Gentle Snark
Brothers Ryōichirō and
Ken'ichi Yoshida are masters of the shamisen, the three-stringed
instrument whose peculiar, almost insectlike twang is invariably one of
the first things that pops into my head whenever I think of Japan.
By Geoff Carter | May 16, 2008
Convergence Zone
Ready or not and weather or not, the summer street fair season begins Saturday, May 17, with the 39th Annual U District StreetFair. For two days, five blocks of University Way -- from Northeast 41st to Northeast 50th -- will be completely closed to vehicles, allowing you to freely peruse the wares of some 300 arts and crafts dealers, and to enjoy performances by dozens of musicians and performers on three stages.
By Geoff Carter | May 14, 2008
Gentle Snark
A band named for a law enforcement agency shouldn't make me want to go out and break the law. Tokyo Police Club does. Whenever "Cheer It Down" or "Box" comes up in iTunes I am filled the urge to commit immature trangressions against people and property, but here's the thing: I don't want to actually hurt anyone doing it. I just want some Bellevue dude to find his mailbox covered in pancake batter and shake his fist at my getaway Zipcar, screaming "You wild kid, yuh!"
By Geoff Carter | May 12, 2008
Gentle Snark
You can disparage Ballard as you will -- "not as cool as it once was," "too many condos," "Geoff Carter lives there" -- but you can't deny that its residents give a hell of a lot of money to listener-supported radio. In recognition of the neighborhood's solid fundraising efforts during last summer's pledge drive, KEXP will be broadcasting live from Ballard from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 9.
By Geoff Carter | May 8, 2008
Gentle Snark
No one can bring the noise to a sports arena quite like Nine Inch Nails can. The Nails' Trent Reznor has created so many uniquely alien sounds that I could have written this preview wholly in onomatopoeia. "Head Like a Hole" goes bahnahnahnahnah. "Wish" goes graownownownow. "Closer" goes boomp-thwomp.
By Geoff Carter | May 6, 2008
Gentle Snark
Attention, lonely hipster blokes! Is there a paucity of tattooed punk
girls in your life? If so, you'd be well served to get tickets to see Peter Murphy at El Corazon on May 30, Mike Ness at the Showbox at the Market on July 9 and 10 and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the Showbox SoDo on September 23.
By Geoff Carter | May 2, 2008
Gentle Snark
There are a few concerts coming to town that embody the 1970s in all their eight-track, leather-upholstered glory. Do I recommend them? No, not really. But I'm too old to appreciate old music.
By Geoff Carter | April 29, 2008
Gentle Snark
DeVotchKa plays the Showbox Sodo on May 3. They're quite the hot item these days, being Grammy-nominated and all, and if tickets don't sell out well in advance of show day they'll surely sell out night-of. If you don't get tickets, you should go down there anyway and hope for the best. Maybe even put an ear to the wall and feel the warmth of the high desert coming through it.
By Geoff Carter | April 25, 2008
Gentle Snark
The performing alias of Swedish producer Axel Willner, The Field makes music for the blood. Willner's hypnotic, looping trance compositions aren't meant for the brain to process; they work best when you allow them to wash over you, unchecked and unconsidered.
By Geoff Carter | April 25, 2008
Little Kids, Big City
On May 17, the Connecticut-based musician Steve Roslonek, also known as SteveSongs, will perform a benefit concert for Children's Hospital. This playful singer and his accompanying band will lead young ones through a host of fun, danceable tunes, with plenty of interactive fun to keep everyone excited.
By Lilium Pierson | April 22, 2008
