Seattle Noise

In Series: Sandesh Nagaraj / Peter Tracy / Aaron Michael Butler

The ongoing In Series, a concert series of contemporary composed music this month will feature Sandesh Nagaraj, Peter Tracy, and Aaron Michael Butler performing works by Sandesh Nagaraj and Celeste Oram.

Wednesday, February 19, 7:00 PM at Vermillion - Event Page

HEAT.wav

Presented by Pacific Noise Works, this event will have chiptune, hardware, and dance music. Featuring: Kid Camaro, Graz, Bynary Fission, dannyBstyle, Herr Shield, glitch_wolfe, and Soupbasechan.

Thursday, February 20, 8:00 PM at Substation - Event Page

unpoetry

Mixing poetry and experimental music, this evening of unpoetry will feature Headlight Children, HYPERboy, Haines Whitacre, botox ouroboros, Sullivan Forderhase, and Eric M. Acosta.

Thursday, February 20, 8:00 PM at Casa Del Xolo - Event Page

meatspace vol 2: MRSA / BlueJao / Airport Noise Complaint / SPLASTEEN

An open invite noise music event co-hosted by Noise Discord and Seattle Noise. To join the server and stream the event, visit https://harshnoise.online. Featured performers will include, MRSA (found sound harsh noise), BlueJao (harsh noise), Airport Noise Complaint (ambient harsh noise), and SPLASTEEN (live modular noise).

Friday, February 21, 7:30 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

Hannah Rice + Casey Adams / Weijun Huang / suncloud0 / RIB

An evening of experimental movement and sound featuring Hannah Rice and Casey Adams, Weijun Huang, suncloud0 (experimental party noise), and RIB (lola + zane).

Friday, February 21, 7:00 PM at Woodland Theater - Event Page

The Shepherd’s Purse

A Sundry of AV Performances. The Shepherd’s Purse plant (represented on the event’s poster) symbolizes the ability to adapt and exist in diverse environments. Tonight’s event holds this spirit in that the performers (environments) are sundry in aural and visual presentation with a motive to have an audience (the plant) adapt to the array of sounds and sights.

Performances from Daniel Menche, FHTAGN, MONED, Glum Reaper (Ian Gwin and Eric M. Acosta, and Hanna Broback), Lukas Dickson, and visuals by Colorbard. Note the early start.

Saturday, February 22, 6:30 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

MYAKU / Vealinium / TRUANCY / Justice Manslayer

Celebrating black history month, MYAKU (afro industrial), will perform along with Vealinium (rap), TRUANCY (hip hop), and Justice Manslayer (lofi emo rap).

Saturday, February 22, 8:00 PM at Teatro de la Psychomachia - Event Page

Changing Bodies / Normal Cory / DJ Weak Acid / Tekfro

Electronic experimental music presented by Synthiak, with Changing Bodies (experimental synth movement), Noraml Cory, DJ Weak Acid, and Tekfro

Saturday, February 22, 6:00 PM at Woodland Theater - Event Page

Modular Nights

The monthly free showcase of experimental electronic music will feature: Bass God Pantheon Beatz, Body Falling Downstairs, bowhead, Fredrico Futura, MIDILIFE CR!S!S, Nervous Whistle, and Dave Murphy.

Sunday, February 9, 5:30 PM at Substation - Event Page

standing wave: Mark E. Kaylor / Seed Order w/ Sean Waple

Second in a series of six performances curated by Noel Kennon and friends. Mark E. Kaylor (solo percussion) and Seed Order with Sean Waple (modular synthesis and live projected visuals). House band performance by Noel Kennon, John Teske and friends.

Wednesday, February 12, 6:00 PM at Vermillion - Event Page

Ryosuke Kiyasu / Strange Bedfellows / Coyote Teeth / Fashion Change / Resin Cough

Solo improvised percussion not to be missed, Ryosuke Kiyasu from Tokyo will perform, along with Strange Bedfellows (special experimental collaboration between Adam Levitt and Silas), along with Coyote Teeth (doom experimental drone noise), Fashion Change (punk), and Resin Cough (mincecore).

Thursday, February 13, 7:30 PM at Bad Bar - Event Page

Jacob Winans / $5000 dollars / Peopling / EKG

A Valentine’s day noise show featuring Jacob Winans (noise) and $5000 dollars (noise) from New York City. Peopling (party noise) and EKG will support them.

Friday, February 14, 7:30 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

power strip / Fleetwood Snack / lonelygirl15

The pinball bar now has an upgraded stage area for live shows. power strip (electronic ambient synth pop) will perform with Fleetwood Snack (experimental noise), and lonelygirl15 (hip hop).

Saturday, February 15, 8:00 PM at Add-A-Ball - Event Page

A well rounded week of experimental, electronic, and noise music and everything in between.

standing wave: Greg Sinibaldi / FIDELITIES

First in a series of six performances curated by Noel Kennon and friends. Greg Sinibaldi (solo saxaphone and electronics) and FIDELITIES (trio of Gust Burns, Greg Campbell, and Troy Schiefelbein). House band performance by Noel Kennon, John Teske and friends.

Wednesday, February 5, 6:00 PM at Vermillion - Event Page

Leandrul / Lady Zade / Cindy Reichel / theremina

Electronic focused evening featuring Leadrul, “Her music is known for its multi-layered vocal arrangements, super-melodic structure, guitars, synths, and strong drum routines.” Joining her will be Lady Zade (cello, electronics, and hand-made instruments), Cindy Reichel (electronic ambient), and theremina, “fearless use of color supports their art therapy projects in both textiles and sound. Inspired by Yayoi Kusama, Buckminster Fuller, and unattributed quilters of the past, theremina translates traditional patterns into modern space.”

Wednesday, February 5, 8:00 PM at Conor Byrne Pub - Event Page

The Vardaman Ensemble / Adam Troy / SH!TOMATO / Hidden Gateways

Visiting from Portland, The Vardaman Ensemble (experimental jazz) will play along with Adam Troy (ambient drone rock), SH!TOMATO (noise), and Hidden Gateways (dark ambient.

Friday, February 7, 7:00 PM at Mudlark Oddities - Event Page

Power Skeleton / T.R.O.U.T. / Undular Bore / Barnacle

Dust off your skates for a Lithic Records showcase featuring Power Skeleton (experimental rock band). Cascadia based experimental super-group IYKYK T.R.O.U.T. (Diamond Jim Davis, John Schuller, and Benjamin Thomas-Kennedy), Undular Bore (experimental electronic), and Barnacle (experimental dark ambient).

Friday, February 7, 8:00 PM at Southgate Roller Rink - Event Page

Hearse Mechanic / Hannah Rice / Tarsier Levitation / Faustian Headwound

Debut performance of Faustian Headwound, “doom string quartet linking PNW and Germanic sonic influences to live by.” They will be joined by Hannah Rice (movement), Tarsier Levitation (Tarsier Eyes + Adam Levit) and Hearse Mechanic.

Saturday, February 8, 8:00 PM at Monkey Pub - Event Page

Dream Pool V

Less rave, more ambient night by Impact! Productions. Featuring FRRN (melodic ambient & dark drone), Bassariscus (hypnotic soundbath of drone, percussion, & the sounds of the world), Sous Chef & Nico Scolieri, “sounds and textural patterns and marbled ambient-dub abstractions, Lush Synthscapes with floating flute in an improvised ambient Experience”, Glopossum (new age ambient DJ set), Arlen Hague (impressionist synth compositions), and William Todd (deeply melancholic compositions blending analog synthesizer drones with repetitive polyrhythmic piano).

Saturday, February 8, 8:00 PM at Kremwerk - Event Page

During the pandemic, Nonsequitur instead of hosting in-person concerts at the Chapel Performance Space commissioned Wayward in Limbo inviting artists to release a performance in podcast form instead. I had been working my way through the catalog of over 100 performances, downloaded from SoundCloud. It functions as a good “who’s who” of experimental, improvisational, and noise musicians from Seattle and beyond. To try and summarize my experience listening to this catalog of music in only a few words is not easy. So I won’t. For music to stand out to me, it has to strike me in a certain way. When I listened to the episode with Kaori Suzuki, the intense drones left me speechless. A uncommon sensation of discomfort but at the same time in awe.

Naturally I must indulge in my curiosity. Who is Kaori Suzuki? What more can I find out beyond the short bio descriptions? She was born in Japan in the late 80s but moved to Olympia in 2004. At the moment she is based on Oakland teaching at Mills College. Other projects she has been involved in include minimalist psych-punk group, Night Collectors and cello and electric guitar in the ever-intense amplified string ensemble, Ecstatic Music Band. An interview by 15 Questions provides some insight into her process.

It’s tricky sometimes to understand what someone is all about; thankfully Dave Segal wrote a highlight for her 2018 release, Newsun:

Former Seattle synthesist/instrument-builder Kaori Suzuki (now based in Oakland) is one of the best academic composers in the country at generating long-form pieces that rivet and then blow your mind with a few scrupulously chosen tones and modulations. “Audabe” is a pulsating Möbius strip of what her label calls “mirrored signals from analog oscillators, creating changing pattern variations and stereo effects from their respective idiosyncratic signal paths.”

Solo releases include:

• 2018 - Newsun
• 2018 - Conduit
• 2022 - Music for Modified Melodica
• 2021 - Night Angel Of Dual Infinities (with John Krausbauer)

Flung + Sheree Seretse and friends

The debut performance of Flung, experimental pop by multi-instrumentalist Kashika Kollaikal based in Oakland from Seattle featuring found sounds, “car horns, hand-punched music boxes, foil buzzing on piano strings. Sheree Seretse will open the evening with tradtional and contemporary Mbira music.

Sunday, January 26, 6:30 PM at Vermillion - Event Page

Strange Bedfellows / Glad We’re Together / BRB

Noise weirdos Adam Levitt and Silas Morrow team up together as Strange Bedfellows. Fellow noise weirdo Glad We’re Together and a performance troupe BRB (Reid Urban, Ben Kapp and Ben Michaelis) will join them.

Thursday, January 30, 8:00 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

somesurprises / Jo Passed / Red Ribbon / Spiral XP

First show of the year for somesurprises (dreamy krautrock). Jo Passed (alternative), Red Ribbon (rock), and Spiral XP (grunge).

Friday, January 31, 7:00 PM at Baba Yaga - Event Page

Chris Cochrane & Kevin Bud Jones + Sue Ann Harkey

A touch more experimental, Chris Cochrane and Kevin Bud Jones describe their music as “neo-psychedelic with unpredictable twists and turns, an electronic sonic mash.” Sue Ann Harkey (multi-instrumentalist) will also perform.

Friday, January 31, 8:00 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

Bottle Meat / Halting / GUTTING / Tom Scully / Inversa Spruce

Harsh noise focused showcase featuring Bottle Meat (experimental noise), Halting (harsh noise), GUTTING, Tom Scully (guitar), and Inversa Spruce (experimental noise).

Saturday, February 1, 7:00 PM at Woodland Theater - Event Page

FHTAGN / Forrest Friends / Noel Kennon

Experimental noise super group FHTAGN will perform with Forrest Friends (freak folk), and Noel Kennon (experimental).

Saturday, February 1, 7:30 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

O&T33RPM: An Obscure & Terrible DJ night w/ sonora enjambre, Abacus Finch, and The Bosses

Presenting O&T33RPM: An Obscure & Terrible DJ Night at Vermillion this January. Boss baddies will be spinning, along with DJ Abacus Finch of KFJC fame and a live set from drone wizard sonora enjambre. Get cooked with a selection of experimental/noise/ambient/electronic/weirdo tracks on wax.

Wednesday, January 22, 7:00 PM at Vermillion - Event Page

In Series

Music by Sarah Hennies and Brian Harnetty. Ensemble performance from Downy ( Tyler Babbie, Sophie Chin, and Peter Tracy). Aaron Michael Butler will also play.

Thursday, January 23, 8:00 PM at Vermillion - Event Page

Paul Masvidal / Moonbladder

Paul Masvidal (of Cynic and Death) will present solo work for guitar from his trio record Mythical Human Vessel. MoonBladder, the solo project by Jason Walton (of Agalloch, Snare of Sixes, Sculptured) from Portland will also play.

Thursday, January 23, 7:30 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

Forrest Friends / SPITRAT / Lukas Dickson / MONED / MRSA

Take a ferry or drive around to Bremerton for a noise show featuring Forrest Friends (freak folk), SPITRAT (no input sound), Lukas Dickson, MONED (guitar driven noise), and MRSA (harsh noise).

Thursday, January 23, 8:00 PM at The Charleston (Bremerton) - Event Page

Remembering Steve Paxton (1939-2024)

In memory of Steve Paxton, a number of musicians and dancers will collaborate in a dance and improvisational music performance. Performers will include: Karen Nelson, Nica Portavia, Evan Strauss, Lori Goldston, Alia Swersky, Hannah Rice, Christian Swenson, Aaron Swartzman, Scott Davis, Casey Adams, and small dancing others

Friday, January 24, 7:00 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

MONED / Puddle Jumper / Ulfire & Jale

Another show in Bremerton featuring MONED (guitar driven noise), Puddle Jumper (haunted surf rock), and Ulfire & Jale.

Saturday, January 25, 6:30 PM at Bigfoot’s House of Vinyl (Bremerton) - Event Page

Cut&Paste LIVE!

Am immersive night of dance, music and collaging. Featuring No Girls No Masters, Astrospherian (experimental electronic), Skunk Ape (noise), Jimmy Lake, Formal Weather Patterns (dark memecore), and Changing Bodies (experimental synth movement).

Saturday, January 25, 7:00 PM at Casa Del Xolo - Event Page

Modular Nights

The monthly free showcase of experimental electronic music will feature: Bryan Schuessler (noise), homealone, peters jacket, Swingsets, XEK, NiGHTofAL, and Musique Mystique.

Sunday, January 12, 5:00 PM at Substation - Event Page

Lana Del Rabies / God is War / TEST FRENZY / Hot Hail

A night of harsh industrial sounds featuring Lana Del Rabies (industrial noise) from Los Angeles, God is War (hyperaggressive electronics) from Los Angeles, TEST FRENZY (industrial noise), and Hot Hail (goth darkwave).

Wednesday, January 15, 7:00 PM at Substation - Event Page

Cecyl Ruehlen & Chelsey Lee Trejo / Tom Scully / Tarsier Levitation

Visiting from Tucson, Cecyl Ruehlen uses “an array of elements including guitar, synth, bells, found noisemakers, vocals, clarinet, bow, and other traditional and unusual instruments - their sounds fluidly mixed and layered into long-form, continuous soundscapes” and Chelsey Lee Trejo. They will be joined by Tom Scully (guitar) and Tarsier Levitation (special collaboration between Tarsier Eyes and Adam Levitt.

Wednesday, January 15, 7:00 PM at Vermillion - Event Page

‘An Observance of Absence’ / Alex Abrams / Royce Hobbs

“An Observance of Absence” (~35 min), by Jason Pappariella, is an abstract visual essay that documents interior and exterior places left vacant and dilapidated by the abandonment of Central Pennsylvania’s former coal-mining region, juxtaposing them against similarly neglected sites in industrial Eastern Europe. Adam Parks will accompany the video with a live musical score, performed on manipulated analogue four-track, using sounds recorded on-site in both locales.

Joining them will be Alex Abrams and Royce Hobbs.

Friday, January 17, 7:30 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

Grinch / EKG / Masters of Tapwater / Vast Chains / Failson

The Grinch is delayed this year bringing fog and harsh sounds (performance by B|_ank), EKG (party noise), Masters of Tapwater, Vast Chains (death industrial obliterations), and Failson (electronic).

Saturday, January 18, 8:00 PM at Dracula’s Castle - Event Page

Aria Bare / Leandrul / Old Man of the Woods

Come join Aria Bare (deep techno), Leadrul (electronic), and Old Man of the Woods (goth electronica).

Monday, January 6, 7:30 PM at Sunset Tavern - Event Page

Forrest Friends / SH!TOMATO / Peopling / SENSE/NET / Radio Shock

Visiting from New York City will be Radio Shock (now-wave/trip-metal/junktronix), along with SH!TOMATO (noise), Forrest Friends (freak folk), Peopling (party noise), and SENSE/NET.

Wednesday, January 8, 8:00 PM at Dracula’s Castle - Event Page

Rose Echos

A femme centered noise show featuring N. Excelsia + Emily Bruno, Baglady (experimental), Wicking Ground (experimental avant-folk), Thee Effluvium (experimental noise), Quinn Trivett, and sheildmaiden.

Friday, January 10, 7:00 PM at Decay (Olympia) - Event Page

Leather Jester + CSTMR + Coyote Teeth / SPAWN / Trigger Object / Glad We’re Together

A “3x2 noise throw down” with Leather Jester (experimental), CSTMR (explosive noise rock), and Coyote Teeth (doom experimental drone noise). SPAWN (experimental noise), Trigger Object (experimental electronic), and Glad We’re Together will also be there.

Friday, January 10, 8:00 PM at Bad Bar - Event Page

Otolithia / María Dolores A. Matienzo / Ruth Davidson

A cozy winter evening at the Chapel with Otolithia (koto + vocals, flute, and electronics) from Portland. Joining them will be María Dolores A. Matienzo (experimental), and Ruth Davidson (cello).

Saturday, January 11, 7:30 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

Vanessa Skantze / J “g” J / Crimen Nefandum / MYAKU

Spoken word from Vanessa Skantze. J “g” J will perform afro-nihilist theatre of cruelty. Crimen Nefandum (improvised industrial noise), and MYAKU (afro industrial) will also play.

Saturday, January 11, 8:00 PM at Teatro de la Psychomachia - Event Page

Last post for 2024, moving through the end of the year the calendar remains quiet.

Modbang: Solenoid / miloisntreal / Hemosis / XEK

The monthly free showcase of all hardware electronic music will feature Solenoid, miloisntreal, Hemosis, and XEK.

Tuesday, December 31, 7:00 PM at The 4Bs - Event Page

Powerbleeder / Eaters Digest / Dining Dead

Powerbleeder (experimental pop) will play with Eaters Digest, and Dining Dead (art rock).

Friday, January 3, 8:00 PM at Conor Byrne Pub - Event Page

Evil Cart / Mandate Heaven / Crime Scene Photos / Kitcalico

Hardcore featuring Evil Cart (Smokey Point heroin violence), Mandate Heaven (deathcore), Crime Scene Photos (emoviolence), and Kitcalico (screamo).

Saturday, January 4, 6:00 PM at Woodland Theater - Event Page

Seattle Creative Code: Code Craft

(not music show) Seattle Creative Code presents CodeCraft, “a series of pop-up art shows that highlight the work of local creative technologists and algorithmic artists.” Featured artists include: Andriy Kashcha + Yixaio Kang, Maks Surguy, Nicholas Bowen + Diana Xie, and Quba Michalski.

Saturday, January 4, 7:00 PM at The Studio at 2+U - Event Page

STATIC GHOST / Total Chroma / Skoto

Presented by NOLIFE booking. STATIC GHOST (industrial techno body music) will play along with Total Chroma (minimal synth) from Vancouver, BC, and SKOTO (synthwave) from Oakland, CA.

Monday, December 23, 7:00 PM at Bad Bar - Event Page

Garbage Fest Boxing Day

Pin the garbage on the garbage.

Yall Hurd? Theres a Surprise Boxing Day Garbage Fest in “Seattle” Dec 26th with an amazing SECRET Lineup. Come Box One Another, Share and Tear Boxes, and throw your own Box-Themed GF wheresoever you be in the world! There’ll be a slot for shortform Boxy freaky performances yes besides our top40s banger celebs, put sumfng 2gethr!

Thursday, December 26, 3:00 PM at Under 1st Avenue Bridge - Event Page

Betsy Olson Band / Zoe & Starkey / Von Wildenhaus

Betsy Olson Band (blues) will play with Zoe & Starkey, and Von Wildenhaus (guitar noir litewave psychotica).

Friday, December 27, 7:00 PM at Tractor Tavern - Event Page

Esoteric Everett: Lori Goldston / Tiny Vipers / Sokai Stilhed

Presented by AnaRchYinBedRoK, a relaxing evening featuring Lori Goldston (cello), Tiny Vipers (ambient minimal folk), and Sokai Stilhed (noise ambient).

Saturday, December 28, 6:00 PM at Artisans Books & Coffee (Everett) - Event Page

Graveyard of the Pacific / Tackhammer

Death surf band Graveyard of the Pacific will join Tackhammer (heavy)

Saturday, December 28, 8:00 PM at Conor Byrne Pub - Event Page