• Food fight! The original pizza punk rockers, Personal & the Pizzas, have it in for Macaulay Culkin’s new pizza-themed Velvet Underground tribute band, the Pizza Underground. Personal gave this statement to eMusic.com last Thursday:
“Yeah……………Here’s my fuggin’ review;
First we’re gonna kill em
THEN! we’re gonna sue em
DONT MESS WITH THE FUCKIN’ PIZZAS, PRICK.
I CAN REED MOTHERFUCKER
I CAN REED.”
• Last week, anyone who has social media connections with members of Seattle’s hiphop community saw Macklemore, who recently played three sold-out KeyArena shows, providing lots of backstage photos (which filled one’s Facebook feed) and shout-outs to local and unknown artists (which erupted on one’s Twitter). It seems the Mack wants the 206 to know that superstardom has not erased his memory.
• Girls, what’s my weakness? Uhhh, computers! (Okay then.) The Gates Foundation held their holiday party on Thursday evening—the event was nice, the drinks were nice, the food was nice, and the DJ was… SPINDERELLA of Salt-n-Pepa!
• Christmas came early this year: Beyoncé startled the planet by dropping her first “visual album” on Friday via iTunes without any warning or promotion. Containing 14 tracks and 17 music videos, the album is naturally titled Beyoncé—the only word synonymous with audio and visuals working together harmoniously. Check out Danielle Henderson’s review.
• Sick of Grand Theft Auto V? The Thermals released a lo-fi video game titled Sword by My Side based on their hit track of the same name from their most recent album, Desperate Ground.
• Soon after falling in love with the singular songwriting prowess of up-and-coming country star Brandy Clark (whose debut album, 12 Stories, is topping year-end lists by major critics, from New York Magazine‘s Jody Rosen to NPR’s Ann Powers), The Stranger learned a few things about Ms. Clark that made us appreciate her even more: Not only does she hail from Washington State (Lewis County represent!), she’s an out-and-proud lesbian. And dear God, she’s good at her job. (For proof, google “Brandy Clark Hungover.”)
• Albums by two Seattle bands made it into prestigious British publication The Wire‘s year-end top-15 chart: Midday Veil‘s The Current and Master Musicians of Bukkake‘s Far West. Cool to see an internationally respected highbrow mag digging our Northwest psych rock so hard.
• Speaking of MMOB, their keyboardist, Randall Dunn—who’s worked the boards for Sunn O))), Earth, Akron/Family, and many others—will begin producing the next Maldives record in February. This is the best decision the Maldives could’ve made.
• After his Portland concert last Tuesday, rap star Drake went to Old Town and quietly gave the Union Gospel Mission a substantial cash donation to help more homeless people brave the record low temperatures. 