photo by Jim Bennett

• Peter Bjorn and John are capping off their summer tour with Depeche Mode by remixing a track from the band’s latest record: Fragile Tension. No release date is set, but I can’t wait to hear bright whistles over a Depeche Mode tune.

• In a follow-up to our previously-reported Guitar Hero news, the new version of the game will allow you to play as Kurt Cobain. This seems reasonable enough until you watch the following YouTube video that features the grunge singer performing Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Ugh. Rolling in his grave much?

• The Seattle Weekly recently posted a new United States of Electronica track from their forthcoming album, LOVEWORLD. The album is to be digitally released next Tuesday, but you’ll have to wait until October 20^th to get your hands on a physical copy. That hasn’t stopped Spin.com from putting out a review of it already (8 out of 10, by the way.)

• Australian Web site ‘Undercover’ quoted a “source within the (Rolling) Stones inner-circle” yesterday as saying “Charlie Watts has quit the band. He will never record or tour with the band again.” This set the world wide web afire until the Stones’ spokesman released a somewhat patronizing statement saying, “Contrary to a fabricated story that ran this morning on a small music web site in Australia, drummer Charlie Watts has not left The Rolling Stones.”

• Music video website Vevo is apparently in talks with CBS and NBC to license shows for the web. The website plans to be the music industry’s version of Hulu, featuring high-quality music videos and music-related programming

• Bloodshot recording artists, and massive Morrissey fans, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir pretty much say it all with the title to their upcoming release … and the horse you rode in on, which is a two-finger salute (they’re Anglophiles, after all) to those who broke lead singer Elia Einhorn’s heart. Sure, it’s vitriol, but it’s darned fun vitriol! If you need further proof, here’s a new track from the album:

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - Tear Down The Opera House (MP3)

• Hip Hop (kinda) artists, Black Eyed Peas, will be fresh off a little controversy when they take the stage for Bumbershoot this weekend. The Malaysian government had banned Muslims from attending one of their concerts because the show was being sponsored by Guinness. But! Malaysian Muslim Black Eyed Pea fans now have nothing to fret about — the ban has been lifted!

• So, of course, Oasis broke up in the middle of their tour. Well, what happens to the festivals they were scheduled to play? At Rock en Seine, they were the headliners until Noel quit the band. Then Bloc Party took over top bill. Singer Kele Okereke sarcastically said, “So I’d like to take this moment to say, ‘ah that’s a shame, isn’t it, guys?’” adding, “I’d like to dedicate this next song to those who wanted to see, ah, those inbred twins (Noel and Liam).” I guess we shouldn’t be surprised, though, considering his previous comments (from 2007) that Oasis is “the most overrated band of all time” and “luddites.”

• Seattle indie pop band Death Cab For Cutie have been chosen to write and record the lead single for the next movie in the “Twilight” series: New Moon. The track, “Meet Me On the Equinox,” will be revealed on September 13 via MTV’s Web site during this year’s MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. The soundtrack is rumored to also feature songs from Thom Yorke, Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, and Muse. Weird. Cool?

• We’ll leave you with the late night performance of “Cannibal Resource” by Dirty Projectors on Letterman this week. Love it or hate it?

It’s a Japandroids kind of week around KEXP. Today, their debut, Post-Nothing, gets its official label release (on Polyvinyl Records) and the band is also spotlighted in an ABC News/Pitchfork co-produced segment that features footage from their live session at KEXP a short while ago. Not only that, Japandroids are playing the KEXP BBQ this Saturday at the Seattle Center (and did we mention that it’s free?). If you caught them at the Capitol Hill Block Party, you know it’s going to be a fantastic set.

Creaturesque, the latest from Throw Me the Statue, who played last Friday’s Concert at the Mural, also comes out today, as does the latest from Fruit Bats, who expand their sweet pop melodies with influences from classic American rock and Americana. Fans of Interpol should pick up frontman Paul Banks’ debut from his solo project Julian Plenti, and surely Modest Mouse fans are chomping at the bit (or nibbling at the cheese) for the EP of unreleased songs and b-sides, No One’s First, and You’re Next. Besides MM and TMTS aren’t the only great Northwest bands releasing albums this week; check out the latest from Nurses, Desolation Wilderness, and U.S.E. Here are some of the highlights included in Largehearted Boy’s list:

review by Jason Kinnard
photos by Alex Crick

My ears are still wrecked from a hot night of music at Neumo’s on Friday at the sold out John in the Morning at Night show. I’ve never left a single one of these shows disappointed and this year was no exception. In years past ,these have always been amazing shows to highlight up and coming bands, introducing us to acts such as Vampire Weekend, Maps, and Jamie T. The line-up this year was definitely intriguing when I first saw the show announced; I could only begin to imagine how a high-energy band like United States of Electronica was going to blend with a headier band like Iran and vice versa. Then again; isn’t that eclectic mix what KEXP is all about? I love the mixed bill. I don’t know why more shows aren’t like this. 

The evening started pretty much on schedule, ast the on-stage action coordinated with the live broadcast seemed to go off without a hitch. DJ Michele Myers got the party started with her infectious energy, dancing her way around the back of Neumo’s where the live broadcast station was set-up. The fact that the show was being broadcast live just seemed to add another cool element to the evening; it was almost like we were all at a secret party that everyone was trying to get into. Ha Ha, suckers! As soon as DJ Michele announced local opening act Throw Me The Statue, the place went nuts and the party was on. Alex and I were right up front for all the action!

In addition to being the hottest ticket in town, it also happened to be one of the hottest nights of the year so far in Seattle. The inside of Neumo’s quickly became a sweatbox as the crowd was just starting to fill in for local band Throw Me The Statue. This was my first time hearing the new material live and there was a lot of it that I liked: straightforward synth-pop. They sounded fantastic turned up on their brand new amps and set the bar high for the rest of the bands who were to follow. Next up was highly anticipated Brooklyn band Iran.

Iran had the most interesting stage set-up of the evening, a wooden chair in the middle of the stage next to a stand-up microphone stand and a full on rock band. I was excited to hear how the new material from Dissolver would sound live. Aaron Aites had a mesmerizing presence on-stage as he shifted from sitting to standing. Turns out the song that had me blown away though wasn’t from their new album at all but was their lead off song “We Could Go Away For a While” from their 2002 album, The Moon Boys. That was some of the sickest guitar work I’ve heard in a long time and it fit absolutely perfect with Aaron’s vocals. Hearing that right up front with the guitarist was a treat; my ears were luckily still intact at that point. They finished their short seven song set with favorites like “Buddy,” “Evil Summer,” and “I Already Know You’re Wrong” from their new album. A nice mellow set by Iran: what a perfect segue-way into Electronica.

In contrast, U.S.E brought the dance party to JITMAN. First of all, you have to respect any band that brings their own letters to a show, in this case giant white letters complete with white Christmas tree lights, letting you know the party is about to get started. U.S.E also brings their own beautiful singing/dancing girls who had no problems whipping the crowd into a frenzy as the band played their unique mix of dancey synth pop, complete with vocoder lyrics, multiple percussionists, and keyboards. It all went off without a hitch until the lead keyboard station went completely dead with only two songs left to play. The band improvised well but it didn’t help the near full capacity crowd from sweating any less. The place was dripping at this point as the stage was puddled with water and littered with empty water bottles and half empty gin & tonics. Confetti was being blasted everywhere. The band played a couple more songs to end their set and the stage was finally set for the headliner, Pela.

At this point, the crowd inside Neumo’s was packed like sardines, the place was buzzing and it wouldn’t be long before the boys from Pela took the stage. Everything and everyone was sweating at this point. We were in fact live on the air, with the clock ticking down, so luckily they don’t waste any time getting set up. John soon introduced the band and each band member gave him a giant hug before they took their spots on stage. The last time I saw Pela was at their epic 2007 KEXP BBQ appearance, so I was definitely excited to see them play again and hear some of the new songs. Anyone who saw them that day at the BBQ definitely left as a fan. One thing was for certain, Billy loves KEXP and it felt good to hear him complimenting the station and calling the city “blessed” for having it. Seattle and New York have a strange sort of connection with music, and Seattle and Pela seem to have an even stronger bond. As soon as Billy grabbed the microphone and screamed “Seattle!” the crowd roared to life and it was clear they were ready to rock. They were who everyone was here to see. This is also when I discovered not bringing earplugs was probably a bad decision. This was big anthem rock coming straight at you, right in your face. I was merely inches from the action, and not much further away from the amplifiers either. Standing in front of the fantastic guitarist Nate Martinez was a mind-blowing experience and I loved every ear numbing minute of it.  The band ripped through 14 or 15 songs of pure American rock including classics from their wonderful first album, Anytown Graffiti, and new songs like “Augustine” and “Juarez” from their upcoming album. They finished the night with a quick encore (no time to waste when it’s live on the air!) and confetti canons marked the finale as the group posed for a bow. We love you too, Pela. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year.

Friday night. Neumos. John In The Morning at Night. Throw Me The Statue. Iran. U.S.E. Pela. An unbelievable lineup with a unstoppable dance party mix from DJ Michele. A full house of KEXP supporters. Words can’t describe how great the night was. But maybe these photos can from Brittney Bush Bollay:

Throw Me The Statue:

Iran:

U.S.E:

Pela:

Chris Blakeley

Tonight at Neumos, join KEXP DJ’s John Richards and Michele Myers for the long-awaited return of the John In The Morning At Night Show with special musical guests Pela, KEXP favorites Throw Me The Statue, the special return of U.S.E and Brooklyn indie-rockers Iran!

As they prepared for tonight’s show, we asked Seattle band U.S.E to answer five questions:

1) Tell us everything you’ve done in the past 24 hours? Leave out the really dirty stuff…

Partied, bbq’ed, rode bikes, partied, slept, layed out on hammocks, practiced and created rock ‘n roll. Brushed teeth, lost $3,500 at poker, made paper airplanes, talked to weird people in China Town, crashed our whips after filling them w/ premium petro. Saw Animal Collective in P-town, met Panda Bear, and felt like a 13 yr old superfan for 3 hrs driving home to Seattle. Karaoked, used table saw.

2) You guys have been a longtime supporter of KEXP, we remember you playing our BBQ back when it was in our parking lot! That says a lot. What does KEXP mean to you?

And we remember playing KEXP with our other band Wonderful, back when it was in Jack Straw studios!

Oh how far you have come, Mr. and Mrs. KEXP.

That BBQ is often talked about because there was free beer, cheetos and some kind of veggie tofurkeyducken pork blast. It tasted like a trucker dump, but it was a free trucker dump.

DJ Riz keeps us in expandified w/ Expansions, and we really appreciate the focus on local music. KEXP is so involved in Seattle and beyond. The care you put into the play lists, and the humorous bumper banter between songs keeps an element to it that isn’t annoying like the media.com stations who have extremely loud commercials and morning show dj’s that turn the bass EQ up on their voices, all the while screaming out big piles of arbitrary minutia like “HEY BOOMER DID YOU SEE THAT THE EX-BASS PLAYER FROM TONIC FELL OUT OF HIS TREE HOUSE YESTERDAY!? HAHHAHA, STUPID TONIC EX-BASS PLAYER! ALRIGHT NOW WE’RE GONNA TAKE A CALL FROM A RANDOM TREE HOUSE SPECIALIST!”

3) Name 3 other bands or artists that you can’t live without.

3? Dude, that’s impossible. Since we all can’t decide we will say any band that inspires us and creates a sense of collective love and energy is something we can’t live w/out. Also, discovering new things in the music no matter how many times we listen to an album or see a band live.

4) What’s the craziest or most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

• Amanda falling.

• Amanda playing a small, plastic toy saxophone when we opened for Sir Mix-a-Lot. Actually, this falls into the “Most awesome-est thing in the history of ever.”

• Noticing that Derek was missing from the stage, so we called him and he picked up while pee-ing in the restroom. Keep in mind this was on our first tour, and there was only the sound guy and his bored ex-girlfriend in the audience. Not even the opening band or the homeless guy stuck around.

• Having a band member (Noah) strip to his U.S.E tighty whiteys on stage.

5) What are you looking forward to for the rest of 2009?

Our new album L O V E W O R L D finally dropping! Sippin’ on yac, bbq-ing, camping, going to beaches, touring and drinking Red Bull, more recording and finishing albums by The Catch, Wonderful, more U.S.E, Nite Dance, magnificent_machine, Thieves of Kailua, and the other solo projects from our other members who don’t really have cool names yet.

Also finishing inventing these things: a newer improved cowbell that tastes like butterscotch, hotter fire and sweat powered guitar amps that when you play them sweat comes out. That last one is gonna take lots of R&D.

Doors open at 8pm, tickets are $18 presale and $20 day of. Advance tickets can be purchased at Ticketswest.com, Ticketswest Outlets, and Neumos Box Office.

I am unusually excited for this week, not just because it’ll be the first time I’ll have seen USE in probably about a year and a half but shortly after that I’ll be taking my first actual vacation in well over two years. So, with any luck, next week’s column will be filed, as Eddie Argos of Art Brut might say, “on a beach out of reach, somewhere very far away.” Southern California is more accurate.

In the meantime, here are a few things I’m excited about for this upcoming week:

USE at the Crocodile on Saturday, March 28

Has it really been five years since United State of Electronica first released their debut, self-titled album?
The Daft Punk-inspired dance band is playing their first show of 2008 and first Seattle show (at least to my knowledge) since last year’s Capitol Hill Block Party and it’s going to be the biggest party of the week. They’re finishing up a new record as we speak and with any luck, will be released in the near future. It’ll also be the first test of how a packed dance party will work in the new Crocodile.

While I have a close friend in USE, they would still be one of my favorite bands regardless. Each show is an all-out dance party lacking in any pretention. Their songs are well-crafted pop gems with big choruses that you want to shout along to and D.A.N.C.E. to. With a new record so close to being finished, I’m sure you can expect lots of new songs to go along with some of their older favorites.

Here’s a video of USE playing one of their hits, “Open Your Eyes”, at the CHBP last summer:

Eugene Mirman and John Wesley Harding with Jon Auer, John Roderick, Thee Sgt. Major III and Sherman Alexie at the Tractor Tavern, Wednesday, April 1

When I talk about how I’d like to see some more diversity at shows, I usually mean that it would be fun to see a rock band, a singer-songwriter and a hip hop group on the same bill. Here, this lineup has three singer-songwriters, a rock band, a poet and a comedian.

This event has the feel of a “People Talking and Singing” benefit that 826 Seattle sometimes hosts. It’s not but it is a nice collection of people with different backgrounds and talents but all have great stories to tell and most have great songs to play. Mirman is always very funny and I’m sure that both John Roderick and Jon Auer will also be sharing some very funny stories to go along with their music.

See you out and about (possibly),

Chris Burlingame

*Three Imaginary Girls*

High iPod rotation:

The Pica Beats

Marissa Nadler

Metric

(Three Imaginary Girls is a Seattle-based website that showcases the great music of the Northwest and beyond to music lovers worldwide. We post a Seattle live show calendar to help you fill your day-planner with loads of great shows, as well as record reviews, live show reviews, and an imagi-blog to entertain you throughout the day.)