olympia

The Hive Dwellers: Live at What The Heck Fest 2010

Andy Fenstermaker
July 21, 2010July 26, 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

Arrington de Dionyso: Anacortes, WA [2010.01.30]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 3, 2010February 3, 2010

You may know Arrington de Dionyso from his other alter ego as the front-man of Old Time Relijun. When I saw the band open for HEALTH at SXSW back in 2007, it was one of those special moments – the kind you never forget. Shows like this, ones with wild stage antics, are the best to photograph and the best to watch. Grabbing a bass clarinet, an instrument whose presence is odd in virtually all forms of music with exception to classical, de Dionyso crafts breathtaking chaos. Read More »Arrington de Dionyso: Anacortes, WA [2010.01.30]

Redbird Fever: Come Away From Your Home [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 2, 2010February 1, 2010

Folk rock comes in many forms, and Redbird Fever blends the indie version with one slightly more contemporary. Their songs are packed with strong rock guitar riffs, yet have the fiddle backing much more common in the folk genre. Hailing from Olympia and Hoquiam, Redbird Fever’s latest EP Come Away From Your Home spans the gamut, with select songs siding more on folk and others with heavier rock leanings. Read More »Redbird Fever: Come Away From Your Home [Album Review]

LAKE: Anacortes, WA [2010.01.30]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 1, 2010February 1, 2010

lake

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. Read More »LAKE: Anacortes, WA [2010.01.30]

Polka Dot Dot Dot: Syzygy [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
November 13, 2009November 12, 2009

Of all the timeless folk and folk-pop musicians that scour the earth, none are more true to the roots than those that possess the lo-fi nature of artists came before… long before. Polka Dot Dot Dot is one such band that follows this particular path, though their subject matter may not be that of an early Western era, nor may the harmonies and melodies. Yet they have a certain efficacious manner about them that bridges the then with the now. Read More »Polka Dot Dot Dot: Syzygy [Album Review]

Letters & If It Ain’t Breakfast, Don’t Fix It: Scattered Areas Where A Thousand Follow In Likeness [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
October 8, 2009October 19, 2009

One of last year’s best albums was In Case We Lose What We Have, by Olympia band Letters. It made number 23 of my favorite albums of the year. Well they’re back and they’ve joined forces with If It Ain’t Breakfast, Don’t Fix It. The DIY folk of Letters works almost too well with the wild noise of If It Ain’t Breakfast. The collective has created something outstanding that can only be dubbed lo-fi noise folk. Read More »Letters & If It Ain’t Breakfast, Don’t Fix It: Scattered Areas Where A Thousand Follow In Likeness [Album Review]

Kickball [Feature Band]

Andy Fenstermaker
August 30, 2009

The folks in Kickball are masters at timing. Their songs include light elements of math rock, but it’s fairly subtleâ€”not as prominent as, say, Battles, but still a viable part of the music found primarily in the slightly minimal but quite pointed guitar riffs and hefty, wild percussion. Even the vocals contain obscure timing on occasion. Just listen to â€œFightâ€ and youâ€™ll get my drift. Read More »Kickball [Feature Band]