SWL# 23: Katie and the Lichen, "Don't Shave"

I think Calvin Johnson (of Beat Happening, K Records) said it best when he quoted himself:  “According to me ‘Katie & the Lichen are the fun boss rad feminist pop super-car vibe queens of cave-rock.” Earlier this month the Vancouver-based 5-piece officially released their 3^rd full-length, Yours Truly, on cassette through our very own Lost Sound Tapes and it… is… phenomenal. Ultimately, the real strength of Yours Truly, and in fact the whole K&TL catalog, is that is it so damn accessible—both sonically and lyrically. That’s no small feat given that Katie doesn’t write mindless pop lyrics. Her approach to musicianship: grassroots, feminist, pro independent music, pro all-ages is readily apparent here, but the delivery is so unassuming, so sincere, and so sweet that it’s anything but alienating. On my favorite song of the record, “Don’t Shave”, she sings:

my jagged tooth and a kissing booth
I left my heart for the wolves to chew
they will feed on anything you got
while you live on all the scraps they don't want
and these ugly streets seem to have it all
dig my grave and have a ball
get me out of this so called dream
get me away from the beauty queens

That’s when I knew there was something wrong
when they told me I was doing something wrong

When paired with ukes, a light touch of distortion and tremendous percussion work this song is not only lyrically evocative, but also warm and extremely listenable. It's also highly recommended.

*Updated 5/26* Upcoming Seattle Shows

Hey all. Brutal time digging up non-festival options for this week; Folklife and Sasquatch! are so expansive that most of the venues look like dead zones. Nevertheless, two really sweet Folklife showcases to consider are the Hollow Earth and K records shows--I'm excited to say this is one of two times you can see the incomparable Briana Marela this week, with the other being at Another Dream with CTPAK's Bardo:Basho on Wednesday. On Monday, LA's Inc. are touring through the Crocodile in support of their debut full-length, No World. Thursday has the most options with Patterson Hood of Drive-by Truckers coming to the Triple Door with father and bassist David Hood, Eternal Summers and Vibragun at the Sunset, and Brooklyn by-way-of Seattle beat-smith Budo returning to the Crocodile. The Tractor will be hosting both Heatwarmer  and Pollens on Friday...if you like progressive pop music you need to listen to these two bands! Finally, I'm happy to say that Saturday at Neumos you get another chance to hear the new Golden Gardens material before Narcissus is officially released on the 11th. Oh yeah, I added the Surfer Blood dates at Neumos Neptune to the calendar, but you can also see them, sans service fee, this Saturday afternoon at Sonic Boom Records in Ballard for free. Have an awesome week!

May

26 Hollow Earth Radio Takes Over Folklife: Eric Ostrowski, Sokai Stilhead, Autococoon, Scorpio Scorpio Scorpio at Vera Project

27 NW Folklife: K Records Showcase – The Shivas, Kendl Winter, Briana Marela, Eric Williger (2pm) at Vera Project 
28 Baby Ghosts, Brick Mower, Steel Tigers of Death at Victory Lounge

29 Inc. with Kelela, Dj Total Freedom at The Crocodile

29 Julie Byrne, Briana Marela, Bardo:Basho, Lexi Lee and Waxing Hearts at Another Dream

30 Patterson and David Hood, Jeff Fielder and Friends at Triple Door

30 Eternal Summers, Vibragun, and Trash Fire at the Sunset

30 Budo and Orbe Orbe at the Crocodile Back Bar

30 Vapor Trails, Health Problems and Peeping Tomboys at The Blue Moon
30 Psychic Rites, Black Ceiling, Hauhet and DJ Hojo, and Korma at Electric Tea Garden

31 Tom Eddy, Heatwarmer and Pollens at the Tractor

31 La Luz, The Trashies, Nuclear Animals, and Peace at Black Lodge
31 Foals, Surfer Blood, and Blondfire at Neptune

June 2013

1 (2 pm) Surfer Blood in-store at Sonic Boom--Free

1 Foals, Surfer Blood, Blondfire at Neptune

1 The Redwood Plan, Ever-So-Android, Golden Gardens at Neumos

5 oOoOO, Groundislava at El Corozon

5 Chastity Belt, Needlecraft, Telenovella, Bandolier at Heartland

6 They Might Be Giants at Showbox at SODO

6 Hausu, The Numbs and FF at Black Lodge

6 Broken Water, Haunted Horses and Jetman Jet Team at the Comet

6 Neighbors, Blooper, Zebra Hunt, Plant Parenthood at Heartland

7 Gaytheist record release with Monogamy Party, Android Hero, and Glose at Black Lodge
7 Alkaline Trio at Showbox at the Market

7 Malaikat dan Singa, MTNS, Geist and the Sacred Ensemble, DJ Urine at Heartland

7 Mikal Cronin, Shannon and the Clams, and Dude York at Tractor

7 Werebearcat!, Crystal Beth, Moose Portrait and The Tasty Crackers at Josephine

7 Blank Realm, Monopoly Child Star Searchers and Dream Salon at Cairo Seattle

8 Gems, Soft Hills and Snowdrift at Josephine

8 Small Black with Heavenly Beat at Barboza

8 Jason Anderson, Mega Bog, iji, Lexi Lee at Heartland

8 Gems, The Soft Hills, Snowdrift and Warm Static at the Josephine

9 Ceremony(CA) at the Black Lodge

12 Condominium, White Wards, Dreamdecay and Vex at Black Lodge

12 Eleanor Friedberger, the Bats and Teen at Neumos

13 Parquet Courts with Naomi Punk at Neumos

12 Generationals and Young Empires at Tractor

14 Nekromantix at El Corozon

14 Mount Kimbie, Holy Other and Vinyl Williams at Neumos

16 Golden Gardens, Space Waves, Jetman Jet Team at Chop Suey

16 Dreamsalon, Fuzzy Cloaks, Chest Cavity/ BBQ Party at Leather Lounge

16 Golden Gardens, Jetman Jet Team, and Space Waves at Chop Suey

17 Pony Time, Burnt Ones, Stickers, Detective Agency at Chop Suey

19 The Intelligence with La Luz and Pony Time at Neumos

21 The Dandy Warhols at Showbox at the Market

22 Camera Obscura at Showbox at the Market 

22 Bellamaine, Poor Moon and Pure Bathing Culture at Neumos

28 Golden Gardens, Jenn Kelly and Levator at Josephine

July 

1 Hibou and Import|Export at Hard Rock Cafe
4 Airport, YOURYOUNGBODY, Leatherdaddy at Comet

7 Bob Log III at the Crocodile

11/12 Rancid at Showbox SoDo

12 Future Bible Heroes (Minus Stephin Merritt?) at Tractor

13 Sub Pop’s Silver Jubilee, Georgetown Neighborhood. Free!

14 Tuxedo Gleam, Jollapin Jasper, Love Cop, and More at Electric Tea Garden

14 Thunderbird Atlanta, Children of Kids, Wes Sp8, and Werebearcats at Hi-Dive

17 The Postal Service at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, OR

17 Portugal. The Man. Showbox at the Market

18 The Postal Service at Key Arena

19 Peter Murphy performing only Bauhaus material with Ours at Showbox at the Market

30 Feral Fauna, Children of Kids and Karmedic at Nectar Lounge

26-28 Capitol Hill Block Party

August

2 Foxygen at Neumos

5 Kurt Vile and the Violators at Showbox at the Market

16 Smith Westerns at Crocodile

16/17 Melvins at Neumos

September

4 Austra with Diana at Neumos

5 Godspeed You Black Emperor at Showbox SoDo

5 The Psychedelic Furs at Showbox at the Market

7 Ty Segall with Mike Donovan at Black Lodge

November

20 James Blake at Showbox at the Market

SWL #22: Thunder Grey Pilgrim Folk Assembly, “Der Auftrad und Verlust”

Watching Thunder Grey Pilgrim’s Mitchel Bell perform is a cathartic and eerie experience; bent over his guitar with his trademark weathered felt hat and long beard, he hammers away endlessly summoning measure after measure of his powerful dirge like a man possessed. You’d be forgiven for wondering whether the fruits of such a performance can hold their weight given the cold light of day, which can reduce the most beautiful droning doom aesthetic to near cartoon status, but Bell’s catalogue is surprising captivating all on its own as well (also see his 2009 release for Debacle, Demogorgon). His latest release, “Der Auftrad und Verlust”, finds him expanding the Thunder Grey Pilgrim moniker into a "folk assembly" that includes two other musicians: Meagan Angus on violin and Jeff King on cello.  The track, which is nearly 24 minutes in length, is a live recording from the Debacle Fest Preview Night that happened on the 24 of last month (April) at Hollow Earth Radio. I've listened to it more than a half dozen times in the past week and I have yet to come up with an explanation as to why it's so comforting, but I assure it's worth your time to listen for yourself. 

42nd Annual Northwest Folklife Festival

Taking place at the Seattle Center over the long Memorial Day weekend is the 42nd Annual Northwest Folklife Festival, that annual FREE Seattle music festival that draws young and old. It is the largest community music festival in the nation! From 11am to 10pm Friday thru Sunday, and 11am to 9pm on Monday, you can enjoy hundreds of bands and dance groups, on 20+ stages, and music and entertainment spanning a huge variety of music and culture, there is something for everyone (seriously...music and dance from Hawaii, Korea, Peru, Indonesia, Croatia, Ireland, England, Scandinavia, India, Lebanon, etc. are represented). They say it attracts on average about 235,000 people annually.

It's FREE, yes, but something as wonderful and massive as Folklife does cost money to put on, which is why you should donate what you can. Their suggested donation is $10/person/day. I think that's pretty darn fair, given the amount of entertainment offered.

For tips on attending Folklife and some in-depth reviews of some of the artists to look forward to, go to Hearth Music's 2013 Guide to Folklife. Here's a likely list of what I would try to check out (although there is so much going on, you really can only get to a fraction of the action).

Friday

• Luc and the Lovingtons (at the Groove Train Showcase), 6:30pm at the Mural Amphitheater. If you're a fan of that Jason Mraz song, "Freedom Song" (it's the first song off his latest album), it is actually a cover of this Seattle band's song.
• The Bollywood Show, 7-8:30pm at the International Dance Stage in the Exhibition Hall
• Louisiana/Cajun dance lessons (at Cajun Roadhouse Showcase), 8-10pm at Fisher Pavilion/Warren's Roadhouse

Saturday

• Team Up For Nonprofits Showcase, 1-4pm at the Fountain Lawn Stage. In conjunction with Artist Home (the movers and shakers behind Doe Bay Fest and the new Timber! Outdoor Music Festival), see an excellent lineup of Shelby Earl, Song Sparrow Research, Bradford Loomis (who performed at Bushwick Book Club back in January and was fantastic!), and St. Paul de Vence. 
• Bushwick Book Club - Music inspired by The Wizard of Oz!, 1:30-3:30 at the Folklife Cafe
• Impossible Bird (see me there helping Nick and Tyler sell merch!), 3-3:30pm at the Fisher Green Stage

Sunday

• Folk, Redefined Showcase, 12:45-3:30 at the Mural Amphitheater. Featuring The Local Strangers, Grand Hallway, and The Washover Fans.
• 206Zulu Jam, Junior Breakdance Competition and Hip Hop Showcase, 3-6pm at Vera Project
• The Side Project, 5:40-6:10 at the Folklife Cafe
• Vamos! A Latin Dance Party, 6:45-10pm at the Mural Amphitheater

Monday

• Wide Open Spaces Showcase, with Pepper Proud and Br'er Rabbit, 1-3:30pm at the Fisher Green Stage
• K Records Showcase, with Briana Marela, 2-5pm at the Vera Project

Artist Interview: Shenandoah Davis

Shenandoah Davis plays piano and sings duet with Mirah
Fremont Abbey's Cathedrals 5, April 20, 2013

Shenandoah Davis is an incredibly talented musician whose sweet yet strong voice and piano acumen I first became enamored with after seeing her last month at the Fremont Abbey’s Cathedrals 5 show. After sitting transfixed in St. Mark’s Cathedral through her flawless performance I knew I had to hear more, so I picked up her 2011 release, The Company We Keep, on the way out and our Songs We Love post for "Proof" came quickly after that.

 

If you’ve been paying close attention to Seattle’s mu sic scene there’s little doubt you’ve already heard some project that Shenandoah has touched. The classically-trained opera singer turned singer/songwriter has released two full-length albums (We; Camera being her first in 2008, followed by 2011's The Company We Keep) and a 7" on OffTempo. She’s also played with acts like Grand Hallway, the Portland Cello Project, the Seattle Rock Orchestra, and most recently with her husband, Sean Nelson.

Shenandoah was kind enough to chat with us about performing and writing a new album (which we are very excited about!). 

NGD: St. Mark's is such a different space to play in, and it was pin-drop quiet in there—definitely not the typical bar atmosphere. How did you feel about that show going in?

SD: I always seek out quieter alternative venues to bars...I understand that for some genres of music, people talking and making a ruckus as people often do in bars (myself included) is not a big deal, but if you're playing quiet music in a bar atmosphere, sometimes the noise from the room is so loud that you can't even hear yourself through the monitors.  I don't particularly enjoying playing music in front of rooms of people who aren't paying attention.  St. Marks is such a beautiful room, and the sold-out crowd was almost eerily respectful and attentive.  I wish that musicians could expect that kind of audience at every show, but sadly it's pretty rare.  Mirah has a bit of a reputation for demanding silence from the audience, in addition to being a beautiful and dynamic performer, which I really respect about her, but in most bar situations, to me it's not worth the effort of trying to make a room full of people be quiet and pay attention to you for forty-five minutes...and it often rubs people the wrong way.

Watch the video for "Oh Way Oh" from Shenandoah's last album, 'The Company We Keep'

NGD: In the past you’ve collaborated and/or performed with several other musicians/bands including Grand Hallway, Kaylee Cole, and most recently your husband, Sean Nelson. Do you seek out partners to work with or are your collaborations more often happenstance?

SD: They've mostly been happenstance.  Sean and I met through music, so it only makes sense for us to merge our musical projects the same way we've merged every other aspect of our lives.  I began playing with Grand Hallway after two of the members saw me playing accordion with a country-rock band and had just finished recording an album with a few accordion songs on it, so I came on to help fill out their live sound with the release of their second full-length record.  Kaylee Cole and I met backstage at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle right after we had both had pretty terrible break-ups and we both just wanted to get out of town for awhile, so we went on our first tour.  Right now I have Seth Warren (The Maldives, Sons of Warren Oates, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground) playing with me at live shows from time to time, and that's been really enjoyable.

NGD: I read you’re working on a follow-up to 2011’s The Company We Keep. How is the writing process going? Has your approach to writing a record changed over time? 

SD: I'm not in much of a rush to finish writing this new record.  It's about half-way done right now.  When I began recording 'The Company We Keep', I only had about two songs completely finished and everything else we recorded was missing a bridge or an intro or lyrics or just wasn't really a song.  It took a long time for the songs to form, and they were often formed by the engineer splicing together a lot of separate takes and constantly editing and re-organizing data files into different soundscapes.  I'm really content with the finished product we got, but this time around I'm going to make a less orchestrally lush record with the songwriting, and lyrics especially, at the forefront.  And I want every song on it to be really good, so I'm taking my sweet time.

NGD: Any shows to look forward to in the greater Pacific NW region? Have you considered festivals?

SD: I'm playing with Laura Marling tonight, which I'm really excited about [event occurred May 15th...] I'm going to New York and Colorado for most of the summer, but will be back in August to play at Summer Meltdown Festival in Darrington and am organizing an all-women-songwriter's show which will be held on August 2nd.  I don't particularly enjoy playing my own music at festivals (although I am playing piano with Sean at Sasquatch next weekend, in the rhythm section alongside awesome Seattle band Jenny Invert) because of my preference for a listening environment.  It's pretty much impossible to pay attention to music at a music festival, which is ironic, but it's too overstimulating for anyone to really grasp onto any band for too long.  Everyone has their schedules out and is trying to figure out how they can see eight minutes of every band's set.  I'm not really into treating my performances like big theatrical productions, or feeling like I have to scream on stage or jump around or play really loud just to get the attention of the audience...I just prefer to have their attention already.  That way I can concentrate on just playing my songs.


 
If you have one of the coveted, sold-out tickets you can catch her playing piano in support of Sean Nelson at Sasquatch! this Memorial Day Weekend. Or, you can wait and catch her at the Summer Meltdown Festival in Darrington (August 9-11).

*Updated 5/19* Upcoming Seattle Shows

I keep wanting to see Flying Lotus, but as usual, the STG group's prices are all but prohibitive for regular concertgoers. Lucky then that there are plenty of other options this week. Spastic indie punkers Mitts are playing the Leather Lounge tomorrow night with NGD favorite Swamp Meat, LA's Pangea are back in town the following night with lovable palindromic stoner band TacocaT, Week of Wonders are going to be rocking the Sunset on Wednesday with Charms, and Health Problems are going to make a whole lotta noise at Cafe Fusion with Audrey Horne, Toronto's GREYS, and Ottawa's Shahman. Anacortes, WA mainstay Karl Blau is making two appearances this week: one at the Crocodile Back Bar and the other at Heartland in support of Aaron Otheim (Thousands, Heatwarmer, Grand Hallway and many more), who lost a ton of gear when his car was recently stolen. Barboza is hosting local favorite Vox Mod on the 19th (tonight), as well as Long Beaches' Avi Buffalo next Saturday, and finally, minimalist synth legend Im Namen Des Volkes will be gracing the Medical Records Rx night at the Electric Tea Garden on Monday. Have a great week!

May

19 Cannibal Corpse and Napalm Death at El Corazon

19 Vox Mod with Kairos (ft. members of Pollens and Totem) and Cabana at Barboza

19 Mitts, Swamp Meat, Joey Molinaro and Slashed Tires at Leather Lounge

20 Medical Records Rx with IM NAMEN DES VOLKES, SH6RL6S6 and guests at Electric Tea Garden

20 Detroit Cobras, Pangea and TacocaT at Chop Suey

20 Im Namen Des Volkes (Matthias Schuster), YOURYOUNGBODY and SH6RL6S6 at Electric Tea Garden

21 Karl Blau with Baby Copperhead and the Weblos at the Crocodile Back Bar

22 Week of Wonders, Hats off, and Charms at The Sunset
22 Foreign Orange, The Confetti Kids, Vibe Warrior, Levels at The Comet

22 Flying Lotus with Thundercat at Showbox SODO

23 (Portland) Haim at Keller Auditorium
24 Dragging an Ox Through Water, Huge Rock (Numbs and Secret Colors, Marcus Price and Pill Wonder at Cairo Seattle

25 Aaron Otheim Gear Benefit with Karl Blau, Grand Hallway, Honey Noble at Thousands at Heartland

25 Health Problems, GREYS, Shahman, AudreyHorne at Fusion Cafe

25 Eagle Teeth, Eric Ryan, Richie Dagger’s Crime and Johnny Balderama at Tubbs Wiskey Bar

25 Avi Buffalo at Barboza 

29 Inc. with Kelela, Dj Total Freedom at The Crocodile

30 Eternal Summers, Chastity Belt, and Trash Fire at the Sunset

30 Budo and Orbe Orbe at the Crocodile Back Bar

31 Tom Eddy, Heatwarmer and Pollens at the Tractor

31 La Luz, The Trashies, Nuclear Animals, and Peace at Black Lodge

June 2013

1 The Redwood Plan, Ever-So-Android, Golden Gardens at Neumos

5 oOoOO, Groundislava at El Corozon

5 Chastity Belt, Needlecraft, Telenovella, Bandolier at Heartland

6 They Might Be Giants at Showbox at SODO

6 Neighbors, Blooper, Zebra Hunt, Plant Parenthood at Heartland

7 Gaytheist record release with Monogamy Party, Android Hero, and Glose at Black Lodge
7 Alkaline Trio at Showbox at the Market

7 Malaikat dan Singa, MTNS, Geist and the Sacred Ensemble, DJ Urine at Heartland

7 Mikal Cronin, Shannon and the Clams, and Dude York at Tractor

8 Small Black with Heavenly Beat at Barboza

8 Jason Anderson, Mega Bog, iji, Lexi Lee at Heartland

8 Gems, The Soft Hills, Snowdrift and Warm Static at the Josephine

12 Generationals and Young Empires at Tractor

14 Nekromantix at El Corozon

14 Mount Kimbie, Holy Other and Vinyl Williams at Neumos

16 Golden Gardens, Space Waves, Jetman Jet Team at Chop Suey

16 Dreamsalon, Fuzzy Cloaks, Chest Cavity/ BBQ Party at Leather Lounge

16 Golden Gardens, Jetman Jet Team, and Space Waves at Chop Suey

17 Pony Time, Burnt Ones, Stickers, Detective Agency at Chop Suey

19 The Intelligence with La Luz and Pony Time at Neumos

21 The Dandy Warhols at Showbox at the Market

22 Camera Obscura at Showbox at the Market 

July 
4 Airport, YOURYOUNGBODY, Leatherdaddy at Comet

7 Bob Log III at the Crocodile

11/12 Rancid at Showbox SoDo

12 Future Bible Heroes (Minus Stephin Merritt?) at Tractor

13 Sub Pop’s Silver Jubilee, Georgetown Neighborhood. Free!

14 Tuxedo Gleam, Jollapin Jasper, Love Cop, and More at Electric Tea Garden

14 Thunderbird Atlanta, Children of Kids, Wes Sp8, and Werebearcats at Hi-Dive

17 The Postal Service at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, OR

17 Portugal. The Man. Showbox at the Market

18 The Postal Service at Key Arena

19 Peter Murphy performing only Bauhaus material with Ours at Showbox at the Market

30 Feral Fauna, Children of Kids and Karmedic at Nectar Lounge

26-28 Capitol Hill Block Party

August

2 Foxygen at Neumos

16 Smith Westerns at Crocodile

16/17 Melvins at Neumos

September

5 Godspeed You Black Emperor at Showbox SoDo

5 The Psychedelic Furs at Showbox at the Market