Friday on My Mind: Hood-to-Hood 2014!!!

It’s time again for Friday on My Mind. Our weekly blog post where we look at videos centered around one common theme. This is a collaborative effort between KEXP and King 5 News. If you haven’t already called in sick to work on Friday yet, then do it now and get over to Ballard for Hood-to-Hood Day. KEXP is infiltrating the entire neighborhood for the day and on into the night in celebration of Ballard’s triumph in our Hood-to-Hood challenge. This is the fifth time that Ballard has won the challenge and we are grateful to each and every Ballard-ite donor that stepped up during our 2013 One Day Drive to show KEXP so much love. The support of our city is incredible and has been now for over 40 years but if you were to narrow down one place that has been the greatest, it’s proven to be Ballard. If you don’t live in Ballard and you want us to party in your hood, let your neighborhood’s voice be heard on June 13th during our 2014 One Day Drive and we might just throw our 2015 Hood to Hood celebration at your place, or near it at least. If you have a beard, no one will even notice you’re not from there (and/or are Norwegian). These celebrations are all about the Seattle KEXP community, so to get you in the local spirit, here are a few of the most new and exciting bands in our city releasing music this year! Kithkin - Altered Beast Kithkin is killing it this year, lighting up stages with their energetic group percussion and on (and off) stage antics. Reviews of their recent set at Sasquatch have been stellar. Do yourself a favor and make sure you catch these guys live. Here is the official video for their most recent single “Altered Beast” from the debut full length, Rituals, Trances & Ecstasies for Humans in the Face of the Collapse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-gx65Esb1Y The Head and the Heart - Another Story The Head and the Heart are one of the many acts playing folk-rock here in Seattle. They have broken out within the national scene with various television appearances and major touring along with successful record sales.Here is one off of their most recent effort, Shake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyn9kmuIwqA The Comettes - Great Lakes I love this band. They’ll be playing the Timber Outdoor Music Festival this year along with artists like Charles Bradley, J Mascis, & Damien Jurado. The festival will take place in Carnation, WA the weekend of July 24th-26th. The band’s first full-length album, Zenith, is slated for release this summer. Here is the trippy official video for their song “Great Lakes” from their Limited Edition 2 track EP Golden Blue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOFisR3VQ0E Honorable Mentions: Posse - Afraid

Soft Opening is the first release on Posse's own Beating a Dead Horse label. They stopped by KEXP’s Audioasis with Sharlese this past April. Here is their performance of the song “Afraid” off of the new album. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIa71Q_4L3Y Benjamin Verdoes - Unknown Fears (Abbey Sessions #7)

Former frontman for Mount St. Helen’s Vietnam Band, Benjamin Verdoes has released one of the strongest local albums in recent years. Catch Benjamin today with his other musical project, Iska Dhaaf out at Hilliard’s Beer Taproom. Hear it live during The Afternoon Show with Kevin at 3pm. Here is Benjamin performing an acoustic version of “Unknown Fears” at The Fremont Abbey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrKhQ6GOEd0 Pillar Point - Dreamin'

Pillar Point is the brainchild of former Throw Me the Statue frontman Scott Reitherman. Scott will be one of the many people DJ’ing today during our first-ever KEXP Record Fair from 11am to 6pm, featuring the best in NW labels and Ballard record stores taking place at the Sunset Tavern. Catch Scott at 4pm. Meanwhile, check out the slinky official video for his single, “Dreamin’”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUgI-iy8rKY