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The Hive Dwellers: Live at What The Heck Fest 2010

The Hive Dwellers: Live at What The Heck Fest 2010

My first Calvin Johnson live experience was in Moscow, Idaho at a little cafe. He stood on this little rickety wooden chair that looked as though it was about to collapse. The room was dark and he towered over everyone. He hit The Business on Saturday at What The Heck Fest and, like that first experience, this one was packed. I could hear him in the background, but the sheer quantity of people packing the small Anacortes record store kept the visuals at a minimum. Thankfully, I had a chance to see him perform yet again that afternoon at Causland Park, this time with the backing band The Hive Dwellers. Read More »The Hive Dwellers: Live at What The Heck Fest 2010

Foals: Spanish Sahara [Video]

foals

Little of that angular nature abundant on Foals‘ debut Antidote remains in their first single off the forthcoming sophomore release, Total Life Forever. In fact, “Spanish Sahara” begin so softly, virtually all traces of the elements that kept Antidote consistent and connected have vanished. You’ll find this common throughout Total Life Forever, which for the most part distances itself from that electric debut. There’s more melody here, more emotion, and a hell of a lot less hype. “Spanish Sahara” conjures memories of Radiohead post Kid A, but with a hint less experimentation. As the song nears two minutes, one finally gets a taste of the old Foals. Above all, “Spanish Sahara” displays the band’s growth over the past two years, and the video is a similar testament to the change. Read More »Foals: Spanish Sahara [Video]

Modern Skirts: Happy 81 EP [Album Review]

Modern Skirts

After turning so many heads with their 2008 sophomore release, All Of Us In Our Night, as well as appearing on the video game Rock Band 2, some may wonder how the Athens pop/rock group Modern Skirts would return when that time eventually came. Could anything they do top the local and sub-sequential SXSW successes they have achieved? With the release of Happy 81 EP, the prequel to their upcoming full length album due this fall, some listeners might be a bit upset. But, the real fans are going to have their minds blown. Read More »Modern Skirts: Happy 81 EP [Album Review]

Dominant Legs: Clawing Out At The Walls [mp3]

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Lefse’s latest lust-worthy tune-layer is Dominant Legs, the project of San Francisco-based musician Ryan Lynch (also the guitarist for Girls), whose light, harmonic melodies will draw you in. Joining Lynch is Hannah Hunt, who lends keys and vocal expertise. Shrouded in vocal reverb, Lynch’s ballads, like “Clawing Out At The Walls” off Dominant Legs’ forthcoming debut EP Young At Love And Life, cast a dreamy shadow over these summer days and conjure a longing for the slightly cooler evening hours when the crickets emerge. In “Clawing Out At The Walls”, Dominant Legs packs every moment with continuous, all-encompassing harmony that refuses to let go until the final moments. Just like this summer heat. The key difference being: You won’t want the songs to end. Read More »Dominant Legs: Clawing Out At The Walls [mp3]

The Gift Machine: Live at What The Heck Fest 2010

The Gift Machine live at What The Heck Fest 2010

The Gift Machine is Dave Matthies, who has been writing, recording and performing under the moniker, to my knowledge, since at least 1999 when a track or so of his appeared on a now out of print EP adequately titled Stuff Vol. 1. As many projects with roots in Anacortes and Olympia go, this one hasn’t always been just about Matthies. It has featured the honorable Phil Elverum (Microphones, Mount Eerie) and Karl Blau, among numerous others. Matthies is also one of the founders of What The Heck, so his presence makes perfect sense given his more recent transplantation to San Diego. Read More »The Gift Machine: Live at What The Heck Fest 2010

Charles The Osprey: Consider [Cover Art]

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Was the last *new* Cover Art really from the holiday season? Boy does time fly. Well, I received this nice slab of vinyl in the mail the other day and I couldn’t help it. The camera came out and that led to this: the first Cover Art piece we’ve done in more than six months. The band is Charles The Osprey and the album is their latest, Consider, out now on Friction Records. And on green vinyl at that! Read More »Charles The Osprey: Consider [Cover Art]

Grand Lake: Spark [Video]

grand-lake

Grand Lake is the latest project from Port O’ Brien founding member Caleb Nichols, who joins forces with long-time friend Jameson Swanagon. Together, with drummer John Pomeroy, the San Francisco band is complete. The band is poised to release their debut LP, Blood Sea Dream, August 10 on Hippies Are Dead Records. That is where you can find “Spark”, their first single and the song featured in this somewhat trippy video. Featuring swirling dreamscapes of upbeat, hypnotic pop melodies backed by driving percussion, Grand Lake will creep into your head and take hold of your senses. In “Spark”, Grand Lake demands to be heard, and as the song climaxes attention will become singular – focused solely on the music. Read More »Grand Lake: Spark [Video]

The Lucksmiths Untidy Towns Vinyl 7 Inch Single

The Lucksmiths: Three Out of Print Singles

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Another Cover Art piece transferred over from that site, this time covering three out of print singles by one of the greatest Australian bands to ever exist — The Lucksmiths. The band may no longer be together, but their music stands just as strong as it did one the day it was released, be it from their humble beginnings in the early 1990s to their final release just a year or so ago. Here’s the original post:

Read More »The Lucksmiths: Three Out of Print Singles

Canby: Rat [Album Review]

canby

Scott Yoshimura. You know him. You’ve heard him provide additional drum kit induced background noise for The Envy Corps for a while now. And for all practical purposes, Canby is his “side” project. But really, that’s not a fair statement. This is HIS project. And Rat is the excellent debut of Scott’s own personal expressions. He does it all on the record, and he does it damn well. Read More »Canby: Rat [Album Review]

Secret Colours: Jellybean [mp3]

secret-colours

Secret Colours create classic psych-pop music that has the sound the bands of the 60s and early 70s. Their new self-titled LP is packed with this style and “Jellybean” is a prime example of what makes Secret Colours a more than noteworthy up-and-coming band. Dreamy, melodic vocals front an attack of wild cymbals and echoing guitars that create a wall of sound. There’s a major emphasis on percussion that not only fits but enhances the psych-pop sound; it’s safe to say that without it, Secret Colors would not nearly be as impressive. Still, each part adds significantly to the whole. “Jellybean” is the full realization of the heritage 1960s and early 70s groups bestowed upon our modern era of psychedelic pop music. Read More »Secret Colours: Jellybean [mp3]

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