Live Show Review: Hamilton Leithauser at the Triple Door

When my favorite bands break up, I feel a small pang, quickly followed by the thought “but that’s it?” as if they’ve somehow slighted me by not consulting with me first on the matter. Fifteen minutes ago I learned that The Walkmen essentially broke up (“extended hiatus”) on November 29, 2013. Learning of this band’s breakup was different from the previous times I can remember hearing this type of news. If it weren’t for the fact that the band’s lead singer, Hamilton Leithauser, had recently released a much-worthy follow-up to the band’s last three absolutely amazing albums, I might actually have felt that pang, that sense of longing. Instead, I can move on, happy in the thought that we’ll still get to hear great music led by this great crooner.

Leithauser came through town with the current iteration of his backing band this past Tuesday night, playing what would prove to be the perfect venue for his sound: The Triple Door. This man was built for dinner theater. Tilting the mic this way and that, evoking thoughts of Elvis as he swayed with his guitar, and belting the shit out of the songs in his unmistakably Hamilton Leithauser way. He is a tall, closely-shaved, clean cut and sharp-suited man, producing a slightly gravel-filled voice that can go very nicely low and high at whim.

Joining Leithauser on stage were a couple of Fleet Foxes: Skyler Skjelset on bass and Morgan Henderson on percussion. This was in addition to Paul Maroon (also of The Walkmen) on guitar, and Richard Swift (I think? I couldn’t find 100% confirmation on this one point) on drums. Together, the five men played an impassioned set of songs, all from Leithauser’s fantastic solo debut, Black Hours. The set started out with the high-energy “I Don’t Need Anyone” — a paean to breaking up that could easily be about The Walkmen as much as it’s about a girlfriend. “I’m the last man running,” belted a few times throughout the chorus, is Leithauser’s call to his former band — he’ll keep moving forward without them.

The momentum kept up, with “11 O’Clock Friday Night” and then the album’s first single, “Alexandra,” a rock and roll anthem about love and longing. Seven songs in, the set calmed down, with most of the band exiting the stage, leaving Leithauser and Maroon on piano, for a few quieter songs that are found only on the Deluxe version of Black Hours. The band came back out for a couple more rocking songs, along with a brief 2-song encore to wrap up the evening. It was a near-perfect set of music.

Tuesday night’s performance felt very much like a full Walkmen show. Leithauser, always the showman, commands attention with the charisma of a standing US President. Add in a stellar backing band he can do no wrong. Maybe the fame that I always expected The Walkmen to have will come around to Leithauser. Part of me selfishly hopes not, wanting Leithauser to continue playing these smaller venues. Just so long as he doesn’t stop singing, I’ll be happy. I’m anxious to see where he goes running next.

Today in other Seattle news, Best-of Edition

I’m going to try starting a new feature here, borrowed from most other news sites, a list of things you may want to know about this community.

  • The Seahawks are playing tonight! Tonight! The defending Super Bowl champions play defending Super Bowl also-rans the Denver Broncos (in Denver) tonight at 6:00 pm. The Seahawks have won their last 9 preseason games. Richard Sherman told ESPN not to expect any post-Super Bowl trash talk. That can wait until the proper rematch in the regular season, on September 21 at CenturyLink Field. May we never use another GIF again.

  • Speaking of Seahawks, safety Kam Chancellor says that he expects to hit opponents harder than ever before because he’s not playing with pain in his hip anymore (as he did throughout his career thus far. Ouch. [via ESPN]
  • Seattle Weekly‘s “Best of Seattle” edition is out this week. Starbucks was not named “Seattle’s Best Record Store,” but SW music writer Kelton Sears’ band Kithkin was singled out for Best “Live Show” and a new category was (edit: NOT) created to praise Stranger music editor Emily Nokes’ band TacocaT (“Best Cat Band“).
  • Proposition 1 (to create the Metropolitan Parks District) is still passing, with 52.7% voting yes and 43.7% voting no. [via Slog and Publicola]
  • The median price for a single-family home in Seattle was $543,500 in July, way past the August 2007 peak of $501,000 sez the Times. 
  • The two men who pretended to be Native Americans to get City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco to just give them 21 tons of copper wire last December were caught and arrested in Texas.
  • The killjoys at the Department of Licensing told a likely ass-man that he cannot get a vanity license plate that says “A55MAN.” [via the PI]
  • The Seattle Repertory Theatre named Marya Sea Kaminski as their new Artistic Director. As a long-time fan of her acting and writing (see here and here, for example), this is very exciting and encouraging news. [via Slog]
  • Seattle is holding its first-ever Street Scrabble Contest on First Hill on Tuesday. According to their press release:

Triple word score for First Hill! Seattle’s first Street Scrabble Tournament will be held in the First Hill neighborhood on Tuesday, August 12 from 4-7 p.m. Scrabble enthusiasts will play using a handcrafted, life sized board at the intersection of University Street, East Union Street and Boylston Avenue, which will be closed for the event.

Sixteen participants will be chosen by lottery to play in the speed Scrabble tournament. Each round will last 20 minutes and a referee will be onsite to ensure the rules of the game are respected. To sign up for the player lottery, please e-mail .

This event will help promote the First Hill Public Realm Action Plan – a collaborative effort led by the Seattle Department of Transportation, the Department of Planning & Development, and the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department, and supported by the First Hill Improvement Association. The action plan seeks to develop a new public space network on First Hill.

This particular intersection has been identified as a potential park space and gateway for a new neighborhood greenway on University Street. More information about the First Hill Public Realm Action Plan will be available at the event, including interim design concepts for this intersection. To learn more about the action plan, please visit this website.

  • The New Moon Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary is in danger of closing and really could use some help. [via Everett Herald]
  • The Transit Tunnel will be closed Saturday morning. [via Seattle Transit Blog]
  • The Egyptian Theatre will reopen in October. SIFF raised the necessary $300K from viewers just like us. Seattlish is very excited (and so are we).
  • The Mariners beat the Braves 7-3 at Safeco Field. At 59-54, they remain one game back in the wild card race.
  • Because, again, the Seahawks are playing the Broncos tonight, let’s remember the first play of Super Bowl 48 (Or Super Bowl XLVIII, if you prefer):

[Alaskan Way Viaduct photo from Wikicommons, by user Adbar.]

See these photos from the Those Darlins/Diarrhea Planet show at the Tractor

Those Darlins 03
Those Darlins 04
Those Darlins 05
Those Darlins 06
Those Darlins 07
Those Darlins 08
Those Darlins 09
Those Darlins 10
Diahrrea Planet 01
Diahrrea Planet 02
Diahrrea Planet 03
Diahrrea Planet 04

Those Darlins at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Those Darlins at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Those Darlins at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Those Darlins at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Those Darlins at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Those Darlins at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Those Darlins at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Those Darlins at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Those Darlins at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Those Darlins at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Diarrhea Planet at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Diarrhea Planet at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Diarrhea Planet at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Diarrhea Planet at the Tractor Tavern, 8/5.

Photo by Tori Dickson.

Tuesday night had a great, garage rock show at the Tractor with Those Darlins and Diarrhea Planet (aka the band everyone swears is great, but you need to get past their, umm, shitty name) playing blistering sets. We sent superstar photographer Tori Dickson there with her SLR and she brought back these great photos.

MusicFest NW 2014 Preview

I love to visit Portland because Portland is different (don’t use the word weird). MusicFest NW was (keyword: was) unconventionally…Portland. Fourteen years was a good run, but MFNW has now condensed itself into a two-day, waterfront festival like the rest of ‘em. No – this isn’t the Bro/Blues Festival, but it sure sounds like it. Locals aren’t all that stoked, and can you blame them?

…Personally I’m stoked I get to drink in one location without feeling guilty for that third whiskey soda I just had (which in turn leads to missing many, many good bands), but I understand. What made MusicFest NW so great is the unlisted shows, after hours parties and booze-sponsored events that only the real locals knew about. And maybe your friend who worked at the Doug Fir could skip you past the line.

Alas, the show must go on. And while there is some Block Party overlap (Spoon, EMA, Wild Ones, Shy Girls), it’s still a worthwhile trip for Seattleites. Here’s why —

There are two stages (Moda Stage at Morrison and Hawthorne Stage) this year, and no two bands play at the same time. Rejoice!

Remember when I deemed the sisters of HAIM as Biggest Disappointment this year at Sasquatch? Well now they have a chance to redeem themselves. There’s no doubt these girls can rip, and Este’s bassface is one of the most entertaining things you’ll ever see.

Future Islands has been selling out shows left and right. I heard that their Doug Fir and Neumos’ shows were incredible, so with a 10,000-person daily capacity venue you are at least guaranteed a spot.

Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter of Phantogram are as beautiful as they are talented. Go just to see what Sarah’s wearing – girl always brings it. My prediction? A midriff baring tank and high waisted black denim.

I saw Brooklyn’s The Antlers a few weeks ago at a sold-out Neumos. It was so damn hot inside I felt like I was going to pass out, and I still stayed for the entire hour and half plus long set. It’s Rhye-ish, Deerhunter-esque, but better. Shimmering horns, floating atmospheric melodies…you get the idea.

Shy Girls just released a new song titled “All for Show” produced my Jawgwar Ma’s Jono Ma. He also played some new tracks at CHBP that (at least for me) took him way beyond the R&B category and into something sultry and ridiculously sexy/unexpected. Stop comparing him to How To Dress Well because Dan Vidmar is somethin’ else.

I think I’m the only person alive who hasn’t seen Girl Talk perform. Even my friends who hate “that type of music” say he puts on a great show.

So while the multi-venue MusicFest NW may be a thing of the past, there’s no doubt that Portland will still bring the personality. (Spoiler alert: even when the bros from Branx somehow end up next to you during Wild Ones, there’s 99.99999% chance you’re still going to have a good time.)

There will still be night shows, great food carts and after parties. Just less drunk, bridge/venue hopping – which everyone should be grateful for.

This cynical Oregonian is going, so you should too.

New Coffee Gear Makes Mornings More Magical

Good grounds from the Baratza Vario-W Grinder

It’s approaching two years since I got my Hario “barista station” set-up, a major upgrade from a haphazard brewing system cobbled together when I finally started drinking coffee about two years prior. Now a true coffee geek aficionado, I was recently looking to enhance the experience, reaching out locally and beyond, eventually acquiring a handful of new products to try. One item was impressive (but not for me), another interesting for occasional use, and two (at very different price points) of major value—one daily, and one somewhat seasonally.

Let’s start with the new product I’m using most: the Baratza Vario-W Grinder. I still have great affection for my Hario Coffee Mill Roman N, and it was a fun part of my morning ritual since the 2012 makeover, but the Vario-W has streamlined the grinding process while providing lots of opportunity for experimentation. And it’s also improved the quality of my coffee flavor.

With the Hario, to get enough grounds for two cups of coffee, I was doing a minimum of 130 full rotations on the hand-grinder, a somewhat exhausting task. Plus, while it was possible to change the grind size, the process was never precise. In contrast, going from the manual Hario to the electric Vario-W speeds up the process and adds great precision. A lever on the right side of the grinder goes from 1 to 10 (fine to course) while a left side lever (I rarely touch it) micro-adjusts from A to W, resulting in a whopping 230 grind settings. Best of all, Baratza (based in Bellevue) made this a weight-based grinder. There are three programmable pre-sets of grind weight output, so I keep ample beans in the hopper and simply press the desired weight and start buttons. The grounds collect in a plastic container; sometimes they stick to the plastic, making the transfer to the pourover dripper more challenging and a bit messy, but that’s just a minor quibble.

The Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper at my barista station

On the subject of beans, I’ve jumped into the home-roasting game as many do: with a popcorn popper. A garage-sale enthusiast (and fellow roaster) gifted me a Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper, then showed me how to outfit it with a can-turned-chimney. There’s lots of information online about roasting with a popcorn popper (the challenge is finding a suitable popper, as the Popcorn Pumper is no longer made, with used ones selling as coffee roasters on eBay and going for $20 minimum), and it’s fun to experiment with different types of green coffee beans. One drawback of this economical solution is that the popper can only roast limited amounts of beans at a time (I find that 74 grams is ideal, as the output is about 62 grams, which is how much I want to make two rounds of two cups of coffee), but fortunately roasting time is fast. My last session, Ethiopian beans took about 4-1/2 minutes for the first round of light roasting (up to a minute less for subsequent rounds, as the machine was then already hot), while Colombian beans benefited from another minute or two to achieve a medium roast. Consider that roasting could be seasonal, partly because colder weather (you do this outside) isn’t ideal for getting the machine up to a warm temperature, and also because it’s not fun to do it if you’re freezing.

The impressive Impress coffee brewer

Pourover is my much preferred method of brewing and drinking coffee, but I play with an AeroPress on occasion, particularly when I have darker beans I don’t especially like. I’ve largely given up on French press, as I find the result a little sludgy. That said, during a recent trip to Raleigh, I discovered the new Impress coffee brewer. This one-cup-at-a-time brewer consists of a 2-piece nested press, plus a silicone heat-resistant lid. It’s reminiscent of a French press, providing some of the oil that many people like from the process, but with less of the sludginess. I still much prefer the cleaner result of a pourover, but others will like the Impress for multiple reasons: It’s easy to use, easy to clean, convenient, and perhaps best of all, the double-walled cup keeps the coffee hot for a surprisingly long period of time.

JOCO coffee cup and package

[Speaking of cups, at the recent Specialty Coffee Association of America conference in Seattle, I met the makers of JOCO coffee cups. Based in Australia, their glass cups are colorful and stylish, and ideal for coffee drinkers on the move. The glass holds the heat pretty well, and the various sizes provide versatility. On the downside, there’s an initial silicone smell from the holder and cap that come with the new product, and the drinking slit in the silicone top doesn’t provide as much portion control as I’d like. It also has a little leakage issue. Still, it’s a fun cup, and the green company also offers suggestions on how to use the cup’s package; for example, it’s great for storing coffee beans.]

Behold the Nespresso VertuoLine

Last on the list is the new Nespresso VertuoLine. I’ve long been pessimistic about these single-serve machines, despite knowing friends who tout their convenience (I’d miss the ritual) and the variety of flavors (which is of little interest to me). But the VertuoLine, which makes both espresso and coffee, intrigued me, especially its claim to produce crema when making coffee. Amazingly, it does. It must be something related to the centrifugal technology that spins each individual capsule 7,000 rotations per minute. That said, the flavor isn’t quite the quality I seek from my coffee. (Even if the grounds in those capsules were high quality, they’re not going to be as fresh as buying newly roasted beans—or roasting beans yourself.) And in addition to the large footprint that would consume much-coveted counter space, I’m still concerned about the environmental impact (and cost) of the single-serve capsules.

Live Show Review: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at The Crocodile

This past Saturday night, the once great and still really damn good Clap Your Hands Say Yeah came through town, playing the same venue they first played Seattle in, back in 2005. But much like the venue (The Crocodile), the band is similar to its 2005 counterpart only in name. The comparison to the Croc is quite apt, actually. Both band and venue have changed considerably in that time. They’ve both lost their scrappiness. They’ve exchanged their grime for a more polished, well-put-together display.

I’ve now seen CYSHY eight times, and the transformation of the band over the last nine years has been amazing to see first hand. Alec Ounsworth, the band’s principle songwriter, lead singer, and driving force, has calmed himself. No longer does he bounce around on stage, as he once did oh so many years ago. He sounds very much the same, allowing his broken, high-pitched, David-Byrne-meets-Gordon-Gano voice to carry him through. The rest of the current lineup (three guys on keyboards / guitar, bass, and drums) played well and moved about with frantic purpose.

The set started off with a song from their excellent new album, Only Run. “Blameless” is a good indicator of where the band has come over the years. Heavy on electronics and deep-seated drums, it has a polish to it wholly unlike anything from their unmatchable self-titled debut album. It was clear most of the crowd wasn’t familiar with the song, but then the album came out only a couple months ago. After that, the set went straight for the gut, and got most people moving with tour favorite “Satan Said Dance” (which appeared on their 2nd album, Some Loud Thunder, two years after it debuted during their initial tour as a band).

The rest of the set flitted around, playing a good mix of old and new, and doing a great job of keeping the crowd into the show, even if Ounsworth didn’t seem to be enjoying himself. Barely moving around, not quite leaving the mic, he looked tired. The set was still fun, and the rest of the crowd seemed pleased with what they were hearing. Perhaps it was an off day for him. But more likely, I feel he’s a reluctant star. The band’s debut album, self-released, was an overnight success, and still holds up well nearly 10 years later. It will be one of a handful of albums that defines the early 2000s for many years to come. And that can be a hell of a lot of weight on somebody.

The band’s second album, Some Loud Thunder, was generally panned by critics, so that just adds to the difficulty Ounsworth has had to endure. Hysterical, the bands third album, from 2011, started to show signs of life, and brought me, personally, back into liking the band. Only Run, their fourth in just nine long years, is the best of “new CYHSY.” But the years have clearly taken their toll on Ounsworth, who appears as if he’d prefer to stay at home and make music rather than tour around and play 9-year-old songs to a crowd that doesn’t appear to appreciate his new work as much.

“Alright, this is our last song… Well, you know, we’ll go off stage and then come right back,” said Alec, matter-of-factly, at the end of the first set. Ounsworth then came out alone and played “Into Your Alien Arms” by himself on a guitar, completely redefining a rather jaunty song from Hysterical into a quiet, introspective love song. Then the rest of the band came back out, and they played two more songs before calling it a night.

The entire just-over-an-hour set felt short, but very much on point. Despite Ounsworth’s obvious exhaustion, I and many others in the crowd had gotten quite a workout, bouncing to the beat, Snoopy-style. I hope Alec finds it in him to continue to produce music and tour. I’ve loved nearly everything he’s put out in his fairly short history, and I look forward to much much more.