If we've learned one thing about our past experiences at Capitol Hill Block Parties, it is that the bands that endear themselves to the gathered masses the most are ones that get the Partyers to move. (Flashback to Girl Talk's 2008 CHBP performance.) Next up in our "Better Know a CHBP Band" series, we present New Faces and The Pica Beats. Though there are major differences between the tempos these bands employ, expect dominant rhythms, and considerable movement around both sets. more ›

KEXP is counting down the top 90.3 (.3?) albums of 2008 and is asking all of us to help them out by paying them a visit and voting for your favorites. Countdown closes this Friday, December 19th. Our picks include David Byrne & Brian Eno, Drive-By Truckers, Fleet Foxes, Helms Alee, Jake One, Love Is All, Lupe Fiasco, New Faces, Santogold, The Knux, The Moondoggies, The Saturday Knights, The Black Keys, to name a few. How about you? Feel free to share in the comments! more ›

• A revised list of possible new jail sites in Seattle was released yesterday. Georgetown was celebrating that they were no longer on the list, while Magnolia/InterBay and West Seattle were lamenting that they still were.
• The Central District News reports that Washington Hall on 14th Avenue South has passed the first hurdle to being recognized as a historic landmark.
• Keep your eyes peeled for some urban hikers today. About 20 members of The Mountaineers are hiking between branches of the Seattle Public Library. Unlike in the mid-'90s, you might actually be able to tell the difference between an urban hiker and average Seattleite on the street now.

First things first: get thee to Decibel. Even if you think that electronic music's not your thing, there are plenty of acts on the lineup that are easily accessible to even the biggest electro-phobe (see: Sunday's schedule). more ›

Head Like a Kite: By the time we got into Neumos, we'd unfortunately missed most of their set. Whatever they were playing when we walked in, it was awesome and everyone was into it. It wasn't long, however, before they went into show-closing mode with more ethereal, experimental jam stuff. We dig Head Like a Kite, but they also bore us sometimes. more ›

Friday: Catch Common Market (4:30) and U.S.E. (5:30) at the main stage, then skip over to King Cobra for the second half of Truckasaurus (6:00). Take a dinner break (may we suggest eating something protein-heavy?), then get yerself to Neumo's for Thee Emergency at 7:45. After that, we suggest Das Llamas (it's their last set...THEIR LAST ONE!) at 9:45 at the Cha Cha. To round out the night, buy yourself a fancy rum drink at Havana and party until the wee hours with DJ Curtis. more ›

Port Townsend pop/rock trio New Faces have had a pretty damn good year, and with an upcoming West Coast tour and release of their debut full-length album, it's only going to get better. more ›