Bumbershoot just became worthy of my $80

I am always super stoked to spend 3 days in Seattle Center for one of the last weekends of the summer partaking in everything I love about this city...

Great music, great people, great (local) beers, beautiful weather...anything else I'm missing? Yep, Bumbershoot never really disappoints. Year after year I go with pretty muted expectations (especially after the corporate takeover), and thoroughly enjoy the hell out of it. Pick a beer garden and just let the music come to me. Smoke a fatty, wander the grounds with ears wide open, ready to hop into a crowd if something catches my attention. I always find something new and amazing I've never heard, and the journey is 99% the fun anyways.

I love 3 day weekends. I love Seattle in September. I love Bumbershoot.



Well, Bumbershoot just announced more additions to their lineup and I'm sold once again. I was a little weary with the announcement of Sheryl Crow and Katy Perry, but they just dropped some serious heat with this latest group of artists (and plenty of local flavor!). Here are just a few of the groups I am geeked about peeping:

De La Soul / Raphael Saadiq (!!!!!!!!) / Roy Ayers / Swollen Members / Kasabian / Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears / Janelle Monae (!!!!!!) / The Knux / The New Mastersounds (!!!!!!) / MSTRKRAFT / Reggie Watts / Wale ft. UCB / DJ Spooky / Keller Williams / Michael Franti

and the list of locals is fucking stellar:

Common Market / Dyno Jamz / Dyme Def / Handful of Luvin' / D. Black / Spaceman / Natalie Portman's Shaved Head / Macklemore / Reggie Watts / Truckasaurus

And there is still another round of acts to be announced. Get your tickets HERE.


See you in the Fisher Green beer garden.

Getcho Soul Togetha

Well, whadaya know? It’s that time again…

What do I mean by ‘that time’ you ask? It’s time for another amazing funk show in this wonderful city we all call home. If you have read anything I have posted over the last few months, you would be fully aware that I am a connoisseur of all things soulful and a lover of funkiness in all its forms (so you should listen to me!).

Well, I will be rocking the eff out at Neumos this Saturday to a group by the name of Soulive. Soulive is an incredibly dope funk outfit out of upstate New York that has been cranking out feel good jams for a hot minute. Their previous albums are all worth at least a spin or two, and their hip hop infuzed remix album is a work of genre-bending art. They are currently touring in support of their latest effort titled Up Here and it is exactly what I expected…very funky. It’s a little more rough around the edges than some of their previous efforts and this is a great thing. You can almost picture them rocking out in a basement while recording and the hints of grime in the tracks make it a little more authentic and organic. For example: the slightly distorted bass and guitar riffs, along side some super fresh horns, make the cut Backwards Jack sound like a quality bootleg recording at a concert/basement party rather than a fully spit shined studio recording. All qualities of which I am a fan.

So, go pick up a copy of said cd, and some tickets, then come get down with 400+ of your closest friends this weekend. Buy me a drink while you’re at it.

__________

SOULIVE WITH RUSSELL GUNN, NIGEL HALL, BLACK SWEDES

SATURDAY, MAY 9th

AE, DonQ and Puerto Rico Rums Present The Icons Among Us Tour
8PM Doors
$15 ADV
Click Here to Buy Tickets
21+
__________

Sweet Dreams Are Made of These...

A) Smoked out downtempo instrumentals

B) Fantastic guest spots over basement funk loops

C) A discography spanning 6 “just push play” albums and 2 dj mixes

D) All of the above .

Well, If you guessed D then you win the prize! Tell them what they’ve won!

You’ve won a chance to go see one of the UK’s best dj/producers in the game this Saturday night at Chop Suey! So exciting!

Nightmares on Wax, AKA DJ EASE (Experimental Sample Expert), will be bringing plenty of cool out classics to the stage this weekend. Every one of his albums are a must for any stoner type, or just about anyone that can appreciate the value of downtempo riddims. I have every one of his albums and they are the perfect soundtrack to life’s more relaxing moments. Whether it be during a long road trip, when the clock hits a 1/3 past 4, a summertime bbq (mixtape) or prepping for an afternoon nap, Nightmares has something for you

DJ EASE’s sample game is top notch, instrumental and percussion skills are on point, use of filters and phasers is downright unfair at times and he usually has some amazing vocal talent along for the ride (and uses them more as instruments rather than leads). Because of all these factors his albums take you on a great ride. Never too crazy, never too dull, but just right. His songs span many genres and tempos, but you can always pick out a NOW production. Another thing NOW does better than anyone is sequencing. Each element is given a chance to breath and more often than not drum breaks and bass lines ride out just a little longer than one would expect. I love this cause not many producers have the cojones to just let the beat ride. He isn’t afraid to bring in a new instrument 3 minutes into a song and that is genius. His tracks also contain some of the best mixing/engineering to boot. All the instruments and layers sound crisp and in the right place. With minimalist instrumental tracks it is really difficult to explain just how important this is.

NOW is currently on tour promoting his new album Thought So… and it is really good. The intro track Da Feelin’ is about as uptempo as his music will get, but maintains a level of non-chalant chillness that most producers can only strive to achieve, but never master. 195lbs is another classic joint that is on some super dub heavy Jamaican basement vibe. The vocals are grimey and distorted and almost transport you to Jamrock. Bringin it is by far my fav on the album and contains everything I love about NOW production. A simplistic drum beat that slaps, a female vocal loop, slow and steady buildup, and a lead instrument that takes almost two minutes to drop in. I strongly suggest you go pick yourself up a copy. Every track is worth a listen and as a whole the album can be classified as ’set it and forget it.’ [/Ron Popeil]

So if you enjoy some funky, soulful, smoked out beats you need to be at this show. I will be in the bar double fisting Jameson and Stella…holler at me.

BUY TICKETS HERE.

NIGHTMARES ON WAX

Zac Hendrix - (Del tha Funkyhomosapien’s tour dj/ local producer) & guests

$15adv / $17dos 9pm Doors / 21+

via: www.seattlesubsonic.com

The Time of My Life

So I went to DC from the 17th-22nd and it was easily one of the best trips of my life. It's hard to put into words the overall experience of bearing witness to one of the biggest parties our country has ever seen. Not only did I go out every night, meet amazing people, drink a lot and witness a truly historical moment...I got to see a monumental (literally) concert at the Lincoln Memorial featuring the likes of Stevie Wonder, Garth Brooks, U2, Usher, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, Herbie Hancock, Will.I.Am, James Taylor...and many more.


This show was not only entertaining, but a very moving experience. I have never been in a crowd so large (400 or 500,000) and everyone was genuinely ecstatic and singing along to just about every song. Herbie and Will.I.Am busted out 'One Love' and the whole audience just lit up and got their Jamrock dance on. Garth Brooks came out and sang "Bye, Bye Ms. American Pie" and "Shout" and owned the moment. The crowd was eating it up and jumpin' up and down. I have never been a huge Garth Brooks fan, but he killed it. Stevie Wonder is one of my idols, and when I got to see him live this summer I could have died on my way home and died a happy man. He put on a great performance with Usher and Shakira and just destroyed the clavinet like only he can do. I love me some Stevie. Finally, Sam Jackson came out and introduced U2. This was especially moving because he talked about the struggles of the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King...who stood on those exact steps 4 decades ago and delivered his I have a dream speech during the march on Washington. U2 then came out and sang 'In the Name of Love' which is a touching tribute to MLK and his stance on non violence and the power of love. Really an amazing moment.

What an amazing trip and a great concert! I can't wait to go back to the east coast...I kinda fell in love.

PEACE THE FUCK OUT BUSH!

ORGONE @ Nectar Lounge Friday Jan 16th

So it's Friday night and you are in the mood to get crazy...shake your ass a bit...have a drink, or 5...vibe out to some funky cuts...

Well lucky you.



This Friday January 16th Nectar Lounge is playing host to the first all out funk dance party of the year. I shouldn't even have to say this but I will. This is a can't miss event. If you were one of the poor souls that missed them the last 2 (!!!) times they played here, or missed out on Budos Band for the TSK release, or missed out on the Herbliser in November slap yourself and then get with the program. Nectar throws one hell of a funk concert.

So yeah, Nectar throws a good party blah blah, but let me explain further why this is going to be one of the best concerts of Q1/09. Orgone is going to kill it. I saw them play Bumbershoot this year and I had my own little dance party at the Fishergreen beer garden. Sure I looked like a granola eater at a Phish concert, but I could not have given less of a shit. I am a fiend for the funk. Love it, live it, breath it, spin it, produce it. These guys have got their shit dialed. It is infectious. You can't help but bust out your finest two step within seconds of the first kick drum or horn stab.


Oh you still don't believe me? Fine. Let me break it down further...Orgone is 8 members of the LA funk band/crew Breakestra (sometimes more) coupled with lead singer Fanny Franklin. The band itself is one of the best in the biz. The thing is, Fanny has the soul and organic sound to not only complete the package, but sign, seal and deliver it rushed overnight Fed Ex. Music Man Miles did a great job on the vocals on Breakestra's Ubiquity release "Hit the Floor" but Fanny just brings that extra something I need in a funk 'group'...sass, soul, whatever you wanna call it. The band can jam on and on, seamlessly transitioning from funk classic to dirty breakbeat to flute solo and back. I love that shit. Probably more than most people will ever comprehend. But, it's the extra addition of Franklin that really brings it all together and helps it stand out from the rest. Just peep "Who Knows Who" on their myspace and tell me otherwise. I dare you.

So what are you waiting for??? Peep their music either on their myspace or buy the cd and go get your tixx HERE.

Also, it's Colin Johnson's farewell party *tear*. The man that has brought us all these wonderful nights of funkiness, and who was a true friend to the local music scene, is leaving us for greener pastures (family first!) in LA and he deserves one hell of a bash to go out on . We'll miss ya man!

Get PHYSIC-all

Post-Seattle Subsonic Happy Hour this Thursday I will be walking a few feet west over to Neumos to get with the Program...errr...show? and peep my good friends the Physics tear shit up. They are opening for the Massline tag team of Common Market and Blue Scholars and should be coming with some new stuff since they haven't performed in quite a while. Don't get me wrong, I can vibe out with some CM and BS, but I have seen each of them so many times I've lost track (mostly during my chai tea drinking, political scientist days at UW...zing!).

Each act is sure to bring their A game. The new Common Market joint Tobacco Road is a great album and I haven't seen any of that done live, so I'll take full advantage. Plus, a little bird told me some very special guests from our good friends Sportn' Life Records will be perfroming along side them. Blue Scholars have slowly been bumped farther and farther down my playlist these days, due mostly to the fact that Bayani, while being a solid effort, doesn't get above 80 bpms and tends to make my eyelids heavy. Regardless, the Scholars always come correct live and won't disappoint. BUT the Physics are and have been my shit for the last year or so and I've been blessed enough to have spent a couple sessions in the studio with them and know they've been hard at work.

So get your ass down to MOE Bar Thursday for Seattle Subsonic Happy Hour (!!!!) and then join me for some good ol fashioned hippity hop next door.

Oh and by the way...peep The Physics brand spankin new website/blog @ http://www.thephysicsmusic.com/blog/ and tell em I sent ya.

Big ups!