Playlist 08-12-08

Thank You, friends. I know it isn't easy to remember to listen to an internet radio show, but I appreciate those of you who have made the effort and/or sent words of support. I knew there was at least a few people out there who'd be into hearing some of the Idaho music that proves there's more to this state than horny Senators in airport bathrooms. A little less introduction text on the playlist this week, but band names are clickable links to their myspace or web pages or to a newer band that features key members.

The Universal - "Beware the Sun"

This Boise band is active and plays out quite a bit... catch them opening for pals Built to Spill at the end of the month at the Knitting Factory. The Universal have been around for a few years, but their members are have been in plenty of Boise bands Godzounds, Luscious Fuzz, Size of Alaska, Ion, Doublewide, Me and My Ego, The Hand, etc. Those member are: Pat Perkins (drums, vocals), Matt Perkins (bass), Lawrence Van Bishop (guitar, vocals) and Phil Merrell (guitars).

Butterfly Train - "Bitter Like This"

This is my favorite Butterfly Train song from their 3-piece era with vocalist Brett Nelson sharing bass duties with Forrest Orr and forsaking the six-string altogether (Tim Harris drums). This is also my favorite track from my favorite Boise comp Rotating Tongues on the Screemin' Fez label.

Dirt Fishermen - "I Will Wait"

Great track from the Dirt Fisherman's second full length, Vena Cava, on Seattle's CZ Records.

Dirtboy - "27"

Yet another band with Mike Rundle (currently of Low-Fi) on drums. When I first saw/heard Dirtboy I was in a big indie rock phase and they seemed a bit scuzzy and conventional, but I gave this a listen recently and it reminds me of some of the early NW grunge stuff... they'd be comfortable on a bill with Tad for sure. The rockers are: Rundle, Greg Eslinger (vocals), Jeff Brewer (bass) and Marc Frisk (guitar). This is from Monster Truck Showdown on the Screemin' Fez and Silence record labels.

Gusto - "Worst Hunting Dog Ever, Pt. 1"

Gusto was active in the late 1990's. Led by vocalist/guitarist Tim Willis (ex-Felt Neighbor), Gusto cranked out some great indie pop during their run. Willis is backed by Ryan Davis (guitar) and Mike Stivers (bass) - who played in H is for Hector together and many other bands separately - and Steve Hall (drums).

Shamus - "Thank You"

Coming at you from a dusty old self-released cassette is some pop-punk goodness from Lewiston's Shamus featuring Doug Osbourne (guitar, vocals) and future Seattle rockstars Jeff Albertson (bass, vocals) and Dave Welker (drums), from The Lights and Man the Guns, respectively.

The Very Most - "Dodged Ev'ry Bullet, Pt. 1"

Some candy for your ears. Anybody who's followed Jeremy Jensen's development from The Yukon and You, Pajama Party in a Haunted Hive and The Very Most won't be surprised that he's writing nearly effortless pop songs these days.

Grant Ave. - "Summer's Been Easier Since I Shaved"

An ex-girlfriend and I used to argue about the merit's of Grant Olsen's voice. She felt that he was a talented musician, but really needed to enlist the services of better singer. I always argued that it would be ridiculous for Grant to have someone else sing HIS songs. I can't imagine this moving, unlikely epic with any other voice at the helm. This is the last track on Grant Ave's Bright Yellow and The Life Smiles Back album.

Kris Doty - "Lately"

Kris Doty has earned her reputation as one of Boise's finest (and hardest) working singer-songwriters with steady gigs and a great album, Smoke in the Mirror. Her backing band includes Built to Spill cellist John McMahon (guitar, bass, cello), Kid Corduroy's Ian Waters (guitar) and Louie Simon (drums).

Crogan - "Silver Scooter"

This Raspberry sideband was shortlived, but Scott Garred borrowed the title of this song when he relocated from Moscow to Austin and started playing as Silver Scooter. This band featured Raspberry's Tom Hudson on drums and upper-Idaho allstar Jeff Albertson on bass.

Low-Fi - "Paper Airplanes"

Each time I listen to the debut CD by Low-Fi I like it more. Their name hints at classic 1990's indie-rock influences and the album, Where You Are, has bits NW indie, but the clean guitars and strong melodies remind me of a lot of classic pre-alternative college rock. Low-Fi are Todd Sloan (guitar, vocals), Josh Gilmore (bass) and Mike Rundle (drums). Check em out.

The Halo Benders - "Blank Equation"

Basement punk with a little gravitas... Calvin Johnson plays Sonny to Doug Martsch's Cher, no, not really...

Pajama Party in a Haunted Hive - "Tape Hiss"

This track is from Pajama Party's pitchforkmedia reviewed Building a Building. Find PPIAHH mastermind Elijah Jensen playing as With Child.

Geyser - "Meow"

1/2 Dirtfisherman. 1/2 Craters of the Moon. 1/4 Revolt! Revolt!

Bonefish Sam And His Power Orchestra - "Musical Chainsaw"

The sound of a toystore on acid? Nobody knows much about this Bonefish Sam character except that he lives among the hillfolk and rides and scooter. Oh and he has a myspace page, too.

Stuntman - "Slaves"

Classic from the first self-titled Stuntman debut.

Lowbelly - "Spy Theme II"

What began as a side-project by the Fury III/Fort Hazel guys eventually outlasted that band and put out a handful of cd's with various line-ups. Named after the dog on Gumby? I hope so. I assumed Lowbelly was still going, but Jeremy Miller tells me that his co-hort Tristan is in Belgium.

Pajama Party & Bonefish Same - "Funnelhead"

A goofy take on a local classic (I mean goofy in the best possible way). I think this was meant for some sort of Treepeople tribute that may or may not have happened... I for one support more keyboard interpretations of classic Treepeople songs.

Raspberry - "My Brother Pat"

If you ever find a 7" single in the record store bin with a big red Raspberry on it, get it for me because I'm convinced that mine will eventually wear out. The red vinyl record can barely contain the propulsive pop in the grooves as a bassist Shawn and guitarist Scott weld a couple of different songs/vocals together and play them as if they were in a sprint. Easily one of my favorite Idaho singles of all time.

Built to Spill - "Car"

Speaking of my favorite Idaho singles of all time... I got the Car/Girl 7" the summer before I moved to Boise and literally played it over and over again. A perfect summer song that was among a handful of singles BTS recorded in Olympia, WA after their first record that announced their pop phase... a brief period in their history that helped influenced a whole indie movement.

Kid Corduroy - "Make Believe"

This song got cut-off last week, sorry guys. See last week's playlist for info.

Lovey - "Rose Magic"

I loved this song enough to spend several months working on an animated video for it, so I'm a little biased...

Racing Vent - "South"

When local drummer Ryan Heise stepped out to front a band the music that sprung forth was some of the heaviest, dynamic music on the scene at the time (Sunny Day Real Estate and the vocal style of Jeremy Enigk were an obvious touchstone). Heise shared guitar and vocal duties with Palmer Cloud and their contrasting vocal styles were a signature of the band. They had a pretty aggro rhythm section with bassist Pete and ex-Butterfly Train drummer Tim Harris. After Racing Vent Heise went on to form System and Station and their current Portland, OR incarnation features Cloud on guitar.

Godzounds - "Icicles"

This was transfered inexpertly from an old cassette, please excuse the fidelity, but I felt that Godzounds needed to make an appearance this week. I remember seeing these guys alongside a bunch of fellow confused underagers at The Dreamwalker (aka Teenstalker) around 1994 or 1995. These guys were pretty freaky... it took me a few shows to figure out what I thought of them, but I figured out that they were playing the coolest, fucked-up rock this side of Caustic Resin (whom singer/guitarist Pat Perkins was the original drummer for). Perkins was joined by brother Matt on bass, Ron Thomas (StumbleBlind) on drums and a couple of different guitarists.

Treepeople - "Filter"

A classic Scott Schmaljon Treepeople track from Something Vicious For Tomorrow, the Treepeople's first ep for CZ Records which was recorded by legendary NW producer Steve Fisk.

Hive - "Butterfly"

This is another track from the Rotating Tongues comp. This band featured Treepeople's Pat Brown on vocals and guitar, Anna Fell (Lovey, Pop Tart) on vocals and bass, 

Falldowns - "Trench Broom"

Drummer Andy Capps sings lead on this track from Falldown's "Trafalgar"

H is for Hector - "Rock Sniper"

Again, excuse the fidelity, but I had to include a classic track by Brian Mayer's H is for Hector... 

Plumb Bob - "Midnight Blue"

Post-25 Wheeler. Pre-Central Boise Library - Central Music Company. Pre-Ed G. Music Man.

The Unicorn Feather - "Math Rock"

Another track cut off last week. Obvious contender for Hard Math Radio theme song. See also Pajama Party and With Child.

The Left Coast - "Predating the Existence of Cancer"

The flipside to the "What? Nothing But Black?" single I played last week. GOOD SHIT. See also The Lights.

Caustic Resin - "Station Wagon"

And to play us out today, one of my favorite Caustic Resin songs, the closer to their Fly Me to the Moon record on UP Records. Singer Brett Netson once told the story of this song from the stage... apparently it is about riding shotgun in a station wagon down Chinden with a driver on a meth-binge with cops in pursuit... “There ain't no easy way to die.”

Feel free to correct or enlighten me on any of the above... that's what the “comments” are for.