In the throes of a killer party at the Neptune last night, we were thrilled beyond belief to find out the details on another most excellent year for the Sasquatch! music festival, taking place out at the Gorge on Memorial Day weekend {May 25-28}. Sasquatch! is by far one of our favorite fests every year, and 2012 is going to be no exception.

We're particularly excited about partying down with the likes of Jack White, Beck, Tenacious D, Beirut, Girl Talk {hell yes!}, The Head and the Heart, Tune-Yards, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Mark Lanegan Band, The Cave Singers, Grouplove, Ted Leo, Deer Tick, Alabama Shakes, We Are Augustines, Shearwater {!!!!!}, Charles Bradley, Pickwick, Hey Marseilles, Sallie Ford, Dyme Def, Fresh Espresso, and Katie Kate -- but by no means does that even scratch the surface of the seemingly-zillion fantastic bands included on this year's lineup. As usual, there's a thoughtful mash of notable locals and squee-worthy headliners, so much so that slapping down the ticket price to spend the long weekend with twenty-plus thousand of your closest friends is an absolute no-brainer.

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We were lucky enough to catch up with our friends Hey Marseilles this past weekend at KEXP for their Audioasis in-studio. Stopping by for a few songs before heading off to their sold-out show at the Neptune Theater {with Nick Jaina and Bryan John Appleby supporting}, they managed to wow the airwaves with some gorgeous new sounds that left us chomping at the bit for their next release.

Check out the archived performance over at KEXP, and more photos in KEXP's flickr pool here.

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We've told you before, and we're going to keep telling you again and again until you get on the water wagon with us: Hey Marseilles is a fan-fucking-tastic band. If you're already down, you know the goodness of which we speak. And on the odd chance you've been living under some type of musical rock these last few years in Seattle, fret not: we are about to introduce you to your new favorite band.

Hey Marseilles is everything we like about a group: mostly due to the fact that they make good, smart music. Typically billed as "orchestral indie pop," we like to add in the fact that their sound is intelligent, with something lush and layered about it -- but not too layered, these guys are on the money in their mixes -- and recognizably familiar, without being predictable. Add in that sometimes-present vaguely European-tinged funeral parade -slash- carnival vibe {think DeVotchKa, minus the pomp and overwhelmingly sad angst they're prone to} and Hey Marseilles literally have a sound on the block that no one else has got.

Sold? Of course you are! Whether you're a long-standing HM fan or are just getting hip to their sound, there are two things you need to do if you haven't already: one, pick up To Travels and Trunks on every format imaginable if you don't have it already, and play it until it wears out. And two, get yourself a ticket or five to their upcoming show at the Neptune this Saturday. {Tickets are available for purchasing here.} They'll be taking the stage with Bryan John Appleby and Nick Jaina, and the whole night is in celebration of their new 7", Elegy. And PS: we've got a pair of tickets to give away to the show!

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Autumn is upon us, and once again, we've found ourselves happily submerged in a sea of grey mornings at the local cafe with headphones on, poring through new releases and marking our calendars for upcoming shows. And in case you're in one of those spots where you had to put New Release Tuesday on the back burner for a bit, we'd love to help you catch up! Part one of two, this post features stuff we heart to the maxx that also has a live show coming up in November -- and PS, we've got tickets to give away for almost everything featured here! Read on:

Who: tUnE-yArDs, aka Merrill Garbus

What: new(ish) album from earlier this year, upcoming show, all-around awesomeness
Sounds Like: super-melodic, experimental freak-out tribal chanting over sweet beats + some very catchy sing-a-long-y vibes
More info at: http://tune-yards.com/
Playing: The Neptune on Sunday, November 20th

Short version? One of the stand-out small-stage acts at Sasquatch! 2010, plays huge venues now, not to be missed. Long version: tUnE-yArDs -- which is comprised mostly of a lady-genius named Merrill Garbus, along with some loops and accompanying musicians depending on where and when you catch her -- is not like any other band out there today. It's part crazy catchy beats, part tribal warpaint, part musical catch-and-release, and all amazing. 2009's Bird-Brains kicked our asses, and 2011's w h o k i l l took things to a whole 'nother level. Buy both albums and make sure you're front and center for her Neptune appearance later this month.

Who: We Were Promised Jetpacks

What: new album, upcoming show, mosh potential
Sounds Like: straight-up indie rock, big guitars, angst, Scottishness
More info at: http://wewerepromisedjetpacks.com
Playing: Neumos on Tuesday, November 15th

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Summer wouldn't be summer without a sweet lineup at the Mural at Seattle Center during the month of August, and this year is no exception: our friends over at KEXP have put together another killer series of shows for 2011. As usual, it's all ages to rock, 21+ to hit the beer garden, and f-r-e-e FREE. (Although donations are gladly accepted at the KEXP tent, we're sure!) "Doors" are at 5, bands start at 6, and each Friday is hosted by a different DJ. It just doesn't get much better than that. Check out these bands and hosts!

Friday 8/5
Host: DJ El Toro
The Maldives / 
Hey Marseilles
 / Black Whales

Friday 8/12
Host: Troy Nelson
Seapony / 
Gold Leaves / 
Math and Physics Club

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{Hey Marseilles photo by Jason Tang from the Imaginary Photo Pool}

Huge thanks to the folks that have put together the Nic at Nite party for letting us share a special invitation to their big soiree on Monday, May 23rd at the Fred Wildlife Refuge (128 Belmont Ave E ) in Capitol Hill. The evening is a celebration and fundraiser for Nicole Pieratt, amazing Seattle stylist, lady, etc. Earlier this year, Nicole was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer (at the age of 27) and has spent the last few months in treatment. To mark this special milestone, a group of her fans and friends have organized a fancy party complete with performances and silent auction prizes featuring a who's who of Seattle:

Special Live Performances by:
Hey Marseilles
Pearly Gate Music
DJ Erika White

Silent Auction Contributions from:
Mathews Winery, Mark Ryan Winery, Sub Pop, Teatro Zinzanni, Pacific Northwest Ballet, autographed works by Lance Mercer and Charles Peterson, photographic prints by Hayley Young, original artwork by Stacey Rozich, Drew Christie, Daniel Carillo, autographed vinyl from The Cave Singers, Campfire, Ok, and many more

Autographed vinyl! Original artwork and photographic prints! Sub Pop!

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We've said it before, we're saying it now, and we'll keep on sayin' it until the cows come home: we loves us some Hey Marseilles.

A little more seasoned these days, this local septet is one of those bands you want to catch every chance you get -- and thankfully for us, they'll be gracing the sweet stage of Columbia City Theater with their alt.orchestra.indiepop sound this Saturday. And as if one of our favorite bands at one of our favorite venues isn't enough to make for a stellar night, Fences will be opening up the show, fresh off a week of stellar performances at CMJ out on the East coast. For the win, indeed!

If you're able to get out to the show on the early side, make sure you do -- there's an opening reception going on from 6-9pm for November's art installation in the Bourbon Bar that you won't want to miss. Photographer Dylan Priest will be exhibiting shots from this summer's famed weekend out at Doe Bay, where Hey Marseilles and Fences both took the stage, among a slew of other talented acts. The reception is free, but the show is not -- make sure you take a moment to pick up a ticket before heading out! {21+ / $12 adv / 9pm}

Thanks to the talented Hayley Young for the gorgeous photo!

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Somehow, in the avalanche of amazing bands at Seattle Center this past weekend, we managed to scrawl some furious notes on a fistful of locals and indie bands that brought the noise / love / ache / bliss. Here's a few of our picks to start the best-of Bumbershoot chatter that we'd like to share, in no particular order:

1. David Bazan at the KEXP 'Secret Stage'

It's no secret at all that KEXP's hideout is one of the best things about Bumbershoot: a great selection of all the best acts of the weekend, in a cushy, sit-down theater that's got impeccable sound and flawless sightlines. Thanks to a thoughtful friend, we had two seats for the 1:15pm Sunday performance -- and sat rapt with attention while the band proceeded to rip the roof right off from above us. Longtime fans of Bazan's solo work and earlier Pedro The Lion need not hate on this revamped sound: the new (and reworked versions of older) songs are nothing short of big-guitar bring-it-ness. Anthematic, cinematic renditions from Curse Your Branches had us covered in goosebumps; and the six-song power set left us both satiated and eagerly anticipating the next show -- you can catch David Bazan + Band (with the lovely Head and the Heart opening) at the Showbox over Thanksgiving Weekend.

2. The Tripwires at the Mural

Honestly, I can't think of a better way to start a festival day than with a full-frontal rawk set from some of Seattle's very own power-pop royalty foursome, the Tripwires. Promptly at 11:45am, the band took to the Mural stage and shot a big bag of awesome into the waiting arms of the still-caffienating crowd. Opening with "Let's Get You Started" (one of the best tracks off their newest album, House to House), they set the tone -- and the standard -- for a truly excellent day. Sangster + Sangster + Ramberg + Pickerel + espresso + sunshine = a brunch-rock set to remember.

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Dear Seattle: You do not want to miss Matt Bishop's set at the Tractor tonight. The end.

If you were fortunate enough to see our favorite local seven-piece indie.orchestra-pop band's frontman go solo at the last City Arts Song Show, you are familiar with the awesomeness of which we speak. Matt Bishop, of the highly-esteemed, new vinyl-releasin', fresh-off-still-kinda-mid-tour Hey Marseilles, puts on a solo show that does not dissapoint -- the City Arts set was full of stripped down full-band favorites and a few new takes on some sweet old covers. All that and a choice set of interview questions for a lovely evening did make.

Drooling yet? Well, fret not: if you missed Matt's last showcase showdown, you've got yourself a second chance. Perched in the opening spot for Peasant tonight sits HM's lead songsterer, doing a full solo set for the proverbial cause. He's been dropping love notes via Facebook invites that direct the masses to his newly ressurected MySpace page -- where four previously unreleased solo tracks have been put forth for our listening pleasure. And really good ones, at that: one of our new non-negotiable, can't-live-without tracks is Matt's gorgeous, sparse cover of "Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS.

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{Photo: Hot Avocados}

I am a latecomer to the mesmerizing travelogues and swirling epiphanies of Hey Marseilles' musical majesties. Wayfarers to the bone, lead singer and guitar player Matthew Bishop, along with players Nick Ward, Samuel Anderson, Philip Kobernik, Jacob Anderson, Patrick Bannon, and Colin Richey crafted their DIY release To Trunks & Travels out of accordions, violas, cellos, trumpets, "and so forth" before getting the hell out of Seattle and touring like they're no good for shore.

Now that Onto Entertainment will be giving the astonishingly assured Martin Feveyear mixed-and-mastered debut a rightful reissue in late June for the rest of the world, the band also unveils its vinyl version on Friday, May 21 for an all ages show at the Vera Project (with Sea Fever opening), and a regular booze-available following night at the Tractor (with The Head and the Heart opening).

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