Culture Fiend

New Concert Venue Barboza to Open Under Neumos

Smaller space will cater to up-and-coming and local acts.

Posted by: Seth Sommerfeld on Apr 17, 2012 at 02:00PM 0 Comments

Underground artists, meet your new underground venue. After years of planning, the people behind Capitol Hill music institution Neumos are ready to open a second venue in the building’s basement. Barboza will be a 200-capacity club catering to bands that need a proper venue but aren’t quite big enough to fill a place like Neumos or the Crocodile yet.

“Barboza is a little more about artist development,” said Neumos and Barboza talent buyer Eli Anderson. “You can do a show down there that’s a new artist, someone sort of up-and-coming on their first time through, or just local artists. You could do a show that draws 100 people and it’s not a total loss. You do a show with 100 at Neumos—that looks really bad. The artist isn’t going to have a good time and it’s not good for us. A hundred people in a 700-person room looks really awkward. Barboza has a little more flexibility in that way.”

Because of a delay in completing the venue, Wednesday’s would-be opening show by blues-rock duo My Goodness has been rescheduled for June 16 at Neumos. Instead, the venue will be christened by the pitch-perfect folk harmonies of Portland’s Horse Feathers this Friday. Anderson said the venue will bring in a wide variety of artists and genres and hopes to be running seven nights a week. In addition to regular concerts, Barboza will also feature weekly DJ sets by Tigerbeat: Monday night’s “Turnt Up” and Friday’s “Hollyhood.”

Anderson stresses that while Barboza is a subterranean space, people shouldn’t expect low-rent productions. “People keep asking me, ‘Do you guys have a PA? Are there lights down there?’ I think it’s because it’s in the lower level, in the basement, people go like, ‘Oh, it’s a basement space.’ No. We’re spending hundreds thousands of dollars on the space. It’s a really nice, proper 200 capacity club.”

UPDATE 4/20/12 It turns out the construction delays were worse than expected. The Horse Feathers show has been postponed until June 6 and other shows on Barboza’s calendar have been either moved, canceled, or rescheduled. On the plus side, Caveman’s Sunday show has been moved to Auto Battery and will now be a free BBQ.

From Barboza (via The Stranger):

Owing to unexpected construction delays, the first week’s shows at BARBOZA will not be happening as scheduled.

Friday April 20th Horse Feathers has been postponed until June 9th at BARBOZA. All tickets will be honored and refunds are available at point of purchase.

Saturday April 21st Caveman has morphed into a BARBOZA-Q and moved to Auto Battery at 1009 East Union St on Capitol Hill. All tickets will be refunded as this show is now FREE! Doors are at 8pm and come early as space will fill up fast!

Sunday April 22nd Main Attrakionz has unfortunately been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

Tuesday April 24th Tanlines has been moved upstairs to Neumos. All tickets will be honored.

Wednesday April 25th Frankie Rose has been moved upstairs to Neumos. All tickets will be honored.

We apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment this may cause but are looking forward to seeing you at the BARBOZA-Q and introducing you to our new room next week!

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Tags: Concert, Neumos, Seattle Music

The Return of Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band at Neumos

After a tough year, the Seattle indie quartet comes back refreshed.

Posted by: Seth Sommerfeld on Apr 03, 2012 at 12:15PM 0 Comments

Now down to four members, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band look to forge a new sonic path.

It’s time to test the theory that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Thursday night at Neumos marks the return of two noted Seattle-based indie bands that have been on extended hiatuses—Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band and Throw Me the Statue. It’ll be MSHVB’s first real Seattle show since opening up for Dismemberment Plan in February of 2011. But there are good reasons for the band’s absence.

“We had a really difficult year after our last tour,” says front man Benjamin Verdoes. “We’d just been touring so much for the past couple years, and there was certainly a level of disappointment as far as being able to sustain it, and a little bit of disillusionment…or maybe a lot of it.”

Difficult is an understatement. After finishing up the last tour Benjamin and his wife (and former MSHVB member) Traci Egglestron split. Soon after, the mother of Benjamin and MSHVB drummer Marshall Verdoes passed away. Then bassist Jared Price’s grandmother died.

Overwhelmed, the band decided to take some time apart. Considering the band hadn’t taken time off since forming in 2008, it was the right call. Benjamin spent the summer living in San Francisco and Marshall traveled to South Korea.

While in San Francisco, Verdoes began working on material for the band’s new record, Prehistory; an EP that will be released digitally this spring. The band recorded most of the album live at a former church in Annacortes in an attempt to strip back some of the sonic layers. While there are still a few MSHVB calling cards on the record (such as guitarmonies), the band sees this as a transition record. The new tunes aren’t as manic or frantic and the lyrics are more reflective and personal than the character-based songs found on the band’s previous records. Evidence of these changes can be found on the mellow and slow-burning “Warm Body,” a track from the EP that MSHVB released last week.

Having hit the reset button, Verdoes is excited to get back on stage and move MSHVB into their next phase.

“I guess we don’t really have the same perceptions of ourselves anymore,” says Verdoes. “I think we’re always trying to move forward and I think having a break for the first time helped us extricate ourselves from that continuous motion that we’d been a part of since we started. I think that now we can look at our past and ourselves more objectively.”

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
With Throw Me the Statue, Cataldo
Apr 5 @ 8pm, Neumos, $10

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Tags: Concert, Neumos, Seattle Sound

Four Concerts to Catch This Weekend

Two CD release parties, one rock orchestra, and the return of G. Love and Special Sauce.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Feb 29, 2012 at 01:00PM 0 Comments

The Lonely Forest

Despite being a bit bummed that all three nights of the Cold War Kids at Columbia City Theater have sold out, there are other ways to get a live music fix this weekend.

G. Love and Special Sauce
Mar 2, Showbox at the Market, 8pm
The bluesy hip-hop band provided the soundtrack to many lazy days—a commitment to “just sitting around strummin’ guitar/wasting time.” But on their 11th album, they drop the hop and retreat to covers of time-honored blues. $25.

Vagabond Opera CD Release Party
Mar 2, The Triple Door, 7 & 10pm
Portland’s “bohemian steampunk operatic cabaret” delivers comedy, Balkan belly dancing, and gypsy-jazz odes to Marlene Dietrich—complete with an accordion solo by a man with the slickest of ’staches. $18-$28.

Grynch: Perspective Album Release
Mar 2, Neumos, doors at 8pm
Seattle hip hop is one of the strongest scenes in the city thanks to acts like Macklemore, Blue Scholars, Shabazz Palaces, THEESatisfaction, and rising star Grynch, a 21-year-old MC whose new album of party tracks drops Friday. $10, all ages.

The Lonely Forest with Seattle Rock Orchestra
Mar 3, Neptune Theatre. Special guest: Black Whales, 9pm
The Anacortes-born indie rockers play behind 2011’s Arrows, their debut on Trans Records (the label imprint of Death Cab guitarist Chris Walla); they’re backed by the city’s only orchestra that prefers Beck to Bach. $15–$17.

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Tags: Concert, Triple Door, Neptune Theatre, Neumos, Showbox at the Market

Girl Talk Movie and Dance Party at Neumos

New York gets its groove back in this feature-length music video from Jacob Krupnick.

Posted by: Brian Colella on Feb 09, 2012 at 11:00AM 0 Comments

It’s hard not to be charmed by Girl Walk // All Day, the feature-length music video that follows Anne Marsen (“the Girl”), Dai Omiya (“the Gentleman”), and John Doyle (“the Creep”) as they dance their way through New York City with Girl Talk album All Day as a soundtrack. Hints of formal dance training shine through, but the really good moments are very informal—Omiya and Marsen get jiggy on Dance Dance Revolution, three women dressed as flowers break it down with Doyle in a cemetery, Omiya chases a thief in a high-speed parkour pursuit, and a man in his briefs pole-dances on the subway. It takes Christopher Walken’s Fat Boy Slim video and blows it out of the water.

The film is about dance as a “personal expression of ecstasy,” says director Jacob Krupnick, but also about people living in their own little worlds. “When you see the film you realize it’s unbelievable how little people care that we’re doing this in public,” he told The New York Times. It’s true. In one ironic scene, the music demands “everybody pay attention” as Omiya dances in front of a cafe, but only two people watch before returning to their menus.

Kicking off a West Coast tour, Girl Walk // All Day premieres in Seattle this Saturday at Neumos, in a film screening and dance-along with Marsen, Krupnick, and producer Youngna Park in attendance. Greg Gillis’s (Girl Talk) eclectic-but-always-kickin’ mashups ensure it’ll jump off right. After the film, the party continues with DJs Tigerbeat and Radjaw.

Girl Walk // All Day
Feb 11, 8pm, Neumos, $12 advance, $15 at the door. 21+

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Tags: Neumos, Dancy Party, Seattle Premiere

Win Two Tickets to See Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter

Psychedlic folk rock? Hear it next Wednesday at Neumos.

Posted by: Seattle Met staff on Nov 30, 2011 at 10:55AM 0 Comments

Jesse Sykes

We’re feeling generous again: Enter to win two tickets to see Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter at Neumos on December 7.

After nearly a decade of being pegged “alt-country,” Sykes and guitarist Phil Wandscher enter new territory on their latest record, Marble Son, which explores the darkness and chaos of ’60s psychedelia and art metal. Even the explanation of the album title is heavier: “I liked the idea of something beautiful that may or may not be appreciated in it’s own time,” Sykes says. “Of course, a statue comes to mind.”

They’re joined by opening bands the Highway Kind (with Matt Camirand from Black Mountain) and Low Hums (with Jonas Haskins/Jason Merculief of Alela Diane).

To enter to win tickets, email SeattleMetTix@gmail.com with “Jesse Sykes” as the subject, and a reason why you want to see the show, by Friday, December 2, at 5. The winner will be notified by email shortly after the deadline.

Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter play Neumos on Dec 7. Doors open at 8.

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Tags: Concert, Neumos, Neumos, Ticket Giveaways

New Video: Blue Scholars’ “Fou Lee”

Seattle’s hip-hop heroes celebrate the release of their new album at Neumos this weekend.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Jun 15, 2011 at 01:00PM 0 Comments

Artful duo MC Geologic and DJ-producer Sabzi—Seattle’s hip-hop veterans Blue Scholars —just raised the bar with their third and latest full-length album, Cinemetropolis, a package of socially conscious rhymes, soulful beats, and short films inspired by the raps; it’s “a visual soundtrack.” But isn’t that just code for “music videos”? Not quite. They’ve recruited local filmmakers—including the makers of the Sonicsgate documentary—to do some extended storytelling, creating featurettes like A day in the life of Seattle without the Sonics for track “Slick Watts.”

Grocery store goof-off “Fou Lee” (above, directed and edited by Canh Nguyen and Jason Hakala) is their first true music video released with the album. It may hint at Jay and Silent Bob hanging ’round Quick Stop in Clerks, but Geo says in a statement that it was "inspired by shopping trips we made to that grocery store when we lived in the heart of Beacon Hill, from 2004 to 2008. We had house parties during recording sessions for The Long March and Bayani during that time, made a lot of coffee runs, had a lot of meetings, and the meals we shared were usually cooked with ingredients bought at our favorite Vietnamese-owned Philippine grocery store, where the staff greets you in Tagalog spoken with thick Vietnamese accents. This song uses food as an analogy for who we are – a mash-up of ingredients, chopped up and thrown onto a fire made from memory instead of recipe.”

It’s also a great song: polished, fun, showing off their chops and new grassroots energy (they went off label for Cinemetropolis, raising over $62,000 through kickstarter). As for the album: I’ve had it on repeat all day. Blue Scholars celebrates its LP release with Macklemore, Mash Hall, JusMoni, and friends at Neumos this weekend (June 17 & 18). The show is all ages, and tickets ($15) are still available.

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Tags: Concert, Local Music, Neumos, Blue Scholars

TONIGHT: Peter, Bjorn and John at Neumos

The Swedish indie trio moves on from all that whistling.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on May 10, 2011 at 09:25AM 0 Comments

Peter, Bjorn and John, the Swedish indie trio that planted that song “Young Folks” in our heads for half of 2006, tours behind their more polished new release Gimme Some. ‘The tone is a little less innocent and the arrangements are whistle-free,’ writes Robin Hilton for NPR. ‘The formula, however, is the same: inspired, melodic, wildly infectious pop songs that brim with wistful remembrances and heartache.’

See them tonight at 8 at Neumos; Bachelorette opens, and tickets are $20.

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Tags: Concert, Neumos

Watch Coachella Live at Moe Bar

No tickets to the California music fest? No problem.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Apr 13, 2011 at 05:00PM 0 Comments

Photo courtesy Sean Pecknold.

We can’t get enough of this Gogol Bordello photo from Sasquatch! 2009. Eugene Hütz is getting air.

This in from Moe Bar:

We are excited to announce that Moe Bar next to Neumos will be screening all three days of Coachella live! Fri Apr 15, Sat Apr 16, Sun Apr 17.

After the success of showing the LCD Soundsystem final concert, we wanted to go big or go home! The festival will be displayed on two flat screens as well as a large drop projection screen at the rear of the bar. Come out to see performances by Black Keys, Mumford and Sons, Duran Duran, The National, Nas and Damian Marley, PJ Harvey, Cold War Kids, Gogol Bordello, Interpol, Bright Eyes, and more, all while getting your drink on! For the full lineup of what you can expect each day, please visit coachella.com.

Set times have not been posted for the event as of yet, but we anticipate the stream to start at 5pm. This means Happy Hour 5–7. $3 Wells and Microdrafts, $2 Domestics. There will be NO COVER for this event. FREE. Just bring your sexiest dance moves.

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Tags: Capitol Hill, Music Fest, Music Festival, Neumos, Moe Bar

Six Concerts You Don’t Want to Miss

Everything from the Head and the Heart to Robert Plant. And, of course, Paul Simon.

Posted by: Seattle Met staff on Apr 13, 2011 at 04:00PM 0 Comments

Paul Simon launches his 2011 spring tour in Seattle.

One week, six shows. Totally doable.

Raphael Saadiq, former producer for Joss Stone, the Roots, and John Legend, headlines with his retro soul sound—an unapologetic throwback to ’60s Motown—and a new album, Stone Rollin’ tonight (Apr 13) at Showbox at the Market.

Jazz for Japan converts soft grooves into disaster relief. Check out the Gail Pettis Quartet at Jazz Alley on Tuesday, April 19 and Wednesday, April 20; the $10 suggested cover goes to Red Cross.

Paul Simon kicks off his latest tour with songs from So Beautiful or So What—“the best work he’s done in 20 years," he says. He’s at the WaMu Theater Friday, April 15, and the much more intimate (and very sold out) Showbox at the Market on Sunday, April 17.

The Maldives show off their local alt-country cred at Neumos on Friday, April 15.

Seattle indie kids The Head and the Heart may have sold out two shows at the end of the month, but you can sneak a listen (for free) at Easy Street Records in Lower Queen Anne on Saturday, April 16. All ages; expect crowds.

Led Zepp legend Robert Plant tours with his newest group, the Band of Joy—and plays the Paramount on April 20. Of all dates.

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Tags: Paramount Theatre, Concert, Showbox, Neumos

Junkie XL, Mad Rad to Play Noise for the Needy Benefit

Support the annual charitable music fest on March 10 at Neumos.

Posted by: Seattle Met staff on Mar 09, 2011 at 02:00PM 0 Comments

Mad Rad plays Neumos on March 10. Photo courtesy myspace.com/madandrad.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Mad Rad plays Neumos on March 10. Photo courtesy myspace.com/madandrad.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Mink will sign copies of his graphic novel Shinjuku at the Noise for the Needy benefit at Neumos.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

An image from graphic novel Shinjuku (written by Mink, illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano).

View Slideshow » Illustration:

An image from graphic novel Shinjuku (written by Mink, illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano).

Not only does tomorrow night’s concert feature top Seattle electro/hip hop acts (Mad Rad, Truckasaurus) and Grammy-nominated DJ Junkie XL, but it’s a benefit for a benefit. It’s practically bleeding goodness. Every year since 2004, the Seattle nonprofit Noise for the Needy has raised money for a local charity through live music. Last year’s five-day festival brought in nearly $25,000 for Teen Feed, which supports homeless youth; this year’s beneficiary will be announced tomorrow.

Expect a contingent of fanboys at this event, too. Graphic novelist/film director Christopher “mink” Morrison is a lover of NFTN, and will be in house signing copies of his latest comic Shinjuku, about a bounty hunter in Tokyo in the year 2020. Neumos will be decked out to resemble the club Poppies in Shinjuku—view the slideshow for an idea of illustrator Yoshitaka Amano’s vision.

To quote the NFTN team, “it’s not your regular gig at Neumos.”

Co-presented by Twistory Studios. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Noise for the Needy kicks off in June, so check back on Culture Fiend in April for the lineup announcement.

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Tags: Benefit, Neumos, Noise for the Needy