The DT’s - Live-Hot-Nasty CD (Serpent’s Hole)
by Anna Rankin (What’s Up Magazine - July 2009)
Looking for a new album full of relentless rock ‘n’ roll for your collection? Well look no further, The DT’s’ newest offering will fill your niche.
The nine tracks on Live-Hot-Nasty were recorded live in July of 2008 on the “Drinking from the Puddles” radio show on KBOO 90.7 FM in Portland, Oregon. They don’t mess around getting right into the action with the first track “April Holeso” and you are taken head first into the action …

Yogoman Burning Band - City of Subdued Excitement CD (Self Released)
by Haylee Nighbert (What’s Up Magazine - June 2009)
Yogoman Burning Band’s newest release, City of Subdued Excitement, won’t dissapoint their live show fans. They decided to release something that glittered with live-show appeal and dripping with groove. It’s an album that holds true to their reputation as an uplifting, high-energy jam band with an album that jumps from big band, to reggae, to dancehall and back.
A keystone of Bellingham musical culture, Yogoman Burning Band’s style comes together to make a …

The Skyfire Puzzle - Demo CD (Self Released)
by Sean Berry (Bell-Tone)
The Skyfire Puzzle are a new Bellingham combo that are a breath of fresh air - a rock/pop group with a sound that blends modern and retro. There’s crunchy guitars and vintage synths, all fueling a set of four tunes that move the body and feed the mind. Comparisons to The Killers and Interpol are inevitable, and yes, they do sound quite a bit like these popular combos. Then again, this is a demo - a first stab at recording. …

The Sugar high Mustangs CD (Self Released)
by Lane Koivu (What’s Up Magazine)
On their self-titled debut, it’s clear that the Sugar High Mustangs aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. The Bellingham four-piece wear their influences–Pixies, Tapes N’ Tapes, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Elvis Costello–unabashedly on their sleeves, and the result is a record that is both immediately catchy and accessible, if not groundbreaking. And while this group may not be close in terms of innovation to their heroes, they do a nice job of emulating the ingredients that made those idols legendary …

Pink Lincoln - Demo CD (Self Released)
by Sean Berry (Bell-Tone)
Pink Lincoln is a hard rockin’ local combo that delivers on this demo CD-R a crunchy guitar attack, with a sense of melody and excellent production for a demo. This 3-piece has a sound that’s bigger than Bellingham - I don’t listen to much radio anymore, but when I do (especially Canadian radio) it’s filled with songs that sound similar to this. It’s a compliment to the band that they have created something so professional sounding - it’s like they’re ready …

Skyfire Puzzle - Demo CD (Self Released)
by Brian Fannin (What’s Up Magazine - February 2009)
They say first impressions mean everything. And this 4-song demo by The Skyfire Puzzle is a firm yet lively handshake. It’s fun, energetic music in the style of alternative pop-rock with bits of The Killers, early Flickerstick, Depeche Mode, and The Cure.
The first thing you notice about this demo is the recording quality, an excellent mix with clarity and punch. Singer Issac’s bright tenor voice goes well with the music. He works the bridge of his …

Big Ass Letdown - It Takes Less Brain Amount (Self Released)
by Boris Budd (What’s Up Magazine - February 2009)
I was a bit apprehensive to listen to the new record from Big Ass Letdown. I had been having a really good day and was afraid of, well, a big ass letdown. Fortunately for me It Takes Less Brain Power brought my day to even a better close. The 12-song effort is an exercise in creativity as the lads mix fabulous feedback driven guitars with frenzied …

Lucky Brown - Easy Invitation (Westsound Record Co.)
by Boris Budd (What’s Up Magazine - February 2009)
Some people would’ve considered themselves lucky to have heard Lucky Brown’s unmastered version of their upcoming release Easy Invitation. The record is a snappy performance of mostly instrumental funk tunes.
The group is on big time as Joel Ricci and Co. attack the songs with their energetic brand of horn driven tunes. Ricci is stellar on trumpet as usual, but he is not to be outdone by the rest of the band.Drummer Olli Klomp and Tommy …

Black Crabs - 13 Times (Ravenous Records)
by Brent Cole (What’s Up Magazine - January 2009)
With their latest release, 13 Times, Seattle’s Black Crabs (which features Bellingham’s Tom Forster of The Foot Stompin’ Trio/Sweetheart of the Rodeo on drums) continue with their old school rockabilly romp. Overall, the disc is your standard fare rockabilly, lots of reverb guitar, stand up bass and swing drums. Nothing too fancy, so fans of the genre will enjoy it, especially if heard on a loose summer day.
The highlight of the …

The Trucks - Never Forever CD-EP (Clickpop Records)
The Trucks played their last show back in November, but their label, Clickpop Records, has released a new CD-EP called Never Forever. It has six songs, mixing stuff from their full-length CD along with some new songs and remixes. They played some of these songs at their last show. It’s really too bad that they called it quits, because the new tunes show a new direction for the band, while retaining everything that was so charming about their first CD release. You can …