Quiet Life have had a huge year.  Part of that year was their first trip to Alaska. After that they went and did some shows with Dr. Dog, The Lumineers, Builders and Butchers, Sally Ford and the Sound Outside, Dawes, Portugal. The Man, and the Alabama Shakes… That’s just some of them!

Gambling. Murder. Booze. Bicycles.

The music of Tumbledown House has been described as “gritty saloon jazz”, “modern speakeasy music”, and “Tom Waits in a cocktail dress”. Consisting primarily of sultry vocalist Gillian Howe and the eclectic indie-jazz guitar work of Tyler Ryan Miller, Tumbledown House provides the soundtrack for raucous, prohibition-themed parties and has “quickly ascended as one of the new, promising acts of the Rocky Mountain region” (Pop Rocket Press).

Tumbledown House has a brand new release (their second) called “Fables and Falsehoods”. It enlists the talents of ten other musicians (including three horn players from New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen Brass Band) for an upbeat, 1920’s big band romp. The new album explores diverse subject matter (one song is based on the original story of Pinocchio written by Carlo Collodi in 1883, another describes the only consecrated shrine dedicated to unrepentant sinners, which still stands in Tucson, Arizona) and showcases the duo’s talent for creating something vintage and familiar, yet refreshing, distinct, and exciting.

2012 marks the third time that Tumbledown House has made it north to Alaska, and the second time Monolith has had the pleasure of working with them.  See below for tour dates.

5/16/2012 Wednesday HUMPY’S Anchorage 9pm
5/17/2012 Thursday Ressurrect Art Coffeehouse Seward 7pm
5/18/2012 Friday Kharacters Homer 10pm
5/19/2012 Saturday Ninilchik PeddlerHomer 7pm

5/19/2012 Saturday Kharacters  1030pm

5/20/2012 Sunday Kingfisher Lodge Cooper Landing

5/24/2012 Thursday Denali Park Salmon Bake Denali 10pm
5/25/2012 Friday Denali Park Salmon Bake Denali 10pm
5/26/2012 Saturday Marlin Fairbanks 10pm
5/27/2012 Sunday Fairview Inn Talkeetna 930pm
5/31/2012 Thursday Humpy’s Anchorage 930pm
6/1/2012 Friday Taproot Anchorage 930pm
6/2/2012 Saturday House Concert/ Brown Bear Anchorage

Lewi Longmire has built a reputation as Portland’s multi-instrumentalist “go to guy.” In the years since relocating to Portland from Albuquerque, New Mexico, he’s been included on shows and recordings by many of the Northwest’s finest bands and songwriters. He’s worked with national acts Michael Hurley, Victoria Williams, Blue Giant, Dolorean, the Minus 5 and Tara Jane O’Neill as well as local luminaries Fernando, James Low, Pancake Breakfast, Quiet Life, Little Sue, Casey Neill, Michael Jodell, the Freak Mountain Ramblers and The Peasants. More recently, though, Lewi has taken all the things he learned from working with these fine performers and has been spending his time leading a roots rock/americana band of his own, singing the songs he has written himself. The group owes much to the American tradition of good songs played with high energy, deep roots, and an unpretentious sense of fun. Their sound finds the connection between the basement feel of The Band, the raspy blue-eyed soul of Joe Cocker, the desert space of Giant Sand, the “without a net” deep space improvisations of the San Francisco ballrooms, the punk abandon of The Stooges and the quiet contemplation of Neil Young playing solo.

Lewi Longmire hits Alaska :

4/19/2012 Thursday Humpy’s Free
4/20/2012 Friday Yukon Bar Free
4/21/2012 Saturday Yukon Bar Free
4/25/2012 Wednesday Blue Fox Free
4/26/2012 Thursday Taproot 5$
4/27/2012 Friday Brown Bear 5$
4/28/2012 Saturday Marlin 5$
4/29/2012 Sunday Fairview Inn Free

I’m in it for the hunt. I usually hit the thrift stores once every week or so to look for lost treasures… That show American Pickers sends me into a frenzy, because that’s my true calling… Sometimes I find something, most times I don’t. Part of the game is to know whats valuable and what isnt. So when we were offered a chance to book an Alaskan tour for David Dondero we jumped on it like it was the steal of the century. So whats all the fuss?

Back in 2009 NPR named David Dondero one of the 10 best living songwriters… Who else was on the list? McCartney, Springsteen, Dylan, Waits… http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5536035 … Pffff, are you kidding me?

This guy is world-class and hes coming to Alaska to play for us. Here’s a more recent NPR performance…

David Dondero – Tiny Desk Concert

David Dondero Alaskan Tour Dates:

Friday, February 17 The Taproot Anchorage, AK with The Whipsaws

Saturday, February 18 Kharacters – Homer, AK

Tuesday, February 21 The Marlin – Fairbanks, AK

Thursday, February 23 The Fairview Inn – Talkeetna, AK

Friday, February 24 Side Street Espresso- Anchorage, AK

laVoy celebrates new album Bearly Merry with February First Tap.

We can count on one hand the number of contemporary Alaska-based bands that the Bear Tooth has booked for its monthly First Tap Concert series. The list is both exceptionally short and exceedingly impressive.  The fact that lavoy was tapped for the show among high-caliber national acts is exciting, and that it coincides with the release of their third full length album, “Bearly Merry” is just really choice timing.

It makes sense that “Bearly Merry” should be released on one of the premier stages in Alaska.  The Wasilla four-piece has been patiently toiling away in their garage writing and recording for over a year. The result is a uniquely Alaskan album that is not only gold in its home state,  but will hold up under national scrutiny as well.  Additionally, the band has been building their Alaskan fan base with multiple trips around the state. In March they will take their game to Austin, TX for the annual South By Southwest Music Festival.

LaVoy Release Shows

2/2/2012 Anchorage, 1st Tap, Bear Tooth Theater  8pm/21+/15$ w Young Fangs

2/3/2012 Girdwood Sitzmark 10pm/21+/$5

2/4/2012 Girdwood Sitzmark 10pm/21+/$5

2/10/2012 Fairbanks UAF PUB  930pm/21+/$5 w Young Fangs

2/11/2012 Fairbanks MARLIN 1030pm/21+/$5 w Young Fangs

Its been a crazy couple of years for Emma. With the Jet Blue flying tours, SXSW appearances, multiple cross country and trans-continental tours and the release of three albums, including last years Meet Me At The Moon, Emma has been way busy.

In October 2011, Emma made Alaska her home again. Quite simply, she wanted more time with her family, her friends and the life she knew growing up. She is still going to hit the road multiple times a year and has plans again for SXSW, Europe and more albums. Shes not slowing down, thats for sure. And guess what? We get to see and hear her more-  so everyone wins.

To celebrate her return the the greatland she is releasing an EP titled “Alaska Dear, I’m Coming Home” and to set it off right, we are having an intimate show at the Alaska Experience Theater on December 17th. Joining her is longtime friend, engineer and bandmate Bryan Daste.

The show is on December 17th, at 8pm and is all ages. You can get tickets here.

Not really…But she sure is sick of hearing me attempt to sing Romany Rye hooks over and over. She would much rather Luke McMaster and the rest of The Romany Rye deliver them. I just can’t produce the type of shimmering Laurel Canyon type harmonies that they can… ohwell

Shes in luck! The Romany Rye, currently on tour with The Moondoggies (Seattle Darlings!), and fresh off a tight race for the cover of the Rolling Stone (they barely lost…), are coming to Alaska.  Hallelujah!

We have been chasing these guys down ever since we stumbled on their Daytrotter session back in February.  Then we found them again in Austin and planted the Alaskan seed, so to speak.

Anyway… We couldn’t be more excited about this one and we really feel like we are stepping up our game.  I mean, listen to this song !

08 Untitled (Love Song)

Here are the tour dates. See you there:

10/14/2011         Friday                    Fairbanks             UAF Pub

10/15/2011         Saturday              Fairbanks             The Marlin

10/16/2011         Sunday                 Talkeetna            The Fairview

10/19/2011         Wednesday        Ninilchik               Ninilchik Peddler

10/20/2011         Thursday             Seward                 The Yukon

10/21/2011         Friday                    Anchorage          The Taproot

10/22/2011         Saturday              Anchorage          The Taproot

We are sitting on a golden egg of a music scene here in Alaska. Our artists, fans, venues, journalists, DJ’s, radio personalities and sound guys all contribute their blood, sweat and tears week after week to make our scene better and we are thankful. Since August 2010 we have helped bands of every genre tour the state and they have always been met with kindness, warmth and excitement on all fronts.

We pulled together some of the best local talent and are putting on a showcase at The Taproot on September 16^th and 17^th.  We are doing this showcase for two reasons. The first is to celebrate the Alaskan music scene (see above). The second is that it’s our one year anniversary and, dang it, we just want to party with our friends.

We have had an incredible first year.  Thank you!

Emma is coming home for the summer! Woot toot! Shes starting it off right with a set at the Taproot on Friday July 8th from 8 to 10. Please come on down, check out some new songs, say hi, and give her a hug. She loves hugs.

The next night shes rollin hard to Homer. Then the Funny River Music Fest on Sunday.

That is all. Over and out.

Our special gal, Bonnie Whitmore, is comin’ a-callin in a couple weeks. Please please come out to one of these shows and pay her a visit.

www.bonniewhitmore.com

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