Couch Hound

Sera Cahoon's got quite the rap sheet, having been a member of the indie rock supergroup Carissa's Wierd and also having drummed on Band of Horses first smash record Funeral. She's now out on her own, signed to a small little label called Sub Pop. Ever heard of it?

Thursday April 30: Sera Cahoone, Betsy Olson, Karli Fairbanks at the BLVD for ages 18 and up.

Listund

The Listener is one part Dan Smith one part traveling knife salesman. Hailing from Siloam Springs, Arkansas - he has a show full of intimate beat-backed poetry/abstract(y) hip hop. He likes pot lucks, mustaches and touring alongside old washing machines. Bring him some dinner!

Wednesday April 22 at the Empyrean: Listener, Som Jordon, Danny Sherrard, Kurt Olson, Fienix, Danny Danburry. $8 for all ages

Eat It!

Boy Eats Drum Machine is a one man band from Portland, made up by Jon Ragel. He sings, plays sax, guitar keys, percussion and mans a turntable. Check it out.

Saturday April 18 at the Empyrean: Boy Eats Drum Machine, Jiggywatts, Pegasus Dream, Please Draw In Me.

Is Today Monday?

Holy swoops! In addition to the Loom show going on at Caterina, there's another kick ass show going down at the brand new BLVD. On a Monday!?!?!!!

I saw the Tanks play in Iowa City last fall, and it was a remarkable experience. They're a 3 piece bass-drum-vocal outfit, but they sounded so full I was trying to see where the guitar player was hiding. It seems their singer likes to dress up, and he was rocking a fierce fur skirt, a hairy belly not unlike my own, and 2 metal gauntlet gloves. They're super loud and super rad.

Also, my pal Coolzey is bringing his hip hop waggalicious funocity raps all the way from Fairfield, Iowa. In another life, I played a show with his old group the Sucka MCs at the Double Dribble!!! How's that for street cred!?!

Monday April 6: The Rhombus, Coolzey, the Tanks, Gliss, Takeover UK at the NEW BLVD - 230 West Riverside. 21+

Falling Up

Pullman/Spokane's Cyrus Fell Down kick off their tour tonight at the Empyrean. Go down, buy a shirt and jump up and down.

Cyrus Fell Down, the Globes, The Lonely H and Meteorites Attack! at the Empyrean on Friday March 13. 7pm for all ages.

Beats Me!

Seattle/San Diago rapper Grieves has been grinding pretty hard for the last few years, touring alongside Rhymesayers representatives Atmosphere, Grayskul and Mac Lethal - who signed Grieves to his Black Clover imprint last year. He's hitting the road with one of his best pals Type, and will be playing Spokane on Sunday.

This is probably one of the funnier videos that any friends of mine have made, and employs a whos who cast of Seattle hip hop figures. Enjoy.

Grieves, Soulcrate, Type and Jiggywatts play the BLVD on Sunday March 8. Ages 18 and up.

Hardcore, this Wednesday

This Wednesday (02/25), we've got a good mix of hardcore and punk coming to the Empyrean. F'real, something for everyone, check it out:

Seattle's Rebuilt is returning with their breed of melodic hardcore. Reserved and yet still energetic. If the tough guy garbage isn't your jam, give these guys a chance. No jocks or pit beef - just hesher groovin', fist pumpin' tracks. Look for these guys to come through in late March as well.

SoCal's Trends bring metallic hardcore jams, backed with radical, in-your-face vegan/straight edge politics. Earth Crisis only cares about money, this is the real disillusioned youth. Oh, and they're bike nerds. Go figure.

Rounding out the show for locals are Wound Up (upping the punx), Whalelimb (now featuring Alex... er, me, from Behold on vokillz), and Plaguing Me (dudes from both bands). These are the bands the 15 year-olds of tomorrow will be jocking, so check 'em out while you're ahead of the curve.

$5 (unreal!) at 6:00 PM. The Empyrean, 154 S. Madison. Come hang out, get your rock on... unless you hate fun.

Hardcore at the Hop this Saturday

Excuse the horrible title, it's the best I can manage on 3 hours of sleep.

This Saturday (01/24), Seattle's Vanguard returns to the Cretin Hop. In tow are Providence, RI's Soul Control (on Rivalry Records, legit label - check 'em out), Ill Intent (Seattle), More Than Heroes (Portland), and Wound Up opening. More surprises are bound to happen...

If you've been living under a rock, you can find all the bands on myspace. Plenty of singalongs, fun, and limited merch is guaranteed to be had.

Doors at 6:00, $10. Show's a little spendy, but touring ain't easy or cheap.