Camp Revival

Ar•du•ous per•fec•tion

‘Colouring of Pigeons’

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Josie’s favorite word about music is: stank. I will tell him about a band and he will ask me if it stanky. He is my friend and manager at Caffe Fiore, but our favorite past time is sharing music that we think the other would like. Most recently he couldn’t get enough of The Drums. He had me listen and I felt the same way. They don’t have the stank he is usually looking for, but there something earnest in their music that brought him joy. The Drums were pure magic in anticipation of the upcoming summer.

The Drums are Jonathan Pierce who brought Adam Kessler along from Elkland and added his best friend Jacob Graham plus drummer Connor Hanwick. As the winter drags on the drums are the light at the end of the tunnel. Their music is a vision of a bright and beautiful summer. We will all be wearing shorts at the beach and roller-skating down the boardwalk.

Don’t Be A Jerk

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Down By The Water

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When I first met Ty, he seemed more like a ghost that would appear sporadically around the neighborhood with funny quips about what was going on his life. He has moved between Phoenix (where he originally hails from), Oakland, Bellingham, and of course now Ballard in Seattle. All the time documenting what he has experienced at his blogCMRTYZ, which also serves as an exhibition for the clothing he produces with friend and designer Carlos Ruiz.

Yet for all the times we shared cigarettes and shared chats over coffee, I never really got to know him. In fact I still don’t really know him, but it seems his image has become more of a constant force in our quaint Seattle neighborhood. He spent time working at the local boutique Blackbird and now can be found shredding tees and selling vintage at 20 Twenty. He insists that I listen to King Tuff and I think he is right.

When I listen to King Tuff, I get the idea that behind every simple rock song comes a complex mind. King Tuff’s songs are at first catchy pop, then psychedelic rock, and then moving to somewhere in between. Kyle from KT has changed focus with his new band (now on the Sub Pop roster) Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday is so new that their songs are still being recorded, but be sure to come back to Camp Revival as soon as their material has… well… materialized.

Here is “Lazerbeam” and “Sun Medallion” from their record Was Dead. Out on The Colonel Records.

“Laserbeam”

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“Sun Medallion”

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We arrive at Tomo Nakayama’s house to meet the portion of Grand Hallway that will be filming with us. We make our introductions in the living room where they have been practicing. We meet Alina To, who (usually) plays violin, the newly acquired Shenandoah Davis, who (usually) plays accordion, and Masamichi Omata, who has been elected to cover percussion; although it is unclear what his usual instrument is. We move to the lower balcony to see the top of the Space Needle resting above Queen Anne, the Ballard Bridge to the West, and the Olympics in the background.

The band switches instruments, finding their collective sound, as effortless and natural as the bee flying around Tomo’s concentrated face. As they rehearse, Tomo takes his place as bandleader and the music seems to just fall into place. Take after take, Grand Hallway is refining their music. I don’t want to say they have a “Seattle sound,” but their songs are filled with rich and overpowering tones, reminding me of the the luscious green that takes over the city.

It seems to be all about the here and now. Twitter. Status Updates. Your Kindle uploading the morning newspaper before you wake up. What is fresh? Tomorrow’s veggies today. What is hot? Family Portrait. Just check out the video featuring their song “Mega Secrets” here. Family Portrait is immediately linked with visions of the beach nights, lights of buoys, and the decaying dream of boardwalk heavens. How is it that the sound of what is to come is also the sound of nostalgia? I’m not sure, but there is a trance I fall into every time “Mega Secrets” or “On The Floor” fill my speakers. I like it: all I need is my memories and the music of what is to come.

Be sure to check out both the video and mp3 of “Mega Secrets,” which will be coming out on a 7″ with Andrew Cedermark. Family Portrait also helped us out with the mp3 of “On The Floor.”

Mega Secrets

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On The Floor

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That, my friends, is the teaser for Grand Hallway’s new album “Promenade” that drops September 15, 2009. Grand Hallway has built a strong local following with their stunning live shows that showcase the depth in each of their powerful pop songs.

“Promenade” is an explosive movement in the soul of pop. The songs flow freely and fluidly from the soul of each of the band mates, as Tomo’s voice soars above. The songs become unique, but part of a whole.

You can see them with a full orchestra (and kids choir) for their CD release show: September 17, 2009 @ The Fremont Abbey

ALSO, be on the watch for an exclusive Camp Revival video short with the members of Grand Hallway. Coming next month!

Renminbi, coming out of Brooklyn, is about to release their Surface EP on July 7 and they want you to know about it. How do you know they are better than most of the riff-raff in Brooklyn? Check out their live video below and go see them when they play in a town near you.

You can pick up their song “Portland” and a download code for the EP (when it is released) at Cash Music. Take a listen here first or check out their MySpace

Portland

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“Siren” at Le Voyeur (Olympia, WA) – July ‘08