Home of: The Space Needle, Bob Barker, Kurt Cobain, Bing Crosby, Kenny G., Bill Gates, Jimi Hendrix, Adam West, Modest Mouse, Mudhoney, Bikini Kill, Gossip, Death Cab for Cutie, The Melvins, Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, KEXP 90.3 FM
Fun Facts: State flower; Coast Rhododendron, state song; “Washington, My Home,” state bird; Willow Goldfinch.
The Venues:
Over 150,000 music and art fans from all over the US and the World will be spending this Labor Day Weekend at Bumbershoot, Seattle’s 38-year-old celebration of music, comedy, art, film and performance. The 74-acre Seattle Center will host over 100 bands, including De La Soul, Sheryl Crow, Os Mutantes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jason Mraz, Metric, Modest Mouse and OurStage artists The Kindness Kind.
The Crocodile, located in Seattle’s Belltown district, was at the center of the ’90s grunge explosion. Nirvana, Mudhoney and Pearl Jam all played at “the Croc” in their early years. The club’s sudden closure after 16 years in 2007 saddened many in the Seattle music community. A renovated Crocodile with new owners re-opened in March of this year.
Housed in the Historic Embassy Theater, The Triple Door is a relative newcomer to the Seattle music scene. Opening in the early ’00s, The Triple Door’s main stage hosts national touring acts while the smaller “musiquarium” hosts lesser-known local acts and open mics.
The Music:
Shenandoah Davis – After teaching herself to play piano, Davis studied classical voice, piano, jazz guitar and harp in college. Although she swore off classical music after graduation, her musicianship and composition skills are noticeable in her utterly original music—the disparate elements of hand-claps, piano, xylophone and Davis’ own unique voice are blended together seamlessly in “Up & Over.” Imagine a more experimental Feist.
Surrounded By Breakers – Combine old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll with the twang of Americana and the brashness of punk, and you get Seattle’s Surrounded By Breakers. “Born Under An Unlucky Star,” from the band’s self-titled album is a tale of a difficult relationship with a great bass sound.
The Thoughts – The Thoughts list their influences as “Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliot Smith, winter, sadness, introspection and brain holes.” “Northern Lights” is a nice piece of indie rock that manages to be introspective while avoiding clichés.
Forget Me Nots – Former “Download of the Week” featured artists Forget Me Nots serve up another sweet slice of indie pop with “Glad.” Boy-girl vocals float on top of acoustic and electric guitars, violin, drums and bass.
Who are your favorite OurStage Washingtonians? Where do you like to see live music in Washington? Let us know in the comments!
