FUNHOUSE: DEAD BARS

When I first sat down to write this, I was telling myself not to just cobble together a list of Dead Bars' accolades and accomplishments. I mean, killer pop-punk just about sells itself, right? Sure, but I'm gonna blurt that list anyways because I don't care what you think a' me, I just want you to like this band:

CJ Frederick (of Total Fest alums Big Eyes) is not only Dead Bars' drummer, he founded the band with other core member John Maiello. CJ also started On The Real Records which though he's not running it anymore, is still going strong. They're signed to No Idea, they're playing the Fest and Pre-Fest in Gainesville, and on top of it all they are some of the biggest DIY promoters in their hometown of Seattle. Pretty damn busy, these guys. Not too busy to tear off some top serious pop-punk though (recorded with TacocaT's Eric Randall):



These tunes are a rolling party. We're lucky because that party is rolling towards Missoula and Total Fest XIV is only the better for it. Get ready, doods. This is gonna be one hell of a weekend.

TacocaT

SATAN! OSCILLATE MY METALLIC SONATAS!  

I just bought a leotard.  I will be wearing it to Total Fest this year.  Why?  Because TacocaT is coming!

Oh-Nine was the year I fell in love with TacocaT.  I remember ***ing a little as we listened to their submission, most of the songs from Shame Spiral I believe.   I found myself listening to lyrics about Toxic Shock Syndrome and songs titled “Hey, Kids, It’s a Basement”.   Not since Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer had I been so ready to outrageously color my hair and dance to party pop.  I was stoked.  And here I am again, it’s 2012, and I am still ******* my pants to see them on stage at Total Fest XI. 

Emily Nokes, Lelah Maupin, Bree McKenna, and Eric Randall put the fur and spice in TacocaT. They recently released a grande EP “Take Me To Your Dealer” on Hardly Art and have just finished their east coast summer tour.  Now these kitties are headed back out west for Seattle’s Pizza Fest and Total Fest XI!  “Take Me To Your Dealer EP” includes my new favorite song “Cat Fancy”(if only because the sound quality is better than “Leotard” on Shame Spiral).  It is built upon simple poppy chords, yeah yeahs and filled with giddy excitement for receiving the best cat magazine in the mail once a month.  When I heard this song it was as if I was surfing out to my mailbox in filled with anticipation to see the August Cat Fancy centerfold. 

Now, I know it is hip to love cats and sing like a 21^st Century Beach Boy, but TacocaT sets themselves above all of those trendy bands hopping into an instamatic photoshoot with a bunch of kittens and bearded men.  I love the attitude that TacocaT is able to convey through silly songs about weed and female troubles.  I would fight anyone who thought TacocaT took themselves too seriously.

TOTAL FEST 2012: INSTALLMENT 3

That's right, Total Folks. We're posting the final batch announcement of this year's Total Fest line-up. Not that we've saved the best for last, but this batch is a gut punch combo: old heads, well worn travelers, noisy weirdness, hefty stoner, playful pop, psych fix, and riff ration. A few strands are still lingering, but we'll have you caught up by the week's end. As with the last two announcements, we'll expand on each of the bands in the following days. Stay tuned.

Cousins Milwaukee, WI

Harkonen Seattle, WA / San Fran, CA 

InternationalPlayboys Missoula, MT 

KingElephant Missoula, MT

Magpies Missoula, MT

MjolniirDXP Denver, CO

Needlecraft Missoula, MT 

ThePharmacy Seattle, WA

Sedan Portland, Or

Shane Hickey and his Magical Ukulele.... and Jerry! Missoula, MT

Tacocat Seattle, WA

Tenement Appleton, WI 

Torche Miami, FL

Unnatural Helpers Seattle, WA

VTO Missoula, MT

Wizard Rifle Portland, OR

TOTAL TEST UPDATE: GAY BEAST: TONIGHT! ***** TACOCAT: FRIDAY!
Holy jeez a'mighty, the heavy hitters have been coming out of the proverbial woodworkings! Tonight, we've stoked that the mighty Minnesotans in Gay Beast are in town! GB's a wild progressively bent punk the likes of the world hasn't seen since the heyday of weirdo bent punk like Scratch Acid chopped up with Ruins, or something. That show's going on tonight, Wednesday (une 30) at the BSMT at 235 N. 1st, in the basement and excellent locals and Total Fest IX bands Shahs and Fag Rag open. $5 gets one in!

Then, oh man what a week, on Friday (June 30) we've got a serious two-fer of a show. Or maybe a four-fer if we're being technical. Seriously bitching Seattle punks Tacocat come out and bring their catchily ferocious, energetic deal to the Badlander. Tacocat have got Butte-roots and spunk to the gills. It's hard as hell to not have a good time at a freakin' Tacocat show. Billings MT's Budgets share members with Noise Noise Noise, but offer a more garage rock attack than Noise's power pop deal. Good news all around, people. More good news than a truckful of souped up Harleys at Evel Kneivel Days. We'll see you there.

TACOCAT CONFIRMS

Here's pieces of a perfect, I-Couldn't-Have-Said-It Better, review of Total Favorites, Tacocat: "Often dismissed as a joke band, Tacocat has surprisingly good pop instincts with a rough, unpolished riot grrrl sound." "...Bikini Kill... that’s who their sound immediately brings to mind. They have a similar lineup (three women and a male guitarist) and sing about personal women’s issues. Bikini Kill, however, saw the personal as political and Tacocat sees the personal as really funny (they’ve got songs about muffin tops, wearing leotards, etc.."

"Tacocat might be the goofy band that plays your party – except they write very catchy songs and don’t let the pop hooks get drowned out by the loud, messy guitar parts. Like The Ramones, most of Tacocat’s songs are around two minutes." "Singer Emily Nokes, whose hair might be the brightest shade of red I’ve ever seen, has a magnetic stage presence and her voice is very melodic. They are a fun band that has zero pretension and doesn’t take themselves too seriously. I think the moment they start, the joke will be over. In the meantime, I’m going to try to catch every upcoming Tacocat show I can."

To read the complete review click here.