Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. Yesterday, I hugged him while he was sitting on the bed. He was standing when I left. I hugged him again and [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. I had a strong urge to get out there early to tell him about the urinary-tract infection messing with his brain, to [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. "Put it on the back of the top shelf," my mother said. "Don't torture yourself." I thought maybe she meant my problems [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. Disconcerting is what it was, but I wouldn't come up with that word until later, standing at the kitchen counter grinding coffee [...]
THE XX, JOHN TALABOT ( Roseland , 8 NW 6th) Read our article on the xx . MECCA NORMAL, AMENTA ABIOTO, REBECCA GATES ( Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center , 5340 N Interstate) I'm not merely indulging sentimentality here when I write that the all-ages music scene in Portland sure isn't what it used to be. By "used to be," I'm referring to a mere couple of years ago—in hindsight, venues like the defunct Chaos CafÉ, Satyricon, and [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. I was not yet a singer in a band when I heard the Raincoats, but I wanted to be. I took a [...]
Oh, man. Rocktober continues! This weekend in the Bay Area is completely crazy. Fleet week, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, a 49ers game, the Giants and A's in the playoffs, Oracle Open World, Castro Street Fair ... and all the shows and concerts I'm about to suggest that you do otherwise. This is the absolute best time [...]
Will Schube interviews Mark Baumgarten, author of Love Rock Revolution.
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. Often I find going to the gym before singing can be sort of draining, but I really wanted to squeeze it in, [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. I went to visit him in the suburbs. I took the SkyTrain after stopping at a dollar store to buy him a [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. In my songwriting with Duane—two acoustic guitars without words—I have images about the songs that seem unrelated to the titles. One song, [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. I wouldn’t start anything with a man who had children of any age, from newborn to 40-plus (years). The current trend of [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. The co-founders of riot grrrl came to watch my band Mecca Normal when we played in Olympia. At that time I spoke [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 28-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. "It is Lewis, right?" she said, wondering if she'd gotten his last name wrong. "Yes, it's Lewis. Martin Lewis." "Oh good," Nadine [...]

Words by Rick Moslen I recently overheard some old lady on the bus spew some nonsense about how 2012 marks the end of the world. Maybe she’s a Glenn Beck fanatic or the wife of some cult leader, but she was more-than-likely confusing “end of the world” with 2012’s other important event: “the 30th anniversary of K Records”—obviously. Avoiding aging traits like receding hairlines, bedwetting, and excessive ear hair, the graceful label still holds its charm thanks to an array of hip songwriters ( Karl Blau, Mirah, Atlas Sound, Jeremy Jay ), [...]

The Hidden Cameras - Throw Silver [Mecca Normal] | od | bx

In the photo above you can see Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie, Microphones, D+), Calvin Johnson (The Cave Dwellers, The Halo Benders, K Records), and Karl Blau (Karl Blau, D+). So yes, it is that time of year again. The sun is out (for once) in Western Washington and all the unique individuals in Anacortes come out of their hiding places (and their friends come up from Olympia) for the annual What The Heck Fest! I went last year (hence the above photo) and things went down like this: watched some bands in a park, ate a sandwich [...]
Jul 30, 2010, 8:21am
MBV

Mecca Normal - Malachi 73 Out 11/9 on K Mecca Normal - "Malachi" This entry in K 's International Pop Underground series - Volume CXXXII - comes courtesy of underground DIY pioneers Mecca Normal , and though it's not out for another 3 months, members of the K Singles Zip-Pak Club received the digital goods today. In addition to the two tracks from the single, [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 26-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. "The Caribou And The Oil Pipeline" is the last download from The Observer album. It falls under the heading of political, and it [...]
Every Saturday, we’ll be posting a new illustration by David Lester. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events from his band’s 26-year run, with text by vocalist Jean Smith. I have watched Seth laugh and flirt at literary events for years. Women gravitate to him—I gravitate to him, and when I'm laughing [...]