September 2009

The Seattle creative sector needs to decide whether or not to grow to accommodate the considerable talent that has grown out of the Puget Sound region over the past decade. Don't get me wrong, one of the great things about this city is its people's commitment to small business, grassroots organization and By The People, For The People directives. Still, it doesn't do us much good if all of our strongest musicians, actors, artists and writers have to go somewhere else to get the attention and facilities they deserve. When it comes to music Seattle has done well enough to foster rock, but we're living in the 21st century, there's more to the modern soundscape than guitars. Our hip hop and electronic music community becomes more interesting every year. If the acts at The Seattle Music Revival are any indication, we may just be standing on a wellspring of undiscovered talent.

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The doctor is in da house! Dr. Clarke of Long Island wants you to take precautions this flu season. Notice he is not rapping about bitches, hos, money, cars, marijuana or bling-bling. He does, however, want you to keep your hands clean to prevent spreading disease, and stay home when you don't feel well! Doctor's orders!

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Alotta folks get cited as important in the realm of rock development. There can’t ever be a definitive list compiled of all the groups that in some way affected the way in which we now listen to rock and or roll. But Hank Ballard and his group, the Midnighters, are often referred to as an integral part of the pre-rock clutch of bands that littered record stores with singles. Of them, Ballard and his group – which apparently at one time counted a future member of the Four Tops – recorded a series of raunchy tracks using a girl named ‘Annie’ as a central character. Those songs were often banned from radio stations as the people on the mic – and behind the scenes – found the subject matter (getting’ it and getting’ it good) to be unsuitable for mass consumption. Read more

I can't say that anyone should particularly care for the Black Keys, but this project looks amazing.