Toward the end of his set, Karl Blau announced that there was a questionable stench stemming from his attire, which had been stashed in his shed for an unknown quantity of years. A local Anacortes favorite, Blau’s bizarre folk absolutely warrants the preceding freak – a term that common folk might attach to a musician performing while dressed as a fireman. Though, with LAKE as his backup, it sounded (and looked) almost too natural.

LAKE may only have played about 5 or 6 songs, but over that brief period of time they entranced the audience. Blending a lo-fi garage sound with psychedelic pop, the Olympia band was the first to perform at Department of Safety’s farewell show. With various synths and the clash of male/female vocals, LAKE demonstrated versatility in performance with members frequently exchanging instruments.

Japandroids played the last show of their U.S. tour at Chop Suey last Tuesday evening to an enthusiastic crowd. Before starting the set, guitarist Brian King asked the audience to “come down here and get wild.” If the crowd was a little hesitant at first, King and drummer David Prowse more than made up for it with “The Boys are Leaving Town”, complete with head-banging and a wind machine that made King look as if he was in the midst of a photo shoot.

Just up the hill from downtown Spokane, amidst a barrage of fast food restaurants and car dealerships, a quaint late-night coffee shop seems to be the only source of activity on the block. The Empyrean Coffee Shop is bustling with activity as the youth of the day begin to pour through the doors; it’s the home of the city’s finest coffee and the stage is ready for an extremely personal, live experience. And on this night, show-goers were in for a hell of a treat. Presenting…Kinch!

Paul Banks was certainly the crowd favorite at the Julian Plenti show at Chop Suey on Monday night. Although there were cheers of “I love you, Paul” throughout the set, the musicians Banks brought in to back his solo project were certainly no slouches (particularly the bassist and cellist, whose names this writer was unfortunately unable to find).

The smell of wet wool was pervasive as drenched Seattleites escaped the rain Friday night to attend the Grizzly Bear show at the Moore Theatre. The weathered venue, coupled with a spectacular light display of Mason jars hanging from telephone pole-like structures provided an intimate listening environment.

First things first: HEALTH is fucking crazy!!! This band can blow your mind, you load and whatever the fuck else it wants to because they are just that insane. These guys contorted their bodies in never before seen positions while thumping microphones into amps for loud bursts, while moaning ecstatically into other microphones, and while keeping both eyes on the drummer to ensure they didn’t miss a cue.

Cassie was insistent I catch Velella Velella. Seriously, she said. I think you’ll really dig them. We were hanging out front of King Cobra, a key Capitol Hill Block Party stage a few doors from Comet Tavern. I’m sold, I thought. Sounds good to me.

It’s hard to believe that my first live show of 2009 didn’t happen until mid-April. Then again, with the extent of travel over the past six or so months, maybe it isn’t. Add to that the fact that I’m getting older, and that it’s getting harder and harder for me to stay up late. Still, it was fitting that the first show took place at The Crocodile, recently remodeled and reopened with new decor and fancy marble-sinked bathrooms.

In seeing The Shackeltons (MySpace) perform live, you are GUARANTEED one thing. (In that statement, GUARANTEED must be italicized and in all caps. That’s how sure one can be in making such a statement.) In seeing The Shackeltons perform, you will, no matter what the circumstance, be treated to one of the all-time greatest performances you will ever see. Period.