I'm having a problem with Seattle radio. I really only listen to it in my car, so I'm not giving the last will and testament about the local FM dial, but we really need more PUNK, METAL, GARAGE, and NOISE coming outta all these stations.

I've heard a couple good sets on KEXP featuring bands like the Black Halos or the Catheters--but OVERALL, I'm not a fan of the cuddly indie stuff, the perky oldies, or the smooth jazz, so my car's radio station is generally set to "classic rock" and "alternative rock" just so I can find some heavy (and I use that word very loosely) rock. And that is where my frustration lies. When I drive, I want fast, weird, come-on-gimme-the-ticket-you-pig ROCK. Instead, I get the whole trickle-down grunge effect that started around Pearl Jam and continues to slide through the dial today.

Tacoma's Painted Window fits pretty snugly with my car-radio playlist, but I don't mean that as a dis. The band is a solid 107.7 hunk of hard rock with lots of melody. Window stands its ground well in the post-grunge arena, its music bookmarked somewhere between Creed and Alice in Chains (they even did a "Layne tribute" the night I saw them, offering a shaky cover of "Would?"). Singer Jeff Loomis has a strong voice too, the kind that Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell get paid a lot more for than what Larry's probably coughed up from the dozen or so people watching the show.

Loomis was a real rock ham, too, flipping his hair, plunging his face down into the mic or holding it above his tilted head like he was waiting for a drop of precious fluid. Even with a bad cold, his range was flawless as he roller-coastered from a light growl to a higher YEEEEAH! back down to a deep ol' HUUUUUAH, gesturing with his arms all the while.

Painted Window didn't solve my Seattle radio dilemma, but for those who think the stations don't get any better than KNDD, here are some kindred spirits for ya.