Thursday, January 28, 2016
Mayer’s Playlist for January 2016
Daredevil Man, Redray Frazier (from the self-released Blood in the Water)
Portland-based Frazier has quite the musical pedigree. He has spent time singing gospel music in his father’s Baptist church, touring the country as front-man for a soulful rock band and performing as part of David Byrne’s band.
While the eclectic background informs the music of his solo career, it doesn’t define it. Blood in the Water is a rocking R&B record, pure and simple. Six tracks of taut soul that is rooted in the 1970’s funkified tradition yet has plenty of contemporary flourishes.
I’m not sure if Stevie Wonder has had the pleasure of listening to this release, but I expect he’d break out into a big ol’ grin if he did.
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT + INTERVIEW : STUBBORN SON
Here at KXSU we like to profile local bands we’ve discovered and really, really like, just for you. A three-piece band from Seattle, Stubborn Son consists of singer/guitarist Garrett Lamp, bassist Andrew Knapp and drummer Blair Daly. Their debut album, Birthright (available right here on Amazon and iTunes) shimmers with uninhibited, raw energy, emulating vocals with that bluesy moodiness infused with the grating discord of unadulterated rock-and-roll. It’s hard to believe the group only came together in early 2014.
Just last week, Stubborn Son performed at Neumos for “Love Seattle Vol 2.” as part of a stunning local lineup featuring KXSU regulars Fauna Shade, along with Charms, P.S., Bod, Sunder Heed, Uh Oh Eskimo, Colorworks, The Spider Ferns, and Alec Shaw with all proceeds going to benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital.
To set the scene: All questions were answered by all of Stubborn Son, sitting around crowded over Garrett’s iPhone. Garrett is squatting, Blair is cris-cross-applesauce style and Andrew is taking the pose of one well-known drunken sea captain.
BP: Are you stoked for Neumos tonight?! Are you guys tight with any of other local bands playing?SS: Hell yeah! It was one of our goals for the new year to play Neumos’ stage. Not to mention this show is for a fantastic cause [Seattle Children’s Hospital]. We’ve gotten to know the Acid Tounge guys and Scotty from Fauna Shade over this last year and they make some fantastic tunes!
BP: It says on your site that you’re going to be announcing a tour sometime soon! Can you give us any hints as to where you’re heading?SS: We are working on a few things right now, including Portland, San Fran and Boise. But we’re still getting things nailed down.
BP: What’s your personal favorite song off your album? Mine are Vixen and Make Your Heart Stop. I’ve had them on repeat all afternoon!SS: Wow, thanks, we’re glad you dig them! We really dig “The Broken Heart Proof “(which can be downloaded for free on our Soundcloud page). We also go between a few tracks and digging different things. “Voices” is one of our favorite tracks and “Make Your Heart Stop” is always a damn good time to play live!
BP:Who are your musical influences? Which musicians do you admire?SS: Depends on what day you ask us. We’ve recently been going back through the Jack Whitecatalogue, digging the Arcs record, and Father John Misty. That being said there is always some Beatles and Stones thrown in between all of those.
BP:Have you guys ever wanted to something else besides music?SS: We all thought about being Blue Angel pilots once. But other than that, no. We all really love writing, playing, recording and performing music.
BP: What’s your writing process like? Is it hard? Do you write every day? Like, do you write the lyrics first then the music or the other way around?SS: Typically our writing process starts with lyrics or a hook. Garrett or Andrew will bring a sort of skeleton version of a song to the group and then we’ll all sort of bite into it, chew it up, mull it over and then get to work on it. Andrew and Blair are some fantastic arrangers where Garrett is more of the lyricist. We try to write as much as we can, a lot of songs don’t make the cut and are filed away for some other use or repurpose. Typically though, our process is lyrics/melody, then guitar & bass work, then we work on the rhythms and then put the song back through the ringer again.
BP: Have you played at any local Seattle venues before? Which was your favorite? If not, where would you like to play? Or what’s your favorite venue to play at?SS: Yes, we have played a number of venues here in town. We released Birthright at the Tractor Tavern last summer, we have played the Sunset, the Columbia City Theatre, the Conor Byrne, the old Comet Tavern and a few others too. We really love the Tractor, but there are so many good places to play here in town.
BP: At what point in your career do you think you’ll say “we made it”? What’s your ultimate dream/goal as a band?SS: Not sure. We want to play music and share experiences with people. We really love the opportunity to do that and hope that we can continue to do so till we’re too old.
BP: Okay. Best place to eat in Seattle?SS: Bitterroot BBQ. Hands down the best BBQ we’ve been to. SO.DAMN.GOOD! Late night happy hour after a show…that’s hard to beat.
BP: If you could come up with your own Lays flavor, what would it be?SS: Lays Whiskey Chips. Actually, that might be a good hangover cure…like hair of the dog, but different.
BP: Anything else you’d like to say?SS: Next time we see each other, let’s dance.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Notes from Left of the Dial: Câlisse and more
In Notes from Left of the Dial this week, Nooga.com spends some time with new music from Câlisse, Stranded Horse, My Golden Calf and Sparrows Gate. What have you been listening to this week?
Câlisse, "Stay"
It began, as many things do, with an introduction. Musicians James Collette and Morganfield Riley were both soundtracking different filmswhen they were introduced by a filmmaker friend. By the next Halloween, they were performing together. Drawing together some musical friends, Collette and Riley organized a cover of Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea," and these sessions went so well that when Collette announced he was recording a solo album, Riley volunteered to produce one of the songs. Their collaboration blossomed and grew to include other musicians, becoming the foundation for Câlisse. The group will release their debut record, "Farewell Black Sheep" on April 15.
On their new single, "Stay," the band creates a sound that feels drenched in the classic indie rock years of the early '90s but still manages to sound timely and timeless. The guitars are thick and sticky and are filled with ragged distortion and a fuzzed-out attitude. Buried beneath all the hiss and grit, though, is a churning melody that sticks to your brain and anchors the track while also lifting high into the upper atmosphere. It's catchy and hits you like a fist to the chest. It's rare that a band understands this contrast between loudness and melody so well, but Câlisse make this awareness seem nothing more than the next logical step. If "Stay" is any indication of what we're to expect from "Farewell Black Sheep," then April can't get here soon enough.
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