Headliner, Ascetic Junkies hail from Portland, Oregon and are ready to show Pullman their wild side.  Matt Harmon and Kali Giaritta originally met in Boston, MA where they decided to start up The Ascetic Junkies; this being only the beginning of their relationship (cute, am I right?)  In 2008 after wrapping up their debut album, they then decided to move to Portland where they picked up some new junkies.  Since then, they have been touring the west coast and have since released their sophomore album, This Cage Has No Bottom  on Timber Carnival Records in November of 2010.  From what I’ve read and watched of videos, The Ascetic Junkies love to have fun on stage and incorporate the audience; so don’t be afraid to dance along to their poppy, freak-folk.

You can stream This Cage Has No Bottom on their bandcamp.

Also, here is a little taste of what The Ascetic Junkies’ live sound is like with this acoustic treat: watch?v=18jcjOQpbEc&feature=player_embedded

We always love having Moscow originates, Holiday Friends back in Pullman.  Listen to their latest demo titled Chicks on their bandcamp as well.

Last but certainly not least, Pullman local super-group New Kaboom (formerly New Lagoon and featuring members of Moss Campions, Yarn Owl, Buffalo Death Beam, & Bart Budwig) will be opening.  They have not released any tracks yet, but isn’t that a darling photo?

Doors at 7PM, music starts at 8PM.  You can purchase tickets on our website or at belltowerpullman.com.  Tickets are $5 adv./$7 at the door.  Hope to see you there!

Written by Andi Wilson-  Stereopathic Music Intern

I love these guys. I got to hear Sub Pop‘s Vetiver at Pickathon this summer and it may have been my favorite show of the weekend. Just sublime music.

They’re here in Pullman, WA tomorrow night at BellTower as the 2nd show of our Birds on a Wire Mini-Fest. I wouldn’t miss it if I were you!

Here’s why:

Vetiver – Sister
Vetiver – Wonder Why
Vetiver – Cant You Tell
Vetiver – Another Reason To Go
Vetiver – Rolling Sea
Vetiver – More Of This
Vetiver – Worse for Wear

Vetiver – The Errant Charm from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Paste is streaming Blitzen Trapper‘s newest here.

Also – Blitzen Trapper’s co-headlining a tour w/Dawes this fall that I wish would stop at BellTower, but alas, it’s not.

But at least I can watch this cool new video:

James Vincent McMurrow – This Old Dark Machine

I’ve recently been tempted to think that perhaps the glory has departed from Bon Iver. And then along comes an email about James Vincent McMurrow and I think maybe the torch has been passed to James Vincent McMurrow? What do you think?

And by “torch” I mean – soulful, scratchy-throated tunes that make you long for the old days.

And by “glory has departed from Bon Iver” – I’m talking about what appears to me to be an over-infatuation w/Phil Collins and Kenny G. And maybe Kanye’s swagger has rubbed off a little too?

Well – either way, JVM’s doing some cool stuff and I like his music. Check him out:
On NPR
At Daytrotter
On his website

More photos after the jump!

After a string of head-turning, critically acclaimed releases on Hush Records and a US tour with The Decemberists, Portland’s Loch Lomond has brought their unique brand of raw, symphonic, chamber-pop to Tender Loving Empire. Loch Lomond released their much anticipated, second full-length album, ‘Little Me Will Start A Storm’ earlier this year.

In addition to employing notable visceral and expert melodic acrobatics, the co-ed sextet of Loch Lomond distinctly incorporates the use of vibraphone, piano, guitars, mellotron, clarinet, flute, drums, bass, and other sonic treatments to foil the even more distinct and arresting voice of lead singer/multi-instrumentalist Ritchie Young. He’s able to switch from high-pitched fragility to alto thunder in the turn of a phrase, yet he knows the power of restraint intuitively, saving vocal tornadoes for emotional apexes buoyed by string swells and moving arrangements.

Loch Lomond brings their melodic acrobatics through eastern Washington with a stop at BellTower Concert House in downtown Pullman on Thursday, August 4th at 7 pm. They will be accompanied by the sweet sounds of Americana folk band, Terrible Buttons, from Spokane. The show is all ages with a full bar for those 21 and over. Tickets are $6 in advance or $9 at the door. Tickets are available at http://belltowerpullman.com/lochlomond.html , Atom Heart Music, Prune Orchard and Palouse Falls Brewing.

Also check out Loch Lomond’s latest video from their single “Elephants and Little Girls”

Check out the rest of the show after the jump!

View more of Branden’s photos from the show here.

El Ten Eleven will be headlining tomorrow night’s show (Monday, April 18th) at The Belltower. Get ready for an instrumental night of post-rock from this heavy duo. El Ten Eleven consists of composer & bassist Kristian Dunn and drummer Tim Fogarty. Their latest album, It’s Still Like a Secret was released on November 9, 2010. They were also featured in some of Gary Hustwit’s soundtracks of his design documentaries including: Helvetica and Objectified. Don’t be disappointed that the show is instrumental; their exciting drum fills and looping of the bass is very different than any typical instrumental band, you are in for a bargain!

There will also be a special phone-in studio interview at KZUU 90.7 FM featuring KZUU DJs Austin Seale & Kelsie Brown interviewing El Ten Eleven at 3pm on Monday afternoon (4/18/11). Don’t forget to listen – you can also tune in online: KZUU 90.7 FM

Here is a video of a in-studio live KEXP performance of the song ‘Hot Cakes’:

Also, Jerry Joiner – an ex-Pullmanite will be joining the line up to perform in his self-formed band called Girlfriends. Girlfriends is out of Portland, Oregon and has a bit of that scream-punk feel, but not in a bad way at all. Joiner adds upbeat guitar licks to some danceable drum beats. He also has some softer acoustic songs with harmonizing vocals like in the song ‘The Apocalypse Made Me Brave’ which builds into a beautiful and almost symphonic sounding climax.

Here is the song ‘Brobocop’ off of Girlfriends’ self-titled album:
Brobocop

Tartufi is made up of Brian Gorman and Lynne Angel.  They started originally as a power-pop trio in 2001 and after 5 years, in 2006 became a duo.  The band has a had a lot of help from the successful Tim Green (Joanna Newsom, Melvins).  I was lucky enough to see Tartufi at the Promenade Music Festival in Boise, Idaho early last October where they were opening for Frog Eyes.  Tartufi incorporates so many different kinds of noises and sounds into their music.  When I saw them Gorman and Angel both sang while Gorman was on drums; and Angel switched off between guitar, bass, and synth all while looping many different sounds and vocals to make a very warm sound at times.  This band is definitely talented, you just have to be ready for some long tunes! Their ambiance reminds me more of feeling the actual experience; which can be so nice to close your eyes to and imagine where their music is taking you. According to their bio on the Tartufi website they are going to start experimenting with some new acoustic material, so I believe we are in for a surprise for their stop at The Belltower on this mini spring tour.

Here is their track: Fear Of Tall Giraffes, Fear Of So (from 2008)

By: Andi Wilson

Yarn Owl playing at Birds On Wire in 2010 (Photo taken by Adam Ward)

Pullman’s very own Yarn Owl will be releasing their new record with a bang! Come join them at The Belltower in downtown Pullman (located on 125 SE Spring St.) and hear tunes from their new album Montaña Y Caballo, since it might be awhile before they play again locally.

Yarn Owl is usually a four piece group made up of lead singer & guitarist Javier Suarez, guitarist Tyler Armour, bassist Tim Meinig, and drummer Ted Powers. For now Tyler is in Australia making yummy wine, so Curt Krause and Sean Knox of Buffalo Death Beam are filling in for Yarn Owl’s little PNW tour. You can expect to hear some 3 part harmonies and some tinkering of bells on ‘Yarn Blues’.

Their show at The Belltower in Pullman is Thursday, March 24th.  Doors are at 8:00 p.m. and you can get tickets in advance for $6 only through Stereopathic Music and it is $7 at the door.  If you can’t make it to this one Yarn Owl has a show on March 25th at the Ella St. Social Club in Portland, Oregon, and two in Seattle.  One at the Columbia City Theater on the 26th and on the 31st at the Sunset Tavern!

You can pick up Yarn Owl’s new album, Montaña Y Caballo here on their bandcamp.