Three Imaginary Girls - Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground

Introducing Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground

Chris Estey — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:27:01 +0000

8.2

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MWNAW2/?tag=wwwthreeimagi-20

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{On Sunday, June 12, 2011, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground will be playing a record release show for this album with The Young Evils and The Can Can Castaways at the Triple Door. If all of this sounds extraordinary to you, we love you as much as we love those artists and that venue -- and that is loads and loads.}

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground sounds as if freak rock died and went to heaven in 1971, instead of the miasmatic personal singer-songwriter purgatory that actually mostly formed that year's musical output. This is appropriate, as the band was spawned from the early demise of Gatsby's American Dream, a much hyped Seattle-based band that many people planned on dancing to and singing along with for years. But like the 60s, the dream was over. It's just that no one told Kirk Huffman and Kyle O'Quin that they could have an even better time with the funkier, psyche-stirring topical cabaret KK&HWU, especially when master musician and band-butterfly Phil Peterson was brought on board for their double-down debut.

The history of the band is occluded by V2 signing them and then dying on the vine; the Live At The Pretty Parlor DVD and sold out shows at the Triple Door have bolstered the legend but it never quite coheres in the minds of regional writers. But once they get the story scribes go suitably ape-shit over a local band as courageous and supremely constructed (up to eleven members at times) as any from Sufjan Stevens to I'm From Barcelona, but with their own mescaline-BBQ bite.

Introducing Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground has been swinging wild on the cyber-vines for awhile, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't hunker down and purchase a hard copy as they now hit the streets this summer. It's probably going to look gorgeous in your collection (as this group is artistically ambitious in everything it does, from sprawling, senses-exploding live shows to massive movements in every arrangement, to sure-is-pretty packaging), perhaps even as gorgeous as it sounds: Bold, sweet-pop blizzards ("Diggin'"), bittersweet bonbons ("Paychecks and Pipe Dreams"), and buoyant dancehall anthems ("Sweet Strange Dreams") alike.

That all this string-strung and head-choir hootenanny and hullabaloo can contain wonderfully stream of conscious happily low life narratives so effectively ("All My Friends Are Passed Out") and with such sublimely subtle storytelling ("Oh Lord, I Hate You California") makes Kay Kay not only the part band of Seattle, but fully capable of releasing an album you can swim around in alone or frantically obsess over in a crowd. I am a recent newcomer, having missed the previous releases, so this was all pure joy to me once it hit my ear-veins. Unlike their spent pals at the end of the party, at the end of this marathon full length, I won't be coming down for awhile. And am looking forward to seeing/hearing them play every chance I get from now on.

Tonight's recommended shows: openers, awesomeness & charity!

imaginary victoria — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:42:03 +0000

Got your running shoes handy? No, not your Chucks. I mean the ones that you lace up to go the distance. Yes, I know they're buried in the bottom of your closet. We'll wait.

Okay, good. Now, get your favorite socks on warm up those calves -- there's too much good stuff going on around town tonight for you to hit just one show. For starters, the opening set at Neumo's tonight will be a great place to pre-funk. I'm sure that Justin Nozuka is a tremendous headline, but our sources from back east swear that Elizabeth & the Catapault will be the glimmer in our proverbial eyes for the designated warmer-upper of the evening. The Brooklyn based singer-songwriter will be unleashing her endearing, charming ways on the earlybirds that make their way down to Neumo's tonight, and you'll be doing yourself a favor by making it the first stop of your night.

After that, it could go either way -- if you don't stay for the rest of the show at Neumo's, you have your pick of two not-to-be-missed performances going on that you can shuffle to your liking. The first would be making sure to see most, if not all, of Kay Kay & his Weathered Underground's headlining set at the Tractor. It's no secret that our very own ChrisB hearts them to no end, as stated in his loving and well-thought commentary on a past show: What makes Kay Kay such a special band is that there are not any limitations imposed on the music. When you listen to them, you hear elements of vaudeville, ragtime, psychedelic rock, show tunes, Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles, and anything else they can find under the kitchen sink. It’s like they raided their parents’ and grandparents’ record collections and ignored much of their own. All that, and the fact that Hey Marseilles' Sam Anderson hails as a member of their repertoire, makes this a win-win-win.

The other big sha-bang happening this evening is the benefit show for the recent GIVE compilation that was released, with a line-up to beat the, um -- band. Or something. Anyhow -- have a look at this: on one bill, for charity, and at a mere fifteen bucks [!!!], you can catch Grand Archives, D. Black, Kinski, Grant Olsen (of Arthur and Yu), Gabriel Mintz, Tilson (of the Saturday Knights), Fences [swoon], and the Tea Cozies. Really, that's less than a dollar a band member, if you splice it out the right way. And even at twice that, it's a better-than-fair price for a best-of-the-best kind of show.

So, bundle up tonight and hit the town -- whether you go Neumo's > Tractor > Croc, or Neumo's > Croc > Tractor > Croc, pick one to hit up with your birds and bliss the night away. With all this talent, you're sure to get a win no matter what venue(s) you choose!

Tonight's Recommended Show: The Builders and the Butchers and Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground

ChrisB — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:10:30 +0000

This show at The Crocodile features two atypical, orchestral pop groups that make some of the best music to come from the Northwest. With the bigger stage and crystal clear acoustics, The Crocodile should be the ideal venue for these two bands.

New Years Eve at The Paramount+The Blue Moon=Holiday Perfection w/ many Favorite Bands

Amelia Gydé — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:21:10 +0000

31 Dec 2008

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I shopped extensively for New Years Eve shows and initially dismissed The Paramount’s offering with headliners The Presidents of The Unites States of America, as I am not a huge fan of their music. The rest of the lineup, which included Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground, The Saturday Knights and Monotonix eventually won me over. I figured I could enjoy them all and still get back to the U-District in time to see my ultimate NYE midnight show goal: A Gun That Shoots Knives at the Blue Moon.

My favorite NYE shows usually take place at steamy packed bar venues. At The Paramount, I walked in and right up to the stage barricade through the sparse audience listening to the talented Vince Mira and The Roy Kay Trio.

Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground was next, and it was nice to see them on a stage large enough to comfortably hold them all. The perfect New Years Eve band, Kay Kay creates and spreads festivity and community and the audience warmed appreciably.

Had The Saturday Knights not played this show, I would have skipped it. I’ll admit I saw them in October mostly because drummer Trent Moorman (Head Like a Kite) and guitarist Thomas Hunter (Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground and Wild Orchid Children) were accompanying. This time I was able to forget their bands and see Trent, Thomas and Dave Martin (Slender Means) as the ideal catalyst for the force that is The Saturday Knights. Perfectly executed songs rolled out over the growing audience that wanted more, as did I when the Knights left the stage and we were left to prepare for Monotonix.

The barricades surrounding Monotonix’s equipment were moved and the crowd closed in. Most of what is expected from a Monotonix set occurred: hairy nudity, shrieking, a violated trash can, a temporary kidnapping and a roving drum set. The Paramount’s size didn’t allow for Monotonix to lead everyone out to the street, and although they didn’t have many available climbing options, their fuzzy punk music is reason enough to see them live.

I mentioned my dislike for The Presidents of The United States of America. I saw them a few times live in their early years and just didn’t get it. Heavy rotation can be cruel, and I was regularly faced with songs my ears tried to reject. Time heals, I hoped and I wanted to hear PUSA this New Years Eve with a fresh appreciation for a much-loved Seattle staple. I tried, but didn’t make it through two songs before turning to hug a friend goodbye and fleeing to the lobby doors.

I’m sure PUSA would not have wanted me to stay. I’m sure they are terrific people and would have wanted me to get out of there as quickly as I could, stopping only to grab/gulp another friend’s beer (my first of the night) on the way out the front door to find a cab to drop me in front of the Blue Moon at ten minutes to midnight, which is exactly what I did.

Great music, steamy windows and lots of friends welcomed me at the Blue Moon – it’s wonderful walking into your neighborhood bar on New Years Eve when everyone’s already tanked and your apartment is less than a block away. I dumped my coat on the pool table pile and headed toward the stage, where A Gun That Shoots Knives and their fans were creating a holiday-worthy ruckus.

AGTSK played well past midnight; I slacked off in my smoke machine duties, took a lot of photos, was surrounded by friends and began 2009 exactly as I wanted.

I shopped extensively for New Years Eve shows and immediately dismissed The Paramount’s offering with The Presidents of The Unites States of America, as I genuinely detest their music. But...

Capitol Hill Block Party 2008: Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground

imaginary dana — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:32:17 +0000

26 Jul 2008

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When I originally saw the Capitol Hill Block Party lineup, I knew if there was one band I couldn't miss, it was Seattle's own Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground. The band opened the Main Stage on Saturday to a beautiful day with an intent crowd -- utterly captivated with this eclectic, larger-than-life band.

Immediately upon taking the stage, the 10-member band (according to Kay Kay superfan ChrisB, that's "a light showing" for them) got the presumably bleary crowd clapping along with their first song -- and this wasn't a simple clap-clap kinda thing. Without prompting, the audience nearly instantaneously sprang to life and clapped along in exact rhythm with the band, as if well-rehearsed.

From there, the band launched into a set filled with complex-yet-cohesive music that shifted styles in an almost perplexing array of sounds -- and I say perplexing in that my notes made no sense in their rapid fire descriptions: "circus maudlin" followed by "70's glam-ish" and then "Santana-like guitar parts" and then "soaring pop." It makes no sense at all, yet Kay Kay does and did. While the music wasn't hook-filled, there were so many delightful disparate parts to relish, such a wave of delicious melody, that I found myself carried away in the bounty of the band. Even the instrumentation was eclectic, featuring an electric cello and French horn in addition to more traditional rock band instruments.

I am loathe as a music writer to say things like "I can't find the words to describe this band," and yet, Kay Kay's performance left me oddly at a loss for how to shorthand describe or compare them. I will say, I now understand why ChrisB has been describing them as the best band in Seattle right now.

Flickr photo(s) of the day: Sasquatch faves

imaginary dana — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:22:22 +0000

We had loads of Sasquatch photos posted to the TIG Sparkly Indie-Pop Photos pool, and we've selected a few faves to share with you.

What would be on your Muxtape?

ChrisB — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:29:30 +0000

I made one this afternoon. You can listen to it at imaginarychrisb.muxtape.com. What would be on yours?

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground and "the best night of my life"

ChrisB — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:18:44 +0000

18 Feb 2008

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The LP release show for Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground last Monday at the Triple Door was a grand affair. The room was packed with people to see one of the best bands in Seattle celebrate the vinyl release of their epic album. It was probably the largest crowd I’ve seen at the Triple Door (or at least there seemed to be more people standing than I can recall). The band and the venue made the evening feel enormous.

At 8pm sharp, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground took the stage with 11 members. It might be the smallest I’ve seen the band. Opener J. Tillman quipped that he thought he was asked to play first because in comparison he made the band look even bigger. It was also the best I’ve heard the band sound. What makes Kay Kay such a special band is that there are not any limitations imposed on the music. When you listen to them, you hear elements of vaudeville, ragtime, psychedelic rock, show tunes, Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles, and anything else they can find under the kitchen sink. It’s like they raided their parents’ and grandparents’ record collections and ignored much of their own.

Kirk Huffman is ostensibly the leader. Or at least he sings the lead harmonies on all of the songs, but each player, either rotating or permanent, plays an important part in crafting the band’s sound. Keyboardist Kyle O’Quin and cellist Phil Peterson (who also played cello for Nada Surf at the last show I reviewed at the Triple Door) are the other principle players, the rest is a collective of friends and colleagues that are necessary to flesh out the band’s lush sound. I think I’ve seen as many as 14 people crammed on to the small(er) stages at the Crocodile or Chop Suey. Even with the Croc’s legendary sound guy, Jim Anderson and his expertise, those shows had to have been claustrophobic for the band, and as great as the band sounded each time I’ve seen them, it was claustrophobic being an audience member. The Triple Door’s stage is huge and easily accommodated the band, but most importantly, the crystal-clear sound filled up every inch available in the ballroom.

To celebrate the release of their self-titled, self-released, grand album {order here}, Kay Kay played every track from that record (if my [incomplete] notes are correct, in roughly, if not exactly, the same order) in just over an hour. While that album is grand and bigger than the speakers or headphones you play it through, witnessing the full orchestra live is a really unique experience. It was easy to pick out each instrument at any given time. Keeping up with the lyrics was another matter, though, because both Kirk Huffman and his wife Racheal (who sings most of the backing parts) have soft and gentle voices. Hers is almost fragile, yet so delicate it’s beautiful. Plus, you try singing over two guitars, two violins, a trumpet, a French horn, a bass guitar, cello, keys, and drums.

“Hey Momma” sounded like it would sound equally fresh in a Prohibition-era speakeasy with its ragtime-jazz sound but then the tempo picks up and becomes a Queen-ish rock and roll song briefly, only to abruptly change course a couple more times. It’s a multi-part song that makes use of every one on stage. The short “Into the Realm of the Unknown” relies heavily on the violin and viola parts and could not work without them controlling the tension the song demands. The more psychedelic numbers (“Bowie the Desert Pea”; “Bloodstone Goddess”; “Birds (On a Day like Today)” among others) also fared well under the conditions, with Peterson’s cello and O’Quin’s keyboard especially being brought to life fully.

Somewhere in the middle of the show, Kirk Huffman said that he expected only about 10 people to show up and then exclaimed it was “the best night of [his] life.” It certainly had to have achieved even the wildest ambitions: the band sounded like they were both tight and improvisational at the same time, the sound was pristine and they played to a packed room in the best venue (in my opinion) in Seattle full of friends and fans alike. It very well could have been the best night of his life. He certainly couldn’t have planned it any better.

When you listen to them, you hear elements of vaudeville, ragtime, psychedelic rock, show tunes, Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles, and anything else they can find under the kitchen sink. It’s like they raided their parents’ and grandparents’ record collections and ignored much of their own.

Photo of the moment: Kay Kay, k?

imaginary dana — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:58:26 +0000

So... was the Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground / J. Tillman show at the Triple Door the greatest thing since sliced bread or what?

TIG Best Northwest Releases of 2007: Readers' Poll Results

three imaginary girls — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:48:19 +0000

You voted, we tabulated. Our imaginary readers never fail to amaze us with their fabulous taste in music.

So without further ado {or flattery}...

Here are the winners of the Three Imaginary Girls top 50 Northwest Releases of 2007 Readers' Poll:

#50 Young Sportsmen Death to Palaces (Self-released)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#49 Patience Please Fleeting Frequencies (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#48 The Valley The Valley (Self-released)
{band profile} * {buy}

#47 The Lonely H Hair (The Control Group)
{band profile} * {buy}

#46 Das Llamas World War (Aviation)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#45 The Saturday Knights The Saturday Knights EP (Light in the Attic)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#44 Schoolyard Heroes Abominations (Stolen Transmission)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#43 Natalie Portman's Shaved Head Secret Crush (Self-released)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#42 Feral Children Eternity Emergency (Self-released)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#41 Blitzen Trapper Wild Mountain Nation (Lidkercow Ltd.)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#40 Kate Tucker & the Sons of Sweden Kate Tucker & the Sons of Sweden (Red Valise)
{band profile} * {buy}

#39 The Whore Moans Watch Out For the Thing (Self-released)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#38 Mono in VCF Mono in VCF (Self-released)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#37 Throw Me The Statue Moonbeams (Baskerville Hill)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#36 Pleasureboaters Gross (Don't Stop Believin')
{band profile} * {buy}

#35 H is for Hellgate H is for Hellgate (Stereotype Records)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#34 Bre Loughlin Modern American Photo Album (Self-released)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#33 Dept of Energy Held By Waits (Roam Records)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#32 Spanish for 100 Say What You Want to Say to Me (Fish the Cat)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#31 Curtains For You Heaven's Waiting (Self-released)
{band profile} * {buy}

#30 Minus the Bear Planet of Ice (Suicide Squeeze)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#29 Siberian With Me (Sonic Boom Recordings)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#28 The Dimes The Silent Generation (Self-released)
{band profile} * {buy}

#27 Math & Physics Club Baby I'm Yours (Matinee)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#26 Tiny Vipers Hands Across the Void (Sub Pop)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#25 Carrie Akre ...Last the Evening (Loveless)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#24 The Shins Wincing the Night Away (Sub Pop)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#23 Modest Mouse We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (Epic)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#22 Joy Want Eternity You Who Pretend to Sleep (Beep Repaired)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#21 Grand Hallway Yes Is the Answer (Self-released)
{band profile} * {buy}

#20 The Blakes The Blakes (Light in the Attic)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#19 Dolour The Years in the Wilderness (Self-released)
{band profile} * {buy}

#18 Speaker Speaker We Won't March (Burning Building)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#17 Friday Mile Love & Gasoline (Self-released)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#16 Aqueduct Or Give Me Death (Barsuk)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#15 The Cops Free Electricity (The Control Group)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#14 Charmparticles Alive in the Hotspell (Self-released)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#13 "Awesome" Beehive Sessions (Bandor)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#12 Smile Brigade Take The Precious Edge Off This Treacherous Ledge (Beep Repaired)
{band profile} * {buy}

#11 The Kindness Kind A Novel (Self-released)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#10 Shane Tutmarc & The Traveling Mercies I'm Gonna Live the Life I Sing About In My Song (Inverness Recordings)
{band profile} * {buy}

#9 Arthur & Yu In Camera (Hardly Art)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#8 Gabriel Teodros Lovework (MassLine)
{band profile} * {buy}

#7 Menomena Friend and Foe (Barsuk)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#6 Cave Singers Invitation Songs (Matador)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#5 BOAT Let's Drag Our Feet (Magic Marker)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#4 Tullycraft Every Scene Needs a Center (Magic Marker)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#3 Ms Led Shake Yourself Awake (Fish the Cat)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#2 Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground Live at the Pretty Parlor {Bombs Over Bellevue}
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

#1 Blue Scholars Bayani (MassLine Media, Rawkus)
{review} * {band profile} * {buy}

Bestof07-TIG_sm.jpg

You voted, we tabulated. Here are the winners of the Three Imaginary Girls top 50 Northwest Releases of 2007 Readers' Poll!

Tiptoeing toward the new year - what will be great in 2008?

Sarah Joann Murphy — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 04:34:49 +0000

All things considered, I think I can face Father Time if that's what 2008 holds in store. What albums are you awaiting in the next 365 days?

Free U.S.E. show at Neumo's next Wednesday!

imaginary stella — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:56:57 +0000

I have no idea how this news isn’t flashing across Seattleites’ RSS feeds in screaming red font, but United State of Electronica is playing a free show next Wednesday!

Simply Siberian

Deborah Barnard — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:07:57 +0000

2 Nov 2007

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A preview of what the evening would hold started with Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, the band that played before Siberian. Eleven people with hearts on their sleeves and grins on their faces -- along with terribly intriguing electric violins -- played rock opera woven with threads of Harvey Danger's legacy, prompting Siberian's Colin Wolberg to keep mentioning how amazed he was at their awesomeness.

Kay Kay will be playing at Neumo's in December, it'll be interesting to see what they can do with more than three mikes and a better balance between their fifty billion instruments and the vocals.

---

Siberian, the headliner, has been on my playlist ever since they released their EP Hey Celestial near the beginning of the year. Yet between the EP and their full album debut this last Friday, I'd managed to forget exactly why Siberian had made such a strong first impression on me; I just remembered that I liked what I'd heard of them. After wracking my brains through their first three songs and trying to figure out who lead singer Finn Parnell sounded like, because I could swear I'd heard him a lot before, the opening strains to "Paper Birds" came on along with the light bulb over my head. Oh, he sounds like himself. Because I'd played that song on repeat for a good solid week after it was released.

The band's crispy clean duet-harmonies combined with simple yet piercing lyrics, "I'm not okay, we're just kids man, but we'll be someone someday..." to silence the ever-present babble of the audience at the Croc. Siberian's casually cheerful stage demeanor, as if they were just having a cup of coffee with the audience rather than making their official debut, lent a cozy atmosphere to the venue that nicely complimented their t-shirt & jeans-style of indie rock. The whole show went smoothly, with awkward stage banter coming off cute and a seamless set filled with solid instrumentation and the occasional pair of tambourines (the theme instrument of the evening). It was a bit too smooth as one song blended into another, often times without much of a change between the previous sound and the next, but overall the show was everything an album debut should be as a showcase for Siberian's rising star in Seattle's indie music scene.

It shouldn't be possible for a band to release such a beautifully polished album as With Me for their debut, and alongside that take to the stage with such a subtle confidence. Yet Siberian managed all that and left the night with a burst of energy on their last number that had been missing in the earlier portion of their set: the bassist, drummer, keyboardist, lead vocalist, and guitarist all immersed themselves in their sound and danced or played like no one was watching. Arms flew from the bottom of the guitar to the top of the shoulder as power chords struck notes that reflected off the eyes of the audience, leaving a tired but happy impression as the clock struck one a.m. and the band motioned a pleased crowd towards their latest recorded endeavor.

The band immersed themselves in their sound and danced or played like no one was watching. Arms flew from the bottom of the guitar to the top of the shoulder as power chords struck notes that reflected off the eyes of the audience...

Happy Sweet 16 Endfest!

imaginary chona — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:16:58 +0000

22 Sep 2007

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Oh Endfest -- all that epitomizes the Washington alternative/hard rock scene.

Having been to many festivals this summer, I must admit, the bill must have sounded pretty "smashing" (haha) to diehard Pumpkins fans and tween teenyboppers (The Used, Paramore, etc.)- since these people appeared in great abundance throughout the day.

In comparison to years past, the line up was quite a sight to behold (including prince of folk Bright Eyes, Social Distortion, and well...the SMASHING freakin’ PUMPKINS). 107.7 The End has clearly outdone itself on this one. Many familiar faces (The Bravery, Hot Hot Heat, Social Distortion) were to be seen this year, obviously hungry for second servings of Endfest.

Perhaps the biggest change? No White River Amphitheatre! Could this have been a direct result of the Mars Volta fiasco at the mainstage last year, in which Cedric furiously exclaimed “This is the karma you get after building a corporate venue over ancient Native American burial grounds!" ("This" being after a urine filled contraceptive device was aimed neatly at him by an audience member) Nonetheless, the change was welcome and made for a large turnout, being so close to the Urban Seattle area.

Without further ado, I present Endfest’s Sweet 16! (Who in the words of Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground’s cellist, “Can drive now! Yay!”)

After parking and painstakingly jamming $10.00 worth of bills and coins, sprinting to the main entrance (only to be bombarded with a thin pile of photo release forms), I ambled over to the local stage to catch Seattle hardcore group Moneta. Though definitely not my cup of tea, the young people in the audience seemed to enjoy themselves- which is always a good indicator.

Moneta. Photo by Chona Kasinger.

First up on the What’s Next stage was LA group Shiny Toy Guns, a group Imaginary Ed was incredibly giddy to finally see live. Their dance-y rock music, infused with boy-girl vocals, saw through the general entertainment and morale of the early afternoon.

Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground was a group I was particularly excited to see, having missed them at Capitol Hill Block Party (I was affixed to Britt Daniels face...and um...his music too!), and they certainly didn’t disappoint. I was initially taken aback by the five+ piece string section and man in rat mask, but was happily surprised by the polyphony they and crooning lead singer, Kirk Huffman, created.

Teen heartthrobs of MTV fame, Paramore, took the What’s Next stage shortly after Kay Kay’s set ended. Flame-haired Hayley Williams and co. certainly took care of business. Their poppy, top-of-the-charts
music provided for a sufficiently well-rocked audience.

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Endfest 2007: Page 1 >> | Page 2 >> | Page 3

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A photographic overview of Endfest 2007, featuring Paramore, Shiny Toy Guns, Bright Eyes, Smashing Pumpkins, Minus the Bear, and many, many more!

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground on Carson Daly

ChrisB — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:59:41 +0000

I guess the headline says it all, but if anyone has insomnia and/or really loves Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, tonight is your lucky night.

Dress you up with my love (and indie fashions)

imaginary liz — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 18:02:17 +0000

Noise for the Needy is in full effect, but if you're in the mood for something of the Project Runway ilk, head over to Pretty Parlor's Summer Fashion Show!

Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground

Sarah Joann Murphy — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 06:47:04 +0000

18 Apr 2007

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"If lunacy means communicating with God, then who would want to be sane?"

From the opening quote on their website, it's immediately clear that Kay Kay has an extraordinary approach to songwriting. The band is three members at its core: Kirk Huffman and Kyle O'Quin, formerly of Gatsby's American Dream, and Phil Peterson of Tennis Pro and the House of Breaking Glass. "His Weathered Underground" is an often-rotating cast of up to ten musicians, giving Kay Kay a huge and lush sound that translates not only live, but also in all of their recordings to date.

Kay Kay's songs feel almost like a rock opera; indeed, in an interview with the Penn State Collegian, Huffman indicates that the band's songs are based around the idea of "a fictional everyman who is slowly going paranoid schizophrenic." Mixing elements of psychedelic rock [not in and of itself this reviewer's favorite] with ragtime [seemingly not a genre that would translate well] and stretching from a horn section and dual violins to good ol' fashioned rock and roll guitar, Kay Kay manages to create instantly likeable songs that have all the appeal of pop music.

At Wednesday evening's show at the Crocodile, the stage was filled to the brim. An enthusiastic front row began dancing and singing along from the very first song. The ever-geniune frontman, Huffman, declared us to be the best crowd to date. Having witnessed nearly every show the band has played, I can vouch that it was true. The peak of Kay Kay's energy came when they premiered their new song, "All Alone." Bassist Nate Mooter [also known as Nate Lashes of Seattle band the Lashes] jumped and shouted in unison with trumpet player Robert Parker; it was a display of unified intensity that one would never guess they hadn't practiced a hundred times over.

Kay Kay won't be playing locally for a while, as they prepare for their upcoming full length album. Those looking to get their fix in the meantime can visit www.bombsoverbellevue.com to purchase the DVD of their live Pretty Parlor performance. They'll also be sharing their insane, brilliant visions with the masses in the coming months; May 18th they'll play live with Harms on 107.7 The End's "Young and the Restless," and June 13th will find them in sunny southern California for "Last Call with Carson Daly."

Mixing elements of psychedelic rock with ragtime and stretching from a horn section and dual violins to good ol' fashioned rock and roll guitar, Kay Kay manages to create instantly likeable songs that have all the appeal of pop music.

Tonight's Recommended Show: Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground/The Quiet Ones/Southerly at the Croc

imaginary dana — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:51:54 +0000

When Seattle band Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground were picked as one of the Strangers Bands to Watch for 2007, I must confess I'd never heard of them before. I have now, and all I can say is... whoa. The band features Kirk Huffman and Kyle O'Quin of Gatsby's American Dream and Phil Peterson of Tennis Pro unleashing a whimsical, whirling cacaphony of indie-pop orchestral sounds, reminiscent of Queen and/or Jellyfish and yet sounding almost startlingly unique. I can't fathom how this will translate to a live show (more instrumentalists onstage? Fabulous costumes?), but I'm sure hoping to make it over there to find out.

Also, according to the band's MySpace page, they're scheduled to play on Last Call with Carson Daly on June 13th (!!). Go tonight, and you can say you saw them during the proverbial when.