May 14, 2010
By Jonathan Cunningham at 12:38 pm
Picture this: Scruffy music promoter and mini-business tycoon David Meinert going door to door on Capitol Hill. What’s Meinert evangelizing for at the door? This year’s Capitol Hill Block Party is looking to add a third day of Sunday shows to the July 23 weekend gig. According to Meinert (an occasional Cola polemicist), who I [...] read more →
April 22, 2010
By Jonathan Cunningham at 4:23 pm
When it comes to top-notch hip-hop automobiles, forget about Bentleys and Benzs. Local rapper John Overlie, AKA Grynch, AKA the King of Ballard, has released a new video today that brags about a far better vehicle—his 1986 Volvo station wagon. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKOVF1qwPzI&feature=player_embedded#![/youtube] read more →
April 21, 2010
By Jonathan Cunningham at 4:28 pm
Seattle isn’t exactly a reggae town. There aren’t enough homegrown acts to constitute a “scene”—although Clinton Fearon and Kore Ionz are noteworthy exceptions. But as far as this being a reggae destination. No luck. So, when an international touring force like Steel Pulse comes through town, fans of reggae, and good music in general, are [...] read more →
April 15, 2010
By Jonathan Cunningham at 4:13 pm
Attn: Joe Fitzgibbon. The rumors I’ve been hearing all year about a possible Soundgarden reunion appear to be true. Billboard.com just posted a story announcing that a fully reunited Soundgarden is performing tomorrow night at the Showbox at the Market. It will be their first show since 1997. There’s no official word if the show [...] read more →
April 12, 2010
By Jonathan Cunningham at 3:02 pm
Now here’s the type of opportunity that I’d love to see more record companies offering — especially those that are local. Several days ago, Sub Pop Records announced the details of their 2010 Loser Scholarship in which they are offering $13,000 in education dollars to graduating high school seniors. Three scholarship amounts of $6,000, $4,000, [...] read more →
April 9, 2010
By Jonathan Cunningham at 4:03 pm
Having good mentors is an important part of any musicians development. For 21-year-old Seattle rapper J Pinder, he’s got perhaps three of the most influential figures in Seattle’s hip-hop scene guiding him along every step of the way. If you’re not familiar with Pinder, he’s essentially the protégé/understudy of local producers Jake One and Vitamin [...] read more →
By Jonathan Cunningham at 10:43 am
Next Friday night, the Seattle/Chicago duo Dark Time Sunshine are having an album release party at Neumos. The group sits slightly on the outskirts of this city’s current love affair with hip-hop, mainly because we can’t fully claim them as our own. But considering the way Seattle MC Onry Ozzborn of Grayskul/Oldominion fame couples his [...] read more →
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April 7, 2010
By Jonathan Cunningham at 4:53 pm
It’s been several months since the folks at One Degree Events have put on one of their notoriously well-organized flash mobs, but I just received an email that a Glee Flash Mob is happening on Saturday at three to-be-revealed locations. If you’re not familiar with a flash mob, it’s essentially an impromptu dance party, usually [...] read more →
April 5, 2010
By Jonathan Cunningham at 6:20 pm
I just got a press release today that pop star Rihanna is set for a 25-city North American tour starting this summer. Interestingly enough, she’s kicking off the tour here in Auburn at the White River Amphitheater on July 2nd. It’s the first major U.S. tour she’s done since infamously being involved in a domestic [...] read more →
April 2, 2010
By Jonathan Cunningham at 3:46 pm
Some people are too quick to assume that hip-hop, soul, and blues music are easily intertwined. All three forms, of course, were born within the black struggle. But trying to combine all of those genres in one group sound is a difficult assignment. An artist would be better off merging hip-hop and soul or soul [...] read more →
By Jonathan Cunningham at 9:42 am
Yesterday I got a text from one of Seattle’s most popular reggae selector’s, DJ Soul One (pictured above), saying Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton was going to be at Club Aura in Pioneer Square. At first I was excited, but then remembered that since Buju is in prison, it was just a bad April Fool’s [...] read more →
March 30, 2010
By Jonathan Cunningham at 11:21 am
If you haven’t bought tickets to Sasquatch! Music Festival already, you’re going to be kicking yourself as you read this. The festival is sold out for all three days. And it happened in record time: In its history, the festival has never sold out this fast. However, if you are lucky enough to be holding [...] read more →
