Words by Christine Mitchell. Photos by Jake Hanson, you can find more of his work here. 

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Seattle is in a weird space musically these days if you’re looking at things festival-wise: SASQUATCH! and Upstream have kicked the bucket and Bumbershoot is struggling. But peel off this top layer, and you’re greeted with music and spaces vibrant and varied.

Smokey Brights

Smokey Brights puts on a show that will infect you with happy germs. The most adorable couple in the world (aka Ryan Devlin and Kim West) play power pop with a rocking edge that sucks away any bad moods, and their show is animated with guitar postures, polyester pantsuits, and flying masses of hair. Pure sunshine.

Thunderpussy

Seattle’s worst kept secret is Thunderpussy; they easily sell out any and every venue in town and have a major label deal, yet they’re still working on breaking into other parts of the country. Their sound is kickass classic rock; they listen to The Eagles un-ironically. Their shows are full of spectacle from top to bottom, whether it’s their unique sequined getups or lead singer Molly Sides’ contortionist dance moves or guitarist Whitney Petty coming off as an old school guitar god. Thunderpussy is fantastic.

Belltown Yacht Club

Belltown Yacht Club is a gorgeous new space in Belltown behind Screwdriver Bar. Nirvana once practiced and chilled in this room that is now decked to the nines with 7” records and musician trading cards under plexiglass. Recent performers include the dreamy Spirit Award and trippy, ukulele EDM artist Chong The Nomad.

The Fisherman’s Village Music Festival

The best DIY festival around town these days takes place in a suburb north of Seattle called Everett. The Fisherman’s Village Music Festival takes place in mid-May and not only features national act The Coathangers but also heavily relies on up and coming local bands from both Seattle and Everett itself. Post-horncore band Actionesse will be there ripping up whatever stage they grace, and post-post-punk darlings Bad Optics will sear holes in you with glare-stares as they hit you with their politically minded gems. Be sure to peruse the Night Market for locally sourced awesomeness.

 

Parisalexa

Parisalexa’s brand of smoldering R&B injects a dose of Sade into feminist rhymes. This girl is confident and isn’t about to put up with your shit, but you aren’t even mad because the tracks flow into your brain like honey and they won’t be leaving your head anytime soon.

 

The Dip

The Dip is possibly what Hall & Oates would have sounded like if they had been able to take a time machine back to the sixties and gotten themselves onto Motown. The full complement of seven musicians, including a trumpet and two saxophones, makes for an engrossing spectacle of a show. You may recognize front man Tom Eddy from his days back in Beat Connection, but The Dip is a 180 degree turn from Beat Connection’s electronic roots.

 

Sloucher

 

Sloucher is basically grunge filtered through 70’s golden haze a la America’s “Sister Golden Hair;” and It’s triumphantly slacker-esque. Lead singer Jay Clancy and co. aren’t going to wow you with stage antics, but they will win your heart with their songs of forlorn love and boredom.

 

Monsterwatch

No worries, though, if you take your grunge unfiltered: Monsterwatch is here for you. Sometimes it feels like this trio physically consumes each and every venue they play, or at least every space becomes their jungle gym. Lead singer and guitarist John Spinney climbs atop the bar, the amps and the crowd on a regular basis. Their shows are raucous and loud, and their music makes you feel like the nineties never ended.