Despite the limitations of their performance space — a tiny, messy basement in the University District — the three bands performed with impressive energy.
The show began with a friendly and endearing set from Blanket Truth. Jon Manning sang lead and played the baritone ukulele, which was surprisingly sonorant for such a small instrument. Manning also runs the Seattle-based, lo-fi tape label Lost Sound Tapes.
Eli Damm brought the beat with a softer, indie-rock version of vocal percussion while Craig Salt Peterson complemented the songs with his sweet flute. The small crowd joked with the band between songs. like "Do You Love Me?" which wonders "do you really love me/or are you just crazy?" A few people even meowed on command for the chorus of "The Cat Song."
Da Bears, who had been listening to Blanket Truth just minutes before, reentered for their set in matching fringed leather vests with winged teddy-bear patches sewn on the backs.
The San Diego natives filled the smal space with a precocious poppy-punk rock, accented at times by lead singer Ryan Solomon's nasally sneer and EJ Binns' reedy Melodica.
By far their most catchy song is "Lindsey Lohan," whose lyrics seem to poke fun at the singer/actress' lip-synching slip up:
"just don't forget the words/when you're feelin' more absurd/chance you need to take/but I know you'll break/cause you're a child/just a little child"
Halfway through the set, the band rewarded one lucky fan with a VHS of Jungle 2 Jungle for correctly naming Abraham Lincoln as the tallest president ever.
Next came James Rabbit, who drove up from their hometown of Santa Cruz, Calif. on their West Coast tour with Da Bears.
Frontman Tyler Martin charmed the crowd with animated chatter and a whirlwind of dancing. Da Bears and Blanket Truth all watched with smiles, hinting at the tight-knit nature of their music community.
"Coast to Coast," epitomizes James Rabbit's vibe. The song, which focuses on the difficulty of traveling and maintaining a relationship, starts off with a short, spoken introduction performed by their guitarist and devolves into a chant-able chorus:
"Oh/you know/that I will go/anywhere you are/coast/to coast/and heart to heart"
The band continued to spread the love after their set, giving out CDs out for free as Manning collected gas money in a large plastic jar. He explained that the high price at the pump is a problem for low-budget bands.
Though James Rabbit's blog indicates it planned on heading back down south after their Seattle show, Martin said the band was considering playing in Port Townsend. Blanket Truth should have already left on their own East Coast tour, driving from Seattle all the way to their first gig in Athens, Ga. on August 17.
To see dates and locations for more local house shows, visit seattlediy.com's calendar here.
By far their most catchy song is "Lindsey Lohan," whose lyrics seem to poke fun at the singer/actress' lip-synching slip up:"just don't forget the words/when you're feelin' more absurd/chance you need to take/but I know you'll break/cause you're a child/just a little child"
Halfway through the set, the band rewarded one lucky fan with a VHS of Jungle 2 Jungle for correctly naming Abraham Lincoln as the tallest president ever.
Next came James Rabbit, who drove up from their hometown of Santa Cruz, Calif. on their West Coast tour with Da Bears.
Frontman Tyler Martin charmed the crowd with animated chatter and a whirlwind of dancing. Da Bears and Blanket Truth all watched with smiles, hinting at the tight-knit nature of their music community.
"Coast to Coast," epitomizes James Rabbit's vibe. The song, which focuses on the difficulty of traveling and maintaining a relationship, starts off with a short, spoken introduction performed by their guitarist and devolves into a chant-able chorus:
"Oh/you know/that I will go/anywhere you are/coast/to coast/and heart to heart"
The band continued to spread the love after their set, giving out CDs out for free as Manning collected gas money in a large plastic jar. He explained that the high price at the pump is a problem for low-budget bands.
Though James Rabbit's blog indicates it planned on heading back down south after their Seattle show, Martin said the band was considering playing in Port Townsend. Blanket Truth should have already left on their own East Coast tour, driving from Seattle all the way to their first gig in Athens, Ga. on August 17.
To see dates and locations for more local house shows, visit seattlediy.com's calendar here.
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