Imagine if Metallica, after two decades of packing arenas in the United States, had to reboot and play a series of club shows to win over new fans in, say, Turkey. That’s roughly what symphonic metal band X Japan is doing with its first U.S. tour.

X Japan is one of the biggest bands on the planet that you’ve probably never heard of, having sold 30 million records and DVDs at home in Japan and sparked a music and fashion movement called “Visual-Kei,” a precursor to some of the anime styles catchin’ on …

Read more »

Better late than never, but as promised here are a few more clips from my interview with Melvins leader Buzz Osbourne (first batch here.)

The godfathers of grunge are still in the area. And as anyone who witnessed the band blow the roof off of Hell’s Kitchen Monday night will tell you, tonight’s all-ages show at Olympia’s Capitol Theater should not be missed. Meanwhile, click the links to hear King Buzzo on …

… band stability and playing with Jared Warren and Coady Willis from Big Business.

… appearing …

Read more »

The mighty Melvins return to Tacoma on Monday where they’ll headline the new Hell’s Kitchen for the first time. Then they’ll play an all-ages show at Olympia’s Capitol Theater on Wednesday. They’re the subject of the cover story in Friday’s GO section, and here are a couple of clips from my interview with front man Buzz Osbourne to whet your appetites. Click the links to hear what he said about …

… the odds he’ll kick it in Montesano or Aberdeen any time soon.

… his band’s influence and who he’d like …

Read more »

Page Hamilton’s influential alt-metal quartet Helmet just dropped its seventh album “Seeing Eye Dog” with plans to storm Seattle’s Showbox at the Market on Wednesday, Sept. 15 (show details here.) Meanwhile, you can click the links below to hear what Hamilton had to say last week about …

… his roots in the Pacific Northwest.

… reflections on the first 20 years of Helmet and when it’ll be time to hang it up.

… writing for the new album and his creative process in general.

…

Read more »

There’s a great Soundgarden interview coming up in the September Spin, on newsstands Aug. 24. Among the tidbits you’ll learn:

Bassist Ben Shepherd – the Soundgardner I’ve spotted most around Seattle the past few years – is apparently homeless: “Literally. I’ve been sleeping on studio couches and at friends’ houses. I’m totally broke,” he tells Spin.

Also, that cryptic tweet that Chris Cornell sent out on New Year’s Day – the one about how “Knights of the Soundtable ride again!” – wasn’t a reunion announcement. According to guitarist Kim Thayil, “We’re not the Knights of the Soundtable, …

Read more »

A few events worth checking out in the week to come.

Music and Art in Wright Park benefit show

Earplugs are not optional on Saturday. At least not if you want your ears to survive the epic metal sludge and hardcore mayhem that Mico de Noche and C.F.A. will unleash on Tacoma’s New Frontier Lounge. The bands are looking to raise about $2,500 to help finance the MAWP festival, which will also feature the F-ing Eagles, Gold Teeth, Lozen, Girl Trouble and more on Aug. 21 at Wright Park.
Read more »

Cody Foster of CFA sent the flier below last night. Click to enlarge. Music and Art in the Park – which returned to Wright Park last summer after a few years off – is scheduled for Aug. 21 this year. Hey, maybe Lady Gaga will show up.

The other night, Mahnhammer drummer Chris Roxx was showing me this clip from new Tacoma metal band Bloodhunger, which features Sean “Buford” Nivens and Mike Parker from Swampy Draws. Warning: Graphic acts of muppet mutilation are involved, which is somehow simultaneously campy and creepy. But looks like those Bloodhunger boys are off to a promising start.

This last batch of photos I shot yesterday is all about the fans that turned out for Mayhem Fest. And hopefully today I’ll have had time to edit some more performance clips and my interview with 3 Inches of Blood’s Shane Clark.

Read more »