Seattle Noise

The Seattle deep freeze is here, but there’s noise and experimental music to warm your ears. There’s several more shows I didn’t include on the calendar.

Modular Nights

The monthly free show and live stream. Featuring: - Synthiak, Balance Spring, DARK SPARKLER, SoundSweepsBy, Sean Hølt, and 4Dimensional Nightmare

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

Chris Corsano / Kelsey Mines / Casey Adams

Solo percussion performance from Chris Corsano, along with solo performances from Kelsey Mines, and Casey Adams. There will be another performance from Chris Corsano later on at the Chapel on January 29.

Tuesday, January 16, 8:00 PM at Casa del Xolo - Event Page

9-5 Hyperfuck / Myaku / Astral Jukebox / Cuvier

9-5 Hyperfuck (digital hardcore) will play along with Myaku (afroindustrial), Astral Jukebox (experimental psychedelic), and Cuvier (post-grunge)

Thursday, January 18, 7:00 PM at Shanghai Room - Event Page

Filth Is Eternal / Zookraught / Flesh Produce / Stumpgrinder

Big line-up featuring Filth Is Eternal (grunge punk), Zookraught (dance punk), Flesh Produce (digital hip hop), and Stumpgrinder (noise collab between RN White + r33k + Ornament & Crime)

Friday, January 19, 8:30 PM at Clock-Out Lounge - Event Page

Illusion of Safety / Daniel Menche / A.F. Jones

A night of improvised music featuring A.F. Jones (lap steel guiter + electronics), along with Daniel Menche (experimental noise), and Illusion of Safety (post-industrial dark ambient noise)

Saturday, January 20, 8:00 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

Tuvan Shaman Chingiz Kam with Arrington de Dionyso

On tour of the US will be Tuvan Shaman Chingiz Kam (throat singing), along with Arrington de Dionyso.

Wednesday, January 10, 7:00 PM at Rabbit Box Theater - Event Page

Butler + Tracy / Carraher / Nagaraj

An evening of experimental music featuring Peter Tracy and Aaron Michael Butler “bowed cimbal / cello things”, along with Ryan Carraher (guitar), and Sandesh Nagaraj (experimental improvisational noise).

Wednesday, January 10, 8:00 PM at Vermillion - Event Page

AVOLA / Kole Galbraith + Morher / Raica / SRS DRMZ

A night of electronic focused music featuring AVOLA (experimental electronic), duo of Kole Galbraith and Morher (noise), along with Raica. It will also be the debut of SRS DRMZ, a new project by Natasha El-Sergany (somesurprises). //edit note: this show ended up getting cancelled//

Thursday, January 11, 8:00 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

Eating / RN White / 👽 / Parabola / Unborn Hacker

Experimental Eating (duo of Max Nordile and Ange Duvall) from Olympia will play along with RN White (harsh noise wall), 👽 (alien emoji) (noise), and Parabola (noise duo of Kole Galbraith and Adam Levitt). DJ Unborn Hacker will be spinning in between sets.

Friday, January 12, 8:00 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

Power Strip / somesurprises / Welp Disney / Skunk Ape

Power Strip (ambient) will play along with somesurprises (dreamy krautrock), Welp Disney (experimental electronic), and Skunk Ape (experimental noise)

Friday, January 12, 7:00 PM at Black Lodge - Event Page

unpoetry @ Bulldog News

Part of the ongoing series of poetry and experimental/improv music curated by Eric Acosta Featuring: Casey Adams, Martha Ryan, Victoria Tatianna, Coe Colette, Kyndra Lee, Amanda Baker, and Darryl Foto. Eric also has a monthly newsletter to subscribe for future updates.

Saturday, January 13, 7:00 PM at Bulldog News - Event Page

It’s hard to be surprised by music but it happens every now and then. My friend (superfan Adam Fuzz) had American Gothic from Denver based band Wayfarer listed as one of his top metal albums of 2023. I took a listen and have been hooked. I thought to myself, this sounds like “spaghetti western black metal” and typed this into my search engine of truth, just to see if anyone were making those sort of musical association connection as I was. Only to discover an album titled exactly Spaghetti Western Black Metal - Duelist (Butte, Montana). Watching their music video, it’s hard not to be reminded of There Will Be Blood.

The new year is here, a little slow on the noise, but there’s plenty of other interesting shows happening.

Degraved / Adipocere / Skelm / Killcam / Puritan

Another show at the Pizza Twist. Featuring Degraved (death doom metal), Adipocere (hardcore death metal), Skelm (deathcore), Killcam (gamer violence), and Puritan (hardcore).

Monday, January 1, 6:30 PM at Pizza Twist - Event Page

Christopher Icasiano / Abbey Blackwell / Lillian Minke Tahar

A night of experimental music to start the year off featuring Christopher Icasiano (percussion), Abbey Blackwell (bass), and Lillian Minke Tahar (multi-instrumentalist)

Wednesday, January 3, 7:00 PM at Rabbit Box Theatre - Event Page

Dross Twin / Lost In The Sound / Glass Noose

Dross Twin (alternative goth), along with Lost In The Sound (grunge), and Glass Noose (art rock).

Thursday, January 4, 7:00 PM at Chop Suey - Event Page

Lawyers / Broodzone / LAAMB / SUX

Lawyers will play along with Broodzone (doom sludge), LAAMB (grunge rock), and SUX (punk)

Friday, January 5, 7:00 PM at Blue Moon Tavern - Event Page

Ugly Bunch / End Times / MiSS PRINCE / Lie Ability

Ugly Bunch (hardcore punk) will play along with End Times (punk), MiSS PRINCE (punk), and Lie Ability (skate punk).

Saturday, January 6, 7:00 PM at Lucky Liquor - Event Page

The holidays continue into the new year. Not intentional to be so heavy on Lucky Liquor. Check the calendar for a few more.

Holiday Sedative: Erin Jorgensen

Improvised marimba and dreamy vocals.

Monday, December 25, 2:00 PM at 18th & Union - Event Page

The Raddigan Brothers Noise Experience / Dead Streets / Lie Ability

On tour from Poughkeepsie, New York is The Raddigan Brothers Noise Experience (hardcore ska-punk), along with Dead Streets (hardcore punk), and Lie Ability (skate punk).

Tuesday, December 26, 7:00 PM at Lucky Liquor - Event Page

Mr. Dinkles / Flesh Produce / Toxic Tears

Mr. Dinkles (punk) will play along with Flesh Produce (digital hip hop), and Toxic Tears (punk).

Friday, December 29, 7:00 PM at Lucky Liquor - Event Page

Loud Lust / Bassafras / Kid Leather

New industrial pop project from Seattle by Grace Hope (Goldfinch, exdreams, Apartment Lights) and Spoono Ghiefardi (Myaku), Loud Lust will perform along with Bassafras (punk), and Kid Leather (noise rock punk).

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

The solstice is near. Always I feel it is a special time of year. As the darkest day of the year approaches, we are drawn together.

Velvet Q Release Show

A benefit for Casa Del Xolo / Lazy Cow Bakery featuring DJs and Velvet Q (punk)

Sunday, December 15, 7:00 PM at Casa Del Xolo - Event Page

Unity Garnish / Feast of the Epiphany / CSTMR / DJ Headwound

Unity Garnish (electronic) from Portland, along with Feast of the Epiphany (experimental) from New York City, along with CSMTR (explosive noise rock) and DJ Headwound

Tuesday, December 17, 7:00 PM at Black Lodge - Event Page

Solstice Fest Night 1: Kin of the Moon & Friends

Night One: Kin of the Moon and Friends. Heather Bentley (viola, cello), Kaley Lane Eaton (piano, voice), and Leanna Keith (flutes, voice) are joined by Seattle musical masterminds Raymond Larsen (trumpet) and Evan Woodle (drums) to thrum that light back into our daily rhythms.

Thursday, December 21, 8:59 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

Gail Wolf / Ultra Hipsters / Jealous Yellow + Miles Fox / Robbo

Note this venue is a welding shop. Located at 7800 7th Ave S, Seattle WA 98108. Featuring Gail Wolf, Ultra Hipsters (noise by thebeach.comber and wyzecrackworld), Jealous Yellow + Miles Fox (punk) and Robbo.

Friday, December 22, 7:30 PM at Hazard Factory - Event Page

Solstice Fest Night 2: Light Is Returning

Six impro wizards herald the sun’s return:

Amy Denio, Bill Horist, Carol J Levin, Greg Campbell, Heather Bentley, James Falzone… on the instruments you know them to play, and others. Expect the unexpected – pairings & ensembles tbd.

Friday, December 22, 8:59 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

Spotlight on Femme: Liquid Letters / Hannah Rice & Sandesh Nagaraj / Quill / Changing Bodies

Liquid Letters (experimental winds, objects, vocals and electronics) from Olympia will play along with a movement and sound duet from Hannah Rice and Sandesh Nagaraj (experimental improvisational noise), along with Quill (experimental), and Changing Bodies (experimental synth movement).

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

Modular Nights

Featuring Splasteen (experimental noise synth), An Anomalous Wave (experimental), Changing Bodies (experimental synth movement), Astrospherian (experimental), Interlucid (atmospheric synth), Trust Anchor (experimental electronic noise), and ACIDTAB (acid techno).

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

Filth Is Eternal / Dry Socket / LUV / Tears of Joy / Killcam

Filth Is Eternal (grunge punk) will play along with Dry Socket (hardcore punk) from Portland, LUV (hardcore) from California, Tears of Joy (hardcore) from Tacoma, and Killcam (gamer violence)

Sunday, December 10, 8:00 PM at Lucky Liquor - Event Page

somesurprises / Small Paul / Wild Powwers / St. Yuma / Rainbow Coalition Death Cult

Benefit show to raise funds for Palestine. Featuring: somesurprises (dreamy krautrock), Small Paul (americana alt-country), St. Yuma (indie folk), Wild Powwers (grunge), and Rainbow Coalition Death Cult (hardcore punk)

Monday, December 11, 7:30 PM at Sunset Tavern - Event Page

Eye Music

An ensemble featuring Noel Kennon, Dave Knott, Eric Lanzillotta, Carl Lierman, Michael Shannon, and David Stanford on various instruments acoustic and electronic performing graphic and text compositions by Dick Higgins, Robert Horton, Dave Knott, Takehisa Kosugi, Eric Lanzillotta, Mieko Shiomi, and David Toop.

Friday, December 15, 8:00 PM at Chapel Performance Space - Event Page

V. Vecker / Arrington de Dionyso / Eric Padget / Ornament & Crime

On tour from V. Vecker (minimal composition spiritual jazz), Arrington de Dionyso (avant-garde trance-punk), Eric Padget (experimental), and Ornament & Crime (noise)

Friday, December 15, 8:00 PM at Drongo Tapes HQ - Event Page

The start of another great month as things wind down from the holiday chaos.

CDX Fest: Maya Marie / AP Macroeconomics / Russian Blue / Medium Weekend / somesurprises

Benefit show for Casa del Xolo who are facing the ever too common threat of displacement. There will also be merch and vendors. Featuring performances from Maya Marie (soul), AP Macroeconomics (alternative indie rock), Russian Blue (eclectic indie art-rock), Medium Weekend (avant-garde loop rock) and somesurprises (dreamy krautrock).

Sunday, December 3, 6:00 PM at The Vera Project - Event Page

Bad Luck / Hotel Vignette / Solitaire

Bad Luck (avant-garde free jazz), Hotel Vignette (indie folk), and Solitaire (synth)

Tuesday, December 5, 6:00 PM at The Rabbit Box Theater - Event Page

A Whole Tree / Sidney Amos / Glass Egg

A benefit show for Palestine, featuring A Whole Tree (indie folk), Sidney Amos (indie pop), and Glass Egg.

Thursday, December 7, 7:30 PM at Casa del Xolo - Event Page

Starthor + the Common Thread by Frances Nay / Peopling / Meadowgoat / Ensemble Unnamable

Ensemble performance, Starthor, featuring 2/3 of Girl Sax, with China Faith Star and Francis Nay Common Thread. Joining them will be Peopling (noise), Meadowgoat (dungeon noise), and Ensemble Unnamable (experimental drone). Visuals from Colorbard Visual.

Friday, December 8, 8:00 PM at Gallery 1412 - Event Page

Wet Temple / Hexecutioner / Mantle Collapse / darkmysticwoods / Wyoming Young and Strong

No matter the season shows under a bridge (the tarp has sprung a leak) must go on. Birthday show featuring Wet Templa (stoner doom sludge), Hexecutioner (stoner metal doom), Mantle Collapse (sludge metal), darkmysticwoods (stoner noise rock), and Wyoming Young and Strong

Saturday, December 9, 5:30 PM at Under 1st Avenue Bridge - Event Page

CSTMR / (-2) / Spawn / Cranial Key / Inversa Spruce

Regular explosive noise rock band CSTMR will join (-2) (experimental doomjazz), Cranial Key (new noise project by NUDECONSUMER + CZMB), Spawn (improvisational noise) and Inversa Spruce (experimental noise).

Saturday, December 9, 6:30 PM at Woodland Theater - Event Page

There’s no shortage of things happening this week. In other music news, Cafe Racer will relaunch in the coming year with Jody Ramsammy of Vivid Productions along with owner Jeff Ramsey working with Allied Arts as a fiscal sponsor. In addition, Seattle Jazz Fellowship announced plans to open up a pop up jazz venue in Pioneer Square.

PRISONFOOD / Cranial Key / Vast Chains / Halting

I don’t often feature events too far outside of Seattle, but this show wil be the return of PRISONFOOD (noise), debut show of a new project by NUDECONSUMER + CZMB, Cranial Key (harsh industrial electronics), Vast Chains (death industrial obliterations), and Halting (experimental).

Sunday, November 26, 7:00 PM at The Poolhouse (Everett) - Event Page

Hali Autumn, Featuring Vanessa Skantze (live score by To End It All)

As part of the South Sound Experimental Film Fest, there will be a screening of a film by Hali Autumn of Vanessa Skantze. To End It All (death industrial doom) will perform a live score.

Sunday, November 26, 7:00 PM at Northwest Film Forum - Event Page

Ora Cogan / Low Hums / Lori Goldston

A touch more on the experimental side is Ora Cogan (alternative americana) from Vancouver Island, along with Low Hums (psychedelic rock), and Lori Goldston (experimental cello).

Tuesday, November 28, 8:00 PM at Tractor Tavern - Event Page

Death Spa / Kitty Junk / Marbits

Death Spa (death metal hardcore) will play along with Kitty Junk (glam grunge junk rock), and Marbits (bedroom pop)

Thursday, November 30, 8:00 PM at Blue Moon Tavern - Event Page

Maria BC / Lori Goldston

Visiting from Oakland will be Maria BC (experimental ambient post-rock). They will be joined by Lori Goldston (experimental cello).

Thursday, November 30, 7:00 PM at The Vera Project - Event Page

Give Me The Money / Sunbather Die / 9-5 Hyperfuck

Local moneycore band Give Me The Money will play along with Sunbather Die and 9-5 Hyperfuck (digital hardcore).

Friday, December 1, 7:00 PM at Skylark Cafe & Club - Event Page

Matthew Welch / Broken Crow / Ornament & Crime + Hannah Rice / Glum Reaper

Experimental bagpipe musician Matthew Welch from San Francisco is visiting, along with Portland based Broken Crow (improv duo of Caspar Sonnet and Joel Nelson), along with Ornament & Crime (noise) + Hannah Rice, and Glum Reaper (experimental) by Ian Gwin.

Saturday, December 2, 8:00 PM at Woodland Theater - Event Page

Swish Blade / Terror Apart / J. “g.” J / Vanessa Skantze

Swish Blade (industrial noise) will play along with Terror Apart (death industrial) from Portland, J. “g.” J (purgative ritual performance of “Honest Work: The Third Annual Report”. Vanessa Skantze will present spoke performance of “Unraveling Dust”.

Saturday, December 2, 8:00 PM at Teatro de la Psychomachia - Event Page

This being the holiday week things have slowed down just a touch.

How to Destroy the Unuiverse Part 8: Presented by Mobilization Recordings

Featuring: Thomnak, Corespondents, NASALROD, F-SPACE, The Late Unpleasantness, Ivan X, The Glutz, Power Skeleton, Forrest Friends, Shifting Harbor, STAHV, KUMA, Vox Vespertinus, and Bill Horist

Sunday, November 19, 5:00 PM at The Rendezvous - Event Page

Leech / Throat Rip / Nurser / Killcam

More grindcore all the time. Visiting from Funabashi, Japan is Leech (grindcore), Throat Rip (grindcore powerviolence) from Martinez, California, Nurser (grindcore death metal), and Killcam (gamer violence)

Tuesday, November 21, 7:00 PM at Lucky Liquor - Event Page

Actress / Bazaar / Some Fucking Vegan / Sleepy Cat Band

I can’t guarantee anything other than this looks like a fun show. Or if the bands have any demos to listen to.

Saturday, November 25, 8:00 PM at Blue Moon Tavern - Event Page