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

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

"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

Has it really been a week?

So I made a deal with myself when I started this whole "blog"-thing that I would try to post something new at least once a week. Holidays or no, I am here to do just that. But this one will have to be rather on the short side, as the end of the year is typically more filled with family time than new indie music.

I'm looking forward to January, as we begin our first full year in operation. Things should start off nicely with no less than 3 performances already booked for the first month of the year (Laura Jorgensen on January 8th at 8pm - www.myspace.com/laurajorgensen - Young Lions on January 9th at ??pm [still working on nailing down a time for this one, and a website...] - Cock and Swan on January 23rd at 5pm - www.myspace.com/cockandswan -). All of them should be stellar, and many more equally exciting opportunities to catch some live music in DTR should be forthcoming in February.

I've been listening to a lot of Zacharias Flynn's new CD (available here, of course) Irresolute Insight. You can check it out here: www.myspace.com/drzacharias. And I am even more excited that he is a Renton local. He clearly has his head in the clouds, judging by the daydreamy and somewhat random quality of this music--but for a musician, that is not always a bad thing...

Another new thing I have been digging is ProGrammar's latest, Somaphone 4: Heartbreak, which reimagines old pop songs (themed around heartbreak, naturally) with the only instrument being the human voice (specifically, one human voice: that of ProGrammar himself). He is online at www.programmar.net, and the CD is available for your listening pleasure at TRx. Check out the cover of Chicago's "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," or The Moody Blues' "Your Wildest Dreams", and then remind yourself that all those sounds are made by one guy singing and beatboxing. Now try not to be amazed. I dare you. ; )

So now I am closing up shop. Getting ready to start thinking about my New Years' Resolutions. Upcoming blog-post perhaps?

(yeah, that's called foreshadowing...)

--TRx

Paco Jones LIVE at TRx!!

Our many thanks to Paco, and his wonderful family, for saving us from the winter doldrums for at least a little while last Saturday! His amazingly heartfelt setlist included tracks from his new EP, "The Narrow Path" (exclusively available at Tyrannosaurus Records), a cover of Muddy Waters' "Catfish Blues", and a showstopping instrumental number that made the hair on my arms stand up.

Well played, sir. Well played, indeed.

This in-store performance was criminally under-attended. I have to assume that all of you were busy with holiday shopping or relatives or somehow otherwise entangled.

How can you make it up to me? Easy--by making plans to catch at least one of at least three shows that will be happening in January, and by putting this blog on 'Favorites' list so you don't miss anymore shows. That's reasonable, right? You can make it up to Paco by coming out to support him when he plays TRx again in 2010. Let's face it: you owe him that much.

Until next time, keep your feet tapping and your volume knobs on '11'...

--TRx