One Shot Seattle: The Thermals

Hey folks, here's a link to a One Shot Seattle video (a la Dogma 95) my pal Steve just posted. He shoots these cool little intimate videos of bands playing in random places for La Blogoteque. Today's special was The Thermals. Check it out when you get a chance.

Random: wallets on my bed

Here is a random picture of wallets I have been collecting over some time now... they range between $4.99 - $75.00
My latest purchase is the purple faux crocodile wallet-clutch in the middle. It was from Urban Outfitters and only costed $9.95 - a steal! But who would know... especially when they are displayed like this... looks like art! Wow, maybe this is what I was born to do - photo editorial for accessories?

Birthday portrait

This year I got Brendan something a little more different than the usual... a portrait drawn by Kim Alexander!
Pretty cool huh? It's pencil on mylar and I just love the detail on the hair and beard.... this is Kim's speciality.
If you're interested in Kim Alexander art / illustrations, check out his website in my links. He is mega talented and everyone should get their portrait drawn by him before he runs off and gets famous!

She and Him

As you might have heard, Hollywood starlet Zooey Deschanel and M Ward put out a sparkling new album on Merge records recently under the moniker She and Him - and it's actually really great. Zooey's voice is so cool and reminiscent of an old country folk singer accompanied by M Wards pretty piano and guitar strummings. Check out their songs on Myspace:

>>> myspace.com/sheandhim

And here's an MP3 of When I Get To The Border... a lovely little duo

http://www.chromewaves.net/mp3/MWard-WhenIGetToTheBorder.mp3

Missed them at SXSW, but they're on tour now so hopefully they will make a stop over in Seattle... TBD...

Wundershowzen in Seatown

Here are some trendy hot new bands coming to our rainy neck of the woods... fun times and don't forget Lykke Li and El Perro Del Mar on 5/15 at Triple door woo woo!

APRIL
4/16 David Bazan, Mark Kozelek @ Town Hall
4/16 Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D, Rihanna @ Key Arena
4/16 Gram Rabbit @ Tractor Tavern
4/18 Blitzen Trapper, Fleet Foxes @ Neumo's
4/18 A-Trak, Sinden, Steve Aoki @ War Room
4/18 CunninLynguists @ Chop Suey
4/20 Caribou, Fuck Buttons @ Chop Suey
4/20 Rilo Kiley @ Showbox
4/21 MGMT @ Chop Suey
4/21 The Raconteurs @ Neumo's
4/22 Hot Chip, Free Blood @ Showbox
4/22 The Sword @ Neumo's
4/24 Simian Mobile Disco @ Neumo's
4/25 The Mae Shi @ Vera Project
4/25 Wallpaper @ El Corazon
4/27 Indian Jewelry @ Sunset Tavern
4/29 Peter Moren (of Peter, Bjorn and John ) @ The Triple Door
4/29 Sons and Daughters @ Neumo's
4/30 The Swell Season @ Moore Theater
4/30 Cut Copy, Black Kids, Mobius Band @ Neumo's
4/30 Duran Duran @ WaMu Theater

MAY
5/2 Colin Meloy, Laura Gibson @ Showbox
5/2 Laura Viers, Liam Finn @ The Triple Door
5/3 DeVotchKa, Basia Bulat @ Showbow
5/3 Grand Ole Party, Rogue Wave @ The Fillmore
5/4 VHS or Beta, Tigercity @ Nectar Lounge
5/5 Elbow, Air Traffic @ Showbox
5/6 The B-52's, Eagle Seagull @ Showbox
5/6 Yo Majesty, Does It Offend You, Yeah? @ Neumo's
5/8 Minus The Bear, Portugal. The Man, The Big Sleep @ Showbox
5/9 Kate Nash, The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players @ Showbox
5/10 KT Tunstall @ Moore Theatre
5/11 Eisley @ Chop Suey
5/11 CAKE @ Paramount Theater
5/12 Ra Ra Riot, The Little Ones @ Chop Suey
5/13 Abstract Rude, Atmosphere, DJ Rare Grooves @ Showbox
5/14 tapes 'n tapes, White Denim @ Showbox
5/14 Murder By Death @ Chop Suey
5/14 Robyn @ Neumo's
5/15 The Kills @ Neumo's
5/15 Kids In The Hall @ WaMu Theater
5/16 French Kicks @ Chop Suey
5/16 Clinic, Shearwater @ Neumo's
5/17 Port O'Brien @ Vera Project
5/17 Dead Meadow @ El Corazon
5/18 Tokyo Police Club, Smoosh @ Neumo's
5/19 Dizzee Rascal, El-P @ Neumo's
5/20 Margot and the Nuclear So & Sos @ Chop Suey
5/23 The Presets, Walter Meego @ Nectar Lounge
5/23 Thrice @ Showbox
5/24 Datarock, Ladytron @ Showbox
5/25 M83, The Berg Sans Nipple @ Neumo's
5/26 Swervedriver @ Neumo's
5/30 Foals @ Neumo's


JUNE
6/1 Ladyhawk, Neva Dinova @ Chop Suey
6/11 The Black Angels, The Warlocks @ Neumo's
6/12 Two Gallants @ Tractor Tavern
6/14 The Jealous Girlfriends @ High Dive
6/17 Lightspeed Champion, Flowers Forever @ Chop Suey
6/18 Be Your Own Pet, Switches, She Wants Revenge, The Virgins @ Showbox
6/21 Jaymay, Fink @ Tractor Tavern

New Music Tuesday

Back to the music...

Today's special, Lykke Li. Just heard about this indie pop sensation through KEXP and got a press release today from one of the promoters I work with. She will be on tour with El Perro Del Mar - Swedish super show! And will be stopping in our hood 5/15 for a show at the Triple Door. Stay tuned for details... until now, enjoy this video...



LYKKE LI TOUR DATES
05.06.08 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
05.07.08 - New York, NY - Joe's Pub
05.08.08 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
05.09.08 - Boston, MA - Middle East
05.10.08 - Montreal, QUE - Lambi
05.11.08 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
05.12.08 - Chicago, IL - Shuba's
05.14.08 - Vancouver, BC - Red Room
05.15.08 - Seattle, WA - Triple Door
05.16.08 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
05.18.08 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's
05.19.08 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre

Back in the USSR

Well, I'm finally back home now and I have loads of good memories and pictures to share with you all. I didn't manage to post to my blog while I was traveling, so I copied the messages I sent via iPod. Details below. Next stop, India? Shang-rai?

SEE PHOTOS HERE: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lannafotos/sets/

3.31.2008 AU REVOIR PARIS
Well, our mighty trip has just about come to an end, so I'm going to keep this short so we can enjoy the last moments of it.
Paris was beautiful and we squeezed in trips to the Notre Dame, Montemarte, Sacre Couer and Palais de Justice today before we jumped back on the Eurostar in the late afternoon (which we almost missed!)
For now, we have tonight in London (fish and chips and Soho!) and then off again tomorrow evening where we will stay with friends in NY before we return home. See you soon and until next time!




3.29.2008 PARIS
Bonjour! We are now in the city of lights... Such a beautiful place, and enjoying it even more this time as a married couple and not just a backpacking college student :) We got in yesterday and so far, we have accomplished a lot. Walked around the Latin Quarter last night (lovely views of the Seine river and Notre Dame Cathedral) strolled the Les Halles market and ritzy
Champs-Elysee, took pics under the massive Arc de Triumph, Eiffel Tower and Louvre, and enjoyed crepes by the Trocadero. All the main attractions. Later on, we will check out Belleville since little China is over there... MUST eat vegetables. Having way too much meat, cheese, chocolate and bread - its killing us! Then off to wandering again... Til tomorrow, Bonsoir!







3.27.2008 BRUSSELS
Bonjour! We are now in Brussels enjoying the cold cold rain : (
Luckily there ate lots of charming cafes and brasseries to duck into which we did a lot today. We are staying in a nice little hotel by the place de jeu duballes and in the morning they have a great flea market of antiques, old comics and brick brack that we browsed. Had our first waffles (best with pistachio ice cream and chocolate sauce!) last night near the Grand Place (main square) and hot frites with curry sauce today - so good! Saw the Manaken Pis which is a famous statue of a baby taking a wee. Kind of bazaar but funny. We also had fruit wine and Leffe at an eccentric little bar called Goupis la fol. We enjoyed listening to Edith Piaf and Jacque Dutronc out of their jukebox and the bar was 3 levels high and had all these secret rooms tucked away. Apparently it was a brothel many many years ago! Well, off to dinner now... More updates again soon.




3.25.2008 EDINBURGH>LONDON
Did a lot on our last days here... Walked princes street all the way up to Calton hill where there are breath taking views of the city. We could see the ocean line, Arthur's seat, Edinburgh castle etc. Took loads of pics then hiked down to tour the Holyrood Palace (mary queen of scots lived here!) and the roofless Abbey which has been around since the 12th century. Later on, we had lunch in the old town, picked up souvenirs and toured the royal mile one last time. It snowed for a bit so we warmed up back at the hotel then caught a bus to Leith (small town by the ocean) and had really good seafood. Also, we saw the RGB's play (Brit electro pop band) the night before and had beers at the famous Oxford bar. Brendan ate some bazaar fried oddities at Kingfisher too. On the train back to London now where we will stay a night and then over to Brussels. More adventures coming soon!

ps sheep are passing by as I type this!




3.23.2008 EASTER IN EDINBURGH
Having a lovely time in Edinburgh Scotland... Walked around the castle this morning and it snowed on us a bit. So we went to the Scottish woolen mill and bought some plaid scarfs to keep warm and browsed the shops along the royal mile and princes street where all the sights are. Beautiful churches and buildings that are several centuries old line the streets but you can still find pizza hut and quizno's here. Much more laid back than london but still loads more to see... Also, we enjoyed an excellent Easter dinner buffet back at our hotel. Got some great pics of Brendan dipping fruit into an oversized chocolate fondue fountain too... Will post soon...More tomorrow!

ps McEwan's 70+ = best beer yet!