June Podcast.2

The weather in Seattle has been unspeakably shitty these past few days, cooping the city up inside and generally souring the mood.  Fortunately, there's lots of good music to pass away the hours with, which--in conjunction with my continued status as highly unemployable--brings us to another podcast.  

This time around we've got a string of mellower and earthy folk- and indie-rock tunes capped off with two throbbing dance jams.  The general theme is again new(er) music, with many of the bands playing upcoming shows in the area.

Once again, I urge you to follow up on and support the musicians if you find something you like.

To download this podcast click here.  You can also stream directly from the Gold Soundz player at right or the embedded player below (if you're using an RSS viewer).

The Tracklist:

1. "I Woke Up Today" by Port O'Brien, from their recently self-released album All We Could Do Was Sing (2008) .

A more rowdy stomp-along version of a song featured on their excellent debut album The Wind And The Swell.  

2. "Art Isn't Real (City of Sin)" by Deer Tick, from War Elephant (2007) out now on FEOW! records.

He's from Rhode Island and less than a quarter-century old, but John McCauley pens and belts out a song like a Dylan who died of cigarette-induced throat cancer and immediately came back to life in the image of a scronny and blonde-haired kid.  Deer Elephant is a heck of a debut album.

3. "Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms" by Frightened Rabbit, from The Midnight Organ (2008) available on FatCat records.

The Scottish band is performing June 18th at the Nectar Lounge in Seattle, and June 19th at the Holocene in Portland.

4. "Blue Penguin" by The Ruby Suns, from Sea Lion (2008) released earlier this year on Sub Pop.

One of the most ambitious and wildly successful poly-genre records around.  The two Kiwi lads and gal will be part of Sub Pop's 20th anniversary bash in Seattle on July 13th.

5. "Red And Purple" by The Dodos, from Visiter (2008) on French Kiss records.

Guitar/vocalist Meric Long and his mustachioed experimental-percussionist friend Logan Kroeber are even more earnest and arresting in concert.  Don't miss their shows in Seattle June 25th at Neumo's and July 25th at the Capitol Hill Block Party, or in Portland June 24th at the Doug Fir Lounge.

6. "Great DJ" by The Ting Tings, from We Started Nothing (2008) out now on Columbia.

The latest band to make those iPod dancers shake their moneymakers are coming to (Sea)town Tuesday night at Chop Suey.  

7. "Cause Those People Get Free Airline Tickets" by Velella Velella, from the self-released Fight Club EP (2008). 

One of my favorite (and local) bands that for reasons beyond my conceptual ability have yet to blow up within the currently dance music crazed scene.  Velella Velella's funky, chanting, interstellar, grooving, fusion sound is so much more than trendy dance-punk, however. Their playing a homecoming show as part of the aforementioned Block Party July 25th.