This cartographic study of musical incest started out as a personal (and let me add, super nerdy) project of mine. I was trying to map out how the bands I’m in (Disclaimer: I’m in a few bands around town, including Partman Parthorse and Butts), and my friends bands, were interconnected. Kind of a 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon thing… only with the Seattle Music Scene and not Kevin Bacon (although if anyone can figure out how to connect any Seattle Bands to Kevin Bacon you’ll be my hero).
As major labels continue to exist behind the times, artists and labels with little capital and lesser reputations are producing some of the most innovative, interesting, and inspiring music. Whether it’s creating a new niche in digital technology or looking to once obsolete formats, Agitated Atmosphere hopes to shed a bit of light and share a bit of information on the up and coming sounds of artists such as Dark Meat.
The enormous Athens, Georgia collective known as Dark Meat were set to take the United States by storm in the midst of 2008. Vice had reissued the group’s proper debut, Universal Indians, and plans were made for the near 20-person group to take America by storm while preparing an album for the hipster doofus label/magazine/vanity project. Of course, you’re staring at Truce Opium, Dark Meat’s follow-up — not on Vice but Emergency Umbrella. The band’s trimmed to a lean 9 members and despite many side ventures (Sweet Teeth, Gay Africa, etc.), Truce Opium is all the better for the turmoil and change-over.
Built To Spill @ Capitol Hill Block Party (photo by Hilary Harris)
All jokes about Axl Rose’s awful cornrows aside, it’s wet. It’s cold. The desire to hole up, not unlike many of our small rodenty friends of the animal kingdom (except with books / TV, and hot toddies) is overwhelming, but fight it for one more week! You know where you can find warmth and heat, besides under your camouflage Snuggie? That’s right! A rock show! We here at Three Imaginary Girls have a few suggestions that may make you want to poke your heads out of your burrows one last time before Groundhog’s day! Scurry out in your scarves and rain gear and gather up bits of indie rock, classic rock, punk, rap, and soul before Old Man Winter sets in. Stuff your metaphoric cheeks with the likes of these tasty kernels:
Here are a couple more amazing videos from KEXP’s broadcast during CMJ at the Cutting Room Studios NYC. Gathering huge buzz lately is young UK band The xx, who turn out a hypnotic rendition of “Crystalised”, and Australian (by way of England) group The Temper Trap, whose “Fader” has to be one of the catchiest songs you’ll hear all year!
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Midday Show Host Cheryl Waters, is “Long Time” by Betsy Olson from her self-released debut album Lonely Woman Blues.
Hey, guess who I saw in concert on Tuesday? They Might Be Giants! Guess which album they played all the songs from? Flood!! Guess how much it ruled? SOOOO MUCH!!!
A couple things I learned at the concert:
Flood was recently certified platinum 19 years after its release, making it, according to TMBG, the slowest album to platinum in recorded music history.
24-year-old drummer Ben Hills, of Seattle band The Shy Ones, passed away early yesterday morning from a fire on Capitol Hill. RIP, Benny. You will be missed.
On a more uplifting note, legendary guitarist, songwriter and producer Steve Cropper, best known for his work with Stax Records, Booker T. & The MGs, and the Blues Brothers, will be presented with the EMP Founder’s Award this evening at 8pm in Sky Church. The third annual Founders Award Celebration tonight will also feature local musicians Mike Musberger, Jeff Fielder, Andrew McKeag, Ty Bailey, Craig Flory and Skerik performing selections from Cropper’s songbook and other classic soul hits.
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Midday Show host Cheryl Waters, is “Made Up Of Tiny Lights” by We All Have Hooks For Hands from their 2009 album The Shape Of Energy on Afternoon Records.
We All Have Hooks For Hands - Made Up Of Tiny Lights (MP3)
Everything is New, indeed. British singer-songwriter Jack Peñate has upped the ante on his second album on XL, making it eminently danceable by adding horns, strings, and electronics, while adding touches of funk, samba, Afrobeat, and other hip shake-inducing influences to his formerly rock-centric mix. Jack stopped by the KEXP studio when he was in town at the end of September and performed a few new songs on the Midday show. Here’s “Tonight’s Today”, “Pull My Heart Away” and “Be The One”:
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs and recordings from Independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Midday host Cheryl Waters, is “Funeral Singers” by Califone from their 2009 album All My Friends Are Funeral Singers on Dead Oceans.
Exclusive live tracks from The Moondoggies, The Hold Steady, Andrew
Bird, The Kills, Of Montreal, Devotchka, Vivian Girls, MGMT and more.
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iTunes and KEXP
You can now find KEXP under "Eclectic" in iTunes after the demise of the "Public" category, to better represent the diversity of our daytime variety shows and numerous specialty programs.
