Scene & Heard: Seattle, WA

posted in: Features • Pop • Reviews & Playlists • Rock

Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Death Cab For Cutie. What do all three of these heavy hitters have in common? They all started out in The Emerald City. It’s no doubt that many consider Seattle, WA to be one of the alternative music capitals of the world. It seems only natural that the 3-day rock festival Bumbershoot be held here every year. With the recent surge of indie pop and indie rock acts, Seattle is also the proud home of the Sasquatch Festival, which showcases awesome indie, folk and even electronic acts each year.

For the inside scoop on up-to-date local venues and artists, it’s best to first turn to Seattle’s alternative magazine Seattle Weekly. Like many similar magazines in cities across the country, this publication points out notable venues in the area that support the “local vibe” of Seattle. Over the past couple years, SW has hosted its own local music festival called Reverbfest which has helped local bands such as The Moondoggies and The Crying Shame. The magazine even hosts a video series called “Music on the Ferry”. Check out one of the sessions:

After looking through Seattle Weekly’s venue picks, one thing is very clear” if you want to find a great venue, a solid bet is to head over to the Ballard neighborhood in the northern part of the city. On Ballard Ave alone you’ll find numerous live music venues including The Sunset Tavern and The Tractor Tavern. The Sunset is considered one of the quintessential venues in Seattle to catch up-and-coming pop/rock acts before they’re big enough to play larger Seattle venues like Neumos and the Showbox at the Market (according to SW of course). If you’re looking for a more folk/americana-oriented venue, many locals would suggest heading over to Tractor Tavern.

Frontwoman of OurStage act Xolie Morra & The Strange Kind as well as guitarist Zoran Macesic, in fact, recommend Tractor Tavern’s welcoming environment and span of eclectic acts for bands and visitors alike. When asked what venue was their favorite to play, Morra said it was the Paragon while Macesic prefers the larger Showbox at the Market. If you’re an act playing in Seattle, make sure you stay and hang around with the crowd.

“The fans really encourage us and feel more like friends,” says Morra. “[They] are always there to support the band at the shows”. She even recommends sticking around for an extra day to participate in some karaoke or bar-hopping to cultivate this connection.

In such a reputable and competitive market, there’s obviously a distinct vibe in these venues. “The Seattle feel is what makes all the shows exciting. It has somehow maintained its own unique blend of urgency and creativity in music. The concert goers are not slouches; they do their homework before they see you and make sure to keep you honest,” comments drummer Mike Baker. “Playing with other bands in that sort of environment creates friendly competition to put on a kick ass show.”

Xolie Morra & The Strange Kind have used this feeling of competition and camaraderie to their advantage. The group opened for Jessica Simpson at the Montery Fairgrounds (the same place where Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar during the ’67 Montery Pop Festival) as well as Styx. Lead singer Morra had a song licensed by CW’s Smallville, and the band recently had their song “Wings of Gold” featured in an indie film called The Festival. With the driving indie rock style building to the catchy and emotional chorus, this song certainly serves up some great Seattle aesthetic.

Be sure to check out the band’s OurStage profile to hear their eclectic sound for yourself. Remember, whether you’re a fan or a band heading to Seattle, take the time to experience the nightlife and make some new friends. According to Xolie Morra, “you won’t regret it, except maybe the hangover.”