Category Archives: Bands You Should Know

[glocal scene] Give Me Something Beautiful

A recent trip to Montreal brought me into contact with a fantastic band with a grand name – Give Me Something Beautiful. Currently in the studio recording their first full length, Give Me Something Beautiful have a selection of EPs … Continue reading

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Man, Manifesto, Waitress: Sam Russell at Columbia City Theater

It’s not that I want Seattle to change. But one day I’m listening to a damn good alt bluegrass band called Creeping Time at Conor Byrne when a herky jerky hirsute man jumps onto stage and belts out the beginning … Continue reading

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Interview with Carlos Forster, Who Is Touring the West Coast

I reviewed Carlos Forster‘s new album, Family Trees, last year on this very blog. A couple of years ago, I wrote a short, somewhat random posthumous tribute to Forster’s former band, For Stars, on Fensepost. Forster is about to set … Continue reading

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Download Ollie Byrd’s Barrel O’ Fun for Free

It’s been a long time since we heard from former Seattleite Ollie Byrd (Orlando, I hope you know how lucky you are). That’s not true, actually; I get e-mails and Facebook updates from him all the time. But it’s been … Continue reading

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I’ve Been Had!

In hindsight, I should have known there was something fishy about this whole “Damien Fairchild” story. The songs – however sweet and innocent and charming – were just a bit too good, too sharp and well-produced, to be the product … Continue reading

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Johanna Kunin’s Prolific Boxing Day

So, what did you do on Boxing Day? I had the day off and, while it wasn’t entirely unproductive, I don’t think I’ll remember anything I did that day in a few months. Johanna Kunin (Bright Archer) decided to make … Continue reading

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2011 Releases You Should Hear from Ball of Wax Artists

Given the astounding length of our contributors list, I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that I can put together a list of 16 excellent albums and EPs that were released in the past year by artists who have appeared on … Continue reading

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Album Review: Western Ghost House – Kaleidoscope Tower

Western Ghost House – Kaleidoscope Tower (2011, self-released) Western Ghost House‘s second release,  Kaleidoscope Tower, is a tasteful, thoughtful collection of songs from a young Austin band that evokes the likes of Calexico, Shearwater, and Papercuts. Brooding, cowboy-esque opener “Varicose Veins” … Continue reading

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Animal Hospital Ensemble: What I’d Be Doing This Weekend if I Were on the East Coast

Regular listeners to Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly should remember the mostly-instrumental gorgeousness of Kevin Micka’s Animal Hospital song “. . . And Ever” from Volume 17. Animal Hospital has always been a solo project, its many layers of rhythm … Continue reading

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Just Because: The Way It Is – “Fell in Love with a Carbomber”

Just because I was listening to this song last night with some friends and was reminded – as I am every time I hear it – of just how goddamn good it is, and how great a songwriter Michael Sanchez … Continue reading

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