Seattle Noise

Modular Nights

The weekly free showcase of experimental electionic music will feature:

Balance.Spring, Vandi, Astrospherian, Mac Francis & His Skrying Ghosts, Cnicoll64, and Earendel. Visuals by B. Alcalá Roth.

Sunday, December 8, 5:00 PM at Substation - Event Page

V.Vecker / Bit Graves / Archival Image / Dion.Egg

V.Vecker (minimal composition spiritual jazz) will play along with Bit Graves (experimental electronic synth), Archival Image (experimental ambient drone), and Dion.Egg.

Thursday, December 12, 7:00 PM at Casa Del Xolo - Event Page

Flesh Produce / Sea Moss / Miscomings / Lonelygirl15

Sea Moss (noise punk) from Portland is coming up. Supporting them will be Flesh Produce (digital hiphop), Miscomings (nasty noise punk), and Lonelygirl15 (hip hop).

Thursday, December 12, 7:00 PM at Chop Suey - Event Page

Dr. Hamburger / SPITRAT / Forrest Friends / Kati McKinley & Lukas Dickson

Visiting from Rochester, will be Dr. Hamburger (experimental). They will be joined by SPITRAT (no input sound), Forrest Friends (freak folk), and Kati McKinley & Lukas Dickson.

Friday, December 13, 7:30 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

Corpse Pose / Skunk Ape / Adam Troy

Corpse Pose (ambient guitar drone) will play with Skunk Ape (noise), and Adam Troy (ambient drone rock).

Friday, December 13, 7:00 PM at Casa Del Xolo - Event Page

Body Meat / B|_ank

B|_ank from Portland will be playing a special surround sound cassette tape piece, supporting Body Meat (experimental pop) on tour from New York City.

Saturday, December 14, 6:30 PM at Barboza - Event Page

Hyperboy presents… OOMPH: A Collaborative Dada Showcase

Too many artists to link, but the program will feature:

Wren WX, Mason Webb, Christy Gibson, Jed Judt, HYPERboy, marianne, Changing Bodies, Adam Levitt, Kelly Langeslay, Eric Acosta, Tarsier Eyes, oneseventhree, Forrest Friends, EKG, and sonora enjambre.

Sunday, December 1, 6:00 PM at Woodland Theater - Event Page

enerph / goop / IVVY w/ THC.XLR

Electronic music featuring enerph (experimental), along with goop (electronic), IVVY (electronic), and THC.XLR (ambient inspired jazz music).

Thursday, December 5, 7:30 PM at Bad Bar - Event Page

Miscomings / Swamp Wife / Having Issues

Toy drive show with Miscomings (nasty noise punk), Swamp Wife (post-punk), and Having Issues (garage punk).

Thursday, December 5, 8:00 PM at Clock-Out Lounge - Event Page

Blast Cells / Worldwide Levitation / The Glow / Teething

Blast Cells (noise rock) will play with Worldwide Levitation (noise rock from outer space), The Glow (noise rock), and Teething.

Friday, December 6, 7:00 PM at Lucky Liquor - Event Page

Death Spa / Turian / Cicatrice / Al Bundy

Cassette celebration show for Death Spa (abrasive prog punk), along with Turian (grindcore noise), and Al Bundy (grindcore)

Friday, December 6, 8:00 PM at Bad Bar - Event Page

Acid Relapse / Kole Galbraith / The Masters of Tapwater / The Beachcomber BBQ & Grill / Ectopic Pregnancy / Resin Cough

Another grindcore focused noise collaboration show featuring Acid Relapse (hypergorenoise) from Losa Angeles. They will be joined by Kole Galbraith (noise), The Masters of Tapwater (special harsh noise project by Jakob from Izthmi), The Beachcomber BBQ & Grill (experimental noise), Ectopic Pregnancy (grindcore), and Resin Cough (mincecore).

Saturday, December 7, 7:00 PM at Mudlark Oddities - Event Page

Old Man of the Woods / Mind Mirage / Gall / Malversation

On tour from Oakland is Mind Mirage (ambient dark wave) and GALL (noise pop). They will be joined by Old Man of the Woods (goth electronica) and Malversation (anti-fascist sludge metal).

Sunday, November 24, 8:00 PM at Bad Bar - Event Page

Jason Sidney Sanford / Till the Teeth / Aaron Michael Butler

Visiting from Boulder, CO is Jason Sidney Sanford (experimental drone). They will be joined by Till the Teeth (experimental noise rock), and Aaron Michael Butler (experimental)

Sunday, November 24, 8:00 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

Modbang: Demetrius Patin / Jams Tailor / Kreiger.47 / Xssory

The monthly free showcase of all hardware electronic music will feature Demetrius Patin, Jams Tailor, Krieger.47, and Xssory.

Tuesday, November 26, 7:00 PM at The 4Bs - Event Page

Quilli Fin / Changing Bodies / Fredrico Futura / NiGHTofAL

A night of “warped synth delight and edgy art” featuring Quilli Fin, Changing Bodies (experimental synth movement), Fredrico Futura, and NiGHTofAL (avant-garde dark wave)

Friday, November 29, 7:00 PM at Darrell’s Tavern - Event Page

THAW / Handheld Simpleton

THAW (experimental drone noise) and Handheld Simpleton (harsh noise.

Saturday, November 30, 8:00 PM at Casa Del Xolo - Event Page

HOLZ / Baptationn / Hidden Gateways / Bog Bodies

Industrial metal band HOLZ will play along with Baptationn (club frat evil sex metal), Hidden Gateways (dark ambient), and Bog Bodies (gorst beer metal).

Saturday, November 30, 7:00 PM at Lucky Liquor - Event Page

Ick / Rainbow Coalition Death Cult / Miscomings

Visiting from Modesto, CA will be Ick (noise rock). They will be joined by Rainbow Coalition Death Cult (hardcore punk), and Miscomings (nasty noise punk).

Sunday, November 17, 7:00 PM at Lucky Liquor - Event Page

Ground Hum: FSS / Sketch Artist / Deadquiet

Experimental electronic music featuring FSS, Sketch Artist (electronic breakbeat), and Deadquiet.

Tuesday, November 19, 6:30 PM at Recreational Psychoacoustics Lab - Event Page

Max Nordile / Casey Adams / Sadie Siskin / MASHA

Max Nordile (human music) from Olympia will perform solo and in collaboration with Casey Adams (percussion). Joining them will be Sadie Siskin (experimental), and MASHA (dark folk).

Thursday, November 21, 8:00 PM at Drongo Tapes HQ - Event Page

Oh Nothing / I’VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE / Dicqbeats / 9-5 Hyperfuck

Oh Nothing (drum and bass) will perform with I’VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE (hyperindie), Dicqbeats (aggro industrial experimental breakcore), and 9-5 Hyperfuck (digital hardcore).

Thursday, November 21, 8:00 PM at The Funhouse - Event Page

Authentic Luxury / The Glutz / CSKT

The return of Authentic Luxury (free jazz post-modern rock), along with The Glutz (psych prog rock), and CSKT.

Friday, November 22, 7:00 PM at Blue Moon Tavern - Event Page

Prehensile Dataspike / UHURA / Lukas Dickson / MONED

Venture out across the ferry or over the Narrows bridge to catch this noise show featuring Prehensile Dataspike (folk noise), UHURA (noise), Lukas Dickson (noise loops), and MONED (guitar driven noise).

Saturday, November 23, 6:30 PM at Bigfoot’s House of Vinyl - Event Page

Stargazr / Pseudo Saint / Kate Blackstock

New debut show for Stargazr:

Stargazr is a new Seattle supergroup formed of members of Prom Queen, somesurprises, Von Wildenhaus, Tacocat, Loose Wing, among others! This will be the band’s debut performance showcasing a set of original songs by Leeni Ramadan arranged for this celestial soft grunge ensemble. The group features Billie Bloom playing a saw through a pedal board and Ahmad Yosefbeigi on the frame drum.

They will be joined by Pseudo Saint (dreamy electronic), and Kate Blackstock (swamp pop).

Saturday, November 23, 7:00 PM at The Rabbit Box - Event Page

South Sound Experimental Film Fest

A number of people who make experimental / noise music will be featuring their films, in addition to other submissions from around Cascadia and beyond.

Program for Saturday:

• Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present
• Eulogy, Elegy - Lily King
• Melencolia: The End of the Alphabet - M Woods
• Hemorrhage - Ruth Hays
• Bread & Honey - Kyndra Lee
• Gab - Hogan Seidel
• ,,,so thee lilac never wilt alone,,, - Elijah Jamal Asani
• Woman On A Rocket - Sierra Cosmidis Grove
• Mechanical Eye - Deb Seitz
• Oh Then Until - Hawk Ferdig
• CEREMONIAL ABYSS PLAYS TONY CONRAD FEAT. (THE FLICKER)

Program for Sunday

• Tripsitters - Al Granstrom & Lucas Montgomery
• At Captain Daniel David’s on the Coast - Jeffrey Sundin
• Origins - Konya
• Wishfulweed - Laura Iancu
• Resting Place - Brittany Appleby
• Siren’s Song - Blue Jaye Corvidae
• i was never the siren - Moonyeka
• 120,000 lumins - Scott Oshima
• Heavy Water - Victor Anthony Martin
• American Hypocrite - Brittney Cash
• Infinite Resignation and Wallowing in your Own Filth - Don Haugen
• November at the Beach - Eric Acosta
• Divine Intervention - Yun Jieh Wu

Saturday, November 23, 4:00 PM at Northwest Film Forum - Event Page

Don’t get passed over Cloudbreak Fest, there’s still plenty more experimental music happening during these cloudy days.

Modular Nights

The monthly free showcase of experimental electronic music featuring Make Space! Make Space!, tekfro, Zelda Poppy, Sad Thanáz, Mutual Shock, Swingsets, and collimator

Sunday, November 10, 5:00 PM at Substation - Event Page

Ryan Carraher / Carlos Cotallo Solares / Peter Tracy / Aaron Michael Butler

An evening of experimental music presented by the in series, featuring Ryan Carraher (guitar), Carlos Cotallo Solares (guitar), Peter Tracy (cello), and Aaron Michael Butler (percussion).

Wednesday, November 13, 7:30 PM at Vermillion - Event Page

ANTHERS / Conversation Pit / STAHV

ANTHERS (noise post-punk), will play with Conversation Pit (grungegaze), along with STAHV (doomgaze goth rock).

Thursday, November 14, 7:00 PM at The Central Saloon - Event Page

Cottage Corpse / SkullKat / Toxic Tears / Hush Hush Noise

[Cottage Corpse]www.youtube.com/playlist)) (chaotic queer hooligans), will play with SkullKat, Toxic Tears (punk), and Hush Hush Noise (electronic noise pop) from Victoria, Canada.

Friday, November 15, 8:00 PM at Blue Moon Tavern - Event Page

FHTAGN / Where The Light Goes / Tom Scully

Super experimental group FHTAGN (experimental noise) returns with new experimental ensemble Where The Light Goes. Tom Scully will play solo guitar.

Saturday, November 16, 6:30 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

EKG / Forrest Friends / Feed Fatigue / Noel Kennon / Paths of Harm

Race your way from the Gallery to catch EKG (party noise), Forrest Friends (freak folk), Feed Fatigue (harsh noise) from Portland, Noel Kennon (experimental), and Paths of Harm (electronic).

Saturday, November 16, 8:00 PM at Dracula’s Castle - Event Page

Stay warm this week as the usual doom and gloom rain is returning.

Power Strip / Hurry Up, Snufkin / powerbleeder

Electronic ambient synth pop, Power Strip will play with Hurry Up, Snufkin (chiptune math rock), and powerbleeder (experimental pop).

Thursday, November 7, 7:00 PM at Black Lodge - Event Page

Von Wildenhaus / Afterlife Giftshop

Experimental band, Von Wildenhaus (guitar noir litewave psychotica) and Afterlife Giftshop (experimental art pop) will play.

Thursday, November 7, 7:00 PM at The Rabbit Box - Event Page

Flesh Produce / Rodeo Queen / Laser Beam / Halting / SH!TOMATO

Under the bridge, a mix of digital hip hop and noise featuring Flesh Produce (digital hip hop), Rodeo Queen (digital grindcore), Laser Beam (dejected fuzz sounds noise rock), Halting (experimental), and SH!TOMATO (noise).

Friday, November 8, 6:30 PM at Under 1st Ave Bridge - Event Page

Spacement / Takeshita / Droneroom / Spawn / Lured / GUTTING

Spacement will perform with Takeshita (noise), Droneroom (drone), Spawn (experimental noise), Lured (bimboviolence electronics), and GUTTING.

Friday, November 8, 7:00 PM at Woodland Theater - Event Page

NUCLEAR DUDES / TEST FRENZY / Loud Lust / madeupcolors

Album release show for TEST FRENZY (industrial noise) from Jeffery McNulty and Marc-Anthony Burno. Supporting them will be NUCLEAR DUES (progressive synth metal), Loud Lust (industrial pop), and madeupcolors (noise set). DJ noisepoetnobody will also be spinning between sets.

Friday, November 8, 8:30 PM at Clock-Out Lounge - Event Page

Channelers / An Anomalous Wave / NV Electronica

For less noise and more electronic ambient, Channelers (ambient acoustic) will play along with An Anomalous Wave (seas of complex guitar feedback) and NV Electronica (live cello and electronics).

Friday, November 8, 7:00 PM at Casa Del Xolo - Event Page

August / CSTMR + Spawn / Adam Troy

Album release show for August (experimental drone. CSTMR and Spawn will join together for a special collaborative set. Adam Troy (experimental drone rock).

Saturday, November 9, 7:00 PM at Woodland Theater - Event Page

B|_ank Drone / EKG / 9-5 Hyperfuck

Special drone set by B|_ank from Portland. EKG (party noise) and 9-5 Hyperfuck (digital hardcore) will also perform.

Saturday, November 9, 7:30 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

Bottle Meat / SPITRAT / Glad We’re Together

Bottle Meat (experimental noise) will play along with SPITRAT (no input sound). Glad We’re Together will make it weird.

Saturday, November 9, 9:00 PM at The Monkey Pub - Event Page

Noise is taking a break for Halloween. As we wait, check out some other interesting shows this week.

Modbang: Planar Drift / Haine / Nilc / Changing Bodies

The monthly free showcase of hardware synth music will feature Planar Drift (acid techno), Haine, Nilc, and Changing Bodies (experimental synth movement).

Tuesday, October 29, 7:00 PM at The 4Bs - Event Page

Pulmonary Fibrosis / Gestation / Resin Cough / Ectopic Pregnancy / Disease

Coming out all the way from France, Pulmonary Fibrosis (nasal nauseous vomit liquid gore grind) with a biography longer than their lyrics (5,600 words) will play along with Gestation (grindcore) from Arizona, Resin Cough (mincecore), Ectopic Pregnancy (grindcore) and their first show. Disease (grindcore) will also play.

Sunday, October 27, 7:00 PM at Lucky Liquor - Event Page

Nox Novacula / Profit Prison / DOT GOV / Teething

Home from tour, Nox Novacula (deathrock) will play along with Profit Prison (dark ambient post-punk), DOT GOV (noise punk), and Teething.

Thursday, October 31, 7:00 PM at The Kraken Bar & Lounge - Event Page

Nordus / Cruel Machine / Machete Picnic

Nordus (grunge heavy metal), will play with Cruel Machine (punk), and Machete Picnic (heavy rock).

Saturday, November 2, 8:00 PM at Darrell’s Tavern - Event Page

There’s a lot going on as we head into the spooky season.

Matt Sargent and Aaron Michael Butler play James Romig

Matt Sargent (guitar) from Los Angeles will join Aaron Michael Butler (percussion) in support of The Fragility of Time by James Romig.

Sunday, October 20, 7:00 PM at Ghost Note Coffee - Event Page

Donna Allen + Jane Harms / CEOs Inc / Friends of the Road / Reid Urban / Inn of the Beachcomber

Donna Allen & Jane Harms (lesbian non rock) from Austin will play along with CEOs Inc (noise), Friends of the Road (experimental drone folk), Reid Urban (word performance), and Inn of the Beachcomber (noise).

Monday, October 21, 7:00 PM at Casa Del Xolo - Event Page

John Teske, with Aaron Michael Butler, Noel Kennon, and Adam Levitt

“An evening of noise, graphic scores, and improvisation in celebration of the release John Teske’s album, ‘intonations’.” Featuring John Teske, Aaron Michael Butler, Noel Kennon, and Adam Levitt.

Thursday, October 24, 6:30 PM at Vermillion - Event Page

Drunk Drama / MYAKU / Permasnooz

Drunk Drama (formerly Radium Girls), will play with MYAKU (afro industrial), and Permasnooz (post rock shoegaze trip-hop).

Thursday, October 24, 7:00 PM at Chop Suey - Event Page

Quiet Band / Ian Murdock / Andrew Maxson / Adam’s Beachomber Lounge / Lukas Dickson + Kati McKinley

Coming up from San Francisco, Quiet Band (experimental), Ian Murdock, Andrew Maxson (experimental synth), Adam’s Beachcomber Lounge, along with Lukas Dickson + Kati McKinley (noise loops) collaboration.

Friday, October 25, 8:00 PM at Casa Dentata - Event Page

María Dolores A. Matienzo: she’s buoyant

Post-minimalist, ritualistic aleatoric chamber music with video projections to explore changes in sensory experience and queer intimacies.

by María Dolores A. Matienzo

Saturday, October 26, 7:00 PM at Base (6520 5th Avenue South #122 Seattle, WA 98108) - Event Page

Esoteric Everett: Balcony View / noisepoetnobody / Tarsier Eyes / FFORTRESS

Noise at the coffee shop featuring Balcony View (ritual drone), noisepoetnobody (experimental cold wave), Tarsier Eyes (guitar noise), and FFORTRESS (experimental modular noise).

Saturday, October 26, 6:00 PM at Artisans Books & Coffee (Everett) - Event Page

Chris Corsano, Joe Baiza, Mike Watt / WhatxCSTMR

Trio on tour featuring Chris Corsano (percussion), Joe Baiza (guitar), and Mike Watt (bass). They will be joined by a special collaboration project of What (Alan Jones + Dave Abramson), and CSTMR

Saturday, October 26, 8:00 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

Ronovan / EKG / Leather Jester / Quiet Band / Trigger Object / Spawn / DJ Elle

Come party all night long in Georgetown (ask a weirdo for the address). Featuring Ronovan Peopling (party noise), EKG (party noise), Leather Jester (experimental) from Portland, OR, Quiet Band (experimental) from San Francisco, Trigger Object (experimental electronic), Spawn (experimental noise), and DJ Elle.

Saturday, October 26, 8:00 PM at Dracula’s Castle - Event Page

From September 18 - September 23, I had the fortune to travel to Japan for my vacation. Without too much preparation on my part, I managed to attend four different experimental noise shows. Key to my success was Jessica Hallock’s nycnoise and a link to DoDIY, where they had a link to Tokyo Gig Guide. Also if you hear about a venue, you can look it up on Tokyo Gig Guide, and all of the relevant information you need is listed there, even if the event itself is not listed. I also looked up one of the bands who played in Seattle, Leech. This is how I heard about the show at El Puente. If you know someone who played Japan on a tour, look up the venues they played at to get a feel for the venues who might also have the same sort of music you might be interested in.

I suggest if you are staying in Tokyo to stay at either CITAN Hostel or Nui. Hostel & Bar Lounge. I first stayed at Nui for 2 nights then 3 nights at a different hotel 1 block away from CITAN. Both are convenient for navigating around the city. If you are visiting Japan, you also need to get an IC card for riding transit. You can either do when you arrive at airport, or you can do it at the JR East Travel Service Center at Tokyo Station, near exit M12. You will also need a sim card. If your phone supports eSIM, this is pretty straightforward. If you’re like me and you have an old phone, research it more. I have AT&T Prepaid and they have a flat $35 for 7 days, with unlimited talk and text and 5 GB of data.

In Japan there is the concept of ‘live house’, a general term for public places where music events are held and not the same as a ‘house venue’ where a show is held in someone’s living room or basement. The venues I visited were about the size of a small bar or storefront. You pay a cover charge along with the cost of one drink. The bartender is also often running the soundboard. Some shows might have a request for an RSVP. Don’t feel intimidated, just write a short email you will be attending.

Oriental Force - September 19

Located in Koenji, Google Maps, I walked in here not really knowing what to expect, paid the door took a beer and sat down. The space was rather small with a comfortable capacity of 15, so it felt rather intimate. Much of the music leaned much more noise / experimental. Event Page

Performers include:

• NA/DA
• Gokuraku Shopping Street ( 極楽商店街 )
• YATARA
• Horigome Miho ( ホリゴメミホ ) + cixa

Knuttel House September 20

Located in Iriya, Google Maps, this venue is much more focused on jazz / experimental. Izumi Kunihiro performed a solo set on saxaphone, guitar, and vocals. There were much fewer people attending but the layout of the room was bigger. Event Page

El Puente - September 21

Located in Yokohama, Google Maps, this was the furthest outside of Tokyo I ventured where the fast paced nature of the city turned into the suburbs. The vibe was much more “punk venue”, with tons of graffiti and stickers from international bands, such as “Weekend Nachos 4/13/16”. Music of the bands leaned more in the hardcore and death metal direction.

• Invictus
• brag-flashlamp
• Without Defeat
• YxAxD
• Leech
• Aohen (Taiwan)

Ftarri - September 22

Located in Suidobashi, Google Maps. This was the only show I went to not in a bar, but in a record shop, which of course is always refreshing as the presentation is much more relaxed without having to drink.

Perfomers included: Stina Hellberg Agback [from Sweden], (harp) Suzueri (piano, electronics, self-made instruments) + Toshimaru Nakamura (no-input mixing board).

By the time I arrived I felt so tired and exhausted and the music so relaxing and experimental I didn’t take any photographs of the performance.

Honorable mentions and other resources

See also this article on Japan Cheapo about touring Japan. Although it is written from the perspective of a touring musician, it is still helpful for understanding how music shows happen in Japan. Places I didn’t have a change to visit, but look promising include:

• WWW and WWW X host much larger shows than a live house would.
• Wild Side [Shinjuku], Aohen played at this venue the next night.
• forestlimit [Shibuya City], didn’t visit but was suggested.
• POLARIS [Chiyoda City], didn’t visit but was suggested.
• NEDS [Nishi-Shinjuku], record store, didn’t visit but was suggested.

Modular Nights

The monthly free showcase of experimental electronic music will feature: Alpha Stream, Glass Places, BLAIX, Puzzle Teeth, Motormouth + Undine Noise, and Odd Partials.

Sunday, October 13, 5:00 PM at Substation - Event Page

Karōshi / Baus / Miscomings

Karōshi (punk) will play along with Baus (egg punk) from Los Angeles, and Miscomings (nasty noise punk).

Sunday, October 13, 7:00 PM at Bad Bar - Event Page

Groundhum Sessions 3: Huggy Pillow / tondiue / IVVY + THC.XLR

Huggy Pillow (electrophonic dreamwave), tondiue (electronic), and a special collaboration between IVVY with THC.XLR (Erik Sanchez and Keegan Wiltshire).

Thursday, October 17, 7:30 PM at Fremont Abbey - Event Page

TV-MA / Andrew Wayne / sonora enjambre / EKG

Coming up from Los Angeles, TV-MA (noise) will play along with Andrew Wayne (noise ambient) from Sacramento, sonora enjambre (ambient drone noise), and EKG (party noise).

Friday, October 18, 6:00 PM at Mudlark Oddities - Event Page

Lukas Dickson / MONED / SPITRAT / Glum Reaper / FAILSON

Lukas Dickson (noise loops) will play along with MONED (guitar driven noise), SPITRAT (no input sound), Glum Reaper, and FAILSON (electronic)

Saturday, October 19, 7:30 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

Tamagawa / Oldine / Skunk Ape / Thatching

Visiting from France, Tamagawa (ambient drone) and Oldine (ambient drone folk), along with Skunk Ape (noise), and Thatching.

Saturday, October 19, 8:00 PM at Drongo Tapes HQ - Event Page