Scene and Unheard: Dreamdecay, Summit Block Party, and The Ghost Ease!

On any given weekend in Seattle, there are a million amazing shows to see - from jazz at a coffee shop or theater, to a grunge show at a DIY space, to a major act at any one of our large venues. Maybe this weekend you want to try something new, maybe you heard one song by this small electronic, folk, grunge group, maybe it as on Audioasis, maybe it was from a friend, or maybe you’re just tired of what you’ve been previously listening to. Luckily for you, as Audioasis has demonstrated over and over again, the PNW is ripe with local acts. Because we love the amazing diversity of venues, art spaces, producers, bookers, musicians, and talent, we’re going to suggest a few. This week, we recommend Dreamdecay, Useless Children, Naomi Punk and Stickers at Black Lodge; Summit Block Party with MTNS, Airport, and more; The Ghost Ease, The Webs, and Alex Bleeker and the Freaks at Heartland.

Friday August 9th: Black Lodge

The stuff nightmares are made of - literally if you took nightmares and turned them into sludgy impenetrable bricks like what the double bill of Seattle's Dream Decay and Australia's Useless Children sounds like - will be spreading their sprawling sonic insanity throughout the hallowed halls of Black Lodge this Friday. If these two bands were humans, they would be the angry twins who sit in the back of class and are always lurking during recess, giggling when other kids fall down and smirking when a storm picks up. And there's no better way to kick off a tour than with a night of feedback heavy wailing. They will be joined with the no-wave brats Stickers and beautiful madness of Naomi Punk. More info here. Black Lodge, 9m, all ages.

Dream Decay:

Useless Children:

Stickers:

Naomi Punk:

Saturday, August 10th: Summit Block Party

Had enough of post-Capitol Hill Block party outfit/photo revisiting? Well, it's time for Capitol Hill's other block party. The Summit Block Party enlists local bands and businesses for a free all day festival this Saturday. Among the bands playing are MTNS, So Pitted, Weed, Airport and more - everything ranging from scum-sludge to straight grunge to psychedelic electronic escapism, the music will start at 11:00am (WAKE UP) and goes until 9:30pm (PROMPTLY). And when you aren't soaking up the amazing music (LISTEN), feel free to grab a free tattoo (OUCH), some delicious BBQ (YUM), some cool mural painting (OOO), and generally hang out all day long (CHILLIN'). This is about a Capitol Hill as it gets. Oh - and if you get the chance, make a donation so this can happen again. More info here. 1700 block, all-ages, free.

Airport:

So Pitted:

MTNS:

Weed:

WaMü:

Saturday, August 10th: Heartland

Pleasant dreams are destined to fall apart someday - but it's bearable with Portland band The Ghost Ease's silky voices crooning through their slightly down-turned lips over the stormy-beach-day surf. With equally contradictory sound to subject matter is Seattle's The Webs - "Collect the heads off little girls, and put them on my wall, I need your skulls, I want your skulls," they sing deadpan, which is immediately followed by a too-catchy-to-handle beach bum ditty full of sharks, sun, and wipe-outs. Plus this show also pulled in New York's Alex Bleeker and the Freaks - Bleeker being the bassist from Real Estate and the Freaks being an assortment of talented pals. And if all of this isn't enough, there will be a poetry reading by the intriguing Mary Pauline Diaz and some early tunes from The Echo Echo Echoes. More info here. Heartland, 8pm, all-ages, suggested donation.

The Ghost Ease:

The Webs:

Alex Bleeker and the Freaks:

The Echo Echo Echoes:

Honorable Mentions:

Thursday, I don't mind if I do go to Hero Worship: Kathleen Hanna at the Pony because actually I am as obsessed with the woman as most respectable human beings should be (21+). On Saturday night, you can also catch a night of mediative ambient electronic courtesy of Germany's Guenter Schlienz as well as the digital bliss of Seattle's Panabrite and Celestino at Cairo (all-ages). Tuesday brings a stranger than fiction night at The Comet with Stalebirth, LAZY, Pentaglam and 27 Doors as well as live painting and visuals (21+).