Truly?! Really? Yes, Truly.

Truly is reuniting with its original line-up, Robert Roth on guitar and vocals, Hiro Yamamoto (ex-Soundgarden) on bass, and Mark Pickerel (ex-Screaming Trees) on drums, and will be playing two shows this weekend in Seattle!  The first is on Saturday August 30th at King Cobra with Mexican UFO, Patrol, and TV Coahran and the second is Sunday August 31st at El Corazon with Mad Juana, The Press Corps, and the Jet City Fix.

Truly released two critically acclaimed full-length albums, 1995’s Fast Stories from Kid Coma and 1997’s Feeling You Up.  Both albums are a little hard to find, so if you’re lucky, maybe they’ll be available at the shows.

These shows are warm-ups for some European dates.  And from their myspace page… “Robert, Mark, and Hiro are currently in the midst of working on new material with the notion of going back into the studio and record another album. 2008 could very well be a GREAT time for some new music from these Northwest dark horses.” 

Go to the Myspace page and listen to the songs there and maybe you’ll join me in thinking this is a really big deal.

Popularity: 4%

Listen: Seattle Hip-hop Band Steelo

Make Up My Mind

Steelo’s gotten nationwide airplay, have opened for Pitbull, Sean Kingston, Rich Boy, Mobb Deep, Digital Underground, Baby Bash, Lil Rob and Lloyd Banks, and most importantly, they make appearances in schools.

We call it our Student Empowerment Program and it’s our way of giving back to the community. We started it last year and we plan to make an even greater impact in the 2008-2009 school year.

We encourage the students to turn what they love into their careers and follow their dreams by setting goals and finding positive influences.

More info here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JGcYyDO6xE

Popularity: 4%

Dirty Girls Throw a Fundraiser

Hell hath no fury like a mess of Hot Grits!   If you want further proof of that warped adage you should take yourself down to the Seattle Magic Wheels on September 6th.   A whole bunch of female punky bands will be smudging their sounds with a whole bunch of other sounds in attempt to entertain you and raise funds for ‘Dirty Girl Productions’   All but one band are all girl outfits, and with a broad range of influences; from PJ Harvey inspired Nancy Frieko to the new Seattle band ’Information Service’ who write songs that remind listeners of Alaska (sometimes sunny, often grey and sludgy)  So we’re promised an eclectic show, headlined by the filth and the fury of Hot Grits themselves - who are inclined to burn everyone in their path - How can you resist; such an abundance of energy, enthusiasm and all in a good cause - a relative snip at the suggested donation price of just $10 on the door - no presales.   So to recap:

September 6th 2008 - Seattle Magic Wheels - Doors open at 3pm, show starts at 4pm.   Suggested donations for $10 also get you a Weiner (and you guessed it) some hot grits, along with a heady mix of well intentioned punk and other loveliness, all aimed at raising funds for pioneering work made by black women.

Popularity: 6%

Dave Matthews Band Member Moore Dead at 46

According to CNN, Dave Matthews Band founding member saxophonist LeRoi Moore died Tuesday at age 46.

Moore, 46, died “unexpectedly” at a hospital, publicist Ambrosia Healy said in a statement.

Moore was taken to Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, and had been rehabilitating at his L.A. home after the June 30 accident at his farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia.

Wallingford resident Dave Matthews formed the band in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991.

Popularity: 6%

Silver Summit

Silver Summit are heading to the North West, with 3 upcoming dates, bouncing from Portland to Seattle and back to Portland, before heading down to San Francisco.

Hailing from Brooklyn the band make no apologies for the origins of their sound, indeed they celebrate their mish-mashed heritage and spectrum of influences.   From British folk to American psychedelia, through Middle Eastern rhythmns and tones the mutli-instrumental duo touch on a spectrum of sounds that may leave you slightly disorientated, but no less interested or moved by what you hear.

If the tunes are interesting from their mp3s, this reviewer would love to hear them live and see how it all works - They promise to be great nights.

September 2nd - Portland - Someday Lounge

September 3rd - Seattle - The Mix 

September 4th - Portland - Holocene (MusicfestNW)

Popularity: 7%

berkley heights

Berkley Heights are set to play three nights around Seattle and Olympia, within the next four weeks.   So if you like your tunes ‘unashamedly pop’ - easy access, not too challenging and simple to sing along to, then you may want to get yourself out to hear what’s going on.   Berkley Heights may not rock your world or your flip your outlook upside down, you may not propose to your love with the sounds, but you’ll certainly dance to them at your wedding and you’re likely to come away singing or humming some of the catchiest tunes you’re able to hear on those dates.   The first date is for a smally and happy fee - and if you like what you hear there, you can follow the pop duo on to the other venues and see them for free.

August 25th    High Dive New Music Night presented by Nada Mucho
$6, 8pm, 21

September-18    Skylark Café
free, 9pm, 21

September-20    Le Voyeur (Olympia)
free, 10pm, 21

Popularity: 7%

Amazing (free) Collection of Old Jazz, Country

A little off-topic, but if you love modern music, you probably have at least an appreciation for this: http://78records.cdbpdx.com/

The following is a list titles recorded from my collection of 78 rpm records. All of them are linked to MP3 files and will play what was recorded. No sound enhancement, just what was recorded. Right now, there are 3,739 titles on this page linked to mp3’s. 

Popularity: 7%

Devin the Dude tomorrow at Neumos

Houston artist Devin the Dude plays tomorrow at Neumos with a bunch of artists I’ve never heard of because I don’t follow hiphop. However, like Girl Talk, DtD blew my mind upon exposure to him. Devin’s second, Just Trying to Live, put some of my faith back in hiphop. It is genius.

After the “convienience” fees, tickets are a whopping and painful $27. Inflation?

Popularity: 11%