Blog: Seattle-Powerpop

This is a shameless abuse of my power as former Seattle Powerpop Blog owner. SPB is still dead. But, I did want to come here to share a note that we in Shake Some Action! are recording our third record (via cross-country collaboration), blogging about the entire process and releasing each song as a free download upon its completion. There are two songs already out there. So, head on over and let us know what you think. Gary p.s. quick secondary note that I'm going to be making a trip up [...]

Hello all, I wanted to write to let folks know that I spoke with Andy today, and SPB is officially dead. As you may know, I moved to North Carolina back in early 2008, and Andy took over the blog when I moved. But, he's confirmed for me that he's been too busy with other projects to continue with SPB. Most of you probably figured that out, since the last post was quite a while ago. But, since I put a lot of love into this blog when it started, I felt it appropriate [...]

The Riffbrokers new CD Weight of Line and Intersection is fantastic and this is a great bill so don't miss this show.

Todd Rundgren will be playing at The Triple Door on Wednesday. With The Nazz, Utopia and as a solo artist Rundgren has produced some great power pop over the years. His album Something/Anything is essential. Check out this recent performance of "Open My Eyes" a song he originally preformed with The Nazz some 40 years ago.

Sunday 9/28 Sloan at Chop Suey Friday 10/3 Mexican UFO at Skylark Saturday 10/4 Lashes/Blue Ribbon Boys at King Cobra The Sgt. Major III at Sunset

Monday 9/22: The Camellias at High Dive Thursday 9/25 The Color Bars at Mars Bar Saturday 9/27 The Greatest Hits/The Pranks at Jules Maes

Sunday 9/14: Crown Aruba at Comet Tuesday 9/16: The Greatest Hits at Funhouse Blue Ribbon Boys at Sunset Squeeze at Showbox Friday 9/19 The Tripwires/Soda Pop Kids at Comet Saturday 9/20 The Color Bars at Easy Street After Hours

How about a video already? OK here's a good one of The Color Bars live at The Tractor Tavern earlier this summer performing "Id Incinerator." And since I've been so negligent of late here's another – The Color Bars performing "Pretty Krinkled" from the same show. Check out The Color Bars in person this Saturday at High Dive.

Thursday 9/11: The Greatest Hits at Central Saloon Friday 9/12: The Suspicions at Funhouse The Girls at Chop Suey Saturday 9/13: The Color Bars at High Dive The Greatest Hits at The Boiler Room

Thursday 9/4: The Small Change/The Freddie Steady 5/Christy McWilson at The Sunset Friday 9/5: Love As Laughter/Oxford Collapse/The Sea Navy at The Sunset Saturday 9/6: The Riffbrokers/The Knast at The Comet Little Pieces/The Mommyheads/Dark Circles (Shane Tutmarc solo) at Rendezvous Jewel Box Theater

Thursday 8/28: Young Sportsmen at City Hall (Noon) Friday 8/29: The Tea Cozies/The Hot Toddies at Mars Bar Saturday 8/30: The Doll Test/The Neat at Bob's Java Jive (Tacoma) Boss Martians/Cute Lepers/Greatest Hits/Avenue Rose at Wild Weekend Powerpop Festival (Austin)

Tuesday 8/19: The Purrs at Tractor Tavern Wednesday 8/20: The Pranks/The Electric Kisses/The Shy Ones at King Cobra International Pop Overthrow at East End (PDX) Thursday 8/21: Jon Auer at Triple Door International Pop Overthrow at East End (PDX) Friday 8/22: The Dimes/The Quit at Comet Tavern International Pop Overthrow at East End (PDX) Saturday 8/23: Ms. Led/Goodness at Mural Amphitheater (6:00 pm) Harvey Danger/Andy Werth [...]

Saturday the 16th: The Riffbrokers / The I Love Myselfs at Shanty Tavern The Greatest Hits at Central Saloon

This should give you some idea of what The Whole Damn City will sound like this Friday at The Sunset, although the sound of this recording is really distorted and the picture is dark and out of focus but still, I think it captures the spirit. Anyway, here's Kurt Block (Thee Sgt. Major III) and Scott Five (The Doll Test) joining The Small Change for kick-ass covers of The Who's "The Seeker" and The Faces classic "Stay with Me" at the High Dive back in June.

I was really looking forward to seeing Tim Rogers (lead singer/songwriter of the excellent Australian band You Am I) at the Sunset Tavern this Friday but the Department of Homeland Security put the kibosh on the show by denying Mr. Rogers a visa. That's the bad news. The good news is that The Small Change and Thee Sgt. Major III are still playing the gig along with an all-star Seattle rock 'n' roll You Am I cover band, The Whole Damn City featuring members of The Presidents of the USA, The Tripwires, [...]

Tuesday the 5th: The Color Bars at The Tractor Wednesday the 6th: Sidd Finch at High Dive Thursday the 7th: Tea Cozies at EMP (5:00 pm) Friday the 8th: The Whole Damn City (You Am I Cover Band)/Thee Sgt. Major III/The Small Change at The Sunset

Their tagline is "Eluding fame since 1984" but I'd say they're sort of legendary around this neck of the woods. It's hard to beat Girl Trouble's mix of punk, garage, surf, mod, fun and energy. They're the epitome of unassuming cool. Come check out Girl Trouble tonight at the Sunset Tavern along with a bunch of other great bands at Chopperfest.

Guns and Rossetti photo by Lance Mercer A great show for a great cause - to benefit Guns and Rossetti bassist Chopper Fisher and his wife Donna. Some are calling it the "show of the year." Saturday night at the Sunset Tavern a bill that will never be repeated: Duff McKagan's Loaded, Girl Trouble, Guns and Rossetti , Red Jacket Mine, The I Love Myselfs, and the full-screen premiere of Guns and Rossetti's "Douchebag Boyfriend" video.

If I wasn't such a creepy old dude I'd hit the Balagan Theatre (1117 East Pike St) tomorrow night to check out The Pharmacy , Wildild Life, TV Coahran, Sioux City Pete, Taco Kitty, Stabbings, Greatest Hits and Emeralds. It's an all ages show, starts at 10pm and costs 5 bucks. The Pharmacy Being the creepy old dude that I am I'll be hitting the Skylark Café for The Doll Test's CD release show instead.

The Cute Lepers are playing a free, secret warm-up show tonight at Café Racer (next to Trading Musician on Roosevelt). They go on about 10:30 after a D.J. set by Nils Forever. They'll be off touring the US for the next 5 weeks – Tacoma tomorrow, Missoula Saturday, then on to Salt Lake, Colorado Springs, Denver, Kansas City, Saint Louis, Chicago and on and on: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Atlanta, New Orleans, Austin, Los Angeles, and more…