Seattlest is quaking in their boots (bought especially for the occasion) with excitement for this years SXSW in Austin, Tex. We're making our initial sojourn to the festival and are so pleased to see there will be a strong Seattle contingent joining us in Austin this year. There are, to our calculations, 29 Seattle bands officially associated with the festival this year. These bands will be playing sanctioned showcases, what we will call "the......

Right on the heels of the announcement that the Mars Volta was added to the Sasquatch lineup, and right before tickets go on sale this Saturday, the three-day music festival has seen fit to delineate who will be playing on which day: Saturday, May 24th R.E.M. / Modest Mouse / M.I.A. / The New Pornographers / The National / Ozomatli / Beirut / Dengue Fever / Fleet Foxes / The Breeders / Okkervil River......

After months of wild speculation, the official 2008 Sasquatch lineup has finally been announced: R.E.M. / The Cure / The Flaming Lips U.F.O. Show / Death Cab For Cutie / Modest Mouse / M.I.A. / Flight Of The Conchords / Rodrigo Y Gabriela / Michael Franti & Spearhead / The Breeders / Built To Spill / The Hives / Tegan & Sara / The Presidents / Ghostland Observatory / Ozomatli / The New Pornographers......

We don't recommend the unwashed hair look, or skinny jeans for that matter, but that won't stop us from recommending The Blakes' new video. The Blakes: "Don't Bother Me" This local garage rock trio pays a visit to Chop Suey on February 15th. A little far away, we know, but it's never too early to mark the calendar. (Tickets are $10 adv.)......

Though Seattlest would love nothing more than to give you a proper review of the KEXP barbecue, we've come to the stinging conclusion that it's simply not in the cards. We just got a work deadline thrown at us like a ton of cliches and this is the best we can do for you right now. To be sure, the whole day was spectacular. The Blakes were top notch, even though we had to......

Can you think of a better way to spend your Saturday than kicking back on the lawn, chowing on a burger and listening to great live music? Didn't think so. Grab your shades, your sunblock and your appetite, kids. The barbecue is upon us! Providing the tunes are Blue Scholars (with 7-piece band!), Cloud Cult, Pela, The Cave Singers and The Blakes. We've seen most of these bands and can vouch for their fun factor,......

Seattlest arrived on scene soon after the Capitol Hill Block Party had opened. We wandered, checked out the stage locations and thought about getting a beer, then spotted a booth touting free bottled water. It looked like the booth had something to do with praying to the Earth Spirits or some other new wave white hippy crap, but we decided to take our chances. We asked for a water and oddly enough their were no......

Finally, someone else sees things our way. Like peanut butter and jelly, there has been one natural combination longing to be put together: having a beer and thinking about your favorite insurance company. Thank God Online providers Esurance have stepped up to the plate. Meshing together insurance needs with scenester whoredom, that's right, this year it's the Esurance Capitol Hill Block Party. The Esurance Capitol Hill Block Party is a huge, two-day explosion of......

Comic Book Party: Fantagraphics celebrates the grand opening of their new retail & gallery space with an opening reception. Live music by The Rhaes. There's also an exhibit around the corner at Belle & Wissel, Co. to make the trip a twofer. 5-8pm // 1201 South Vale St. (at Airport Way) // FREE Music: Sure, there's Binary Star at Chop Suey and the Faint/Ratatat at the Showbox, but in case you're looking to get your......