at The Crocodile

I’d like to register a complaint against the sound guy at the Crocodile on Friday. No matter where you were standing it felt like your ears were clogged, or your head was wrapped in cellophane. Having never seen Grand Archives live before, I wrote off a lot of their shortcomings to the poor sound quality. However, upon reflection, I have to say it was truly just a boring show.

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This weekend was absolutely bonkers for shows! Noise for the Needy rocked all over Seattle, Shellac played two nights at the Vera Project (I saw them Thursday night and it was pretty killer), SIFF finished off with tons and tons of films, and I caught the Lemonheads at the Tractor on Friday.

What did you do? Was it awesome? Tell us!

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Guess what? Wow, how’d you know? Another killer band from Canada is on the radar and playing Neumos tonight for Noise For The Needy. The Constantines, from Ontario, have been making rock n’ roll spin on it’s top since 1999. Believe it or not, that was ten years ago. Living in this transitory day and age when a band you love rarely puts out an LP before breaking up and redefining their sound, you can bet that you’ll be getting the ripe fruit of The Constantines’ labor.

Crystal Antlers are a different story. Hailing from California they yell over guitars that wail and organ that lends a pleasant drone to their upbeat tempo. Their songs are neatly stitched together quilts of prog-rock, psychedelia, and punk noise. They’re touring for their new album, Tentacles.

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All parts Oregon, Point Juncture, WA is going to rock you. Slowly. In their collectively cradled arms. And when they do, you should look at the calluses on their hands and be thankful that someone out there is working hard to provide for you. They released Heart To Elk in February 2009 on Mt. Fuji Records.

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Hey kids, do you like sleazy little mustaches, argyle vests, and lyrics followed by exclamation points? Do you like songs about erectile dysfunction, alcoholism, and modern art? Does Eddie Argos make you want to rock out (AAAAAAAAAAGH!)?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, come check out Art Brut as they play the Noise for the Needy Benefit this weekend.

Ready Seattle?

They're playing! At Neumo's! On 6/13! (now repeat this 4 times to yourself)

Tickets! Are! 13 dollars!

All! Ages! Bar with ID!

Miike Snow! Opening Act!

Miike Snow is tingly, electro-ey Brittish pop that sounds like what catching snowflakes on your tongue feels like. They will be an interesting compliment to the glorious racket that is Art Brut.

See you there. (I am officially exclamation point-ed out.)

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Grand Archives, a group of veteran indie rockers, is touring for the upcoming release of their second full-length album, Keep In Mind Frankenstein, due out September 15th. That’s the day before my birthday. I’ll think of it as Mat Brooke’s (Band of Horses) present to me.

If you’re enamored with the idea of five part harmonies echoing out over an array of unexpected instruments, then you should probably check out this show. Their dreamy melodies manage to throttle into rollicking, knee-jerk inducing crescendos. And other times they stay subdued, and sometimes they fall into different eras but they always find a core in their folk rock roots.

They are playing The Crocodile tonight, Friday 6/12 with Seattle-based See Me River, touring for their March 2009 EP, a precursor to their upcoming summer release, Time Machine. Their acoustic sound rests on the crest of the New Wave and crashes into a gothic country ocean.

The openers for the show, The Curious Mystery, also a Seattle band, released Rotting Slowly this May on K Records. Listening to Shana Cleveland’s vocals tripping along the curb of a pot-hole ridden road, is like skinning your palms for the first time since you were ten; a bit unexpected and nostalgically pleasing.

Check out “Ed Jackson” from See Me River on KEXP’s song of the day blog.

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Prepare to have your everything rocked every which way but with Clint Eastwood and an orangutan who plays the keytar.

Part of the Noise for the Needy benefit, this particular show features some of the coolest and noisiest bands in the Emerald City!

The show takes place Friday, 6/12 at the Underground Events Center at 2407 1st Ave (between Battery St & Wall St) in Belltown. It begins at 9PM, tickets are 10 US dollars, and it's 21 and up.

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Tonight is the second night of this year's Noise for the Needy festival and tonight's trifecta of shows is a great assortment of Seattle bands with some out of towners thrown in for extra buzz.

I'm particularly excited to see the Sunset Tavern show with Adam Stephens and the Finite Plain headlining. Adam as you may or may not know is one half of the intense folk-rock-sters Two Gallants - a group that has never disappointed. I'm not sure what Adam's non-2G shows are like, but if this video (above) is an indication of the harmonica goodness we have in store tonight, it's going to rule.

If you're looking for something else tonight, here's a full list of the grand Noise for the Needy showcases tonight.

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This year's Noise for the Needy festival starts tonight! We're so excited for the five day fest. The organizers have really put together a slew of great bills from now until Sunday.

Tonight's batch of shows kick off the festivities with a bang. I have a hard time choosing between tonight's two shows.

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A Brent Amaker and the Rodeo show is always a debaucherous event. Last time I saw them play, audience members were baptised by the Man himself with more than two trays of whisky shots. They lined up and had a shot poured down their throats. It was wonderful and excessive all at once. And now they're finding a way to one-up one of their shows by hosting a costume contest for their 6/13 Noise for the Needy benefit show at The Comet.

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