Tonight in Seattle: The Lonely Forest w/ Seattle Rock Orchestra, Keller Williams, EMP Sound Off! Finals & More!
Posted by Kelly AlexanderThe Lonely Forest, Seattle Rock Orchestra, Black Whales @ The Neptune Theater | 3/3 | 9PM | $14 (Get Tickets) | All-Ages, Bar w/ I.D.
Image courtesy of The Lonely Forest
Anacortes band The Lonely Forest are to play their first Headlining show at The Neptune Theater on Saturday, March 3rd. Their most recent album, Arrows, was produced by Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla and released on his label, Trans. The last six years which was filled with multiple releases and musical development for The Lonely Forest has lead them to their sound on Arrows, which holds true to past efforts plus a lively pop atmosphere and use of minimalism. This headlining performance acts as a home kick starter for The Lonely Forest’s tour as support for Portugal. The Man between April and May, and their appearance at the 2012 Bonnaroo Music Festival. Come see them perform with the help of other local favorites, Seattle Rock Orchestra, an orchestra created by voluntary community members, and Black Whales, a garage rock band coming off of their 2011 release Shangri-La Indeed. – Bebe Besch
Keller Williams @ The Showbox | 03/03 | 8pm | $20 (Get Tickets) | All Ages
Via Keller Williams
Summer Meltdown attenders, Monday night Seamonster open mic-ers, Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder regulars, Aaron Daniel’s “One Man Banned” followers, there is an act coming to the Showbox on March 3rd that you can’t miss: Keller Williams. He, like Aaron Daniel, makes sport of out taking the elements of a seven-person band and doing it himself. His music shows off creative prowess and performing ingenuity, combined with reggae/funk sensibilities. Keller Williams is the guy down the block who loves playing music and has taken his one man show on the road.
If you’re a fan of the previously mentioned Seattle scenes, this Saturday night is going to be the best night of the week for you. Come! Bring your friends. – Nikki Benson
Sound Off! Finals @ EMP’s Sky Church | 3/3 | Doors 7pm | $8-12 (Get Tickets) | All Ages
Image via Sound Off! Facebook
2012′s Sound Off! finals lineup is quite impressive. The vast array of genres and styles is notable with blues folk, dream-pop, prog-rock, and rock all sharing the same stage on one night. Sound Off! is celebrating its 11th year in bringing the best of 21-and-younger bands to the forefront. This year’s competition had ages ranging from 16 to the max of 21 with many attending school or even in different countries for study-abroad. Sound Off! rewards the finalists with various trophies, the first-place winner gets a slot at Bumbershoot, an on-air performance on 107.7 The End’s Locals Only segment, studio time, and much more. The other finalists don’t walk away empty-handed, others prizes include a spot at Northwest Folk Life, studio times, KORG gear, consultation with industry professionals and so much more. This annual competition really showcases the talent that Washington has as well as the under-age prodigies in our area.
Feet is based out of Seattle with members attending both UW and Seattle U, where the band has played many times and partially recorded songs at the studio. Feet is a prog-rock outfit that features pop keys, catchy drumbeats, and smooth yet distorted guitar riffs all with a ’60s style.
Bellevue’s own Special Explosion won the hearts of many and in turn they won the coveted Wild Card slot for the finals. The fuzz-pop rockers have a slight punk edge to them while enticing the pop crowd with their upbeat rhythms. Special Explosion will be opening up for BRAD in April.
The Deep Wake hails from across the Sound in Bainbridge Island and also Southern California. The band is a girl-guy duo that produces phenomenal bluesy folk songs that focuses on simplicity: guitar, vocals, drums, violin. There are no intense drum solos nor any experimental synths or light shows, instead the Deep Wake fills your ears with strong vocals, harmonies, and raw musical talent. - Lindsey Scully
Photo via The Curious Mystery
The Curious Mystery will be kicking off their tour at The Josephine on March 3rd with locals Heatwarmer, Diminished Men, and Gibraltar. The psychedelic surf rock quartet features sultry vocals, massive drumbeats, guitar, and even a sitar. The band will be releasing two 7″ via K Records, which might not be quite pressed yet by the show’s date but should be coming out soon. One of their new release, “Be Still”, invokes mental images of a female-led The Beatles with hazy vocals and chipper guitar chords all while still being able to be played while a lava lamp is mesmerizing every single person in the room. The gypsy-rock “Cock of the Rock” features airy and swift guitar with dreamy vocals that throws a bohemian curve ball to every ear listening. Although many of The Curious Mystery’s songs are slower, they all tend to vary greatly in style which in turn makes for a captivating live show since the attendee never knows what to expect.
The group will be travelling to New York City to do a month-long residency at Ace Hotel. On the road to NYC is SXSW, where The Curious Mystery will be playing a showcase at The Bat Bar on March 15. – Lindsey Scully
Learner Dancer & Crys at Space | 3/3 | 8pm
photo credit: Leaner Dancer
It’s likely the Midwestern invasion of Learner Dancer and Crys (‘Kris’) won’t be swarmed by the gray Seattle droves. For shame, because both exhibit that there is more than corn in Indiana. In fact, the Indianapolis-based bands are at the foundation of the city’s garage revival, channeling a bottomless catalogue of bygone influences (13th Floor Elevators, Can, Velvet Underground, Dick Dale) into another new wave of back-to-the-future madness.
Dubbed the Learning to Cry tour, the double bill showcases two distinct takes on the retro, both pounding out a new fervor that only middle America can foster. Learner Dancer has its roots in black and white cool; a Reefer Madness style that blends patchouli with patience. The band is just as able to whip up a four minute blaze as it is a ten minute slow burn. Crys is far more impactful from the first hammer fist, whirling together psychedelic colors with no wave riffage.
The Indiana twosomes come to Seattle for two separate shows. March 2nd finds each a part of a bill at The In. The two bands become a psychotropic Voltron on March 3rd at Space as participant at Bad for Jazz #12, forming open ensemble Church of the Infinite Space Ritual on a bill featuring some of the Pacific Northwest’s most heady underground talent (Midday Veil, Samuel Melancon of Debacle Records).
So do Indiana and two road weary bands a favor and lend an ear. The rare opportunity to experience another city’s emerging grassroots sound in the comfort of your own hamlet rarely presents itself—don’t waste it. – Justin Spicer
