart-wrenching and fresh. In this video, the artist doesn’t pull punches, doesn’t hide from the onlooking audience. Instead, images of suicide, a black shroud and Khazm’s frail, bare body in the dirt stir us. He delivers his lyrics with ferocity. In […]
Chris King & The Gutterballs + Stereo Embers Vs. Saturday
Friday, March 18, 2016 12:12 — 0 Comments
Okay, okay, okay. You’ve probably read here that we love Chris King & The Gutterballs. Their slinky, smokey, roadhouse swang. Well, then, listen up to this, will ya? The band is playing the Blue Moon Saturday the 19th. One of our favorite bands in one of our favorite venues! You may also know The Monarch loves the powerful voice of Robb Benson and the wicked guitar stylings of Mr. Tim Dijulio. Well, their rock band, Stereo Embers, is playing an instore at East Street Records also on the 19th at 7pm. So, if you’re an agile music fan, check out […]
Three Songs To The Head vol. 40
Monday, March 7, 2016 11:45 — 0 Comments
Hello and welcome back to Three Songs to the Head where we share three songs that moved us, three songs we love, three songs we can’t get out of our heads! Today, we’re featuring Sebastian and the Deep Blue, Fauna Shade and The Gin Joints. Enjoy! Sebastian and the Deep Blue have always been skilled at arranging. Utilizing big horns, jazzy guitars and lovely vocal mixes, the band creates detailed, thorough music. The first track from their new record Meritocracy, “Risk Reward,” is no different. The track bumps with big saxophones. It slinks with violins. And it impresses with […]
Three Songs To The Head vol. 39
Tuesday, February 9, 2016 12:58 — 1 Comment
Hello and welcome back to Three Songs to the Head where we share three songs that moved us, three songs we love, three songs we can’t get out of our heads! Today, we’re featuring the Country Lips, Sundae + Mr. Goessl and Madness Blooms. Enjoy! There are lots of great things to do in Seattle, especially if you’re a fan of music. One of those great things is to go to the Little Red Hen in Greenlake and catch the Country Lips play three sets on the long, skinny LRH stage. You’re transported to another place and time instantly – an […]
The Spider Fern’s ‘Safety’ and Garbeau’s ‘Little Laugher’
Monday, January 25, 2016 11:08 — 0 Comments
The early part of 2016 brings new EPs from two Seattle-area bands worth checking out: the Spider Ferns and Garbeau. Last year, the Spider Ferns released their well-received debut LP, Soon Enough, a slinky, sometimes icy collection of electronic pop meditations. Their new EP, Safety, is very much in the same vein, with songs built around downtempo beats propping up effects-laden electric guitar and Kelly Fleek’s prominent vocals. “Stronger Still†opens with an iconic 80’s brass synth pad, a drum loop and intermittent laser-sounding synth bursts before Fleek’s dramatic vocals slowly enter the scene. The song stalks around for over […]
Three Songs To The Head vol. 38
Friday, January 22, 2016 12:28 — 0 Comments
Hello and welcome back to Three Songs to the Head where we share three songs that moved us, three songs we love, three songs we can’t get out of our heads! Today, we’re featuring COHO, Mind Vice and Eugenie Jones. Enjoy! We’ve written about COHO back in their early, early days. Since then, they’ve shortened their name, gained some experience in town and now they’re participating in something charitable: the Seattle University-born band released two songs for sale, the proceeds of which, the band says, will all go to Mary’s Place, a home for women and children in need. […]
Big Ass Boombox 2016
Monday, December 28, 2015 11:39 — 0 Comments
On January 8th and 9th, the third annual Big Ass Boombox festival will take over the Crocodile Cafe and the Upstairs downtown and host it’s massively well attended free, all-ages music and literary festival. Featured bands this year include Ever So Android, Julia Massey, The Great Um, Gibraltar, Furniture Girls, Bigfoot Wallace, Electric NoNo, Abraham, Chris King & The Gutterballs and about two dozen more. Featured readers include dating guru Maggie MK Hess, City Arts music editor Jonathan Zwickel, poets Michelle Penaloza and Rebecca Hoogs, Seattle Weekly music editor and VICE contributor Kelton Sears, prose writers Shaun Scott and Adrian Ryan […]
Three Songs To The Head vol. 37
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 11:07 — 0 Comments
Hello and welcome back to Three Songs to the Head where we share three songs that moved us, three songs we love, three songs we can’t get out of our heads! Today, we’re featuring Chi Turner, Greet the Sea and Chris King & The Gutterballs. Enjoy! Sometimes you need a really smooth souled-out jam to kick the morning off and Vancouver, B.C.’s Chi Turner has just the thing for you. This track, “Am I Dreaming,” is like the moment when you put the needle down onto the record and you know moments of bliss are about to come. But on […]
Adele’s Hello Video
Wednesday, December 9, 2015 13:45 — 0 Comments
Adele’s “Hello†has, at the time of this writing, 651,735,775 views on YouTube (and inspired this SNL video with nearly 12,000,000 views). That means millions of people have had their heart broken and turned, just in the last few weeks, to Adele to feel their pain again. Adele has proven herself over the last handful of years to be the best breakup songwriter in the world and has brought more tears to eyes than sliced onions. To help process the heartfelt tone and tenor of “Hello†I imagined what five halves of ex-couples must have gone through when seeing the video for the […]
The answer isn't poetry, but rather language
- Richard Kenney
