Monday, July 19th
ADMIRAL RADLEY with Buzzyshyface @ The Crocodile
West coast indie band Admiral Radley formed last year when members of Grandaddy and Earlimart decided to join forces. Last Tuesday they released a full-length album I Heart California along with a single of the same name that is an odd first-person homage to their home state in which front man Jason Lytle sings, among other things, “I am California / Ice tea in my hair” and posits “I’m citrus and summer time / You’re haggis and cider.” If you’re curious, which you should be, the band has a great website, with a quirky backstory and a “sightings” section. They’ll also be playing live on the midday show at noon o’clock sharp. (8 pm, $12 adv, 21+)
Tuesday, July 20th
ANTIBALAS with The Sway Machinery @ Neumos
There’s been a bit of a wave of African or African-inspired music sweeping through Seattle’s live venues lately. A few weeks ago Femi Kuti was at the Showbox and this Tuesday, the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, who happened to perform off-Broadway in Fela!, a musical about Femi’s late father’s life, will be at Neumos. Antibalas, however, are from Brooklyn and are more of a funk fusion band that is inspired by traditional African music, using a complete horn section, bass, guitar, keyboard, and drums, that is inspired by traditional African music. Their mostly instrumental, incredibly funky style of Afro Beat sounds like a free flowing combination of, late 60s funk, free form jazz improvisation, and traditional African music, while even throwing in some Thievery Corporation-style sustained reverb and echoing effects. Grooving will be done. (8 pm, $16 adv, 21+)
NEIL YOUNG @ The Paramount
Neil Young playing a solo show at the Paramount doesn'’t need much promoting. I can’t think of a more perfect pairing of performer and venue, and if I wasn’t unemployed right now I’d already have a ticket in my hand (actually, by the time I finish writing this and think about it for five more minutes I’ll probably be combing craigslist for a deal anyway). Though you could be dropping three figures just to be in the building, I highly doubt this is a show you’ll look back on and regret paying for, especially considering that Neil Young is one of the few artists who is capable of putting on an acoustic solo show that is just as awe-inspiring as when he’s fronting a full, electrified band. (8 pm, $75-$150 -- sold out, but check craigslist)
Wednesday, July 21st
THE SECRET HISTORY with Hotels and Bandolier @ Nectar
Brooklyn indie pop band The Secret History will be in Fremont at the Nectar on Wednesday night (they’ll also be playing live on KEXP airwaves at 3:00 pm). Their music is happily paced, somewhat glammy indie pop that is carried by the cheerful vocals of Lisa Ronson and Erin Dermody, who sing everything as if it is a joyous proclamation (think a more indie, hyper Neko Case). This should be a good-mood-inducing show. Local band Hotels is definitely worth checking out as well. (8 pm, $6, 21+)
Thursday, July 22nd
BASSEKOU KOUYATE AND NGONI BA @ Neumos
On the more traditional end of the African music spectrum is Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba. The “ngoni” is a stringed instrument similar to the lute that is popular in West Africa. Bassekou Kouyate is the king of the ngoni. He was the first person to ever defy tradition and play the ngoni standing up, like a guitar, and over the years he has advanced and tailored the ngoni to suit a modern live performance. His band consists of multiple ngoni players including himself, a percussion section, and the vocals of Ami Sacko, Bassekou’s wife. (8 pm, $17, 21+)
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (July 23rd, 24th, and 25th)
CAPITOL HILL BLOCK PARTY
I’m not going to go into detail here. The lineup is absolutely spectacular if you’re a KEXP fan and a three-day pass for only $60 is a steal. The headliners are MGMT, Atmosphere, and The Dead Weather on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights respectively, but the lineup is a stocked pond of must-see indie rock and hip hop all the way up and down. For a complete lineup and more info clicka herea.
