Further encouraging news of a full-scale invasion of heavy/hardcore acts into Seattle's major music outlets is that battle-ram tough bands are finding their way onto the radio dial. I actually heard a Karp song on KEXP over the weekend at the end of a live broadcast of the Akimbo/Harkonen/ These Arms Are Snakes show from Tacoma. With their punk show still in the works, KEXP has been taking steps to remedy the fact that interesting music unsuitable for tea with the parents is almost completely absent from the radio around here. The station already brought in DJ Lisa Wood as part of the rotating Saturday Audioasis crew. Wood is a seven-year radio vet who used to be a DJ at KISW, and she's also the host of a new local show, Garage Monkey, on 104.9 FM, which will be dedicated to local hard rock. When I e-mailed her recently about her new gigs, she responded like a giddy rock fanatic: "I think local radio has been getting better and better over the years, but there's still a lack of support [for heavier bands]. What really gets me is that some of the major stations just don't see a need for local programming. When I worked at KISW, I pushed SO hard for a local show. I just wanted a few hours on a Sunday night, only to be told it wasn't a priority. I sat by and watched them bring in out-of-state air talent time and time again with no regard for the people here who LOVE this community. It was a losing battle, so I left." (Garage Monkey airs on 104.9 FM on Sundays, 8-9 pm.)
On a completely different wave of audio mutilation: The Pixies are coming... again. That's right, for those who couldn't make it to the posh polo grounds of Coachella, you can watch Black Francis and friends near the comfort of your own home as the seminal '90s alt-rock act comes to Bumbershoot on September 6, possibly stealing thunder from the drum circle as the most exciting thing happening Labor Day weekend (better luck on those bongos next time). The other big announcement is that Nas will also headline the event, taking the main stage on September 5. Tickets go on sale March 24 at www.bumbershoot.org.
And just in case you had forgotten about the grunge years (part 2): Director Gus Van Sant is set to direct a new film about the g-word, and rumor has it he's loosely focusing the story on the life of an underexposed musician named Kurt Cobain. According to Rockrage.com, HBO Films is producing the movie, which will be called Last Days.
More out with the old, in with the new news: The Long Winters recently picked up a new drummer, ex-Death Cab vet Michael Schorr, who will replace Michael Schilling. And The Stranger's Sean Nelson also split from the band, but both parties made it absolutely clear that the split was an amicable decision; Nelson simply has too many damn side projects going on. Among his many endeavors: a "solo" LP with members of Centro-matic, Okkervil River, Death Cab, and R.E.M. ; a new project with former Harvey Danger bandmates Jeff Lin and Aaron Huffman, as well as an HD reunion show on April 10; an electronic music project with Steve Fisk and John Goodmanson; and a Harry Nilsson tribute LP with Gavin Guss and Johnny Sangster. Meanwhile, the Long Winters are working on the follow-up to last year's gorgeous When I Pretend to Fall.
