it's okay to dance... really

Why is it that so many people appear to be allergic to dancing at concerts? Even at it's most simple form - swaying back and forth - people keep their distance as if it were the black plague. I'm so happy to report that that wasn't the case last Friday night.

I journeyed 10 minutes southeast of home to attend KEXP's final installation of their Concerts at the Mural series. It's a wonderful set of free events that the station produces not only showcasing some great national and international artists but also gives a stage to up-and-coming local acts. The four bands that played this past weekend all have roots in the Pacific Northwest - 2 Seattle bands, 1 from Portland and one act out of Nashville originally from Seattle. While the vibe for the entire evening maintained a healthy level of communal enjoyment, the shining moment of the evening was Pickwick's set.

Pickwick, a relatively new band based in the Emerald City, does not fall in line with the neo-folk/harmony driven/beard growing contingent that is heavily reverberating out of Seattle right now. The band's sonic aesthetic is not as easy to draw out. While the knee-jerk assessment would point to influences of soul and R&B (which are absolutely present), the instrumentation is a little more difficult to categorized. Disston's vocals have shades of Motown and the specific use of keyboard (frequently utlizing organ samples) accentuates their gospel tendencies, but the guitar lines don't always follow those same guidelines and there isn't single horn in their lineup. Regardless, the combination gets Seattle indie rock fans grooving.

The Round - Pickwick

picnic table and badminton

A couple of weekends ago, my roommates and I christened our brand new picnic table by throwing a bbq in our new and improved backyard. In LA I always found myself living in apartments with barely enough room for a small balcony or porch. Here in Seattle, I finally have some room to stretch my feet and me and the gals are taking full advantage of it. About a month ago, as we were stumbling home late one evening we noticed that one of neighbors a couple blocks from our house had put out a free bench swing. We took it apart, and in two pieces, carried it home. After some avid craigslisting, we got our hands on a lovely wood picnic table perfect for sunset dinners and bbq banquets under the sun.

So as I was saying, a few weekends ago we invited some family and friends over to enjoy our new backyard digs. We spend the afternoon and evening playing badminton and sippin' on fresh squeezed lemonaide (yeah, that's right, fresh squeezed).

And what was the soundtrack to these magical festivities, you ask?

Liza - Kanda Bongo Man

ko-ko

It just started sprinkling outside. I'm sitting in a coffee shop and someone has thought it a good idea to keep the door open... my little feet are a bit cold. However there is a healthy stream of people in search of coffee allowing me to take full advantage of my front-door-facing seat and get in some good people watching time (which would be even better if I hadn't lost my glasses last weekend). But I digress, some Duke Ellington anyone?

Ko-Ko - Duke Ellington

Whenever I listen to this song, it immediately becomes an animated cartoon, much in the same style of those old Disney Silly Symphonies like this one:

Here's to old school sound design.

i lost the love of my life at whole foods

I'd Have You Anytime - George Harrison

If only my run in with Dhani had ended very differently.

rev your engines

a new year.

a new playground.

Texico Bitches - Broken Social Scene