​There's plenty to sink your teeth into in the March issue of Reverb Monthly, Seattle Weekly's music magazine. Per usual, we've got reviews of every local release we could get our hands on (69), your questions answered by John Roderick ("Relentless positivity might be the new fuck-you."), and a few words from David Stoesz, who promises to be patient as your tastes catch up to his. We've also got a story from Eric Grandy about why getting small is all the rage in Seattle nightlife.

Get your copy of Reverb Monthly inside the current issue of Seattle Weekly, online at SeattleWeekly.com/ReverbMonthly, or subscribe to it on your Kindle!

grimeshine.bandcamp.com

​Artist: Grimeshine & Elan
Album: Grand Theft Audio
Release: February 28

Like the title (Grand Theft Audio isn't really an original quip: it's been used as a name by rock bands, a rap mixtape series, even used as a tag line on a track called "Car Chase" from last year's awesome self-titled Metal Chocolates debut), there are moments on the new album by Grimeshine and new collaborator Ellan that borrow too heavily from outside sources.

More >>

Last night I was driving home and listening to 104.5 when the Monkees' "Daydream Believer" came on, which caused me to promptly turn up the volume and sing along, loudly. Now I find out that Davy Jones, original teen idol, former lead singer of the Monkees, and the reason that David Bowie is called David Bowie, died this morning at 66 after suffering a heart attack in his sleep. Jones is the first of the four Monkees to pass away. I'll miss Davy's sweet voice. I suggest we all take a moment out of our mornings to listen to "Daydream Believer," a song that my co-worker Erika Hobart describes as "my go-to karaoke song."

Joy Newell

​As opposed to our favorite songs, or songs we'd like to think define our listening habits, taking a look at what a person actually listens to can be far more revealing. With that in mind, every so often we'll ask an artist to take a look at the most-played songs in their iTunes libraries and share with us the results. We do this on the honor system, and we ask our subjects to share a few words about each song.

The Summer Twins, a Riverside, California duo of sisters Chelsea and Justine Brown, rock a dreampopping '60s sound full of bright harmonies as light and breezy as their Southern California home, shimmering tunes perfect for dreaming away the lingering, gloomy winter days here in the Pacific Northwest. The girly group's iTunes library is just as beachy, and here, drummer Justine shares a few songs that make her happy--with the word "beach" in three of them, they might just do the same for you. Drive away your S.A.D. blues at the Funhouse this Friday (3/2) with The Summer Twins, Peter Case & Paul Collins, and Bang Sha Bang.

More >>

Ben Blood

​Head's up all you fans of our very own piano-tinkling chanteuse: Kaylee Cole will perform for FREE on that classy grand piano at Vito's, 9 p.m. tonight. The singer, who's never played Vito's before, had this to say about the show:

More >>

Letters will be performing March 1 at El Corazon.

​

A lot went into writing your favorite song, but how much do you really know about it? This week Casey Zander Grey, vocalist and guitarist of Port Orchard alternative-rock fivesome Letters, delves into Michael Jackson, The Dear Hunter, and writing an ode to the moon.

Song: "Mona"
Album: Return to Sender demo
Release Date: 11/10/2011

When it was written: Probably towards the end of last year. I have been working on this particular song for a while now and after my bandmates got part of the music together, it just clicked and worked.

Where it was written: In my apartment in Port Orchard at two in the morning. I was definitely high on caffeine at that point in time.

Favorite line in the song: "That warmth you call your skin annihilates me."

More >>

​Post Adolescence
Single: "What You Would Call Socialism (I Would Call Civilization)"
Out now, postadolescence.com

With a lyrical nod to cable's funniest news source--"the most trusted news comes from Comedy Central"--and eagle-themed cover art patriotic enough to make Stephen Colbert jealous, Seattle power-pop quintet Post Adolescence rock their latest single with fuzzy guitars, power chords, and bright refrains aimed at the Tea Party and conservative media.

More >>

la206.bandcamp.com

​Artist: La
Album: Ocean Howell
Release: Today

Expectations can obscure the quality of what's before you, which is why most first listens of your favorite band's new CD are underwhelming until you let them grow on you. In La's case, the effect is compounded by the fact that it usually takes two or three listens to fully digest the onslaught of lyrics packed into each song. The Seattle MC is locally-renowned for his complex lyricism, and his new album Ocean Howell delivers without question. For full intake, though, back-to-back listens are recommended.

More >>

​Gone are Ballard's days as a destination for those seeking the twangy comforts of Hattie's and the Tractor. Blooming with businesses, it's this close to being the ultimate Seattle neighborhood--a mini-downtown Portland minus the boobies, if you will. But Ballardia still lacks a few easily fixable elements. Such as:

1. Better transit service. A lack of frequent late-night bus service and daytime express routes make accessing Ballard, other than by car, a huge pain in the ass. Which makes parking a nightmare and puts far too many boozers behind the wheel. Since liquor makes this neighborhood boom, the city should re-evaluate and address its needs.

More >>

John Roderick is the singer and songwriter responsible for Seattle's the Long Winters. Send your questions to jroderick@seattleweekly.com.

​This question is an excerpt from John Roderick's Q&A column in the March issue of SW's music magazine, Reverb Monthly, out Wednesday.

Dear John: Do Seattle's higher-learning schools do much to truly support the arts and/or music in Seattle and/or the world?
-- Anonymous

Roderick: My exposure to the music programs at local universities is fairly limited. I mean, I met dozens of Cornish "jazzbos" at after-hours hip-hop clubs back when you couldn't go into a party in this town without someone rapping about "integrity" over a stand-up-bass solo, but that scene never made the daylight. I tried to take some music classes at UW, but they were all reserved for music majors, so my music education there came from listening to people practice vocal scales while I played stoned Frisbee on the quad.

More >>