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Bars The Funhouse Property Has Been Sold

Posted by Kelly O on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 4:33 PM

I am sad to report that it is now official - The Funhouse will be moving from our current location.

Our landlords sent us a notice informing us that the building has been sold and we have 6 months to vacate the property, ending our tenancy on October 31, 2012.

Obviously we are devastated by this news.

My business partner Bobby & I are now going to begin the process of finding another location for our business. Ideally we'd love to find a somewhat central location that can host a bar & live music. In the best case scenario we'd love to find a place to buy, but barring that renting another space would be acceptable too.

Our hope is to take over another space by Oct/Nov, thereby minimizing down time and at best keep all of our staff employed.

The building the Funhouse occupies originally opened in the late 1930's under the name Tex's Tavern. Tex's was in business for 50 plus years, until it became Zaks in the 1990's. Bobby took over the business, opening the doors on Halloween night 2003.

When word went out about us possibly losing our business the public outpouring of support was overwhelming, and while we desire no charity (The Funhouse is a for profit business, after all) we are hoping to hear suggestions from our supporters about possible new locations.

One of the things some folks were hoping for was getting some kind of landmark status for the building, but my understanding is this happening is way on the outside of possibility. Obviously we'd love some kind of last minute miracle to keep us in our current location, but we must be pragmatic and plan on moving.

So this ain't over yet. I have to look at this as something positive. Who knows what cool stuff will happen in the next few months?

And to anyone wanting to support us - please come down and buy a drink. We could use your business!

Brian Foss
Funhouse Co-owner/Booking Agent

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Interview Music Critic Summit Meeting: Simon Reynolds Interviews Greil Marcus

Posted by Dave Segal on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 3:43 PM

Two of my favorite music critics—Simon Reynolds and Greil Marcus—recently engaged in an epic Q&A at LA Review of Books. If you are super geeky about incisive, big-picture music criticism in general and the life of Greil Marcus in particular, you will be richly rewarded. If you want to get into Marcus’ canon, start with Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the 20th Century and In the Fascist Bathroom: Punk in Pop Music, 1977-1992. For Reynolds, go with Rip It Up and Start Again: Post Punk 1978-1984, Retromania: Pop Culture's Addiction to Its Own Past, and Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture. Don't forget to bring your longest attention span.

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??!! And the Cruise Concert Trend Continues... With Lamb of God and Anthrax

Posted by Megan Seling on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 3:05 PM

Introducing the First Annual MAYHEM FESTIVAL CRUISE Featuring LAMB OF GOD, MACHINE HEAD, ANTHRAX, SUICIDE SILENCE, HATEBREED, KINGDOM OF SORROW and Many More!

The Maiden Voyage Sets Sail on December 7th, 2012 from Miami, FL to the Bahamas!

Tickets Go on Sale Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 at 12 NOON EST

All the info you could ever want is at www.MayhemCruise.com.

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Video Are You Aware that Champagne Champagne Recently Spent Four Days in France Singing About the End of the World?

Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 2:53 PM

This video is the result:

CHAMPAGNE CHAMPAGNE // "4 Horsemen" from G.M.B Films on Vimeo.

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Upcoming Insane Clown Posse's Commercial For New Album Is Actually An 18-Minute Short Film

Posted by Kelly O on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 2:20 PM

Today in Juggalo News: Via [long-winded] press release, in which I've added [carefully placed] bolded text:

(Wicked ninjas: just read the bold stuff! Whoop-whoooop!)

New album drops on August 14th as the Wicked Clowns prepare for their Annual “Gathering of The Juggalos” on August 8th–12th.

Insane Clown Posse have announced details on the upcoming release of their latest opus The Mighty Death Pop via one of their signature infamous infomercials. In the latest of their one-of-a-kind clips, which have previously been the subject of multiple popular Saturday Night Live parodies, the wicked clowns Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope shout out to their fans with details of The Mighty Death Pop, which will burst onto the scene on August 14th. Juggalos worldwide have something to really get excited about as The Mighty Death Pop will be available in three different versions – Red Pop, Black Pop and White Pop. Each version will feature the new 17-track album in its entirety, plus a full-length disc of bonus material—making it the most extensive release by the group to date.

The Mighty Death Pop will arrive in the midst of ICP’s 13th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos, which returns to Cave-In-Rock, Illinois at The Hatchet Landings (AKA Hog Rock) on August 8th – 12th. Tickets are on sale now at juggalogathering.com for the 4-day festival of music, wrestling, comedy and mayhem, including more than 100 acts. The famed fan festival has entertained more than 100,000 attendees since its inception, and continues the tradition this year with an incredible line-up. Curated by Insane Clown Posse and Psychopathic Records, this year’s Gathering will feature performances by Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, ABK, Boondox, Mike E. Clark, and many other acts to be announced. In addition to regular admission tickets, packages are also available for a five-ticket deal, a combo pack, a Big Balla Campsite campsite pass, and more.

Video, with 72,048 views and counting, after the jump.

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I'm Still a Virgin They Were SOOOO Progressive, Man, Shit Got Bent...Curved Air

Posted by Mike Nipper on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 2:06 PM

Curved Air is an English prog group which time, and much heavier groups, has seemingly washed away. Perhaps it's as their records aren't particularly rare, so...a lack of fervent record-nerd lerve? Hmmm, or maybe since their records don't contain beats? I dunno, but they, currently, have a relatively low profile. No matter, they were top-notch players. Dig this work out! Proggy as FUCK! Let's all count to FIVE!!

Their first album, Airconditioning, is their best. There are lots of cool musical collisions over-layed with sweet femme vox. It just gels. Um...there is, also, a certain forward-looking feel with singer Sonja Kristina's double-tracked vocals and the pace of the songs. Uh, like, there's an '80s feel to to this album. Seriously. I'm not quite sure why, Airconditioning was released in 1971, maybe it's an after effect my having lived through the '80s or something I indeed heard, but...there you go.

By their second record, aptly titled Second Album, "artistic differences" and lineup shifts were fracturing the group. Confused and conflicted, they seemed to slip into exploiting Sonja's voice, hopeful for pop success. Of course, that'd be fine for a pop group, but not so much for an arty rock group. Their pop hope became most apparent on their third LP, Phantasmagoria, and it's with this record Curved Air lost me. Tho' they did have one more fantastic moment, the lead track off Phantasmagoria, "Marie Antoinette" ...very much like the Jefferson Airplane!! They are currently back in action, with singer Sonja and violinist Darryl Way from the original lineup.

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??!! / Video / #1 Fan Bring on the Rabbitheads!

Posted by Kathy Fennessy on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 1:55 PM

K.C. Fennessy

Until I came across this video, I'd never heard of Hamutsun Serve, the Japanese duo behind the "Usataku Dance," which I'm adding to my list of favorite rabbithead releases. While attending college, Rikiccho and Dah-yoshi formed the dance unit in 1999, and have since collaborated with Madonna on her Sticky & Sweet Tour (they appear during four songs). That still doesn't explain the rabbithead in the track suit—and I'd prefer not to know. It's more fun that way.

"Hamutsun Serve's dance lesson."

More clips below! Plus, rabbitheads from my collection.

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Video Welcome to Doe Bay to be screened at SIFF

Posted by Josh Bis on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 1:28 PM

Welcome to Doe Bay, a documentary on the much-beloved music festival on the southeastern shores of Orcas Island, is among the many great-looking music-related films in this year's Seattle International Film Festival. Check out the trailer below, which features footage from the 2011 festival, clips from a bunch of local bands including Champagne Champagne, and a great little talking-head moments from Sound on the Sound co-founder Abbey Simmons:

SIFF runs from May 17 to June 10; the full schedule—including screening dates for this film—will be announced on May 3. Doe Bay's 5th annual festival takes place August 9-12; tickets will almost certainly sell out within a few minutes of going on sale on May 6th at 10AM.

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Album Do You Like Eccentric Breaks & Beats?

Posted by Dave Segal on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 12:32 PM

If so, the magnanimous connoisseurs at the Numero Group have done you a solid with Parallel Thought: Eccentric Breaks & Beats Volume 2. Like the first volume of Eccentric Breaks & Beats, Parallel Thought is a wicked collage of obscure musical passages from Numero Group's rich catalog that you’ll want to sample or simply play like a highlight reel in the soul/funk/R&B-laced jukebox of your most sensible dreams. See how many tracks you can recognize: I couldn't identify a single one, damn it...

Read about Parallel Thought's back story, as related by member Adam Calman, here.

<a href="http://parallelthought.bandcamp.com/album/eccentric-breaks-beats-volume-2">ECCENTRIC BREAKS & BEATS VOLUME 2 by Parallel Thought</a>

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The Stranger Suggests

FILM

‘Whores’ Glory’

Michael Glawogger is the Austrian film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer celebrated for his documentaries about contemporary labor, three of which are showcased this month at Northwest Film Forum.

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Gossip / Out of Town Overheard: Re: Austin Psych Fest

Posted by Kelly O on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 10:56 AM

magazine advertisement, circa 1956

From Facebook, via my friend who lives in Austin:

I love Austin Psych Fest. Glad to be involved again for the 5th year now. So many positive people with brains, talent, and true goodness... but Anton Newcomb... really? You insult the Black Angels on stage in front of thousands of people? They are the reason you're on that particular stage and getting paid for it in the first place. I don't mean to accentuate the negative but that was just extremely bad form. I could say more but I don't want to be all "Anton" about it...

...He's supposedly sober now, so I thought, as "professional musician" he'd keep it together. I know a lot of people were taping the show so I will try to turn up the "official version" but essentially this is what he said in the middle of their set: "I know you guys have your Black Angels, your Wooden Shijps, your Black Lips, and your Conan O'Brien that played this weekend, but that song we just played was better than all of those people. Don't let your music turn into a Kotex commercial..."

Who even buys Kotex anymore? Personally, I'm more of a Playtex kinda girl.

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News Music News for April 30, 2012 Feat. Obama and Young Jeezy, Mark Hoppus in Short Shorts and Black Sabbath

Posted by Casey Nolan on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 10:46 AM

Shout Out to Young Jeezy!: While at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Barack Obama said in his speech that if he is elected to a second term, Al Green would be replaced by Young Jeezy.

#7689 Thing That Bums Out the Biebs: While in Indonesia, or according to Justin Bieber "some random country," a song was recorded in a small studio with people that "didn't know what they were doing."

Don't Forget your Roots: Death Cab for Cutie and Pearl Jam talk about Public Radio Music Month and the importance that KCMU (KEXP) had in their lives.

Simply Ridiculous: Mark Hoppus made a workout video with exercises pertaining to when you have down time on tour.

Need a Monday Morning Picker Upper?: Tenacious D posted their new song for you to listen to.

Fingers Crossed: Smashing Pumpkins released their album art and track listings for their latest album Oceania.

When you Wish you Were On the Other Side of the World: Black Sabbath announced that they're doing a small show in the UK to warm up for their tour in which many special guest artist's are planning to make an appearance on.

Only A Miracle: Al Jardine of the Beach Boys stated that their upcoming 50th Anniversary World Tour is nothing but a miracle. Well duh, you're over 70 years old and doing a world tour—that's amazing.

Monday Morning Song of Choice is Posted After the Jump:

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Business Dear Every Venue Everywhere, Ever: Facilitate the iCal Import on Your Calendar

Posted by Grant Brissey on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 10:42 AM

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Barboza has got this SO right. Most publications run on Mac OS, and when you make it this easy—with two clicks of a button, I now have all of their booked shows for the next two months in my calendar—it's inevitable they're going to be on my radar more often than not. If you're not already doing this, you're sleeping. Now if Barboza could just open...

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Fashion What You're Not Wearing: Special San Francisco Edition!!!

Posted by Timothy Rysdyke on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 10:32 AM

(These photos were all taken last week in San Francisco. There's a very important poll at the end!!!)

This gown:

These overalls:

These tattoos:

This smirk:

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Album Keyboard Kid's The Transition EP Now Streaming on FACT

Posted by Dave Segal on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 10:08 AM

This week’s music-section star Keyboard Kid has his new EP and first official release, The Transition, streaming on FACT magazine’s site. In addition, respected UK newspaper The Guardian just featured the local hiphop producer and wrote some glowing things about him (“The Pharrell of Based.”) Major developments!

The Transition’s five tracks sound vaguely similar to recent productions by fellow Seattleites Truckasauras and UK future-bass maximalist Rustie: glossy, high-end synth melodies contrasting with grittier bass textures and unpredictable beats that still keep heads nodding. You can sense Keyboard Kid straining at hiphop’s conventions and stretching into more abstract electronic realms. But final cut “LongLiveSwag” throws a wicked curveball/knuckler: It’s a staccato techno banger that sounds like one of Kid606’s quasi-ironic rave-anthem homages. Bit of a shocka, for sure.

The Transition comes out May 7 on Donky Pitch.

<a href="http://donkypitch.bandcamp.com/album/keyboard-kid-206-the-transition-ep">Keyboard Kid 206 - The Transition EP by Donky Pitch</a>

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Tip Hang Out with Mastodon Tonight!

Posted by Megan Seling on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 9:43 AM

~~Asstodon~~ Mastodon will be visiting Easy Street Records on Queen Anne tonight at 5:30 pm. The band will be signing autographs before their show at Showbox Sodo and Easy Street will also be giving away tour posters with any Mastodon purchase.

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Mailbag E-Mail Subject Line I'm Feeling Most Apathetic About Today: "LENNY KRAVITZ - MAMA SAID- DELUXE EDITION TO BE RELEASED ON JUNE 5 "

Posted by Grant Brissey on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 9:04 AM

That is all.

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Song When Sun Araw Met the Congos

Posted by Kathy Fennessy on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 8:52 AM

RVNG Intl.

In advance of their new collaborative effort, RVNG Intl. has made a preview track available from FRKWYS Vol. 9: Sun Araw & M. Geddes Gengras Meet the Congos - Icon Give Thank. "Happy Song" lives up to its title; it's rhythmic, hypnotic—irie to the max. I particularly like the buzz and static that ride atop the bubbly, sinuous groove. The artists also star in Tony Lowe's film, Icon Eye, which documents the 10-day recording of the album in St. Catherine, Jamaica.

For those who are not familiar, Cameron Stallones is Dave Grohl doppelgänger and Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist Sun Araw, while Jamaican harmony group the Congos consists of "Ashanti" Roy Johnson, Cedric Myton, and Watty Burnett. Formed in the 1970s, the trio reunited in the 1990s with the addition of Kenroy Fyffe. M. Geddes Gengras is a synthesizer player, recording studio owner, and longtime Stallones associate (Dave Segal last wrote about Sun Araw here).

Check out the trailer for Icon Eye below.

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Upcoming Preview M.I.A.'s "Come Walk With Me"

Posted by Grant Brissey on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 8:28 AM

It's Monday, it's raining, and I'm really jealous of these dudes' dancing skills. More thoughts on the music if my brain ever starts working. (It's not looking likely today.)