If you missed last week's reading at Elliott Bay Bookstore, fret not -- while you won't get any verbal prose tonight, you can still join the party for Kurt B. Reighley's new book, United States of Americana: Backyard Chickens, Burlesque Beauties, and Handmade Bitters: A Field Guide to the New American Roots Movement. He'll be on-site all night long along with the book's illustrator, Aaron Bagley, to shake some hands, sign some copies, and do some celebratin' (as he rightly should).

They'll be getting their DIY on tonight down at the Sunset, along with performances by Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands, Cobirds Unite, Paula the Swedish Housewife, Miss Indigo Blue, and Squirrel Butter. It's only $7.00 for all you 21-and-uppers, and with a lineup like that, there's really no reason for you not to go, now is there?

We'll see you in Ballard!

Upset. The word of the our 2008 Best Northwest Releases of 2008 Readers' Poll is upset.

With the Fleet Foxes winning readers and critical polls alike, who would've thought they wouldn't get top honors in our humble little Northwest poll? But they didn't -- they placed a distant second to New Faces, another debut record from some very talented, very young Northwest fellas.

We had other surprises as well, with unsigned newcomers such as Hey Marseilles, the Kindness Kind, and Kaylee Cole cracking the top ten, beating out Northwest heavyweights such as Death Cab for Cutie. We did not expect that. And we love it when you surprise us, dear readers.

We imaginaries like to champion the up-and-comers from the Northwest, and our results indicate that you do as well. We think you all also have fabulous taste, as always. Thanks to everyone who participated in our poll. We couldn't be more proud or thrilled to present the top 50 winners on your behalf...

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As a set of songs, they are a testament to all the roads that are traveled, the loves that are lost and the hope that can barely be made out in the heat-waved horizon.

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Music starts at 5PM with special guest star Anna, followed by Mark Pickerel, and then the incomparable Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter anchoring the show.

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If you aren't in the neighborhood, be sure to check him out at The Tractor this Saturday!

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New Releases From Easy Street Records

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On the bill: Mark Pickeral! Tennis Pro! We Wrote the Book on Connectors! Dance Music for Depressed People! Partman Parthorse!

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