MUSICAL GOODNESS IN STORE IN PRINT & ONLINE >>>
Amidst Tacoma School District children running around like maniacs, the U.S. poverty rate at a 52-year high, Michelle Bachmann claims HPV vaccine causes mental retardation (must resist joke), Season Nine of Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics, and stupid shit like this, we still managed to come up with a Weekly Volcano music section - conveniently packaged in the issue of the Weekly Volcano hitting streets today.
Here's a sneak peek at the musical goodness in store in print & online ...
HIP-HOP: Hoping on the John Crown train
To get to know John Crown the person and MC, the best thing to do is follow him on Twitter (@JOHNCROWN_NW). His hilarious, insightful, and sometimes slightly immature tweets are a window into the complex psyche of an artist, a nine-to-fiver and a family man. Crown's life has seen many of the same ups and downs with the law that affect many rappers. However, Crown has a hungriness to make it, and a dedication to staying a normal family guy that gives his aura a powerful juxtaposition. – Josh Rizeberg
MODERN ROCK: Roman Holiday readies for the release of a sophomore album and UK tour
Roman Holiday's music has always been this huge, arena-ready monster. It's the kind of sound that comes off as if it could never be contained in the local venues in which the band frequently performs. And somehow, they manage to capture this pristine quality in a live setting. Roman Holiday's live recordings sound better than most bands' studio albums. – Rev. Adam McKinney
HIP-HOP: The long march
Back in 2004, the unknown Seattle hip-hop duo DJ/producer Sabzi and MC Geologic - better known as Blue Scholars - had just released their self-titled debut. They had played their first show in Portland. And wanted to push the new project but couldn't find anyone willing to let them open in Seattle. A friend attending Evergreen State College, who went by the stage name of Macklemore, got them on a shared bill.
"Olympia was actually the very first city that we sold our first CD, then Seattle later that month," rapper Geologic says, on the phone from Los Angeles.
Selling CDs hasn't been a problem since. Either has finding a receptive venue. — Joe Gustav
PLUS: Better Living Through Music - Josh Rizeberg record release, Nappy Roots, Ghostwriter and Dorky's Anniversary Show
PLUS: Concert Alert