The SunBreak » donte

Seattle Remembers How to Have Fun with Holy Ghost! and Chromeo

donte — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:45:00 +0000

It’s been a great week for fun in Seattle. Wednesday’s Hercules and Love Affair is the best time I’ve had at Neumos in ages and Thursday night’s Holy Ghost!/Chromeo bill at the Showbox kept the good times rolling, with a crowd so raucous there was worry that the headliners’ gear would topple over from the all the bouncing. Sure, the jackass quotient was high, but not even being crushed in a mob of folks unable to handle their booze and pills well could put a damper on my spirit. I was in the minority and most excited about seeing openers [...]

Asobi Seksu Deliver Even Without Their Wall of Sound

donte — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:49:00 +0000

Last time Asobi Seksu played Seattle, the press release announced that the band was going to be playing an acoustic set, in anticipation of their upcoming (since-released) acoustic album Rewolf. The band didn’t get that memo and instead played their normal set which was wonderful, if a bit jarring compared to the quieter, non-strobe-lit acts on the bill. Following through this time around, Asobi Seksu left their effects pedals at home for last week’s Triple Door performance and demonstrated that their songs stand up even without the obvious shoegaze-influenced sensory onslaught. Asobi Seksu’s always been best live. Their records are [...]

School of Seven Bells & The Depreciation Guild Bring Their Electro-gaze to Neumos Saturday

donte — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:07:00 +0000

In a few more marks of the rock world further embracing electronic elements, Saturday’s Neumos show features both School of Seven Bells and up-and-comers The Depreciation Guild. The former, made up of members of Secret Machines and On! Air! Library!, features harmonies of the identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza layered over electronic and guitar-laden textures. The latter combines the hazy guitars of shoegaze and dreampop but punctuates that with 8-bit tones, a pairing that is a bit jarring at first but works to interesting effect. It’s a very appropriate pairing of bands, well worth your Saturday night. School of Seven [...]

School of Seven Bells & The Depreciation Guild Bring Their Electro-gaze to Neumos Saturday

donte — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:07:00 +0000

Mono, Sleepy Eyes of Death to Destroy Eardrums Tonight at Neumos

donte — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:33:00 +0000

One of the best choices I’ve made this year was to head to New York in May to see Japan’s Mono perform on their 10th anniversary tour. In honor of that occasion and their latest album, Hymn to the Immortal Wind, the performance featured not only the band in the beautiful New York Society For Ethical Culture concert hall, but collaboration with a full orchestra as well. It was a truly transcendent experience, with superb acoustics and the band’s already powerful intrumentals pushed to new heights. Tonight’s show isn’t in a church-like setting, isn’t slated to feature an orchestra, and [...]

Anna Ternheim Opens a Stacked Bill Sunday Night at Chop Suey

donte — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:50:00 +0000

It’s not often that you get to have a bill that’s interesting from opener to headliner. Sunday night is one such rare occasion, as a gaggle of Swedes join some New Yorkers for an evening of acoustic (and near-acoustic) music. Opening Sunday is Anna Ternheim in support of her latest album Leaving on a mayday. That album was produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn, and John, and goes down easy just like PB&J’s finest output. Ternheim’s already earned a bit of acclaim among Swedish audiences (Best Female Artist and Album of the Year at the 2009 Swedish Grammys), and [...]

A Decibel Recap from a Barely-Recovered Attendee

donte — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:57:00 +0000

It’s now almost a week after the fact and I’m only now starting to feel like myself after the whirlwind of last weekend’s Decibel Festival. Venues all over Seattle were overtaken by thousands of ravenous electronic music fans from places both near and far in this, the festival’s sixth edition. Despite the requisite behind the scenes drama inherent in an event of this scale, Decibel was a musical and social success, pleasing enthusiasts from all across the electronic music spectrum and providing an opportunity to see members of the “techno family” that don’t frequent the scene like they used to. [...]

Previewing Sunday at Bumbershoot

donte — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Like many of you, I’ve spent the last few months loudly declaring this year’s Bumbershoot as one to miss after skimming the list of lackluster headliners. In recent weeks, I’ve turned around on the event. Yes, it’s crowded. Yes, some of the headliners are a complete snoozefest. But it’s still one of the best large-scale events in Seattle, and I’d be a fool to ignore it out of my own elitism. Plus, there’s funnel cake! I decided I’d at least check out one day, and Sunday’s the day. Sunday’s musical lineup (as with the other days) is solid if you [...]