Robb + Jessie » Music

the paradox of the paradox

Robb — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 05:34:47 +0000

It looks like the Paradox, the highly influential all-ages concert venue in Seattle, is soon to be no more. Mars Hill Church, which has subsidized the venue’s operations from its start during the Teen Dance Ordinance years to today has decided to pull the plug on its operations for the near future.

The concerts that have been booked over the next six months will continue as planned but no new shows will likely be booked at the Paradox in the short term.

In return for her dedication to the all-ages scene, Mars Hill Church is graciously donating all the proceeds from the next six months of shows to Alicia Blake, the long-time volunteer lead for the Paradox. Blake intends to start a new production company called Make Believe that will continue to provide all-ages shows in Seattle.

Read more at the press release on the Paradox website.

sufjan at the paramount

Robb — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 03:29:31 +0000

On Sunday Jessie and I had the pleasure of attending the Sufjan Stevens concert at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. The experience was breath-taking and probably the best concert I have seen.

The band/orchestra/choir came out wearing colourful masks, scout uniforms, and butterfly wings like adults who rediscovered their childhood, but Sufjan was wearing a spread of fiery eagle wings. He and his players used a myriad of instruments including violins, violas, a cello, guitars, drums, bells, trumpets, a trombone, keys, and a saw.

Sufjan performed songs from the last three of his albums. Some of my favourite songs included “The Transfiguration” (of Christ), the new “Majesty, Snowbird” (download), “The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!” (prefaced by Sufjan with a hilarious 10-minute story of his boyhood summer camp experience), and “Chicago” (as an encore). During “The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts”, the band and their crew threw dozens of half-life-size blow-up Superman dolls (complete with real capes) into the crowd. These were thrown and bounced around by the crowd like beach balls at your average rock concert. The same was done with blow-up Santas during “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!”.

My Brightest Diamond opened the concert. I would describe them as a more accessible Bjork. Check them out when the come back to Seattle on December 10th at the Showbox.

It was good to see Donovan and Tara before the show and also to see Justin Weeks as well. I’m certain that they were equally moved.

Dustin DeKoekkoek (a guy from Mars Hill) also attended and took pictures and a video.

how i feel

Robb — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 20:39:19 +0000

Get up get out get away from these liars
‘cause they don’t get your soul or your fire.

Take my hand knot your fingers through mine
And we’ll walk through this dark room for the last time.

Every minute from this minute now
We can do what we like anywhere.

I want so much to open your eyes
‘cause I need you to look into mine.

“Open your Eyes” by Snow Patrol

safety.

Robb — Thu, 18 May 2006 23:26:36 +0000

Check out Run Dan Run at http://myspace.com/rundanrun.

(Thanks, Nick for sending me a CD!)

death came and got me

Robb — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 07:27:13 +0000

I just finished some routine maintenance of the site. Most of it will go unnoticed, but I also grayed out the sidebar which I think looks better. Let me know what you think.

Sean and I spent the last hour or so listening to Rosie Thomas. She is an amazing singer and songwriter. Buy all her CDs.

last.fm

Robb — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 09:22:41 +0000

I’ve installed a plug-in that allows you all to see what songs I’ve been listening to. Data comes from my last.fm profile and appears magically in the sidebar. Of course, if I’m not listening to anything, it will just say, “not listening”.
Check it out. I still have to get the spacing just right.