For the last 7 years KEXP has put on a holiday benefit show called the Yule Benefit. This year’s lineup featured two of the Northwest’s finest in The Cave Singers, and The Thermals. The show was sold out and holiday spirit was high, especially when The Cave Singers took the stage. The popular Seattle folk outfit has been growing and growing in popularity since their debut hit the streets in 2007. This year, they released a fine sophomore record in “Welcome Joy”, and have seen a hefty spike in adoring fans.
This marked my 5th Cave Singer show of 2009, and despite being more than familiar with their current catalog, I have yet to grow tired of the trio and their infectious live performances. This set was no different featuring a nice mix of tracks off “Invitation Songs” and “Welcome Joy” including the crowd favorite “At the Cut” which got the crowd moving, and the rabble rouser “Dancing on our Graves” which always includes the animated Peter Quirk taking it home with a pair of maracas.
The headliner for the night was Portland’s lovable pop punk trio The Thermals, who decided it was a good time to showcase a bunch of new songs. Ultimately crowd reactions are always the same in this situation, with a lot of pondering and head scratching going on in hopes of absorbing the new material. When tracks from 2009’s“Now We Can See” and older favorites like “How We Know” were interjected though, the crowd responded with glee. I love The Thermals and can’t wait to hear more new stuff, but I wish they would have saved the influx of new songs for another time, and spread holiday cheer with a stocking full of the hits on this occasion. Grand Hallway and The Builders and the Butchers were also on the bill. 
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