{Buster Blue plays CHBP on Sunday, 7/24 at 3:45pm on the Cha Cha Stage}

Reno Nevada's Buster Blue take the chocolate-and-peanut-butter combo that is anachronism and indie pop (ala the Decemberists) and drive it in an interesting, exciting, and surprisingly rocking direction. With loud, urgent, shouting elements of Modest Mouse, swirling instrumentation like that of Sunset Rubdown and Menomena, and lyrics that sound like they were written 'round an Old West-era campfire, these mostly beardy wonders bring an element of theatre to their sound that is innovative and stirring.

An example of their exquisite, evocative lyricism comes from the song "Bluebirds and Honeybees:" The honeybees leave kisses buzzing round the soul / Take the world’s poisons down the rabbit hole. But perhaps one of their finest qualities is that every member of the group contributes something entirely unique to each song, and that facets of each personality shine through to create a cohesion -- where it seems there should perhaps be none. As their bio says, "Buster Blue’s musical educations range from one member being drum major of the high school band to another being a screamer in a hardcore group. Their diverse backgrounds and upbringings help give color to their music, as well as make it difficult to pigeonhole them to a genre."

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{Photo borrowed from Mash Hall Facebook Page}

Sprouting from the THC-soaked cyber-seeds of Seattle entropysploitation rap band Mash Hall/They Live!, Don’t Talk To The Cops is the new electronic-resistance enhanced marriage of rhyming fire and beats taut like wires. I spoke with emzee and emissary Gatsby (Larry Mizell, Jr.) about his further work with his B-Boy collaborator, and what we’ll have no minds capable to wind inside the machine they unleash on Saturday, 6:45 p.m., in the love dungeon of the Cha Cha.

And: Mash Hall is playing again too, and Lar defines below the differences in the natures of both of these collaborations and prior joints. Mash Hall is playing Sunday, 11:30 p.m., on the Neumos Stage. Since that night’s later line up also includes Grynch, Mad Rad, Metal Chocolates, Darwin, and aBeat Connection DJ set, it’s the Closing Party NO ONE should miss.

TIG: Who is in Don't Talk To The Cops and what is your group's mission, sir?

Gatsby: DtttC is BlesOne and Emecks. I am the DJ/hypeman. The mission far as I can tell is to make shit you can dance to. Bles is a lifelong bboy and Emecks is a choreographer/hiphop dancer so they wanted to kinda cater to that. Not that's it's fuckin' rave music or anything.

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Yuni in Taxco is like a snowcone: light, refreshing, and -- if it's really good -- can transport you to another place. If Los Lobos and Dick Dale were thrown in a blender with a the psychaedelica of someone like The Apples in Stereo, you might get these guys (be sure to add an umbrella, and serve up ready to dance).

It would appear there's no more ideal place to see them than a summer music festival -- something about them screams summertime! Their warm, carefree, sound compliment lyrics that tend toward the mutable beautifully, and the twists and turns from pop to ballad make for an exceptional musical landscape. They're a little trippy, a little spacey, and perhaps their island-style warmth will bring a little sunshine to our drab Seattle summer, if only in spirit.

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{Kurt Vile is going to be playing the Capitol Hill Block Party on Friday, July 22, starting at 5pm on the Main Stage.}

Kurt Vile has an occasionally insouciant vocal presence, yet a luscious guitar tone. "Baby's Arms," the new single, is as much a raspberry blown at the world as a lustful kiss splattered on the cheek of his sweetheart. "I get sick of just about everyone / so I hide in my baby's arms." That's how this timelessly rebellious dichotomy is presented on his new, fourth full length Smoke Ring For My Halo.

Vile only kind of means being mean. He likes to sing about "a whole lot of dirt" (a mocking, baiting masterwork called "Runner Ups"), yet was raised in a genteel bluegrass, Jesus-loving household. According to rumor, he tried to bring the banjo of his youth back on this album, but maybe those got left in the outtakes (next time?).

 

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It is clearly no secret that I love The Posies. But honestly, guys - if you have never seen them play live (which seems impossible if you've lived in Seattle for more than a year), you should head out to the Capitol Hill Block Party on Sunday to see them take the  main stage at 3:30pm. These guys are the real deal - an awesomely rockin' local band that's more than earned the term LEGENDS. They consistently put on a good show, and they will (excuse the cliche term) rock your frickin' socks off. For reals!

Go go go go go go GO.

{Photo submitted to our Sparkly Indie-Pop Photos Flickr Pool by Mr. Jason Tang}

 

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Campfire OK photo by Jason Tang

Campfire OK seemed to come out of nowhere with an incredibly well played and passionate debut earlier this winter, Strange Like We Are. Its title track and others have been spun quite a bit on KEXP, the band has been given lots of attention by bloggers (most notably NPR, which did a feature on their excellent music and the meaning of the first album's intriguingly anthemic title track).

They are set to play Sunday, July 24 at the Block Party, at Neumos (21+), between 4:15 and 4:45 p.m. I email-spoke with the mysterious frontman and primary songwriter for Campfire OK, and we got all happily tangled together in the cyber-vines. He straightened out the bacon wrapped around the enigmas of their line-ups, college campus banning, and the meaning behind that darned catchy tune again. Imagine how much fun it will be when I get to chat with him in person at CHBP 2011!

TIG: As a noted "Capitol Hill band" is it a particular thrill to be playing the Block Party this year? Or is it more like just back porch fun for you at this point?

Mychal: We are all very excited, and feel honored to play the Block Party. Even though I live on Capitol Hill it definitely does not feel like back porch fun. It is one of those things that, when you first book the show, you are happy about it. Then as time passes, and you see how large of a number of people go to it, read about it, and research the bands playing, you feel more and more grateful. We are super pumped to be doing it.

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{photo: April Brimer}

Virgin Islands is one of Seattle’s best live rawk and roil bands, souped up on speed-ball breakneck paces and reeling through the gears left behind from The Cops. Fronted by Michael Jaworski (vocals and guitars), and tuned in by two-lane blacktop hard by Aaron Ball (drums and percussion), Charles Keller (bass and vocals), and Christopher Meyer (guitars and vocals), they’re bringing dapper mayhem to the Vera Stage during the Capitol Hill Block Party (2011!) on Sunday, starting at 3 p.m. sharp.

I spoke with Mikey about the festival, the band’s recent full length debut, and love for Cap Hill!

 

TIG / Chris Estey: Is it a particular thrill to be playing the Block Party? What is it that's more special about playing the CHBP than a usual show in the area?

MIKE: It is thrilling to play the Block Party! It really does feel more special than a regular show in the area. In my opinion, the Block Party is the coolest and most grass-roots festival in our area and it's an honor to perform for it. It takes place in an extremely cool and vibrant neighborhood and it caters to such a great cross-section of humanity. It's just a great street party with awesome bands and we're honored to be a part of it! Not to mention, Jason Lajunesse and crew book artists that truly represent the diverse music scene in Seattle and some of the best national touring acts around. I think you'd be hard pressed to find another music festival that does it so well, especially in a block party setting.

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Undoubtedly, like us, you're all stoked about the coming onslaught of summer festivals -- and with the Capitol Hill Block Party right around the corner, we thought it would be a good time to hip you to what we can't wait to see from the rest of the fests. Sasquatch! is already under our belts, and that means Doe Bay, Bumbershoot, Austin City Limits, FYF Fest, Musicfest Northwest, CMJ, and Iceland Airwaves are all comin' round the mountain.

Well, hot damn. This is a lot of music to take in, and we sure are equal parts stoked and grateful to be living it up in the grand ol' Pacific Northwest (and beyond). Let's get right down to it, in chronological order:

Doe Bay

The where and when: Orcas Island, August 11th - 14th {SOLD OUT}
Feels like: hippie goodness in a gorgeous setting, without the hippie bullshit. May contain campfire sing-a-longs, but only the good kind.

There's something to be said for a festival that sells out before the lineup is announced, yet still manages to stay true to it's oh-so-grassy roots -- and Doe Bay is that festival. For almost four full days on picturesque Orcas Island (that's here in Washington for you out-of-area readers), lucky attendees will be taking in the likes of The Head and the Heart, John Vanderslice, Damien Jurado, Cobirds Unite, Pickwick, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, Frank Fairfield, Lemolo, Matt Bishop, and a dozen more. Camping encouraged, pants optional.

A point of note: if you didn't get tickets for DBF, you can mosey on out to Seattle Center for the Seattle Tattoo Expo. The buzz of the guns, the art openings, a weekend full of music at venues around town and a taste of this vibrant community are just a few of the things you can expect. And at only $15 / day, it's a super-affordable way to get your ink on. Information and advance ticketing on the Expo website here.

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{Photo: Ari Marcopoulos, 2011}

I just heard a song from the new Thurston Moore album {set to be released on 5/24 on Matador} and it's as sweet as a Carpenters cover {listen/download "Benediction" now}.  As Thurston describes the song:

"On day one I played the first song sitting in front of a Beck-wired microphone, its design informed by the cut of Joseph Beuys’ cerebellum. The jam is called “Benediction”, where the camera records the adult girl reading a love letter written on the back blank pages of her hymnal where he knew only she could find it."

And while I was reading through his self-penned bio {well done, Thurston!}, I noticed his summer tour schedule -- and oh boy -- it looks like there is a neat little block of time in the Pacific Northwest that could accomodate a stop at the Capitol Hill Block Party?

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The Head and the Heart, Curtains for You and Lemolo slayed the pants off the sold-out show at Neumos this past Friday night, and we've got the pictures to prove it. HATH amazed, as per usual, and we couldn't have been prouder of our home-town showing of love for them. Curtains for You brought their best warmup, and Lemolo blew our minds with their two-girl show of achy post-White Stripes sound. All in all, an evening to remember, for sure.

Lemolo stealing the start of the show:

The Head and the Heart:

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