Presidents!

I went to see the Presidents of the United States of America at the Showbox on Sunday. Their energy really blew me away, but I guess I will start by talking about the opening acts. The Trucks played first. They are from Bellingham, WA and first started performing in 2003. They are definitely a girl band that screams, jams and lights up the stage. Their theme is feminism and the lead was wearing a white dress decorated with tampons--found art anyone?

No-fi Soul Rebellion is also from Bellingham. This is a husband and wife team, and more of a comedy act than a music group. Mark sort of raps to different songs from a cd player while his wife Andrea pretends to play the guitar and otherwise just poses like a rock star. It was a pretty funny schtick, but my lil' sis had seen it before and said it was the exact same show, which I could see getting a little old. Might be time for some new material there, No-fi.

When the Presidents came out, it was "Love Everybody Tonight" from beginning to end. What I mean to say is that they played all the favorites (and there are a lot of them.) They started out with "Kitty" and I would say they played at least 15 songs including "Lump," "Dune Buggy," "Naked and Famous," " Back Porch," "Peaches" and many more. The energy level was amazing with some of the first dancing I have seen in Seattle in years at a club. People were also crowd surfing, the band pulled fans up on stage to help and there was a huge gorilla that lounged around throwing bananas into the crowd. After they finished, the fans hooted, hollard and waited impatiently for them to return, which they did. Another 5 or 6 songs were played with the same great feeling of positive energy as the first set.

People really love this band. There were tons of different groups represented. I saw frat boys, little kids, hippie parents (and other kinds of parents), teens of all types and I think I even saw some hipsters hiding in the corners (because of course it wouldn't be cool for them to be caught at a Presidents show--they used the excuse of seeing the trucks and then stayed on for their secret love ;) It was amazing.

All Ages What to Do NYE

A few weeks ago I took my son to see a show put on by the Vera Project. The line up was Eux Autres, Boat, The Lonely Forest and Math and Physics Club. The Boy's favorite band was The Lonely Forest and mine was Math and Physics Club. Funnily enough, a former co-worker is the wife of the guitarist and she was at the show. The whole show was great, although we had to use earplugs during The Lonely Forest. I don't think they were used to playing in a small space. Megan Seling recently wrote a review of them in the Stranger that was very flattering.

It was fun to watch my son change his attitude about live music. He lives out in the sticks with his father and thought that going to a show would be "gay." (I hate that word and am trying to break him of it--he doesn't seem to be using it as a hate word, but all of his friends use it to mean "lame." Still not good.) Seeing a band that he really liked without knowing who they were previously gave him a taste of the russian roulette that is the Seattle music scene. Sometimes it rocks and sometimes it doesn't, but if you don't take a chance you will miss out on something cool.

There is a show at the Crocodile on New Years Eve with Harvey Danger and Mon Frere that is all ages and I would love to take him to it. I don't know how it will fit in with my other New Year's plans, but I am hoping...

Sunday December 31 4:00pm Harvey Danger's First Annual Last Show Ever:Harvey Danger, Mon Frere, Awesome $5, All AgesAt Crocodile Cafe located at 2200 2nd Ave.

So Vera is holding court over at the Crocodile Cafe for an early all ages New Year's Eve bonanza! And since it'll be over by 9pm (Doors are at 4pm) we're celebrating New Years in Brazil! That puts the countdown at 6pm so don't miss it! It's a carnival(as in Rio) theme so bring the masquerade masks, feather boas, and general party outfits!

There is always the dilemma of what to do on New Years Eve, what with all the parties and shows
going on. This year, your problem is solved because Harvey Danger, Mon Frere, and Awesome are playing an early all-ages show at the Crocodile that will have you dancing in seconds flat, and pumped up for the rest of your night.

Harvey Danger are the musical rescue you’ve been looking for, with a pop sensitivity that (with their powers combined) has even the cynics singing along. They just can’t help it. And Mon Frere is always an ear-pleaser, what with their uncanny ability to get the room shaking and all. The night’s
openers, Awesome, are perhaps the most aptly
named band around. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to hear the alphabet sung in a round, Awesome has your answer, and if you’ve
ever wondered what it means to be Awesome, well, come see it live. You really don’t have a choice, because for five dollars you cannot beat this show, and by the time it’s over you’ll still have the whole night ahead of you to get your New Years groove on.