Joel Smith and the Hands of Plenty - Spokane, WA (6/19/2009)

Joel Smith and the Hands of Plenty were opening for Ten Mile Tide at The Swamp last Friday. I first got to see them at Elkfest. We got to see Joel Smith before the thunderstorm drove us back in from the patio. Ten Mile Tide was beginning to setup inside when we left, but were no where near ready to play. The Swamp's patio is a nice place to listen to music when there isn't a downpour.

Skeletonwitch - Spokane, WA (6/12/2009)

I first heard about Skeletonwitch when they were added to the lineup of the Scion Rock Fest in February. Skeletonwitch play fun, straightforward blackened thrash metal. I say fun not to diminish the heaviness of their music. The riffs are punishing, and frontman Chance Garnette commands the stage with his black metal inspired growls. You can't take yourself too seriously in the world of metal or you are doomed to become a joke trying too hard to be hard. I fall firmly on the side of GWAR and Iron Maiden on the metal theatrics argument.

These guys were nice to talk to, and you could tell they had a blast playing. Before playing one song, Chance told the crowd, "This one's about Sataaaaaaaan!" before guitarists Nate and Scott launched into a twin axe attack as smoke billowed out from the back of the stage. That is what metal is about.

Skeletonwitch has Beyond the Permafrost out on Prosthetic Records which I picked up at the show. They are working on their new album and recording in Seattle. Here's a live video of them in Brooklyn to give you idea of their live show though the sound isn't too great.

Elkfest 2009 - Spokane, WA (5/29-31/2009)

Elkfest was hot and fun this year. The Elk installed water misters in their tented area which were quite refreshing. All of the bands were pleasantly surprising. I was already looking forward to seeing the Moondoggies and I wasn't disappointed. I caught the very end of Shim's set on Saturday night. I'll definitely have to check them out in the future. I was able to grab CD's from the Moondoggies and Joel Smith.

The Booze Fighters

Silian Rail

Joel Smith and the Hands of Plenty

The Maldives

Pickwick

David Dondero

The Moondoggies

Flickr, Last.fm

The Decemberists - Missoula, MT (5/24/2009)

We made a short trip over to Missoula to see the Decemberists they day after their Sasquatch performance. It was a homecoming of sorts for Colin Meloy who was born in Montana and started the band Tarkio there. They played The Hazards of Love in it's entirety followed by a varied collection of Colin Meloy/Tarkio/Decemberists tunes. The Hazards of Love takes on new life on the stage and the Decemberists played for almost 3 hours.

Blind Pilot

The Decemberists



Flickr, Last.fm

Setlist:

1-17. The Hazards of Love (album)

Encore

18. Apology Song
19. July, July!
20. We Both Go Down Together
21. Sleepless
22. Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)
23. (Country Western) If I Could Only
24. Dracula's Daughter
25. O Valencia!
26. The Chimbley Sweep
27. Sons & Daughters

Encore

28. Save Yourself
29. A Cautionary Song
-livejournal

Tracks 19, 29 from Castaways and Cutouts
Track 26 from Her Majesty
Track 20 from Picaresque
Tracks 22, 25, 27 from The Crane Wife
Track 21 from charity compilation Dark Was the Night
Track 28 from Tarkio album I Guess I Was Hoping for Something More
Track 24 from Colin Meloy album Colin Meloy Sings Live!
Track 18 from 5 Songs
Track 23 Emmylou Harris cover?