The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper: Line Out: Questionland

Stripper Music!?

Grant Brissey — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:05:35 -0700

User sahara29 over in Questionland says: "I'm trying to pull together a playlist, about an hour long, of music that is good to strip to." Help 'em out!

Drummers, how often do you replace your drum heads?

Grant Brissey — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:36:25 -0700

A discussion over here.

Have Questions About Noise for the Needy 2011?

Grant Brissey — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:11:25 -0700

Or the bands playing it? Shoot on over to Questionland and start shooting!

Noise for the Needy Artists on Questionland!

Grant Brissey — Tue, 31 May 2011 12:21:52 -0700

Ask them almost whatever you want! Ask Kerry Zettle about his thousands of tattoos! Ask P Smoov what his sign is! Ask everybody else how they got so dang good!

UPDATE: Now with actual working link!

All that and more right here!

DJ Riz on Questionland!

Grant Brissey — Mon, 16 May 2011 09:40:12 -0700

Ask the venerable DJ Riz how he got to be such a great human being! Example questions: "DJ Riz, does it hurt your brain to have knowledge of that much music inside it?" or "Riz, what is your most prized crate-digging find?" OR! "Riz, how long is your longest dreadlock?" Get to it here!

Hey Music Memorabilia Nerds!

Grant Brissey — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:42:59 -0800

Chris in Questionland asks: "Where can I find band/concert posters in Seattle? Specifically looking for prints, letterpress etc. similar to the Hatch show stuff."

Help a guy out if you can here.

What Do You Buy the Bass Player in Your Life?

Megan Seling — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:10:47 -0800

Cedarthvader needs some gift ideas for "an obsessive bass player."

Suggested so far:

A "finger strengthener" (which sounds dirty).
Band-Aids.
A booking.
Personalized guitar strap.
Strings.
Gift cards to Bass NW.
A new Fender Jazz bass.

Got any better ideas? SHARE 'EM!

"What Christmas song makes you want to stab yourself in the ear to make it stop?"

Megan Seling — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:37:20 -0800

Sad Santa doesn't understand why you hate him so much... :(

I fucking love Christmas music, but I know I'm in the nerdy minority. In fact there's currently a thread in Questionland about the very worst holiday tunes.

Some of the songs hated so far:

"Jingle Bell Rock"
"All I Want For Christmas"
"I Like a Sleigh Ride (Jingle Bells)" by Peggy Lee
"Jingle Bells" by Barbara Streisand
"Up On The Housetop"
"Little Mary Christmas" by Roger Christian
"Little Drummer Boy"
"Baby It's Cold Outside"

Have your own Christmas song kryptonite? Join in the holiday hatefest!

"Where can I get my turntable fixed now that JNS is closed?"

Megan Seling — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:50:57 -0800

Uncle Meghabhuti tells Questionland:

So so sad that JNS Phonograph in Roosevelt has suddenly and irrevocably closed down (thanks a lot, Lightrail). Now what do I do about getting my Technics turntable fixed? Help!

A couple folks have suggested Platinum Records and Hawthorne Stereo. Have any other tips? Share your smarts in Questionland!

Do You Like Making Noise?

Megan Seling — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:28:59 -0800

This week in Questionland local producers, sound designers, engineers, and musicians are talking about noise—making it, recording it, and playing it. They are taking questions on everything from building your own effect pedals to building your own home studio. And anything else noise related, of course.

Check out some of our awesome and smart panelists:

Geoff Ott - Engineer, producer and owner of London Bridge Studio.

Vance Galloway - Audio engineer who has worked everywhere from the 9:30 club in DC to Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc.

Graig Markel - A local musician who's worked as an engineer and producer on projects by bands including Head Like a Kite, Nada Surf, Band of Horses, Jim Carroll, the Spits, and many more.

James Burns - Gear nerd, Line Out contributer, and local band dude in Police Teeth and Cold Lake.

So if you have a question about how to make whatever music you create sound its best, ask the experts now!

"How do I talk about music?"

Megan Seling — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:02:07 -0700

Questionlander new york state of mind says: "I have an interview tonight (yay!) and they have told me to be prepared to talk about my new favorite albums/musicians. It just hit me, that I don't really know how to go about doing that in a professional setting. Maybe I'm just nervous, but I'd love any suggestions for not sounding like a dope."

There are already a couple good suggestions in there, but maybe you have some more? Share 'em in Questionland!

"What is your favorite song about science and/or math?"

Megan Seling — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:14:45 -0700

TELL ME!

"What duets would you love to see happen?"

Megan Seling — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:36:27 -0700

This is an excellent question.

Personally, I would love to see Ted Leo and Andy Falkous from Future of the Left sing a duet. I feel like that would be really fantastic.

How about you?

"What are some good pop songs that can also be 'kid's songs'?"

Megan Seling — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:13:42 -0700

Andrew says: "I'm having fun playing music to my new kid—some songs that are not made for kids have vibe that seems good for kids—I'm thinking "Here Comes the Sun" (Beatles), "Three Little Birds" (Bob Marley)... They don't have to be G rated or anything. I guess just fun and light? Something like "Heroin" by Velvet Underground would probably not work. I'm not super-well versed in music, so I'm seeking the help of Questionland. Any ideas?"

Give him your kid-approved suggestions here!

"What is the best geek album of all time?"

Megan Seling — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:06:38 -0700

They Might Be Giants: GEEKS.

It's Geek Week in Questionland and while that means there is a lot of computer/cell phone/tech talk, there's also some geeky questions about music. Particularly, this one:

"What is the best geek album of all time? Define geek however you see fit."

A bunch of folks have already weighed in. Here is just a handful of albums and artists that have been nominated for the title:

"Jonathan Coulton, nerdcore hip-hop like MC Frontalot, Optimus Rhyme/Supercommuter, and chip tunes like Anamanaguchi or YMCK, or video game music like Minibosses."

"They Might Be Giants are super geeky."

"It's got to be Rush. I'm torn between Moving Pictures and Fly By Night. Moving Pictures might win because "Tom Sawyer" has great bass or lose because "Tom Sawyer" is (well, was) popularly known and popular conflicts with geeky."

"The first C-Average album sounds like a game of D&D."

"As far as sounding geeky or having a geek quality I'd have to go with Belong first as their walls of distortion appeal to the inner geek in me."

What do you think the best geek album is? Answer here!

"Which Magnetic Fields album should I start with?"

Megan Seling — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:32:46 -0700

Have an opinion? Share it in Questionland!

"What's is your latest favorite band? What's your latest favorite song?"

Megan Seling — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:19:47 -0700

Clementine wants to know who your current favorites are. Share 'em over in Questionland!

"What are good songs to put on a mix for a wedding to get people dancing?"

Megan Seling — Thu, 20 May 2010 11:36:09 -0700

Fixiewrek is making a playlist for a friend's wedding and needs some help! Fixie says: "Mostly fun, hip people will be at the wedding so it can't be too cheesy (some cheese is okay, of course)."

Suggested so far:

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" - Michael Jackson
"Don't Stop Believing" - Journey
"Winds of Change" -Scorpions
"Sexy Back" - Justin Timberlake
"Move Your Feet" - Junior Senior
"Crazy" - Gnarls Barkley
"Ice Ice Baby" - Vanilla Ice (for later in the night when people get really drunk)

Have some other ideas? Help Fixie out in Questionland!

Question: How Does One Book and/or Promote a Dance Night?

Megan Seling — Thu, 13 May 2010 11:25:28 -0700

Yesterday littlewing0906 posed this question to our panel of music experts in Questionland, including:

I always see DJs and musicians listed with shows booked in Vancouver, or in Portland, but not Seattle. What gives? As an example, let's say I want to book Kyle Hall to play at the Hunter Gatherer Lodge on a Saturday night in August. I imagine that people at Knight Riders or Shameless do this all the time, but I've never done this before. (1) I would need to talk to the musician/performer, or perhaps their booking agent- do they get paid up front, is there a certain protocol, or does it vary depending on the terms of the contract? Then, (2) I'd have to talk to a club, but who would I talk to at the club? What type of fees can I expect to be charged, e.g., insurance, bar staff, permits/licenses/etc? (3) Aside from promotions/press releases, are there other considerations I'm leaving out in terms of planning?

Here's an excerpt of what Jake London had to say:

Probably, the first thing to do is to figure out what venue you want to work with. Then find out if they work with outside promoters, what it costs, what sort of services they will provide, and what you might have to provide for yourself (e.g., postering and other print ads and other promotional expenses).

If the venue makes sense, then figure out if there are open dates.

From there, hit up the booking agent for the performer (or the performer directly if they don't have an agent). They'll let you know availability, costs, terms of payment, etc. If they are routing through already on a tour, you may be able to get a better rate than if they would be traveling in specially for the gig.

If their availability matches the available dates at the club, perhaps you can work something out. If not, you may need to go back to the club and see if they have any open spaces when the performer is available.

Ultimately, I think a lot of clubs enjoy working with competent outside promoters, because it lowers their risk. The promoter is on the hook to pay any guaranty to the performer and to also pay for at least part of the club's overhead that night. regardless of how the show does. The club makes money off the drinks, as long as people come out (which is where clubs generally make most of their money anyway).

Do you have some advice of your own that you could offer? Share your knowledge in Questionland.

Some Things Currently Being Discussed in Questionland...

Megan Seling — Tue, 11 May 2010 16:32:33 -0700

This week a panel of local music industry experts are taking questions in Questionland about anything and everything having to do with the making music—from booking shows to singing record contracts. Panelists include Eli Anderson of the Crocodile, local DJ and booker Mamma Casserole of the Comet, Ben London of the Recording Academy, and Nicolas Heliotis of Hardly Arts Records. There's a lot of really good advice to be had—here are just a few of the questions that have been asked and answered so far:

"How do local bands get to open for national touring acts?"

"Where is the best place to record a first record?"

"Lennon or McCartney?"

"Are there any tips for booking a first show?"

and...

"Why doesn't KEXP play rock music?"

Head over to Questionland now to see the answers, ask your own question, or chime in with your own advice.

Need Help Making Sense of the Music Industry?

Megan Seling — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:39:23 -0700

Sometimes being in a band isn't easy. A lot of questions can come up over the course of your musical career—how do you book a show when you don't have a good draw because you've never really played a show before? What kind of info should you (and should you not) include in a press kit? How do you set up publishing for your songs? It's not always easy to know where to go to get good advice.

Well Questionland is here to help! We've put together an expert panel of members of the local music industry to answer any questions you might have. We have everyone from bookers to writers to record label and recording studio employees. We even have an entertainment lawyer who's worked with musicians, clubs, bars, and more. Just take a look at this panel of smarties:

Eli Anderson, the Crocodile booker
Ben London, Executive Director of the Recording Academy Pacific Northwest Chapter
Nicolas Heliotis, Hardly Art Records (home of the Moondoggies, Unnatural Helpers, the Dutchess & the Duke, and more)
Jake London, entertainment lawyer*
Vincent Gates, producer at Commontone Studio
Eric Grandy and Dave Segal, The Stranger

(We'll hopefully be adding a few more folks over the next couple days, but that's a hell of a start, right?)

So if you're making music in this city and you need a little help making sense of ins and outs of the music industry, head over to Questionland and ask the music panel your question now!

*FYI: Jake London's advice is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice or give rise to an attorney-client relationship.

Here's Something to Ponder on This Monday Morning

Megan Seling — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:40:45 -0700

Clementine asked: "What song(s) would be in the soundtrack to your life?"

So far there are two responses. And they both have Dylan songs!

What tunes would you pick? Share you answers in Questionland.

"What are some good campfire songs?"

Megan Seling — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:41:32 -0800

Sonya needs some good songs to sing around the campfire on an upcoming trip. So far the only suggestions she's gotten in Questionland are "Kumbayah," "Country Roads," and some Klingon song.

But there's gotta be more! Help her out in Questionland!

Here's what I'm gonna suggest:

Burning Question

Megan Seling — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:36:54 -0800

"What is the name of the song Marty (Josh Hamilton) and Jackie-O (Parker Posey) play on the piano in The House of Yes? Is it a real song?"

Does anyone know? Anyone? Tell Questionland!

Burning Question

Megan Seling — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:06:19 -0800

Rachel wants to know: Is it worth the extra money for premier camping when camping at Sasquatch?

Well, is it? Tell Questionland!

Burning Question

Megan Seling — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:02:02 -0800

"What's a good/bad karaoke duet?"

A few songs that have already been suggested:

"Love Shack" by the B-52s
"Anything for Love" (the extended version that has the female vox) by Meatloaf
"Summer Nights" from Grease
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John and Kiki Dee
"Island in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

Have an even better idea for a good or bad (or both!) karaoke duet? Tell Questionland!

Burning Question

Megan Seling — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:27:53 -0800

"Are there any vinyl/CD stores in the Puget Sound area that focus specifically on jazz?"

Fnarf says no. Can you think of any? Tell Questionland!

Burning Question: "Do you have any 'stalker song' suggestions?"

Megan Seling — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:41:16 -0800

Over in Questionland, Arkham needs your help with a playlist: "I'm making a playlist of songs that are (intentionally or unintentionally) about kind of creepy, stalkerish relationships."

Arkham has already thought of a few, including "Every Breath You Take by the Police and "I Will Possess Your Heart" by Death Cab for Cutie, but there are still plenty more out there.

Here are some of the other tracks that other users have already suggested:

"Run for Your Life" and "Little Girl" by the Beatles
"There She Goes Again" by the Velvet Undergound
"The Prowl" by Dan Auerbach (of The Black Keys)
"Two Steps Behind" by Def Leppard
"I Can't See Me Without You" by Conway Twitty
"I Want You" by Elvis Costello

What creepy songs do you love? Share your stalker song suggestions in Questionland!

Burning Question: Where are the Grunge Landmarks in Seattle?

Megan Seling — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:36:01 -0800

Abby has asked Questionland where some of the "grunge landmarks" are in Seattle.

Suggested so far: "The hair salon Vain at 2018 First is the site of Vogue, where Nirvana played their first Seattle show."

And someone else claims Pearl Jam supposedly came up with their name at B&O Espresso on Capitol Hill.

Where would you take a visiting friend who wanted to see Seattle's grunge history? Answer in Questionland!

Burning Question

Megan Seling — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:23:11 -0800

"Are there any bands with a libertarian message in Seattle?"

So far, no one has been able to think of anyone. Can you?