Kehlani - CRZY

Everything I do, I do it with a passion
If I gotta be a bitch, I'mma be a bad one
I'm AI with the designs du-ragging
Bounce back game good, why we talkin' practice?
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Pull up score when I want to
Best thing, next to Heaven
They be tryna count me out though
I'm just countin', countin' blessings
A real woman bout her paper
Niggas don't know where I came from
Boy I really really came up
You never could say I'm lacking
All the shit that I've been through only made me more of an assassin
I kill 'em, I kill 'em, I kill 'em with compassion
And baby if they askin'

If you read some bios of Kehlani, you will think she was basically handed success: went to Oakland School for Arts where her singing talent was so obvious by 8th grade that she entered America's Got Talent (with a group) and was encouraged by the judges to go solo. She was signed to Atlantic, and her subsequent album was nominated for a Grammy. 
The other story is that her dad was killed when she was too young to remember him and her mom was a drug addict. She went to live with an aunt, and her talent for ballet got her into the arts school, but then she had a major injury... It doesn't change what happened next (transferring to the music department, discovering her own voice and songwriting prowess, etc) but it gives her the cred such a young talent needs to be believed - to not be dismissed as manufactured by reality television. 

Upcoming Shows

Eisley - Defeatist

I may have faltered in my life
But not with you, I couldn't make this up
I've had trouble disengaging my heart but I'll bite the grenade pin out

I fell in love with Texas family band Eisley years ago, back when I lived in Seattle. I saw them open for (someone I can't recall now, ha) and was instantly hooked by the beautiful, haunting and somewhat surreal melodies and vocals. I devoured The Valley when it came out and Currents is one of my all time favorites. I Still listen to it all the time, and that's a bit rare for me as I'm always hunting for the new and shiny.

Speaking of new and shiny, I'm digging "Defeatist", their new single, and I'm excited to get more new stuff from them. We're seeing them tonight with The Dear Hunter and I couldn't be more jazzed. If you get a chance you should as well.

Upcoming Shows

Two Inch Astronaut - Personal Life

I guess all I can say
It's personal
Life
That's life
Personal life
Personal life
Feels so right

The first time I listened to post-punk outfit Two Inch Astronaut's 2016 release Personal Life I was reminded of an old Seattle band I loved: Black Eyes and Neckties. Damn, I wish that band was still around, they were awesome. For a Murder City Devils knock off. Anyway, as I listened further I was reminded of other great rock bands. Fugazi, Titus Andronicus, JEFF the Brotherhood and Pile to name a few.

What I'm saying is that while there is something solid underlying and unifying most of their work, there is also a lot of diversity and creativity on top of it that. They're energetic, quirky and at times surprising. But also always listenable and approachable. I bet they're also awesome live and hope to see them soon.

Upcoming Shows