I have been thinking about how to handle these requests. As you can tell I mainly cover more currently established acts, local and national, famous and infamous, many of them being bands that are near and dear to me personally. I’ve never thought of myself as any kind of critic, I just know what I like and disregard the rest. This causes a slight dilemma because I am in no position to critique anyone who has the testicular fortitude and hopefully the talent to at least get on a stage and perform in the first place. With that said I am certain my much regarded musical tastes and the years put in being an obsessed music junkie should enable me to make what may not always be a fine-tuned articulate judgment but one that weighs heavily on an intrinsic musical filter that a majority of people sadly, just aren't born with. I will definitely stand by my opinions, 'cause they’re honest.
Last week I received an email from Mark Young the frontman of a new Seattle based band called History for Sale. He had picked up on the blog via Twitter, which is always a cool thing especially if you’re like me and use the tool frequently.
History for Sale was making their Ballard debut at the Sunset as part of the weekly Sunday Bloody Sunday shows that feature various up and coming bands from around the area. These shows are usually in the $5 range and happen in the early evening. Slated as Sunday’s early show headliner they took the stage at 7pm.
I admit I did not listen to their stuff prior to seeing the show, so I was coming in fresh. Immediately I took to guitarist Keefe O’Neil’s guitar chops, and according to singer Mark this wasn’t Keefe’s first time rocking the Sunset and that showed on songs like “Chosen to Collide”. The band seemed to lean heavily on a more melodic alt-rock approach as they mention 90’s alt-rock bands such as Tonic and Spokane’s Mayfield Four as influences on their MySpace site. Charismatic frontman Mark Young’s vocals soared on many of the ballads, but I believe both he and the band excelled much more on the searing closer “Evil in Disguise” in which the band showed its harder rock edge and demonstrated their real potential. Ex-Vindaloo main man Ben Harwood gave History for Sale major props by banging his head next to the stage during the massive final seconds of “Evil in Disguise", anchored by History for Sale's able rhythm section; drummer Frans Laulainen and new bass player Doug Warren.
I think History for Sale has the passion to write great songs and grow as a band and if they keep on the right track they could very well end up aligning themselves with some of Seattle’s better hard rock bands; such as the soon to be resurrected again Second Coming. I wasn't wowed by the band by any means, but they had good moments and defintely a couple where I cringed, such as a new song which featured a talking monologue that did not digest well. It'll be interesting to see how they improve as they line up more gigs in and around the city. I also expect many people will hear the name History for Sale by years out as they are working hard on making their presence heard via the best tool possible, the internet.
The band and myself would really like to know what you think of their recent self-titled EP now streaming here and available for purchase here. Please leave a comment below, or on their MySpace site. Thanks to Mark for the invite last Sunday, the photos from the performance come courtesy of History for Sale and photographer Abiel Hoff. Cheers!
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