advertisement
News Local search    • Help  • Paid archives
Saves you time. Saves you money. Makes you smarter.The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA
E. Jasmin

Friday, May 16th, 2008

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 12:06:23 pm

I don’t know about you, but I am totally hooked on "Metalocalypse.” Seriously, I need Dethklok 12 step. And I'll be able to feed my habit Sunday night when the satirical metal cartoon’s second season kicks off during Cartoon Network's “Adult Swim” hours with a hilarious new episode called “Blood Ocean.” (I've actually already seen it. Pretty good.)

And all of that was as good an excuse as any for to pick show co-creator Brendon Small's brain. And among other things he tells me that Dr. Rockso will go through “a big change” in season two. Another industry insider who's seen more of the second season than I have told me what it is. And nooooooooo! Say it ain't so!

Clip 1: What inspired he and Tommy Blacha to create a metal satire

Clip 2: Working with Metallica, King Diamond, Dimmu Borgir and other metal stars

Clip 3: The origins of Dr. Rockso

Clip 4: The new season and Rockso’s big change

And I think I’ll save the last clip about Dethklok’s live show for closer to when Small and company’s headlining date June 3 at Showbox SoDo. Later, y'all.

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 10:35:52 am

Let's sort things out first. It's the Lonely H that's playing Hell's Kitchen on Saturday, not critcally acclaimed alt-rock duo, Local H. A quick scan of the Kitchen's Web site a while back had me looking for the latter's critically acclaimed new album "12 Angry Months." But the guys you can see this weekend are the ones behind "Kick Upstairs" and "Hair," albums released by Seattle's Control Group in the last couple of years. You know, it's the outfit from Port Angeles that's been generating a regional buzz with its classic rock-influenced sound since it took second place in EMP's battle of the bands competition Sound Off a few years back.

Got it? Got it! Now here's a few interview clips with singer-keyboardist Mark Fredson, and from the band's latest album. Enjoy.

Clip 1: Getting confused for the Local H, classic rock influences

Clip 2: New country flavored songs the band is working on

Clip 3: “Hair”

Clip 4: “Yeah Yeah”

Clip 5: “The Drought”

This is the Lonely H from Port Angeles. If it were Local H there would be, like, half as many dudes. Got it? See these guys Saturday night at Hell’s Kitchen.
KIRT REYNOLDS

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 03:29:58 am

While I'm still awake and thinking about it, the word on the street is that country hot shot Kenny Chesney will scale down the stadium tour he's brought to Qwest Field the past two summers and instead stop at the White River Amphiteatre. Just unconfirmed rumor at this point. But I've also heard talk of possible Madonna, Janet Jackson and Tina Turner tours headed our way. As always, I'll fill you all in when I have something a bit more solid.

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 03:20:49 am

Crikey! I knew I should have edited all my interview audio before I rushed off to that Rainiers game (which we lost anyway.) I am such a slacker. And now here I am in the wee hours rushing to beat Friday morning's paper in which I promise all these clips. Ugh! But for you, faithful Bring the Noise readers, I'll put a pot of coffee on and knock these things out.

And I think you'll like this first batch, which are from my interview earlier this week with drummer Keech Rainwater, who will appear with his Lonestar band mates, including new singer Cody Collins, tonight at the Emerald Queen.

Clip 1: What lead to Richie McDonald's departure

Clip 2: How the new guy stacks up to the old guy

[UPdated: For some reason this last clip didn't upload correctly early this morning. But here it is! New album info!]

Clip 3: Plans to release new EP "The Future" on their own label in September

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 01:54:54 pm

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony were no shows and they need to pay up, according to a lawsuit filed a couple of weeks ago in U.S. District Court on behalf of local semi-pro basketball team Jazz of Tacoma. The suit also names booking agency, Adler Entertainment, and alleges that Jazz paid the Bone Thugs advance money to perform, but that the California-based hip-hop group breached contract and failed to show.

The Jazz of Tacoma are seeking damages of $280,000 plus attorney’s fees. I’m awaiting clarification from Adler Entertainment.

Bone Thugs' hits include “1st of the Month,” “If I Could Teach the World” and “I Tried,” and recently released a new album called “Still Creepin’ on Ah Come Up.”

Categories: hip-hop
Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 11:10:00 am

Paramore, All-American Rejects, Band of Horses, the Black Keys, Sons & Daughters and Estelle have been added to Seattle's Bumbershoot festival, which will take place over Labor Day weekend (Aug. 30 to Sept. 1) at Seattle Center, One Reel announced this morning. As always, should be a blast. I'm most looking forward to seeing Beck perform songs from his forthcoming Danger Mouse-produced album. Click here for more festival details.

Categories: upcoming shows
Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 10:15:09 am

Yup, them Posies boys have been together for two decades now. (Make you feel old, huh.) And the Bellingham-born outfit celebrated with a rockin' set last night at Hell's Kitchen. I hear it was the band's first show together in months; not that you could tell. The quartet sounded tight and energized. And front men Jon Auer (the guy on the right in the top photo) and Ken Stringfellow (next to him) still have great chemistry and a goofy sense of humor. At one point, Auer introducing the Posies' biggest radio hit "Dream All Day" as a song that had been named the 457th greatest lost power pop gem by Rolling Stone. "I think that was Rolling Stone Guam," Stringfellow quipped back.
ERNEST A. JASMIN

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 05:40:54 pm

Here's some answers to yesterday's Useless Trivia Tuesday challenge. Take the original quiz, sans spoilers, here.

1. Which band member hails from Puyallup?

A. Ben Gibbard
B. Chris Walla
C. Nick Harmer
D. Jason McGerr

2. Most see this as Death Cab’s breakthrough album, featuring the band’s first MTV hit “The Sound of Settling” and such set staples as “Title and Registration,” “Expo ‘86” and the title track.

A. “Plans”
B. “Transatlanticism”
C. “Something About Airplanes”
D. “We Have the Facts, and We’re Voting Yes”

3. This guy recently released a solo album called “The Score.”

A. Ben Gibbard
B. Chris Walla
C. Nick Harmer
D. Jason McGerr

4. Ben Gibbard’s side project the Postal Service recorded a reverent remake of this ‘80s hit …

A. Gary Numan’s “Cars”
B. Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds”
C. Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus”
D. The Police’s “Message in a Bottle”

5. Gibbard collaborated with this heavyweight producer on the soundtrack for Kurt Cobain biopic “About a Son.”

A. Rick Rubin
B. Steve Fisk
C. Butch Vig
D. Nigel Godrich

6. Gibbard’s literary muse for “Bixby Canyon Bridge,” the lead track from the new “Narrow Stairs” album, is …

A. Charles Bukowski
B. Cormac McCarthy
C. William S. Burroughs
D. Jack Kerouac (and he recently wrote a cool essay in Paste about it, too, in case you missed it.)

7. What is the Seattle indie label that released the band’s first few albums?

A. The Control Group
B. Sub Pop
C. Light in the Attic
D. Barsuk

8. The band’s name is a reference to a song performed in what rock film?

A. “Magical Mystery Tour”
B. “This is Spinal Tap”
C. “Singles”
D. “Tommy”

9. Band members met at what Washington institution of higher learning?

A. University of Washington
B. Washington State
C. University of Puget Sound
D. Western Washington University

10. Jason McGerr is the newest band member. Who played drums before him?

A. Michael Schorr
B. Matt Cameron
C. Brann Dailor
D. Jeremiah Green

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 10:51:16 am

This just in from Live Nation regarding that Avril Lavigne show that was postponed due to "acute laryngitis."

Seattle, WA – Live Nation regrets to inform that the Avril Lavigne concert, originally scheduled for Comcast Arena at Everett Events Center on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. and postponed last week, has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.

Ticket refunds will be issued at point of purchase.

Hmmm. Don't have any insider info about this show. But considering they're calling the whole thing off for good, I wonder if there's a biological correlation between ticket sales and vocal trouble. Some doctor should write a paper about that.

Categories: upcoming shows, pop

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 03:59:46 pm

Last time I talked to Krist Novoselic was before his appearance at Tacoma's University Books in 2006. Then he told me he'd just recently teamed up with cult punk band Flipper, an influence of his old band, Nirvana, with plans to play England's All Tomorrow's Parties festival. And now local fans will be able to see the Novoselic-enhanced outfit on June 28 at Hell's Kitchen, according to the Kitchen booking agent Flash Connel.

Flipper will also perform at Seattle's Funhouse on Friday night. And word on the street is that Flipper will be up in Seattle that weekend mixing a brand, spanking new album with Jack Endino. More details as I get 'em.

Categories: alternative/indie
Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 12:33:43 pm

Death Cab for Cutie's solid new album "Narrow Stairs" hit stores today. "Pity and Fear" is my favorite track, for the record. And I was debating whether I should post clips from my latest interview with Chris Walla this week or closer to Sasquatch festival, where the band will appear on the main stage later this month, or this week. So don't be surprised if a few clips about the process of making "Narrow Stairs" pop up in the next couple of days. Or you can just click here to hear what he told me a few months ago as the album was being mixed.

Meanwhile, I thought the band would be an excellent Useless Trivia Tuesday topic. So let's see how big a fan you are.

1. Which band member hails from Puyallup?

A. Ben Gibbard
B. Chris Walla
C. Nick Harmer
D. Jason McGerr

2. Most see this as Death Cab’s breakthrough album, featuring the band’s first MTV hit “The Sound of Settling” and such set staples as “Title and Registration,” “Expo ‘86” and the title track.

A. “Plans”
B. “Transatlanticism”
C. “Something About Airplanes”
D. “We Have the Facts, and We’re Voting Yes”

3. This guy recently released a solo album called “The Score.”

A. Ben Gibbard
B. Chris Walla
C. Nick Harmer
D. Jason McGerr

4. Ben Gibbard’s side project the Postal Service recorded a reverent remake of this ‘80s hit …

A. Gary Numan’s “Cars”
B. Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds”
C. Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus”
D. The Police’s “Message in a Bottle”

5. Gibbard collaborated with this heavyweight producer on the soundtrack for Kurt Cobain biopic “About a Son.”

A. Rick Rubin
B. Steve Fisk
C. Butch Vig
D. Nigel Godrich

6. Gibbard’s literary muse for “Bixby Canyon Bridge,” the lead track from the new “Narrow Stairs” album, is …

A. Charles Bukowski
B. Cormac McCarthy
C. William S. Burroughs
D. Jack Kerouac

7. What is the Seattle indie label that released the band’s first few albums?

A. The Control Group
B. Sub Pop
C. Light in the Attic
D. Barsuk

8. The band’s name is a reference to a song performed in what rock film?

A. “Magical Mystery Tour”
B. “This is Spinal Tap”
C. “Singles”
D. “Tommy”

9. Band members met at what Washington institution of higher learning?

A. University of Washington
B. Washington State
C. University of Puget Sound
D. Western Washington University

10. Jason McGerr is the newest band member. Who played drums before him?

A. Michael Schorr
B. Matt Cameron
C. Brann Dailor
D. Jeremiah Green

Monday, May 12th, 2008

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 04:45:46 pm

I was just watching this, my favorite episode of "Flight of the Conchords", the other day. Can't wait to see these guys at Sasquatch and Sub Pop's 20th birthday bash.

And as a bonus clip, have you all noticed their No. 1 fan, Mel's, blogs over on You Tube?

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 01:55:36 pm

As many of you know, Monday's the big day for concert announcements. And we got a few more big ones today.

Sheryl Crow with James Blunt (Aug. 30, White River Amphitheatre): Tickets are $40.50 to $80.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday

Santana (Sept. 6, White River Amphitheatre): $40 to $68, on sale 10 a.m. Friday

Find more info at Ticketmaster.

Categories: alternative/indie

Friday, May 9th, 2008

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 10:53:02 pm

Country star Alan Jackson delivered a 90-minute set of hits and new songs from his latest "Good Time" to a crowd of around 6,000 Friday night at the Tacoma Dome. Rising country star Miranda Lambert opened.
DEAN KOEPFLER

Alan Jackson’s concert Friday night at the Tacoma Dome wasn’t as big and flashy as other country extravaganzas that have rolled through this neck of the woods in the last year or two. Jackson drew around 6,000, about two thirds of his crowd he drew at the White River Amphitheatre in 2003, and a smaller fraction of what folks like Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw have drawn to the Dome in the past few months. Likewise, there were no jarring pyrotechnic bursts or multi-colored streamers to get fans all riled up. Instead, the 50-year-old Nashville vet took a more mellow approach, delivering nearly 90 minutes of old hits and a couple of numbers from his new album “Good Time” with laid back swagger.

Jackson and his backing band, the Strayhorns, got things started with “Gone Country,” a strangely truncated version of “Chasin’ that Neon Rainbow” and “I Don’t Even Know Your Name,” a funny and upbeat ode to the perils of drunken hookups from his 1994 album, “Who I Am.”

Of the two songs Jackson played from his new album, “Good Time,” single “Small Town Southern Man” went over seemed to go over best. Fans politely appreciated the title track as well, though most were sitting down -- not a good sign for a party anthem. Of course, they were more receptive to the older dance songs, numbers like "Don't Rock the Jukebox" and "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere." And when it was time to get serious, fans held lighters and cell phones aloft for September 11th ballad “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).” But The set’s high point was an impromptu delivery of the Eagles “Seven Bridges Road,” with Jackson’s crisp baritone ringing through rich vocal harmony.

Spunky opener Miranda Lambert rocked a bit harder as she and her band culled material from her two hit albums, “Kerosene” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” She drew some of her biggest cheers for revenge anthems, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “Kerosene,” but also countered her country vixen personae with mellower numbers like “Desperation.”

Alan Jackson’s set list
Tacoma Dome
May 9, 2008

Gone Country
Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow (abbreviated)
I Don’t Even Know Your Name
Livin’ on Love
Little Bitty
Like Red on a Rose
Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochrane)
Remember When
Small Town Southern Man
Don’t Rock the Jukebox
Seven Bridges Road (The Eagles)
A Woman’s Love
Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)
Drive (For Daddy Gene)
Good Time
It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere
Chattahoochee
Where I Come From

Encore:
Mercury Blues
The Blues Man
Pop a Top

Miranda Lambert’s set list

Guilty in Here
What about Georgia?
New Strings
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Desperation
Me & Charlie Talking
I Can’t Be Bothered
Dry County
Gunpowder & Lead
Famous in a Small Town
Kerosene

Categories: set lists, country
Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 03:33:20 pm

Rising British pop star Kate Nash is the main attraction at Showbox at the Market tonight. And if you read today’s GO section, you know I recently caught up with her for an interview. Here are a few clips. You may need to brush up on your cockney before you listen, though.

Clip 1: The pros and cons of her new fame

Clip 2: Why she loves My Space and won’t read reviews

Clip 3: New, non-album tracks you may hear her play tonight

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 03:32:20 pm

A whole bunch of you are planning to check out Alan Jackson tonight at the Tacoma Dome. And lovely, sassy Miranda Lambert will open with "Kerosene," "Gunpowder & Lead" and other hits. Click here if you missed the interview I did with her before she opened for Toby Keith last year.

Categories: upcoming shows, country

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 06:11:27 pm

Swedish pop star Robyn: Staking her claim to the Guinness world record for blondest person ever.
SAMANTHA RAPP

Most artists start out all indie and D.I.Y. before they achieve (if they're lucky) international stardom. But Swedish pop star Robyn just has to be contrary. She conquered the globe as a teen in 1997 with bubblegum hits "Show Me Love" and "Do You Know (What It Takes)." But she'd faded from U.S. consciousness by the time the bubblegum revolution of 1999 brought us Britney, Christina and Jessica.

A few years later, she grew frustrated with the major label experience and launched her own record company, Konichiawa Records, which she ran out of her kitchen. And now she's enjoying a new round of Robyn mania on this side of the Atlantic, thanks to a hipster-approved electro-pop sound of her latest self-titled album.

How hot is she? "The View" just snagged her for a May 15 appearance on the show, unfortunately meaning Wednesday's scheduled appearance in Seattle will be postponed. Boooooooo! That'll be rescheduled for August, according to reps at Interscope, the label that distributes her music in the States. Meanwhile, click the link below to hear what we talked about at the end of April.

Interview clip: Robyn on going indie

Not as cool as "Konichiwa Bitches" live. But beggars can't be chooses, son. Maybe these video clips will make you feel better.

Categories: sound bites, pop

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 06:19:48 pm

If you asked which celebrity I’d most like to go drinking with, I’d have to put comedienne Chelsea Handler near the top of the list -- with sidekick, Chuy, of course. Shenanigans would ensue. We might need bail money. But if you’ve seen "Chelsea Lately," Handler's show on E!, you know it would be a blast. So I jumped at the next best thing, a chance to chat the comedienne up about the show, her new book “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea,” and the jokes she’ll tell Friday night at the Pantages.

We were separated by a phone line and several hundred miles. And I could not imbibe as I was at work, and H.R. doesn't approve of that sort of thing. But I like to think she was enjoying her second vodka martini of the afternoon on her end in L.A. And I think maybe I detected a slight slur during a couple of answers. See what you think. (Also note the "chopped & screwed" quality of my voice during parts of these clips. You say dying batteries, I say remix.)

Clip 1: The worst thing she's done under the influence of vodka or Judy Blume

Clip 2: Having fun with her show and "To Catch a Little People Predator"

Clip 3: Big, fat babies, dangerous redheads and other stand-up fodder

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that you can also see Handler for free when she signs her new book at 7 p.m. Friday at University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, in Seattle. (Say, hope there's light traffic between then and her 9 p.m. start time here in Tacoma.)

Is it just me, or does it look like Chelsea Handler is up to something? Guess we'll find out Friday at the Pantages.
COURTESY OF E! NETWORK

Categories: upcoming shows, comedy
Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 05:31:20 pm

Do you have tickets to see Robyn May 14 at Neumo's? Well, sucks to be you. Seems the Swedish pop star has ditched her Puget Sound fans to hang out with Barbara Walters and the rest of "The View" crew. She'll be on the show May 15.

Well, at least you'll be able to hear her here later this week. I'd interviewed the 28-year-old performer, the subject of this week's column, and will post some clips between now and Friday morning.

Categories: upcoming shows, pop
Posted by Ernest Jasmin @ 03:23:47 pm

See how ya did on Tuesday's Alan Jackson quiz. Or click here to avoid spoilers.

The Alan Jackson quiz

1. Alan Jackson was born nearly 50 years ago in …

A. Louisville, Kentucky
B. Nashville, Tennessee
C. Yazoo City, Mississippi
D. Newnan, Georgia

2. Jackson caught his big break after his wife gave his demo to what musical big shot?

A. Keith Richards
B. Glen Campbell
C. Don Henley
D. Willie Nelson

3. Which of the following is not a hit from Jackson’s debut album “Here in the Real World?”

A. "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow"
B. "Wanted"
C. "I'd Love You All Over Again"
D. “Don’t Rock the Jukebox”

4. The guy’s middle name is …

A. Ulysses
B. Oscar
C. Eugene
D. Peter

5. He and Toby Keith have both pitched for this auto maker.

A. Ford
B. Dodge
C. Chrysler
D. Toyota

6. His backing band is called …

A. The Stayhorns
B. Dixie Steel
C. The Easy Money Band
D. The E Street Band

7. He recorded what Merle Haggard song for his “Honky Tonk Christmas” album?

A. “If We Make It Through December”
B. “Bobby Wants a Puppy Dog for Christmas”
C. “Grandma’s Homemade Christmas Card”
D. “Christmas in Hollis”

8. Which of his tracks took 2002 Grammy for best country song?

A. “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”
B. “Drive”
C. “Work in Progress”
D. “Monday Morning Church”

9. His first album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 was … ?

A. … “Here in the Real World” in 1990.
B. … “Who I Am” in 1994.
C. … “Under the Influence” in 1999.
D. … “Drive” in 2002.

10. His newest album is called …

A. “Precious Memories”
B. “Good Time”
C. “Live at Texas Stadium”
D. “The Road and the Radio”



Bring the Noise

Bring the Noise is where you'll find breaking music news, photo galleries and set lists from some of the month's hottest shows and audio clips from interviews with hot rockers, rappers and pop stars (i.e. Pearl Jam, Ice Cube, The Shins, TV on the Radio and Lady Sovereign.) Or join the discussion. If you have a tip about something related to pop music and the local music scene that critic Ernest Jasmin should write about, or general comments about coverage, leave them here. Subscribe with Bloglines

Calendar

May 2008
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 << <   > >>
        1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Archives
XML Feeds
What is RSS?
Misc
Who's Online?
  • starks Email
  • rkemman Email
  • cjrose
  • tophat Email
  • dougdamage Email
  • bigdogap83
  • eyeland
  • Guest Users: 1196