Today in (Northwest) Music: Thursday

Girl Talk will make Seattle groove on Friday night
photo by Tom Purves

The Capitol Hill Block Party is what’s happening this weekend! Consult your schedule, pack your sunscreen (remember, severe sunburn can occur even with overcast skies!), and head up to the Hill to catch an incredible lineup of local and national performers like Silversun Pickups, Spoon, John Vanderslice, Aesop Rock, Girl Talk, Blue Scholars, The Cave Singers, and so many others.

During the Block Party, KEXP will be broadcasting from Neumo’s, which if you’re over 21 and and have a Block Party wristband, you’ll be able to check out — assuming it’s not full to capacity! Get there early if there’s something you want to see.

Here’s the live broadcast schedule for Friday:

Siberian Friday July 27, 3:30pm
The Shackeltons Friday July 27, 4:00pm
The Blakes Friday July 27, 5:00pm
Viva Voce Friday July 27, 9:00pm
Cancer Rising Friday July 27, 10:00pm
The Trucks Friday July 27, 11:00pm
Girl Talk Saturday July 28, 12:00am (that’s still Friday night, yo!)

and for Saturday:

Sunday Night Blackout Saturday July 28, 2:30pm
The Whore Moans Saturday July 28, 3:00pm
Sean Na Na Saturday July 28, 4:30pm
Gabriel Teodros Saturday July 28, 5:30pm
The Cave Singers Saturday July 28, 6:30pm
Grand Archives Saturday July 28, 7:30pm
The Intelligence Saturday July 28, 9:00pm
The Girls Saturday July 28, 10:00pm

If you’re still undecided on exactly which bands to see, check out The Stranger’s Line Out, where you can find a whole slew of “Band of the Day” features with more information, songs, and videos, including an self-interview by Kaz Nomura of PWRFL POWER, the winner of The Stranger’s “Block Star” contest. Yes, he asks and answers his own questions.

PWRFL POWER- It’s Okay (MP3)

Okay, we have to share this video with you, which we’ve watched repeatedly since finding it on Line Out. You’ll find yourself mesmerized as you watch Keepon the robot dance to Spoon’s “I Turn My Camera On”:

Other local blogs have been full of Block Party related stories, like Sound on the Sound, who are currently featuring a two part interview with Marissa of The Trucks. I assume they’ll have some great coverage afterwards as well.

The Trucks - 3am (MP3)Want to avoid the Block Party crowds? There are a lot of other great shows going on around town. Friday brings you Spanish for 100 at the Comet Tavern, The Swains at the Little Red Hen, Ryan Adams at the Moore Theater, The Little Penguins at the Rendezvous, Llama at the Tractor, and a Loveless Records showcase at High Dive. On Saturday, you can catch Moxie Motive, who performed this morning live on KEXP, at Jules Maes Saloon, Sean Smith at the Sunset, Willard Grant Conspiracy at the Tractor, Das Llamas at the Comet, and Hank III at El Corazon. So many decisions it kind of makes you not want to go out at all, but that would be crazy!

Spanish for 100 - Attack! (MP3)

Llama - Alright (MP3)

Moxie Motive - I Think You Are (MP3)

Willard Grant Conspiracy - Lady of the Snowline (MP3)

The Little Penguins - go to their MySpace page to download three songs!

In the mood for the smooth sounds of Hall & Oats, Kenny Loggins, and the Little River Band? Who’s not, right? Well, tonight you’re in luck. Break out the curling iron, don your favorite patterned shirt, and head on over to Neumos for the Three Imaginary Girls sponsored Yacht Rock for Puget Sound, where you can watch The Dudley Manlove Quartet, The Heavy Hearts, Tim Seely, The Dusty 45s, and many others breeze through your 80’s favorites. The performance benefits People for Puget Sound, and tickets are only $8 ($7 if you dress in Yacht Rock attire). Be there and be square!

If you’re still in one piece after all that, you have the Decibel Festival to look forward to in September. The official lineup was announced yesterday, and it is huge! Simian Mobile Disco, Diplo, Motor, Harold Budd & Robin Guthrie, Guns N Bombs, and the list goes on! There are a limited number of discounted passes for $75 on sale now. After August 15, the price goes up, and you will still be able to buy tickets to individual showcases.

Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe (MP3)

Diplo - Summer’s Gonna Hurt You (MP3)

Motor - Bleep #1 (MP3)

Chromeo - Fancy Footwork [Guns N Bombs remix] (MP3)

Now get out there and dance!