Browsing Category the blvd

0 The Makers

04/11/10
Dave Johnson
· live music reviews · the blvd

The Makers with Magnaaflux – The Blvd. Friday, April 2nd

Swagger, sass, and rock ‘n roll. The first time I saw these kids, they were called The Haymakers. Back then, they had more balls than skills. That was 1991? Or maybe it was 1992. Jump to 2010, and this is the first and only band to make it out of Spokane and to be signed to Sub Pop. (That should fucking count for something.) The Makers.

The Makers played The Boulevard on Saturday April 2^nd. Following a blistering opening set by Seattle’s Magnaaflux, Michael, Jamie, Tim, Donnie, and Aaron knocked the livin’ shit out of the venue, as only they can do. Michael Maker – as he will always be known to me – slithered his way to the front of the stage and stuck his tongue down the throat of the Spokane scene, making sweet love to the crowd. Mmmm… sexy.

These boys have been playing music together for a very long time and are absolute pros at what they do. They have traversed their way around the treacherous music scene. They are the bastard sons of Spokane. And to that we say, Welcome Home.

0 Electric Six

03/31/10
Andrea
· live music reviews · the blvd

Have you ever seen the music video for “Body Shot?” If not and you don’t know much about Electric Six I recommend you check out the music video here. I was definitely excited to see Electric Six, just from the lyrics and the style of music you knew it was going to be oddly fantastic; and it was! Sound check began with a check, check, check Syphilis, check, check, check Slut; that’s something you don’t hear everyday.

Things started off with I know its Friday night in Spokane and you had a lot of choices but let me tell you… you made the right one. I agree with that statement. Electric Six has a new album out and they pretty much said we need you to buy it so we can make it to Montana! Therefore they played a song of the new album and went to the hits. Playing 18 songs total with a two song encore. Fabulous!

All of the songs were a blast and kind of naughty or as the band said; this is the first all ages show we have had in six years… but we figured kids are human too. The BLVD was fairly full, by the end of the set all of the chairs and booths on the bar side were pushed out of the way because everyone was itching to see what was going on. Pretty sure it was a fire hazard. It was an array of personalities and the band has a following because kids were singing along and busting out some interesting moves. Their was a lot of bouncing and dancing going on, on the stage and on the floor – very energetic feel throughout the room. Made you have fun no matter what kind of mood you were in.

This was the bands first time in Spokane (the city known for Vision Quest and fixing their synthesizer) and I hope they come back because I would love to see the show again. It was packed a punch like Mountain Dew with real sugar and I am pretty much used to disco dancing to their music now.

2 Ted Leo and The Pharmacists

03/27/10
Andrea
· live music reviews · the blvd

We hadn’t seen Yarn Owl in months so we were very excited to see the Pullman group! The first thing that caught my eye when I walked into the Blvd was their Owl Lamp sitting on a Yarn Nest. It was pretty nifty! Yarn Owl stepped it up a notch for the night since Ted Leo is pretty rockin. I must say I dugg it a lot, Matt and I thought they sounded great! I am not sure if they are going to do that more or if they are going to keep it low key but either way we enjoy seeing the group live. One of the funniest parts of the evening was Tambourine Man was in the house with his lady and oh boy were they working it to the music. Yarn Owl even asked for the crowd to give it up for Tambourine man; this guy is a local scenester by now! Tonight they sounded a bit like Vampire Weekend which is a step in a different direction from the last time we saw them. Matt and I thought they hit everything perfectly and rocked it for the BLVD. Don’t forgets you can catch them at Birds On A Wire!

So earlier in the week the latest SPIN was in the mailbox featuring an article about Ted Leo and how he chatted with Paul Weller an huge influence for him. After skimming the article and having Matt be as excited as a kid I knew it was going to be a fun night… and it was that and more. So the BLVD wasn’t packed but it was full and with a 90 minute set from Ted Leo and the Pharmacists I am sure everyone left with an ear to ear grin. We left with a music high! Wearing a bright pink flannel shirt Ted Leo stood at the microphone and went for it. They whole group had a high energy and the facial expressions Ted Leo made when he was singing were awesome. It was fast fun punk rock, yay, we haven’t been to a punk show like this in a while. The group rocked new songs and old songs and one we haven’t stopped playing on repeat since the show “The Mighty Sparrow” and “Even Heroes Have to Die.” Which both of those songs are of the bands March 9th release The Brutalist Bricks!

Matt what else do you have to say about the show….”It was fucking awesome.” One of the BEST shows we have been to at the BLVD, it was a killer time. Everyone was having such a great time after they said this is going to be their last song they played it and another. Then as the group started tearing down, Ted Leo decided to sing a quick vocals only song. It was so COOL! We even devoured a green beer…. note to self do not drink green beer the day after St. Patrick’s Day even if it is cheap! Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are so cool they even have kid fans, it’s true! We meet two of them at the show which by the way, they were also rockin’ cool T-Shirts! It was a bummer it was the last touring show from RAWK for now because Dale has done so much for the Spokane Scene and he was cool enough to bring this show in!

0 The 2010 Sommy Awards

03/19/10
Andrea
· live music reviews · the blvd

Saturday, February 27th at the Blvd
A big thanks to Som Jordan of the Som Show for putting together this local music event! It is something fun and a little different for the kids in the scene to get their hair did and dress up! It was wonderful to see that more then 750 peeps voted. Just a reminder it was open to anyone to vote, and to vote once. The winners were decided by you. I want to start off by saying who won:

Best Metal : Anadonia

Best Hip Hop/ R&B: Gun of the Sun – Quiz

Best Blues/Jazz: The Booze Fighters

Best Rock: The Toy Garden

Best Live Performance: Mon Cheri

Best New Artist: Mon Cheri

Best Album: Mon Cheri “Colors of Love”

Best Singer Songwriter: Karli Fairbanks

Band of the Year: Mon Cheri

Best Dressed: Caroline from Mon Cheri

Sommy of the Year: The Blvd

Musically the night started out with a simple, short, and perfect set by Space Opera 77 – a new local favorite of mine! They are catchy and different, something new! Girlfriends played on the floor not on the stage (as usual) and it was great to have him back in town. I adore what Girlfriends does, I haven’t seen anything else like it and it is such a cool live set. The Globes after fixing a mic cord ripped the place to shreds and are always a Spokane hit! Then the night was completed (at lease the Sommy’s) after the High Hollies who performed after receiving a Career Achievement Award! In-between sets DJ Deseure kept the flow going smoothly picking and mixing beautifully.

It was a blast to have that many bands, artists, local scene-sters, fans, music lovers in one room. People kind of put down their guard a little bit, drank, and had a good time. Som redid the BLVD with a red carpet outside, red carpet Sommy’s back drop, paparazzi, red curtain over the stage, DJ booth in the back, and a second stage for awards. Not only that but there was a Pre-Funk at the petite delish Baby Bar, strong drinks yummy food = happy! Then a wild party bus picked peeps up and well we so how ended up on the long route up to the South Hill to pick up Ben and I would say too much time on a party bus with a stripper pole leads to people dancing. I won’t mention names Trucker.

Reading above I am sure you can see Mon Cheri kind of ruled the evening, it was people’s vote and you can see the results here. But I am a little mixed up to as how they ended up on the new band list since; well they did win a Sommy last year. Just wondering – love the band – no hating – just wondering. Overall the night was a lot of fun and Dave, Matt and I closed it out with delicious pizza and cheesy breadsticks from Monterey Café.

You can meet the Sommy judges here and hopefully we can look forward to another fun evening at the 2011 Sommy’s – dun dun dun. With maybe a little less drinks – maybe.

Check out more photos from the show HERE!

Andrea@checkitoutmusic.com

0 A.A. Bondy

03/18/10
Andrea
· live music reviews · the blvd

A.A. Bondy on Monday, January 25th at the Blvd

We drove over to the Blvd on Monday and were a little nervous to find such a good parking spot. Well it was just luck because for a Monday the Blvd was pretty well attended. A.A. Bondy must be doing something right! The first thing I thought when I heard him sing was how smooth the band sounded. It reminded me of a soft breeze running through satin; it just melted your ear buds. The speakers weren’t too loud or low in the room either it was perfectly hypnotizing.

Not every note of the music was as mellow as I make it out to be, there was definitely aggressive build up with a breaking point. They rocked too. A.A. Bondy played solo and with his band, regardless it was intelligent. A.A. Bondy even made the harmonica sound debonair. The crowd was respectfully mellow and took in every note of the music. It was a cool show and an intimate experience that I would love to see again and again.

Check out more photos from the show here

Andrea@checkitoutmusic.com

0 Matthew Sonntag and Team Growl

03/18/10
Andrea
· live music reviews · the blvd

Matthew Sonntag and Team Growl on Saturday, January 23rd
Every time I see Matthew Winters I fall in love with his music again and again. It is so straight forward unpolished and just the way it is – and it sounds great! At first Matthew played a few songs by himself including one of my favorite songs “Cute and Stabby” then Ruben jumped on stage and Team Growl took over. I have been waiting all summer to see the two of them play together.

“You never know what you are going to get with Ruben,” as local music scene kid Joe said. It’s true. One of the last things Ruben said that I loved was “I love you guys….No I love you guys…I hope you are enjoying your life because I am and you only get one.” This was Matthew and Rubens 4th show together and they are like ketchup and mustard. The mellow drums added a nice mix with Matthews’s songs; they added a little more bass. Not only did Ruben and Matthew play songs but they told us a very funny joke/story about how pigeons are thugs. My last comment on their set was how the Team Growl logo is a yellow bird, not a vicious dog but a little yellow bird. I loved it and can’t wait to see them again.

Matt introduced me to Matthew Sonntag, they had met before for the interview and when he was talking to me he had this very casual voice. When he took over the microphone he had this rough twang mountain man voice. The difference in his voice really took me by surprise. He has really cool vocals, anyhow tonight was his CD Release show and there was a raccoon in the crowd!

What strikes me about Matthew Sonntag is his sound; it is off the beaten path in the forest and you are not going to find that “path” anywhere else. It’s a fresh breath of originality. As Matt said “it’s rough like sandpaper.” Throughout his set we got to hear him play with his band and without his band. His dad “Screaming Steve” even joined in. How cool is it to have your dad play with your band? Also Animal was drinking a Miller High Life on top of the drum set; I saw it with my own eyes.

The crowd was excited to see Matthew play they were up in the front cheering him with big cans of PBR. He has a lot of local support and good friends. He said we sounded like teakettles. When everyone was cheering for him he made a point to say hey “give it up for these assholes!” I liked that. Matthew’s music is serious and fun and I like how he can be with or without a band. He also plays a harmonica! If you haven’t seen him once I would recommend you give it a shot, it will be a new experience that your ear buds are sure to enjoy. His new album “The Goodbye Album” is available now

Check out more photos from the show here.

Andrea@checkitoutmusic.com

0 Hockey

10/31/09
Andrea
· live music reviews · the blvd

Hockey
Saturday, October 31st at The BLVD

Dressed in drag, as a ghost (in a sheet), Davey Crockett, a hippie, and Mario; Hockey rocked the Blvd covered in spider webs this Halloween. It was dance-a-riffic, indie disco pop to a tee!

Opening up with Work, from there on you heard your favorites including 3AM Spanish, Learn to Lose, Wanna Be Black, Song Away, Curse this City, Preacher, Too Fake, and Put the Game Down. Must say Matt and I were singing the songs through Sunday. Ear worms!

People were singing along, dancing, jumping around, and having a great time. Everywhere you looked there were smiles and hips moving. The Blvd did a great job covering the place in spider webs, they were everywhere. It was actually a bit funny because they kept getting caught on the bands guitar, mic’s, and costumes.

The guys had a lot of energy and people were jacked that they were in town. I had no idea that Michelle & Chrisy from the Empyrean were such big fans! Or that John Blakesley was such a good dancer!

Hockey had a great set they sounded polished and on top of their game. That was the best show I have been too at the BLVD this year. It was pure goodness like the joy you get out of a cold beer on a hot day.

This was my first time seeing Hockey in town, I know right. I wasn’t downtown going to shows when they were in Spokane. I caught them at Sasquatch this year though and that was what hooked me in on their tunes. Perfect party or feel good music that instantly gets you going. I look forward to the next time I will get to see them until then back to Mind Chaos on repeat.

Check out more Hockey photos from the show here! Photos courtesy of Matt Auclair.

Andrea@checkitoutmusic.com

1 Small Town Nation CD Release Show

10/17/09
Andrea
· live music reviews · the blvd

Small Town Nation CD Release Show
The BLVD on 10.17.2009

The kids of Small Town Nation are such a riot, they always put on a killer set and on stage act like they are the biggest rock stars. Matt and I left the Blvd looked at each other and both were like “that was really fun.” You have to catch this band when you can. They have great personalities, plenty of jokes, and a lot of punk rock spunk.

I haven’t seen a band at the Blvd use the front step on the stage so much. They were rockin’ out together, doing a little simultaneous head banging, dancing, jumping. So much energy that the crowd was just loving it and letting loose. These kids know how to entertain the crowd and play good music, normally it is one or the other. They seem like smart-asses but their music is just well rehearsed and every note is hit at the right time. They have every right to feel like rock stars.

Besides playing original songs we got to hear their covers of Chuck Berry’s “Johhny B. Goode,” the opening song to the kids cartoon “Arthur,” and Team America’s “America, Fuck Yeah.”

At the end of the night they also ran through thirty or so seconds of a bunch of songs and turned it into one big super SHA BANG. The song included All Star by Smash Mouth, Closing Time by Semisonic, My Own Worst Enemy by Lit, Jumper by Third Eye Blind, As Long As You Love Me by Backstreet Boys, Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse, and more! It was brilliant and you could name the songs but still hear their punk twist on it. Loved it.

We learned that the boys were home-schooled and after that one of the kids says “Yeah my teacher was hot.” They closed out the set with their new single “Our Hopes and Fears” and it was a kick in the pants. These kids have the potential to be on Warped Tour, catch them in town while you can!

Check out more photos from the show here!

Photos courtesy of Matt Auclair.

Andrea@checkitoutmusic.com

0 The Dead Trees

10/04/09
Matt Auclair
· live music reviews · the blvd

The Dead Trees
Sunday, October 4th at the Blvd

There have been a few more changes to the Blvd only making it a better venue! For 21+ shows they have moved the rails so you have free reign to dance your booty across the entire floor. New lights were added with blue green hues that made it seem like we were under water. Plus Bill was working on this super sweet project when we were leaving. He was covering a wall in concert posters, you are going to have to check it out! One more thing. They added a “Ring That Bull” game which on my 7th try I hooked it and it will hook you! Soooo addictive and great for time in between set changes!

Tonight was the second time the Dead Trees had been in town. With double guitars, 1 bass guitar, and a multi-colored sparkly drum set that read oops it was a kick! The silky vocals and casual stage presence wrapped my mind up in their music like a string around a yo-yo. The band moved around on stage a lot and the bass player even shook a maraca in one hand and played a cowbell on the drum set with the other. I also thought they were hip dressers and the bass played had a nice mustache. I liked the bands fun tempo’s, song lyrics, and personalities on stage. Portland has something good in the water.

Then the lead singer and drummer of Eugene & The 1914’s took the stage with a few members of The Rosewood Thieves. The vocals sounded great with their mellow rockin’ tunes and sprinkles of pop. I am not sure what was going on but they only played 4 songs. I dunno, maybe someone was sick or stuck in another city. After the singer played a solo song the Dead Trees got back on stage and rocked out some covers.

They all played different instruments and quickly picked up the notes, it was awesome. I didn’t know you could fit that many people on the stage at The Blvd. All the sudden the entire crowd was on the floor singing the words to “The Weight” by The Band or “Suzie Q” by CCR. Great fun for midnight on a Sunday night I would do it again in a heartbeat! It was just a bummer we left a little after midnight because I had to get up at 6am the next morning to go to work.

Check out more photos from the show here!

Andrea@checkitoutmusic.com

1 Riverside Breakdown and The Blakes

09/25/09
Matt Auclair
· live music reviews · the blvd

Riverside Breakdown and The Blakes
The BLVD on Friday, September 25th

Bob from the Blakes asked me how I was doing and I responded couldn’t be better it’s a Friday night, I have a cold beer, and I get to see the Blakes.

Riverside Breakdown played before the Blakes and it was cool because their drummer said even if they weren’t playing tonight he would probably be here anyways because he likes the Blakes.

Now they had SEATTLE spelled out in tape on the drum set but I think they are from Spokane. I don’t know of a Riverside in Seattle. What tripped my fancy about this band was how they are this simple three piece punk band that sounded PUNK and just ripped up the stage.

They sounded good and were having a good time as they played songs like “Coming Down” and “Waste of Time.” Riverside Breakdown also did a fun little cover of “With or Without You” by U2. I wouldn’t mind catching these guys again they were a hoot!

The Blakes oh me oh my. I shake shake shake shake shaked my ass to their set. I also sang along with the other kids on the floor. At first I sat in the back and finished my beer watching the crowd. I notice some familiar faces from past shows, so that was kind of cool. The floor filled before their second song began as disco lights were spinning and smoke was floating up to the ceiling.

I am not an artist so I have never played at the BLVD but I love their little step they have in the front of the stage. It is so damn groovy because artists like Garnet use it to stand up and rock out. We got to hear new songs off their album Souvenir which will be out October 13th. I am digging it, not to mention marking the date on my calendar.

The band has a hip persona on stage with unique vocals and a hot trendy rock sound. They like to rock out and sing together on one microphone. It doesn’t matter how many times I have seen them they are just a blast to see. There guitar riffs are catchy and simple enough that it instantly grabs my attention and I start to nod my head. The Blakes keep it fresh and they sound like the Blakes no one else. October 13th – new album check it out.

Check out more photos from the show here! Photos courtesy of Matt Auclair.

Andrea@checkitoutmusic.com

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