Truckasauras brought the Sonics back!

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WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Ok, we’re totally making that up. Sorry to get you excited like that.

But they are bringing two things back: Kevin Calabro and collaboration. How did they do it? Well, neither ever really went away, as this improbable combination shows. But what the Truck managed to do is something so genius only the best bootyshakermakers in Seattle (the three producers of Truckasauras) could think of it: they combined Kevin Calabro and collaboration into one name, Kevin Collabo.

Mind. Blown.

But seriously, folks, this show is going to be crazy good. Allow us to explain the concept: Truckasauras + 30 badass Seattle MCs* + you + Kevin Calabro (I can only hope) + Kevin Durant and the Supersonics (for which I no longer hope but instead have a deep dark pit of blackness due to the destruction of the aforementioned hope but have some residual, instinctive emotional response that may or may not, in the end, be some form of hope) at Neumo’s, tonight, at 8 pm.

So good God, people, get up for the downstroke at Neumo’s tonight!

*Those would include Spaceman, Geo, Khingz, and SK…

This is the Progressive Voter’s Guide.

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OMG! OMG! OMG! Block Party tomorrow

a picture of tomorrow night (from the future!?)

Capitol. Hill. Block. Party. Tomorrow. Which means lots of music. Insane, incredible amounts of incredible, insane music.

Oh, and winter will finally be over. (For reals please this time?)

So here are the shows you should go to that you might not have heard of- we here at Bus HQ have a supersecret Seattle hip-hop tracking machine and know exactly which Seattle crews are going to, in the words of Saint George Clinton, going to “blow the roof off that mother.”

So here go the brief and reductive snippets of local hip-hop talent performing at Block Party this weekend:

If You Can’t Come Doorbelling…

Have you ever wondered what an Alt-Rap artist like Aesop Rock would sound like if he rapped over beats that don’t sound like kitchen utensils banging against each other? If so, then you need to be at the Dark Time Sunshine release party at Neumos tomorrow night (4/15).  Dark Time

Sunshine comprises of Seattle stalwart Onry Ozzborn (Grayskul) and Portland producer Zavala.  The album features Aesop Rock and P.O.S. very much in their elements as well as Portland soul singer Reva Devito.

Playing alongside Dark Time Sunshine is super-producer Jake One, Bus-friends Mash Hall, Tilson of the Saturday Knights, Helladope, Night Fox and DJ Swerveone.  The show is 21+ and is only $10 if you buy your ticket in advance.

Olympia in a can. Tonight. Be there.

OMG

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGOMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGOMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGOMG OMG OMG  OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGOMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGOMG  OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGOMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

We’re kinda excited. OLYMPIA IN A CAN. IS HAPPENING. TONIGHT. From 6-8 pm. The Bus will be there. You will be there. Legislators will be there. Beer cans will be there (for 21+ with ID). Barack Obama will be there (sort of).

Where is there, you ask? Good question! Way to warm up the question asking skills for tonight! There = the totally rad Grey Gallery, which is located on Capitol Hill, in Seattle, on 11th between Pike and Pine. If you want to get all maps and compass on us it’s on the east side of the street, OK?

Here’s how it’s going to work: we’re going to listen to Barack Obama do that State of the Union thing starting at 6. Then at 7 we’re going to hear from some experts and then start asking our legislator friends questions.

Who are our legislator friends? Another great question! Jeez, these questions. You guys are gonna be on POINT tonight. Anyway, our legislator friends are Deb Wallace, Bob Hasegawa, and Scott White. Rep. Wallace is from the 17th District (Clark County) and she’s the Chair of the Higher Education Committee. Whoa. That’s what they call a “get” in the biz, my friends. Rep. Hasegawa is from the 11th District (South Seattle/Tukwila/SeaTac etc.) and is not only on the Higher Ed Committee but also serves as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee. Big fish, my friends, big fish. Rep. White is from the 46th District (Northeast Seattle) and also is a key player on the Higher Ed Committee. The Bus knows how to reel ’em in, I’m tellin ya. Big props to our friends in Oly for sitting down to chat with us.

Experts? Experts on what? You know: the budget. Education. Education and the budget. Official Friends of the Bus Mike Bogotay, Maggie Wilkins, and David Parsons are all going to have much good expertise and much good questions. Yes yes yes. They represent the UW Student Association, the League of Educaton Voters, and the UAW Local 4121 (which represents teaching assistants), respectively. Our friend Dominic Holden will be making the long trek across 11th Avenue from The Stranger. Big thanks from the Bus to those friends and organizations for coming out.

And, last, but most most most definitely not least, we need to give massive props to the Grey Gallery, who’s letting us crash on their proverbial couch and eat all the stuff in their fridge for three nights during the session… thanks guys!

Oh, and thanks to YOU! for coming. So OMG OMG OMG we’re gonna totally see you tonight. WOOOOOOOO!

ohmigodohmigod OLYMPIA IN A CAN…

…IS TOTALLY TOMORROW. Are you excited? We are.

Why should you be excited? Cause we’re going to grab a beer and a piece of the democratic process at the Grey Gallery in Seattle* at 6 pm. YOU! can talk to your legislator without even going to Olympia. Wow. That is pretty incredible. We’re also going to watch Barack Obama’s second(?)** State of the Union address.

For the more numerical types, here’s 10 reasons why you should come:

1. Liquid refreshment (in cans)

2. YOU! and your video testimony

3. Legislators answering YOU!r questions

4. Public higher education needs your help

5. It’s a reason to get out on Wednesday

6. Awesome art

7. You can make new friends

7. We have a Bus

8. It’s the water

9. We all really want to see you

10. BARACK OBAMA WILL BE THERE… via satellite… speaking to Congress… about the State of the Union

So be there…

…or be s-q-u-a-r-e.

*The address: 1512 11th Avenue on Capitol Hill (between Pike and Pine)

**Cause the first one technically wasn’t required by the Constitution… it was more of an address to a joint session of Congress… or something.

If You Can’t Come Doorbelling… The Bus’s Official Weekend Recommendation

Shabazz Palaces, one of the most hyped groups coming out of Seattle in the past year, are shrouded in mystery.  At this point, most know the group is helmed by former Digable Planets MC Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler, and produced by Eric Blood, but not much else is known.  They rarely perform and have not revealed how the group formed.  The Stranger’s Dave Segal called the group’s music “a laidback Clipse without the booger-sugar obsession,” whatever that means.

Shabazz Palaces – Belhaven Meridian

Unfortunately the show is 21+, but the Bus has a few events coming up to supply our under-21 crew with their fair share of boom bap.  On January 14, Parliament: Green Edition is taking place at the Vera Project.  The show will start at 7:30 with performances from local hip hop luminaries, Brothers From Another, State of the Artist and 10th and Commerce.  On January 17th, the Bus is sponsoring a show at Neumos featuring Binary Star, Massive Monkeys, D. Black, Canary Sing and DJ Marc Sense.

Binary Star – Masters of the Universe

If You Can’t Come Doorbelling… The Bus’s Official Weekend Recommendation

Have you ever heard of a Jewish hip hop artist who raps about religion and who doesn’t swear? Well Seattle has one in Sportin’ Life Record’s, D. Black.  D. Black arrived on the Seattle hip hop scene when he was only 15 and immediately made an impact with his introspective lyrics.  Now a 22 year old and Sportin’ Life’s biggest artist, Seattle is lucky that he is still playing shows frequently around the city.  On Saturday (12/19), D. Black is performing at Chop Suey with Yirim Seck, Tha Stay Hi Bros and Candidt.  Doors open at 9 PM and the show only costs $7 so why wouldn’t you go?  Unfortunately the show is 21+ and unfortunately there aren’t any really interesting All Ages shows.

What Else Is There To Do On A Thursday Night…

If you enjoy mid to late 90’s hip hop, free music, or local music venues, then you should check out Chali 2na (Jurassic 5) and Gift of Gab (Blackalicious) in one of their two shows tonight.  The first show is a free show at Easy Street Records in Lower Queen Anne.  The Easy Street show starts at 6 and although it will be shorter than the Neumos show, Easy Street is one of the coolest free venues in the city.  The Neumos show starts at 8, costs 18 dollars and also features Mr. Lif and Lyrics Born.

Chali 2na joined Jurassic 5 in 1993 and is a giant on the mic both literally and figuratively.  Standing well over 6 feet tall with one of the deepest voices in the game, Chali 2na brings his dominating, thoughtful bars to any track he’s on.

Blackalicious is traditionally one of the most underrated groups in all of hip hop.  Gift of Gab and DJ Xcel started Blackalicious in 1992 and have released 3 classic full length albums.  Gift of Gab spits impressive multi-syllabic raps and is a constant on “Best West Coast Rappers” list.

If You Can’t Come Doorbelling…The Bus’s Official Weekend Recommendation

Tomorrow (Saturday), legendary alt-rock band The Jesus Lizard are bringing their trade to Neumos. You may have seen The Jesus Lizard on the mainstage at the Capitol Block Party, but seeing them at Neumos will be just as cool or better. The band started in Austin, Texas in 1987, but broke-up in 1999. This year, they’ve scheduled a number of reunion shows and are touring the country currently. The Jesus Lizard have never attained commercial success, but they have been one of the most influential alternative bands of the last 20 years.

If you’re confused about what a Jesus Lizard is, it’s the common nickname for the basilisk, the lizard that run’s on water. Very, very cool.

If You Can’t Come Doorbelling…The Bus’s Official Recommendations

It will be hard to top Wednesday’s Parliament event (pictures here), but this weekend has some great music and events going on, starting Sunday morning.

Run Vera Run! is a 5K run/walk starting at 10 on Sunday morning to benefit the Vera Project. It’s going down at Seattle’s Seward Park, and there will be cupcakes, a graffiti wall being painted live by five artists, live music from the Maldives and prizes, food and refreshments provided by Caffe Vita.

On Monday (not really the weekend but bare with us), Bambu and Kiwi of Native Guns are playing their reunion show at Nectar Lounge in Fremont.  Bambu and Kiwi are California-bred Filipino MC’s with some serious political insights.  In 2007, Native Guns broke up to pursue solo careers, but they have decided to reunite and are playing their first show at Nectar (unfortunately it’s 21+, but that just proves how necessary it is for you to go to Run Vera Run! so the next Native Guns show will be all ages.) Also performing: JFK and Jerneye.  Doors open at 8:00.

• Native Guns – Champion