By Kathryn L. Casterline People of all ages flocked to the Track House in downtown Olympia on Saturday, Sept. 27 to attend FringeFest 2014, where local hip-hop, punk, metal, and folk acts performed. I sat down with the founders of Fringe Music, husband and wife Paul and Sarah Wildey, to […]
Best New Music: 2013-14
Here’s what we think you should be listening to. By ISSAC SCOTT While everyone fawns over Portland, Chicago and Austin as hot spots for new music, Olympia quietly ferments the kind of sublime weirdness that has contributed disproportionately to overall “alternative culture,” whatever that means. Obviously, themes established by riot […]
Best New Music: Naomi Punk – “Television Man”
NAOMI PUNK – TELEVISION MAN (Captured Tracks) By JOSH WOLF Confidently jarring, meticulous and formulaic, Naomi Punk’s composition is down to a science. Consistent songwriting is what defines their sophomore album, Television Man, as the guitars punch and drive syncopated alongside anti-drumbeat drumming. The vocals yell, as if stuck in […]
Best New Music: VEXX – “VEXX”
VEXX – VEXX (M’Lady Records) By BLAINE EWIG Vexx’s self-titled EP answers the question “Is punk dead?” with a loud and adamant “NO.” Their argument for that assertion sounds pretty convincing, too; the EP is cohesive, powerful, and more calculated than one might expect from a debut. Vexx is well-versed […]
Best New Music: Oh, Rose – “1919”
OH, ROSE – 1919 (Guest Records) By JOSH WOLF Lead by frontwoman Olivia Rose, Oh, Rose is one of Olympia’s most promising bands. After practicing for less than three months in late Spring 2014, the group embarked on their first tour: a 10 thousand-mile journey across 28 states and 28 […]
Best New Music: Slouch – “Sick Man Demo”
SLOUCH – SICK MAN DEMO (Self-released) By BLAINE EWIG Slouch is classic hardcore punk; loud, fast, and sometimes startling. They take their breakdowns seriously, and their live performance is just as explosive as their recorded one. However, diverting from classic hardcore motifs and as a self identified “queer hardcore punk […]
Best New Music: LAKE – “Circular Doorway”
LAKE – CIRCULAR DOORWAY (K Records) By ISSAC SCOTT LAKE assembles a cabal of talented players for laid back, vintage-sounding grooves in what is arguably most quintessentially Olympia band imaginable. Nearing a decade since their first release, Circular Doorway shows that the quartet has settled comfortably into their offbeat pop […]
Best New Music: Stephen Steinbrink – “Arranged Waves”
STEPHEN STEINBRINK – ARRANGED WAVES (Melodic) Inspired by years travel across North America and Europe, Olympia-based singer-songwriter Stephen Steinbrink crafts wistful, introspective pop rock songs on his latest album Arranged Waves. Here, the Arizona native’s sublimely meditative tunes are brought to life by a cast of Olympia musicians including Tom Filardo, […]
Best New Music: You Are Plural – “Rabbit Rabbit”
YOU ARE PLURAL – RABBIT RABBIT (Side With Us) By ISSAC SCOTT Though Olympia trio You Are Plural have established themselves on the West Coast over the past several years, their new album Rabbit Rabbit is a first in many ways. It’s their first full-length album after two shorter EPs, […]
Best New Music: Globelamp – “Star Dust”
GLOBELAMP – STAR DUST By BlAINE EWIG Globelamp is the solo project of Elizabeth Le Fey, and this psychedelic witch-folk princess means business. The California transplant has already proven that her musical aptitude is more than worthy of our attention. With previous projects including Olympia’s Meowtain and Los Angeles-based group […]