December 28, 2013

As the sun sets on this last Saturday of 2013, painting even the east pink from south to north, I look back on a year that has seen well deserved attention to some favorite musicians (I'm looking at you, Dead Bars and Shelby Earl), my first published fiction (a story in HEATHERS, now available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions), and the first steps toward a full-length album from Your Mother Should Know. I could do a year-in-review blog, but I won't because there's always plenty of new material! The final list of 2013:

About the Author
I'm a writer -- how could I not choose this one? My bio in HEATHERS reads "Karen Eisenbrey was saved by rock and roll and fantasy novels." Perhaps I should change that "was" to "is being."

Dressed as Super Heroes
I appreciate a band that can own its comic book nerd roots. And as it happens, the follow-up to my story in HEATHERS gives the heroine superpowers. She doesn't do capes or high heels.

The Feelgood Band of the Year
There really are bands that lift away the years and make me feel 17 again (in a good way). Dead Bars is out of town, so this must be somebody else, but I hope they really do that for someone.
 
Puddle City Possums
This has both downhome folksiness and good poetic/syllabic structure. As an old Pogo fan, I'm happy to honor these possums. Puddle City is an excellent Seattle nickname, too.

You Knew Me When
Don't we all want to say this? I hope HEATHERS gets positive attention. I hope to publish more work. I hope the record turns out well. Whether any of this happens, you knew me when. Happy New Year!

December 21, 2013

The longest night of the year sounds like a great time to go out and catch some live music. The schedule's a little thin the rest of the week, what with Christmas and all, but once again, the listings come through with five good picks:

Bigfoot Accelerator
Can't leave out any reference to our local cryptid. Now we know why he's blurry in the photos -- he's accelerating!

Dumbfoundead
Fun with spelling. Add a letter, generate puns! So amazing it kills? Idiot found slain?
 
Hereticon
Like ComiCon -- go as your favorite heretic, collect alternative credos and non-canonic scriptures!

Three Ninjas and the Weird Old Tricks
I like this one just because it's long and all over the place. A weird old trick, right there.

Wildlife Indoors
OK, this is just asking for trouble.

December 14, 2013

In December, there are so many holiday concerts to choose from, we don't go to any. It's sort of reassuring to see all the ordinary, bar-band shows continuing unabated, with the usual abundance of great names. This week's picks:

Good Men and Thorough
I like the switch from "true" to "thorough." Not just loyal, they finish the job.

The Ill Legitimates
Whether or not they are bastards, these guys are sick in the best sense of the word.

Juno What?!
A name, a question, an announcement, and on top of everything else, punctuation!

The Mighty Titans of Tone
I love this for so many reasons: assonance, alliteration, exaggeration, unshakeable confidence, and attitude to burn.

Promethean Eulogy
Speaking of titans . . . You have to give this eulogy every day. With fireworks.

December 7, 2013

I took a break from blogging over Thanksgiving weekend, but now I'm back, refreshed and ever-thankful for Seattle's lively music scene, which yields such riches  as:

Ex's with Benefits
When I read this one aloud at the dinner table, it got a laugh and an immediate, "That's just sick." This is what's left when the relationship that began as a no-strings hookup ends.

The Royal Oui
Who doesn't love a bilingual pun?

Sexdrug
Instant decadence -- just add rock & roll.

Them Hills
That's my hometown!

The We Shared Milk
Aside from that weird definite article, there's something touching and sweet about the longstanding, unshakeable intimacy implied in this name. It evokes nap cots and sandboxes. We go way back.

November 23, 2013

I don't care what the calendar says -- when you have to scrape the windshield and the sun's in your eyes at noon, it's winter. As we head into Thanksgiving week, I'm thankful for a holiday that makes possible a rare weeknight foray to Chop Suey to hear Dead Bars! And also for venues that keep booking shows, and for bands that keep coming up with amusing names, such as:

Fit for an Autopsy
Not what you want to hear at your annual check-up.

Monster Magnet
That is one rough dating scene.

Mrs. Howl
Ginsberg's Island.

Vaude Villains
I have often seen "villain" misspelled "villian," but I never thought of taking it the other way. I imagine lots of mustache twirling and slapstick comeuppance.

Wishbeard
"When you wish upon a beard, makes no difference if you're weird . . ."

November 16, 2013

It was a long week, but the month is going by fast. Clearly, a paradox in the space-time continuum. But the club listings still yield a reliable crop of band names:

Elephant Gazebo
So much more pleasant than a graveyard, don't you think?

Pufferfish
The repeated fs sound goofy and make it fun to say. The critter itself is both dangerous and silly looking. What else has a reputation for being both dangerous and silly? Oh, yeah -- pop music!

Save the Forest Mosquito
Let's not. This is one animal that doesn't require conservation.

Trollfest
Between Discworld books, Trollhunter, and the Internet, it's a real trollfest around here.

Wally and the Beaves
This one combines classic X and the Y format with over-the-top nostalgia. Unless it's nostalgia for nostalgia (always a possibility), these people must be even older than me.

November 9, 2013

So glad band practice was Thursday and not Friday! With the power out, it would have been chilly and very dark in the studio. We were playing acoustic in any case, so we would have figured something out. My condolences to anyone in North Seattle who wanted to turn on an amp between 6 and 8 pm.

This week's picks:

Darling Rollercoaster
This perhaps takes a love of amusement parks a bit too far.

The Flannel Attractions
Either a Northwest love story or a sign that you need to use fabric softener.

Puddlestompers
Don't curse the rain. Put on your boots and stomp!

Under the Bodhi Tree
Rock & roll enlightenment.

XVIII Eyes
There's something familiar here. I thought it might be a tribute band, but it appears early Square Pig fave Eighteen Individual Eyes has decided to respell their name. This way got my attention, too, so I guess they get to appear twice.