Seattle is on the edge of an electronic music explosion, a fact that initially might seem highly incongruent to those living outside the Pacific Northwest as the city brings to the world-mind an image of a flannel-wearing latte-sipper writing folk songs on an acoustic guitar in the rain.

Look closer, though- behind that latte the gritty neo-hippie has an iPhone in her pocket which she will use to update her status on Twitter before riding her bike home and plunging into her makeshift studio to layer her soulful ballads with edgy electronic beats on state-of-the-art audio equipment. Seattle is the perfect stage for the next electronic music eruption; the city is poised on the sharpest razor blade of computer technology, which is now even more inseparable from music production and indeed arts culture as a whole than ever before. Art has been irrevocably intertwined with technology ever since humans used sticks to paint glyphs in caves, but now the indisputable union of music and art production with computer technology hits you in the face like a laptop on four shots of espresso. And there is no place in the world where this is more obvious than in the Emerald City of Seattle.

Epitomizing and propelling the burgeoning electronic music scene in Seattle is the fifth annual Decibel Festival which is a veritable rainstorm of kerosene on the fire of electronica that will fall on the city from September 25-28, 2008. The four-day annual Decibel International Festival of Electronic Music Performance, Visual Art and New Media will showcase over one hundred diverse artists from all over the world and will take place largely in the gritty and colorful neighborhood of Capital Hill in nearly a dozen venues. The Decibel Festival is one of the premier electronic music events in the U.S. and will be bringing big-name international acts like Jahcoozi, DeadMau5, and Carl Craig, nationally and regionally touring artists, and up-and-coming locals who are stoking the fires of the Seattle scene.

And the fires are blazing. The presence of Microsoft, Adobe, Google, and other tech companies in the area has helped to construct a buzzing culture of artechnology in Seattle, and a new animal has manifested at the threshold where traditional arts creation meets the production efforts of the future. Just as the mountains ranges and brisk waters of the Puget Sound meet to form a majestic natural environment, the tech-savvy ethos of Seattle has ignited the city’s electronic music scene and the fire is only getting bigger and louder. It is on this fertile ground where thousands of thousands of arts lovers in the international electronic music community will convene this autumn for the 2008 Decibel Festival to share their ideas on the future of the arts, experience a fantastic array of performers and artists, and shake some ass.

Tomorrow will see the image of the flannelled Seattle grungster replaced with a forward-thinking electronic artist using the world’s leading production technology to create experiences that we cannot even begin to imagine today. Combining the infinite nature of the human brain’s creative capacity with the ever-expanding technological tools at our fingertips, the future of the electronic art and music community in Seattle is as bright as snow-capped Mount Rainier on a summer day. Plus, all that caffeine really makes you want to dance.

For more information on the Decibel Festival, click here.

Specs One is sending me Less Is More West Coast Tour comments and I told him I’d post them on my blog. Here’s the July 28th Blog. Check out what Specs One is saying today:

well Santa Fe was the best yet! met some cool people there! Copyright never showed. the promoter thought the crowd would be upset. but they didn’t even notice his absence. + no drink tickets! just beer for the artists! real shit! not this “two drink tickets, or one ticket until more of your friends come through” bull! Santa Fe heads loved it. and weren’t too cool to express it! the tour overall has been a beautiful experience. the vast and varied terrains has left me with an inner glow i didn’t quite have on the way down.
biggup to TULSI, and DJ ABLE of the Elefaders for making it happen! I’m back, NW! let’s do work!

Specs, I’m glad you’re back friend. This is our final entry for now. Congratulations for getting out there and mixing it up with the other cities! Let’s do this again soon!

c

Specs One is sending me Less Is More West Coast Tour comments and I told him I’d post them on my blog. Here’s the July 26th Blog B. Check out what Specs One is saying today:

Stove in Albuquerque is a cool space! it’s not a club, but an art
gallery. i enjoyed playing there. met some dope rappers and
beatmakers! a keg from a local brewery helped to break the ice. not
the best turnout, but the heads who came out made it work well enough.
i’m getting homesick though! a bro could use some 206 lovin!

You can find Specs One tonight (July 28th 2008) at Willee’s Blues Club (401 S Guadalupe st. Santa Fe, New Mexico) with COPYWRITE, TULSI, and DJ ABLE of the Elefaders & Lost Elements.

Can’t wait to see ya when you return traveler!

Rockers Harvey Milk’s latest CD Life…The Best Game In Town (Hydra Head) sounds like retribution for years of neglect. To me it’s the sound of a force that can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t apologize and it pretty much doesn’t care what you think. With that said, here’s what I think about Harvey Milk: Life…The Best Game In Town

The first track is Death Goes to the Winner. It’s like Creepy Christmas music in the Summer time…and then like Bobby Fischer…Checkmate! Thrashing, driving, pounding sonic assault…Brain lock…Not once, but over and over again. I was fired up! A favorite track of mine is Decades because of its slow distorted melody complimented by a guy who is singing like his life is on the line. I’ll be playing this track over and over again for the next 3 years or so. After All I’ve Done for You, this is How You Repay Me? is what I meant by retribution for years of neglect. Fast, grinding, music acts as a front line to the heavy hammering drums….The title says it all. If you were a ghost hunter, you’d play this track and wait for the ghosts to come. No ghost would resist. We Destroy the Family is the feel good song of the album. Again, fierce drum work followed by a high plains drifter guitar solo. Motown is definitely my second favorite track. Loved the vocals. By comparison to the rest of the album, this track wasn’t so dark. I turned this up really loud in my room and the cat ran away as fast as she could. So that means it’s still dark enough! Roses slow tempo, lightness followed by dark phrases. Song for an anti-hero. Would have fit perfectly in the movie No Country for Old Men. Barnburner lightning fast, screaming, punkish, rockn, homage to the past 3 decades.

Look, what I’m trying to tell you is, you’re either really going to appreciate the return of one of the most influential bands in the 90’s that never got the credit they deserved or you already like ‘em.

Harvey Milk on YouTube!

Harvey Milk takes their name from the politician and gay rights activist of the same name. He was assassinated in 1978. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Milk

Harvey Milk will be playing in Seattle live at the Funhouse this Thursday July 31st:
http://culturemob.com/events/139062

Minneapolis Band Skirt recently released their CD titled “Heartbeat. A Flameout.” It’s worth checking out!

They take a melodic, crunchy approach to their songs which is a nice touch. Their cool ass drummer Michelle Roche brings a ton of subtle rhythms in the mix. Linnea Mohn’s keyboards, Katie Marchall’s guitar and Scott Hefte’s bass manipulates their dynamics like heart surgeons. Throughout the recording, I was thinking to myself…

self, I think this band should headline a summer music festival.

It’s the kind of music you and your friends would go to see and never forget. A straight up bonding experience.

On this CD, Skirt is not afraid to get complex either. Great shouting throughout and did I get a hint of anthem music? I think so. A track, worthy of much praise is “The Critic” (track 9). It reminded me of a cool rock n roll musical. The kind of musical that even musical haters would go to on opening night. Yeah, I’d be that guy, hanging out and waiting at the end of the night to get an autograph. Track 2 is also a favorite of mine. It’s called “Saint Vigilante”. I can tell you all think I’m trippin. You know what, I don’t care. When I like a band I got to shout out! That’s how I roll baby!

Skirt is kicking off their West Coast tour next week. It’s a nine date tour. They start July 29th in Minneapolis. Then they go to Lincoln NE, Denver CO, Boseman MT, Salt Lake City UT, Portland OR and passing through my city Seattle Aug 5. at the Rendezvous Jewelbox Theater. The last two dates in August 6th and August 8th at Whitefish MT.

http://www.myspace.com/skirtgalore

Specs One is sending me Less Is More West Coast Tour comments and I told him I’d post them on my blog. Here’s the July 26th Blog A. Check out what Specs One is saying today:

Phoenix was cool. the sweltering drive through the desert was an eye opener. crazy scenery! (if you like scenery) Hidden House was a dope venue! i met some cool cats there. beat makers, graff writers, a few rappers too! the beat battle was also interesting, and took up most of the night. Phoenix was cool! i may have to come back down here and check out the sites, nah mean! Grand Canyon, area 51, the sedona vortex, etc. big ups to Pickster one!

You can find Specs One tonight (July 26th 2008) at STOVE (112 Morningside Dr. NE, Albuqerque, New Mexico) with HIP HOP STEW, TULSI, and DJ ABLE of the Elefaders.

Yeah Specs, I like scenery!

Specs One is sending me Less Is More West Coast Tour comments and I told him I’d post them on my blog. Here’s the July 24th Blog. Check out what Specs One is saying today:

thanks for all the support, Ced! SB was fun! again not well attended, but Velvet Jones was a cool place! the crowds up there are rich and cosmetic, so there was very few hip hop heads. the sound was good. and we got to stay at a pretty massive house for a night.

You can find Specs One tonight (July 26th 2008) at STOVE (112 Morningside Dr. NE, Albuqerque, New Mexico) with HIP HOP STEW, TULSI, and DJ ABLE of the Elefaders.

Note: They played last night in Phoenix last night. I’ll bust that out in my next update.
Thanks to Specs, Tulsi and DJ Able for sharing their stories on tour.

Breaking News: Heaven Nightclub (Seattle) is giving Culturemob.com a VIP Section for the Santino Rice - Red Carpet Fashion Event on August 22nd (http://culturemob.com/events/144768). Guess what? You’re invited!!! You’ll be hanging out with culturemob in our very own VIP section.

You must be a registered culturemob user and at least 21 years of age to participate. Contact me at cedric@culturemob.com to be put on our special guest list (space is available on a first come, first serve basis). Get in while you can! This offer expires Monday August 18th (sooner if we run out of available space).

International Fashion Superstar Santino Rice will be hosting Heaven’s Red Carpet Fashion Event. Many Designers will be showing their work on the runway with an afterparty until 2AM. Brought to you by Culturemob, Seattle Fashion week, Pure, Rare Form, D List Magazine, and many others.

Text ‘Santino’ to 72466 for updates on this show and other Seattle Fashion events.

Doors @ 9PM | $15 @ Door

RSVP for your seat now!

Visit Heaven’s Web Site for more info:

Specs One is sending me Less Is More West Coast Tour comments and I told him I’d post them on my blog. Here’s the July 20th Blog. Check out what Specs One is saying today:

peace, Ced! LA was fun! except for the fact that our venue was switched at the last minute. we ended up playing @ THE GOOD HURT which is a great spot. the show was loosely attended but we still had fun! kinda hurting for gas money at this point. hopefully SB will hook some up for us!

You can find Specs One tonight (July 24th 2008) at Velvet Jones (423 State Street) with TULSI, and DJ ABLE of the Elefaders 423 State Street on 21+ cost: 10 Bucks

Find his next event here: http://culturemob.com/events/132649
Come on out and show these very talented artists your support.

Stay tuned for more updates from Specs One on the tour.

Specs One is sending me Less Is More West Coast Tour comments and I told him I’d post them on my blog. Here’s the July 19th Blog. Check out what Specs One is saying today:

well Portland was fun! we played at the Crown Room which was a nice place. good sound. didn’t get paid. but it was 70% women, and i can’t hate that. i also met a cool mc by the name MIC CRENSHAW, who i must work with soon. his set was dope! everyone sounded good. but we had to buy the beer. oh well. next up: LA!

You can find Specs One tonight in Hollywood, CA along with TULSI, and DJ ABLE of the Elefaders @ ON THE ROX 9009 Sunset Blvd. on July 22nd 2008 21+ cost: 8

Find his next event here: http://culturemob.com/events/132647

Put some gas in the tank and treat yourself to some original Hip-Hop all at the same time.

Stay tuned for more updates from Specs One on the tour.