Desolation Wilderness

I'm about to head over to the Comet Tavern in Seattle to see an newish Olympia band play with my friend Spencer (Generifus). Desolation Wilderness have a vinyl LP out on K Records. They sound like a couple hometown PNW dudes playing with reverb on a sunny afternoon. If you like soupy, warm, shoegaze occasionally punctuated by plucky guitars and drums, give a watch.
Desolation Wilderness - Come Over in Your Silver Car from Weston Currie on Vimeo.

Fever Ray

I found this haunting video on Vimeo the other day while looking through videos that various PNW directors and producers recommended. It reminds me of both Bat for Lashes and The Knife (this band is a solo project of Karin Dreijer of the Knife so that makes sense). However, this video is actually way scarier than either of those bands. Did you ever read Tintin? The book where he goes to South America involves a terrifying mummy who escapes from a display case in suburban England and goes on a killing spree. This video has very similar mummy vibes, but with an even more spooky accent of child nostalgia, which is what I would feel if I were to read those Tintin comics today.
When I Grow Up from Fever Ray on Vimeo.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Zero"

Well folks, it would appear that the once-lauded NYC power trio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, are back. The characteristic spazz that once made them so intriguing is in full force on "Zero," a song in which lead singer Karen O beckons us to throw on our leather, figure out our identity and dance like it's 2001 again and none of this Williamsburg business has transpired. Or, well the last part is implicit from the throbbing drums and recently-added synth lines. Listen here and see them at Sasquatch! in May.

Rad New Pet Shop Boys Song

Ponytail on VHS

I saw this band in the fall at a really shitty Seattle venue called the Nectar Lounge. I hope they come back soon. Clearly, VHS is a superior video format. (update: sorry about issues with the video sizing)

nostalgia

So, last year some friends and I went to Vancouver to see El Guincho. This video made me long for that night, which was every bit as magical as here shown. Except, let it be known that this NY crowd has nothing on us insomuch as dancing/losing-our-collective-shit is concerned. 

Mae Shi tear up the Holy Mountain

Many moons ago, the Mae Shi captured my heart with their ridiculously uptempo songs and beautiful pop compositions, bandaged together with ridiculous synths and crazy guitar. Then, in 2008, HILLYH came out. That record was a super hit, Pitchfork i think made it #8 of 2008. Its a rad fucking record. The lyrics seem super christian though, songs like "Lamb and Lion" and "Young Marks" display prominent christian themes. After hanging out with these dudes a few times, i got to talk to them about their lyrics, their music and some other shit. they're all really really nice dudes, friendly and open as could be. It turns out that they chose the old testament theme for HILLYH because the stories were so violent and interesting. I caught a last minute performance at the Helm gallery in Tacoma before last weeks show at Chop Suey, both of which blew my fucking mind. They're on tour with Metronomy, some electro act that i had no interest in. They played at 9:30. As usual, they brought the party to the weird Chop Suey crowd. Kids stood still for as long as they could before breaking out into dance. They followed through with an old Mae Shi tradition, throwing a huge sheet (rainbow) over the crowd and singing and dancing with everyone under it. They blasted through a 25 minute set, ending with a new track, "I Am the Red" which totally fucking ruled. Definetly one of the best live bands, and most fun to see, ever.

Bay Area Flannel Scene

I went down to the Bay Area last weekend to see my girlfriend and get friendly with the Oakland bar scene. I had fleeting notions of watching a favorite SF band (Bridez, for example, would have been sick) tear up some dark gay bar, but we ended up passing the two days exactly how I wanted to: drunk and laying in the sun.

However, I did spend some time - fairly wasted and in the nude - listening to the Fleet Foxes (a Seattle band) album on vinyl. I saw Fleet Foxes singer Robin Pecknold at the Department of Eagles show in Seattle last week. Apparently he cut his hair recently, leading to very few people noticing the beloved vocalist in their midst. Here's my favorite Fleet Foxes video, directed by Robin's brother Sean (who directs all their videos) ably assisted by one or two of my newish friends at That-Go productions. I heard a rumor that Sean and the band have a new video in the works.

Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why from Grandchildren on Vimeo.