photo via the thermals [myspace]

• Sure, the Shins had two sold out shows this week, but the real drool-worthy Sub Pop Portland-based band playing the show of the month is the Thermals. With their explosive socio-policical-religious endtimes masterpiece, the Body, the Blood, the Machine, they added filled out their sound by adding a fourth member and made one of the best albums of 2006. The relative intimacy of Chop Suey is an ideal setting for their raw and urgent poppy punk; prepared to leave drenched in all ages sweat. Did I mention that they have a girl bass player and are amazing live? With Speaker Speaker and Helvetia. [chopsuey]

Listen!

• “No Culture Icons” [mp3]
• “Here’s Your Future” [mp3 (subpop)]
• more + videos! [subpop]

Velvet, via SunValleyOnline

The feel-good story of the year: climbers survive night on Mount Hood thanks in part to heroic dog [Seattle Times] Apparently the dog helped keep the climbers warm when they got stuck on the mountain during a storm.

I’m very happy for them. Still, can we all agree that bringing a lab with you to climb an 11,249-foot mountain is a really bad idea?

I love dogs. We’ve owned one for years. I wish I could bring my dog to my local pub [mb]. I can’t imagine trying to bring her with me while climbing a mountain, and that’s only partly because she’s a greyhound and she’d freeze to death. What if she fell into a crevasse?

There’s an AP article floating around that makes essentially the same point. [Seattle Times]

I’m glad the climbers and Velvet all survived, but let’s stop trying to imitate Roald Amundsen. Yeah, he made it to the South Pole by using Eskimo dogs, but only 11 of the 52 dogs he took with him made it back alive.

better off dead image via: xenafan

Word has leaked out that 2007 Seattle Pride is in jeopardy due to, oh about one hundred thousand dollars still owed to Seattle Center from last year’s event. [st, sgn]

Okay, I thought I was in need of some credit counseling, but $100,000? Holy cow! In both the Times and the Seattle Gay News articles, it sounds like Seattle Out and Proud (SOAP), the organization that runs the annual festival, has been trying the classic if-they-can’t-reach-me-they-can’t-demand-the-money-routine. But, and I’m sure I’m going out on a limb here, I don’t think Seattle Center is going to write this one off. I mean, hello? $100,000!

Aside from the disappointing potential of 2007′s event being cancelled, two other things jumped out at me from the articles.

“According to the contract, the Seattle Center buildings and grounds were provided at “no cost” to SOAP. However, the nonprofit was required to reimburse the Seattle Center for its operational costs for each day of the festivities.” [sgn]

I might be slow, but from repeated reading, it sounds to me like the Seattle Center charges almost $35K a day in operating expenses. DANG! That right there is a lot of money. So much in fact that it should have been stressed so that the organizers wouldn’t be surprised when they received the bill. And yet:

“Coffman said the organization experienced “sticker shock” when it got the bill, but intends to meet with the city to figure out a payment plan.” [st]

Yeah, if I opened up a bill for $100K, I think I’d crap my pants, too. But a more troubling piece of data was buried way down in the SGN article:

“According to Albert-Gauthier, donations from the community at the Seattle Center during the event totaled $121.00 and the “funds obtained through sponsorships did not cover expenses.” In his reply, he did not mention or account for any money raised from parade, booth, concessions, beer garden and other vending fees the group may have collected.” [sgn]

What?! With all the people that attend the event, only $121 was raised through donations? That is…I…really, I’m just speechless. I’m pretty sure I raised more money than that at a bake sale…in high school. Someone please tell me that’s a typo.

Hey, remember this post? The one where I tracked down the Japanese interview where Ichiro makes some statements that made Babelfish think that maybe he was on his way to Fenway? The one that the Seattle Times blasted by bringing in someone who “spoke” and “translated” this “Japanese” language? (I mean, come on, “Japanese” sounds about as real as “elvish.” Or “French.” I mean, who would name a language after a bread or a laundry?)

Good times.

Well, turns out, I CALLED IT.

In language as direct as he has used yet about his future with the Mariners, the record-setting leadoff man indicated he has yet to receive any contract extension offer, is “very upset” about the team’s losing ways of late and remains intrigued by the prospect of free agency.

Dear Seattle Times sports editors: HA HA! I think it’s time to admit MY truthiness is far superior to yours — or your bosses’.

The Slog has been routed. Football season is over. And now, two remain, capturing two of Seattle’s undying passions — whining about traffic and whining about transit! Kidding.

CAPITOL HILL REGIONAL
Regional Finals
February 21
#4 Seattle Bon Vivant vs #7 Lookout Landing
That’s right, it’s food vs. baseball! Viv rode our readership’s anti-Slog sentiments into the regional finals, while Lookout Landing is doing better than the M’s have the last few years. Both find themselves on the doorstep of the final four. So, baseball, or hot dogs and apple pie? (Sorry, we’re not Chevy people.)

Voting is still open in the second round of other regionals: U District and Ballard, and also in the West Seattle Final. Tomorrow, one more time across the Ship Canal — the Ballard finals.

Still crushed that Rage Against the Machine managed to cause Coachella to sell out before you could arrange your trip to Indio? Nursing the wound that is the conspicuous absence of a Seattle stop on the Arcade Fire‘s spring tour? A certain hirsute yeti pal from east of the mountains might help with one of these problems, if only you’re willing to spend Memorial Day weekend at the Gorge (in George, WA).

That is, pack your tents, sunscreen, and party supplies: the preliminary lineup for this year’s Sasquatch festival has been announced. The big news is that they’re scaling back to two days with Bjork + Arcade Fire and Beastie Boys + Interpol at the top of the bills. The full (but still incomplete) list is after the jump.

(via stereogum [#])
(more…)

It seems like Christine Gregoire gives the daily papers new contradicting headlines about the Viaduct every day in a nice little cycle of: Open to, has not ruled out, flat-out opposes. Lather, rinse, repeat. It’s fun for users of big type and has the side benefit of totally screwing with the already meaningless upcoming ballot. Today, on this and a couple other issues she’s:

• trending almost entirely against, but with a tiny sliver of maybe left for the dreamers, a surface option [times]
• definitely maybe with a side of optimism for the Sonics (and her beloved Storm) going to Renton [times]
• almost certainly, but against opposition, making 8 bit jake a happy man by calling the Kitsap NASCAR plan dead. [times]

Don’t like these opinions? Don’t worry, at least one of them will probably be above-the-fold different by the end of the week.

And then there were eight. Or about to be, anyway. And this week, we’ll pick the Final Four. Are you exciting? Tingling with anticipation? Then you should really see your doctor about getting your medication adjusted.

WEST SEATTLE REGIONAL
Regional Finals
February 20
#1 Chris Pirillo vs #3 Seattle Daily Photo
Neither Chris nor Kim have even been challenged, so now, as those English footie commentators would say, a lot will be asked of each of them. On one side, the ubergeek of Seattle (now that Bob Scoble has left town) who has not done a lick of campaigning. On the other side, Seattle’s premier photoblogger who has done nothing but flog this contest.

So, choose one. But choose wisely. You don’t want to piss off anyone with a camera or a website now, would you?

And remember, voting is still open in the second round of other regionals: U District, Capitol Hill, Ballard. Tomorrow, the Capitol Hill Regional finals.

Looking for something to occupy your noon hour tomorrow? Not cool enough to get into Sunday’s KEXP meet-and-greet? Or just fond of mid-day indie pop at the bottom of Queen Anne?

Lucky you! The Shins will be doing a gloriously free in-store at the LQA location of Easy Street Records [#]. Unlucky for the rest of us, the Albuquerquians (is that a word?) are scheduled for 12pm. But work is overrated anyway, right?

Of course, you can also catch the Shins at a sold-out Paramount tomorrow evening, but prepare to be scalped [craigslist]. On the bright side, if you’re got a ticket to spare, this guy will pay you ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

Perhaps inspired by Erica C. Barnett [#], a new coalition has entered the fray: