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