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Category Archives: Bands You Should Know
Album Review: The Shivers – More
The Shivers – More (2011, Silence Breaks) The Shivers, whose many virtues have been extolled on these virtual pages, return with a new full-length, More, on a nascent Brooklyn imprint called Silence Breaks. On More, Keith Zarriello and Jo Schornikow have … Continue reading
Ball of Wax Artists at NW Folklife This Weekend
As I mentioned a while back, I’m pretty excited about the Northwest Folklife Festival, occupying Seattle Center this weekend. Of course there’s the Ball of Wax showcase on Sunday, which features myself and four other fine artists that have graced … Continue reading
Working Troubadours: Joe Pug, Ben Gilmer, and Strand of Oaks at Tractor May 13, 2011
To explain why I admire the North Carolinian gone Chicago Joe Pug— a very young songwriter with a bawdy nasal style compared to Gaslight-era Dylan– I point to the third time I heard him play. I already liked his manners. … Continue reading
Posted in Bands You Should Know, Live Music
Tagged ben gilmer, joe pug, strand of oaks, tractor tavern
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The Names They Are A-Changin’
As previously mentioned, the Ball of Wax 24 release show this Wednesday at the Sunset features five artists (myself included) who date back to the first year of Ball of Wax. And that is true, although all five names might … Continue reading
Posted in Ball of Wax, Bands You Should Know
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Discover the Magic of Multiples
Brooklyn-based the Magic of Multiples (heard on Ball of Wax Volumes 19, 23, and the forthcoming 24) is one Alex Drum, a lo fi classicist in possession of the indisputable formula for fuzzy, charming bedroom pop. The goodness found all … Continue reading
Album Review: The Stares – Meridians
The Stares – Meridians (2010, self-released) (Listen and purchase on their site.) The Stares – Drew Whittemore, Angie Benintendi, and the various other brilliant musicians they surround themselves with – are slow and quiet, and not just in the music … Continue reading
Posted in Album Reviews, Bands You Should Know
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This Scottish Guy You Should Hear Has an Honest Heart AND a Brain: Check out Withered Hand
Two years ago, I went to Scotland on tour, and a very good friend sat me down and played an EP by Withered Hand (Dan Willson is his non-stage name). The EP blew me away for its songwriting. The singer, … Continue reading
Posted in Bands You Should Know, Check Out This Song, Glocal Scene, Videos
Tagged no cigarettes, virgin of the birds, withered hand
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Wesafari R.I.P.: Final Show April 17th at Neumos
It’s no secret that Wesafari (heard on Ball of Wax volumes 1, 4, 6, 18, 20, and seen on the Volume 7 DVD) has been one of my favorite local bands for quite some time now, as well as being … Continue reading
Posted in Bands You Should Know, Community, Live Music, Videos
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Free Album(s) of the Day: Virgin of the Birds
Oh yes, the conflict of interest train just keeps on rollin’, I tell you. Jon Rooney, one of this very blog’s very writers, also happens to be a very talented and prolific songwriter in his own right. Scratch that, there’s … Continue reading
The Lovely Sparrows at SXSW 2011
Even by Ball of Wax’s dubious conflict of interest standards, my writing about Austin’s the Lovely Sparrows constitutes some sort of grave transgression of conscience. Not only did I release their debut EP and LP on my little label, I … Continue reading
Posted in Bands You Should Know, Live Music
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