1 REVERB Festival 2009: Top 11 Reasons to be in Ballard on Saturday Oct. 3rd

Tomorrow Ballard will be taken over by more than 60 bands and hopefully tons of local music lovers as Seattle Weekly’s now annual REVERB Festival takes place in 10 different venues throughout the neighborhood. This event is a great showcase of the musical talent that is currently inhabiting our fare city, and serves as an even better way to spend a Saturday. Starting at around 3pm, the festival will extend into the night and come to a close when last call is yelled. I have been looking over the lineup and it is solid. Actually I count a staggering 30 out of the 60+ bands that I would recommend seeing and would make every effort to run around and see myself if it weren’t for one pesky little dilemma. October 3rd is also the day that a certain amazing metal show is happening all the way across town at Wamu Theater. I have tickets and have been counting the days until Mastodon, Dethklok, Converge and the mighty High on Fire share a stage, and that day has finally come. This of course comes at the cost of missing a majority of REVERB and what would otherwise be a great day of local music. That’s not to say you shouldn’t get your ass down to Ballard and support Seattle’s ever growing, ever changing, ever evolving music scene. REVERB has rock, metal, punk, folk, country, jazz, hip-hop and not to mention its only $10 day of show. I will only be able to support Visqueen, Born Anchors, and Little Cuts before taking off to Sodo, but I still want to leave you with some reasons to change your plans or make plans if you have none and spend your evening on Ballard and Leary Avenues listening to some great live and local music. Here are my Top 11 Reasons to be in Ballard this Saturday for REVERB Festival 2009, why 11 you ask?... because I miscounted. Cheers!

In no particular order:

1. Visqueen:

Seattle sweetheart Rachel Flotard came out of public seclusion recently and has released a gem of record with her band Visqueen, entitled “Message to Garcia”. The record is an ode to her father, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away last April. She made the admirable choice to be by his side during the extent of his illness, thus taking a break from music and touring right at the peak of her popularity. Now she’s back, and as a warm up for their record release party later on Saturday night at the Croc, Visqueen hits the REVERB Salmon Bay Eagles stage at 4pm. This set is being called the all ages record release and will sure to be a great way to begin the long day of local tunage. 4pm - Salmon Bay Eagles

2. The Lonely H:

Hailing from Port Angeles, Wa these shaggy haired rockers have taken the local scene by storm with their faithful ode to 70’s era southern rock, and the funny thing is they formed in 2000 and a majority of the 4 four members are still hovering around the tender age of 21. Obviously their birthdates have no bearing on the fact that they flat out rock, and can easily hang with the big dogs like the Fleet Foxes in the harmony department as well. Their 3rd record “Concrete Class” released earlier in the year is no less than impressive. How good are these guys you ask? Good enough to be chosen as an opening act for The Dead and Allman Brothers at the Gorge this last summer! 7pm - Salmon Bay Eagles

3. Erik Blood:

Erik is more known for his producing skills (The Moondoggies, The Lights, Tea Cozies) and his work in local psych-pop band the Turn-Ons, (who by the way are offering their latest record “Curse” for free download at their website) than for his solo material. That has all but changed since the release of his self-released solo debut “The Way We Live”, which has earned much acclaim in local rags. I love the records atmospheric guitars and delightful melodies, and am sure this performance will be a highlight of REVERB. 7:30pm - Sunset Tavern

4. Born Anchors:

The rock genre bending Born Anchors have gone nowhere but up since releasing their wonderful debut record “Sprezzatura” this year. As hard as music writers have tried, they have been unable to pigeon hole the band, mostly because the Seattle three piece seems to incorporate many different influences into a fresh and unique wall of sound. I think the best way to describe Born Anchors is more simplistic—they are a great local rock band, who makes a hell of a lot of noise live. Go see them before they blow, you won’t be disappointed. 5:30pm - Sunset Tavern

5. The Bit Saloon:

The Bit Saloon features a barrage interesting local bands. I could see spending the whole day standing in front of that backroom stage if it weren’t for a few other bands persuading me out of the local dive. The first band being Levator whose brand of shoegaze perked my ears on first listen. Next up is Tea Cozies who have been compared to respected bands like The Breeders and from what I’ve heard with my own ears it’s not because three of the four members are female. The Redwood Plan’s dance punk is never a dull experience, as front woman Lesli Wood is as energetic performer as I’ve ever seen. The Keeper brings an interesting version of heavy wizard rock to the table, the post-hardcore duo Mobile Slaughter Unit makes rock that strips paint of the walls, and take a time machine back to the 70’s NWOBHM invasion for the Midnight Idols' rifftastic ass kickery.

12:00 - Midnight Idols

11:00 - Mobile Slaughter Unit

10:00 - The Keeper

9:00 - Redwood Plan

8:00 - Tea Cozies

7:00 - Levator

6. Hattie’s Hoot:

Since it was announced that the old Ballard breakfast and stiff cocktail standby Hattie’s Hat had a change in ownership back in September, I have been wondering if they were going to finally make good on their promise to bring back Hattie’s Hoot. This tradition of hosting secret shows with touring musicians in the bar’s back room has been absent in recent years, and It looks like REVERB is the right time to resurrect that tradition. At this time the only thing listed for Hattie’s Hoot is “featuring many special guests”. I have yet to hear any side chatter about who will be involved, though I expect it to be nothing less than a fun a experience with some of Seattle’s best local musicians holding hands and singing Kumbaya together as one. 10:30pm - Hattie's Hat

7. Shook Ones:

Headlining the rock heavy Salmon Bay Eagles is Seattle hardcore troop Shook Ones. Forming in 2003 in Bellingham, Shook Ones has gained a descent following, while simultaneously releasing 4 full length albums to date. Their most recent effort “The Unquotable A.M.H” has been well received, and it seems the band will be a big draw Saturday as they have been given an extended hour and a half set time. Shook Ones will surely incite a few much needed REVERB mosh pits. 10pm - Salmon Bay Eagles

8. Salmon Bay Eagles:

While there are three all-ages venues this year at REVERB, the strongest in my opinion is the Salmon Bay Eagles. As mentioned earlier Visqueen, The Lonely H, and Shook Ones are highlights on the stage, but also bringing the rock Saturday are Valis featuring ex-Screaming Trees axman Van Conner and his brother Patrick. Valis has been around believe it or not since 1996, and they are currently playing in support of their record “Dark Matter”. Another Seattle favorite Thee Emergency will no doubt bring the rock led by front woman Dita Vox’s soulful vocals. Last but not least, The Cute Lepers’ power pop throwback sound will make for some fun times. The 6/7 piece band have just finished recording a new record, so I’d say it’s safe to assume that some new tunes will be included in their set list.

10:00 - Shook Ones

9:00 - Cute Lepers

8:00 - Thee Emergency

7:00 - The Lonely H

6:00 - Valis

4:00 - Visqueen

9. Tractor Tavern:

Don’t forget your cowboy boots and hats if you’re going to spend any time in the Tractor on Saturday. I mean where else would some of Seattle’s brightest and most popular folk and alt-country bands be playing. The Tractor features some excellent local favorites including the psych-country styling’s of Hallways, the raucous old-school country of Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, the Rancid’s Tim Armstrong lookalike who sounds like Elliot Smith-- Fences, 11 member soul tribe Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supreme, the lap-steel heavy modern country of Widower, the soulful rock of The Staxx Brothers, and last but not least Ballard’s favorite sons The Maldives. Led by Jason Dodson’s amazing vocals the ultra-twang country unit is one of the most popular bands in Seattle at this very moment...catch them while their hot or at least while they still live in Seattle. The Maldives are not going to be playing dive bars for much longer.

12:00 - The Maldives

11:00 - Staxx Brothers

10:00 - Widower

9:00 - Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme

8:00 - Fences

6:00 - Brent Amaker & The Rodeo

4:00 - Hallways

10. Final Spins:

Formed in 2008, the Final Spins have gained an early following with their timeless and tender pop, which invokes thoughts of 60’s era Kinks. The Seattle super group of sorts is led by ex-Throw Me the Statue bassist Joe Syverson, and they are currently playing gigs in support of their first full length record, “This is Then, That is Now”. This peformance will surely be a REVERB highlight. 8:30pm - Sunset Tavern

11. Sunset Tavern:

Ballard’s Sunset Tavern is no doubt REVERB’s home base, and the lineup of bands scheduled to perform is nothing less than stellar. Sure to be highlights at the Sunset on Saturday will be the earsplitting garage rock of Little Cuts, the all female noise rock of Telepathic Liberation Army, the in your face synth punk of The Girls, more excellent garage rock from the Unnatural Helpers, the party-time basement rock of the Coconut Coolouts, and headlining the Sunset is Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground. The experimental indie band has three official members but sometimes performs with up to 11 musicians on stage; so that could get interesting. Also performing at the Sunset are the aforementioned; Born Anchors, Erik Blood, and Final Spins.

12:30 - Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground

11:30 - Coconut Coolouts

10:30 - Unnatural Helpers

9:30 - The Girls

8:30 - Final Spins

7:30 - Erik Blood

6:30 - Telepathic Liberation Army

5:30 - Born Anchors

3:30 - Little Cuts

Hope to see you in Ballard on Saturday!

More info here: http://microapp.vvmedia.com/sew/reverb/2009/