Extinction

I never really planned what I wanted to say here... Hmmm. I will have to make it up as I go.

You have probably put this together by now, if you've happened to walk by the store--especially if you've walked inside expecting to see music on the walls for sale--but the decision was reached recently that Tyrannosaurus Records is no longer sustainable as an entity in the same way it has existed for nearly a year and a half. The doors have to be closed.

My inclination is to write a NOVEL here about what went wrong and why I can no longer make it work. I won't do that. I just want to say a few simple things.

1. There are a lot of reasons I came to this decision, many of them I've seen coming--some of them snuck up on me. None of it matters. I don't want to dwell on the negative, so I won't.

2. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. If you have ever bought music from us, come inside to check out the store, seen one of our live shows (at the store or elsewhere), or just generally expressed good feelings about our existence, rest assured that it could not have been around as long as it was without you and your support. I thank you, humbly and fully.

3. When I started this whole thing, it was about me asking a question: "Does Renton (and the surrounding areas) care about independent music?" The answer is "Yes". I could have done so much differently to help you all get much more involved, but I couldn't know that without having tried to do it this way. C'est la vie, and lesson learned. Thank you for proving me correct, and for sharing some amazing experiences with me. YOU really were the reason I wanted to do this, and you didn't let me down.

If anyone would like to contact me about store-related matters, I can still be reached at tyrannosaurusrecords@yahoo.com. Feel free to direct any and all questions there. If you are an artist with merchandise for sale, I have it all, and will be sorting and sending over the next couple of months.

Thanks for a great year.

Keep supporting independent music!

Your friendly neighborhood dinosaur,

TRx

Andrew the Great

If you've read this blog, like, at all, you know that I like my music independent and my voices fresh and exciting. It's possible I've just found the perfect combination.


Andrew Vait is an up-and-coming Seattle-based musician who writes amazing, heartfelt, somewhat grandiose indie-pop songs that are informed as much by modern indie stalwarts (check for hints of Modest Mouse, DCfC, The Decemberists, in varying degrees) as by the demigods of 70's singer-songwriters (think Cat Stevens and Gordon Lightfoot, among others). He is a perfect voice for a generation applying the lessons of the past to the possibilities of the present--the evidence is right there in the song "Missing Teeth": over a mid-tempo beat and a catchy synth melody, he croons with the gravity of someone at least twice his age ("...we made a little bed /.../and slept on what we never said).

Gigging for his album, The Pros and Cons of Drowning, Andrew has been making the rounds throughout the PNW. He hasn't told me this specifically, but I am pretty sure he would play anywhere. Seriously, become his fan on Facebook: there are Happy Hour shows, house shows, proper club shows...you name it. Keep an eye out soon for the full band's (Andrew Vait and The Eternal Fair) album, coming soon to an independent record store (...ahem!) near you.

This guy just loves to play. And play he will.

We are so lucky to be able to bring him to Renton...check him out this coming Friday (10/22 @ 6pm) for an intimate solo performance at your favorite DTR record store. Yes, the only one. Whatever. Always have to point that out, don't you?

As always--our shows are FREE, for ALL AGES, and SUPER RAD.

Can't wait to see you.

ROAR, -TRx

An Open Letter to Music

Dear Music,

Hi. I've been listening for a while. Long-time fan. Seriously. Not to gush, or anything, but I was always the one who was off listening to you while other kids were doing stuff outside, or playing video games. I wouldn't expect you to remember. It's OK. I just wanted to write to you to explain how you've helped shape me, and thank you for all the times you made my life a little more tolerable.

So, I was recently reading somewhere that you're like, 9000 years old...? That is amazing. I mean, you don't seem a day over 6000. You've aged really well. You're always finding new ways to evolve and change to fit whatever time you're in. I mean, that's really cool. A lot of us (humans, I mean) get all stuck with what we liked at a certain time in our lives, and never really learn the skills of adaptation to what is new. I know I'm still stuck on a lot of the stuff I used to like as a kid... I really admire that you can stay so vital.

Somewhere early on, I knew that my obsession with you would last a very long time.

I mean, I've seen you change a lot over the years, and I've done a lot of research about how you were before I was around. I am continually amazed that you can always be such an inspiration for people when it feels like they are losing reasons to keep trying. Just one of your many skills, I suppose. I remember this one time: I was having the week from hell--I mean, it was bad. It was like, you name it and it was going wrong, and I didn't have anyone around that I could really talk to about it...and there may have been a girl involved. I bet you hear this kind of stuff a lot, huh? Anyway, I won't bore you with the details, but I decided early on that I was going to have to lean on you a little bit to get through that. And the whole time, you were there, like a champion, to commiserate with me when I needed it and to lift me up when I was too far down. Likewise, I have soundtracks made of you that have accompanied all the best times in my life--you know: all those times when I was sitting behind glass, watching cars pass by in a state of utter contentment; or those first meetings with people I knew would be important to me, even though I didn't know how or why I knew that at the time--it was like you already knew, and you were trying to clue me in without saying too much.

I mean, you're perfect. You're amazing. I don't know how you do it. I know a lot of your fans are too cool to say these things. I know that I might not be so cool. I am OK with that this time. I think it is important that you know we aren't taking you for granted.

Anyway, I'll wrap this up by saying that the real reason I'm writing is that I have started falling in love with you even more recently. I mean there has always been love, of course. But lately, it's as though I am hearing you with new ears. You have somehow rejuvenated me--made me start to remember that there are things that can make me happy. I feel like you are teaching me lessons all over again, the way you did when I was just a kid, wearing flannel and trying desperately not to fit in. I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable by telling you all this. Like I said before, I just think you need to know.

So, y'know, just keep doing what you're doing. It's been a great run so far. And thanks again for everything. I'll be here, listening. We all will.

Respectfully,

nich

The Perfect Playlist: "Smiles and Sighs"

So...

Who knew that people actually paid attention to me posting things on Facebook? Cheers. I started talking about The Perfect Playlist recently, and got requests to post it when it was complete (Sorry, Kendra: wish I could do downloads, but I am SO not that cool.). A brief explanation is in order before I proceed, however.

Is this The Perfect Playlist? No...and yes. And maybe. This thing was designed for a purpose. One day recently, while listening to music, as I am wont to do occasionally, I heard CHYSY's "In this Home on Ice". I thought (and even FB'd!) about the lyric "Now that I'm so sad and not quite right / I could dance all night". That lyric has a strange effect on me...makes me both sigh and smile. It gives me the feeling of being resigned to things, yet very much OK with them. It speaks of the potential for utter happiness in the midst of difficult situations. Simply put, I love that lyric. It got me thinking about what other songs give me a similar feeling. So, I set out to make a playlist of songs that gave me this feeling, songs that I was amazed people were living their lives without listening to...that said, some of the songs are relatively obvious, but most are on the more obscure side of the spectrum for those of us who don't have ridiculous amounts of time to scour the indie-verse for the next amazing band/song/album. I mean, me? What else am I gonna do? I scour, so you don't have to.

So, here it is. It is 2 hours long, and separated into 2 different "sides". Not a "Smile" side and a "Sigh" side (remember, all the songs elicit both responses--for me)--the sides are almost arbitrary, but in sequencing, it just made sense to me. Plus, I like titling things, so I was able to come up with an extra title (AKA, I was able to rip a lyric and call it a title)...here goes. I will try to explain as I go, but some of the choices need no explanation--or, if they do, I can't really explain them.

My thanks goes out to Crystal (who smartly made me feel lame when I said I was attempting "Perfection"), Annastasia (who asked first to see this diabolical scheme), Kendra (who probably shouldn't compliment me so much), Jeffrey (who is a true mix-making hero), and Laika (who paved the way for humans to travel in space, ensuring we would all always have reasons to smile and/or sigh).

Please, be gentle with your criticism. :)

Smiles and Sighs
Side 1: "...I could dance all night"

1. Ryan Adams: Come Pick Me Up
2. Band of Horses: Detlef Schrempf (Kind of schmaltzy, but my favorite of BoH's more sentimental works.)
3. Elliott Smith: The Biggest Lie (I could find an Elliott song for any mix, so...I did.)
4. Film School: Two Kinds (I can't hear this song without being surprised by the violins. So pretty.)
5. Pinback: Penelope (How many love songs are there about fish? This is easily the best of them.)
6. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: In This Home on Ice
7. Ra Ra Riot: Run My Mouth ("All my days, they end too slow")
8. The Spinning Wheels: Wrecking Ball (This band needs more fans. That means you.)
9. Owen: Femme Fatale (Not as good as the original--obviously--but I like the way it sounds here.)
10. Iron & Wine: Jezebel (Sigh. I couldn't love this song more than I do.)
11. Volcano Choir: Island, IS (I told someone recently that this song has ended up on nearly every mix I've done for the past year...PROOF!)
12. Rogue Wave: Maps (Yes, we all love Karen O. This version is better. I get being a purist about the original, but this one is SO GOOD.)
13. Loch Lomond: Wax & Wire (This one is kind of scary, if you really listen to it, but something about the rise and fall of Ritchie's voice always mellows me out.)
14. Foals: Spanish Sahara (This may be the most epic song that gets released this year. That's not meant to be hyperbole.)


Side 2: "You little mountain noise"

1. Coconut Records: West Coast (Turns out, Jason Schwartzman can write a pretty damn good Beatles-esque melody.)
2. Spoon: Goodnight Laura (Makes me wish I knew someone named Laura...)
3. Peter Broderick: Below It (I am enamored with everything Peter Broderick does, but it all started with this amazing song.)
4. Glen Hansard: Say It To Me Now (If I could sing and play guitar, I would just cover Glen Hansard songs.)
5. Neal Burton: Bandages (I was introduced to this on Aviation Records' "2021" compilation, and this guy's voice is killer. And the song embodies such a beautiful, escapist idea.)

***There is a bit of a tonal shift here, from the more grounded to the more ethereal. If I'd thought a bit more, I may have dispersed the following songs more throughout the mix, but it turned out I liked the idea of the end of the mix being really dreamlike and pensive. Totally a personal choice.***

6. tUnE-yArDs: Fiya (This is one of those songs you hear on a cellphone commercial, and just marvel about how little those advertisers knew about what they were getting into.)
7. Rauelsson: Elefantes y Ninas (Admittedly, this only qualifies as "dreamlike" since it is sung in Spanish, but I still like the way it fits.)
8. Mum: We Have a Map of the Piano (This has been a favorite of mine for so many years, it's impossible to really talk about. The title of this side comes from this song, as well.)
9. Bent: Cylons in Love (A classic of the "chill-out" genre from the turn of the century.)
10. Animal Collective: Winters Love
11. Grizzly Bear: Foreground
12. Grizzly Bear: Colorado (I have never, nor would I have ever imagined I ever would, put two of any one band's album-enders side by side on a mix. I love the way these two work. There is a first time for everything.)
13. Gayngs: The Last Prom on Earth (Another album-ender. It's kind of tongue-in-cheek, but I still think it's a really pretty song. And it cleanses the palate a bit from all the preceding heaviness.)


OK...let it fly. What do you think?

roar,

TRx

They Came from Across the Water

Who is Lemolo?

I have been asking myself this for months now. And as I've been looking for an answer that makes sense to me, I've also been trying to explain it to other people--in neither attempt have I been fully successful. While I'd love to sit here and analyze the music these girls make (which should be relatively easy, mind you), I find that I have a lot of questions.

But let's start with the facts.

A) Lemolo is Meagan Grandall and Kendra Cox (respectively known as the "Band Queen" and the "Energy Specialist"). B) They are from Poulsbo/Gig Harbor, or thereabouts. C) They are in their early 20's--very early 20's, I am assuming. D) They play keyboards, guitar, and drums--typically playing either guitar OR keyboard, depending on the song. E) They write tremendous songs. F) They gig like crazy, burning up stages all over the Seattle area since this past summer. G) They are as sweet as the sugar on your Cornflakes, in every sense of the word (I can hear you arguing that saying someone is "sweet" is an opinion, but I have empirical evidence on this--it is a verifiable fact. Trust me.)



It all seems relatively simple, up to this point--I'll grant you that. But then the picture gets hazy.

How do girls this young have such a command of songcraft? They employ such delicate subtlety, especially in their slower arrangements--adding layer upon layer and change upon change until a melody that originally had an alluring negative space is full, each measure is bursting at the seams. Or, put another way, the songs are made with a patience that people this age have no business possessing--each work is fully-formed, mature in its own right. A great example of this is the aptly-titled "Old Fashioned Lover", which begins as a somewhat whimsical lament about the loss of summertime friendships, then slowly, and exquisitely, over the course of eight minutes somehow fast-forwards the listener into an autumnal plea for genuine companionship. It's breathtaking.

Who are their influences? The basic dynamic of the instrumental make-up sounds, on paper, as though it should reflect clear influences (several duos have had similar DNA, not least of all Mates of State and Beach House). While there is a bit of it, albeit fleetingly (along with noticeable nods to such heavyweight female vocalists as Hope Sandoval and Chan Marshall in the singing), this band sounds too original to be merely the sum of its elements. The sheer individuality behind this band's vision is utterly remarkable, turning simple notes into stunning melodic turns through timing and vocal interplay. How do they do it?


I speculate on these things, but when I think I have answers, I hear something I hadn't heard before (their songs are like that...), and it knocks my conclusions right back into the murk of uncertainty. Luckily, I am OK with having a little mystery in my life--after all, who wants to see a magic trick after they know how it's done?


But I know this much:

1. Lemolo is one of the most consistently interesting bands in the Seattle scene right now, if for no other reason than they sound like nothing else in it.
2. The new songs I've heard take everything I've said above and capitalize on each strength exponentially, which shows that this band is nowhere near slowing down creatively--and that makes them one of the most exciting bands in the scene as well.
3. You will love them, if you don't already. Check them out online (www.myspace.com/lemolomusic and/or www.lemolomusic.blogspot.com), or see them live sometime soon at a venue near you--namely Tyrannosaurus Records on Friday, 9/10 @ 6pm for a FREE, ALL-AGES in-store performance.


Does that answer your question?

roar - TRx

Track Reviews (Yeah. That's the most interesting title I could come up with.)

Nothing too complicated here: 3 reviews of 3 tracks off 3 new releases. One hard, one mid-tempo, one kind of folky (but still a little bit punk-rock in its delivery). Ch-check it out...



Artist: Guns for Radios
Album: losses and gains (Rockin' Stan Records)
Track: "kings and queens"

This band is made up of members of past bands who were well-respected in the Seattle scene (including Alta May and The Fluid [Editor's Note: I have since found out that this is incorrect--GfR contains no one who used to be in The Fluid. That's what I get for trusting a blogger. Sorry for the error. -n]), but has charted a new course. GfR occupies the space where 90's "alternative" (yes, kids, that's how we described music in the 90's) butted up against more traditional pop song structures, simultaneously obliterating them and giving them an entirely new life, and nowhere on the record is it more apparent than here. Starting with a snaky, distorted bassline that belies the high melodic sensitivity apparent in the higher registers of the composition, it calls to mind such disparate influences as Pinback and The Catherine Wheel. The lyrics are a chess game (get it?) of emotion and a vague heartache ("Hearts on the sleeves / of Kings and Queens"), matching wits with the complicated guitar and drum interplay. This band has started to make waves on KEXP--and this is a standout on the record, released last month. Of all the bands in the NW who are re-vitalizing sounds lovingly remembered from the "grunge/alternative" era, this is easily one of the most interesting, and most competent, I've heard.



Artist: Laura Jorgensen
Album: Feathered Arms (self-released)
Track: "Pens"

The lead-off track to Laura's new record is all about blood. Using the vivid and topical imagery of writing, she lets us into her creative process ("We sit down with our pens / And bleed ink"). But the real glimpse of her insides is in the vocal performance she delivers here--her voice lifts and falls with recklessly throat-shredding abandon, rocketing to impossible heights and cascading rapidly to barely-fathomable lows. Her voice matches the emotionality of the confession she alludes to in the lyrics--and that's all fine and good, if you can stop listening to the singing long enough to get all the words. I personally have a hard time with that. Her band, led here by Nolan Eley's trumpet mixing with her own accordion, proves a worthy match to the amazing power of her voice, providing crescendos at a moment's notice and never overplaying the role it's given. This is an amazing recording of an amazing song. I must admit, I've been in love with this song since back when I'd only heard it live and as a demo--hearing it with the full band and the full power of Laura's unbridled talent has given me an even bigger appreciation for it.



Artist: Unnatural Helpers
Album: Cracked Love & Other Drugs (Hardly Art)
Track: "The Truth About You"

Punk-rock? Garage? Indie? Yes. You know what they say: "If the Doc Marten fits..." This song is led by a BLISTERING guitar riff into a valley of sludge-tastic bass under a sea of cymbal crashes and double-kicks. The production is pitch-perfect medium-fi, allowing Dean Whitmore's voice to rage out of the muck with a caterwaul of betrayal and apathy that nonetheless lends itself to a slightly ironic twist (the recriminating "I learned the truth about you" is tempered by a rationalization: "You'd be unhappy with me") that, I'm convinced, is as much a product of the thick skin necessary to make it in the Seattle music scene as it is indicative of the thick skin necessary in matters of the heart. There is rock music, there's good rock music, and then there is F***ing Good Rock Music--this is the latter.



And there you have it--3 local bands, 3 great songs, 3 new albums. Listen to 'em! Tell me what you think! Get out and see some local music!!

'til next time,

rOaR,

TRx

A Lifetime in a Month

ROOOOAAAARRRR!!!

Oh. My. Goodness. It has been too long. The past month has been a dizzying cacophony of awesomness and hard work, and we have emerged victorious (finally) in a new space, with a new partner, and ready again to service your music needs in DTR at full-throttle. Check out my totally random list of what's been going over the past month!

1. Obviously, the big news is: we are no longer located at 914 S 3rd in Renton--instead, you will find TRx at 924 S 3rd in Renton. We have moved inside our favorite indie craft haven, Happy Delusions, and we are trying to be careful to not damage all the rad stuff in the store during random bouts of rocking--which we have been prone to since birth. Please wish us luck. Come by and say 'Hello'!

2. Our selection has gotten richer and fuller! The selection of used vinyl is growing weekly and cycling nicely (check it often for your favorites on vinyl!), and the selection of new music is growing as well, augmented most recently by new titles from Sub Pop and our newest direct partner, Kanine Records (may I suggest Viernes' new album on Kanine, Sinister Devices?--it's super-good!)!

3. We are looking forward to lots of exciting possibilities in the coming 2-4 weeks, including (but not limited to) August's First Friday, featuring music-centric arts/crafts from the always-amazing crew of Happy Delusions; and a possible live-remote radio broadcast from the good folks at KGRG!

4. Friends of the store, The Head and the Heart, have released their beautiful first album. We are so excited for them and hope to be able to offer the release soon for retail!

5. Summer has arrived! (Duh.)

6. All kinds of great, wonderful, uber-fantastic things are happening--so many I can't even wrap my mind around it enough to write any more here! You'll have to pardon my giddiness.

So get out, enjoy the weather, enjoy great tunes--don't forget to stop by and say "Whaddup?" to your friendly friends at Tyrannosaurus Records!

See you soon--

-TRx

Happy Delusions + Tyrannosaurus Records = Coolest Thing Ever*

*This is what I was trying to get across in the last post... Sorry for any confusion. No, Sonic Youth is not playing in the store. *sigh* If only... :)

"Hear ye, hear ye--"

More details and other such stuff to come on this whole thing, but the long and the short of it is this:

Happy Delusions, DTR's foremost DIY and indie art authority and retail outlet, will soon be taking on a new partner. You may know this new partner as.............us. That's right--in an epic move that is being lauded by some as "the coolest thing since cool came to Cool Town", HD and TRx will be joining forces to more efficiently spread the awesome throughout DTR and the surrounding areas.

Questions? Of course there are questions. To that end, here's a little FAQ that may tide you over until more info begins to bubble up... Enjoy!!

FAQ's: What YOU Need to Know

Q: Why merge?
A: Well, that’s what multi-national, ultra-conglomerated, corporate super-powers do. That reminds me of a joke we tell at The Club: “If you can’t beat ‘em, BUY ‘em!!”. How else would we ever get “too big to fail”?

Q: OK, but why now?
A: Would you ask a shooting star why it picked just that moment to zoom across the night sky? Didn’t think so. Let’s just say it is the right thing for all parties, and the timing couldn’t be any awesomer.

Q: Will the new name be Tyra-ppy Reclusions, or Happy-saurus De-cords? ‘Cuz I think they’re both SWELL…
A: Um, neither. Both names will remain intact and both stores will remain virtually unchanged, except for the fact they will be in the same place. The only significant change will be to the Coolness per Square Foot (C/ft²) ratio on South 3rd between Wells and Main—yeah, that’s gonna go up.

Q: What are the advantages? How do I benefit?
A: Glad you asked. 1) Extended and More Consistent Hours of Operation—once we get a chance to get our feet wet on this deal, we plan to have the store open for longer and be much more consistent on Open and Close times. 2) Consolidated Indie Goodness—remember how you used to have to walk almost a whole block to satisfy your need for sweet indie crafts and killer indie music? Those days are over! 3) This is Only the Beginning—this is Step 1 of a 10,000-step plan to take over The Universe. You’ll be able to say you knew us when we were still somewhat harmless, and maybe you’ll be looked upon with favor around Step 9,865…that one is tricky.

Q: When is all this going to happen?!
A: We’ll probably spend June preparing and moving, with a plan to be fully functional by July 1. Though it really shouldn’t take that long, so if it happens sooner than that, bonus.

Q: What about live music?
A: What about it?

Q: Will there still be shows I can go to?
A: Of course! In the first month or two, it may take some time to work out exactly what is possible within the space. Rest assured, though, with a little time, we will iron out the kinks and we will again have you rocking the days and nights away with live performances that are too cool for words.

Q: So what do I need to do?
A: Well…nothing, I suppose. If you are now or have ever been a supporter or well-wisher of TRx or Happy D., feel free to stop in some time and show some love. Otherwise, just come on in when we re-open as a two-headed monster and stroke our collective ego by talking about how awesome you think it is that two of the coolest places in DTR have joined forces. But don’t say it all sarcastically—we’re only interested in hearing it if you at least act like you really mean it. Most importantly, just be aware that the change is coming, keep an eye out for the details and updates, and have a little patience with us as we transition into your one-stop-shop for indie, DIY, and rocknroll.

WE ARE STOKED!!!!

ROOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're Resident Dino,

-TRx

Big News? What big news...?

(...as if I have to say it, Fonzie = Cool)

Big things... :)

ROaR!!!!

-TRx

Hello, our name is TRx. What's yours?

I thought a re-introduction might be in order, since it has been a while since I have blogged here.

It's been a relatively crazy 2010 so far, right? You probably know what I'm talking about. Around here, we've hosted about 15 in-stores so far--one of them being the incomparably awesome and punk-rock Exene Cervenka, we've expanded our selection to nearly double the titles we had in 2009--we're constantly scouring the PNW indie-verse for your new favorite bands, and we collaborated with others in DTR for the biggest, awesomest, rocking-est indie festival this town had ever seen--it pretty much killed.

So, now what?

What could we do that be bigger than all that? What could we do that would be so massive it would be like two stars in the sky colliding and creating a whole new galaxy of cool? Is it possible that we could out-rock even ourselves, after the near-5 month run we've put together so far this year? Is it even conceivable?

The answer, friends, is "Yes."

Things are coming. They are big things. They are gigantic, monumental things that will change they way you think about DTR forever. If you are now or have ever been a fan of radness, gnarlitude, sensational-tasticness, hearts, unicorns, babies, rocknroll, or indie...

Well...

...we have some very good news.

--TRx

Being there when they do (Show Review--Smile for Diamonds, TRx, 4/24)

Tyrannosaurus Records, Renton.

4pm or so.

Smile for Diamonds --

Seattle, WA

They came in one at a time, driving separate cars, trying to find parking on a semi-busy day in Downtown Renton. Each introduced himself. Ian arrived last.

There was lots of equipment, stacks of amps and speakers, and the drums—oh, the drums. A harmonica mic…why not? Snippets of conversation overheard during the all-important set-up phase, talk of day-jobs, other shows they’d played recently, the records on the walls. In everything they did and everything they said, a sense of this band as a living thing…or, more like a working thing. These guys worked, this band worked. Music was the job, but not in the sense of something one does for a paycheck—it was a job in the sense of something one does because they know how and no one else will do it as well: less of a job than a duty.

Mike said they were going to bring the rock back to this town. I thought of the early 90’s, all the amazing things coming out of Seattle then. I felt like I understood exactly what he meant. Until they began to play.

“Hunting Humans” began with echoing strings, eight counts, then the percussion—oh, the drums. Ian beat them like he was mad at them. He made faces at them. He mean-mugged his drumkit. It got the idea—I could tell because the drums did exactly what they were told, producing any roll he could imagine, any fill he could fit into a tiny space. The drums didn’t question him.

Pat was hidden behind a wall. His guitar thought it was front-and-center. In the small space, it didn’t matter that he wasn’t always at the mic when he shouted backing vocals. They came through loud and clear. The melodic bridge of “Found Myself” went up and down, up and down, back up—stop!—back down, swirling. All this, and Pat was behind the wall.

Mike bounced the way bass players do, heels never touching the ground. He leaned into Ian’s drums, willing the rhythms to fit. His hands slapping, holding. His bass nodding, understanding. His equipment said “Kiwi”.

Ryan was explaining himself to the amp, turning from the audience and shaking his guitar. He was explaining himself into the microphone. Explaining himself, giving us his reasons. “It’s time to get looouuuud…” After the show, he rolled a cigarette and smoked in the wind and the rain.

The set ended with “No Shame”. There is almost no way to describe this song. I could sit here and talk about what other post-punk songs it vaguely reminds me of or what other songs have a kind of similar guitar riff, but on a visceral level there is no way to describe it. It is an amazing hook + cymbals + raging guitars + deep bass + an outro from hell that seems to last forever. And it was the only way the show could have ended.

They met and coalesced in Colorado, though Mike is from New Zealand. They play songs that have purpose. The play songs with passion and desire. This is a band that works. They play songs because they have to.
..........................................................And there is nothing quite like being there when they do.

roar.

--TRx

***Check out Smile for Diamonds' brand new self-titled EP, available at Tyrannosaurus Records***

YOUR NEW FAVORITE BAND #2

Time for another installment of YNFB!! Remember, shoot me some feedback sometime on what you think of these bands! Come in and take a listen! I'm here to help you...help ME, help YOU!!

;)

Efterklang

Denmark

Hailing from Scandinavia, Efterklang takes its name from the word for "rememberance", which also translates to mean "reverb[eration]". After striking critical success with their first few releases in the vain of minimal electro, all produced with extreme attention-to-detail and leaning toward the experimental, their newest album Magic Chairs, released in late 2009, finds the band as likely to use various forms of percussion to evince emotion as synthesizers and horns. It is a deeper, more mature and anthemic sound that takes vocal cues from Britpop and 80's Soul, even while staying true to their roots in mood-music and the heavily layered sound they have cultivated along with stylistic peers such as Mum and Sigur Ros. The jury is still out among longtime fans inasmuch as this album represents a marked departure from the undeniable beauty of their previous work, Parades, but everyone agrees it is more than worth the listen. Perfect for headphones...

Peter Broderick
Portland, OR / Europe

Splitting his time being both a prolific solo artist and an invaluble touring musician in Efterklang (see above--ha! Synergy!), PDX's Peter Broderick is less a conventional songwriter than he is a composer of intricate melodies. Garnering comparisons from everyone from Max Richter and Leonard Cohen to conteporaries like Guy Garvey (of Elbow fame), no one comparison can really do his sound justice. In Broderick's hands, a gentle finger-picked guitar line becomes a melodic force of nature, gliding through the air to collide with his hushed vocals, and crashes to earth to explode in a cacophony of solemn beauty...or something. Long story short: you need to hear this. Check out his 2nd solo album, Home. Perfect for...pretty much everything.

Cock and Swan

Bothell, WA

Johnny and Ola of Cock and Swan have never described their music to me. I have often thought that it might be interesting to hear them describe just what it is that they try to put on record, if only to find out if they hear the same thing as the rest of us. They fit in well with this group of artists, though, in that the overall mood of the music is similar--but where Efterklang has somewhat moved on from electronica, and Broderick typically only uses it for atmospheric effect, Cock and Swan fully embrace electronic instrumentation. They also marry it with "old-fashioned" instrumentation in a way that gives new meaning to both methodologies. Their newest work, Unrecognize, just out this Spring, showcases them at their most dynamic--with subtle shifts in tempo that give way to grand sea changes in overall mood, along with the most sophisticated lyrics/vocals the pair have done yet. Along with the chillout-style techno more prevalent in their past work, the two have also developed their electronic influences to bring out hints of dub, happy-house, drum'n'bass, and other synthetic delights that only augment their already impressive repertoire. Perfect. Period.

So...which one of these is your new favorite band...? Come see me, let's talk some music!

ROOOAAAARRRR!!!!!

--TRx

YOUR NEW FAVORITE BAND #1

We are long overdue for a forum in which to discuss breaking artists and new local talent. So, here's one. Let me know what you think of these artists! Let's have a dialogue!! With any luck I will be able to write one of these up every 1-2 weeks, and you can continue to be informed on new and/or undiscovered talent, which will lead you to even more new/undiscovered talent (as is often the case with these things), and our dialogue can continue! Excitement!

WEST ON 18 - www.myspace.com/weston18band

Kent, WA

Ah, those young kids and their music. Will there ever be a time when genres like pop-punk and emo are looked on by the critical music demagogues as being layered and varied and having the complexity generally thought to be needed for genre growth? That is up for debate; after all, the question centers around the perception of the music, as opposed to the music itself. It can certainly be said that some bands have unique sounds within the constraints of these "stereo"-types (sorry, bad pun--couldn't resist!), and West on 18 is one such band. Their debut LP, Vented Frustrations, is, in its way, a slight re-working of prototypical pop-punk. While being extremely listenable as the work of a "pop-punk/emo"-style band, the harmonies have more of a depth and the timing is a little different--both speaking to a unique vision of the genre and a forward-thinking attitude about the directions in which it can be manipulated, but the element that truly sets this band apart from its peers is its guitars. Lead guitarist Scott Reed was clearly raised on healthy amounts of Slash and George Thorogood, nods to both of which punctuate nearly every song. The heavy riff-age and blistering solo parts give the songs a visceral immediacy that made the genre so compelling in the first place, when you couldn't swing a Dickies jacket without hitting a Blink 182 fan. Heavily recommended for summer driving--and/or check them out live at a Seattle-area venue!

The Mayfair Set - www.myspace.com/themayfairset

NY, NY/LA, CA

The term super-group gets thrown around a lot, so why not throw it around some more? A combination of NY's Dum Dum Girls and Los Angeles' Blank Dogs, this group uses layers of reverb as an instrument. This has identified them with the prevalent Lo-fi scene, but there is more to it than that. When I say reverb, I don't mean like recorded through a tin-can phone; I mean like recorded through a tin-can phone in a crypt...underwater. OK, that's probably overstating it. But, at some point, the songs must take over, especially when they've been given what is ostensibly an obstacle to overcome--and take over they do. Catchiness shines through every time. How far this band goes will be partly determined by the success of DDG, who have just released their first LP on Sup-Pop (I Will Be). Whether or not The Mayfair Set records anything else, the Young One EP is definitely worth the price of admission. Perfect for sipping wine on a summer evening...you will not be disappointed.

Justin Townes Earl - http://www.myspace.com/justintownesearle

Nashville, TN

Remember when you first heard The Wallflowers? If you were anything like me, your first reaction was, at least somewhat: "Really? Bob Dylan had a biological hand in that (as in, Jakob Dylan)? Hmph." Now picture the complete opposite. JTE is the son of the famed Steve Earle, who is still a mainstay in the Americana/Roots scenes. His style is different, having been filtered through the prism of radio from the mid-eighties on, and imbued with a sense of roughness that can only have come from a deep spiritual kinship with punk-rock. But at the end of the day, it is about his songs, and it is my position that Justin Townes Earle has yet to write a bad song. Check out his newest release, Midnight at the Movies. Perfect for having just had your heart broken, or feeling like you just had your heart broken.

So...how did we do? Might any one of those be your new favorite band? One way to find out...

--TRx

roar.

UnDisCoVerEd: More Details on DTR's biggest indie-culture event EVER

As excited and thrilled and amazed as I am about the upcoming Exene show (4/17--scroll down!) on Record Store Day (link on your right!)...I'd be remiss not to fill you in on the awesomeness that is being planned for UnDisCoVerEd. So, here I go!

Peep this amazing poster, created by our very own graphique artiste extraordinaire (sacre bleu!), Mr. Adam "The Metal Made Me Do It" Jones!! This is a first draft, but the final version will roll out soon, and with any luck it will be EVERYWHERE!

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Music: We are all booked with four amazing local bands!

SEE ME RIVER (www.myspace.com/seemeriver)

Cock and Swan (www.myspace.com/cockandswan)

Young Lions (working on this...!)

Sweet Secrets (www.myspace.com/sweetsecretsband)

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As well as visual entertainment, featuring (but NOT limited to):

Spotlight Dance Company (DTR, http://www.spotlightdance.net/) -- pictured -- and The HALL Breakdancers (Harambee, DTR http://thehallrenton.blogspot.com/) and members of The Cabiri (Seattle, http://www.anunnaki.org/cabiri/page.php?page=fp)

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Had enough awesomeness? But, wait! There is oh, so much more!!

35 INDIE CRAFT BOOTHS and Vendors brought to you by Happy Delusions (DTR, http://happydelusions.wordpress.com/)!! Plus, participation by lots of your favorite DTR businesses, many of which are still in the works (more on that later!)

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And let's not forget the reason we are doing all of this. To benefit the amazing and selfless folks at Childhood Cancer Sucks - The Jakob Ellis Foundation (http://www.facebook.com/pages/CHILDHOOD-CANCER-SUCKS-The-Jakob-Ellis-Foundation/341635036084?ref=ts#!/pages/CHILDHOOD-CANCER-SUCKS-The-Jakob-Ellis-Foundation/341635036084?v=info&ref=ts) . Supporting those impacted and fighting so no one ever has to fear this afflicion.

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Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door -- more info soon on how and where you can purchase!

whew. That's a lot of stuff. I guess you know what your doing on May 15 now, right...?

roar.

--TRx

Ununseptium

What is Ununseptium?

Well, the short answer is, no one really knows. The name itself is just a placeholder, derived from the number 117 (Un=1, un=1, sept=7). It refers to an element on the periodic table, the 117th element to be specific. The scientific community at-large generally accepts the existence of this element, because without it, the rest of the table (i.e. the building blocks of all matter on earth) would need to be fundamentally re-thought. But, and this is a big "but", no one has ever observed it or been able to verify its existence scientifically.

Therefore, it is the undiscovered element. It is a basic component of the planet, and it is undiscovered.

I am in love with this idea. The idea that something so important can be undiscovered. And following the line of logic tells us that something can be "known", but not "seen". Something amazing can be right in front of our faces, and simply unable to be acknowledged.

Indie culture is like this. It is a necessary and vital extension of human art and expression, but without vast networks and hype machines to put it in front of peoples' faces or in their headphones or on their TV's or internet sites, it can be undiscovered even though it is in plain sight.

With this in mind, Tyrannosaurus Records is proud to be a part of something big. We are partnering with Happy Delusions, Harambee, Spotlight Dance Company, The Upper Room and other downtown Renton benefactors to put on UNDISCOVERED: a music show, indie craft fair, mini-festival and all-around good time in DTR, which is itself somewhat undiscovered.

Music: See Me River, Cock and Swan, The Young Lions, more TBD

Crafts: 35 indie crafters and all the DIY awesomeness you can handle in one room

Dance: Spotlight Dance Company, local breakdancers

There will be independence. There will be art.


We hope you will join us on May 15th at Harambee in Renton. When the last note is played and the curtain comes down, a whole heck of a lot of amazing local indie flavor will be just a little bit less undiscovered.

We will see you there...

Roar--
TRx

Record Store Day 2010 (The Details)

The upcoming celebration of national Record Store Day (http://www.recordstoreday.com/) will be on April 17th. It is officially the most wonderful time of the year (sorry, Christmas, you've been outdone). Please check out the website for all the specifics, but the idea of RSD is, simply put: Record stores rock, and they should be recognized for rocking. And what is the best way to reward record stores and their patrons? Why, music, of course!

The annual celebration of RSD always comes with a bevvy of singles and collectible releases that are available only at record stores, most in such a limited quantity that they end up being only available on Record Store Day. But it also brings a parade of indie artists who like to perform at indie record stores to show their appreciation to their fans and the stores that sell their wares.

One artist who will be touring West Coast record stores this year on and around RSD will be the incomparable Exene Cervenka. Fans of the 70's and 80's seminal LA punk band, X, need no introduction to Ms. Cervenka, as she was the frontwoman of the band. Identified with the punk scene during its rise to prominence, the band ended up evolving a unique rockabilly sound. Exene has taken this evolution even further in her recent work, her last release being 2009's Somewhere Gone, a beautiful collection of folk/alt-country/Americana rendered in a way that only she can.

"The reason I am touring independent record stores from San Diego to Seattle this April is that I want to play for free, to people of all ages, at a reasonable hour, in a place we love to be. I'm touring at my own expense, because I don't want the economy to stand between my music and people that might want to hear it. Yes, I hope I sell some aprons and a few cds, but bring your X records, the kids, shop independent, and let's have a party! xo exene"

Ah, we couldn't have said it any better ourselves. ; )

Catch Exene at Tyrannosaurus Records on April 17th at 2pm (along with local favorite Devin Moore, and possibly more local music TBD)

The cat is officially out of the bag.

roar.

TRx

The Top 10 Raddest Things About Buying Records

Wow. This blog post really and truly needs no introduction. I mean, it is pretty obvious from the title what you’re going to find here, right? I will say this, though: it all may seem like a desperate plea for attention (y’know, like “hey, come buy records here, everybody…please?”), but really these are just some of the things I most enjoy about the acts of buying and listening to vinyl, augmented with some help from some of our Facebook Fans (as noted). Seriously, these are things that you may have forgotten about, or things that you’ve potentially never experienced if you’ve never bought a piece of new vinyl. Not to say that it all applies to vinyl exclusively—some of these things can easily go for CD’s as well, especially some of the more significant items in the countdown.

That’s kind of a long introduction for something that supposedly “needed no introduction”, isn’t it? What do you say we get to it…?


The TRx Top 10 Things About Buying Records

10. The Music :::::::::: I know, I know. The music should be Number One. Obviously, it is the most important thing about the entire act of buying and playing vinyl. But it only barely squeaks into my Top Ten things about buying vinyl. Weird how sometimes the most important things about activities we enjoy aren’t always the things we enjoy the most…

9. Carrying Vinyl Out of the Store :::::::::: Ironically, my best anecdote to relate here is one I experienced after NOT buying vinyl—allow me to explain: So one time, I am making my way out of the Capitol Hill Sonic Boom store (which has since moved). I had happened to find some good used CD’s that day, but hadn’t really looked at new stuff, CD or vinyl. I go sauntering out with my little bag of a few CD’s, and I pass a lady having a cigarette on the corner. She eyes my bag, eyes me, eyes my bag, eyes me; then she says something amazing, something heroic. She says, “Oh well, maybe next time you can buy a couple records.” Now, mind you, my devotion to vinyl is and has always been beyond reproach, but she didn’t know that. She just saw a relatively young person buying music on CD as opposed to vinyl, and she felt the need to speak up. This leads to a lot of other questions really (most interestingly, was this a person who regularly spent time belittling random people on the basis of their music choices?), but they are immaterial. The thing to take away is: it is always unquestionably and undeniably cooler to walk out of a music store with vinyl in your hand.

8. The Cover Art (Thanks to Carl McKenzie for this one, and also Johnny Goss) :::::::::: It is such a cliché that I can’t possibly resist saying it here: Size matters. It’s not rocket science—you get 12 inches worth of artwork and eye-candy and awesome inserts and a big, significant hunk of physical property when you buy a record (obviously, 7-inches have their own particular mystique not addressed here). Not so much with a CD. And I say this, but I do concede that CD art and packaging has come a long way in the past 5 years or so…but you know what? The aesthetic strides that CD’s have made have come from ideas propagated by vinyl packaging (soft covers, paper booklets, photo inserts, gimmicky fastening mechanisms, etc.). However, if space and storage are major concerns for you, then CD’s are probably the way to go. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

7. The Smells (Thanks to Patrick and to JYH for this one!) :::::::::: Ah, the smells. Whether it is the clean, vaguely chemical smell of vinyl that has never been played, or the subtle waft of musty, lived-in air that breezes up while you’re flipping through a rack of old records. The smells are great. Probably an acquired taste, but one you may very well find yourself extremely satisfied to have acquired, when all is said and done.

6. The Act of Playing Vinyl (Again, JYH gets props for this one, along with Chris Anderson) :::::::::: I am not talking about the sound here (that comes a little later in the countdown), but the act of taking a record out of its sleeve, situating it onto a turntable, powering on, and dropping the needle into the groove. I am talking about the subtle pop when the needle makes contact, the surface noise that tells you that you are in for something special, and the first noise you hear through the speakers. It is powerful. And it is scientifically proven (at least, I read somewhere that it was) that this added investment in the physical act of playing the music leads to a greater appreciation of the music itself. So win-win. Oh, man…I could go on and on about this…MUST…CHANGE…TOPIC…

5. Elton John :::::::::: I don’t care what your feelings are on The One and Only Rocketman. Whether you love him or hate him or are indifferent, his body of work sounds amazing on vinyl. Especially the older stuff (I am especially a fan of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Madman Across the Water, and Honkey Chateau), but they are all amazing. He, and his epic body of work, has singlehandedly made the act of buying vinyl better. For me, at least.

4. Finding Amazing Stuff :::::::::: One time, while scouring through the bins in a record store in North Carolina that mainly focused on goth and noise-rock, I found an original pressing (read: Aura Records’ disputed and possibly stolen version) of Nico’s Drama of Exile, AND a vintage Bowie Italian import that included the widely berated and unexplainably successful song “The Laughing Gnome”. I think I paid something like $8.00 for both titles combined. The point is this: You don’t always find good stuff in record bins, but every once in a while, you find amazing stuff. So few retail arenas carry that same air of mystery and possibility.

3. Digital Downloads :::::::::: What?! Did he just…?! Are you serious?!!! Yes, I did. And yes, I very much am. Peep this: one of the major drawbacks of vinyl is that you can’t listen to it while walking, or while driving, or while riding your lowrider bicycle, right? If this was a debate, and you made that argument, I would gladly give you a point—and maybe even a high-five. But then I would rock your world by saying the following: “What if there was a way in which you could buy the vinyl, and then also receive all the music in a digital download at no extra cost? If someone came up with a way to somehow give consumers the physical awesomeness of vinyl, but paired it with the ability to have the music as a digital download that could go anywhere, well then…I guess vinyl would pretty much be unstoppable now, wouldn’t it?” Now you would probably give me a high-five, but I wouldn’t be done. “But they have!!” I would exclaim. “They have! Easily 95% of new vinyl now comes with a digital download of the album for you to have on-the-go!! Anywhere! You can truly have your cake…and you can eat it, too. Viva Vinyl!!!” At this point, I can only imagine we would hug each other intensely, cry, and take a blood oath to always be awesome to one another. Wouldn’t we?

2. Analog Sound :::::::::: …and I’m going to temper my raving about digital convenience by sounding the rallying cry of any self-respecting audiophile. Simply put, the analog sound wave pressed into each vinyl groove is the truest known form of sound replication. Granted, digital sound is a more exact copy (and can be quite fantastic), but it is just that: a copy. Analog sound is the sound, as rendered through the recording equipment and pressed into wax. I have listened to and read a lot of debate on this issue, and at the end of the day, it is really a matter of personal preference. I happen to unequivocally prefer the warmth and depth of sound in vinyl, and I have yet to listen to the CD that makes me think otherwise, strictly in terms of sound quality. It is an opinion, and I am OK with it.

1. Connecting :::::::::: Like any purchase worth making, a purchase at a record store invests you in the community that created it. It is probably one of the easiest and least painful ways to make the jump from being someone who enjoys and appreciates a community’s output, to being someone who participates in that output and, by extension, helps the community thrive. Of course, the same can be said of any manner of local business, but I have always found that record stores have a certain place in the communities they inhabit, and the set of roots they grow is distinct from most other types of businesses. Consider that if you buy a record at an independent record store and you really love it, each time you re-create that experience of loving that album for yourself, you will also remember the place and the circumstances under which you came upon that particular piece of music. You may find, as I have many times through the years, that a piece of music connects you to a day, a season, or a feeling you had sometime in your life that you haven’t had since—and the place (the store, and the community) that facilitated it is sure to have a special place in your heart.

Connecting—isn’t that the point of all music in the first place?

The hiatus is over! Welcome back—

roar.

Hiatuses...hiatusi...hiateese...?

What is the plural of the word "hiatus"? (Wiktionary, here I come.)

Just wanted to say that the blog is not dead, and if you are or have ever been a regular reader, please don't stop checking in.

There is just too much going on right now for me to give ROOOOAAAARRRR!!! the attention it deserves. And, believe it or not, these posts do take a little work.

Fear not, regular posts will resume soon--hopefully next week-ish. I just have to get some fresh ideas, and clear my head a little.

Sorry, I know it sucks. But, remember, the reason I am taking this small break is so that the blog itself doesn't end up sucking; see how that works? I knew you'd understand.

Soon, soon, soon!

Take care, stay fresh--

TRx

Profile: AVIATION RECORDS

Let's just say that if you were to Google "Aviation Records", you wouldn't even make it to the second page of results before being invited to visit the website for the National Aeronautics Association or browse through a Wiki entry for the history of man-induced flight in the modern era. (Full disclosure: A Google for "Tyrannosaurus Records" has us interspersed with results having to do with that other Tyrannosaurus Records, and it is not long before you get to slobbering Marc Bolan fan-sites--that's just how it is for us little guys.)

But we're not talking aeronautics, feats of supersonic flight, or albums you listen to while on a plane. As usual, we are talking about severely under-appreciated musical awesomeness. Once again, we are talking about musicians in the Pacific Northwest making beautiful sounds in our own backyard. Aviation Records (www.myspace.com/aviationrecords) has built a solid reputation in the area with releases that are by turns frantic, haunting, complex, cheery, and left-of-center. Including, but certainly not limited to, the following...

S : Sadstyle (10 Year Anniversary Re-issue) -- S is the recording moniker for Jenn Ghetto, also known as a member of Carissa's Weird and other projects. The re-issue of Sadstyle represents the ultimate version of an album that is surely an undisputed classic to anyone who owned it when it was originally released. It relates to the singer's other work in a similar way to how Elliott Smith's solo work related to his earlier recordings with Heatmiser: stripped-down, confessional, emotional, honest. Around '99 was when I first heard the term slow-core as a way to describe deceptively layered, largely downtempo music in this vein; for all I know, it was coined to describe this album itself. It is breathtaking. Standout track: "sure, i'd love one" - a previously unreleased gem that accomplishes a huge amount of music in just under 4 minutes.

The Spinning Wheels : The Great Outdoors -- The Spinning Wheels encompass a stunningly unique sound that washes drum- and bass-heavy rhythms in buckets of high-energy keyboard riffs and shiny, harmonic vocals. Hailing from Portland, this band evokes the sounds of Built to Spill and The Anniversary, but never ceases to make a sound that could only belong to them. A truly exciting band. Standout track: "Allergy Season" - tightly-wound and jammy, but all within the confines of a verse-chorus pop structure.

See Me River : The Great Unwashed / Time Machine / Self-Titled -- If you are not familiar yet, get nice and cozy with the work of SMR. A singular Seattle band in terms of overall scope, songwriting, and stylistic reverence, this band can do anything it wants to. They can tell a story that breaks our heart ("Ed Jackson"), they can call to mind the Talking Heads ("Far Above My Head"), they can tell the future ("2021"). This is a seriously amazing band for serious music-lovers. Standout track: Yes. Literally, all of them.

Again, this is only a sample of what is available from this local indie label. There is plenty that I just don't have the time to get into right now, but I wish I could. In a later post, perhaps. The point is: check it out! Find! Listen! Love! Share! Legally.

As ever and for always,

your resident dinosaur. roar.

--TRx

...did I mention you can get all these and more at TRx? Kind of makes the finding part easy, huh? ; )

Many many 'Thank You's

Just a quick one to say how much we appreciated the performers we had this weekend: Zacharias Flynn and The Juke Bones (whoa! could the two acts together be an amazing idea for a Renton supergroup? Just sayin'...). Both turned in awesome performances, and again contributed to our so-far-unblemished record for great live music in DTR! The next two weeks see Devin Moore and Post Harbor grace our stage--get ready!

Also, just as importantly, a massive thank you to everyone who showed up to support the live music! You are the reason we are hell-bent on doing this, and you came out just like I knew you would.

Here's looking forward to even more great things to come!

--TRx

"So, I was on Facebook the other day..."

Don't you hate it a little bit when a sentence starts out with a reference to Facebook, or some other social-networking vehicle? Not that they're all bad or anything. It's more the idea of a substitute for conversation forcing its way into an actual conversation. Maybe I am weird.

And yes, I see the irony in my writing this on a blog.

So, I was on Facebook the other day, and I said something about February being the most eclectic month for live music in our short--but awesome!--history. I kind of thought I was just saying that. You know, trying to tantalize people into really looking at the concert calendar. But the more I think about it, I was totally right about that. (It's not often I get to say that, so I am going to relish it.) I mean, check this out:

Feb. 5 - Zacharias Flynn - Zach plays virtually every instrument known to man. For this show, he will be performing a completely improvised instrumental set with several instruments to achieve what I can only hope will be a reasonable facsimile of (or companion piece to) his fantastic, self-made album, Irresolute Insight. It doesn't get anymore abstract than this, but all that considered, I think you'll be surprised at his amazing sense for melody and song structure.

Feb. 6 - The Juke Bones - Like Zach, this act hails from Renton. And that is pretty much where the similarities end. The Juke Bones are one drumkit, one guitar, lots of volume, and buckets of attitude. The members are veterans of plenty of other bands and artistic projects, not the least of which include the band Sugar Farm and the short film series The Finger of God. The music is a wall of Blues infused with a heavy dose of punk rock. Guaranteed that attendance at this show will give you at least one good story that you can tell people who weren't here.

Feb. 13 - Devin Moore - From the shadow of Maple Valley, by way of the wide expanses of Eastern WA, comes the uniquely clever and delicate voice of Devin Moore. An accomplished guitarist and songwriter, Devin has been playing and performing since before she knew she had a choice, and it suits her just fine. She makes tiny inner monologues into larger-than-life love songs, and she is destined for big things. We are just happy to have found her while she was still playing for free.

Feb. 21 - Post Harbor - Do you like post-rock? This band does it like no other. Less riff-y than Kinski, more accessible than Mogwai, "rock"-ier than Explosions in the Sky, this Seattle band is a very well-kept secret. I don't think that will last. On Feb. 10, they drop their new album They can't hurt you if you don't believe in them. It is a piece of music that gets more engaging and addictive with each listen. They will bring their epic songs into our humble abode, and you should really consider being here when they do.

Long story short: we really do have something for everyone this month, and I couldn't be more excited about it.

I hope some of you are, too.

roar,
--TRx

One good blog deserves another...

OK, short post. Just had to urge anyone who reads this with any regularity and likes reading about music to check out another blog on blogspot:

http://www.loveseatchase.blogspot.com/

Follow our hero, a local Seattle musician, as he guides us step-by-step and song-by-song through the making of an album he is recording with the aid of a home studio, a natural ability for songwriting, and loads of talent. If you are intrigued, you are right to be! The blog is still pretty new, so it is a great time to start from the beginning and keep up on his progress. I, for one, will be stoked to see how it all shakes out...

More soon...

--TRx

An Open Letter to DTR

Dear DTR,

I have been talking a lot about you lately. I thought you might like to know what people are saying, if for no other reason than to know you are not being taken for granted.

Where else is there the sense of community that exists here? I would wager almost nowhere else in the Seattle area. There is a sense of togetherness that is palpable and readily felt by anyone who comes to hang out. Everyone is saying that you are not intimidating or snobby like Downtown Seattle (no disrespect meant to our big sister), and not as bland as downtown areas in other outlying areas. People I have been talking to all weekend have been saying how much you have to offer, and they are happy they are getting in on it while you are still relatively unknown. You are truly becoming known as the place to go for things that are fun, unique, and inspired by community.

Just look at all your great stuff: great antique stores, great restaurants and nightlife, great indie stores for quirky and cool stuff, great coffee, great cupcakes (I personally prefer CG's cupcakes to anything at similar specialty stores and bakeries in Seattle--though those places are not without their own charms), awesome body art, bicycle wares, an amazing professional-quality dance studio (*wink*), music venues, a record store (*wink* again), a book store coming in the Spring, and so much more!

All this, and you are still coming up with new ways to surprise the people who are finding you for the first time, and the people who have known you for years. Some people have called you the "new" Belltown, or the "new" West Seattle, but I prefer to think of you as the "original" DTR. And I am starting to get the sense that you've been planning this all along. ; )

Thanks for everything you have done, and everything you are.

Your friend,

TRx