On its 20th anniversary live album, available Tuesday, Jan. 18, Pearl Jam is careful to avoid the greatest-hits trap that can fossilize a band’s career,…
Read Full ArticlePHOTO GALLERY: The ‘Essential’ Joe Satriani rocks Snoqualmie Casino
Rock guitarist Joe Satriani played the Snoqualmie Casino Ballroom Saturday, Jan. 8, with his globe-trotting band — and Seattle photographer “Iron Mike” Savoia was there…
Read Full ArticleCONCERT REVIEW: X braves the cold to usher in a punkish new year
By MIKEL TOOMBS How cold was it Friday night in Seattle? It was so cold that X guitarist Billy Zoom (he was the one with…
Read Full ArticleCD REVIEW: ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Like Christmas’ with Shelby Lynne
With the launch this year of her own recording label, Everso Records, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne was finally free to release a first-time Christmas CD…
Read Full ArticleCD REVIEW: ‘Best Christmas Ever’ by bad girl Ronnie Spector
By MIKEL TOOMBS My favorite girl-group song isn’t The Crystals’ “He’s a Rebel” or The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” or anything else found on the…
Read Full ArticleCONCERT REVIEW: Deck the Hall Ball offers a raucous musical buffet
With surprise guests The Presidents of the United States of America, as well as such previously announced bands as Broken Bells, The Black Keys, Jimmy…
Read Full ArticleNew York City trio The Narrative benefits from a ‘feminine presence’
By MIKEL TOOMBS The Narrative adds a different storyline to the emo sound with the decidedly feminine presence of singer-keyboardist Suzie Zeldin (isn’t there a…
Read Full ArticleCharlie Louvin and Seattle’s Mark Pickerel share musical roots
By MIKEL TOOMBS There are at least two United States of Americana events to note this week. Just in time for Veterans Day, Charlie Louvin,…
Read Full ArticlePearl Jam kicks off its 20th anniversary with ‘Live on Ten Legs’ release
It’s hard to believe, but Pearl Jam will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2011. To kick off the year, the Seattle band will release a…
Read Full ArticleCONCERT PREVIEW: Auburn’s He Is We has a Taylor Swiftian ingenuousness
By MIKEL TOOMBS “Is this more than a crush?” He Is We singer Rachel Taylor asks on “Blame It on the Rain,” one (actually two)…
Read Full ArticleRising Texas singer-songwriter Sahara Smith has a really haunting sound
By MIKEL TOOMBS When Sahara Smith was introduced to me as a “222-year-old rising Texan artist,” I knew I had to check her out. Pretty…
Read Full ArticleCD REVIEW: Shakira’s new album, ‘Sale el Sol’: ‘I’m crazy but you like it’
By MIKEL TOOMBS If Shakira hasn’t yet appeared in Seattle, maybe it’s because she hadn’t found the ideal venue. Judging by her largely Spanish-language new…
Read Full Article‘Grievous Angel: The Legend of Gram Parsons’ makes its Seattle debut
In 1973, musician and writer Michael Bate interviewed Gram Parsons, known as “the original cosmic cowboy.” Six months later, the pioneering country-rocker (and father of…
Read Full ArticleCONCERT PREVIEW: Corin Tucker Band debuts music for ‘1,000 Years’
By MIKEL TOOMBS Punk rocker mom Corin Tucker is the first member of the Sleater-Kinney threesome, Northwest riotgrrrl icons and once the best band in…
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