Stephanie Oster – Earlier this month, Seattle-based hip-hop artist Grieves played a sold-out show to high-energy crowd at his iconic home-town venue the Crocodile. Throughout his set, the 33 year-old MC commented on how good it was to be back in Seattle, taking time to reminisce about his start in small venues, voice appreciation for his hometown fans, and remark on how far he’s come.
Todd Terry – The drummer’s t-shirt declared that “The Future is Fucked,” and then the Violent Friends launched into “Blister in the Sun.” Maybe the immediate future wasn’t going to be so bad after all.
Travis Trautt – What a memorable first trip the Gorge, my home state’s gorgeous outdoor amphitheater. Adding drama for the HUGE, extremely fired-up crowd was the haze from massive wildfires plaguing the state this fall. The smoke was so thick I didn’t even get my own version of the venue’s iconic sunset behind the stage. .
Rachel Bennett – A common question in the music industry these days is whether or not rock music a dying genre. Most radio hits are meaningless fluff from hip-hop and pop genres, and it seems like rock and roll is becoming less and less popular amongst the general public. But contrary to what the top 40 charts say, Desert Daze Music and Arts Festival is evidence that the rock genre is in fact alive and thriving;
Graham Isaac – Dissolution and dispersal is a funny thing in art; when bands lose or add members, it can call into question the nature of the artists’ work, identity, and even integrity. For every band that essentially becomes a one-man show, there are groups that re-name themselves or disband over far smaller changes.
