Tag Archives: ball of wax

Album Review: Virgin of the Birds – Secret Kids (Ball of Wax Midwives a Lit-rock Masterpiece)

Virgin of the Birds – Secret Kids (2016, Abandoned Love/Song, by Toad) I. Virgin of the Birds is celebrating the release of a uniquely outstanding record October 22, 2016 at Substation. Secret Kids, the band’s sophomore LP (out today), is … Continue reading

Posted in Album Reviews, Ball of Wax, Recorded Music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Ball of Wax 38: Friday, October 17th at Conor Byrne

Posted in Ball of Wax | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ball of Wax 36 Songs: GreenhornBluehorn – “Out of the Dark”

As previously blogged, the Spring 2014 volume of Ball of Wax will be unleashed upon the world on Saturday, June 7th. And what better way to kick off the spring release and celebrate the end of winter than with a … Continue reading

Posted in Ball of Wax, Check Out This Song | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ball of Wax 35 Songs: John Vecchiarelli – “iPhone Wedding Song (for Marc & Ali)”

Ball of Wax 35 closes with one last low-fi ukulele recording. Portland’s John Vecchiarelli, an old friend last heard from way back on Ball of Wax Volume 2, sent me an email out of the blue with this little beauty … Continue reading

Posted in Ball of Wax, Bands You Should Know, Check Out This Song | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ball of Wax 35 Songs: The Pornadoes – “Makes My Heart Sway”

Local surfy instrumentalists The Pornadoes take their tongues out of their cheeks and bring the volume and tempo down for this very sweet love theme. If we’re talking Northwest guitar heroes, “Makes My Heart Sway” is less The Ventures and … Continue reading

Posted in Ball of Wax, Check Out This Song | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Robb Benson and the Shelk – “Twin Peaks”

I can’t claim to know the inspiration behind Robb Benson‘s spirit animal, the shelk (an elk with a shark’s head, obviously), but at least half of it makes perfect sense. Robb is one of the most prolific songwriters I’ve ever … Continue reading

Posted in Ball of Wax, Bands You Should Know, Check Out This Song | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Peter Colclasure – “Cynic”

Peter Colclasure is a former member of the Foghorns whose contribution to Ball of Wax 35 is a surreal kiss-off in waltz time. “Cynic” contrasts Colclasure’s derisive lyrics (“you got yourself seen at all the right places / all the hip … Continue reading

Posted in Ball of Wax, Check Out This Song | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Werebearcat! – “My Heart”

I can’t believe it’s been over a year since Werebearcat! graced us with one of their minimalist drum-and-voice jams, but indeed it has. They made their first Ball of Wax appearance on our “No Guitars” volume, and unlike some of … Continue reading

Posted in Ball of Wax, Check Out This Song | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Bandolier – “Steady Love”

Bandolier gets things off on the right foot with the iconic pum—pum-pum-thwack! of the indestructible “Be My Baby” drum beat. Almost immediately gritty synth organ and a tinny melodic figure (a guitar with tremolo?) emerge below reedy vocals singing “[I] … Continue reading

Posted in Ball of Wax, Check Out This Song | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ball of Wax 35 Songs: James Smith – “Every Time I Fall in Love It Turns Out Bad”

Webelos front man James Smith brings us a lo-fi, poppy little sad sack of a tune with a fairly self-explanatory title. It might not be the kind of song that first comes to mind when one thinks of love songs, … Continue reading

Posted in Ball of Wax, Check Out This Song | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment