This new feature is called No Place Like Home. The point of it is to interview bands about their hometowns and why they love where they’re from. When traveling it is always best to have a local to direct you to the spots worth spending your time and hard earned money.
When one of our readers travels to a place that is foreign to them they will have some solid recommendations from an awesome source, one of their favorite bands!
I know I look forward to checking out some of these places and am sure that there are many others who would be interested. Eventually the intention is to have a full blown travel guide here at B.G.M.!
Medium Weekend’s debut full length, NOTCH, picks up right where they left off with their killer three song EP No Touching the Art. The Seattle duo weaves a psychedelic web comprised mostly of instrumental music. Their sound refuses to be boxed into a genre. At times they will lull you into a daze with some breezy Real Estate vibes. That being said, they don’t bore you to tears with repetition. There’s some serious flexing of the ability to take you from dreamy to rockin’ on display throughout the record.
Their sound is more like Real Estate met up with Tera Melos and injected some Battles directly into their veins.
They aren’t completely sans-vocals though. The record is peppered with Nasa type recordings, clapping and random applause, crowd cheers, and more. There are instances where they incorporate Grizzlor-esque shouting like seen in the sludge-tastic “Canadian Navy”. On “Bog Sludge” it feels like the random yells and recorded voices are the band trying to get on the same page as the voices in their head.
On the song “Interlude” a voice says: “sometimes it feels like it’s a different language and it’s very intentional.” Is there a method to Medium Weekend’s madness? I like to think so. The listening experience feels like a fever dream that you aren’t sure you want to wake up from. Even though it is chaotic and sometimes doesn’t feel like it makes sense it will keep you coming back for more.
Among all of the twists and turns in this sonic mosaic they created it still a meditative and reflective adventure.
These guys clearly have a good time making music together. I can’t wait to see them perform these songs in a live setting! Don’t miss them if you have a chance.
Rating: 4/5
Do yourself a favor and go pick up this record over HERE.
I want to thank Medium Weekend’s Jak for doing this interview feature with us!
Where does Medium Weekend call home and how long have you been there?
We’re both transplants to Seattle. I (Jak) am from Dallas, Texas and Spike is from Detroit via Ohio. We’ve been in Seattle for almost a decade each. We’ve definitely gone native. I think the general intentionality and pace of the city suits us both.
Are there any attractions you would consider touristy that you would also consider a can’t-miss for visitors?
Pike Place Market, despite it being a Seattle clique, is actually quite cool. Lots of local commerce and some beautiful views of the Sound during the summer. If you’re up for fighting the crowds it’s not a bad place to spend an afternoon. Discovery Park and Seward Park are also must see attractions, both are massive nature scapes within the city easily accessible by bus. Lots of cool climbing trees, plants and critters!
If you are hosting friends or family for a weekend, where would you bring people for grub?
I always make an excuse to take visitors to the International District so I can swoop by World Pizza. Super tasty all vegetarian pizza in one of the cities most interesting locales. Otherwise, I’m all about the bar food. Kates pub in wallingford does an excellent happy hour special where one can drink, eat, and play pool without spending too many dollars.
A key to any hometown is a local watering hole. Any spots that you like to go for drinks? Breweries, dive bars, distilleries…whatever floats your boat.
My home base away from home is the Monkey pub in the U district where I bartend a few days a week. The drinks are as cheap as capitalist constraints will allow and the humans are top notch! one of the few true dives left in town.
Music is life. What music venues should people be checking the calendars for shows to catch?
The Blue Moon has always been good to us as a band so i keep an eye on their calendar which is very eclectic. The place boasts quite a lot of history as it has existed since pre-prohibition times. A lot of the furniture and decoration is clearly from another era but they have managed to stay relevant with a good sound system and some capable music folks in their employ. Lots of rising stars and hidden gems pass through there.
Legendary DIY venue Black Lodge is also super rad. Its got a really great ethos and puts on shows for small time locals and established touring bands alike! It shares a wall and collaborates with the Victory Lounge which is becoming an increasingly common place to see some excellent shows.
After working up a sweat at a good show are there any late night spots to grab a bite or a night cap?
Aladdin’s Gyrocery is not too far from home and does great falafel till 2 AM. If the night proves to outlast their open hours, Beth’s Cafe is 24/7 Seattle staple.
The morning after can be rough. Where is your go-to for breakfast and/or coffee?
Recently I’ve become very fond of Sunlight Cafe on Roosevelt. Really good food and some excellent friends behind the counter. Biggest problem is when you accidentally stumble in during the weekend brunch rush and all manner of calamity descends on their humble restaurant. Cafe Flora, Spike’s place of employment, is another not so secret good food hotspot with some really impressive culinary innovations and exceedingly drinkable cocktails.
To get out of town life, what are the nature based options surrounding your city? Any good hikes, camping, and other fun outdoors stuff to do?
Perhaps the very best thing about Seattle is the ease with which one can escape! Head about 40 miles east on Interstate 90 and you’re in the Snoqualmie Mt. Baker National Forest. We have spent many nights out there as it’s less than an hour away from whatever obligations we’ve got the next day but offers an unadulterated slice of the Cascade Mountains in all their beauty. If you’re looking for something more adventurous the Hoh rainforest on the Olympic peninsula is the only rainforest in the United States and has some really cool Banana slugs slimming all about.