Seattle – poetry in an empty coke can

Deep Sea Diver – Secrets

Posted on February 23, 2016February 23, 2016 by poetryinanemptycokecan

As a former touring member of Beck and The Shins, Jessica Dobson has obviously cultivated a sharp sense of craft with her adept guitar skills and formidable vocals. Dobson’s current project, a Seattle-based quartet called Deep Sea Diver released their sophomore effort, Secrets February 19 via the band’s own label High Beam Records.

The record’s title track is a six-minute long exploration in experimental indie, blooming from a bedrock of shuffling bass and tropical-like percussion into a tranquil interlude, eventually swelling into an all-out anthemic pop-rock banger. Stream “Secrets” below.

Deep Sea Diver is currently on tour supporting Radiation City, with whom they’ll be stopping at DC9 February 9 — so pick up tickets to see these two standout bands today.

Hibou – Dissolve

Posted on June 10, 2015June 10, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

hibou

Hibou is the handle of young Seattle-based artist Peter Michel who recently signed to Barsuk Records. Last week he shared the lead track, “Dissolve” off his forthcoming record, due for release September 18. The self-titled debut LP was written, recorded and played by Michel in the walk-in closet of his apartment — fueled by summertime fancies such as surf-pop melodies, ’80s synths, and soda pop! “Dissolve” is a dusky, warm, and luminous electronic track fused with distorted vocals, sonically similar to Trails & Ways.

Hibou will be touring across North America this summer opening for Cayucas, so be sure to scope out the tour dates below.

2015 Tour Dates:

7/14 – Casbah – San Diego, CA

7/15 – Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA

7/16 – Bunk House – Las Vegas, NV

7/18 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT

7/20 – Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO

7/22 – Riot Room – Kansas City, MO

7/23 – 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN

7/24 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL

7/25 – Loving Touch – Detroit, MI

7/26 – The Garrison – Toronto, ON

7/28 – The Hollow – Albany, NY

7/29 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA

7/31 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

8/01 – Boot & Saddle – Philadelphia, PA

8/03 – Rock & Roll Hotel – Washington, DC

8/05 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA

8/06 – Gasa Gasa – New Orleans, LA

8/07 – Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX

8/08 – Three Links – Dallas, TX

8/09 – The Parish – Austin, TX

8/14 – El Rey – Los Angeles, CA

8/15 – Soho – Santa Barbara, CA

8/16 – Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA

8/17 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA

8/20 – Electric Owl – Vancouver, BC

8/21 – Barboza – Seattle, WA

Beat Connection – Illusion

Posted on May 8, 2015May 8, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

beat_connection

Our favorite beatmakers from Seattle have shared a new single off their upcoming sophomore album, scheduled for release later this year. Beat Connection brings the funk on their latest effort “Illusion,” with an unexpected guitar riff and of course their signature shimmering synths. Stream the original below, along with an official mix from Amsterdam DJ/producer Saux — who ups the tempo for a splendid dance-floor groove.

Beat Connection will be on tour this summer supporting Django Django (including a stop in DC), so scope out the tour dates below.

Beat Connection on Tour

* with Django Django

7/16-18 – Timber! Outdoor Music Fest – Carnation, WA

7/28 – Webster Hall – New York, NY*

7/29 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC*

7/31-8/02 – Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL

8/02 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN*

8/06 – Mayan Theater – Los Angeles, CA*

8/07 – The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA*

8/23 – MusicfestNW – Portland, OR

10/9-11 – ACL Music Festival – Austin, TX

Death Cab For Cutie – Black Sun

Posted on January 28, 2015January 29, 2015 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Death Cab for Cutie have revealed the new single off their forthcoming album Kintsugi, due out on Atlantic March 31. The album title, as bassist Nick Harmer relayed to Rolling Stone refers to a “Japanese style of art where they take fractured, broken ceramics and put them back together with very obvious, real gold. It’s making the repair of an object a visual part of its history.”

This lovely imagery and philosophical conceit also serves as a metaphor for the band’s professional evolution, after founding member Chris Walla exited the band last year. Fortunately, the parting was amicable and Walla is still involved creatively. “Black Sun” is a simple, elegiac track combining synths and distorted guitar — not dissimilar from early DCFC. Stream below.

Odesza – Say My Name

Posted on September 30, 2014September 30, 2014 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Hot off the release of new album In Return via Counter Records earlier this month, the Seattle-based duo Odesza — who’ve experienced a steady stream of success over the past year — have sold out more than half of their fall tour dates. Standout track off the LP “Say My Name” features the vocals of Zyra alongside their signature inventive soundscapes, and some additional chopped vocals from Madelyn Grant. Incidentally, there’s a slew of remixes of this song happening as part of the This Song Is Sick official remix contest. So if you’re dying for different variations of the tune, head over to the contest page and vote for your favorite before it ends October 17. Listen to the original below, along with some of our other faves, “Always This Late” and “Sun Models.”

Odesza is performing at DC’s U Street Music Hall TONIGHT! If you missed your chance to get tix, you can still purchase the album here.

Beat Connection – Another Go Round

Posted on September 19, 2014September 19, 2014 by poetryinanemptycokecan

In anticipation of their forthcoming album, Beat Connection has shared a new single, “Another Go Round.” Since their 2012 debut The Palace Garden, the Seattle trio have been unparalleled purveyors of tropic-pop, and the new track is no exception. This time around, they’ve also added sitar and tabla drums to their roster of worldly instruments.

Stream the sunny single below, along with a sleek and chilling rework of their recent track “Hesitation” from LA producer Jerome LOL. There’s nothing funny about this melancholic mix, however — a free download of which is available on SoundCloud.

Really looking forward to seeing these guys at Austin City Limits next month.

Beat Connection – Saola (Odesza Remix)

Posted on May 6, 2013May 6, 2013 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Beat Connection is quite possibly my favorite new electropop group to emerge last year. From Seattle, the tropic-vibes trio released their debut LP The Palace Garden August of 2012. They kicked off a brief West coast tour last week with fellow Washington based duo Odesza, who remixed their track “Saola” in honor of the collaboration.

Grab the track (gratis!) below, and sample some of the other ‘beats’ as well.

I feel too little and think too much.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
5/7 – Sacramento: Jambalaya (w/Odesza)
5/9 – Eugene: WOW Hall (w/Odesza)
5/10 – Vancouver: The Electric Owl (w/Odesza)
5/17 – Seattle: Neumos Crystal Ball

The Postal Service – Turn Around

Posted on April 17, 2013February 4, 2014 by poetryinanemptycokecan

The Postal Service are back from a long hiatus with a 10th anniversary edition of their immensely popular 2003 debut album, Give Up. Released April 9th last week, the reissue contains a number of rare b-side gems, PS covers and two previously unreleased tracks – “A Tattered Line of String” and most recently “Turn Around” (audio below).

The group that originated as a side project for Death Cab For Cutie‘s Ben Gibbard, Rilo Kiley‘s vocalist Jenny Lewis, and producer Jimmy Tamborello has just embarked on a reunion tour in celebration of the release – the dates of which can be found here. I’m pleased to report that I will be seeing them in June at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, with opener Ra Ra Riot (who I was remiss for having not seen at 930 club!). Kismet.

Also check out the following remix of “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” (on the reissue as well) and one of my favorite original tracks, “Clark Gable.”

I want so badly to believe that there is truth, that love is real
And I want life in every word to the extent that it’s absurd.

Odesza – iPlayYouListen

Posted on September 24, 2012June 17, 2014 by poetryinanemptycokecan

Odesza, an electronic Washington-based duo dropped their debut album Summer’s Gone earlier this month.

The track “iPlayYouListen” caught my attention in particular. Most likely because it samples the alluring vocals of Local Natives (or at least, I’m fairly certain it does).