Rachel Bennett – The 5th Annual Big Ass Boombox festival was a free, two night mini fest at The Crocodile main stage, back bar, and the new Jupiter Bar in Belltown. The goal of the festival has always been to provide an all-ages space for fans and up-and-coming artists to connect.
Dutch Savage – Acclaimed grunge producer Jack Endino worked with Seattle’s This Blinding Light to create a riff-pop, sludge-grunge, rock ‘n roll EP and it does not dissapoint.
Kevin Nelson – Josh Ritter’s ninth studio album, Gathering, could be described as a gathering (… sorry) of the singer-songwriter’s numerous signature stylings. There’s the “Getting Ready to Get Down”-style crowd pleaser of “Cry Softly,” the sadly optimistic tone of “Train Go By” and even Ritter’s awesome preach-singing in “Dreams” that could serve as a companion piece to creepy, yet somehow anthemic “Rattling Locks” off of So Runs the World Away.
Ian Bremner – Much like the music coming out of New York in the late 60’s/early 70’s, be it Lou Reed, Patti Smith or Bob Dylan’s early work – you can nearly hear the sounds and smells of the city in Kevin Morby’s new record, the aptly-titled City Music.
Graham Isaac – In a room full of people who I did not know, but looked like people I did, or could, a slight unease and growing anticipation were both palpable. Folks milled around, hands in their pockets or fixing their hair. Women twenty years my senior and ten years my junior held newly purchased T-shirts with minimal design elements up to their face for selfies.
