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

Robot Quadrotors Are Forever: Crazy James Bond Theme Rendition

Dave Segal — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:53:42 -0700

This robot-quadrotor-operated rendition of the James Bond theme popped onto YouTube in 2012, but you may have missed it. It's one of the best things ever to be uploaded onto that site. Wonder what John Barry's estate thinks of this...

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Stranger Things: New NighTrain Video For "Huntress"

Bree McKenna — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:16:21 -0700

The ladies of NighTrain have made a video that combines sweet post-punk guitars, the cover of Billy Joel's The Stranger (it's those masks!) and the witchiness of The Craft for their new single "Huntress."

For anyone who didn't know the band's charming back story, the four-piece originally formed for a play about a punk band called "Hot Grits," and learned to play instruments, write songs, and play a few underground shows around Seattle to prepare for their roles in the production. Afterward, they had bonded with each other AND won so many over hearts in the music community that they ended up staying together and forming NighTrain.

It's been so fun watching them develop their sound over the last few years...fans such as myself can also donate to their Indiegogo campaign to help fund the self-release their new album and upcoming Southern US tour here.

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Best Show Promo Video of the Year (So Far)

Dave Segal — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:09:56 -0700

The Bismarck, SEMINARS, and KOZO have a show coming up at the Rendezvous Friday May 31. To alert you to this momentous occasion, somebody in SEMINARS scripted a video to that infamous movie, Der Untergang (2004), which has been the basis for a series of thigh-slappingly funny "Hitler Reacts To" parodies. Bonus: Shots fired at The Stranger.

Tip: Chris Jury

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Cave Singers, Blue Sky Black Death, Minus the Bear Head Up Summer Meltdown Fest

Larry Mizell, Jr. — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:37:58 -0700

The homie Austin, who's been holding it down for live music in Bellingham for years with his Buildstrong Productions, tipped me off to this festival he does up thataway every year. Behold the lineup for this year's edition, going down August 9-11 at the Whitehorse Amphitheater in Darrington, WA—off top I see it includes The Cave Singers, Minus the Bear, and Blue Sky Black Death:

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Sax G - Tu Me Manques (A Short Film)

Larry Mizell, Jr. — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:17:46 -0700

Sax G, Takiyah Ward, and director Roger "10.4Rog" Habon made this ultra-intimate visual to accompany some of the sultry vibes of Sax's stellar Tu Me Manques album—which is out now for however much you want to pay via the good folks at Cloud Nice.

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Balds of the '90s

Anna Minard — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:33:00 -0700

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The West Coast Rap All Stars' "We're All In The Same Gang" Is 23 Years Old Today

Larry Mizell, Jr. — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:24:30 -0700

Which means I am like 70 years old.

This song, produced by one Dr. Dre, featured the rhymes of King Tee, Body & Soul, Def Jef, Michel'le, Tone-Loc, Above the Law, Ice-T, NWA's Dre, MC Ren and Eazy-E, J.J. Fad, Young MC, Digital Underground, Oaktown's 3.5.7 and MC Hammer. (For my money, I still think Digital Underground's Shock G/Humpty Hump had the strongest part.)

A year before, New York rappers had come together to make "Self Destruction" for it's own violence epidemic; LA had it's own rampant gang-related murders. As a kid growing up in South Central, this song was a big deal, and I was all for it. "Same Gang" was conceived of an OG, as in original member, of the Crips by the name of Michael Concepcion—known as "Shaft" back in the day. Concepcion was confined to a wheelchair by an assailant's bullet.

"I got this idea, Jerry," he said. "I'm trying to broker this peace deal between the sets, you know, because the killing has got to stop."

According to NWA manager Jerry Heller's autobiography Ruthless, Concepcion came to him with the idea for the track; he had sponsorship from Reebok and the cosign of Jesse Jackson and Ice-T, but he needed Heller's support to secure production from Dre and the participartion of the by-then Ice Cube-less NWA's. Heller looked out, impressed with Concepcion's vision, and arranged to have Warner Brothers press and distribute the project for no charge. That album went platinum, and without a doubt contributed to the peace treaty that was eventually settled on in LA's streets (until it all fell apart again). Happy anniversary to this all-too-brief moment in time in my hometown.

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Access This Random Daft Punk Memory

Dave Segal — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:25:29 -0700

With hype for Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories* spiking, now may be a good time to reflect on a live performance from the French duo’s early days—just for stark contrast’s sake.

This 1996 clip from Wisconsin’s Even Furthur festival reveals a unit working with a much rawer, rougher, and ravetastic palette of sounds than heard on Daft Punk’s post Homework releases. Between you and me, I prefer this side of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo’s oeuvre. It’s unlikely they’ll ever return to this acidic, gritty, meth-y style, but you never know. When you get as big and rich as Daft Punk, you can pretty much do whatever the hell you please (see the Beatles, Radiohead, Steven Soderbergh).

Tip: Jayson Kochan/Airport

*I’m waiting until the hubbub over RAM subsides before listening to it. I think that will yield a more measured analysis. That's how irrational I am.

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Hats of the '90s

Anna Minard — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:23:46 -0700

(At 0:53 and 2:03)

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Coultrain's Giant Steps

Larry Mizell, Jr. — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:19:47 -0700

I first encountered Coultrain as one half of the time-slip soul crew Hawthorne Headhunters alongside Black Spade (initial members I-Ced and Seattle native Proh Mic broke out to do their own respective thangs); he and his people rocked with Shabazz Palaces on a hot night in St. Louis about a year ago, and afterwards we cooled out lovely in a bar's back patio.

Last month I was happy to see that Portland powerhouse tastemaker FRSH SLCTS was hyping the Plug Research release of Coultrain's new album Jungle Mumbo Jumbo—whose cover, I noticed, samples the Lady Frieda Harris painting from the Thoth tarot card for Lust. Holla. I love this simple, enchanting video for "A Gem Iza Jewel," directed by FRSH's Kenny Fresh. No disrespect, but in my opinion a lot of y'all are too hung up on the Pickwicks and Allen Stones of the world to pick up on the fresh new sounds on the cutting edge of soul music in 2013. That said, a taste:

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The Solemn Majesty of Master Musicians of Bukkake's "Gnomi"

Dave Segal — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:19:45 -0700

Master Musicians of Bukkake have issued another video of a song from their forthcoming Far West album (out on Important Records in June; read about that record's "White Mountain Return" here). "Gnomi" is one of MMOB's most accessible and melodramatic moments, a solemnly majestic ballad that packs an ancient punch, scarred by some of the most tastefully deployed guitar noise and marked by some of the most decipherable vocalizing in the group's long history. Also special: the 50-second synth breakdown near the halfway point, which recalls the sinister, seething tones of Igor Wakhévitch and Patrick Vian.

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The Profitable Disco Delirium of Airport's "Business"

Dave Segal — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:07:56 -0700

Seattle producer/synthesist/bassist Airport (aka Jayson Kochan of Midday Veil and TJ Max) has a new video of his sinister disco bomb “Business” ready for your hungry eyes. Directed by and starring artist (and a 2012 Stranger visual art Genius contender) Amanda Manitach, the clip captures the obsessive-compulsive, fast-twitch mania of a lot of the best dance music. Plus, stilettos.

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Hey Marseilles "Heart Beats" Music Video Viewing Party

Emily Nokes — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:55:07 -0700

Hayley Young Photography
Hey Marseilles and all kinds of other people.

Seattle's elegant folk pop lads Hey Marseilles are having a video-release party tonight over at Moe Bar for "Heart Beats," a song off their new album Lines We Trace. I'm obligated to tell you that I am one of the people in this video, but don't let that stop you—there will be drink specials and give-aways! And it's free! And the band will be there! You could have them sign your neck, or whatever you had Ron Jeremy sign.

6pm - 8pm // 21+ // Here's the Facebook invite!

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"It’s Like a Free-Jazz Salad": Brother JT's Trippin' Balls

Dave Segal — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:11:31 -0700

Brother JT hosts the best damn talk show on the net, Trippin’ Balls. This new segment with the great Baltimore musician Ed Schrader of Ed Schrader's Music Beat is typically twisted, knuckleballing through time and space with semi-lucid, lysergic logic. Let us hope that this series and this badass, absurdity-mongering Bro never stop befuddling us.

After the jump, check out the infectious, gently bent "Somebody Down There" from Brother JT's new album on Thrill Jockey, The Svelteness of Boogietude.

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Shellshag's New Video for "Driving Song"

Emily Nokes — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:38:37 -0700

Oh how love Shellshag—the nicest people on earth, still living the dream! "Driving Song" is off their newest release Shellshag Forever on Don Giovanni.

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Psych-Glam Band the Burnt Ones' "Web" and You'll Never Walk Alone

Kathy Fennessy — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:54:09 -0700

Burger Records

Psych-glam Bay Area outfit the Burnt Ones have released a video for the song "Web" off their new record, You'll Never Walk Alone, which I wrote about here.

Though I referred to them as a trio, because that's what all available information indicated—profiles, promo portraits, press releases, etc.—four people appear in this clip, so I think there's something they're not telling us, though bands are known to call on auxiliary members from time to time.

In any case, the thing was shot on video, which reminds me of last year's scrappy horror anthology V/H/S, except it isn't scary, though the glowing neon images provide the perfect fit for their fuzzy T. Rex-meets-Pink Floyd maelstrom (and look for V/H/S/2 at this year's Seattle International Film Festival).

Burger Records releases You'll Never Walk Alone on May 14. Stream it now at Ad Hoc. They'll also be playing Chop Suey with Pony Time on June 17 ($7 adv, 21+).

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Thao & the Get Down Stay Down Covering INXS Is, as You'd Expect, So Great

Megan Seling — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:08:47 -0700

And the perfect, sexy soundtrack for a(n almost) summer's day:

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down cover INXS

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More Quality Van Halen

Jason Josephes — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:10:52 -0700

Mike Nipper's post reminded me of this clip of David Lee Roth, completely high as shit at the US Festival in 1983. I don't wanna telegraph what happens here, but this music-free clip concludes with Diamond Dave drinking whiskey with an unlikely guest and taking a potshot at one of the most famous English punk rock bands of all time.

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Julian Lynch Skips Seattle, Releases Video

Kathy Fennessy — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:54:00 -0700

Underwater Peoples Records
Still from the Sarah Kinlaw-directed video

One-time Ducktails and Real Estate associate Julian Lynch has been diligently toiling away on his solo career since 2008, culminating in the release of his fourth album, Lines, earlier this year. It's a pretty, prog-infused pop record that hasn't attracted much attention in Seattle, so maybe that's why his current tour doesn't include our fair city.

On the plus side, he's released a video to accompany the bleary, smeary "Gloves," which plays like XTC by way of Roxy Music on Robitussin. Double plus (good): it's rather charming, especially for those who find curly-haired lasses, stuffed rabbits, and polka-dot dresses appealing—and hey, who doesn't? (More so if The Velveteen Rabbit made a vivid impression on you as a kid.) Yet somehow, the end result isn't as cute or as quirky as that description might indicate. SPIN compares it to Donnie Darko, though I'd like it even better if the big bunny at the end looked more like the small one.

Julian Lynch - Gloves from Sarah Kinlaw on Vimeo.

Underwater Peoples Records released Lines digitally on March 26; it's now available on vinyl (since April 30) at this link.

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Under The Annieway

Dean Fawkes — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:10:29 -0700

A few days ago, choice Norwegian DJ/songwriter Annie ("Chewing Gum", "I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me", "The Breakfast Song") returned all sure-footed with the melancholically sophisticated, dancefloor synth-pop glimmer that is "Tube Stops & Lonely Hearts".

As a song, it works double-duty, which is rare: it carries on both the European transportation themes of Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express", Primal Scream's "Autobahn '66", and — just a couple of months ago — Little Boots' "Motorway", but also the lustrous memories of early '90s British dance culture heroically illustrated in The Streets' "Weak Become Heroes". And all the while still coming off adept and modern.

Mix-tape dare!

Go.

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The Best Way To Waste Time Today

Bree McKenna — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:00:25 -0700

The link to this "Women of Punk" on Network Awesome was blowing up my Facebook feed all morning, and I just finally fell prey to its greatness. It includes "30 shows containing almost 400 video clips exploring the role women have played in punk music from the 70's to today, with rare interviews and concerts, videos, documentaries and feature films." If you wanna dork out on old '80s VHS-quality videos of interviews and performances by Kleenex, the Bags, Mo-Dettes, Model Citizens, Blondie, Delta 5, Sonic Youth, Bikini Kill, Pandoras, and a segment called "77 minutes with Kate Bush," then this is for you.

Plus, it has a bunch of bands of the last decade that I hadn't thought of in a minute, like Finally Punk ("WTF, MISSILE??"), Erase Errata, All Girl Summer Fun Band, Mika Miko, New Bloods, and Tracy and the Plastics.

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Debacle Fest-Bound Date Palms Drop a Doozy of a Video for "Dusted Down"

Dave Segal — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:00:50 -0700

In my estimation, Date Palms are going to be one of the highlights of Debacle Fest, a seriously deep exploration of experimental music that happens May 3-5 in Seattle, and about which you can read more in this publication on Wednesday.

Led by Marielle V. Jakobsons (violin, flute, electronics) and Gregg Kowalsky (keyboards, electronics), the Bay Area group are slated to drop The Dust Sessions in June on Thrill Jockey. A sublime combination of sinuous prairie ragas and elegant chamber orchestral maneuvers, the The Dust Sessions elevates mind states with a spiritualized gracefulness. Check out “Dusted Down” for a sneak preview of its treasures.

Date Palms play Debacle Fest Sat. May 4 at FRED Wildlife Refuge.

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The Gorburger Show: King Tuff Episode

Emily Nokes — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:12:02 -0700

I have no idea what this is exactly, but if you watch until the end, King Tuff plays "Freak When I'm Dead."

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Coachella Hangover: The YouTubes

Josh Bis — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:47:28 -0700

Speaking of videos from Coachella, I just noticed that the festival has catalogued choice selections from its weekend one livestream in one colorful, convenient-to-navigate YouTube microsite.

Here, for instance is Seattle's own Prom King, Allen Stone, performing "Sleep" for a tent full of people who arrived early enough to catch his afternoon set.

Like us, it sounds like Allen thoroughly enjoyed his time at the festival:

Playing Coachella was an honor. Not because of the "cred" but because of the other shows at the festival. I saw the 3 best shows of my life last weekend; Janelle Monae, James Blake and Father John Misty. It was a humbling honor to be on the same festival as such incredible performers.

Although you can check out things like that surprise R. Kelly—Phoenix live remix and the Postal Service showing a fresh audience their great heights are officially archived for posterity, it'll take only some entry-level googling to dredge up those top three performances (plus many more) through fan-powered channels.

A week coughing up dust from enduring that epic sandstorm during Wu-Tang Clan's closing set is among my less cherished Coachella souvenirs (this Kii Arens poster is a much nicer and — I can only hope — more enduring piece of memorabilia), but kept some of the weekend's performance preserved in internet amber for the posterity of occasionally revisiting the nostalgia factory.

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New Helado Negro Video: "Relatives"

Kathy Fennessy — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:21:57 -0700

Asthmatic Kitty

Helado Negro (Roberto Lange) has just issued a video for "Relatives," the most bass-
intensive cut off Invisible Life.

I'm not sure exactly what it all means, but Lange is a visual artist, so I'd imagine he was involved somehow in director Zircon Prince's multimedia conception. It doesn't all work, especially that blurry pan towards the end, but I like the song, which benefits from Jon Philpot's José González-like vocal contribution, an airy counterpoint to Lange's more earthbound approach.

In the press notes, Lange describes the impressionistic clip as follows:

"The video uses a lot of hard cuts with video generated by synthesizers and some from travels, late nights and early mornings. Jon from Bear in Heaven created a really amazing counterbalance to the song that acts like some residue of things in my brain—like a resonant echo that keeps repeating itself to me as I keep following."

Helado Negro- Relatives from Asthmatic Kitty on Vimeo.

Invisible Life is out now. Helado Negro plays Barboza with Javelin on May 9.

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Top Five In Living Color Music Sketches in Order of How Dated They Are

Jason Josephes — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:45:45 -0700

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New From Peach Kelli Pop!

Bree McKenna — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:08:57 -0700

Here is the newest music video from the minimalist bubblegum sensation Peach Kelli Pop (yes, named after that Redd Kross song!) The project is the handiwork of pop mastermind Allie Hanlon, with a rotating backing band of whichever friends are available for her to teach her songs to.

Peach Kelli Pop was born when Allie, an Oakland, California transplant by way of Ottawa, Canada, started writing fun, sugar-fueled punk songs as a side project of her band White Wire. Her second album (just released earlier this year on Burger Records) is chock full of songs that are seemingly woven together from Nikki and the Corvettes records and B&J wine coolers. She just announced announced some dates with UK's Kate Nash, and will be opening for her at the Crocodile on May 15th. If their were just one show I could recommend throwing down a few grape jello shots beforehand, this would be the one.

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Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Flex Worldwide in "Can't Hold Us"

Larry Mizell, Jr. — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:25:26 -0700

Last night at the beautiful Columbia City Theater—at a super-secret pizza-party/performance for their fans—Macklemore & Ryan Lewis debuted their newest video. This video, for "Can't Hold Us", is M&RL's first since the pair crossed the Rubicon from "blowing up" into "superstars" with "Thrift Shop"; this clip doesn't spare an ounce of ambition. In it, Mack and Ryan and Owour Arunga and Ray Dalton are literally standard-bearers, passing a Heist flag from continent to continent; from snowy mountains to New Zealand sands to the top of the Space Needle. Let no one say this is not them owning what is very much their moment.

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Meet Key Nyata In "Thx Gvrdxx"

Larry Mizell, Jr. — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:12:07 -0700

Key Nyata (KEE NYE-OUGHTA) n.
1. Seattle-based rapper and producer.
2. Member of the American rap collective Raider Klan (often stylized as RVIDXR KLVN) AKA Blackland Raider Klan or Raider Klan Mafia, which was founded by enigmatic Miami rapper SpaceGhostPurrp.
3. First came to prominence for his weed-heavy "Get High (Wanna Smoke)", where his Mariners apparel instantly sparked interest from Seattle-area rap writers. Key is beloved by an underground nation of sleepy eyed, possibly "urban" youths. His Shadowed Diamond release is coming soon, once he finishes smoking a thousand million blunts.

Here's his latest video, for "Thx Gvrdxxn", a track which features his signature stop/start, speed up/speed down production quirks:

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Carmen Villain's Video Focuses on Faces

Kathy Fennessy — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:03:35 -0700

Smalltown Supersound
Photo by Ingrid Pop

I still haven't quite made my peace with her comic book-like name, but I can understand why Carmen Hillestad would want to create a new persona when she made the move from modeling to music-making, though more Europeans probably know Carmen Villain by her famous face than by her birth name, since she's modeled for Vogue, Elle, Glamour, and the other usual fashion suspects. I just don't get a villainous vibe from her work, though I like the way the pseudonym brings hiphop duo Madvillian to mind (even if they sound nothing alike). Fittingly, the video for "Easy" from her debut Sleeper features a series of close-ups. I have no idea whether the subjects are actors, musicians, or friends, but it's nice to see a model focusing on faces other than her own (though she shows up a few times, too).

Sleeper is out now on Smalltown Supersound. Carmen plays New York's Pianos on April 23.

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