pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang of Four’s Music and Media Blog — music . media . web. culture

Arctic Monkeys play the Wonder Ballroom as part of MusicFestNW at 7PM Friday Sept 18th

Let me say upfront that my personal picks of the bands you shouldn’t miss at this year’s MFNW are in no way related to Mr. Allen’s contest on the site. I don’t know what he would like to see this year. It might be on my list, it might not be. We haven’t talked about it at all.

Now that that’s out of the way – here are what I feel are the unmissable artists playing at Musicfest NW 2009

Hey Marseilles – Thursday @ Ash Street Saloon (225 SW Ash St)
One of the local bands that I’ve fallen in love with since moving up to Seattle is this lovely folk-pop outfit. To me, they are one of the few acts that understand how to do this sound right. They don’t push too hard nor do they let one instrument or melodic idea dominate the rest of the song. Instead, they settle in together, adhering to a low key group aesthetic that allows the songs to sink in slowly and strongly.

Dirty Three – Thursday @ Berbati’s (10 SW 3rd Ave)
It has been far too long since this incredible trio from Australia has graced our shores with their presence, mostly due to Warren Ellis’s obligations as a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. We should be thankful to have them back with us once more, ready to vibrate every available molecule in Berbati’s with their massive waves of sound and melody.

Mayer Hawthorne – Friday @ Jimmy Maks (300 NW 10th Ave)
When I stopped by Mayer’s set at Bumbershoot this year, I was convinced that I was going to be bemused and ultimately annoyed by his performance. I mean, here was this Californian white kid who decided to stop rapping and producing so he could make vintage-sounding ’60s soul music. Seemed like a recipe for disaster to me. But, it took two songs for me to be completely turned around by his efforts. His version of R&B is as loving as they come, paying all due respect to the forefathers of the genre while injecting his own youthful energy into it.

Team Dresch – Saturday @ Rotture (315 SE Ave)
This amazing showcase (which also features the bands Lovers and forsorcerers) brings together a reunited lineup of Team Dresch, one of the preeminent girl punk bands of the mid to late ’90s, with a reunited Erase Errata, a group that owes more than a little sonic debt to the band they are playing before this evening. As much as I adore the work that EE has done, the two albums that Team Dresch made are two of the most spotless works of empowered rock in an era full of like-minded work. The reinvigorated version of TD by all accounts sounds as powerful and driving as they did in their earliest incarnation.

More From Pampelmoose

• Fever Ray – Album review by Robert Ham
• Psychedelic Furs Live in Seattle Review by Robert Ham

Pampelmoose Recommends

• Look At Free Music, Look How It Drives Web Traffic To You….
• Suburb serves up a loan to bail out pancake house