I’ve spent much of my off time in the 2010s working with Rain City Ambience, a nearly decade-old Seattle music blog with deep roots in the local and regional music scenes. It’s been my honor and pleasure to cover acts of all sizes and genres, and I’ve happily grown into my role of editor. I manage and coordinate a handful of ace photographers, talented reviewers, and a fantastic show booker. I contact A&R, press, and label reps to get access to the best new releases and tours in the music industry, and I have a blast doing it. It’s been a little while since the crew has assembled to cover anything, but RCA has always been a passion project for us. It’ll be back.
Album Reviews
The long-running Seattle rock band is back with a beautiful acoustics/B-Sides album, crowdfunded to record levels and sent to me for review.
The Classic Crime
PNW postrock heavyweight Lo' There sent me a first look at their 2015 release "Northern Shores"
Lo' There Do I See My Brother
Magpies
Seattle's Verlaine is a patchwork of musicians from a handful of peerless Rock bands. 'The Open Sea' is beautiful, touching, and a delight to listen to.
Verlaine
One of my latest reviews, SideOneDummy Records approached us for a writeup of this Phoenix band's latest, 'Christmas Island'.
Andrew Jackson Jihad
Since RCA specializes in Seattle bands, we leapt at the chance to review this fantastic Seattle band's new EP, 'Live In Color'.
Kings Kaleidoscope
Moneta is the finest straight Rock band out of Seattle since Acceptance shuttered. 'The Only Constant' is 14 tracks of pure evidence.
Moneta
SideOneDummy approached us for a review of this Toronto punk band's debut self-titled. Keep an eye on Pup. These puppies are going places.
Pup
Show Reviews
American Authors, The Mowgli's, and Echosmith at a nearly sold out ShowBox. One of the bigger shows we covered in 2014. Photos by Kelly Mason.
The Honda Civic Tour 2014
Pup has become one of my favorite bands in a very short amount of time, and I've seen them every time they've come through town. Photos by Kelly Mason.
Pup 2014
Being As An Ocean packed out Studio 7 with Fit For A King, Gideon, and Wolves At The Gate. Night of insanity. Photos by Andrew Mwangi.
Being As An Ocean 2014
Brand New 2014
Anberlin's final Seattle show after 12 years as a band. Not much else need be said, except that this is one of the pieces I'm most proud of. Photos by Jake Gravbrot.
In Memoriam - 10* Years With Anberlin
Stick To Your Guns, Being As An Ocean, and PNW band To The Wind tore out another great night at El Co in late 2014. Photos by Andrew Mwangi.
Stick To Your Guns & BAAO
Punk rock wunderkinds Joyce Manor closed out 2014 with a packed house at the Vera Project. Photos by Andrew Mwangi.
Joyce Manor 2014
Seattle's favorite pop punkers Peace Mercutio called it quits at the end of 2014. We saw them off with a huge farewell party. Photos by Kelly Mason.
Peace Mercutio's Farewell Show
The biggest in new wave pop punk names came together for a huge tour at El Co. Sold out, packed to the brim. Photos by Kelly Mason.
Real Friends 2014
Seattle's chosen sons blasted out El Co in November of 2014 with The Classic Crime and Artifex Pereo. Photos by Jake Gravbrot.
Emery 2014 - II
I covered Ellie Goulding's sold out show at The Paramount Theater in Seattle on April 23rd, 2014. Photos courtesy of Kelly Mason and Rain City Ambience.
Ellie Goulding 2014
Our staffers thought it would be fun to preview the 2014 Warped Tour, the 20th year of the legendary traveling show. Here's my section.
Warped Tour 2014 Preview
The Devil Wears Prada is one of Christian Metalcore's most furious leaders. The 8:18 Tour in November of 2013 sold out Seattle's iconic El Co.
The Devil Wears Prada 2013
Genre standard bearer The Wonder Years sold out El Co in March 2013 pushing 'The Greatest Generation'. Photos courtesy of Kelly Mason and RCA.
The Wonder Years 2014
Man Overboard brought their trademark Pop Punk sound to Seattle's Chop Suey in May of 2014 for The Heart Attack Tour. Photos courtesy of Kelly Mason and RCA.
Man Overboard 2014
A Day To Remember is one of a handful Metalcore bands that can fill arenas. Thousands flocked to WaMu Theater for the House Party Tour in September 2013. Photos courtesy of Kelly Mason and RCA.
A Day To Remember 2013
This was the first band I covered for RCA, a popup show at Wild Waves in Federal Way, Washington.
Switchfoot 2013
Pretty Lights' headlining tour featured Seattle duo Odesza, who requested that RCA come out to Kent's ShoWare Center in November of 2013.
Pretty Lights 2013
Toronto band Pup brought RCA out for a supporting role in The Rented World Tour, headlined by The Menzingers. Photos courtesy of Kelly Mason and RCA.
The Menzingers 2014
European Pop masters The Deer Tracks headlined a delightful show at The Sunset Tavern in Seattle with PNW bands Half Kingdom and Verlaine.
The Deer Tracks 2013
Emery's 10th Anniversary show of landmark Tooth & Nail release 'The Weak's End' sold out El Co flat. I took a front row in the pit and snapped some pictures for this historic event.
Emery 2014
LA wordsmith Propaganda headlined The Crimson Cord Tour in support of the album of the same name. Sold out, or very nearly so.
Propaganda 2014
Pentimento is the best Rock band out of Buffalo, NY, since This Day & Age. Photos courtesy of Kelly Mason and RCA.
Pentimento 2014
La Dispute sold out El Co in 2014 with 'Rooms Of The House'. The band tore the old venue apart with their masterpieces. Photos courtesy of Kelly Mason and RCA.
La Dispute 2014
Two Door Cinema Club was one of the first shows I covered for RCA at the Neptune Theater in Seattle.
Two Door Cinema Club 2014