9/28 Show: More Walking, Less Talking!

Two days until I leave for sunny San Diego to walk 60 miles. If you haven't given yet, you still have time to do so by visiting my donation page. Remember, every little bit helps. According to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

So, as I'm sure you all have noticed from the music I play that I'm a big supporter of local and independent music. With the consolidation of record labels and radio stations, we all need to do our part in making sure independent music is getting heard and not just what the big corporations want us to hear. One great way to do that is to support listener powered KEXP. KEXP is a public radio station that offers a mix of music that can't be heard anywhere else, entertaining listeners in Seattle at 90.3, in the South Sound at 91.7, and streaming live around the world at KEXP.org. After you hear some great artists on KEXP and you want to go out and buy their album, why not go to an independent record store while you're at it. Sonic Boom Records can be found in Fremont, Ballard, and Capitol Hill, with their new Vinyl Shop open underneath the Fremont location.

Because I'm going to be gone this will probably be my last show for a couple weeks, so I made it over four hours of yummy goodness. Enjoy!

Carbo-loadingly,
Larry
The Nut Bar

Show this Week
9/28
Norah Jones & The Handsome Band - Key Arena
Graham Travis, Levi Fuller - Green Room
Dolour, The Pale, The Senate Arcade, Little Hand of the City - Graceland
9/29
Snow Patrol, Eisley - Showbox
Jen Wood, Andrew Norseworthy, Matt Hopper, Kate Earl - Sunset Tavern
10/1
Three Imaginary Girls present Trash Can Sinatras, Roddy Hart - Crocodile
10/2
Visqueen (CD Release), The Girls, Smoosh - Crocodile (5:30pm)
Visqueen (CD Release), The Muffs, Johnny Polanski - Crocodile (Late)
 
The Playlist (sorry, no timestamps this week)
The Black Keys - 10 A.M. Automatic
Visqueen - Manhattan { CD Release Party 10/2 @ the Crocodile }
The Get Up Kids - I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel
The Minus 5 - Where the Wires Meet the Sky
A.C. Newman - The Battle for Straight Time
Broken Social Scene - Stars and Sons
The Concretes - You Can't Hurry Love
Death Cab for Cutie - Why You'd Want to Live Here
Elbow - Not a Job
The Finn Brothers - Anything Can Happen
Joseph Arthur - Honey and the Moon
Scissor Sisters - Filthy Gorgeous { by request }
United State of Electronica - Emerald City
Ozomatli - Ya Viene el Sol (The Beatle Bob Remix)
Basement Jaxx - Hot 'N Cold
Groove Armada - Groove is On
Supreme Beings of Leisure - Last Girl on Earth
Jem - Come on Closer
Keane - Everybody's Changing
Snow Patrol - Wow
Sparklehorse - King of Nails
The Killers - Change Your Mind
Longwave - Meet Me at the Bottom
Luna - Swedish Fish
Rilo Kiley - It's a Hit
Belle & Sebastian - String Bean Jean
Ambulance LTD - Anecdote
The Long Winters - Scent of Lime
Nada Surf - Fruit Fly
Tom Waits - Day After Tomorrow
Rosie Thomas - Sell All My Things
Zero 7 - In the Waiting Line
Elvis Costello - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?
Rocky Votolato - Suicide Medicine
Jay Farrar - California
Elliot Smith - Tomorrow Tomorrow
Iron & Wine - Naked as We Came
Sufjan Stevens - In the Devil's Territory
Pedro the Lion - The Fleecing
Radio Nationals - Golden
Drive-By Truckers - The Day John Henry Died (House of Fame Music)
Uncle Tupelo - Warfare
Old 97's - Blinding Sheets of Rain
Grant Lee Phillips - Lily-A-Passion
The Jayhawks - One Man's Problem
The Mountain Goats - The Young Thousands
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 16: One Man Show
The Shins - Young Pilgrim
The Thrills - Big Sur
Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio
The Decemberists - Song for Myla Goldberg
Tanya Donelly - Butterfly Thing
Rachael Yamagata - 1963
The Eels - Somebody Loves You { by request }
The Pixies - Where is My Mind? { by request }
The Clash - Revolution Rock
The Ramones - Oh, Oh, I Love Her So
Budapest - Wake Up Call
Guster - Ramona
Magnetic Fields - I Looked All Over Town
Mark Lanegan Band - Hit the City
Shawn Smith - Sing that Song for Beauty
Jon Langford and Sally Timms - Broken Bottle

9/21 Show: Getting Closer

Okay, so my big walk is only 10 days away and I still have a ways to go
on my fundraising. If you haven't already please take a look at my
donation page. Remember, any little bit helps.

If you haven't registered to vote yet, I don't know what you're waiting
for.

Sleepily,
Larry
The Nut Bar

Shows This Week
9/21
Mike Watt, Leuko, Dalmations - Crocodile
Smoosh - Ballard Sonic Boom in-store
Dzihan & Kamien, Darek Mazzone - Chop Suey
9/23
Scissor Sisters - Showbox
"Cure Cover Night" - Crocodile
9/24
John Vanderslice, Matthew Caws & John Roderick, Robbers on High Street,
Will Johnson, The Zutons - Crocodile
9/25
Rilo Kiley, Tilly & The Wall, Now It's Overhead - Neumo's
Mudhoney, The Avengers, Kinski, Pansy Division, David Cross - Showbox
John Doe, Grant Lee Phillips, Alan Sparhawk, Mark Pickerel - Sunset
Tavern
Vendetta Red, The Divorce, Blue Sky Mile - Graceland
9/26
Siouxie & Yhe Banshees, Siouxsie & The Creatures - Showbox
Cracker, Radio Nationals - Tractor
Jon Brion, Jon Auer - Sunset Tavern
9/27
Joseph Arthur, Amy Correia - Crocodile

The Playlist (sorry, no timestamps this week)
Keane - This is the Last Time
Belle & Sebastian - Wrapped Up in Books
Athlete - El Salvador
Elefant - Misfit
Stellastarr* - My Coco
The Killers - Mr. Brightside
McLusky - That Man Will Not Hang
Muse - Butterflies and Hurricanes
PJ Harvey - Pocket Knife
The Reindeer Section - I'll Be Here When You Wake
Graham Travis - Tripped You Up
Nada Surf - Treading Water
Longwave - All Sewn Up
The Fire Theft - Backwards Blues
Preston School of Industry - Line it Up
The Von Bondies - C'mon C'mon
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Date with the Night
Pretty Girls Make Graves - This is Our Emergency
Ryan Adams - Burning Photographs
The Dandy Warhols - I Am a Scientist
United State of Electronica - Takin' it All the Way
Sarah Vaughan - Whatever Lola Wants (Gotan Project Remix)
Jem - 24
Notwist - Pick Up the Phone
Stars - Life Effect
Mark Lanegan Band - Methamphetamine Blues
The Helio Sequence - Harmonica Song
Menomena - Oahu
Mojave 3 - Starlight No 1
Rosie Thomas - You and Me
The Mountain Goats - Your Belgian Things
M. Ward - Sad, Sad Song
Pedro the Lion - Arizona
Los Halos - Reasons to Smile
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - We're All in Love
The Stills - Love and Death
The Wrens - Faster Gun
British Sea Power - Remember Me
The Veils - Lavinia
Snow Patrol - Wow
Tahiti 80 - Listen
Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham - Moonshot
Clem Snide - All Green
Tanya Donelly - My Life as a Ghost
Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You
Elliot Smith - Pictures of Me
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

9/14: Still Sleep Deprived

I'm back from 17 hour work days at Bumbershoot! I have some bad news though. I had to cancel my upcoming benefit show at the Crocodile because too many bands had conflicts with political benefits they were doing this month. I'm trying to put together some other event so watch out for that. Can you believe the summer is almost over?

Register to vote. Really.

Happy Primary Day,
Larry
The Nut Bar

I'm Doing it Again!
Yeah, that's right. I'm walking another 60 miles to show my support for the fight against breast cancer. I will once again be participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in San Diego this October. It's an amazing weekend where thousands of men and women get together for three days and walk 60 miles to display our commitment to continue the fight against breast cancer. We take this time to honor lives lost, celebrate survivors, promote breast cancer research, and help bring breast cancer care to those who so desperately need it. You can read a little bit about my experience last year, it's a big reason why I'm doing it again. You can also watch the 3-Day video to help you get a little taste of why we do it. If you would like to support me in this effort please visit my donation page. Net proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust, funding important breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. Don't worry, your donations won't go towards paying for my flight or lodging, I pay for all that myself.  

Shows This Week
9/15
Six Parts Seven, 'S' (Jenn from Carissa's Weird), Dave Bazan (Pedro the Lion) - Crocodile
People Under the Stairs, Giant Panda, Iguales, Massive Monkees - Chop Suey
9/16
Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter, Rocky Votolato - Crocodile
9/17
Mountain Con, Heather Duby, Kuma - Neumo's
The Dudley Manlove Quartet - Sunset Tavern
9/18
Farm Aid with Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews - White River Amphitheatre
9/19
M83, Ulrich Schnauss - Neumo's
The Beastie Boys, Talib Kweli - Key Arena

The Playlist (sorry, no timestamps this week)
Visqueen - Blue { CD Release on 9/21, CD Release Party 10/2 }
The Long Winters - New Girl
The Format - Wait, Wait, Wait
The Pale - Big Dumb Smile
The Get Up Kids - Action and Action
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Frou Frou - Let Go
Stereolab - Margerine Melodie
Ambulance LTD - Heavy Lifting
Snow Patrol - Run
The Helio Sequence - Don't Look Away
Athlete - Shake Those Windows
Rilo Kiley - Love and War (11/11/46) { by request, 9/25 Neumo's }
The Veils - The Tide That Left and Never Came Back
The Killers - Andy, You're a Star
The Drive-By Truckers - Tornadoes
Gomez - Sweet Virginia
Uncle Tupelo - So Called Friend
The Radio Nationals - Ghosts in the Room
Bobby Bare, Jr. - Don't Follow Me (I'm Lost)
Built to Spill - Else
Modest Mouse - The World at Large
Nada Surf - Happy Kid { by request }
Arlo - Too Sick to Tango
Death Cab for Cutie - The Sound of Settling
The Eels - Saturday Morning
Elbow - Fallen Angel
Guster - Diane
Concretes - New Friend
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Elliot Smith - I Better Be Quiet Now
Damien Jurado - Omaha
Evan Dando - My Idea
Rosie Thomas - I Play Music
Sondre Lerche - Track You Down { by request }
Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter
Cat Power - Free { by request }
Crooked Fingers - Sweet Marie
The Shins - Caring is Creepy { by request }
The New Pornographers - Testament to Youth in Verse
The Sleepy Jackson - Rain Falls for Wind
The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
Lyrics Born - Before and After
Michael Franti and Spearhead - Bomb the World (Armageddon Version)
Bob Marley - So Much Trouble in the World
Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers to Cross
Reggie Watts - Your Name
Tanya Donelly - Whiskey Tango
The Decemberists - Los Angeles, I'm Yours
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 12: Hold Me Now
Aqualung - You Turn Me Around
Shawn Smith - Leaving California
Rachael Yamagata - 1963
Scissor Sisters - Music is the Victim
British Sea Power - Remember Me
The Catheters - Between the Creases
50 Foot Wave - Lavender
Mission of Burma - Max Ernst's Dream
Camper Van Beethoven - Take the Skinheads Bowling
Franz Ferdinand - The Dark of the Matinee
South - Mend These Trends
Keane - Bend and Break

8/23 Show: I'll Rummage You!

Sorry for the lateness of this week's show. But not only is it late but
it is the last one for a couple weeks while I go off to work at
Bumbershoot. It's my 5 year anniversary there! If you plan on being at
the festival come say hi, I'll be somewhere between the Fun Forest and
the Pacific Science Center with a walkie talkie pressed to my ear.
Hopefully this show will keep you company while I'm away. I'm going to
try to put up a page with links to all my old shows before I go. Let's
hope I can get out of here in one piece.

Register to vote. Really.

Happy Three Days Until I Get to Take Time Off,
Larry
The Nut Bar

Save the Date!
As you all know I'm participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in a month
and a half. To help me raise money I will be putting on a benefit show
at the Crocodile in Seattle on September 22nd. The bands playing are yet
to be announced and there will also be a silent auction. Expect to see
more updates in coming weeks.

The Breast Cancer 3-Day is an amazing event and you can read a little
bit about my experience last year, it's a big reason why I'm doing it
again. You can also watch the 3-Day video to help you get a little taste
of why we do it. If you would like to support me in this effort please
visit my donation page. Net proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust, funding
important breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.
Don't worry, your donations won't go towards paying for my flight or
lodging, I pay for all that myself.

Shows This Week and Next
8/25
Tommy Stinson, Alien Crime Syndicate, The Charming Snakes - Chop Suey
Concrete Blonde, Kuma - Showbox
8/26
Amy Blaschke - Seattle Art Museum (5:30pm)
Man of the Year, Young & Sexy, Robb Benson & The Tree Mind - Crocodile
8/27
The Cops, The Gris Gris, Invisible Eyes - Sunset Tavern
8/28
No Vote Left Behind Benefit with Alta May, Mea Culpa, Kingsley - Comet
8/30
Prince - Key Arena
8/31
Hypatia Lake, Amor, Joy Wants Eternity - Sunset Tavern
9/2
"Arsonists Are Punks: A Benefit for the Giampinos" with the Long
Winters, Ben Gibbard, The Girls, The Lights, Preston School of Industry,
Damien Jurado, Big Business, XXX Audio, DJ Roy, DJ Cherry Canoe -
Neumo's
9/3, 9/4, 9/5, 9/6
Bumbershoot!
9/7
Keane, French Kicks - Showbox

The Playlist (sorry, no timestamps this week)
Ambulance LTD - Stay Where You Are
Keane - Can't Stop Now
Fountains of Wayne - Everything's Ruined (acoustic version)
Aqualung - Breaking My Heart Again
Travis - As You Are
Britta Phillips; Dean Wareham - Ginger Snaps
Belle and Sebastian - Your Cover's Blown { By Request }
Scissor Sisters - Mary
Shawn Smith - Wrapped in My Memory
Ozomatli - (Who Discovered) America?
Kinky - Sol (Batucada)
Alejandro Escovedo - Crooked Frame
Snow Patrol - Wow
The Veils - More Heat Than Light
Nada Surf - Your Legs Grow
Laura Veirs - Tiger Tattoos
Bobby Bare Jr. - Things I Didn't Say
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 16: One Man Show
Rosie Thomas - October
Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You
Rilo Kiley - With Arms Outstretched
Sondre Lerche - Counter Spark
Rachael Yamagata - Be Be Your Love
Postal Service - Clark Gable
Radiohead - Karma Police
South - Colours in Waves
The Helio Sequence - Don't Look Away
Stellastarr* - Jenny
Visqueen - Buried Alive { By Request }
The Killers - Somebody Told Me
The New Pornographers - The Laws Have Changed
Pretty Girls Make Graves - This is Our Emergency
The Pale - Reasons to Try
The Ramones - California Sun
The Pixies - Debaser
PJ Harvey - Shame
The Notwist - One With the Freaks
Idlewild - I Never Wanted
Longwave - Strangest Things
Joseph Arthur - I Would Rather Hide
M. Ward - Outta My Head
Sun Kil Moon - Salvador Sanchez
My Morning Jacket - Mahgeetah
The Minus 5 - Retrieval of You { By Request }
Wilco - Handshake Drugs
REM - Finest Worksong { By Request }
Old 97's - Moonlight
The Drive-By Truckers - Careless
Ryan Adams - Burning Photographs
The Radio Nationals - Golden
Michael Franti and Spearhead - Feelin' Free
Maktub - So Tired
Ugly Duckling - Rio de Janeiro
DJ Shadow - Walkie Talkie
Beastie Boys - So What'cha Want
The Streets - Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
The Roots - You Got Me
Tanya Donelly - The Promise
Rocky Votolato - The City is Calling
Mike Doughty - Move On

8/17 Show: Trampoline an Olympic Sport?

I don't know how many of you have been watching the Olympics, but if you
want to watch some entertaining coverage, you should watch on Canadian
television. It's pretty entertaining because you hear things like, "The
Americans go 1, 2 with Australia coming in 3rd. Canadian Roger
Mooseinboots comes in 18th, which is a personal best for him and a
Canadian record!" I'm trying to figure out what sport I could feasibly
make the Olympics in in 8 years, something where age doesn't really
matter or where I haven't passed the peak age for the sport. I'm
thinking air pistol or archery. Somebody said poker might be an Olympic
sport, which is just weird.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Danskin this
weekend! The extra 1/4 mile they tacked onto the swim makes it an even
greater accomplishment.

KEXP would like to send you and a
friend to the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas
September 17-19. You will win roundtrip airfare to Austin, 3 nights
hotel stay and 3 day passes to the festival. This year's lineup includes
The Pixies, Wilco, The Roots, Modest Mouse, Drive-By Truckers, Franz
Ferdinand, Neko Case, Old 97's, Calexico and more. href="http://www.kexp.org/events/giveaways.asp">Enter to win.

A friend of mine found some interesting information saying that people
who are registered to vote are considered "more likely" candidates for
marriage by the opposite gender. More reason to href="http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/register.aspx">register to
vote.

Happy Tuesday,
Larry

I'm Doing it Again!
Yeah, that's right. I'm walking another 60 miles to show my support for
the fight against breast cancer. I will once again be participating in
the Breast Cancer 3-Day in San Diego this October. It's an amazing
weekend where thousands of men and women get together for three days and
walk 60 miles to display our commitment to continue the fight against
breast cancer. We take this time to honor lives lost, celebrate
survivors, promote breast cancer research, and help bring breast cancer
care to those who so desperately need it. You can read a little bit
about my experience last year, it's a big reason why I'm doing it again.
You can also watch the 3-Day video to help you get a little taste of why
we do it. If you would like to support me in this effort please visit my
donation page. Net proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust, funding important
breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. Don't worry,
your donations won't go towards paying for my flight or lodging, I pay
for all that myself.

Shows This Week
8/19
Tarbox Ramblers, The Jellyrollers - Tractor
The Turn-ons, The Divorce, The Cops, Charmparticles - Neumo's
8/20
Three Imaginary Girls present Kuma, Sushirobo, Infomatick, The Dead
Science - Crocodile
Roseanne Cash - Triple Door
8/21
No Vote Left Behind presents "Clash Cover Night" - Crocodile
"Curiosa Festival" with the Cure, Interpol, The Rapture, and many more -
Gorge Amphitheatre
Rosie Thomas, Tim Seely, Luke Temple - Tractor
8/22
Three Imaginary Girls, No Vote Left Behind, and I Heart Rummage present
"Celebrity Rummage Sale" - Crocodile
Alexi Murdoch - Tractor

The Playlist (sorry, no timestamps this week)
Michael Franti and Spearhead - Everyone Deserves Music
Athlete - One Million
The Helio Sequence - Harmonica Song
The Killers - Change Your Mind
Elefant - Ester
Guster - Amsterdam
The Long Winters - Stupid
Concretes - Lovin Kind
Sufjan Stevens - The Dress Looks Nice on You
Iron & Wine - Love and Some Verses
Camera Obscura - A Sisters Social Agony
Nada Surf - Fruit Fly
Longwave - Pool Song
The Wrens - This Boy is Exhausted
The Drive-By Truckers - Sink Hole
McLusky - She Will Only Bring You Happiness
The Catheters - Between the Creases
Franz Ferdinand - The Dark of the Matinee
The Pixies - Where is My Mind?
Preston School of Industry - Caught in the Rain
Radiohead - Idioteque
Sleater-Kinney - Combat Rock
A.C. Newman - The Battle for Straight Time
BRMC - Stop
The Walkmen - The North Pole
Broken Social Scene - Stars and Sons
Elbow - Fallen Angel
Gomez - Catch Me Up
The Thrills - Deckchairs and Cigarettes
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 12: Hold Me Now
The Reindeer Section - You Are My Joy
Aqualung - Brighter Than Sunshine
Jeff Buckley - Eternal Life
Brandi Carlile - Eye of a Needle
Ambulance LTD - Anecdote
Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama
Elton John - Tiny Dancer
My Morning Jacket - Golden
Keane - Everybody's Changing
Coldplay - Clocks
The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
DJ Shadow - Six Days
DJ NuMark - Samurai
Badmarsh & Shri - Day by Day
Jem - Finally Woken
Stars - Heart
Sondre Lerche - Two Way Monologue
Tanya Donelly - Butterfly Thing
The Decemberists - I Was Meant for the Stage

8/3 Show: What? August already?

Despite the efforts of the deodorant lobby, cooler weather is upon us. Hooray! In the month of July, Seattle received a total of less than a quarter-inch of rain. According to some guy at the National Weather Service, July in Seattle is usually drier than the city of Phoenix. Now that's just crazy.

Tonight is the area's annual Night Out Against Crime, so get to know your neighbors and turn on your porch lights. One of the best ways to fight crime in your neighborhood is to know the people around you.

Do I really have to remind you to register to vote again?

Happy Day Before the Blue Angels Show Up,
Larry
The Nut Bar

I'm Doing it Again!
Yeah, that's right. I'm walking another 60 miles to show my support for the fight against breast cancer. I will once again be participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in San Diego this October. It's an amazing weekend where thousands of men and women get together for three days and walk 60 miles to display our commitment to continue the fight against breast cancer. We take this time to honor lives lost, celebrate survivors, promote breast cancer research, and help bring breast cancer care to those who so desperately need it. You can read a little bit about my experience last year, it's a big reason why I'm doing it again. You can also watch the 3-Day video to help you get a little taste of why we do it. If you would like to support me in this effort please visit my donation page. Net proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust, funding important breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. Don't worry, your donations won't go towards paying for my flight or lodging, I pay for all that myself.

Shows This Week
8/3
Stiff Little Fingers, Throw Rag, The God Awfuls - Graceland
John Langford & The Sexy, Carolyn Mark, Scott McCaughey, Jace and John - Sunset
8/4
Drew Victor, Amy Blaschke, The Maldives, Tim Seely, Jeff London - Sunset
8/6
The Divorce, Dolour, the Turn-ons - Paradox
8/7
Elefant, The Lashes - Neumo's
Studio 66, The Green Pajamas, The High Dials - Lo-Fi Gallery
8/8
Ambulance Ltd, Robbers on High Street, Zutons, The Years - Crocodile
The Supersuckers, Tim Easton - Tractor
KC and the Sunshine Band, the Village People - Skagit Valley Casino-Disco Mania

The Playlist (sorry, no timestamps this week)
Smoosh - Rad (Live @ Showbox 2003)
Stereolab - Margerine Rock
Stars - Life Effect
The Postal Service - Brand New Colony
Radiohead - Go to Sleep. (Little Man Being Erased.)
Muse - Blackout
Damien Rice - Amie
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 16: One Man Show
Snow Patrol - Spitting Games {Sept. 29 @ Showbox}
British Sea Power - Carrion
South - Mend These Trends
The Reindeer Section - Cartwheels
The Decemberists - Red Right Ankle {Sept. 9 @ Neumo's}
The Mountain Goats - Your Belgian Things
The Shins - So Says I
A.C. Newman - Drink to Me, Babe, Then
Alejandro Escovedo - Crooked Frame
Radio Nationals - Fall Down
Crooked Fingers - Don't Say a Word {Sept. 5 @ Bumbershoot}
Wilco - Hell Is Chrome
Jay Farrar - California
The Drive-By Truckers - Hell No, I Ain't Happy {Sept. 4 @ Bumbershoot}
Elbow - Not a Job
The Fire Theft - Backwards Blues
Coheed & Cambria - A Favor House Atlantic {By Request}
The Pale - Wake Up Call
The Format - The First Single
McLusky - Without MSG I Am Nothing
Nada Surf - Slow Down
The Helio Sequence - People of the Secret {Sept. 3 @ Chop Suey}
The Veils - The Tide That Left and Never Came Back
Visqueen - Sailor {Oct. 2 @ Crocodile (CD Release Party)}
The Minus 5 - Courage is the Smallest Bird
Gomez - These 3 Sins
Athlete - El Salvador
Los Halos - Reasons to Smile
Guster - Amsterdam
Concretes - You Can't Hurry Love {Oct. 17 @ Neumo's}
Mojave 3 - Billy Oddity
Ed Harcourt - Watching the Sun Come Up
Kathleen Edwards - Six O'Clock News
Magnetic Fields - I Thought You Were My Boyfriend
Modest Mouse - The World at Large
PJ Harvey - The Letter
Rachael Yamagata - Even So
Rilo Kiley - Paint's Peeling {Sept. 25 @ Neumo's}
Mission of Burma - What We Really Were
My Morning Jacket - Master Plan
Michael Franti and Spearhead - Bomb the World

7/27 show: Look, it's the jumping guy!

Sorry this week's stream is a day late, it passed out from heat stroke over the weekend. Someone needs to teach it a little something about hydration. Hydration was key at the Capitol Hill Block Party, especially on Saturday. Saw some great music from Smoosh, U.S.E., and the Long Winters. Thank goodness for SPF 45 sunscreen. If you haven't filled up a kiddie pool with beer recently, well you really should. I now have three of them, thanks to the kiddie pool klepto.

Dude, what's that smell coming from the coffee maker? Find out for yourself next time when KEXP lets you own a piece of the station. During the spring pledge drive KEXP let people sponsor a piece of the station, and we responded in force. Check out the proud sponsors of items like the men's urinal, Cheryl Water's office, the pile of asphalt, or your's truly and the lovely coffee maker. But don't wait until next spring to support the station where music matters, make a pledge today! You can listen to KEXP up here at 90.3, in the South Sound at 91.7, and streaming live around the globe at kexp.org.

Do I really have to remind you to register to vote again? 

Happy Air Conditioned Day,
Larry
The Nut Bar

Shows This Week
7/27
Finn Andrews (of the Veils) - Crocodile Café
7/28
Sufjan Stevens, Joanna Newsom, Denison Whitmer - Neumo's
7/29
Benefit for Driving Votes: Radio Nationals, Dear John Letters, The More - Crocodile
7/30
The Hives, Sahara Hotnights, Reigning Sound - Showbox
Robb Benson, Scott McCaughey, Steve Turner, Sean Nelson, Dear John Letters - Sunset Tavern (7pm)
7/31
YouthCare Presents: Kinski, A-Frames, Climax Golden Twins (YouthCare hygiene drive-- please bring a hygiene item for homeless youth to the show. Those bringing three or more items will be entered into a raffle to win signed merch from the band!) - Crocodile

The Playlist (sorry, no timestamps this week)
Michael Franti and Spearhead - We Don't Stop
Basement Jaxx - Hot 'N Cold
Jem - Wish I
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 12: Hold Me Now
The Reindeer Section - I'll Be Here When You Wake
Belle & Sebastian - We Rule the School
The Long Winters - Scared Straight
The Helio Sequence - Don't Look Away
A.C. Newman - The Battle for Straight Time
Aveo - Hypochondria is Spreading
Franz Ferdinand - Darts of Pleasure
Built to Spill - Else
Graham Travis - It Goes Around
Damien Jurado - Birdcage
Pete Krebs - Carolina
Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You
Iron & Wine - Cinder and Smoke
Loretta Lynn - Portland Oregon
Bobby Bare Jr. - Things I Didn't Say
An American Starlet - Wait
Ryan Adams - I See Monsters
Shawn Smith - Leaving California
The Decemberists - Los Angeles, I'm Yours
The Killers - Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
Stellastarr* - Moongirl
The Veils - More Heat Than Light
Longwave - Everywhere You Turn
Gomez - Catch Me Up
The Thrills - Deckchairs and Cigarettes
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Nada Surf - Blonde on Blonde
The Sleepy Jackson - Rain Falls for Wind
The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
Jack Johnson - Rodeo Clowns
Ugly Duckling - Rio de Janeiro
Kinky - Soun Tha Primer Amor
Menomena - Strongest Man in the World
Mull Historical Society - The Supermarket Strikes Back
Pedro the Lion - The Fleecing
Rachael Yamagata - Under My Skin
Evan Dando - It Looks Like You
Elvis Costello - Episode of Blonde
Elliot Smith - Tomorrow Tomorrow
Rosie Thomas - All My Life
Visqueen - Mrs. Elder
The Von Bondies - Not That Social
The Fire Theft - Rubber Bands
The Format - On Your Porch
The Shins - Young Pilgrim
TV on the Radio - Dreams
Guster - Jesus on the Radio
Travis - The Fear
Aqualung - Brighter Than Sunshine

7/19 Show: There was an old man in a marsh...

Who would've thought that with a weekend that had the KEXP BBQ, Camera
Obscura, Gomez, Ken Stringfellow, and Rock Lottery I would instead spend
my time at a church listening to modern choral music. Well, that's what
I did and I'm sure glad I did because it was amazing. The setting and
the music complimented each other so well, it was just beautiful. I also
got to remember how uncomfortable pews are.

Not registered to vote yet? Well what are you waiting for? Register
today! I'm not joking around. Seriously. Don't make me come over there.

Happy Day After National Ice Cream Day,
Larry
The Nut Bar

Shows This Week
7/20
Iron Composer Competition w/Paul Jensen (Dudley Manlove), Batum Schrag,
Sexy American Girlfriend, Emory Liu (Pomeranian) - Capitol Hill Arts
Center
Steve Burns, Sean Nelson & Jeff J Lin, Tennis Pro - Crocodile
7/21
Doublewide, Juke, Jared Clifton - Sunset Tavern
Dave Davies, Jon Auer - Triple Door
7/22
Scissor Sisters, The Fitness - Neumo's
Tractor Sex Fatality, New Fangs, Samsonknight Featherqun, Utillikill -
Rendezvous
7/23
Youssou N'Dour - Paramount
West Memphis 3 Benefit w/The Supersuckers, Visqueen, The Black Panties -
Neumo's
7/24
Capitol Hill Block Party - 11th & Pine
!!!, Hint Hint - Neumo's
KEXP Presents Delays - Crocodile
7/25
Capitol Hill Block Party - 11th & Pine

The Playlist (sorry, no timestamps this week)
Muse - Time is Running Out
The Veils - Guiding Light
The Wrens - Everyone Chooses Sides
The Minus 5 - Lies of the Living Dead
The Stills - Gender Bombs
The Walkmen - The Rat
Michael Franti and Spearhead - Love Invincible
DJ Nu Mark - Down Home
Ben Harper - Bring the Funk
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battle the Pink Robots, Pt. 1
Aveo - The Idiot on the Bike
The Format - Wait, Wait, Wait
The Long Winters - Shapes
The Get Up Kids - My Apology
Hello From Waveland - Strange
Rocky Votolato - Suicide Medicine
Graham Travis - So Wonderful
Heather Duby - Coin Jar
Gomez - Sweet Virginia
Nada Surf - La Pour Ca
Pedro the Lion - Arizona
Sun Kil Moon - Salvador Sanchez
The Drive-By Truckers - Sounds Better in the Song
Alejandro Escovedo - Pissed Off 2 AM
Rosie Thomas - I Play Music
A.C. Newman - Miracle Drug
Pretty Girls Make Graves - This is Our Emergency
Revolutionary Hydra - You Wanna Get Lost?
Mission of Burma - Hunt Again
The Catheters - Brave Drum
The Clash - Revolution Rock
Jimmy Cliff - Sufferin' in the Land
De La Soul - Stakes is High
Mr. Lif - New Man Theme
Lifesavas - State of the World/Apocalypse/War
Lyrics Born - Before and After
Groove Armada - Suntoucher
TV on the Radio - Staring at the Sun
Elbow - Fallen Angel
Stellastarr* - Jenny
The Killers - Somebody Told Me
PJ Harvey - Cat on the Wall
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 14: Two Thousand Places
Aqualung - Easier to Lie
The Helio Sequence - Everyone Knows Everyone
Franz Ferdinand - Tell Her Tonight
Belle & Sebastian - Asleep on a Sunbeam
Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham - Moonshot
Camera Obscura - Your Picture
Rachael Yamagata - 1963
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (live at Sin-e)

7/12 show: I Love Lamp!

The stream took some time off but is now back, tan and relaxed. Of course while it was away, I was stuck here.

Don't miss the 2nd Annual KEXP BBQ this Saturday, July 17th, at the KEXP parking lot. There will be hot dogs, beer, and live music from The Ruby Doe. Everything starts at 6pm and admission is $10 at the door. Get there early before it sells out or run out of beer and hot dogs.

Not registered to vote yet? Well what are you waiting for? Register today! I'm not joking around. Seriously. Don't make me come over there.

Happy Whatever,
Larry
The Nut Bar

Shows This Week
7/13
The Walkmen, The Cops - Neumo's
7/14
KEXP Presents Sonic Youth, Wolf Eyes - Showbox
The Format, Steel Train, Hellogoodbye, Days Away - Graceland
Patterson Hood (Drive By Truckers), Cary Hudson - Tractor
7/15
Gomez - Easy Street Records (6pm/Queen Anne Store)
Lucinda Williams, Anne McCue - Woodland Park Zoo
7/16
Three Imaginary Girls present Dorkweed, Laszlo, The Dirty Birds - Sunset Tavern
No Vote Left Behind presents "Rockin' for Regime Change" - Comet
7/17
Camera Obscura - Sonic Boom in-store (Ballard, 2:30pm)
Camera Obscura, Heather Duby, Tullycraft - Neumo's
2nd Annual KEXP BBQ w/The Ruby Doe - KEXP Parking Lot (6pm)
Three Imaginary Girls present Pris, The Building Press, The More, The Emblematic, The Residual Echoes of the Great Explosion - Graceland
Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Gossip, The New Mexicans, Countdown to Armageddon - Showbox
7/18
Ken Stringfellow, Bridget St. John - Crocodile
KEXP Presents Gomez, The Thrills - Showbox
An American Starlet, Our Lady of the Highway - Café Venus and Mars Bar

Here's the Stream (finally):
* Know somebody that needs some music in their day? Feel free to forward this to them and let me know so I can add them to the list. You can also IM me for requests for next week's show: larryliang@hotmail.com  

The Playlist (sorry, no timestamps this week)
Tahiti 80 - Listen
Stars - Romantic Comedy
Elefant - Tonight Let's Dance
The Sleepy Jackson - Come to This
A.C. Newman - The Battle for Straight Time
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
Franz Ferdinand - Darts of Pleasure
Gomez - Silence
The Veils - The Tide that Left and Never Came Back
Modest Mouse - Ocean Breathes Salty
Jay Farrar - California
Wilco - Handshake Drugs
Bobby Bare Jr. - Visit Me in Music City
M. Ward - Helicopter
Camper Van Beethoven - Cowboys from Hollywood (Original Version)
Graham Travis - Tripped You Up
The Long Winters - Scent of Lime
The Streets - Could Well Be In
Jem - Falling for You
Ed Harcourt - The Birds Will Sing for Us
Aqualung - Can't Get You Out of My Mind
Camera Obscura - Teenager
Frank Black - Everything is New
Elliot Smith - Pictures of Me
Rachael Yamagata - Even So
Menomena - Rose
Shawn Smith - Wrapped in My Memory
Sondre Lerche - Living Lounge
Snow Patrol - Chocolate
Stellastarr* - A Million Reasons
The Stills - Love and Death
The Thrills - Don't Steal Our Sun
X - Breathless
The Von Bondies - C'mon C'mon
Visqueen - Buried Alive
The Catheters - Between the Creases
Mission of Burma - Falling
The Notwist - One With the Freaks
Longwave - Everywhere You Turn
Idlewild - I Never Wanted
Luna - Swedish Fish
Nada Surf - Blonde on Blonde
British Sea Power - Something Wicked
The Wrens - Faster Gun
Built to Spill - Carry the Zero
John Vanderslice - White Plains
Minus the Bear - Monkey!!! Knife!!! Fight!!!
Muse - Butterflies and Hurricanes
South - Colours in Waves
Los Halos - Lovelife

What I'm Listening to...

A.C. Newman - Slow Wonder
The New Pornographers frontman and Canadian wonder presents us with a very enjoyable solo effort. The New York Times did a great interview with him where he talked about applying for grants from the Canadian government to help pay for this album. Another example of how Canada rocks.

Bobby Bare Jr's Young Criminals' Starvation League - From the End of Your Leash
I'd be remiss to compare Bobby Bare Jr. to anyone. With alt-country, rock, and pop influenced songs, you can't go wrong.

Camper Van Beethoven - Telephone Free Landslide Victory (Rerelease)
Oooooh! You get bonus and alternate tracks with this great album. Even if you have the original 1985 release, why not get this one too?

Wilco - A Ghost is Born
Ah Wilco. While not as "experimental" as Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Jeff Tweedy and company come at you with a beautiful album sonically and lyrically. Jeff should really write a book of poetry...oh wait, he has.

Rachael Yamagata, Crocodile 6/28

So I've been sort of neglecting this blog and going to shows thanks to a big project I've been working on. On Monday night I really wanted to go see Rachael Yamagata at the Crocodile because I am just in love with her latest CD, Happenstance. Unfortunately I couldn't go, so in my stead I sent a proxy. Adam Loving, of Loving Labs fame, ventured down to the Croc and here's his report. He mentions the people he hears in her voice and one person he didn't list was Fiona Apple, whom you can especially hear on the song Letter Read. Enjoy!

The World's Not Ready

And I mean that in a good way. I felt privileged to be part of a small audience to experience Rachael Yamagata's emotive voice, inventive but hooky compositions, intense sentiment, and talent. It was great to hear her singing from the heart and having a voice capable of channeling it. I appreciated that cello and violin accompaniment gave her live show a more eerie and less country sound.

What makes me say "the world's not ready" are lyrics like "is there a woman out there who'll take me". Yamagata had everything; I wouldn't say she should she should refine her sound - but rather use more intentional understatement. I am sure mainstream success would be hers if there were a bit more fog to cover the car crashes. Not that this should be the goal, or that it wasn't delicious to share the car crashes live.

My favorite example of inventive but hooky is "Letter Read" which has a discordant verse and catchy chorus. To crudely describe her sound, I would say it was equal parts Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, and Janis Joplin. I dug maybe half the songs, but felt the privilege of a soccer scout watching a young star due to the honesty and realness of her performance.

6/28 show: Mine...Mine...Mine...

No 40 ounces of caffeinated Slurpee goodness for me this weekend, which is probably a good thing. I did get brought into a wiffle ball game as a closer, striking out one and giving up a hit on a pitch I threw between my legs. Good times...
 
So, as I'm sure you all have noticed from the music I play that I'm a big supporter of local and independent music. With the consolidation of record labels and radio stations, we all need to do our part in making sure independent music is getting heard and not just what the big corporations want us to hear. One great way to do that is to support listener powered KEXP. KEXP is a public radio station that offers a mix of music that can't be heard anywhere else, entertaining listeners in Seattle at 90.3, in the South Sound at 91.7, and streaming live around the world at KEXP.org. After you hear some great artists on KEXP and you want to go out and buy their album, why not go to an independent record store while you're at it. Sonic Boom Records can be found in Fremont, Ballard, and Capitol Hill, with their new Vinyl Shop open underneath the Fremont location.
 
Not registered to vote yet? Well what are you waiting for? Register today! I'm not joking around. Seriously. Don't make me come over there.
 
Happy Last Week of June,
Larry
The Nut Bar
 
Name That Band Contest!
Okay, time for some fun. Some of the folks from Hello From Waveland have started a new band and are looking for a name. As a way to give them a hand I'm offering up a contest of sorts, something I'll call the "Name that Band Contest!" Send me your entries for a band name by Saturday, July 3rd and the entry with the best name will get a CD (I'll let you pick). Then, if the band picks your name they'll give you something extra special, in addition to the satisfaction of seeing the name you came up with in lights.
 
Shows This Week
6/28
The Three Imaginary Girls are guest bartenders! - Hattie's Hat (6pm)
Rachael Yamagata, Jonathan Rice - Crocodile
6/30
Melissa Auf Der Maur, Kane Hodder - Graceland
DJ Premiere (of GangStarr), DJs Haul & Mason, DJs Scene & B-Mello - Chop Suey
7/1
Al Green - Paramount Theatre
7/2
No Vote Left Behind presents: DJ Mama Cassarole, DJ Super Jew, The New Fangs - Hideaway
Rush - White River Amphitheatre
7/3
MC5 (w/Evan Dando and Mark Arm), Suffrajet - Neumo's 
 
The Playlist (sorry, no timestamps this week)
Rachael Yamagata - 1963
Graham Travis - So Wonderful
Guster - Amsterdam
The Long Winters - Cinnamon
Snow Patrol - Run
Ryan Adams - Wish You Were Here
The Stills - Let's Roll
The Veils - Lavinia
Coldplay - Clocks
The Flaming Lips - It's Summertime
The Format - Tune Out
South - Colours in Waves
Pretty Girls Make Graves - All Medicated Geniuses
Mission of Burma - What We Really Were
McLusky - Falco vs. The Young Canoeist
Murder City Devils - Lemuria Rising
Modest Mouse - The World at Large
The Postal Service - We Will Become Silhoettes
Jem - Come on Closer
Basement Jaxx - Right Here's the Spot
Stereolab - Hillbilly Motorbike
Tahiti 80 - Soul Deep
Belle & Sebastian - Asleep on a Sunbeam
Sun Kil Moon - Gentle Moon
Iron & Wine - Naked as We Came
M. Ward - Let's Dance
Menomena - The Late Great Libido
The Decemberists - Los Angeles, I'm Yours
The Jayhawks - Tailspin
The Mellors - Route 44
Rocky Votolato - The City is Calling
Jesse Sykes - Your Eyes Told
The Radio Nationals - Black Lung
Pedro the Lion - The Fleecing
Bobby Bare Jr. - Let's Rock & Roll
Wilco - Muzzle of Bees
The Minus 5 - The Town that Lost Its Groove Supply
Billy Bragg - She Came Along to Me
Neil Finn - Human Kindness
Nada Surf - Fruit Fly
Camper Van Beethoven - Take the Skinheads Bowling
The Ramones - Suzy is a Headbanger
The Streets - Blinded by the Lights
DJ Nu-Mark - Hands On
Lifesavas - Resist
Lyrics Born - The Last Trumpet
Mr. Lif - A Glimpse at the Struggle
The Roots - You Got Me
Ramsey Lewis - Do What You Wanna (Mr. Scruff's Soul Party Mix)
TV on the Radio - Dreams
A.C. Newman - Drink to Me, Babe, Then
The New Pornographers - It's Only Divine Right
PJ Harvey - Shame
 
 

6/21 Show: Sunny Solstice

So, for some reason I thought it would be a good idea to drink a 40oz Coca-Cola Slurpee at 10pm last night. Of course all that caffeine made it possible for me to do laundry at 1:30 in the morning. Another benefit of being all hopped up on the caffeine is the opportunity to watch some infomercials. Have you ever noticed that they always treat people like they're idiots. I know when I'm trying to cut a tomato I make sure to put all my weight on it so as soon as I make a cut the whole thing gets crushed. A loaf of bread should also be able to support my weight, right?

It is now officially summer, I hope you all had a chance to go outside and enjoy the sunshine. If the rest of the summer is like the first day, well I'll have no complaints.

Happy 2nd Day of Summer,
Larry

Shows This Week
6/21
Lloyd Cole – Tractor
6/22
Pharcyde, X-Ecutioners – Chop Suey
The Del McCoury Band – Tractor
6/23
Three Imaginary Girls Presents Cinerama 7" Release Party with DJ David Gedge – Mirabeau Room
6/24
Paul Oakenfold, Donald Glaude, Eva – Showbox
6/25
Helio Sequence (CD Release), IQU, Menomena – Neumo's
6/26
Three Imaginary Girls present a Ladyfest Showcase with the Catch, Schoolyard Heroes, Scream Club, Smoosh, Ms. Led, Mon Frere – Graceland
Califone, Rebecca Gates, Erik & Travis – Tractor
I Can Lick Any SOB In the House, Memphis Radio Kings, Moonshine Hangover, Jared Clifton – Crocodile
"The Vera Project Presents" The Red Light Sting, The Catch, Travis Morrison, Smoosh, Informatik – Mural Amphitheater

The Playlist
0:00:00 The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
0:04:31 Jem - Wish I
0:08:27 Belle & Sebastian - I'm a Cuckoo
0:13:53 Franz Ferdinand - The Dark of the Matinee
0:17:57 Gomez - Where Ya Going?
0:21:38 Drive-By Truckers - Heathens
0:26:26 Uncle Tupelo - Give Back the Key to My Heart
0:29:52 The Wrens - This Boy is Exhausted
0:34:10 The Veils - Talk Down the Girl
0:38:20 Graham Travis - Jesus Build Me a Railroad
0:42:25 Shawn Smith - Leaving California
0:46:15 Rachael Yamagata - Worn Me Down
0:49:58 The Long Winters - Nora
0:54:21 The Mountain Goats - Your Belgian Things
0:58:10 The Reindeer Section - You Are My Joy
1:01:55 The Thrills - Your Love is Like Las Vegas
1:04:18 Rhett Miller - Four-Eyed Girl
1:06:47 The Minus 5 - The Night Chicago Died Again
1:10:42 Idlewild - Tell Me Ten Words
1:14:28 John Vanderslice - They Won't Let Me Run
1:18:21 Longwave - Exit
1:22:13 Nada Surf - Happy Kid
1:26:23 McLusky - That Man Will Not Hang
1:29:24 50 Foot Wave - Lavender
1:32:13 Visqueen - Omaha
1:34:59 Alejandro Escovedo - One More Time (Live)
1:39:06 Radio Nationals - Ghosts in the Room
1:43:32 Snow Patrol - Spitting Games
1:47:19 British Sea Power - Carrion
1:51:26 Elbow - Not a Job
1:55:50 Hello From Waveland - Powerless
1:59:23 Built to Spill - Else
2:03:32 Death Cab for Cutie - Lowell, MA
2:07:01 Menomena - Twenty Cell Revolt
2:11:07 Pedro the Lion - Start Without Me
2:14:19 The Decemberists - The Bachelor and the Bride
2:18:32 Aqualung - Everything Changed
2:21:52 Camera Obscura - Keep It Clean
2:25:09 Ed Harcourt - Watching the Sun Come Up
2:30:56 Mojave 3 - Billy Oddity
2:35:14 PJ Harvey - Pocket Knife
2:38:59 Sondre Lerche - I Know I Know
2:42:01 Elefant - Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid
2:46:19 The Walkmen - The Rat
2:50:47 Kinky - Soun Tha Primer Amor
2:53:59 Lyrics Born - Callin' Out
2:57:33 DJ Nu Mark - Samurai
3:00:19 DJ Krush - Candle Chant (A Tribute)
3:06:45 Stars - Heart
3:12:41 The Sleepy Jackson - Rain Falls for Wind
3:16:44 The New Pornographers - All for Swinging You Around
3:20:26 The Shins - Fighting in a Sack
3:22:53 Heather Duby - Providence
3:27:56 United State of Electronia - Emerald City

6/15 Show: So Tired...

So the show is a day late this week, but I have a good excuse. Alright, so not really a good excuse, but an excuse. Bah, never mind. Anyway, the end of last week and this past weekend was a great few days for music. Last Thursday was Suicide Karaoke presented by the Three Imaginary Girls. I was bidding to have my friend sing Conga, by Gloria Estefan, but two minutes before the bidding was supposed to close he paid someone to outbid me. That was all sorts of wrong.

This weekend is the Fremont Fair. Come out to see naked bicyclists and join me for a beer in the beer garden. The Radio Nationals will be play at 6:15 on Saturday on the Redhook Mainstage and Snitches Get Stitches will be on the YMCA Fusion Café Stage at 8, also on Saturday. Afterwards, head on over to Hattie’s Hat to hear Jared Clifton (of the Radio Nationals) perform a free Hattie’s Hoot show at 11.

Not registered to vote yet? Well what are you waiting for? Register today! I’m not joking around. Seriously. Don’t make me come over there.

Happy Flag Day +1,
Larry

Shows This Week
6/15
The Streets – Neumo’s
6/17
Planned Parenthood Benefit w/ Shawn Smith, the Establisment Collective – Crocodile
Snitches Get Stitches, Fistsized, Basic Survival Mode – Doc Maynard’s (yes, that’s Pioneer Square)
6/18
Juliana Hatfield, the Damnwells – Crocodile
Rocky Votolato, Roy, Eyes of Autumn – Vera Project
6/19
Fremont Fair: Radio Nationals, Snitches Get Stitches, and many more – Fremont (duh)
Hattie’s Hoot with Jared Clifton of the Radio Nationals – Hattie’s Hat

The Playlist
Belle & Sebastian - Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying
Aqualung - Just for a Moment
Rosie Thomas - Sell All My Things
Damien Rice - Cold Water
Graham Travis - Why Don't You Know Me Yet?
Brandi Carlile - Fall Apart Again
Clem Snide - Fontanelle
Elliot Smith - Waltz #2
Gomez - Me, You and Everybody
Mull Historical Society - Asylum
Rhett Miller - World Inside the World
The Decemberists - I Was Meant for the Stage
The Mountain Goats - The Young Thousands
The Veils - The Tide that Left and Never Came Back
Snow Patrol - Chocolate
The Long Winters - It'll Be a Breeze
Nada Surf - Inside of Love
Preston School of Industry - Get Your Crayons Out!
The Fire Theft - Rubber Bands
My Morning Jacket - Master Plan
Menomena - Strongest Man in the World
The Streets - Wouldn't Have it Any Other Way
DJ Nu Mark - Melody
PJ Harvey - The Letter
The Von Bondies - C'mon C'mon
Arlo - Runaround
Visqueen - Zirconium Gun
Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Date With the night
The Stills - Still in Love Song
Stellastarr* - Somewhere Across Forever
Radio Nationals - Gone
Alejandro Escovedo - Tired Skin
Jay Farrar - Hanging on to You
Rachael Yamagata - Paper Doll
Magnetic Fields - I Don't Really Love You Anymore
TV on the Radio - Staring at the Sun
Elbow - Buttons and Zips
Franz Ferdinand - Darts of Pleasure
Mission of Burma - What We Really Were
The More - All That Surrounds You
Muse - Butterflies and Hurricanes
Modest Mouse - Black Cadillacs
Death Cab for Cutie - TV Trays
Pete Krebs - Distant Lights of Home
Neil Finn - Turn and Run
Los Halos - The Back Home
Iron & Wine - Naked as We Came
Mojave 3 - She's All Up Above
Ryan Adams - This House is Not for Sale
Pedro the Lion - A Simple Plan
Elvis Costello - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?

The Streets at Neumo's 6/15

Just got back from seeing the Streets at Neumo's here in Seattle. An amazing show. For those of you who don't know who they are, the Streets are a British group featuring hip-hop, ska, r&b, garage, and jazz. Some of the beats on their latest album reminds me of something revolutionary hip-hop producer Timbaland could be responsible for. Rapper Mike Skinner's lyrics tell a story of everyday life. Life in the streets, life at his girlfriend's "flat", etc.

Back to tonight's show. As soon as they got on stage, the crowd was feeling them. I can honestly say I haven't seen this many people doing the pogo at the same time since I've been in Seattle. From beginning to end, the crowd was dancing and dancing hard. While some feel their newest album, A Grand Don't Come for Free, isn't easily accessible for everyone because of the inventive beats, this wasn't the case live. While the night was nonstop booty shaking, there was a point where I wished the guy next to me would stop shaking it. Mainly because he didn't realize how big he was and how the people around him didn't enjoy getting slammed into in 4/4 time. What also struck me was how white the crowd was. But I guess that's also a reflection of Seattle.

I didn't catch the names of the openers, but those emcees were no slouches. While there was nothing too original or inventive about their rhymes or their beats, they did what they did well.

What I'm Listening to This Week

The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free
DJ Nu-Mark - Hands On
PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
Rachael Yamagata - Happenstance
Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter - Oh, My Girl

6-7 show: Now What Do I Do?

Not much to say today, other than I hope you enjoy the music. Also, the parking garage at the Fremont PCC is only one floor no matter how many times you drive around it...

If you want to know what I’ve been up to, stop going through my garbage and read my blog.

Not registered to vote yet? Well what are you waiting for? Register today! I’m not joking around. Seriously.

Looks like somebody has the case of the Mondays,

Larry

Shows this Week:

6/8
Franz Ferdinand, The Oxford – Showbox
Jesse Sykes – Ballard Sonic Boom in-store
6/10
Three Imaginary Girls presents “Suicide Karaoke Anniversary Bash & Silent Auction” - Crocodile
6/11
Ruston Mire, Hello from Waveland, Kingsley – Sunset Tavern
The Capillaries, Sean Nelson & His Mortal Enemies, Robb Benson, Graham Travis – Neumo’s
6/12
The Radio Nationals, I Can Lick Any S.O.B. in the House, The Riffbrokers – Sunset Tavern
6/13
The Stills, Sea Ray – Neumo’s
The Fire Theft – Showbox

The Playlist

0:00:00 Smoosh - Live @ the Showbox 2003
0:02:25 Pedro the Lion - Arizona
0:06:34 Nada Surf - Killian's Red
0:12:46 Modest Mouse - Float On
0:16:15 The Long Winters - Unsalted Butter
0:21:03 Death Cab for Cutie - We Looked Like Giants
0:26:36 The Veils - More Heat Than Light
0:30:42 Misson of Burma - Wounded World
0:34:11 Visqueen - Red Blood Blue
0:36:50 The Pale - Wake Up Call
0:40:59 The Format - I'm Ready, I Am
0:44:13 The Minus 5 - The Girl I Never Met Yet
0:46:59 Minus the Bear - Women We Haven't Met Yet
0:51:04 Radio Nationals - Golden
0:55:40 Ryan Adams - Burning Photographs
0:59:52 Drive-By Truckers - Sink Hole
1:03:19 Longwave - Everywhere You Turn
1:06:58 Graham Travis - So Wonderful
1:10:46 Guster - Homecoming King
1:14:23 John Vanderslice - White Plains
1:18:43 Magnetic Fields - I Wish I Had an Evil Twin
1:21:59 Jay Farrar - California
1:26:20 Joseph Arthur - Honey and the Moon
1:31:04 Iron & Wine - Teeth in the Glass
1:33:26 Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio
1:39:46 M. Ward - A Voice at the End on the Line
1:42:01 Jem - Come on Closer
1:45:48 Lyrics Born - Do That There
1:49:27 De La Soul - Itsoweezee (hot)
1:54:15 Lifesavas - Fa' Show
1:58:25 Blackalicious - Make You Feel That Way
2:01:52 Ugly Duckling - Dumb it Down
2:05:26 Stars - Life Effect
2:08:41 Snow Patrol - Wow
2:12:47 The Walkmen - The Rat
2:17:14 The Stills - Lola Stars and Stripes
2:21:04 The Get Up Kids - Red Letter Day
2:24:01 The Dandy Warhols - I Am Sound
2:28:01 Eels - Wrong About Bobby
2:30:47 British Sea Power - Carrion
2:34:53 McLusky - That Man Will Not Hang
2:37:54 The Fastbacks - Parts
2:39:42 The Pixies - U-Mass
2:42:45 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - And I'm Aching
2:46:36 Michael - Rear Window
2:51:46 Budapest - Look You in the Eye
2:57:21 Aqualung - Strange and Beautiful (I'll Put a Spell on You)
3:01:13 Belle & Sebastian - The Fox in the Snow
3:05:24 Camera Obscura - Books Written for Girls
3:10:37 Elbow - Fallen Angel
3:14:45 Idlewild - A Modern Way of Letting Go
3:17:08 Pretty Girls Make Graves - All Medicated Geniuses
3:20:32 Stellastarr* - Jenny
3:24:49 Muse - Stockholm Syndrome

Bush Sees Parallel to World War II

On this important day in world history, I must say that President Bush's likening of today's armed struggle in Iraq to that of the war against Hitler's Nazi Germany is abhorrent. He made these remarks last Wednesday at the Air Force Acedemy. Responding to these remarks on Saturday, Chirac diplomatically said, "History does not repeat itself."

Speaking of the French, they've made an interesting distinction between the President and the US.

6-1 Show: A Long Weekend of Music

For a long weekend, it sure seemed too short. I went out to windy George, Washington this weekend with some friends to check out the Sasquatch Festival. We're thinking about renting an RV for next year. Who's in? I also saw the Shins the next night play a benefit show, they were amazing and no streaker this time.
 
If you want to know what I've been up to, stop going through my garbage and read my blog.
 
Not registered to vote yet? Well what are you waiting for? Register today! I'm not joking around. Seriously.
 
Happy First Day in June!
Larry
 
Shows this Week:
6/1
Zero 7 - Showbox
6/2
Three Imaginary Girls presents Black Nite Crash, Infomatik, The Jeunes - Sunset Tavern
6/4
McLusky, Oceansize, The Standard - Crocodile
Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter (album release), Larry Barrett - Tractor
Brandi Carlile - Triple Door
6/5
Mision of Burma, Kinski - Neumo's
 
The Playlist:
0:00:00 Graham Tavis - Gone Travelin'
0:03:46 Sondre Lerche - Single-Hand Affairs
0:07:16 Rocky Votolato - Swallowing Swords
0:10:08 The Thrills - Don't Steal Our Sun
0:12:58 The Von Bondies - C'mon C'mon
0:15:13 Hello From Waveland - Speaking4clapping
0:18:37 The Veils - Guiding Light
0:21:28 Nada Surf - The Voices
0:24:56 Magnetic Fields - I Don't Believe You
0:28:36 The Postal Service - Brand New Colony
0:32:50 Built to Spill - Carry the Zero
0:38:33 Aveo - The Idiot on the Bike
0:42:03 The Long Winters - Scent of Lime
0:46:07 Preston School of Industry - Escalation Freeds Escalation
0:49:33 The Shins - Turn a Square
0:52:44 Cat Power - He War
0:56:16 The New Pornographers - All for Swinging You Around
0:59:58 Visqueen - Last to Know
1:02:40 Sleater-Kinney - Hollywood Ending
1:05:59 The Decemberists - The Tain
1:24:33 McLusky - She Will Only Bring You Happiness
1:28:02 Catheters - Ravenous Animal
1:30:40 Stellastarr* - My Coco
1:35:45 Revolutionary Hydra - The World Would Be Lost Without Raincoats
1:39:47 Pedro the Lion - The Fleecing
1:44:29 Snow Patrol - Run
1:50:26 Elliot Smith - Punch and Judy
1:52:52 The Mountain Goats - Your Belgian Things
1:56:42 Shawn Smith - Leaving California
2:00:32 Elvis Costello - Party Girl
2:03:56 Gomez - Catch Me Up
2:07:44 Mission of Burma - What We Really Were
2:11:55 50 Foot Wave - Glory Weed
2:14:29 United State of Electronica - Open Your Eyes
2:18:05 Kinky - Mas
2:22:25 Groove Armada - Groove is On
2:26:43 Jem - Falling for You
2:31:01 The Wrens - This Boy is Exhausted
2:35:19 Muse - Time Is Running Out
2:39:15 Franz Ferdinand - The Dark of the Matinee
2:43:18 The More - Wherever I Go
2:47:30 Radio Nationals - See You in New York
2:51:44 Sun Kil Moon - Salvador Sanchez
2:58:13 Crooked Fingers - Boy With (100) Hands
3:02:25 Iron & Wine - Love and Some Verses
3:06:05 Kathleen Edwards - One More Song the Radio Won't Like
3:10:30 Rilo Kiley - Hail to whatever you found in the sunlight that surrounds you
3:13:51 Grant Lee Phillips - Lily-A-Passion
3:18:21 Elefant - Love
3:22:22 Stars - Heart
3:28:20 Belle & Sebastian - If You Find Yourself Caught in Love
 
 

Big, Hairy, Music Monsters

If this keeps up, every place there's a mythical creature lurking about will have a music festival. Can you just imagine the Loch Ness Monster festival with Belle and Sebastian, Camera Obscura, and Snow Patrol? It could happen! Maybe there is a connection between these creatures and great music...who knows? All I know, is that this year's Sasquatch was chock full of great artists that made it hard to choose which stage to see. Of course, my plan of attack was to stay near the main stage the whole day since I had already seen most of the bands playing on the plaza stage. You really couldn't go wrong either way, but with this lineup I was destined not to leave.

The day started with local band Aveo. Playing a number of songs off their newest CD, Battery, Aveo got the fans going. While Maktub put me to sleep last year as the first band, Aveo had me bopping my head on our choice terrace location. Harvey Danger followed with a mix of their old songs and some new ones that will be making an appearance on a new record due out soon. Of course everybody was curious as to whether or not they would play their hit sing "Flagpole Sitta", but that curiosity ended when Sean Nelson announced, "We're playing this next song to settle a bet." After which he said, "Now that that's over with let's play some music."

As usual, Visqueen was their entertaining and funny selves. Rachel, Kim, and Ben always seem to be having a good time when they're on stage and that definitely comes through. Thanks to some strong winds, Kim was obviously worried about the swaying lights above asking the crowd to "Let me know if those lights fall on me." The wind was also doing a number on Rachel's microphone stand, prompting her to ask for help from the crew. "Dude, my mike stand is blowing all over the place, I'm not going to do a cartwheel!" With sandbag firmly in place they continued to bring it. Is Ben Hooker the hottest guy in show business? Well, the band thinks so.

Cat Power was surprisingly disappointing. I love Cat Power and Chan Marshall, but it just didn't feel like she wanted to be there. The songs they played were beautiful, but it's hard not to have it sound good when you have Chan's voice. Between songs, in the place of banter, all you heard was "WAZZUP!" and "Is Maggie here?" After about 25 minutes a Smoosh song came on with someone lip-synching and dancing to it on stage as the rest of the group left. Then it was done.

So, I'm sure you're asking, isn't David Cross supposed to be MCing? Well, yeah but we hadn't seen him until this point in the festival. With a lot of time to fill between Cat Power and the New Pornographers, David was tasked with entertaining the crowd. He apologized for being late and his explanation invoked the word "pubes" more times than I usually like to hear on a Saturday afternoon. His thanking of fake sponsors and announcement that Third Eye Blind was stuck in traffic got a chuckle out of the hypothermic crowd. Oh, did I mention that it was cold and windy? Well, it was. Also during this time, they tried to set up DJ Cherry Canoe's gear so he could spin some tunes for us, but that wasn't very successful. After some more adlibbing, the New Pornographers took the stage earlier than scheduled.

The New Pornographers took the prize for my favorite set at Sasquatch. I was taken by how great they sounded and you could tell this wasn't their first time. I did wonder a few times if they could have used Neko Case better than just having her play the tambourine, but her vocals were absolutely breathtaking. After the disappointing Cat Power set, it was nice to see a group that really enjoyed being up there and had a great interaction with the audience. Announcing they were Canadian got a nice cheer from the crowd. Of course Neko had to clarify that she was from Tacoma, that also received a good amount of applause. With all the extra time they had, Carl and Neko fielded requests from the audience.

Next up was Sleater-Kinney. A personal favorite of mine and I was excited to see them. They didn't disappoint. S-K provided a good mix of songs with a good number coming off their most recent album, One Beat. This was the last show on their current, albeit brief, spring tour. What really caught my eye was Janet's orange drum kit. My long wait to see them perform live was worth it, because they rocked.

Being a comedian sometimes means making stuff up to entertain the crowd. So introducing Boise, Idaho's Built to Spill as being from Maui brought a little smile to my face. Boise is definitely not Maui. Seriously, have you been to Boise? I like the city, but it's a desert, not a tropical paradise. But anyway, back to the music. What can I say about Built to Spill? They rocked. Doug's vocals beckoned festival goers as they slowly filled up the standing room area in front of the stage. Part of it may have been a mass huddle to keep each other warm, but I think the music had a lot to do with it.

If some of my reviews of a band's set seem to be too brief, a lot of my memory is of me trying to stave off hypothermia and staring amazed at how quickly my French fries cooled off in the frigid wind. The Shins, however did provide a memorable set. David Cross introduced them as being voted the best dressed of 2000 and 2001. Martin greeted the crowd with, "Hello Gorge dwellers! Today is my Elevendy-Twelfth birthday!" In the middle of their set, The Shins were joined onstage by their very own streaker. Of course, one could argue that a frigid day is not the best idea for a guy to dance around a stage naked.

Mysteriously our MC, David Cross, disappeared after introducing the Shins. But honestly, the next band didn't really need much of an introduction. Ben introduced the group as "the imaginary band." But they looked and sounded very real to me. With Ben handling the duties on guitar, drums, and keyboard, the Postal Service provided one of the best and most highly anticipated performances of the evening. Of course, since they aren't really "a band", this would be their only show of the year. Ben was joined onstage by Jimmy Tamborello who kept the electronic soundscape going while Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis pitched in with vocals, guitar, synthesizer, and just general merriment. With a limited musical library to play from, the audience was well sated with all but one of the songs found on their album, Give Up.

Next up was the lone hip hop entry of the day. The Philadelphia based The Roots provided a high energy performance, while not taking a breath between songs. They deftly weaved through their lyrical assault on our ears and bodies, their hour long set kept a good segment of the crowd warm as they danced to the never ending beats. Their performance ended with the hit single off the Phrenology album, The Seed (2.0).

The final act of the night was Thievery Corporation. I must admit, that the day of wind and cold had taken its toll on us at that point. One song into their set, we decided it was time to go. As we ventured back to the car we could hear the sound of Sasquatch slowly fading away. When we pulled into the I-90 Inn, we were exhausted at having just listened to 11 hours of live music. We quietly exchanged our high and low points of the day as we drifted off to sleep. Sasquatch 2004 was now over. The day proved the Seattle Times' Patrick MacDonald's claim that this year's festival would be "a dud", wrong.

Sondre Lerche and Charlotte Martin, 5.26.2004

A grey, dismal Wednesday seemed to be appropriate for how the beginning of the week was going. A stereotypical Seattle spring day, filled with rain and heavy traffic. But with Sondre Lerche playing at the Crocodile I was hopeful things would turn around.

The evening began with the lovely and talented Charlotte Martin. The LA based singer/songwriter conjured up memories of Tori Amos, and at times I detected a little Sarah McLachlan and PJ Harvey peeking through. Armed only with her voice and keyboard, her rich sound drew people into the room to watch, mesmerized. At one point, she professed her fondness for Seattle, claiming she wants to move here. But to make sure we didn't think this was just a gimmick, she followed that up with, "I don't say that in every city. I love it here, even when it's dreary because I'm dreary too." Her pop sound belied her sometimes dark, emotional lyrics. The two songs that stuck with me were "In Parentheses" and "I'm Normal, Please Date Me". The lyrics of the latter gave me a chuckle for reasons I can't explain here without getting myself in trouble. "In Parentheses" contained powerful lyrics like, "And I'm on solitary sand/and I've had bullshit from a man/but found exactly who I am". I've always had a lot of respect for performers who are alone onstage with only their voice and their instrument. Without a band to hide behind they are at their most vulnerable, but also their most powerful.

But the man of the hour was yet to come. After keeping us waiting for what seemed an eternity, but was actually only 30 minutes, Sondre burst onto the stage with the energy and excitement of a 21 year old. I was excited to see him perform with his band, because up until tonight he had only played in Seattle alone. The first time I saw him was in the winter of 2003 and immediately became my favorite show of that year. He began by playing some songs alone with just him and his guitar. While I know he has been performing for many years in his native Norway, it still astounds me that that much talent can come out of a person that young. He was soon joined onstage by his band, the Faces Down. At first I was afraid his band would take away from his performance. Sondre is so good alone, could the band really make him sound better? Well, my fears were quickly allayed. With the addition of the band, Sondre's songs were given a depth and richness that just built on top of the beauty of his voice and guitar skills. While watching Sondre perform, you quickly forget about his age but then something happens that makes you laugh because you remember how young he really is. While introducing a song, Sondre told the audience that he wrote it to comfort a lady friend of his. He then proceeded to say, "I hope this comforts you the way I did her." It quickly got a chuckle out of his band as well as the audience. A couple of times during the song, Sondre couldn't help but crack a smile at what just happened.

My goosebump portion of the evening occurred during the encore when Sondre performed "Modern Nature". This song was recorded as a duet on his 2002 release Faces Down with Lillian Samdal, who was not there. So he asked the crowd to sing her parts and they were eager to oblige. Hearing everyone sing Lillian's part literally gave me goosebumps and obviously moved Sondre as well. Near the end of the song he just played his guitar and listened to the audience finish it for him. Afterwards he remarked, "I won't comment on your dancing, but your singing was beautiful!" As his set ended he proclaimed that he would be signing "...stuff. I would never say that other word." The line at the merch booth afterwards went at least 50 deep, showing how popular Sondre is and how moving his performance was.

This was his third show in Seattle in the last year and a half. As far as I'm concerned, he can come to Seattle every week and I would be there for every one of his shows.

Words o' Wisdom

My friend Susan forwarded this to me from MSN:

Lara: I'm a Bush Girl
Lara Flynn Boyle has apparently used the time she might otherwise have spent eating solid food formulating a theory about why she'll support President Bush in the upcoming election. "I'm Irish Catholic, so a Democrat by blood," the light-pole-thin actress tells Us. "But I'm 100 percent for Bush. I want my president to be like my agent: not afraid of people, but wants my best interest." Hmmm, what does it say about Boyle's agent -- and Bush by extension -- that she hasn't actually worked since getting booted from "The Practice" in 2003? At least the actress will soon be off unemployment: She recently signed on for a guest-starring gig as a bipolar manic-depressive on the Showtime series "Huff."

What's Going On?

• You know it's trouble when Canada is against you.
  Canada's Martin Shifts Left, Wants to Be Un - American



• The Earth is running out of oil and Saudi Arabia is increasing output? That can't be good.
  Earth's oil gauge on low?
  Oil back above $41 a barrel: Saudi output hike seen as not enough



• Speaking of fuel, who's up for some biodiesel?
  Dr. Dan's Alternative Fuel Werks



• Maybe if we tear it down the world will forget what happened there.
  U.S. will tear down Abu Ghraib prison



• If the Terminator movies have taught us anything, it's robots will one day rule the world.
  Robot learns origami



• I'm glad I don't live back east anymore.
  Welcome to Cicadaville (Enter at Your Own Risk)

5-24 show: A Missed Opportunity

Have you all seen the new library in Seattle? It's pretty darn cool! I
can't wait to go down there and check it out in person, but I'll
probably have to wait until the crowds die down. Hopefully this will
revitalize reading!

Some of you have demanded it, so of course I gave in. I am now a blogger
with my new blog, the Nut Bar.

Not registered to vote yet? Well what are you waiting for? Register today!
I'm not joking around.

Happy Last Week in May,
Larry

Shows this Week:
5/25
Yo La Tengo, Antietam - Showbox
5/26
Sondre Lerche, Charlotte Martin - Crocodile
Showgirls with David Schmader (movie and commentary) - Showbox
5/27
Careen, Mercir, Graham Travis, Idiot Pilot - Graceland
Talib Kweli, MF Doom - Showbox
5/29
Sasquatch Festival - Gorge

The Playlist:
0:00:00 Lyrics Born - Callin' Out
0:03:34 The Veils - The Tide That Left and Never Came Back
0:06:44 The Eels - Rock Hard Times
0:10:43 Snow Patrol - Spitting Games
0:14:33 The Sleepy Jackson - Good Dancers
0:18:44 Elbow - Not a Job
0:23:08 Modest Mouse - The World at Large
0:27:42 The Long Winters - It'll Be a Breeze
0:30:39 The Minus 5 - Retrieval of You
0:34:31 The Mountain Goats - Palmcorder Yajina
0:38:40 Nada Surf - Fruit Fly
0:43:14 Muse - Blackout
0:47:36 Radiohead - Paranoid Android
0:54:00 South - Mend These Trends
0:57:38 Mercury Rev - You're My Queen
1:00:12 Billy Bragg and Wilco - Another Man's Done Gone
1:01:48 Loretta Lynn - Mrs. Leroy Brown
1:05:26 Drive By Truckers - My Sweet Annette
1:09:17 Grant Lee Phillips - Calamity Jane
1:13:01 The Decemberists - Song for Myla Goldberg
1:16:35 Frank Black - California Bound
1:19:59 The Wrens - Everyone Chooses Sides
1:24:39 M. Ward - Outta My Head
1:27:31 Camera Obscura - Teenager
1:31:12 Ryan Adams - Thank You Louise
1:34:05 Clem Snide - Action
1:36:52 Dear John Letters - Sorry to Sorry
1:40:34 Quasi - Good Time Rock N Roll
1:43:08 Sleater-Kinney - Light Rail Coyote
1:46:17 Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter
1:51:01 Shawn Smith - Sing that Song for Beauty
1:56:29 Heather Duby - Three Miles
2:00:01 Jem - Missing You
2:04:03 Belle & Sebastian - Asleep on a Sunbeam
2:07:26 Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham - Moonshot
2:12:00 Sun Kil Moon - Gentle Moon
2:17:18 Iron & Wine - Free Until They Cut Me Down
2:21:52 Neko Case - Stinging Velvet
2:24:49 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Cold Light
2:27:04 Sparklehorse - King of Nails
2:31:23 Aqualung - Everything Changed
2:34:45 Blonde Redhead - Anticipation
2:38:48 Travis - Turn
2:43:13 Guster - I Hope Tomorrow is Like Today
2:46:36 Damien Jurado - Texas to Ohio
2:49:32 Wilco - Kamera
2:53:01 Rosie Thomas - You and Me
2:55:06 Mojave 3 - Billy Oddity
2:59:24 Idlewild - Live in a Hiding Place
3:02:40 Notwist - Pick Up the Phone
3:06:36 Franz Ferdinand - Tell Her Tonight
3:08:54 Longwave - The Ghosts Around You
3:13:08 The Pale - Reasons to Try
3:15:53 Visqueen - Omaha
3:18:40 The Ramones - Oh, Oh, I Love Her So
3:20:49 Kinky - Soun Tha Primer Amor
3:24:00 Brassy - Turn This Thing Up
3:27:24 De La Soul - Big Brother Beat
3:31:07 Maktub - We've Got Desire
3:34:48 Sondre Lerche - I Know I Know
3:37:50 Amy Blaschke - Sweet Song
3:41:14 Mull Historical Society - 5 More Minutes

A Saturday night...reading

I thought my first music post to this blog would be about the Mountain Goats show at the Tractor on Saturday night. But throughout the day I just didn't feel well, I tried to be in denial about it but when the evening rolled around going out was the last thing I wanted to do. So instead, I wrote a little and read a lot. The book of choice for this Saturday evening was T Cooper's Some of the Parts.

This debut novel reminded me a lot of Kent Haruf's Plainsong in the way it introduces four characters who lead seemingly separate lives and each chapter tells the story from their vantage point. Both novels deal with a similar theme of families, those you are born into and those you make. Earlier in the day, a friend said something that was entirely appropriate for this story. "Friends are the family you choose."

The first character we meet is Isak, who happens to be at Coney Island "the night the hermaphrodite's parents came to take her away." Right away you know this is going to be an interesting book. Isak is a "gender freak", who in addition to being in the freakshow also hustles in the park to make ends meet. Isak lives with Charlie, an AIDS survivor who is currently living on disability, in an apartment in New York. Charlie's sister Arlene is a long divorced pill-popping, antique store owning mother in Providence, RI. Arlene's bisexual daughter, Taylor, is so beautiful that people tend to do anything for her, and the only thing unusual thing about her appearance are her large hands.

While the vehicle for delivering the story and some of the themes are very similar to that of Haruf's, the story and characters are quite unique. A number of times I found myself identifying with the characters' behavior in a way I hadn't with other books before. But I wasn't choosing sides because I saw myself in both sides of a situation. Charlie's feelings of abandonment when Isak leaves. Isak's need to get away and figure things out. Arlene's feelings of loneliness and efforts to change who she is.

Some of the Parts is a fantastic debut novel for T Cooper and a very enjoyable, thought provoking read. Some of the Parts is published by Johnny Temple's (of Boys Against Girls and New Wet Kojak fame) indie book publisher Akashic Books.

Speaking of indie book publishing, we all know about indie music and the consolidation of record labels and radio stations, but the same thing is happening in the world of publishing. These big publishing houses are so concerned with the bottom line that they're only going to put out books they think will sell a certain amount of books. Because of this, a lot of new voices in the world of literature might not get heard if it weren't for publishers like Akashic, Seven Stories Press, Soft Skull Press, etc. So get out there and read. If you can, look for some indie authors at your local independent bookstore.

The Rotation

Here's what I'm listening to this week:

The Von Bondies - Pawn Shoppe Heart
McClusky - The Difference Between Me and You Is That I'm Not On Fire
Mission of Burma - On Off On
The Decemberists - The Tain
Graham Travis - Why Don't You Know Me Yet?
The Magnetic Fields - i
Catheters - Howling...It Grows and Grows!!!
Menomena - I Am the Fun Blame Monster!

Reading never looked this cool

Today the new Seattle Public Library opened downtown and it looks nothing like any library you went to when you were young. It's about time they made the physical appearance of a library look creative and fanciful to match the books inside that bring your imagination to new and exciting places.



This 363,000 sq ft altar to the written word was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and is just stunning. Going to this library isn't just about books either. It houses a number of public art installations, this article in the Seattle Times gives you a nice inside look at some of these pieces.

With how beautiful this building turned out, it's scary to think that Koolhaas almost didn't get to design the library. With this new building, I hope it inspires everyone to start reading books again and get off the computer. This sounds kind of odd coming from someone who is writing a blog...but get off the computer. Go on, read a book!

"Fahrenheit 9/11" wins at Cannes

Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" took the Palme d'Or award at Cannes this weekend. I wonder how much of that win was an anti-Bush statement than a statement about his work. No doubt Moore is a talented director and I haven't seen his film, but this is the first documentary to take that award since 1956. Since then there have been tons of great documentaries made and, having already said I haven't seen this one yet, I'd have to think Moore's can't be the best of them. Either way, it's a strong statement as to how the world feels about President Bush and what his administration is doing in Iraq and at home. Just here in Seattle there are a number of groups aimed at getting him out of office such as Driving Votes and No Vote Left Behind. So it makes me wonder where President Bush is getting all his support.

Well I guess that answer is easy if you leave the liberal enclave that is Seattle. According to the polls on RealClear Politics, Kerry only has a 4% point lead in Washington state. In California, he only has a 1% point lead. Out of the 36 states polled on the site, Bush leads in 19.5 of them, with the .5 being a tie in Arkansas. A good number of these states he has double digit leads and even an astounding 45% point lead in Utah.

The polls on PollingReport.com provide even more interesting information. A larger percentage of people believe that Bush is better able to handle the situation in Iraq and Terroism than John Kerry. 53% feel that President Bush says what he believes while 61% feel that John Kerry say what he thinks people want to hear. 44% of people polled have confidence in Bush's ability to deal wisely with an international crisis while only 39% believe the same about John Kerry. This, in my mind, is an astounding number considering prior to taking office President Bush had no real international experience as Governor of Texas, not to mention the current boondoggle we're currently in in Iraq.

This just goes to show that if there's an important time to vote, it's in this upcoming election. According to the U.S. Census Bureau the 2000 election, only 60% of the citizen population 18 and older voted. Only 70% of the citizen population is registered to vote. That's an incredible number. 30% of the citizens in this country aren't even registered. That's almost one in three people. If you look around your office, nearly a third of them might not be registered. Only 52.4% of my fellow Asian Americans are registered to vote. I'm embarrassed by that number and implore the remaining 47.6% to register. All I have to say is if you aren't at least registered to vote and you're a citizen of this country, you have no right to complain about anything that is going on. It's your duty to take part in the democratic process. Our country is great because we have the ability to have a peaceful regime change every 4 years and every person can affect change with their vote. If you aren't registered, register...now.

Dude, how'd I get on this soapbox?

5-17 show: Some days it flows, some days...well...it doesn't

Here's the mail and playlist from my last show:

Over the weekend I was thinking about this show I've been sending out to you all. Can you believe the show had it’s one year anniversary in March? It’s crazy! Some of you have been listening since the beginning, some of you are new. Either way, I want to thank everyone for listening and sending me such great messages, it means a lot. Now, if only I can get more of you to go out to shows with me…

Congratulations to the Three Imaginary Girls for winning Seattle Weekly's 2004 MVPs. I'd like to think their victory of margin was thanks to the people on this list. Of course I have no proof, but I'd still like to believe it...like the tooth fairy.

Not registered to vote yet? Well what are you waiting for? Register today! I mean it.

Have requests for the next show or just want to say hi? Feel free to add me to your IM: larryliang@hotmail.com

Happy National Direct Deposit Month,
Larry

Shows this Week:
5/17
Dolour, Love Hotel, Amy Blaschke – Chop Suey
5/18
The Smiths vs Morrissey Cover Night – Crocodile
5/19
Zeerock, Keg, Snitches Get Stitches – The Hideaway
5/20
Three Imaginary Girls presents No. 13 Baby, Kings of Hawaii, Tullycraft – Crocodile
5/21
Elf Power, Aveo, Summer Hymns – Neumo’s
The Catheters (album release), Akimbo, The Hunches, The Lights – Vera Project
5/22
The Mountain Goats, Vinny Miller, We Ragazzi – Tractor
5/23
Cheap Trick, Visqueen – Showbox

The Playlist:
0:00:00 Los Halos - Reasons to Smile
0:04:20 The Young Fresh Fellows - Get Outta My Cave
0:07:43 Snow Patrol - Run
0:13:40 The Stills - Still in Love Song
0:17:20 The Fire Theft - Waste Time
0:20:35 Aveo - Hypochondria is Spreading
0:24:59 Franz Ferdinand - Come on Home
0:28:45 Elefant - Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid
0:33:03 Stellastarr* - Jenny
0:37:20 50 Foot Wave - Dog Days
0:41:12 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Shade of Blue
0:45:34 Broken Social Scene - Shampoo Suicide
0:49:39 Radiohead - Backdrifts. (Honeymoon Is Over.)
0:55:02 Modest Mouse - Float On
0:58:30 Stereolab - Hillbilly Motorbike
1:00:53 Postal Service - Clark Gable
1:05:48 Jem - Save Me
1:09:22 Jimmy Cliff - Vietnam
1:14:13 Basement Jaxx - Hot 'N Cold
1:18:13 Beastie Boys - Hey Ladies
1:22:01 Ugly Duckling - La Revolucion
1:27:18 Jurassic 5 - I Am Somebody
1:31:23 The Roots - The Seed (2.0)
1:35:52 The Sea and Cake - One Bedroom
1:39:49 Tahiti 80 - Get Yourself Together
1:43:21 Stars - Elevator Love Letter
1:47:24 Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio
1:53:45 My Morning Jacket - Run Thru
1:59:31 The Thrills - Say it Ain't So
2:02:15 Drive-By Truckers - Hell No, I Ain't Happy
2:06:38 Uncle Tupelo - Before I Break
2:09:43 Radio Nationals - Reverend Jim
2:13:33 Damien Jurado & Gathered in Song - Big Deal
2:15:57 The Wrens - Faster Gun
2:19:47 The More - It's Alright
2:22:58 The Format - Let's Make This Moment a Crime
2:26:49 John Vanderslice - Promising Actress
2:31:20 Ed Harcourt - Metaphorically Yours
2:36:08 The Decemberists - I Was Meant for the Stage
2:43:10 Iron & Wine - Love and Some Verses
2:46:50 The Reindeer Section - Last Song on Blue Tape
2:49:26 Evan Dando - Stop My Head
2:53:01 Rhett Miller - Your Nervous Heart
2:56:48 The Long Winters - Shapes
3:00:51 The New Pornographers - All for Swinging You Around
3:04:33 Nada Surf - The Way You Wear Your Head
3:07:52 Built to Spill - Else
3:12:01 Preston School of Industry - So Many Ways
3:15:16 Pedro the Lion - Suspect Fled the Scene
3:19:12 Rocky Votolato - Secrets of a Salesman
3:23:28 Shawn Smith - Wrapped in My Memory
3:26:57 An American Starlet - Half a Heart

Wait...blogging is what?

So I've been talked into keeping a blog of my deepest, personal thoughts...

Okay, maybe that's not what this is going to be about. Mainly I'll use this to write about whatever interesting music I've been listening to (cds or shows), books I've been reading, or anything I need to rant about. This, of course, is the best option for me since talking to real people never works out for me. Computers are much more forgiving when I can't control my urge to poke it in the eye. It also helps that they don't have eyes.

If you're reading this then you probably already know me so I won't give you any history. The name Nut Bar is thanks to the lovely Rachel from Visqueen who kept talking about the assortmant of nuts kept behind the bar at Hattie's Hat in Ballard. She kept saying, "You've got quite the nut bar back here." That's when Jarred and I decided that the Nut Bar would be wonderful name for something. Hope you enjoy it and email me damnit.