Something Like Sound

I normally don’t do shows on Monday nights, this show at the Hi-Dive a couple weeks ago was a special circumstance. Reading Rainbow was in town from Philadelphia, M. Pyres came down from Fort Collins, and I finally had a chance to catch the newest BPG band SAUNA. Highlights from the evening included an energetic rendition of SAUNA’s “Croctopus,” Matt Sage’s baritone guitar, and the few songs I stuck around for from Reading Rainbow.

SAUNA

M. Pyres

Reading Rainbow

Click for more photos | SAUNA | M. Pyres | Reading Rainbow

Every year for the last 3 years I have been invited to act as a nominating committee member for the Westword Music Showcase. Every year I publish my picks for the sake of total transparency and because I think these bands deserve some recognition (even if they didn’t make the final ballot cut). The rules for nomination were simple: name 20 local bands which have had an impact on me in the past year (with the stipulation that none can have business ties to me, because that would be a conflict of interest). I have taken things a step further and decided to not re-nominate any act which I nominated in a past year. So here they are, in no particular order:

Thrifty Astronaut
Hot White
Night of Joy
Dan Craig
Vitamins
Mike Marchant
Monroe Monroe
American Tomahawk
Oak Creek Band
Fingers of the Sun
Pictureplane
Lil Slugger
Galaxies
Hindershot
Panal SA De CV
Weather Maps
School Knights
Gauntlet Hair
Otem Rellik
Accordion Crimes

I would have also nominated the following, but can’t since they’re all affiliated with my record label (don’t let that stop you from checking them out).

FLASHLIGHTS
Force Publique
The Kevin Costner Suicide Pact
Safe Boating Is No Accident
SAUNA

You can vote for your favorites online over at Westword’s ballot page. See my picks from 2009 and 2010.