Or stream here.
1. Typhoon – Common Sentiments
2. The Thermals – Our Love Survives
3. Shovels & Rope – Cavalier
4. Ghosts I’ve Met – Forest Light
5. The National – Sea of Love
6. Sean Nelson – Creative Differences
7. Le Wrens – Don’t Forget Me
8. Not Amy – Easy Heart
9. The Postal Service – The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
10. Mikey and Matty – Second Son
11. The Cellar Door – Star Song
12. Bradford Loomis – Dead Man’s Dance
13. Courtney Marie Andrews – It Keeps Going
14. Kevin Long – Long Time Coming
15. Cold Specks – When the City Lights Dim
16. The Changing Colors – Work Is Done
17. Kelli Schaefer – I’ll Take You
The April mix is late (as usual) but very well road-tested as I just spent the last four days listening to it while driving between the Gorge Amphitheater and my motel room in Quincy, WA.
Or stream here.
1. Fly Moon Royalty – Roxy
2. Leagues – Haunted
3. Shelby Earl – At the Start
4. Pretty Broken Things – Forty Seasons
5. Phosphorescent – Terror in the Canyons (The Wounded Master)
6. Bahamas – Okay Alright I’m Alive
7. Ben Folds Five – Do It Anyway
8. Crooked Fingers – Call To Love
9. Foxygen – San Francisco
10. Songs: Ohia – John Henry Split My Heart
11. Joe Pug – In The Meantime
12. Daughter – Youth
13. The Long Winters – Ultimatum
14. Lord Huron – The Ghost On The Shore
15. John Vanderslice – Song for Dana Lok
Last Thursday night, Kevin Long and Hannalee celebrated the release of both of their albums at the Fremont Abbey. The full line-up was stellar, with Courtney Marie Andrews and Lotte Kestner opening the night.
Kevin Long:
Hannalee:
Courtney Marie Andrews:
Lotte Kestner:
I had the pleasure of shooting Jim James and Cold Specks at the Neptune Theater on Wednesday night. Check out the rest of my photos over at Another Rainy Saturday.
Team Up for Nonprofits is an amazing Seattle group that helps support local nonprofit organizations through event production and fundraising, and one way they do this is through their Gigs4Good program. Basically, they help curate a fantastic lineup of music, and the funds raised through ticket sales goes straight to a handpicked nonprofit.
This past Thursday’s GigsforGood (number 15, if you’re counting) featured nonprofit was One Day’s Wages, an organization that aims to alleviate extreme global poverty and inspire folks to donate one day’s wages to a cause of their choosing. It’s really a fantastic idea, and let’s just say I’m on board!
The lineup was also stellar as usual, featuring Fly Moon Royalty, Hot Bodies in Motion, and Theoretics – three bands guaranteed to get your feet moving, even on a school (or work) night.
Theoretics:
Hot Bodies in Motion:
Fly Moon Royalty:
Full gallery:
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Mikey and Matty Gervais (of Curtains For You) released a CD of their own on Saturday night, and they called on a group of extremely talented friends (Big Sur, Ghosts I’ve Met, Not Amy) to open up the show. Sandwiched in between a beautiful EP release show by Le Wrens on Friday night and a beautiful summery day on Sunday, I could not have asked for a better way to spend my weekend.
Pick up the new CD here!
Mikey and Matty:
Big Sur:
Ghosts I’ve Met:
Not Amy:
Full gallery:
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Check out my photos and recap from day three at SXSW over at Inside Right Wrist! Featuring Frightened Rabbit, Alt-J, Richard Thompson, Billy Bragg, The Relatives, The Mavericks, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, Tyler Lyle, and The Lone Bellow.
A few weeks ago, Seattle musician (and all-around wonderful guy) Kris Orlowski discovered that his tour van had been broken into and some of his gear had been stolen. With overwhelming support from the local music community, he was able to throw together a fundraiser with a stellar lineup to raise money to replace his gear, but the story gets even better. A pawn shop contacted him and they were able to get most of their gear back! But the show still went on, with ALL of the proceeds going to MusiCares, an organization that provides a safety net for musicians in times of need.
Kris Orlowski closing out the night:
John Roderick (of The Long Winters):
Meagan Grandall (of Lemolo):
Jacob James (of Lashes and Ships):
Full set:
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Check out my photos of SXSW Day Two over at Inside Right Wrist! Featuring Cobalt and the Hired Guns, The Local Strangers, Josh Ritter, von Grey, Night Beds, and Reignwolf.
And in case you missed it, photos of Day One (featuring Field Report, OK Sweetheart, Pickwick, and Divine Fits) can be found here.
On Friday night at Columbia City Theater, Pretty Broken Things released their new full-length album Let It Come & Let It Pass into the world, swaddled in gorgeous harmonies.
Lonely Companion (essentially a Pretty Broken Things music collective) opened along with The Comettes.
Full set:
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While in San Diego for work a few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to catch a show in San Marcos featuring two friends’ brand new bands. My bestie Susie plays in Bulletins, and her husband Michael fronts The Paper Thins.
Bulletins:
The Paper Thins:
Full set below:
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For the March mixtape, I tried to mix in songs by bands that I saw live this month (sometimes more than once), focusing on bands that I saw at SXSW. For more specifics about my time in Austin, keep an eye on Inside Right Wrist – my day one recap is here. Let’s just say I fell a little bit in love with Divine Fits that day/night…
Or stream here.
1. Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside – Shivers
It was hard to pick just one song from this fantastic album. Sallie really brings the badass vibe live too. Pairing her with Thao & The Get Down Stay Down made for an energetic show at Neumos.
2. The Lone Bellow – You Never Need Nobody
Oh man, does this song dig deep down in me. They completely floored me when I saw them at SXSW – even though it was their FOURTEENTH set of the festival.
3. Hey Marseilles – Heart Beats
Hey Marseilles has managed to distinctly evolve their sound from their first album, but still keep the core feel of the songs, so that they are still instantly recognizable as Hey Marseilles songs. I love the drums on this one in particular.
4. The Twilight Sad – That Summer, At Home I Had Become The Invisible Boy
The Twilight Sad’s first EP is still my favorite, and when they opened for Frightened Rabbit with a stripped down set, I kind of missed the noisy layers of their usual sets. Also, holy crap, the last time I saw them was 6 years ago. Guess I shouldn’t complain!
5. Ravenna Woods – Careful Where You Are
They have new songs in the works that make great use of their new pianist addition. It was great to end SXSW with some familiar faces.
6. Josh Ritter – New Lover
Josh Ritter’s songs always have a truthfulness to them, even when they aren’t at all autobiographical. He’s a master at seeing things from someone else’s shoes, and putting you in those shoes alongside him. His latest record was written in the aftermath of his divorce, and while it’s one of the more positive breakup albums I’ve heard, you can’t help but smile at the dig at the end of this song. The beauty of it isn’t that it’s mean or spiteful, but that it is 100% legitimate.
7. Lyle Lovett – Fat Babies
This song is silly and amazing, and the line “I like you cause you like me and you don’t like much” always reminds me of a dear friend.
8. Tyler Lyle – The Golden Age & The Silver Girl
The unbridled way that Tyler sings the first line immediately brings back the heady feel of being in love in the summer and knowing that things are rushing too fast but never stopping to give a damn.
9. Field Report – Fergus Falls
This was my first band that I saw at SXSW, and this song gave me my first set of chills. I can’t believe I haven’t put it on a mix already.
10. Frightened Rabbit – The Woodpile
I absolutely can’t get enough of Frightened Rabbit’s latest album. Not a huge surprise, if you know me. Something about the cadence of this song just pulls me in every time.
11. Divine Fits – Shivers
Two songs with the same name on the same mix? Yup. Also did you notice how I have Lyle Lovett and Tyler Lyle back to back? That definitely wasn’t on purpose. Divine Fits played one of my favorite sets at SXSW, and I was right up front by Britt because he ALWAYS gives me good photos.
12. Thao With the Get Down Stay Down – Body
Thao shreds, you guys. Don’t ever miss a chance to see her live.
13. Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell – Hanging Up My Heart
I closed out a long day of hanging in the Waterloo Records parking lot with a free set by Emmylou and Rodney. Their duets were masterful, and they were having so much fun on stage. I felt incredibly lucky to get to see these legends in the midst of all the up and coming bands.
14. Pickwick – Window Sill
My love for Pickwick is well-documented, and I love love love their finally-released album. Get it, and be prepared to dance around to it.
15. Ok Sweetheart – If You Let It
I loved their album Home, and was pleasantly surprised to hear a few newer songs at SXSW, including this delicately wise tune. Snag it here.
February’s mixtape, quite a bit delayed due to SXSW and getting a cold immediately afterwards.
Or stream here.
1. Frightened Rabbit – Holy
2. Cody Chesnutt – Where Is All The Money Going
3. Swim Party – The Kids Are a Drag
4. Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built
5. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Can’t Hold Us (Feat. Ray Dalton)
6. Sleep Lady – Night Moves
7. Night Beds – Ramona
8. Local Natives – Colombia
9. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down – Holy Roller
10. Built to Spill – Carry The Zero
11. Josh Ritter – Joy To You Baby
12. The Lone Bellow – Two Sides of Lonely
13. Widower – Oh Catherine, My Catherine
14. Blind Pilot – Two Towns From Me
15. Tyler Lyle – Werewolf
January’s mixtape. I’m excited about a lot of new music coming out this year, so I’ll be keeping up these mixtape posts!
Or stream here.
1. Hot Bodies in Motion – Slowly
2. The Staves – Mexico
3. Bruce Springsteen – I’m On Fire
St. Paul de Vence covered this song at a recent show, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since.
4. Pickwick – Lady Luck
Pickwick released a covers EP in anticipation of their first full-length, due out in March. I haven’t been this excited for a record in a long time.
5. Kevin Long – Green to Grey
I love the harmonics in this song.
6. Lovestreams – Shock Corridor
New project from Okkervil River’s Will Sheff. Let’s just say I pretty much love everything Sheff is involved in.
7. Yo La Tengo – Sugarcube
An oldie but a goodie.
8. Menomena – Heavy Is As Heavy Does
9. Two Gallants – Broken Eyes
10. St. Paul de Vence – War Love
11. Town Hall – Mississippi Heavy Water Blues
This song is part of a compilation of classic American storm songs called The Storm Is Passing Over. Go here to donate and download the whole thing.
12. Damien Jurado – Eastlake
13. Telekinesis – Ghosts and Creatures
New Telekinesis record is due out in March.
14. Ghosts I’ve Met – Metal Strings
Ghosts I’ve Met released a stunning new EP in January (apparently January is EP month?). I can’t get enough of it.
15. First Aid Kit – This Old Routine
I’ve been falling hard for First Aid Kit in the past few months. The obvious standout track is “Emmylou,” which I’ve posted previously, and was used in a recent episode of Nashville (which you should be watching because Connie Britton is fantastic and I want to be her). However, the whole album has grown on me steadily.
Posting this mix without too much comment, as it’s already more than halfway through January. Enjoy!
Or stream here.
1. Joshua James – Coal War
Joshua James released a new album at the end of November, but while exploring his catalog, I got stuck on this gem.
2. Daughter – Medicine
3. Carson Henley – Give It Up
4. Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s – On a Freezing Chicago Street
The Dust of Retreat is the Margot album that I always go back to, and given that I experienced those freezing streets of Chicago first-hand over Christmas, this song had to be on the mix.
5. Pepper Proud – Dig
6. The Wallflowers – 6th Avenue Heartache
Don’t hate. While in Vacouver briefly one weekend, I ended up in a conversation about personal music evolution (as a listener, not as a creator). This album fits squarely in that timeline – I still remember queuing it up as we left the high school’s parking lot on a 3-week summer camping trip. We ended up listening to the full album on the wet, dark drive back to Seattle, and I still know every word to every song on it.
7. alt-J – Something Good
8. David Wax Museum – Harder Before It Gets Easier
9. Charles Bradley – Lovin’ You, Baby
A couple got engaged to this song at the show in Seattle. It was amazing.
10. Motopony – God Damn Girl
11. The Dimes – Abigal, Don’t Be Long
12. Night Beds – Hope for Everything That Is Not Here
13. Loch Lomond – Elephants & Little Girls
14. Campfire OK – Our Hearts Beat Light
If you have a chance to see this band, DO IT. Their show at Neumos was incredible and I’m still mad at myself for not taking my camera along.
15. Ben Fisher – Cast Your Line