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I saw a band I never thought I’d see this week. After years of silence, sporadic rumors, and almost nothing in terms of live appearances, Long Island’s co-reigning kings Brand New has turned up the volume dramatically in recent months. Festival appearances have increased to full-fledged tours, and rumors of new material on the way seem increasingly […]

Photo courtesy of Andrew Mwangi. For the full image set, please visit Rain City Ambience. Last weekend, Being As An Ocean and Fit For A King headlined Seattle’s Studio 7, making their way up the coast with Gideon, Wolves At The Gate, and Capsize. Washington bands Resolve And Reside and Vessels kicked off the night, both bands […]

Photo courtesy of Kelly Mason. For the full image set, please visit Rain City Ambience. Toronto’s nastiest punk rockers Pup just kicked off Noisey‘s Everything Gets Worse tour, a massive North American run that will bring the phenomenal quartet down the West coast, through the South, and land them in the middle of The Fest in […]

Image courtesy of Kelly Mason. For the full image set, please visit Rain City Ambience. The Honda Civic Tour has been a bastion of rock and pop rock for years, and the 2014 lineup is no different. Headlined by Brooklyn’s American Authors and supported by LA bands The Mowgli’s and Echosmith, this year’s tour has been bringing the best breakout […]

This is one of my favorite articles I’ve written, and I’m happy to have shared the night with my dear friend Jake Gravbrot. For his full image set (and a view from his all-access pass for this historic tour), please visit Rain City Ambience. October 13, 2014, Showbox at the Market. Anberlin‘s last Seattle show, ever. […]

Image courtesy of Jake Gravbrot. For the full image set, please visit Rain City Ambience. Last Friday, Seattle heroes Emery and The Classic Crime wrapped up a two-week tour in their hometown’s familiar El Corazon venue. The pair of long-running Seattle bands brought Louisville Tooth & Nail band Artifex Pereo on tour while inviting a trio of PNW […]

Photo courtesy of Kelly Mason; for the full image set please visit Rain City Ambience. Illinois’ biggest emo/pop punk name Real Friends has been hitting the road hard lately, this time bringing a trio of Hopeless bands through North America: UK upstart Neck Deep, Maine hardcore act Cruel Hand, and Maryland’s Topshelf alum Have Mercy. Currently pushing brand new Fearless […]

Photo courtesy of Kelly Mason; for the full article, please visit Rain City Ambience. RCA had the pleasure of hosting American Island, STRNGRTHNGS, and Peace Mercutio at The High Dive in Fremont. We sold out the cozy little bar with this trio of major Seattle players, packed with smooth croonings, lights and lasers, and an emotional […]

Early last week, Andrew and I headed down to The Vera Project for a fun last show of 2014: Our First Brains, Toys That Kill, and headliner Joyce Manor in the middle of their West coast tour. Portland’s Our First Brains opened up, a warm punk quartet whose fuzzy riffings were a perfect fit for […]

Last week, Andrew and I headed to El Co for the Fourth “Keeping Warm In A Cold World” tour, a West coast benefit series put on by Orange County hardcore band Stick To Your Guns. This year’s spotlight organization was The Wildlife Defence League, a Canadian organization dedicated to protecting wildlife from trophy and big […]