Are bands really "side projects" when they sound this good? All members of RNDM are best known for other work, but with their debut, Acts, and a kicking live show, that may very well change. NYC based singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur has been insanely prolific as a solo artist since his 1997 debut, releasing nine albums and even more EPs of his own, not to mention his work with Dhani Harrison and Ben Harper on Fistful of Mercy. Besides playing in the consistently productive, mega platinum selling group Pearl Jam, Seattle bassist Jeff Ament has previously branched out on his own with Three Fish and Tres Mts. Together with Seattle drummer Richard Stuverud (The Fastbacks, War Babies), Arthur and Ament set out with this new group to write and perform songs like either get to play too often: uptempo, stripped back and carefree. Joe, in particular, wanted to play some rockers and Ament already had some of the goods. And they've pushed themselves visually as well, employing cartoonish graphics, whimsical costumes and lots and lots of orange! Just as they were ending their introductory 16-gig tour at The Triple Door in Seattle, RNDM stopped by the Morning Show on KEXP to perform three songs from Acts, plus a rocking "pre-prog" new song ("The King of Cleveland", which we hope will be on an eventual second LP). Check out the videos from the session here:
The nation is catching on to the wealth of amazing music coming out of Seattle's experimental hip-hop scene. This year listeners have become entranced by Seattle's THEESatisfaction, and before that Shabazz Palaces -- expect the same kind of attention soon for OCnotes (Otis Calvin, III) and his gen…
You won't be surprised to that members of Song Sparrow Research have roots in jazz and choir. As friends and classmates, Hamilton Boyce and David Balatero were both in school bands at Seattle's Garfield High, and now make lush folk-tinged chamber pop as together in this five member band. Equally a…
