Friday, May 20, 2016

Posted By on Fri, May 20, 2016 at 10:41 AM


This morning, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis announced something called The Camping Trip, and we don't know exactly what that means other than that the hip-hop outfit is coming to Spokane this summer.

And, surprisingly, they're playing one of Spokane's smaller venues — the Bing Crosby Theater. The show is set for Tuesday, August 23. You can get tickets right here. And you should probably get on that, considering the 750 or so seats at the Bing are going to sell very quickly. Also, tickets are only $22.

The Camping Trip appears to be a set of shows in unexpected venues in unexpected cities, all of them in Washington, including Bellingham, Olympia, Hoquiam and Walla Walla. Kinda weird (and also cool).
UPDATE: Well that was quick. The Spokane show, and all the other Camping Trip shows around Washington are sold out. Just saw this on their website.

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Thursday, May 19, 2016

Posted By on Thu, May 19, 2016 at 1:02 PM


With awesome starting dialogue: "So what rock festivals are you guys going to this, tonight, this summer?" you know the following Volume commercial was essentially ad libbed. And it was, in fact, shot in Sean Glasow's basement last night in about an hour. But that doesn't mean the video, celebrating the Inlander's June 3-4 music festival, isn't entertaining. 

That's right, local filmmaker/musician Ryan Dean Tucker (formerly of BBBBandits) made a commercial, featuring local musicians (not actors, to be fair) Ben Glass, Chris Bean and Rachel Okojie, along with Glasow. Tucker, whose new soulful rock band Nat Park and the Tunnels of Love is playing Volume, chose to base the concept off old Time-Life music infomercials, and the comparison is pretty obvious.

You probably need to watch the commercial at least a couple times in a row right now. 

Looking for Volume tickets? Get those right here. 

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Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Posted By on Wed, May 18, 2016 at 1:17 PM


It began with the song that everyone knows.

Immediately, after finally arriving on stage, the three Violent Femmes took to their acoustic instruments and banged out their monster hit “Blister in the Sun.” The crowd went nuts, singing every single word, jumping and dancing along to “Let me go onnnnnn ….”

Last night, at their sold-out Knitting Factory show, the trio and their backing band absolutely killed it. Not only in musicianship, but they had the crowd by the ear the entire time and never let go.

All generations of punks were in attendance — people who grew up with the Wisconsin-originated band in the 1980s, and also those who discovered them later in the '90s and 2000s. Midway through, concertgoers were slick with sweat and the decision many made to forego deodorant became apparent. The waft of marijuana was there, too. The mosh pit went in waves of wildness.

From the stage, frontman Gordon Gano mentioned how glad he was to be back in Spokane to see old family friends and family — his father, Norman Gano, a Baptist minister, retired in Spokane Valley, also his birthplace. (Check out this obituary, which mentions nothing about his son being in a famous band). It’s been about a decade since the band played here last, and the energy radiating from the stage showed just how much they actually wanted to be in Spokane, playing for these people. 

Now, let’s talk instruments. It is the best thing to watch a super-talented bass player in action, especially on the rarely used acoustic bass. So often, the instrument is delegated to the worst guitarist in the band, but with Brain Ritchie, it was one of the stars of the show with his virtuosic spiderfinger-playing on full display. Gano played guitar, banjo and also fiddle, which he’s improved on immensely since I saw him at Sasquatch! two years ago. And the new drummer John Sparrow fit right into place, utilizing an actual cooking grill with his drum kit.

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Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Posted By on Tue, May 17, 2016 at 3:11 PM

click to enlarge Florida Georgia Line, Buckethead schedule Spokane shows
Guitarist Buckethead headlines The Bing July 11.

If you weren't paying attention, you might have missed one of the more bizarre concert announcements to come along in Spokane in a bit. 

No, I'm not talking about Florida Georgia Line, the huge country duo who announced a trip to Spokane on Nov. 10. That was one of the Spokane Arena's "bucket list" bands folks wanted to see, and well, you got 'em. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 am for $34.75/$54.75/$69.75. Get tickets fast, I reckon that show is pretty much a guaranteed sell-out. 

Lost in that news, though, might have been the show announcement for avant-garde guitar god Buckethead, who by all appearances on his website, loves Lebron James as much as he loves shredding. 

For the unfamiliar, Buckethead is one masterful guitarist who has recorded more than 250 albums, was a member of Guns 'n' Roses for a few years, and yes, wears a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket on his head, as well as a mask that might remind you of certain horror movie characters

Here's a clip of Buckethead doing his thing: 

Buckethead is playing The Bing on July 11, and tickets are on sale Friday at 10 am for $25. 

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Monday, May 16, 2016

Posted By on Mon, May 16, 2016 at 12:45 PM


Sturgill Simpson took the music world by storm with a country sound that veered into unexpectedly psychedelic directions on his 2014 breakthrough, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music

Now he's back with an excellent follow-up, A Sailor's Guide to Earth, that's also full of musical curveballs, this time adding a bunch of horns, strings and soul to his deep, twang-filled vocals. The album is earning rave reviews — we wrote about it in this week's For Your Consideration column — and now Simpson's tour is coming to Spokane.

Simpson will play the Knitting Factory on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 am for the all-ages show; tickets are $29.50 in advance. They are available through the Knitting Factory, TicketWeb.com or by calling 866-468-7623. 

Simpson played the club last year toward the tail-end of the tour for Metamodern, and it was a brilliant gig, as you can read in our review of the show

Here's a live taste of the new music:

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Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Posted By on Wed, May 11, 2016 at 5:10 PM

click to enlarge Comin’ our way — Beach House, Alice in Chains, Ghostland Observatory and more
Surprise! Beach House hits the Knitting Factory August 9.

This Spokane summer is already jam-packed with music, thanks to previously announced shows like Built to Spill, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, KISS, James Taylor and Blink-182, and of course crazy good festival lineups at Sasquatch!, Volume, Elkfest, and the Northern Quest Resort and Casino (Dolly Parton, baby). 

But just in the last couple weeks a whole new slew of acts have been thrown our way. To the people working hard to bring great talent to Spokane, we applaud you. Here’s a look at what is coming though.

BEACH HOUSE
Aug 9 - Knitting Factory, $25
A mighty unexpected get for the Spokane market, indie-rock darling Beach House is a perfect addition to the Knitting Factory’s already tight lineup of acts. After releasing two albums last year, they’ll have plenty of material to throw out at local fans.

ALICE IN CHAINS
July 8 – INB Performing Art Center, $50-$75
The Seattle band already sold out the Knitting Factory last year, but the group must have enjoyed the Spokane crowd so well that they’re back for more, this time taking on a much larger venue with the INB Performing Art Center.

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Posted By on Wed, May 11, 2016 at 1:13 PM

click to enlarge Volume headliners Shabazz Palaces to tour with Radiohead
Shabazz Palaces closes out Volume on Saturday, June 4.

Last week, there were rumblings from the Radiohead camp, and we knew something big was coming. 

Then on Saturday, the dad-rock faves dropped their ninth studio album, A Moon Shaped Pool. The Internet went nuts. Critics immediately deemed it the English act's strangest album, and also maybe their best. Adding to the buzz for Inland Northwest music fans — it was recently announced that Volume headliners Shabazz Palaces are set to play a series of upcoming Los Angeles shows with Radiohead. 

It’s almost like we planned it.

Shabazz Palaces, for those not in the know already, is one half of Digable Planets. Yes, the influential New York jazz/hip-hop band that’s currently on a reunion tour and playing this year’s Sasquatch! shares a member in Ishmael Butler, aka Palaceer Lazaro.

Started in 2009, along with multi-instrumentalist Tendai “Baba” Maraire, this experimental duo is the first hip-hop group to get signed to Sub Pop Records. Shabazz Palaces, this year’s festival headliners, is absolutely one of the most exciting bands to play Volume — ever! And now that they're opening for Radiohead, for already sold-out shows, their star burns a little brighter. 

Along with playing multiple festivals around North America this summer, Shabazz Palaces is set to jam with Flying Lotus, George Clinton + Parliament Funkadelic and Thundercat. 

Get your $20 Volume wristbands right here, and start planning your festival weekend. 

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Monday, May 9, 2016

Posted By on Mon, May 9, 2016 at 11:06 AM

click to enlarge CONCERT REVIEW: Loverboy's non-stop hit parade packs Northern Quest
Dan Nailen
Loverboy in Spokane for a sold-out show Saturday night.

Anyone walking in to Loverboy's sold-out show knew what they were getting into. A little nostalgia. Some questionable fashion choices among the fans. A whole heap of pop-rock hits from the '80s. 

There was all of that for sure in the packed pavilion of the Northern Quest Resort & Casino Saturday night. What I wasn't expecting, though, were the genuinely dynamic musical chops on display; I certainly didn't put as much consideration as I should have into the nearly 40 years Loverboy has played together. 

The hardcore fans — and the place was full of them, pumping their fists, throwing their devil horns in the air, defying security to dance in the aisles — knew all about lead guitarist Paul Dean's scorching guitar runs, and keyboardist Doug Johnson's multi-instrumental prowess as he moved from his synthesizer and piano to also tackle harmonica and saxophone solos. The rhythm section was rock-solid as well, with drummer Matt Frenette playing with both creativity and power, and bass player Ken Sinnaeve doing the same. 

Together, they delivered incredibly tight and muscular takes on songs that have glutted classic-rock radio since they first arrived in the early throes of the '80s: "Lucky Ones," "Turn Me Loose" and the like. 

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Friday, May 6, 2016

Posted By on Fri, May 6, 2016 at 12:15 PM


TONIGHT

At this point, it’s kind of a joke that we’re mentioning independent rapper Tech N9ne (aka Aaron Yates) is coming through the Knitting Factory again, because it seems like the guy is always in Spokane. While we dispelled the rumor that he has a Spokane home in an interview last year, it’s clear why the Kansas City-based artist continues to tour through here — he’s beloved. The Juggalo community’s support is a huge part of his success, but Tech’s dark and familiar music has plenty of other fans, too. Mainstream rappers 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne and Eminem even collaborated on his most recent album, 2015’s Special Effects. As usual, this show is already sold out. For those with tickets, everything starts at 8 pm, and with five openers don’t expect Tech on stage until at least 11:30 pm.
Back to the rooftop with you! One of the coolest downtown Spokane music venues opens up tonight as the publicly funded KYRS radio station kicks off its summer concert series on the glorious Saranac rooftop. With Spokane/Coeur d’Alene blackened hardcore acts East Sherman, Phjior and Déformer playing up a storm, the music is sure to raise a few eyebrows from passersby below. Each band plays perilously loud and fast, conjuring up a raging sound that reverberates through your rib cage and skull. This isn’t some garden party; instead, expect to rock hard into the night, and perhaps plan on bringing the earplugs. The show starts at 7 pm and is $5.

SATURDAY
After you’ve gotten your Kentucky Derby/Gonzaga Graduation/Donald Trump rally on, it’s time to check out the following music events Saturday night:

Other than bassist Scott Smith, who disappeared at sea in 2000, the 1980s rock band Loverboy is still intact and they’re hitting up the Northern Quest Resort & Casino Saturday (when singing their seminal hit “Working for the Weekend” will have an even more electrifying effect). The show is sold out, so hit the internet if you still hope to go.

Alt-rockers the Helio Sequence roll through Spokane this weekend, playing the Bartlett with opener Nick Jaina. They’re touting a recent self-titled record that took them only a month to write, read all about that in our story from this week. The show is $15 and starts at 8 pm.
Feel free to get a little jazzy and funky over at the Palomino with Philadelphia group the Dirk Quinn Band, Ragtag Romantics and Mary Chavez. The dance show starts at 7 pm and costs $10 at the door. 18+ show. 

Meanwhile the Baby Bar brings the electronic goodness in from local acts Summer in Siberia and the Dancing Plague of 1518 as well as Bombshell Nightlight out of Montana. Basically, this free show is all about letting go. Get there by 9 pm. 

Also, a friendly reminder for those who haven’t gotten them yet, Volume tickets are here!

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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Posted By on Wed, May 4, 2016 at 4:16 PM

click to enlarge Another summer music lineup announcement — Festival at Sandpoint
Ben Harper plays the final dance show at Festival at Sandpoint.

Festival at Sandpoint is everyone's favorite outdoor summer concert music series in North Idaho that allows concertgoers to bring in alcohol and picnic baskets while enjoying top national talent. It may also be the only festival around to meet those qualifications, but still. This year's lineup, running Aug. 4-14, may not be as cutting-edge as years past, but certainly older generations will be pleased with fine acts like Emmylou Harris and Bruce Hornsby coming in to play. Meanwhile, Ben Harper is a festival darling and is sure to put on an amazing set. Still exciting: The event continues to support regional musicians, as well as classical music. 
 
Here's the full breakdown:

AUG. 4 - Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers 
Kicking off the festival, the singer-pianist is known for his improvisational shows that flow between nearly every musical genre. Openers are Sandpoint Americana act Bridges Home. 

AUG. 5 - Railroad Earth 
Here's a band with a bluegrass sound, and big band feel. The group's jam band aesthetic has garnered them a dedicated fan base — known as Hobos, so watch out. Bellingham bluegrass act Rabbit Wilde opens. The show is a dance show, meaning the middle-front section nearest the stage is open to people standing and dancing. 

AUG. 6 -  Emmylou Harris
The Grand Ole Opry member and singer-songwriter is a living legend, and her show will reflect that. The Bros. Landreth and the Powers open up for her. 

AUG. 7 - The annual Family Concert
The show features a performance of Peter and the Wolf by the Festival Community Orchestra and Sandpoint’s Studio One Dancers.

AUG. 11- Angelique Kidjo
This queen of African music is sure to make you want to get up out of your seat, too bad this isn't a dance show.  The indie-Afro band Afrosonics, out of Boise, open. 

AUG. 12 - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
As part of their 50th Anniversary Tour, this California-based country-ish band will certainly make you want to go fishin' in the dark. Luke Bell opens. 

AUG. 13 - Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Playing the final dance show of the event, Harper is one of the most engaging festival artists out there. Local singer Sadie Wagoner opens. 

Aug. 14: Festival Finale, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
The final show features the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, jazz pianist and composer Vadim Neselovskyi and Sandpoint natives Jason Moody on violin as wells as singer Hailey Fuqua. Expect fireworks here, literally. 

Season passes are already sold out, but the individual concerts run from $43-$70. You can purchase tickets right here.

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Moonshine: Artisan Night Market @ Commellini Estate

Wednesdays, 5:30-10 p.m. Continues through Aug. 27
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