- Sam Holden
- THE SWORD
(Neumos) Austin, Texas retro-metal outfit the Swordâs initial traditional approach of black-light-poster medieval imagery and chugging doom riffs was clichĂ© but well-executed, but 2010âs Warp Riders and 2012âs Apocryphon took different approaches in terms of both sound and thematic content, ditching the Dark Ages for outer space and other mythological subjects and moving to a more classic-sounding hard-rock style. Though this new stuff isnât necessarily better than the old, the band seems to be doing something right, as they have recently been featured on soundtracks of big-budget Hollywood films and released their own line of hot sauces and beers (so metal). Locally founded Big Business manage to do way more with lessâthat is, make louder, better-sounding records with fewer members/publicity moves. MIKE RAMOS
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You can read Trent Moorman's interview with the Sword here »
(Snoqualmie Casino) Some people are dicks about musical legends who keep touring later into their lives. Those people, are, obviously, dicks. If you love Joan Jett, go to this thing. Celebrate badassery, rocking out, not giving a shit about your reputation. Woohoo! If you donât care about Joan Jett, you can fix that easily in three steps. (1) Go watch The Runaways, a movie about her first band. It has the most feminist opening shot in film history: a drop of period blood falling to the pavement. FUCK THE PATRIARCHY. (2) Read about how she had to self-release the album now known as Bad Reputation because no major labels wanted it. Suck on this, ya dumb suits! And (3) is a duh: Listen to her music. Go do it immediately, itâs easy! Now: Donât you fall into the âif you love Joan Jettâ category? Good. You know what to do. ANNA MINARD
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And here's all our recommended music eventsâtonight, tomorrow, this weekend, and beyond!