"AMBULANCE" SAVES US FROM THE RAPTURE!

This Friday's "KSUB Presents" guest was "Ambulance," a trio that formed while the members were all attending Ballard High School together. The band cites the Strokes and Interpol as its influences, and they captivated a large in-studio and online audience with their "pop-punk" sound. With a large stash of candy corn and Swedish fish, the band and the audience waited-out the "predicted rapture" together that night. (Through the power of pure rock, of course, we survived.)






 Thanks to Ambulance for playing!

--Julia Paleski
Promotions Director
All Photos Copyright Julia Paleski


KITHKIN TAKES OVER KSUB!

This Friday, our "Locals Only" guest was SU's own Kithkin. Fresh off their gig opening for Young the Giant in Bellingham, the group managed to pack the entire KSUB lounge with their enthusiastic fanbase. The band is currently promoting their new EP, "Takers and Leavers." Describing themselves as "jungle rock" and citing "mythological creatures" as their influences, the band inspired much dancing and singing along.








The lounge was completely full on Friday night--many thanks to Kithkin for putting on an awesome show!
Be sure to check out "Locals Only" every Friday at 8pm.
--Julia Paleski
Promotions Director
All Photos Property of Julia Paleski

Kithkin @ KSUB 10.14.11











All photos property of Bridget Elizabeth © 2011

Reptar, Cults and Foster the People - Showbox SoDo Sunday Oct. 9, 2011


Clad in overalls, eager to set the mood of the Sunday night crowd - Reptar began their set with hoots and howls: characteristic noises found within every tune of ‘Oblangle Fizz, Y’all.’ Keen on synths, the four put their motto, “Reptar likes to first and foremost make people dance,” into groove- beginning with saturated arm gestures in song “Blastoff.” The enthusiastic quartet have been known to represent similar beats to their big brother band, Animal Collective, and vocals much like the Talking Heads. Though their first album was just recently released (August 2, 2011) by many well-known artists, (Ben Allen of AnCo, Matt + Kim, Gnarls Barkley etc...) the group has been around since 2008. The cheery disposition and passion they put forward into their performance this particular Sunday evening, would certainly be something interesting to see with better lighting and a more excited crowd. Reptar is comparable to those grow toys where water needs to be added, they’re growing, and likely to be quite large.
Second in performance was the group, Cults. Sultry, garbed in blouses- long-haired band members put their soulful vocals to work. Reminiscent of old sweet radio voices, particular songs, “Go Outside” and “Abducted” were among crowd favorites. A few lighters showed up during “You Know What I Mean,” a somber mood was certainly prominent, a good thing considering the message of the tune. What separates the Cults’ songs from so many other bands is their proficiency with the clinking xylophone. Though the crowd wasn’t too rowdy for the set, Cults did wish for a longer set and more energetic bunch to dance to it, and then they introduced Foster the People.
Attracting such a diverse crowd from the one the band attracted last year, was headlining band, Foster the People. Containing everywhere from couples that probably had children in adulthood, tween girls wearing glasses without lenses, to that typical independent ‘hipster’ clustering that Seattle is so well reputed for. It’s no wonder Showbox had to move the sold out show from Showbox ‘Market’ to Showbox ‘Sodo,’ a venue for larger crowds. Grooving began right away, thick blue lights cut darkness and “Houdini” began. The audience lip synced along with closed eyes and noses to the sky throughout the set and Mark Foster leaped around the stage. Upon requesting an encore, Foster the People played a piano song, one not yet recored to an album titled “Ruby.” 
Finally, a real treat for the audience, was an unexpected collaboration. Heavy booming drums and exaggerated motions to play them were back on from the original Reptar set, (along with Reptar too,) and an untamable remix was played by the three performing bands. Going quite wild, the crowed undulated and bobbed with excitement as strobes flashed every which way. The stage was busy with musicians of all three groups doing their part for the grand finale. Leaving with a sense of spectacular wow within their chests, the audience filed out and went out into the night.








-Bridget Baker (Photos property of Bridget Elizabeth Photography)

Born Gold’s Bodysongs



Gobble Gobble has evolved from a turkey creature, into one of elite eagle status. Listening to the newly named group Born Gold is still like riding a high-speed neon carousel on amphetamines while whirs of bright lights pass by. (Throwing it in there right now their genre is called ‘Terror.’) 
Bodysongs is their latest offering, a collective album of old and new. Held as proof that this eagle still is a turkey creature at heart, it has Gobble^2 classics like “Lawn Knives,” and “Wrinklecarver,” on it. Of course, there is new stuff to be heard as well, “Decimate Everything,” offers that classic fast paced beat with twinkling noises on the side. Raw, jagged and organic. As a whole, the album offers zero moments of dull, or lullaby. Whether that’s a positive or not depends on your attention deficit disorder.
Gobble Gobble fans don’t have anything to be disappointed about. If anything, they’ll have a nostalgic moment, reminiscing over the turkey creature. They are gold now - a highly valued material in today’s economy, they were born that way. (8.5/10)
-Bridget Baker 

Reptar’s Oblangle Fizz, Y’all



Thrusting any motionless being in the earhole with funky beats, hoots and hollers is electric, neo-soul group, Reptar with their latest EP, “Oblangle Fizz, Y’all.” With Animal Collective’s Ben Allen as their producer, Reptar’s style isn’t too far from AnCo’s itself, with vocal fluxes like Talking Heads as well.

            Beginning the five track auditory experience is “Blastoff,” one inviting listeners to parade along with the booming chants of the animalistic quartet. As their website states, “Reptar likes to first and foremost make people dance,” and beats don’t stop for a full minute within this collection, making it a bit easy for an audience to feel worn out after a few listens.

            Though for a first release, “Oblangle Fizz, Y’all” is a mighty one, Reptar may not be the missing link, but it is certainly a unique creature. (8/10)


-Bridget Baker

TOMTEN Packs the KSUB Lounge!

This week's "Locals Only" guest was Tomten, a quartet described as "baroque pop," citing the Kinks and the Rolling Stones as influences. The group happily joined us in the KSUB Lounge on Friday, eating their fair share of candy corn as well as raiding the KSUB vinyl library for the cheesiest-looking album covers to put up as they played. The KSUB Lounge filled up fast, and soon there was standing-room only. The band absolutely killed it, and gained many a freshman fan that night.







Many thanks to Tomten for playing, and for everyone who made it to the show! It was a huge success! If you haven't attended a "Locals Only" show yet, what are you waiting for?! Every Friday night at 8pm in the KSUB lounge. 

--Julia Paleski
Promotions Director
(All photos property of Julia Paleski)

ARMED WITH LEGS Rocks the KSUB Studio!

Seattle-based duo "Armed with Legs" joined us in the KSUB studio on Friday, September 30 as part of our new "Locals Only" slot. Every Friday at 8pm KSUB is proud to present a local Seattle band performing in-studio and streaming live online for FREE.
Armed with Legs, which takes their name from a conversation about ninjas that drummer Nick Krivchenia had with a buddy, absolutely killed it this week. Calling themselves "clever," their sound definitely attests to this: live loops interweave with singer Jim Vermillion's haunting vocals and Krivchenia's heavy drumming. They have previously opened for Seattle's own Bone Cave Ballet, and their self-titled EP is available on iTunes now.
Many thanks to the duo for stopping by; tune-in to "Locals Only" every Friday at 8pm, or join us in the KSUB studio.







 --Julia Paleski
(All photos property of Julia Paleski)