Tacoma’s Lozen is singer-guitarist Hozoji Matheson-Margullis (also the drummer for another of my new favorite local bands Helms Alee) and drummer Justine Valdez. After hearing lots of good things the dynamic duo, I downloaded Lozen’s 2007 release “Enemies of Power” from the ol’ iTunes, and it’s just ridiculous; a full-blown Lahar of pyroclastic power chords and epic sludge that’s sure to blow away any Jucifer or Melvins freak. OK, there are some pretty, melodic passages in there, too. Check out lead track “Breach” in the South Sound Mix Tape player if you haven’t already.

Anyway, tonight

Read more »

DRINK! Ten Miles of Bad Road demands this of its growing fan base after every song, earning the outlaw country outfit a reputation as Tacoma’s hardest boozing band. Better be careful, fellas, before you wind up needin’ the ol’ Schick Shadel.

The country fried rockers posted below come from the band’s March 26 set at the New Frontier Lounge. And when band leader, Rev. Nate, e-mailed me the correct song titles, he also mentioned big outlaw country festival he’s planning to replace "the late, great Hotrod-A-Rama" in August at the Swiss Pub. "No hotrods,

Read more »

America’s most hipster approved metal band, Mastodon, delivered an epic set last night at Neumo’s.

Troy Sanders, Brent Hinds, Brann Dailor and Bill Kelliher have strayed from their thrash roots and moved in more of a King Crimson/Pink Floyd/early Yes direction in recent years. And last night the quartet put all those proggy inclinations on display, kicking off their set by delivering new album "Crack the Skye" in its entirety. A recent trend has found numerous rock veterans – Roger Waters, Heart, Motley Crue – delivering their quintessential recordings like this in concert. So

Read more »

In case you’ve been in a coma and have, therefore, been insulted from the buzz, “America’s Got Talent” is coming. The open cattle calls begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday (April 25 and 16) at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center, 1500 Broadway, with pre-registration info available by clicking here. (But what’s up with that “Seattle” nonsense in the link? This is Tacoma, Grit City, you California TV types!)

Tryouts will be followed by two show taping sessions at 1 and 6 p.m. next Wednesday at the Pantages. Check the Broadway Center

Read more »

Got new music from Broken Trail in the South Sound Mix tape player (over to the right in down if you have yet to investigate, slacker!) It’s from the South Sound country outfit’s new CD “What This Country Needs.” And here are the next few places you can catch ‘em live:

Old General Store Steakhouse and Saloon, Roy, Friday and Saturday (April 24, 25)

Lady Luck’s Cowgirl Up, Parkland, May 17.

Red Wind Casino, Olympia, May 22-23.

Hey, just noticed the Girls from Seattle are headed to the New Frontier Lounge on May 9. About time they made it down South. The Girls are actually a bunch of dudes who play party hearty punk and new wave anthems. They first piqued my interest when I saw ‘em rock the Comet Tavern last summer following the Capitol Hill Block Party. And now I’m totally hooked after surfing to their MySpace page and laughing my @#%@#@ off at that “monkey hate clean” line they drop in

Read more »

Trust no one. Not to lip-sync, that is.

At least that’s been my belief since the revelation that Jennifer Hudson lip-synced her show-stopping delivery of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in February.

So I stared suspiciously at Beyonce on April 1 at KeyArena, paying special attention to her lips on the big screen (for different reasons that usual.) The vocals sounded live, and I figure the girl can sing. But can anyone be that pitch perfect while doing violent pelvic thrusts? Really?

I’m not saying she didn’t pull that feat

Read more »

Well, I couldn’t do a local music bootleg series without taping one of T-town’s finest performers, Vicci Martinez – who recently told me of plans to move to San Francisco, by the way. Catch her while you can. She promised she’d be back and forth to do performances like the April 8 Swiss Pub set that yielded these clips, though.

Songbird

Wanna Fall in Love

Untitled funky jam

Live Nation released the summer schedule for Woodinville’s Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery today, with tickets for all shows going on sale at 10 a.m. April 25. Check out the lineup and show times below. More details are also available on the winery’s web site.

Chateau Ste. Michelle summer concert series

Tears for Fears, 7 p.m. July 10, $40 to $60

Steve Miller Band, 7 p.m. July 11, $49 to $89

The Moody Blues, 7 p.m. July 29, $45 to $95

Lyle Lovett and His Band, 7 p.m. July

Read more »

The Puyallup Spring Fair is always a hot spot for catching country’s rising stars, Dierks Bentley, Joe Nichols and Ashton Shepherd being examples from recent years.

Friday (April 17) the main musical attraction at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center will be husband-and-wife team Joey and Rory Feek, a.k.a. Joey and Rory, best known for smash hit "Cheater, Cheater" and appearing on CMT reality show "Can You Duet?"

I’ll have a story on it in tomorrow’s GO section. Meanwhile, here are some clips from the interview they did

Read more »