Of Grunge and Techno (Mainly Techno)

Seattle is known for grunge and always will be, no matter how much we might want the world to know we've moved on. Detroit is a bit less pigeon-holed, but they've earned that distinction through extraordinary musical breadth, impacting rock, R&B, industrial, techno, electro, and ghettotech along with other genres too numerous to mention. Over the next few days Seattle gets to benefit from Detroit's electronic legacy, with two shows guaranteed to move a crowd.

The Decibel Festival brings us Richie Hawtin (aka Plastikman) tonight at the Showbox as a teaser/benefit for the techno extravaganza later this month. Hawtin is one of the most widely known names in techno, known both for his intricate productions as well as his blistering live sets (While technically from Windsor, Ontario (now living in Berlin), Hawtin is associated with Detroit, which sits just across the Detroit River). To call Richie Hawtin's sound minimal is to do it a bit of a disservice. While a lot of the Hawtin sound (both live and recorded) is indeed very cerebral and filled with sonic space, that in no way indicates a lack of dancefloor friendliness. Instead, the music pleases both brains and butts alike, with enough detail to fill focused attention in headphones while maintaining enough thump to warrant working up a sweat. This is Richie Hawtin's first Seattle performance in years, and if his sets at this year's Fuse-In Festival are any indication, this is a show you would be foolish to miss. Opening sets from renowned locals Bruno Pronsato and Jerry Abstract only increase the incentive to attend.

Saturday night will feature Detroit's comparatively less-heralded house music output, with Mike Grant kicking off a series of dates featuring the Motor City's house notables at the Baltic Room. The Baltic Room's dimly-lit atmosphere has always been a natural fit for more soulful sounds, and Mike Grant is sure to fill the space with the kind of jazzy futuristic sounds for which his Moods and Grooves label has become known (This label is also the home for local producer Brad Peterson). Some of Detroit's deeper techno gems will surely get played as well, bridging a gap that is largely semantic as far as a dancefloor is concerned. This will be a return of sorts for Grant, who was stationed at Fort Lewis from 1986 to 1988 and helped to bring some of the new music from Detroit and Chicago to the area.

Get out there and show our guests that Seattle's scene is looking towards the future, not languishing in the past.

Richie Hawtin
Thursday, September 1, 10pm-2am
Showbox, 1426 1st Ave
$20 @ door, 21+

Decibel Festival
September 22-25
$50 Full Access Pass, $10-$15 for individual shows
Presale Passes Available via TicketWindow & Wall of Sound Records