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Music Fest Northwest Lineup - Day 3 (September 8, 2012)

9/5/2012

The Soft Moon @ Berbati's

I had never heard of The Soft Moon until I found them on the Music Fest Northwest lineup. Luis Vasquez created The Soft Moon as a solo project in 2009. The band consists of five members, including Vasquez. The band's music is described as post-punk/industrial rock/dark noise and I can see why. It's reminiscent of angsty 90's alternative rock. I liked the promo track, "Dead Love" on the MFNW lineup page. It is Track 5 from their debut, self-titled album released in 2010.

The band's latest production, "Total Decay" EP (2011), is just as dark and emotional as the first album. The track below is #3 on the Total Decay EP and it's lusciously hopeless. Listening to it makes me feel like I'm going to round the corner and get chased by a mohawked, chain wielding skate gang. Really looking forward to the show on Saturday, needless to say!

Wild Nothing @ Berbati's

Yet another band I had never heard of until I became interested in MFNW, Wild Nothing is scheduled to play after The Soft Moon at Berbati's this Saturday night. I have to say that I like what I've heard from them, so far. They're music is comparatively light, whimsical and danceable. So, they'll be a welcome respite from the dire, exasperation laden sounds of The Soft Moon. The track below is the first single released in 2009, the year that the band came into existence.

Wild Nothing is the creation of Jack Tatum, a 23-year old Virginia native. Tatum released his first album, "Gemini" in 2010 while finishing up his college degree in Blacksburg. Tatum's latest album is "Nocturne" (August 2012). Check out Track #5 below. :D The album is basically a slew of catchy, toe-tapping, head bobbing awesomeness.

Trust @ Holocene

This is the band that I'm most looking forward to seeing Saturday night. They're playing a late show at the Holocene from 1:00 AM - 2:00 AM and it's going to be a great end to three days of fantastic music.

Trust is a darkwave/synthpop band from Toronto, not to be confused with the British heavy metal band of the same name. ;) The band formed in 2010 and it consists of Robert Alfons and Maya Postepski. They released their debut, full-length album entitled "TRST" in February 2012. Prior to that, Alfons and Postepski produced the "Candy Walls" EP in 2011. The track below is #7 on the TRST album.

Here's what critic Luis-Enrique Arrazola of the National Post had to say about this band: "Trust gave an outstanding performance proving that they’re an act worthy of all the hype. With a set far past midnight, they’re the perfect ending to a wild night in the city, taking you on a relentless trip through a set list dripping with sexual tension before winding down to the last pulses of the synthesizer." Needless to say, I'm ready to dance my ass off at the Holocene come Saturday night.

The band's latest production is the "Sulk" EP released in January 2012. It consists of two tracks: #1 Sulk and #2 The Dazzle. It's fantastic! Track #1 is below. Check out the band's SoundCloud page to keep up with their latest releases.

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Music Fest Northwest Lineup - Day 2 (September 7, 2012)

9/4/2012

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Beirut @ Pioneer Courthouse Square

Words cannot describe how incredibly excited I am to see Beirut live. I first fell in love with the folksy sounds of Beirut after hearing the song "Carousels" from the 2007 EP, "Lon Gisland." I wanted to experience all things Beirut ever since. They're the reason why I learned to play the ukelele! Hehe.

Beirut was created by Zach Condon, a high school drop out from New Mexico, who traveled around Europe at the age of 17 and subsequently became inspired to make music. Condon produced his first album, Gulag Orkestar, in his bedroom while a student at the University of New Mexico in 2005.

The "Lon Gisland" EP followed shortly thereafter, along with "The Flying Club Cup" album (2007). Beirut's latest album is "The Rip Tide" (2011) and it's super chill and contemplative. By the way, Beirut isn't a one-man show. Condon employs the help of five other band members who play the accordian, cello, drums, bass, french horn, trumpet, glockenspiel, trombone and tuba. Condon plays the trumpet, flugelhorn and ukelele. :D The track below is #7 on Condon's latest album, "Rip Tide."

Fort Lean @ Branx

I had never heard of Fort Lean until I found them on the MFNW lineup. Apparently, they're new to the music scene as they released their first self-titled EP in April 2011. I liked their promo track, "Beach Holiday" on the MFNW website. It's the first track on their self-titled 2011 EP. Since I'm going to be at Branx this Friday and they're playing before Future Islands (another band I want to see), I figured it would be a good opportunity to see what they're all about in a live setting.

Fort Lean's latest production is a two track album entitled "Sunsick" from February 2012. The first track is called "Sunsick" and the second track is titled "The Precinct." You can listen to the first track below. I really dig it and I can't wait to hear more on Friday! For downloads and more info, click here.

Future Islands @ Branx

I'm so stoked to see Future Islands live. This band reminds me of The National, Interpol and Koop. I actually had a chance to see Interpol while I was attending university in Japan back in 2005/2006. They were playing at some tiny club in Osaka and it was like $50 admission or something like that. A friend of mine who was teaching English in Osaka at the time, called me up one night and basically said: "Hey, there's an Interpol show tonight. Let's go!" What I should have said was, "Hell yeah. Where is it? I'll meet you there." Instead, I was put off by the short notice and the cover charge and I told him I'd pass.

What...a....f*cking...idiot...I....am. Haha. Still regretting it. Eternally raw.

So, I feel like this is kind of my chance to redeem myself. Future Islands (Sam Herring, Gerrit Welmers and William Cashion) is the same sort of flavor as Interpol. Dark, intense, dreary, introspective and, therefore, magically delicious. I'm really digging the song called "Balance." It's Track 8 on the latest album, "On The Water" (2011).

From what I understand, the lead singer, Sam Herring, is quite a live performer. So, I can't wait to end my Friday night at Branx with this band. I'll leave you with another favorite song of mine. It's Track 1 from the On The Water album. Enjoy!

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More Music Posts Coming Soon!

Music Fest Northwest Lineup - Day 3 (September 8, 2012)

The Soft Moon @ Berbati's

Wild Nothing @ Berbati's

Trust @ Holocene

Music Fest Northwest Lineup - Day 2 (September 7, 2012)

Beirut @ Pioneer Courthouse Square

Fort Lean @ Branx

Future Islands @ Branx

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