Renee McMahon

L to R: Fearce Villan, Brainstorm and S.E.V.

​The "3badbrothaaas" of Dyme Def have been busy. Real busy. Here's a quick breakdown of the latest and greatest, with insight from group member Brainstorm via e-mail:

Sex Tape: Partially spawned by a business partnership with risqué clothiers T.I.T.S. (Two In The Shirt), this 11-track project makes no effort to hide its intentions. Featuring production by Brainstorm, Bean One, Tryfe and Tha Bizness as well as a few choruses from Spaid, the trio gets their grown man on with a level of polish that challenges the perception of what Seattle hip-hop is capable of--just like they did back in 2006 with Space Music. And, just like that record, this one is a must-have. Coming soon is the album's July 8 release party hosted by Spaceman at the Can Can Kitchen & Cabaret--which, by the venue choice alone indicates this won't be the typical Seattle rap show (tickets available here).

"I like the diverse and grown up feel that it has, way different from any other album you've heard us do and that was the point... we showed everybody we could rap already. Now it was time to try something different and push our boundaries."

YUK: Adopting the Dyme Def Mr. Yuk "Yukface" logo, but with a bar code over the eyes, Fearce Villain and producer/graphic artist Bean One have adopted a fresh spin on a long-time collaboration. With a single that throws back to the Space Music sound ("Yuk The World") and a series of tees (the first of which available at Goods), the brand is in its infant phase but worth keeping an eye on now.

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It's been ages since I've caught the Old 97s, so I'm headed for the Showbox tonight. However, if you're in Ballard this evening, I can't recommend the bill at the Tractor strongly enough.

Music critics bust out David Lynch comparisons with exhaustive frequency (I'm 100% guilty as charged), but few artists are as deserving of the comparison as Slim Cessna's Auto Club. Here's what I wrote about them one of the last times they brought their bag of Wild West-inspired, funeral parlor tricks through town. A live clip of the band former Dead Kennedy leader Jello Biafra once described as "the country band that plays the bar at the end of the world." is below:

SCAC are set to hit the Tractor stage around 11 p.m. Tickets are $12.

All photos by Carmen Irish.

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Click here to view a slideshow of even more photos.

The Thermals -- featuring frontman Hutch Harris -- plays Bumbershoot on Sept. 6, the day before their new album, Personal Life, hits shelves via Kill Rock Stars.

​A few weeks ago I interviewed Hutch Harris of The Thermals -- the Portland trio who famously turned down Hummer's $50,000 offer to license one of their songs for an ad -- for a story we ran on indie bands and artists licensing their wares to a Washington State Lottery campaign. While I had Mr. Harris on the phone, we chatted about the band's forthcoming album, Personal Life, why he The Thermals left Sub Pop, and why he's wary of his optimism.

On licensing music:

Really, the most money we make does come from licensing, and it's the least amount of work. All you have to do is sign a piece of paper and they send you a check. It's my favorite way for the band to make money, and it pays really well. The amount of money you make in a year (on everything else), sometimes just one placement will be same amount.

On whether or not the band regretted turning down Hummer's $50k

We always felt really good about that. When someone hears your song, you don't want them to think of Corn Flakes.

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​Local pop-rock outfit Friday Mile announced yesterday, via Facebook, that the band's members are going their separate ways. After five years together, Friday Mile's show on July 16 at Columbia City Theater will be their last.

From Facebook:

We've got good news and bad news. The bad is that Friday Mile will be taking an indefinite hiatus in two weeks, but the good news is that plan on having one last big show before we part ways.

Don't be too sad. You'll hear from all of us again, but in different forms. Jace, Chad and Jake are working on new songs together. Hannah will be playing in Youth Rescue Mission and writing an original musical. Phil also has a few things up his sleeve.

Although the band is calling this decision an "indefinite hiatus," it sounds more like a clean split. There was a near break-up last year, and the band members are moving in different musical directions. Even the new songs that lead singer and guitarist Jace Krause, drummer Chad Clibborn, and bassist Jake Rohr have been writing won't belong to Friday Mile. "These were originally going to be Friday Mile songs, but now they'll be something a little different," say Krause, via e-mail. "But they are sounding upbeat, a little raw, and more focused, style-wise. We hope to have a couple things recorded in the next few months and start from there."

Krause adds that the break-up was amicable and there is no animosity between band members. "We're excited for the future, I can say that," he says via e-mail.

The band's last show is 9 p.m. July 16 at Columbia Theater with the Sheds and M. Bison.

Last week the Books released their newest single, "A Cold Freezin' Night," off their forthcoming full-length, The Way Out.

Now there's a video to go along with the crazy song. "A Cold Freezin' Night" is composed of a lot of samples of kids saying things like "I will kill you" and "He's an asshole," and in keeping, the video features clips of kids playing with dolls, sliding in the mud, and, you know, shooting guns and whatnot.

The Way Out will be released on July 20. The Books will be in Seattle at the Moore on December 4.

James Taylor: totally appropriate for karaoke.

​Last September when I first started this gig, I figured half my reviews would be me ripping on KJ's for being dickheads. But the opposite has happened: I've met some of the nicest people that are so fun and entertaining I look forward to the next time I get to sing for them.

This guy DJ Ferhonemo (real name: Ferhone) I've seen host numerous times at k-bars around town is a perfect example. The Saturday back in January at Hamburger Harry's where I first met him, he charmed my friends with his friendliness and positivity. We were all accustomed to asshole KJ's, especially in Ballard, where for years we were at odds with the ogre that ran the show at Sunset Bowl. It was so nice to not have a bossy prick that had to have everything his way. Ferhone was happy to have us there and was all about making sure we had a good time.

When I saw him host a few weeks later on a slow Wednesday at Goofy's, I learned it was possible to be completely entertained watching a KJ sing every other song. Ferhone has a sweet, soulful voice he applies to every genre, and knows what the people like to hear. Since then I dropped in on a couple of the nights he hosted at Mr. Z, but it's been a few months since I've seen him.

I recently found out he's the Tuesday KJ at the Drift on Inn Casino in Shoreline (a.k.a. Debbie's Roadhouse Café). I've had some fun lucky nights back in my 20's at the Drift that have had nothing to do with gambling, so I was excited to check it out.

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​Announced yesterday, the Seattle Symphony's choice of Ludovic Morlot as its next music director--to take over for Gerard Schwarz after the 2010-11 season, his 26th--might at first look like a bandwagon jump; he's only 35, and young is the new black in classical circles after the ascension of Gustavo Dudamel, 29, that combination of Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Taylor Lautner, and Mozart whom the Los Angeles Philharmonic recently hired. But it's really a continuation of a tradition; Schwarz was but 38 when he took the job, and his predecessor, Rainer Miedel, was 37.

This is Morlot's first music directorship, though he has a dazzling list of guest-conducting appearances, with some of the world's greatest orchestras, on his resume: New York, Cleveland, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and more. This could mean some fresh and exciting ideas, and also could mean some rocky times as he learns-by-doing just how much his job entails beyond conducting.

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Chris Kornelis

Cat Power at Showbox SoDo.

​-- NME: Matador Records is celebrating its 21st birthday with a three-night concert series in Las Vegas featuring Spoon, The New Pornographers, Pavement, Cat Power, and other indie favorites.

-- Spinner: Dirty Projectors + Bjork = Mount Wittenberg Orca. Get the 7-song EP here.

-- NPR Music: NPR listeners says Gorillaz' Plastic Beach is the best album of the year so far. The Black Keys, Beach House, and The National also make their listeners' top-50 list.

-- NY Times: On Seattle Symphony Orchestra's new conductor: "The road to conducting fame can follow many routes but usually has one or two crucial elements: a lucky last-minute substitution at a major orchestra; an influential mentor; reasonable doses of talent and charisma. All of those came together for the young Frenchman Ludovic Morlot, who will become the next music director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra."

-- NME: Slash has announced a solo tour that will wrap up at The Showbox at the Market on October 2.

​I just got back from a marathon 10-day vacation/tour of the Midwest. For those of you who have had the chance to spend large amounts of time in the Illinois/Wisconsin/Indiana regions, you know what I'm saying when I say they eat every meal like it's their last.

And there's no pretense in their advertising. Wisconsin's crazy about fried cheese curds. Need I say more? One of the sponsors of the Chicago Cubs is Culvers, a fast(ish)-food chain famous for -- and this is straight up on their signs -- "Frozen Custard, Butter Burgers." I packed 10 pounds of these regional delicacies around my waist for the trip home.

Hard Rock Cafe -- which has made their case in Seattle as having a "Whole Lotta Lunch" and promises that "We Will, We Will Feed You" -- understands this glorious Midwest mentality better than anyone. Check out the above ad, which I saw on a bench in Indianapolis, right outside Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Colts. Something tells me it just wouldn't have the same effect out here.