Yo, yo, yo. Not that January and February were particularly barren concert-wise but Holy Hangover, Batgirl! Spring in Seattle is looking kooky-good on the concert front. Buckle up my babes and I will see you there!
If yer looking for a station to set yer dial to in that new Tessla you just bought, you might want to consider SPACE 101.1FM. You might also want to consider checking out SPACE/Seattle’s hottest new radio show, Love Potion No. 69, Wednesdays at 10PM. Yours truly is spinning the best AND worst in punk, garage, post-punk, surf, fuzz, etc. Fret not if you can’t make the broadcast, I’ve got all the goods uploaded on Mixcloud.
Lavender Country // Ashleigh Flynn // The Riveters
March 1, 2020
Tractor Tavern
Lavender Country played last month at Black Lodge but I thought I would let you know that he’s playing again this month and that seeing him live is worth your time and your coin. Check out last month’s write up here.
FFO Michael Hurley, Orville Peck, the gays
the body // Uniform
March 3rd, 2020
Vera Project
So the body is punishing. the body plays some of the most towering riffs and drones known to recorded music. the body is one of my favorite bands on the planet both live and in studio. Imagine scraping the thickest grade sandpaper over a fresh tattoo that just received third-degree burns all while weeping over a Catholic shrine to Jesus. Then you might start to understand the sheer destructional force this two-piece is capable of.
FFO Thou, Neurosis, Bell Witch
Shopping
March 6th, 2020
Sunset Tavern
Angular post-punk a la Gang Of Four but with Slits-esque female vocals is how you might describe earlier albums from the East London three-piece. Shopping is exactly what you’re looking for at a house venue or dive bar that you know you’re allowed to get rowdy at; high NRG, danceable and queer. Or maybe that’s just what I’m looking for at a house show… The Sunset is the prime spot and you are the prime target.
FFO ESG, Gossip, Unit 3 With Venus
Fennesz // Britton Powell // Mamiffer
March 8th, 2020
Columbia City Theater
You’re walking through Rivendell, the fate of The Ring has been decided and you, Arwen, daughter of Elrond, in whom it was said that the likeness Lúthien had come on Earth again, are now atop your loneliest tower. You whisper to the mists of time and what do they whisper back? ~fennesz~ Understanding that it is up to you to maintain your bloodline on Middle Earth and that your beloved is to wage the greatest war of your time, what do you put on his mixed tape? ~mamiffer~
FFO Ben Frost, Grouper, Elven bloodlines
The Strokes
March 9th, 2020
WaMu Theater
I was going to crack a joke about being so blessed to be able to see The Strokes before they’re in their 40s but Wikipedia just told me that Julian Casablancas is 41… Anyways, Jonah Bergman, the owner of Bait Shop and shredder in Trash Fire/Galactic Gold, recently introduced me to a fun and challenging game: name a band post-1994 whose debut album was on a major label and isn’t shitty. The only thing I came up with (two weeks later) was Is This It? released on RCA in 2001.
FFO New York, New York, Smoking cigarettes, High school nostalgia
Bikini Kill
March 16th & 17th, 2020
Paramount Theatre
If yr born in the Pacific North West, like music at all, or are a feminist in any way, you know exactly who Bikini Kill is. Kathleen Hanna and co. took male-dominated punk music and turned it on its head. Bikini Kill didn’t necessarily make punk more feminine but they tell the macho-asshole-boys to move the fuck over and to hold their own coats. Bikini Kill broke up in ‘97 and I don’t think anyone thought they would be getting back together, this is big time. MORE CLIT IN THE PIT!
FFO Bratmobile, L7, Veruca Salt
Mayhem // ABBATH // Gatecreeper // Idle Hands
March 17th, 2020
The Showbox
I know that there’s all this controversy about a few little things like cannibalism, murder, occultism, suicide, yadda yadda, it’s hard being the most evil band on the planet. Mayhem’s debut EP Deathcrush and their debut studio album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas are two of the most eardrum damaging pieces of recorded music and they were put out almost 30 years ago! I will be there just to experience the brutality, not to support the politics.
FFO Bathory, Darkthrone, Immortal
Vastum // Hissing // Cystic
March 20th, 2020
The Highline
Hissing spews forth the most putrid beauty that 2020 has on offer. The slow build of their creeping drones and the scratching growl of an unworldly specter underscores your already apparent horror in the first moments of their haunting album, Burning Door, from last year. Oh, what’s that you say, they’re from Seattle? Yes.
FFO Sutekh Hexen, the body, Waldteufel
Old Time Relijun // Diminished Men // Pink Void
March 20th, 2020
Black Lodge
The insatiable lo-fi garage freaks from Olympia aren’t often seen just an hour north and that’s a pity. Fixtures in the K Records family, Old Time Relijun have been pumping out multi-lingual albums since the golden age of Oly’s musical output and they don’t seem like they’re quitting anytime soon. Their first proper album in 12 years, 2019’s See Now And Know, has seen a loss of none of the band’s frenetic energy and those all over the map influences. If Phil Elverum was a one-time member, you know they gotta be worth their salt.
FFO Ty Segall, James Chance, Man Man
Tashi Dorji & Aaron Turner // Daniel Menche // Kole Gilbraith
March 22nd, 2020
Royal Room
Found sound, constructing drones from sparks of imagination, deconstructing trajectories on a whim. The ominous coupling of noise artists Tashi Dorji and Aaron Turner has yielded dark entries reflective of where the two have come from but foreshadowing nothing because no one, perhaps not even themselves, knows where they’re going. The sometimes tribal, always intense Daniel Menche sets the mood for the evening.
FFO Yellow Swans, Merzbow, Nurse With Wound
Jenny Don’t & The Spurs // Wildcat Rose // Mike Giacolino
March 24th, 2020
Tractor Tavern
This root tootin’ wrangle of roses hales from Portland, Oregon and is some of the best country music to be coming out this century. Jenny Don’t use to lead a fun garage-punk band simply called Don’t while her beau and guitarist of JD&TS was hanging around with Pierced Arrows (a Dead Moon side-project). If yer hoppin’ on the western wagon, this is going to be one of your favorite shows this year.
FFO Pasty Cline, Hank Williams, The Range Rats
Lightning Bolt
March 28th, 2020
The Vera Project
This dynamic duo is fucking nuts. They’re a drum and bass (guitar) two-piece play noise at a breakneck speed that even the most seasoned post-hardcore kids have trouble keeping up with. The drummer and vocalist, Brian Chippendale, wears a filthy mask during live performances that pins his heavily distorted mic to his face. Don’t worry, you’ll get a good look at it if they pull their usual stunt of playing in the middle of the crowd.
FFO The Locust, Melt-Banana, early Daughters
The Underground Youth // Lorelle Meets The Obsolete // Black Nite Crash
March 31st, 2020
The High Dive
Berlin pals of mine making some of the gloomiest pop that’ll be stuck in your head for weeks. The Underground Youth were sat next to Brian Jones Town Massacre in a class being taught by The Jesus & Mary Chain. Don’t mind their somber expressions, black clothing, and all of the fog gathering at the foot of the stage, it’s par for the course in Berlin.
FFO The Black Ryder, Spacemen 3, Stereolab
Badda-bing, badda-boom. Don’t see something, say something! We want to get everything that’s good in here so if y’all know, we want to hear about it! Drop us a line and we’ll get ya in here!
