What: Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir"
When: 1:30 p.mish
Where: Coming from a mid-'90s, white Ford Explorer; 4th and Pikeish
The Story: I try and only listen to "Stairway to Heaven" once a year. I got my fill as a teenage, and I feel the same way about "Kashmir." This is about the best possible way to hear it. This middle-aged dude with a Costanza haircut is blaring it, and I'm walking down the street at the same pace as his car. It felt like my personal soundtrack.
The Irony: I was carrying a violin.  

 

Granted, there's about 749 bands vying for your attention at Bumbershoot this weekend, but if you get a chance I highly recommend checking out the up-and-coming soul/rock/groove band Honeycut at the Esurance Stage on Saturday at 2:15 p.m.  I caught the Bay Area band -- which is signed to Quannum (home to DJ Shadow, Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, etc.), and released its debut album, The Day I Turned To Glass, earlier this year -- this past April at the Showbox and they were dynamite.  Musically, they cross the slinky Brit-rock of the Stone Roses/Primal Scream/Kasabian/etc. with creamy soul that recalls everything from vintage Motown to Shuggie Otis.  They're also primo entertainers, especially French-born keyboard whiz Herve "RV" Salters, who can jam on the keys like Bernie Worrell while simultaneously leaping and dancing around like Bez from the Happy Mondays.  A couple of days ago, I chatted with the gregarious Salters over the phone from Golden Gate Park.  Check out some of that interview after the jump.
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Yeah! It's Bumbershoot time, y'all. Can you feel it? I know I can...and I'm not even gonna be here for two-thirds of it! I'll be in Eastern Washington (I can sense your jealousy). But goddammit, I'll be back in time for this guy right here! For me, next to Fergie, this year's Bumbershoot is all about Roky Erickson! You can read all about my love affair with this mad genius/psychedelic pioneer in our Bumbershoot guide. Here's a clip of him playing this year with his band the Explosives. For those of you who've been following Roky's troubled career, did you ever think you'd see him like this again?

Aside from SW's Bumbershoot page, there is one tool every attendee should equip themselves with before going into this long festival weekend.

The One Reel peeps have rolled out a CitizenPod clickguide for the festival. 

Download it to your iPod, and you've got schedules, audio samples, and basically every else you'll need, aside from wet naps.  

For those of you who think the craft tents at Bumbershoot exist solely to obstruct bed-wetting Fergie fans from making it to the stadium on time, we present Exhibit A for the defense: the Crafty Devils' adorable litlte handbags. I tote one around town myself, and get compliments from all the girls at the salon when I'm getting my hair did. One of the Devils actually visited my treehouse in Pigeon Ridge last night for ribs, tequila, and a cornmeal dish known in some circles as "The Pentuple Bypass." Her name is Angie Bowlds. She is super close friends with former Fine Young Cannibals frontman Nicolae White, and is attractive enough to pass for Gina Gershon back before she allegedly started fucking Paul Allen. Bowlds' bags are part of the Urban Craft Uprising near the big fountain.

In this week's issue of the SF Weekly, former Seattleite (now SF Weekly Music Editor) Jennifer Maerz gets in some QT with BG, talking all-things Kerouac. The Death Cab/Postal Service frontman is spending two weeks alone writing songs in the Big Sur cabin where the author penned, you guessed it, Big Sur.

 

 

 Ween fans are obsessed. I know, I'm one of them. In 2003, I went to great lengths trying to get them to attend my backyard BBQ/Cinco De Mayo party the night they're playing in town. But my motives seemed legit. After all, the band prefers receiving home-cooked meals from their fans and the band was playing ten blocks away. Unfortunately, sound check and prearranged dinner engagements (not to mention a late start on the grill) prevented Ween from coming over to hang with us before their show. Oh well. I just know they would've loved the sight of my female dog basically humping my leg when my holiday-themed band, Elf Punishment, performed. Although, if the "family" photo on the inner sleeve of Pure Guava is any indication, it probably wouldn't have been the worst they have seen.

But I was delighted to find out this morning that New Hope, Pennsylvania's favorite acid-fried brothers-from-different-mothers, have announced a fall 2007 tour that brings them to The Paramount on November 13. Their shows are legendary, filled with drunken tomfoolery, esoteric nonsense, and musical grandeur. Tickets are currently available for pre-sale here.

Looks like I have a reason for throwing a party and firing up the grill, yet again.

We've just confirmed that Tom Phalen, held in high esteem by many as the Seattle Times' "Ace of Clubs" columnist, passed away earlier this week. Times Arts & Culture editor (and former Weekly A&C editor) Lynn Jacobson reports that a full obituary will appear soon in the Times. Tom (who wrote a Ray Davies profile under the name Thom in 2006) was also an occasional contributor to the Weekly's music pages over the years. He was a dear friend to the Seattle music scene, and will be deeply missed.

Just look at those handsome lads, the Fleet Foxes! They've been chosen as Spin's Band of the Day for August 30, and coincidentally it happens to be a day as sunny and lovely as their music. The band, led by guitarist/vocalist Robin Pecknold (brother of our Aja), has a debut in the works, but listen to the highlighted song, "White Winter Hymnal" on their page or Spin's, and tell your friends! After hearing them open for the Black Angels last year, Fleet Foxes became one of the few Seattle folk/rock bands I'll get out of the nightclub for. The shit is as good as that Crosstown Rebels mix I've been playing since March, and that's no hay.

Neumo's just sent out an email blast (below) with a way to score tix to the (obviously) already sold out Dinosaur Jr. and Band of  Horses show on September 11:

Do you want to come see Dinosaur Jr. and Band of Horses for Free?

Come to Moe Bar tonight from 9-11pm and pick up a pair from a Camel rep. Tickets are sold out to the general public, so this is your last chance to get in to the show!

Moe Bar is located at 1425 10th Avenue, next door to the Neumos Box Office. Tickets are sold out to the general public, so this is your last chance to get in to the show!